Foxfern's kin
"Spotfur, why can't we go out and play?"Swiftkit moaned as she paced around the nursery
"Because Swiftkit, Foxkit isn't awake yet." Spotfur replied, gesturing to the sleeping kit curled up next to her. Foxkit had been awake before, she had gone to meet the queen, Bristlefrost, but she liked it better curled up next to Spotfur
"Tigerkit, stop trying to sneak off." Spotfur said as her most daring tried to escape through a hole in the brambles surrounding the nursery
"But I'm bored!" Tigerkit exclaimed and flopped down next to Foxkit
"Hey!" she exclaimed, her eyes popping open, "You're squishing me!"
"She's awake!" mewed Swiftkit "Can we go out now?" Foxkit disliked Swiftkit's yowling very much
"Only if Foxkit wants to." Spotfur replied. Of course, she didn't want to seem lesser than her litter-mates, so she nodded
"Yay!" Tigerkit exclaimed
"Shh!" Spotfur scolded "You'll wake Bristlefrost!" she looked down at the upset look on her smallest kit's face
"You're also upsetting Foxkit." she scolded
"It's all right Spotfur, I'm already up." Bristlefrost said as she turned around yawning
"Sorry." Spotfur sighed
"It's fine, besides I got a good rest, my kits are playing outside so I got no interruptions."
"Oh okay, go play kits."
"Yay!"
"But don't leave the clearing!" Spotfur called after them
"We won't!" Swiftkit promised. The kits were so excited to finally be outside that they nearly ran into Stemleaf
"Oh." he exclaimed, "Hello my kits."
"Stemleaf! Stemleaf! Come and play with us!" the kits called, Foxkit was overjoyed to see her father once more, he was much quieter than Swiftkit and Tigerkit. "Not right now kits, I'm taking this fresh kill to your mother." Foxkit was disappointed when he turned them down, but as soon as Stemleaf saw the sad look on his kits' faces he said
"But I think I saw Bristlefrost's kits playing with the apprentices." Foxkit didn't know who Bristlefrost's kits were, but Swiftkit and Tigerkit seemed excited to see them.
"I guess they have met before." Foxkit thought. The three kits ran over to the apprentices' den
"...and this is an attack move." an apprentice was showing Bristlefrost's kits the new moves his mentor had taught him
"Like this?" The tom jumped out and tried to copy what he did, but he landed on his belly.
"Hey Gorsekit, Fernkit!" Tigerkit called out.
"So those were their names." Foxkit thought. Fernkit turned around and looked at Foxkit
"Your sisters awake!" she exclaimed,
"I've been awake before." Foxkit protested though it sounded stupid coming from someone much smaller than the older kit. Foxkit could tell Fernkit thought it was funny because of the laughter clearly visible in her eyes
"I know," Gorsekit started "Fernkit makes stupid..." but Swiftkit interrupted
"You're so much bigger when you're not in your nest!" she exclaimed,
"That's 'cause we're gonna be apprentices soon!" Gorsekit proudly admitted "Tigerkit! Foxkit! Swiftkit!" Spotfur called
"Oh come on!" Tigerkit complained, "We were just starting to have fun!" "Don't worry, we'll have more fun next time." Fernkit promised,
"Oh all right." Tigerkit mewed "See you later!"
"Tigerfoot! Swiftpelt! Foxfern!"
"A warrior at last." thought Foxfern. "I can finally serve my clan at full strength...and tell Gorseclaw how I feel about him". Foxfern started to walk over to him but Swiftpelt stopped her
"Finally!" she exclaimed "No more apprentice chores!"
"Um, yeah." Foxfern agreed
"You're distracted." Swiftpelt pointed out "Are you okay?" she asked with a worried look in her blue eyes, she followed Foxfern's gaze to land on Gorseclaw "Finally!" she yowled again
"What?" Foxfern asked, "You've been mooning over Gorseclaw for ages!" Foxfern felt her cheeks grow hot
"How could you tell?" she asked, embarrassed
"A sister always knows." Swiftpelt said with a thoughtful look on her face, then Squirrelstar interrupted her
"As you all know new warriors must guard the camp in a silent vigil while we sleep."
"I guess it'll have to wait till morning." Swiftpelt pointed out
"I guess." Foxfern sighed, but even as she guarded the camp she couldn't take her mind of Gorseclaw.
"As soon as I have a chance," Foxfern thought "I'll tell him how I feel."
The minute the first light of dawn reached the camp Tigerfoot jumped to his feet
"We did it! We're warriors!"
"You should be quieter." Swiftpelt scolded "Some cats are still trying to sleep."
"Not anymore." Gorseclaw joked as he walked out of the warriors' den yawning loudly
"Now's your chance." Swiftpelt whispered to Foxfern then more loudly
"C'mon Tigerfoot, let's go get some fresh-kill, I'm starving!"
"Me too," Tigerfoot exclaimed. This was her chance
"Gorseclaw."
"Yes." he looked over at her
"It's now or never," she thought
"I really like you, and I always feel really warm around you, and now that I am a warrior maybe we can be more than just friends?" Gorseclaw just stared for a minute then he broke into a purr and began
"I like you too, and I would be honored if you would be my mate?" Foxfern's happiness exploded inside her. "He likes me too!" she thought. This time it was her turn to purr
"Of course!" she exclaimed. Gorseclaw leaned over and they rubbed muzzles
"Now let's go get some fresh-kill, I'm sure you're hungry." but all she could do was purr, Gorseclaw wanted to be her mate, she couldn't wait to tell Swiftpelt!
"Jayfeather! Jayfeather!"
"I'm coming. I'm coming." growled the grumpy medicine cat "What is it?"
"Foxfern's kits are coming!" yowled Swiftpelt
"Did I hear that correctly?" Alderheart, Jayfeather's apprentice stopped organizing herbs "Are Foxferns kits coming?"
"Yes!" Swiftpelt yowled again "And she needs your help!"
"Can I come?" asked Fernpool, Alderhearts apprentice "I am her friend after all."
"No." replied Alderheart, Fernpool sighed. Alderheart knew she was upset so he said
"You're supposed to be taking care of Spiderleg remember?" Fernpool brightened at the thought, and Aderheart was happy he had cheered his apprentice up.
"Hurry! Foxfern's having her kits!" Swiftpelt repeated
"C'mon Alderheart, let's go." grumbled Jayfeather
"Good you're here." Gorseclaw jumped up as soon as the medicine cats entered the nursery"Is she going to be okay?" he asked,
"She'll be fine." Alderheart explained, "But you need to wait outside."
"Okay," he replied after a moment. As soon as Gorseclaw left, the medicine cats got to work
"Swiftpelt, go and fetch some soaked moss!" Jayfeather snapped
"Are my kits going to be okay?" Foxfern asked,
"Your kits will be fine, Foxfern." Alderheart assured her. Then a spasm shook her. She bit down on a stick.
"The first ones coming." Jayfeather growled
"A she-kit!" Alderheart began licking it furiously. Another spasm racked her body. She bit down harder on the stick, this time it snapped. By this time Swiftpelt had come back with the moss but before she could say anything Jayfeather ordered:
"Swiftpelt go and get another stick."
"A beautiful tom." Alderheart cooed. Swiftpelt came back just in time, Foxfern gripped the stick in her mouth.
"Last one!" once again a spasm spiked
"Another she-kit." Alderheart purred. One by one all three kits found their mothers' belly. They all started suckling as Foxfern wrapped her tail around them.
"Where's Gorseclaw?" Foxfern asked,
"He's waiting for you outside." Alderheart replied
"Can he come in?" she asked
"Of course. Gorseclaw!"Alderheart called. Gorseclaw burst through the brambles
"Where's Foxfern? Is she okay?"
"I'm fine." Foxfern mewed tiredly "Come and meet your kits." he looked down at the small bundles of fur curled up against Foxfern's belly
"They're lovely." he purred "Do they have names?" he asked
"No, but I was thinking Featherkit for the tom." she replied
"Yes. How about Leafkit for the red she-kit."
"It's lovely." Foxfern said "And what about Chestnutkit for the other she-kit." she suggested
"It's perfect." he purred
"Attack! Attack, we're under attack!" yowled Bristlefrost, the Thunderclan deputy. She, Cinderheart, and Stemleaf were on a patrol together. But it was just Bristlefrost running towards the clan leader
"An attack are you sure?" their leader who has bounded out of her den as soon as she heard Bristlefrosts yowling
"Yes Squirrelstar I scented multiple shadowclan patrols heading towards camp." Bristlefrost managed to breathe out
"Where are they now? " Squirrelstar asked,
"Near the training hollow."
"Well then we must be prepared to meet them." she decided " Lionblaze you'll take a patrol of your choice down to the training hollow to meet them. Spiderleg, you'll take a patrol with him but stay hidden. The rest of you shall stay here, if shadowclan has gotten this far I would expect it will be taken to the camp."
"Such bad luck, a battle just when new kits are born." sighed a she-cat from below the high rock
"Yes Brightheart, that is another matter that needs to be taken into thought. Will anyone volunteer to protect Foxfern's kits?"
"I'll volunteer." said Cloudtail, one of the elders
"Are you sure Cloudtail? You have a family of your own to think about as well." Squirrelstar said, gesturing to Brightheart.
"I'm sure Squirrelstar."
"Okay, anyone else?"
"I'll help Cloudtail and Foxfern." spoke Gorseclaw
"I am the kit's father after all."
"Yes, that makes sense." Squirrelstar agreed At that moment Stemleaf broke through the bramble barrier blood dripping from his ear
"What's wrong what happened?" asked Spotfur as she rushed to Stemleaf's side
"There are too many Shadowclan warriors for us to hold." Stemleaf gasped"They are on their way to the camp." The whole of Thunderclan gasped at what they had just heard
"Those fox-hearts attacking the heart of our clan!"
"Calm down Berrynose," Squirrelstar said, "But just as well we must be ready for Shadowclan at any moment…"
"Shadowclan attack!" yowled Cloverstar, Shadowclan's new leader, as what it looked like the whole of Shadowclan burst through the camp barrier.
The yowls of both Thunderclan and Shadowclan split the air as young Foxfern watched the battle unfold right in front of her.
"I'm scared." she said to her mate entwining her tail with his
"You've been in a battle before you shouldn't be scared?" he said,
"Not for me mouse brain, for our kits."
"Yes." Gorseclaw agreed "I am too, but whatever happens we'll do it together."
"What are you youngsters babbling about over there, if you didn't notice there's a battle going on right in front of your noses."
"Sorry, Cloudtail,'' Gorseclaw responded with a nod of his head. Right then a terrible screech sounded. All three cats turned toward the where the horrible noise sounded, laying there was Foxfern's sister, Swiftpelt.
"Swiftpelt!" Foxfern screeched. She ran towards her sister ignoring everything around her.
"No! You can't leave me!" but even from afar, Foxfern could tell by the frozen look in her eyes, she was dead. "Swiftpelt." she whimpered
"Swiftpelt?" Foxfern heard her brother Tigerfoot's voice from near the elders' den "Swiftpelt!" her brother tore towards her "How did this happen?" he asked Foxfern as soon as he reached her side
"I don't know." Foxfern said in almost a whisper.
"Aww, another Thunderclan scum dead, how sad." Foxfern and Tigerfoot turned to see a Shadowclan warrior sneering as he watched the siblings
"You'll pay for what you did to Swiftpelt!" Tigerfoot growled. Foxfern watched as her brother jumped on top of the Shadowclan warrior she recognized as Strikestone, one of Shadowclan's senior warriors. But Strikestone was too powerful for Tigerfoot, he flipped him over and pinned him down. Suddenly the same anger that had fueled Tigerfoot to pounce burned inside her
"I will avenge my sister!" she yowled, and she jumped onto the warriors back just as he was about to sink his teeth into Tigerfoot's neck for the killing bite. The pounce surprised him and he let go of Tigerfoot for just the right amount of time for Tigerfoot to slip out and scratch him across his face. He then turned around and exposed his belly, and with all of her might Foxfern clawed down his stomach. Strikestone fell to the ground with a loud thump, blood pouring from his wound.
"Well done." he rasped and grew quiet. With all of her fiery energy now drained from her. Foxfern sank to the ground and closed her eyes to mourn for Swiftpelt
"What's that?" Tigerfoot interrupted
"What's what." she asked
"That noise." Foxfern strained her ears to hear what Tigerfoot had heard
"All I hear is the battle..." then she heard it, a small pitiful yowling "My kits!"
Foxfern ran as fast as her legs could carry her, as she neared the nursery she saw on the ground in front of her, her mate, Gorseclaw.
"No! I can't lose you too!" she cried
"I'm sorry." mewed Cloudtail from behind her. Foxfern looked over to see Cloudtail, blood dripping from his ear and muzzle "He was too powerful." He groaned. Again, she heard her kits. She ran inside to find Stonewing the Shadowclan deputy reaching down to pick up one of her kits
"Get away from those kits you fox-heart!"Foxfern yowled. She pounced on his back, but he flipped her over and held her down
"So you're the queen of these kits." he said, as he directed his nose to the tiny bundles of fur. Foxfern turned her head to look only to find that two of her precious kits were lying on the ground, with the same look on their face as the one that her sister and mate had worn. The thought that this fox-heart had killed her kits made her furious. The fiery energy in her before was back, and with all the strength of Starclan she pushed Stonewing off her, and while he was still recovering Foxfern scratched at his eyes
"Aagg!" he screeched "How dare you!"
"Get out of here, and you better not ever harm another kit!" Foxfern screeched with a furious hiss, and he ran away with his tail between his legs. Foxfern should have felt proud that she had defeated the Shadowclan deputy, but all she felt was pain.
"Oh Leafkit, Featherkit. What am I going to do without you?" she sighed as she curled her tail around her dead kits one last time. Chestnutkit her one surviving kit padded over to Foxfern
"Leafkit, Featherkit you can get up now." she mewed in her tiny voice. The thought that her kit didn't know what was happening made her heart mourn
"They can't get up sweetie." Foxfern explained
"Why not?" she asked,
"They are dead Chestnutkit." Chestnutkit was just laying down beside her siblings when Foxfern heard pawsteps coming up behind her
"I saw Gorseclaw." It was Squirrelstar "I'm very sorry.
"Leafkit and Featherkit are dead too."
"Oh." Squirrelstar looked down at the once playful kits, dead in their mothers' paws
"Swiftpelt is gone as well."
"Oh my, are you okay?" Squirrelstar asked. All of Foxfern's anger and sorrow came out all in one heap
"My kits are dead, my sister is dead, and my mate is dead! No, I am not okay!" she cried
"Come let's get you to Jayfeather." Squirrelstar suggested, "He can get you some poppy seeds."
"No! I must mourn for my kin." Foxfern protested. After a moment's pause Squirrelstar replied "Okay. Come." and she picked up Featherkit and walked out. The gesture surprised Foxfern, but she stood up and picked up Leafkit
"Where are we going Foxfern?" Chestnutkit asked,
"We are going to mourn for Leafkit and Featherkit."
The next morning Foxfern awoke with Chestnutkit curled up between her and Tigerfoot. She stood up and started walking towards Squirrelstar's den, but Tigerfoot awoke at her movement and stopped her
"Foxfern." she turned around to face him
"I'm sorry for your losses, this is hard on me so I can't imagine what you are feeling."
"No, you can't!" she snapped, but she then felt bad as she saw the hurt look on his face "I'm so sorry, it's just so hard to, to not have anyone anymore." she sighed and sank to her knees "I don't know what to do."
"That's not true." Tigerfoot said
"What's not?" she asked,
"You still have me, and I promise to help take care of you and Chestnutkit." They both looked over at the sleeping kit, Foxfern took a deep breath and said:
"I'm going to ask Squirrelstar if I can change her name to Gorsekit, in honor of her father." She looked towards her brother and was relieved to see the warm look on his face.
"I think that's a great idea." they both looked back at the sleeping kit once again.
"Somehow," Foxfern thought "I will be a good mother to my kit, and an asset to my clan."