Author's note: Righto, before I begin with this, I know that it has been a while since I have decided to post on here (life sadly has been getting in the way) but I am back now and I am going to try my best to finish this story. This story is an alternate continuation of what happens after The Last Hope.

I am a little rusty with writing so if you pick up on any errors or have any suggestions just let me know!

Thanks!

-Storm-

Preface

Bushes rustled as a large white tom with one black paw pushed his way through him, his muscles tensing up as he walked. The tom glanced back for no more than a heartbeat just to make sure that his friend was still following him. Friend… he used that term very loosely. This cat was no more than a tool to him, something that he could just to get what he wanted, no needed. His travelling companion – a tortoiseshell and white tom – was just a foxlength or two behind.

"Are we almost there?" The white tom asked impatiently with a flick of his long tail. "Are you sure that you now where they went? Or are you just leading me into the middle of nowhere?"

"Have faith, Ice. You will have what you desire soon." The other cat replied coolly.

Ice could hear the swish of the other cat's tail as it moved back and forth a couple of times. The white tom stopped and turned around to face him. "I swear, Sol." He growled, baring his fangs at the tortoiseshell and white tom. "If you are lying to me I will rip your throat out right where you stand. I have been looking for moons and you will not detour me from my goal." Ice could feel the hair on his haunches raising as he unsheathed his claws and dug them into the soft earth underneath his paws.

Sol didn't even seem to flinch at the threat. He remained calm and collected. "I promise you that I am not lying. As I said you will have what you desire soon."

Ice sighed and shook his head, deciding not to pressure the matter any further. This cat was the only lead that he had in a long time. "Let's get going then." He meowed coldly as he turned and began walking again. Don't worry father, I will avenge you. I will make them fear our name again.

…

Bramblestar paced back and forth, his muscles tense and his tail swishing to and fro. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest as he stole a quick glance at the nursery. "What if something goes wrong? What if she needs me? What if she-"

"Bramblestar, sit down." Leafpool meowed sharply. "She will be fine. Have faith in Jayfeather. He is one of the greatest medicine cats this Clan has ever known." Her eyes shimmered with pride as she mentioned her son.

"You should be in there." The dark tabby tom stopped his pacing to turn and face his mate's sister. "What if Jayfeather needs help!"

"If he needs help then he will call for me." The light brown tabby she-cat pointed out. "And I was instructed to stay out here to keep you from freaking out." She flicked his ear with her tail. "So sit down. You worrying isn't going to help Squrrielflight, I can promise you that."

Bramblestar looked like he was about to argue with Leafpool but decided against it, finally sitting down. "Sorry it's just… this is her first litter. What if something goes wrong with the birth? What if she doesn't make it? Or the kits? Or both of them?"

"Bramblestar you are not helping anything by thinking those things." Jayfeather meowed as he exited the nursery.

The dark tabby tom immediately sprung to his paws as the medicine cat appeared. "Is she okay? Are the kits okay?"

"Yes they are. Would you like to come in and see them?" Jayfeather asked.

Bramblestar nodded and pushed past the blind tom, slipping into the nursery. Squirrelflight was in a nest near the back, curled up around three balls of fur. As he entered, his mate lifted her head. "Bramblestar," she meowed tiredly. "Come, meet your kits. You have two sons." She pointed her tail at the black tom with a white chest mark and a white tail tip and the ginger colored tom. "And one daughter." She then pointed her tail at the silver stripped she-cat.

The dark tabby tom sat down beside her nest, pride swelling up inside of him. "What should we name them?"

"Well I was thinking Featherkit for this one." Squrrielflight suggested, pointing her tail at his daughter.

"That is a beautiful name." Bramblestar purred looking at his the little she-cat. She looked so much like his late friend, Feathertail. Bramblestar looked down the ginger colored tom. "How about we call him Firekit, after your father?" The little tom was the spitting image of the late ThunderClan leader who had died in the Great Battle with the Dark Forest.

Squrrielflight purred at that. "I would love that." She looked down at the last kit, who was the runt of the litter. Compared to her two littermates, the little black tom was so small. His two siblings were almost twice the size as he was. "What should we call him?"

Bramblestar brushed his tail carefully across his tiny son, a little worried for her due to her small and fraile appearance. He looked closer at the little kit and felt a knot in his stomach. The little kit's back leg looked different. It was twisted in an odd angle, sticking out to the side. "L-Look at his leg. Is he okay? Did Jayfeather look him over?"

Squirrelflight looked down, staring silently at her son. "He… didn't mention anything about his leg. Do you think he noticed? Oh StarClan…"

Bramblestar shook his head. "Twisted leg or not, this is still our son and we will love him no matter what." He looked closer at the small kit. He looked so much like one of Firestar's old friends from the old forest. "How about we call him Ravenkit?"