(a/n: yeah lmao. named him after the Fritz the Cat movies, it's the 60s! (in my head he sounds like him & has a red collar) was gonna name Checkers Winston, but they didn't have a very gonna relationship in the movie (then again i guess they don't here either) but i imagine Checkers was owned by a child who should not be watching Fritz the Cat.

She was named after Chubby Checker :)

(...)

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highbranch for a clan meeting!"

Birch Pelt and Splashing Rain, now a moon old, came tumbling out of the nursery, Dew Petal close behind them.

"Kits, kits!" she mewed as they tumbled into Quick Water's leg. The she-cat smirked and lifted her plumey tail, crashing it on top of them. The kittens squealed and laughed, Quick Water wagging for even more of a game.

"Clanmates," Skystar went on, "Last night, the other leaders and I decided to change the way we name cats. Kittens will be named kit until they become apprentices," he glanced over to his grandchildren, "Like Birchkit or Rainkit. Once they become apprentices, they become paw- Birchpaw, Rainpaw. After six moons, they are given their full name- Birchpelt, Rainsplash."

Honey Pelt stood up, "Does that mean we're getting renamed?"

Skystar turned to his apprentice, "No, you're not Honey Pelt. Dew Petal," he turned back, "If you'd like to rename, then you can."

Dew Petal nodded and crouched down to her kits, now calmed down and thoroughly ruffled.

"But I like Birch Pelt!" Birchkit cried.

Dew Petal purred, "That's okay, you'll be Birch Pelt again soon enough."

"I like Rainkit!" the other squeaked. Dew Petal placed her nose to his head.

Then, lightning split the sky, landing right onto the oak tree between the nursery and hunter den. A branch caught fire and fell off. Red Claw screeched and grapped Honey Pelt, the cat who was closest, by his scruff and threw him forward, away from the flame. Skystar hissed and flung himself over Honey Pelt.

It spread further, into the nursery. Rapidly, Quick Water picked up newly-named Rainkit and Dew Petal did the same to Birchkit.

"Out, get out!" Skystar yowled, nudging Honey Pelt upward. Dew Petal didn't question, rushing out behind Quick Water. Sparrow Fur, the third cat out, looked around rapidly as the clan rushed with them.

"Where do we go?"

Quick Water pointed with her tail, "Last time the camp caught on fire, we went over the river, because the fire couldn't cross," she muttered around Rainkit.

"But it's been raining so long!" Thorn protested, "The river must be twice it's size!"

"No you have a better idea?" Quick Water snapped.

Blossom's voice was next. "Where's Skystar?"

(...)

Birch and Alder had after Thorn, the best swimmer SkyClan had, swan across the deep and rapid river to send for RiverClan aide.

"He can't still be in camp!" Alder mewed, "What about Honey Pelt?"

As if it summoned him, Honey Pelt crashed head-first into Birch.

"Honey Pelt!" the ginger tom exclaimed, "What's happened?"

"The camp's on fire," he said quickly, "Skystar's still there, I think he's fainted."

"Fainted," Alder mewed, looking to Birch, "Do you think he's lost a life?"

"If he's passed out, he must've. Umm, you run Honey Pelt down to the river, I'll go try to grab him."

"Please stay safe," Alder mewed, looping her tail over Honey Pelt's shoulders.

Birch nodded and ran back into camp. The bramble tunnel was orange on top, but the flames had yet to cover the inside. Sure enough, there lie Skystar, still and mangled.

"Oh, StarClan," Birch mewed quitely, "Don't let this be his last life."

He bit into his scruff and immediately, the tom shot awake, startling Birch.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving your pelt, idiot!" but then Birch broke into a coughing fit as the smoke around them got thicker. Skystar's eyes went wide and grabbing Birch instead, he rushed the tom out. Clearly Skystar remembered the first fire as well as Quick Water did, immediately rushing toward the river.

He set Birch down, who was panting, still clearing his throat and unable to breath through his nose. Skystar looped his tail around his shoulders and stepped into the rapidly rushing river.

The current threatened to drag them further downstream, and neither were strong enough to fight it. Skystar managed to let out one loud yowl as a wave crashed over their heads and lead them downward. Skystar could faintly see Birch's head hit a rock, but couldn't keep his eyes open long.

(...)

"Moon Shad...ow…" Quick Water whispered as Night and Pine Needle dragged Skystar and Birch from the river. Alder let out a shriek. Acorn Fur whacked her tail into Nettle's flank.

"Go grab Dappled Pelt," she said rapidly. Pine Needle was pushing up and down on Birch's stomach. Eventually the ginger tom coughed up black water and his eyes fluttered open a bit, quickly closing. Alder rushed up and put her paws over his body.

"I'm sorry, Alder," Pine Needle whispered, wrapping his black tail around her.

"No! No, no, noooo! Birch!" She sobbed and placed her muzzle on his cheek, moving one paw in between her chest, "B-Birch, I… I don't know if you remember… or if you can hear me but… remember. Remember when we were still kits, with Misty, and when she said goodbye to a cat she said godspeed?"

Birch flicked his ear in acknowledgement.

"Well…" she sniffed, "If this is really the end for you…. Th-then… Godspeed, Birch."

Birch smiled and just a heartbeat after that, the fur on his chest stopped sweeping Alder's paw.

Alder let out another yowl and sobbed harder into his pelt. On the other side of the rocky clearing, Skystar coughed. Star Flower, Flower Foot and Dew Petal, kits in tail, surrounding him.

"Sparrow Fur," he rasped, summoning the calico. She stepped closer. Skystar placed his white paw on Sparrow Fur's own.

"Will you lead SkyClan after me?"

Sparrow Fur looked down at the tom, wondering where all his nobility had gone. He'd lost all his lives so quickly. Sparrow Fur leaned down and touched her nose to his ear.

"I will never live up to you."

Skystar wheezed, "You don't have to live up to me. You just have to lead…" With one last wheeze, he stopped breathing entirely. Star Flower yowled and collapsed onto him. Dew Petal pressed her kits closer and pressed into Flower Foot's tan chest.

Sparrow Fur leaned back up, swallowing back her own cries and looked around the clearing. The worst of damages looked to be emotional. Dapple Pelt and Acorn Fur had herbs in their jaws and Pine Needle was weaving around the cats, but Acorn Fur's gaze was caught on Sparrow Fur. She dipped her head.

"Sparrowstar."