Chapter Six

The ReedClan camp opened up before Shadowheart as they pushed through the reeds. At the far end of camp, stood an old withered out willow tree. Thick sturdy branches hung low, and Shadowheart guessed Icestar addressed his Clan from there. There was a small opening at the base of the tree, just big enough for a den.

Thick woven reeds made up the majority of the other dens; namely the warriors' and apprentices' dens. Shadowheart wondered if these dens were meant to float in case of flooding. Nearby sat a smaller willow tree, its large thick roots holding it above ground. The strong scent of herb underneath it told Shadowheart that this was the medicine cat's den. A thick reed woven den sat beside the tree, and old scruffy brown tom sat outside.

A shallow pool of water near one of the dens had kits splashing around in it, the queen Mudspeck watching them with a fond look in her eyes. The center of camp had a fresh-kill pile, but instead of the forest prey Shadowheart was used to seeing, it was stocked with fish instead. Wrinkling his nose at the fishy smell, he stayed close to Blackflame.

Pikeskip ran towards the big willow tree, leaving the LeafClan cats in the middle of camp. The ReedClan cats in camp had noticed their guests, their fur bristling with hostility. Mudspeck quickly ushered her kits inside the nursery, glaring at Shadowheart and Blackflame as she sat at the entrance. Littletail poked her head outside of the medicine cat den, her eyes wide in surprise. Her apprentice, Waterpaw, peered around her with curiosity.

Icestar was headed towards them from his den, his piercing red eyes narrowed. "What are LeafClan cats doing in my camp?"

Stonetail was following steadily behind him, his blue gaze unreadable. Blackflame's tail curled up upon seeing their father, but stayed silent until Icestar stood before them.

"We are here to see Stonetail," Shadowheart told him.

"Me?" Stonetail blinked in surprise. "What do you want to see me for?"

Shadowheart exchanged a look with Blackflame, wondering how they were going to tell him the news. Blackflame took a step forward, his eyes meeting Stonetail's.

"We're here because Silversky was our mother," he told him. "We have a sister too, but she's not with us."

The ReedClan deputy stared at Blackflame as if he suddenly grew wings. Shadowheart wondered briefly if Stonetail didn't believe him. Icestar's own eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this news. An old calico she-cat padded towards them, her yellow eyes glowing with warmth.

"Is it true?" she asked them. "Are you really Silversky's kits?"

Blackflame dipped his head. "Yes, Silversky confirmed it herself in StarClan when Foxstar went to visit her."

Stonetail fell to the ground, and Shadowheart jumped with a start. Had the ReedClan deputy fainted? Icestar turned his gaze on Stonetail, resting his tail along his back. Shadowheart realized his father was sobbing, overwhelmed by the sudden news that his kits were alive. The calico she-cat pressed her muzzle in Stonetail's fur, before looking at them.

"You may not know me," she told them. "My name is Dapplefoot. I am your father's mother."

My kin! Shadowheart thought with a glow of warmth. The old calico brushed her muzzle against Shadowheart's. "I-It's good to meet you."

Dapplefoot purred as she did the same to Blackflame. Her eyes clouded with emotion as she gazed at them. "My mate, Marshpool, would have loved to meet you."

The ReedClan cats were gathered around, whispering among themselves. Shadowheart noticed quite a few warriors were shooting them hostile, unfriendly glances. We don't belong here, he realized. Not when we come from a rival Clan. Blackflame seemed to ignore the hostile looks. The black tabby was padding up to Stonetail slowly, his head low.

Icestar nudged Stonetail to his paws. "Why don't you three speak outside of camp?"

Relieved to get away from the prying eyes of the ReedClan cats, Shadowheart dipped his head gratefully. "Thank you, Icestar."

Stonetail stumbled after them, in a heavy daze. Blackflame walked at his side, keeping his tail draped across the gray tabby's back in case he fell. Once they found a place to settle just outside the ReedClan camp, Shadowheart attempted to make himself comfortable on the marshy ground. Stonetail sat across from him, while Blackflame made a spot beside Shadowheart.

"I...I can't believe you both are alive," Stonetail breathed, his voice shaky. More steadily, he lifted his gaze to meet theirs. "Why have you come now? Why not before?"

Blackflame was the first to answer him. "We couldn't before. Not until it was time."

"Time? What do you mean?" Stonetail asked, his eyes questioning.

"You probably don't know about our mother," Shadowheart chimed in, shuffling his forepaws nervously. "What really happened to her that is."

Their father's eyes darkened. "I know she drowned. That is all. And I had believed our kits suffered the same fate. But now, I'm not sure what to believe anymore."

"I almost did," Blackflame told him. "Shadowheart and our sister were taken. They were raised by a rogue named Hawk. He tried to take me too, but Silversky fled before she was forced to jump into the river. After that, I was rescued by a cat named Mole. He raised me in the twolegplace until a few days ago, when he passed away. I decided to come here to the Clans, to find my family."

A low growl came from Stonetail's throat. "So Hawk is the one who killed your mother? He's the reason I spent all this time believing you were dead?"

Shadowheart flinched at the rage burning in his father's ice blue gaze. For the first time, Shadowheart realized just how large and muscular the ReedClan deputy was. Relief flooded through him at the thought that he would never have to meet him battle.

"Our sister, Cinder, is still with Hawk and his rogues," Shadowheart put in. "I was found several moons ago floating in the river unconscious. I was saved by a LeafClan patrol, and they took me in as an apprentice. I lost all my memories, and I don't remember anything about my past."

The rage had faded from Stonetail's eyes, only to be filled with concern. "Is Cinder safe? Will those brutes hurt her?"

Shadowheart shook his head. "No. Cinder still believes that Hawk is our father. When he took us from our mother, he had his mate, Lily, raise us as their kits. When I became a LeafClan apprentice, not long after I met Cinder in the forest. She had come looking for me, and she told me who she was, and where I came from. Not long after, Hawk attacked our camp. He demanded I be handed over to him. Echostar refused; she believed that it was my decision to make."

"And you stayed with LeafClan?" Stonetail guessed, listening intently.

"No, not at first," Shadowheart admitted reluctantly, shame burning his pelt. "I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me. So I left in the middle of the night, and met Cinder by the Cavern of Stars. She took me back to the rogue camp, and I spent the next few moons with them." He closed his eyes briefly, remembering the place he had once thought was home. "It was far from what I had known in LeafClan," he continued. Deciding to leave the bits out with Firelight and Pinefrost, he went on carefully. "Cinder eventually helped me escape, and I went back to LeafClan. I have stayed there since, and only have seen Cinder briefly."

Stonetail watched him as Shadowheart finished speaking. There was an anguished look in the older tom's gaze, as if it pained him to hear what sort of life his kits had been living so far. He took a deep breath. "So now you both are serving your mother's Clan, while your sister resides with the rogues."

Blackflame gave a nod. "That's where it stands now. Once I came to LeafClan, Shadowheart was able to piece together that we were brothers. And we decided almost immediately to come here to speak with you."

"What will you do now then?" his father asked.

"I-I'm not sure," Shadowheart admitted. "I guess we'll have to go back to our Clan. With Hawk threatening the borders, we can't stay away for long."

Stonetail got to his paws. "Then allow me to walk you both back home. I might not be able to stay in LeafClan with you, but I want to spend what little time I have left with you both."

"Will Icestar mind?" Shadowheart asked. "I know that tensions are still high between our Clans."

"I don't think Icestar will be against it," Stonetail assured him. "He understands what this all means to me."

Blackflame stretched as he stood up. "Great! This doesn't have to be the end either, you know. We can still all see each other at the border when there's time."

Is that true? Shadowheart gazed at his littermate. Can we really get to know our father better that easily? With the rivalry between our Clans?

Stonetail rubbed his muzzle affectionately against his two son's. "Even if we can't, you both are still my kits. Nothing will ever change that, or how much I care for you."

Purring, Shadowheart felt his heart glow with happiness. Suddenly, nothing else seemed to matter. Everything Shadowheart had ever wanted was here beside him. For the first time in a long time, he felt a deep sense of belonging; that nothing could ever take that away from him again. As he followed his family back into the ReedClan camp, he never felt more at home.