Chapter Twenty-Nine

Foxstar's kits squirmed at her belly as she nursed them. Shadowheart was visiting his young kin in the nursery, admiring their soft fur. Mintkit was the only tom, his yellow tabby fur sticking up along his spine. Nutkit was a tan tabby, while Poppykit was dark ginger like her mother; a little white chest tuft stuck out as she squirmed. Redfur's three kits—Fernkit, Honeykit, and Sparkkit—mewled nearby, only a few days younger than Foxstar's litter.

"They're such a pawful for being so tiny," Foxstar sighed, her eyes tired.

Shadowheart frowned. The LeafClan leader had been very reserved and desolate since Leopardstrike's death. She didn't have the same glow as most new queens, and seemed to always be tired. Shadowheart had brought his concerns to Pinefrost, but the medicine cat had told him she couldn't heal the trauma Foxstar has been through—only she could break through it herself.

"Did you want me to sit with them while you went outside?" he offered, hoping to alleviate some of Foxstar's worries.

Foxstar shook her head. "They would just cry for me if I left them. Thank you for the offer, though, Shadowheart."

Dawnrise peered into the den, her graying muzzle reminding Shadowheart that the older she-cat would be retiring soon. "Shadowheart, Alderleaf wants you to join our border patrol."

"Okay," he touched his nose to Foxstar's head. "I'll come visit again later."

Leaving his leader to tend to her kits, Shadowheart emerged from the nursery. The sun was shining high overhead, and a warm breeze ruffled his fur. The camp was almost empty, most of the Clan was out hunting or patrolling—aside from Timberfall, who spent most of his time in the medicine cat den due to his mysterious illness Pinefrost couldn't seem to cure.

At the entrance of camp was Alderleaf, waiting with Dawnrise, Lynxfang, and Bluepaw. The blue-gray apprentice looked anxious, her fur bristled nervously. Shadowheart couldn't blame her—the attack on ReedClan had only happened half a moon ago, and most cats were on edge.

"All ready to go?" Alderleaf asked, as Shadowheart approached.

Shadowheart nodded. "Where are we patrolling?"

"The border near the foggy ravine hasn't been patrolled today," answered Alderleaf, as he led the patrol out of camp. "So I thought it would be best that we start there."

Lynxfang unsheathed her claws. "I hope we find that badger that killed Leopardstrike," she growled. "I'll shred it."

Bluepaw's eyes widened. "Aren't badgers big and scary?"

Dawnrise laid her tail along the apprentice's back. "Don't worry," she assured her. "If we run into a badger, we won't let it hurt you."

Alderleaf fell in beside Shadowheart, letting the patrol walk forward a bit. Curiously, he looked at the deputy. "What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, Alderleaf kept his gaze ahead. "Nothing is wrong," he started. "I just wanted to talk to you."

Shadowheart tipped his head to one side. "About what?"

"Firelight," the deputy replied, coming to a stop. "The Clan gossips about you two quite a bit you know."

Feeling his ears grow hot, Shadowheart sharply looked away. "S-So?" Why did every cat insist on asking about him and Firelight? "We're just friends."

Alderleaf purred, a light gleaming in his eye. "No need to be so defensive. I honestly think it's nice that my daughter has such a good friend," he meowed. "Before you came, she didn't quite fit in with the other apprentices. Rainfall was too excitable, Yellowsky and Ivyfrost were more to themselves, and Sleetwhisker was training as a medicine cat. I always worried that she wouldn't make any true friends."

Thinking about it at first, Shadowheart would have never guessed that the out-spoken warrior would have had trouble fitting in. However, as he thought more about his friend, he could see where Alderleaf's worries came from. Firelight was hot-headed, reckless, and often stubborn—traits that most cats would have been put off from. Despite that, she was also loyal, devoted, and cared deeply for those close to her. Shadowheart couldn't ask for a better friend.

"When I saw her getting close to you, I was glad," Alderleaf went on. "I didn't have to worry so much anymore."

Shadowheart gazed up at the sunlight rippling over the tree tops. "I'm glad I came to LeafClan. Before, when I was lived in the gorge with Hawk and his rogues, life was a constant battle. I started to become a cat the me now would hate. I don't regret choosing LeafClan over the rogues, even if they were once the cats I called kin. Under Hawk, there is no justice; no peace," Shadowheart unsheathed his claws, narrowing his eyes. "That's why he must be stopped at all costs. I can't let him ruin everything the Clans stand for."

"You're a brave warrior, Shadowheart," Alderleaf murmured. "Silversky would have been so proud of you. She was a close friend to my mate, Goldenfire, you know. Her death sent ripples through the Clan, and we all thought you and Blackflame were lost. It was sure a surprise when it was revealed that you two were her long lost kits!"

At the mention of his brother, Shadowheart felt the familiar pang of loss. His brother should still be here, raising his kits with Sandpool. Instead, he was killed by his own sister. Would Alderleaf or the rest of the Clan think less of Shadowheart if they knew Cinder was also his littermate? How would they react to the truth that his sister was just as cold blooded as the cat they hated and feared?

Alderleaf laid his tail across Shadowheart's shoulders. "I know losing Blackflame has been hard on you," he mewed softly. "I lost both of my brothers, Sagepelt and Duskstrike. It was hard to lose them both, especially since they were still young warriors with kits. But I know they died a warriors death, and are waiting for me in StarClan when I join their ranks someday."

"I just miss him," Shadowheart sighed, looking down at his paws. He felt his voice crack as he went on. "I miss Sagepelt too. I feel like Hawk has taken so much from me. My mother, my mentor, my brother..."

"There is one thing he hasn't taken," Alderleaf meowed, raising his head. When Shadowheart looked up at him, the LeafClan deputy twitched an ear. "He hasn't taken your warrior spirit. You still fight on, despite everything he has done. I can't think of many cats that are as resilient as you, Shadowheart."

Touched, Shadowheart was at a loss of words. Did he really seem that way to his Clanmates? A resilient, strong, warrior? Did he see himself that way? Shadowheart wasn't sure. He had never thought of himself as anything but a warrior cat; loyal to his Clan.

"Hey! Are you guys coming, or are you going to stand around talking all day?" Lynxfang called, her whiskers twitching with amusement.

"Yeah, sorry!" Alderleaf called back, with a purr he nudged Shadowheart. "Come on, let's finish this patrol."

Shadowheart watched as Dapplepaw and Bluepaw chased the kits around camp. Minkkit and Daykit were growing bigger every day, keeping up with the apprentices as they pounced at them. Mousepaw, Volepaw, and Batpaw watched nearby from the apprentices' den, their eyes shining contentedly. Yellowsky and Rainfall's kits were nearly warriors now, having grown big and strong in the past few moons. Glancing back at the nursery, he wondered when Foxstar would find the time to hold their warrior ceremonies.

Larkflight emerged into camp, carrying a large sparrow, his eyes shining. Sparrowsong was just behind him, holding a few mouse tails in her jaws.

"Whoa! Did you catch that all by yourself?" Larkflight's apprentice, Volepaw, came rushing over.

Larkflight nodded happily. "Yeah! It was a lucky catch though, but it will definitely feed Redfur!"

Sparrowsong purred, setting her mice on the fresh-kill pile. "She'll appreciate the nice meal! Especially now that she has three kits to feed."

"I'm sure you'll be grateful for the nice prey Brownclaw will bring to you in a few moons time," teased Tigerfrost, who was laying in a patch of sunlight near the warriors' den.

"Hey!" Sparrowsong gasped, leaping at the she-cat playfully. "Don't say that so loudly!"

Laughing, the two she-cat's tussled on the ground. Shadowheart purred watching them. Poor Sparrowsong! Though it is true that she has been mooning over Brownclaw lately. Happily, he rolled onto his back to soak in the sunlight. More kits would be nice for the Clan though. Even if our nursery is full of them.

"Well would you look at that, I found a lazy lump of fur near the sunniest patch in camp!"

Looking up, he met Firelight's amused gaze. "I'll have you know I did a border patrol today," he protested playfully.

"Oooh, look at the big loyal warrior protecting his Clan," mocked Firelight, flicking her tail over his nose as she walked past him.

Snorting, Shadowheart rolled to his belly. "Why don't you join me?"

Firelight rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. "Unlike you, I have things to do."

"Like what?" he challenged.

"My father wants to go hunting with me," she answered, coming to stand before him. "It's been a while since we hunted together, just the two of us."

Shadowheart thought of his own father, back in ReedClan. How lucky it must have been to have a father in the same Clan! "It sure is a nice day for it," he agreed, stretching with a yawn. "Hopefully this weather lasts."

"I'm sure it will," Firelight assured him, looking up at the sunny sky. "It sure doesn't look like we have any bad weather coming."

A yowl from across the clearing caught their attention. Alderleaf was waiting by the Highoak, his eyes shining. Shadowheart knew what that was about, and instantly felt uncomfortable. Couldn't he relax just once, without getting strange looks from his Clanmates? He groaned inwardly, rolling back over.

"That's my que," chirped Firelight, curling her tail over her back. "I'll see you later!"

Hearing her pad away, Shadowheart closed his eyes, relishing in the warmth the sunlight seemed to pour through his bones. How he missed Newleaf! Leaf-Bare had been far too long, and he was grateful for the warmer weather. Breathing in the soft scents of the forest, Shadowheart let himself doze off.

A paw prod to his side awoke Shadowheart, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in the familiar meadow from his dreams. Oh no, not again, he complained silently, getting to his paws. Silversky stood close by, watching her with her usual unreadable gaze. Well, at least she has something in common with Cinder, Shadowheart thought bitterly.

"What is it now?" Shadowheart demanded, not really in the mood for wayward prophecies.

Silversky snorted, cuffing his over the ears. "Don't speak to me like that," she chided, pushing past him. "I saw the battle with Cinder."

Shadowheart bit back a growl. "And?"

"You have yet to show her the right path," she told him, tail tip twitching. "If you don't hurry, she will be completely lost."

"She already is lost!" Shadowheart snarled, unable to control his anger. "Your useless prophecies didn't help! She killed Blackflame, in case you hadn't noticed! And on top of that, she attacked her own father's Clan! How exactly do you expect me to fix that?"

Silversky's eyes softened with grief. "It was a tragedy that Blackflame was lost," she mewed quietly, before raising her voice once more. "The only cat that can blamed for that is Hawk, and Hawk alone. He has brain-washed Cinder into believing his cause is just."

"He did the same thing to me," Shadowheart growled, lashing his tail. "I saw through it, so can she. I don't understand just what StarClan expects of me. I have followed every prophecy sent, but all I get in return is loss!"

"Your path has been hard," Silversky murmured gently, brushing her tail across his back. "You have done well so far, but your destiny has yet to be fulfilled. StarClan has great plans for you, my son, so do not lose hope in them just yet."

Shadowheart met his mother's gentle gaze. "I will give StarClan one more chance," he told her sternly. "I will not be tugged around needlessly by prophecies. I make my own destiny, and will follow it through; starting with ridding the Clans of Hawk."

Touching her nose to his, Silversky murmured softly, "Your spirit is too great to be lost. I know you will find a way, my precious Shadowkit."

Memories flooded Shadowheart's mind of his early days with Silversky and his littermates. From the moment he first opened his eyes to see his mother's loving gaze, to the very second he saw the world outside their warm nest. If he was meant for greatness, Shadowheart was ready to embrace it. However before all else, came Hawk. He ruined so many lives, and Shadowheart would be the one to make him pay. As he pulled away from his mother, he saw her body begin to fade.

I will make you proud of me, mother.