Invasion

Summary: Sequel to Sunlit Snowdrift. Windshadow and Dreamcloud must defeat two legs in a new prophecy, and get big news...

Disclaimer: If I owned anyone but... Dreamcloud, Windshadow, Palepaw, Calicofur, Robinpelt, and tons of minor characters, I would be making all of this true in a 4th series after The Power of Three...

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT A WARRIORS MOVIE MIGHT BE COMING OUT NEXT SUMMER! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYNESS! IT'S CALLED 'WARRIORS OF THE FOREST'. But, if it's normal animation, I might not see it. If it's computer animation, or real stuff mixed with computer animation for graphic stuff, then I'll probably see it...

Rashed, Raincloud's Legacy, and Frostpaw, thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Two: Shock

"I'm what!" Dreamcloud exlaimed.

"You'll be moving to the nursery, of course," Leafpool went on, as if she hadn't heard her. "It's a good thing that Palelegs is a warrior now, or else her training would have to be postponed-"

"I can't be expecting kits," Dreamcloud muttered, though she was remembering Silverstream's words.

"You'll have to be careful," Leafpool's voice dropped to a whisper, "There are very few half-clan cats who go without persecution. Stonefur was killed for his bloodlines, and Mistyfoot, Feathertail, and Stormfur were tortured."

"That was when Tigerstar ruled, though," Dreamcloud murmured, but she still worried...

As she padded out of the den, a silver tabby ran up, and for a moment, she thought it was Silverstream. But she then recognized her best friend, Lightfur.

"Dreamcloud!" She purred, "What were you doing in Leafpool's den?"

Dreamcloud sighed. "Can you keep a secret, Lightfur?"

"Of course!"

Dreamcloud led her friend so that they were seated behind the nursery, and she took a deep breath.

"I'm having kits."

"Really?" Lightfur trilled, "That's wonderful!" She touched noses with Dreamcloud, wonder in her blue eyes. It was like she saw Dreamcloud in a whole different way now that she was a true queen.

"They're Robinpelt's, aren't they?"

Something stabbed in Dreamcloud's heart. Guilt. Robinpelt, son of Brackenfur and Sorreltail, was her old love, and she realized that she would have to tell everyone that they were his kits in order to not get caught.

"Yes," She mumbled.

"Have you told him yet?"

"I just found out myself!"

"You'd better hurry, then!"

000

"Robinpelt?" Dreamcloud mewed, walking into the warrior's den. The brown tabby tom was eating by himself, looking a bit lonely. Though she still felt like he was her friend, Dreamcloud hadn't really had time for him in the last few moons.

"Oh, Dreamcloud," He purred, sitting up, "It's you."

"Yes," She murmured, "I have news for you."

"What?" He asked, somwhat confused.

"I'm... I'm expecting kits."

"That's great!" He meowed enthusiastically, "But wait... they..."

"Yes." Dreamcloud whispered, "They aren't yours. But we need to tell everyone they are."

"Who is the father?"

"I can't tell you. Ever."
Robinpelt sighed and brushed his pelt against hers. "I'll support you," He promised, but there was something strange in his eyes that Dreamcloud didn't trust at all.

"You are... all right with this, aren't you?" Dreamcloud asked hesitantly. There was a long silence before Robinpelt spoke.

"Of course I'm all right with it," He sighed, "I'm happy for you, Dreamcloud. Whoever your real mate is, he's a lucky tom to be the father of your kits."

But she still wasn't sure. He was taking it too well. Moons ago, Robinpelt had told Dreamcloud that he loved her. She, of course, had never responded.

Suspicious.

000

"This is wonderful!" Squirrelflight purred as she padded through camp with her daughter and her sister. She pressed her cheek against Dreamcloud's. Her daughter purred. She had just told Squirrelflight about the kits.

"Brambleclaw will be pleased as well," Squirrelflight murmured, her eyes sparkling, "Now, who's your mate?"

"Robinpelt," Dreamcloud responded quickly.

Too quickly.

Squirrelflight stared for a moment, puzzled by her daughter's nervousness. She then dismissed it. This was Dreamcloud's first litter, after all.

"What news are you she-cats talking about?" Came an amused purr. They turned to see Firestar and Brambleclaw walking over to them.

"Dreamcloud's having kits!" Squirrelflight mewed happily.

Firestar and Brambleclaw's eyes widened, and they pressed themselves against her, purrs rumbling from their throats.

"May I tell the clan that you're moving to the nursery?" Firestar asked, his eyes glowing with pride. After all, he was soon to be a great-grandfather!

"Yes," Dreamcloud meowed after a moment, "Robinpelt is the father."

The leader bounded off and yowled the signal for a clan meeting.

"Thunderclan," He yowled, "We have great news. Dreamcloud shall be moving to the nursery, for she is expecting kits. Robinpelt is the father."

Many cats purred and came up to congratulate her, since she was a popular cat, but all that went through her mind was that the Gathering was that night. Firestar would be announcing the news. Windshadow would know.

000

"And Tallpoppy is retiring to be an elder," Russetstar finished, and backed away. Firestar stepped forward, and Dreamcloud's heart began beating faster than usual.

"Thunderclan is thriving," He reported, "We have two new warriors, Palelegs and Crescentface. We also have very exciting news. Dreamcloud, one of our warriors and my own granddaughter, is moving to the nursery, for she is expecting kits."
Dreamcloud's eyes seeked out that snowy white pelt, and she found it. Windshadow's head slowly turned to her, his green eyes enormous. He looked like he was about to faint. Dreamcloud gave him a helpless look as a few of her friends from other clan congratulated her. She would have to talk to him later.

A while after the announcements, Windshadow was gesturing for her to follow him, and she meekly obeyed. Once they were out of earshot of any cats, they sat facing each other.

"Kits?" He finally meowed in a shocked tone.

"Kits."

"Thats... thats..."

She was worried about what he would say. Would he hate her? Would he not want to see her anymore? Would he abandon her and their unborn kits?

"That's the best news I've ever heard."

Happily, he pressed up against her, twining his tail around hers. His body vibrated with a great purr.

"It is, isn't it?" Dreamcloud murmured happily.

"Of course!" He purred, giving her forhead a happy lick. The two then settled down and began to share tongues in great bliss.

000

Dreamcloud faced three cats. Yellowfang, Silverstream, and Bluestar. She wondered why they were there, until she realized that these cats were all famous for their forbidden love affairs in which kits were born.

"I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into," Bluestar whispered.

"Of course I do!" Dreamcloud narrowed her eyes. "And I'm not giving them up. Ever."

"There's always a risk, though," Silverstream sighed, her green eyes sad. "I never even got to meet my kits."
Dreamcloud stared at her stomach, which wasn't swelling yet. She realized that she already loved her kits.

"These kits unite Windshadow and I," She sighed.

"That's what Graystripe said," Silverstream said fondly.

"Just... take care of yourself as well," Yellowfang muttered, "And don't keep secrets from everyone. I did, and maybe if I had told the truth and raised Brokentail myself, he wouldn't become what he was."

000

OK, if you want to see pictures of cats who look like Dreamcloud, Windshadow, Robinpelt, and Calicofur, go to my profile. There'll be links. I'll add more soon... R and R!