A/N

Soooo, um, I'm gonna need name suggestions for Brindleleaf's and Pinewhisker's kits. She has four, but I have one name for a kit, so you all can suggest three names. 1. A dark brown tabby she cat with pale blue eyes. 2. a dark golden tom with dark brown spots and stripes and pale green eyes, tinged with blue. 3. a dark brownish golden tom with dark green eyes

Please review your suggestions! (the fourth will be revealed at Brindleleaf's kitting)

"Pinewhisker, come on! You're on the dawn patrol!" A distant voice stirred Pinewhisker awake. Pinewhisker sighed. Ever since I've been meeting Brindleleaf, I just can't sleep… "I'm coming," Pinewhisker called, stumbling over to Blackpelt, Jaytalon and Flamefoot. "Let's go, we got near the Two-leg place." Blackpelt seemed to be in charge of the patrol. As they neared the Two-leg place, Pinewhisker swore that if he didn't keep moving, he'd fall asleep standing up!

"Hey! You, down there!" A she cat shouted, a soft ring to her voice. Pinewhisker blinked, and looked up at a silver and grey she cat, standing nimbly on one of the white 'fences', a dark blue collar around her neck, a little golden circle piece dangling off it.

She jumped down on the grassy floor, her wide yellow-amber eyes glowing. "My name's Shy! I've seen you wild cats around here, and I've heard that you live separately and free, with it's own rules. I may have only a loose understanding of your life style, but I have a request, for me and my friend. I wish to join your 'clan'." Shy explained, raising her chin to Blackpelt. The senior black tom eyed Shy suspiciously.

"Hmm, who's your little pal?" Flamefoot asked, narrowing his eyes. Shy turned around, and leaped up on the 'fence' and looked down inside it. "It's okay, Hunt! They just wanna talk for now!" Shy chided.

Slowly, a small, stocky white tom with huge amber eyes scrambled atop the fence, and bounced down to meet the clan-cats.

"Um, hi?" The white tom seemed more 'shy' than Shy herself!

"My name's Hunt…" Hunt breathed, as if just standing in the presence of the ThunderClanners made him self-conscious or nervous.

Shy stood in front of him.

"We wish to join you." Hunt meowed, his nose twitching nervously.

The dawn patrol exchanged wary glances. Blackpelt seemed to be ever-so slightly disgusted by them joining, but he dipped his head curtly. "C'mon, then. Let's go see what Smokestar says." Blackpelt said bluntly, as Jaytalon freshened the scent mark.

Jaytalon guided Shy, as he told Shy about their noble code. Flamefoot and Pinewhisker took turns carrying Hunt, learning he was merely two moons old, explaining his small size. When they entered camp, cats stared at Shy and Hunt curiously.

"Look, that silver she cat has a collar!" Heatherkit barked, her voice echoing and murmurs flooded over the cats.

Blackpelt entered Smokestar's den, while Pinewhisker sat down, ready for a clan meeting, and the only thing keeping him awake was Shy's constant need to talk. "So, killing is wrong? I've heard that you fight and kill though?" Shy tipped her head. and Pinewhisker sighed, explaining it. "Well, we do fight one another, but we don't kill each other. At least we try, some of us can get carried away." Pinewhisker remembered the rumors floating around Shadefur's death.

Shy nodded thoughtfully. "And all the clans. This is ThunderClan, then there's RiverClan, and ShadowClan, and um, BreezeClan?" Pinewhisker stiffened at the miss naming of WindClan.

"It's WindClan, not BreezeClan." Pinewhisker took effort not to growl his response, and just as he sensed that Shy was about to ask another somewhat pointless question, Smokestar and Cloudclaw called a meeting.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the TallRock!" Smokestar bellowed, Cloudclaw stood beside the leader.

Smokestar blandly glared at the kittypets, his eyes settling on Shy's collar. "It states in the warrior code, that we warriors are to reject to soft life of kittypets, so no. You Two-leg cats may not join us." Smokestar huffed, but as he was about to conclude the meeting, Cloudclaw stopped him.

"Smokestar, the code says to reject the life of a kittypet, not the kittypets themselves. We need more warriors, and you know that. We lost two good cats just yesterday. Let them prove themselves. If Shy and Hunt cannot help the clan, they can return to their soft lifestyle." Cloudclaw whispered. Smokestar seemed to consider this, as he took his place back on the TallRock.

"Cloudclaw has declared something, and I agree with it. Shy, you wish to join ThunderClan, and devote yourself to our style?" Smokestar had a hint of challenge in his voice. Shy nodded excitedly. "Yes, I will." Smokestar blinked in understanding.

"And you, Hunt?"

The white tom stuck out his fur, and nodded quickly. "I-I do, yes!" Hunt grinned happily.

"Very well. Then from this day forward, until you gain your warrior name, you will be known as Shypaw. If you can pass your final assessment for a warrior within four moons, you may stay in ThunderClan. Your mentor will be Scarface. And, Hunt. Although you are young, you may join. Until you gain your apprentice and warrior name, you will be Huntkit. If you can get good praise from the elders', such as keeping their bedding fresh and bringing them food, you may stay. You'll join Nightbreeze's litter. Her kits are around your age." Smokestar declared the meeting over.

Shypaw and Huntkit looked slightly doubtful, mostly Shypaw when she met her mentor. Shypaw's eyes widened in surprise at the tom, obviously frightened, but she straightened up. "I'm Shypaw. Your new apprentice." Scarface nodded. "Yes, I know. And there's no need to pretend you're not frightened, but I do appreciate your courtesy."

Shypaw seemed a little stunned at his kind-ish words, but Scarface wasn't finished. "Lightfeather, the cream she cat over there came up with some custom moves, to make up for my blind side. I can also scent prey better than any cat, and hear better. Perhaps that's why I'm your mentor. Now, time's awasting. Let's go see the territory." Scarface started off, Shypaw bouncing around him, clearing not scared at all.

Huntkit grabbed a plumpy mouse from the pile, sniffing it first before dropping it at Tulipwood's and Mallowtail's paws. "I can get your own, if you want that is." Huntkit quickly explained, turning around.

Tulipwood let out a raspy purr. "It's fine, little one. Why don't you join us? I bet you'd wanna hear one of Mallowtail's over-exaggerated stories." Tulipwood teased the other elder playfully. Mallowtail pretending to be offended, with a pretend gasp of surprise.

"Tulipwood! How could you?" Mallowtail joked, taking a bite of the mouse. Huntkit snickered. "Um, who's Nightbreeze? Not to be rude, but I am kind of hungry…" Huntkit shyly trailed off. Mallowtail purred at Huntkit. "She's that black she cat, sunning with the white one. Her kits are Heatherkit, Moonkit and Eaglekit. I suggest staying away from Eaglekit though, he's badly ill." Mallowtail explained, casting a sorrowful glance at the medicine den. Heatherkit was bothering Mousekit, begging the newborn to open her eyes and play, until Snowwing groaned and asked Heatherkit to go and find Moonkit. Huntkit padded slowly up to Nightbreeze. "Hello, um, I'm-" Nightbreeze cut Huntkit off with a chuckle. "I know who you are, and I'm sure you're hungry. Why don't you come in the nursery?" Nightbreeze stood up, shaking dust off her pelt, and entered the nursery, Heatherkit, Moonkit and Huntkit at her tail.

(Meanwhile, with Scarface…)

"Ok, let's practice recognizing scents." Scarface ordered. "What can you smell?" Shypaw closed her eyes and let the scents bath her tongue. "Hmm, robin, um, is that mouse? And uh, I think that's squirrel, and maybe vole?" Shypaw opened her amber eyes and looked at her new mentor, who was nodding approvingly. "Good, good. But that last one. That's water vole, not just vole. Vole has more of a musty tang to it." Scarface friendly corrected.

Shypaw dipped her head. "Sorry," but Scarface just flicked his ear. "It was an honest mistake. Let's see if you can recognize the other clan's scents." Scarface began heading in the direction of a fishy-salty-watery smell. "I can assume that's RiverClan?" Shypaw said, peering into the river, which was going down now. "Yes, you're correct." Scarface meowed, dragging Shypaw away from the river by her collar.

As they followed the stream to the FlatLands, Shypaw scented the air once more. "This is a very breezy and light smell. It's stronger than RiverClan, but I assume it's WindClan. Oh, and there's cat-scent." Shypaw informed, just as a WindClan hunting patrol passed by.

"You're right, young one. It is WindClan," a black and white tom mocked. "Watch it, Mousetail." A long haired white tom warned. "They're not attacking, it's just a mentor and apprentice."

Mousetail, the black and white tom, just snorted. "Mentor and apprentice? The warrior looks like he's the prey, and his apprentice is wearing a collar! A collar, Whitefur!" Mousetail scoffed in disbelief.

Whitefur cuffed Mousetail over the head. "We're not blind, Mousetail, but we're also not looking for a fight. Scarface, I apologize. We'll be on our way. Congrats on getting an apprentice." Whitefur dipped his head, a white she cat with ginger splotches copied him, but couldn't say a word with the lapwing tight in her jaws.

Shypaw lowered her head shamefully. "They're right, Scarface. I shouldn't have a collar." Shypaw sniffed, but Scarface just purred.

"Then let's fix that." Scarface said, leaping on Shypaw.

Shypaw let out a shriek of surprise, throwing him off. Scarface circled her, then pounced from behind her. He held her down with his back legs flattening her back legs to the ground while he placed his front paws on Shypaw's shoulders and tugged at her blue collar.

Shypaw gasped hoarsely, but she breathed a sigh of relief, as Scarface gave a final tug, and she heard her collar snap off her, and Scarface rebounded into the undergrowth. Shypaw stood up, sniffing for her mentor's scent and tracing it to a thornbush. Scarface bumbled out, grumbling about the thorns, the collar in his teeth. Scarface walked over to the large river and promptly threw it in, the dark blue collar disappearing in the churning water.

Shypaw began pulling the thorns out of Scarface's fur, the tom wincing each time. "So, how'd you get your scars?" Shypawfelt the blue-grey tabby stiffen. "I-I killed a cat. The ShadowClan leader, back when I was an apprentice. Leaders have nine lives, and no, it's not myth. When she came back she scarred me like this, as a revenge I guess. I became a warrior as I was dying, and I was named this." Scarface flattened his ears.

"I bet you hate me now." Scarface growled.

"No, I don't." Shypaw insisted, tugging out another thorn. Scarface let out a tiny hiss of pain, then muttered a 'sorry'.

"What were you called before?" Shypaw meowed, spitting out the thorn. "I was…" Scarface murmured the last part. "Hm?" Shypaw asked, biting down on the tip of a thorn.

"Rainpaw. I used to be Rainpaw. I actually wanted to be Rainstar one day. Guess if I'm ever leader, I'll be Scarstar…" Scarface gritted his teeth as the last thorn was yanked out.

"Let's go, there's one more clan." Scarface said, giving his pelt a few licks. Shypaw was on her paws in an instant, following Scarface to a somewhat sticky, marshy floor. "Ew, yucky. I bet this is ShadowClan, by the crow-food smell!" Shypaw reasoned, her voice strange sounding with her nose all scrunched up.

"Very good! I'm positive you'll get to stay. Now, let's work on your hunting skills." Scarface ordered, crouching down. "Now for a bird, you wanna keep low, but ready to spring in case the bird senses you." Scarface meowed, "you try."

Shypaw nodded, crouching to the shaggy grass and wriggling her haunches in anticipation. Scarface chuckled. "You'll get no where with that. Try it like this." Scarface brought himself to the ground, sliding slowly, his paws like feathers landing on the moor. Scarface stood up. "Try now," he offered as Shypaw mimicked him perfectly, her tail high up, not dragging it like most apprentices.

"Great job! Why don't you see if you can go catch something? And remember, a rabbit will smell you before it sees you, and a mouse will feel you before it smells you!" Scarface called after the silver-and-grey she cat. Scarface pricked his ears at the noise of a kicked pebble, from the opposite direction Shypaw ran in.

Stealthily, Scarface peered near the WindClan border from behind an overturned tree root. There, he saw a mottled tabby tom nuzzling with a brownish golden WindClan she cat. Pinewhisker?! Is that Sunstar's daughter? What're you doing? Scarface thought desperately. Is this why you're always so sleepy? You've been meeting her at night, and now the day? Scarface backed away in shock, stumbling into Shypaw, holding a giant rabbit in her jaws, its long ears almost touching the ground.

"Did I do well?" Shypaw asked, adjusting her grip on the rabbit. Scarface nodded, his mouth nearly dropping open. She's definitely destined to be a great hunter, that's for sure! Scarface thought, as Shypaw buriued the rabbit, returning moments later with a squirrel. Shypaw insisted she carried her rabbit, while Scarface took her squirrel and a robin he caught.

Shypaw has a very strong sense of smell, perhaps even better than mine! She'll probably the clan's best tracker when she's a warrior! Her fighting skills could use some work though. Scarface pondered over Shypaw, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shypaw attempting to eat the rabbit. He cuffed her ear.

"Hey! What was that for?" Shypaw narrowed her amber eyes, glaring at Scarface. "Elders and kits must be fed before warriors and apprentices, Shypaw. I don't want you to break the code on your first day here." Scarface explained, as Shypaw's eyes widened apologetically. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Shypaw exclaimed, her tail-tip twitching uncomfortably. Scarface chuckled. "It's fine, just try to remember more often." He meowed, as they entered camp, and dropped their prey on the hefty pile.

(Meanwhile, at the WindClan border…)

"I have to go, Pinewhisker, the clan thinks I'm only on a stroll. They know I'm expecting." Brindleleaf said her goodbyes and left her secret mate standing there. I'm sorry, Pinewhisker. You know we won't be able to meet as often, now that I'm a queen. Brindleleaf thought as she pushed her way through the heather barrier.

Soon as she entered, Blueberry approached her. "Brindleleaf, we need to talk." Blueberry sounded very stern as Brindleleaf felt her heart stop.

"Y-yes, let me eat, I'm starving." Brindleleaf lied, escaping from Blueberry's sharp amber glare. Without looking, Brindleleaf snatched a lapwing and took her time eating it, forcing herself to swallow every gulp.

After what seemed like moons, Brindleleaf scuffed dirt over her prey-bones and entered Blueberry's den nervously. There, the blue-grey she cat waited. "We need to discuss the father of your kits." Oh, no! This is it, Blueberry must've found out! Brindleleaf gulped.

"The father is Buzzardwing, isn't it?" Blueberry's tone suddenly changed to kind and simply curious. Brindleleaf's mind suddenly warped at the thought. Buzzardwing was a strong, and very handsome tom-friend of Brindleleaf, who had died of greencough just the past quarter-moon ago. Brindleleaf and Buzzardwing were very close, like littermates, but everyone thought they were actual mates.

Silverpaw, now Silverflight, had been very jealous of Brindleleaf, and distraught when Buzzardwing died. Brindleleaf looked down for a moment, mustering the very thing she was brilliant at. When the queen looked up, her deep blue eyes were teary and fogged as Brindleleaf stuttered, "y-yes, oh, they are Buzzardwing's!" Brindleleaf was sure to end her statement in a shrill wail, earning a sympathetic lick on the nose from Blueberry. "Shh, there there, he'll live on in his kits…" Blueberry soothed, and Brindleleaf gave a final sniff before blinking away the mist from her eyes.

Perfect luck that Pinewhisker looks a lot like Buzzardwing, except Pinewhisker is a ton more good-looking. I can still love Pinewhisker… Our destiny isn't so bleak after all. Thank you, StarClan. And, I'm sorry. Blueberry left the den, going to Sunstar, and just as Brindleleaf stood up, her father called a meeting.

"As you all know, Brindleleaf is expecting kits. And I couldn't be more happier for my daughter. But Blueberry here brings news." Sunstar nodded for Blueberry to announce it.

"Brindleleaf has told me, the father of the kits is Buzzardwing." Blueberry paused, letting cats murmur their thoughts.

"They were close, it was only a matter of time." Brindleleaf heard Mousetail mutter.

"Poor Brindleleaf. Her kits have to grow up without a father," meowed Blossomfur, shaking her head sadly.

Silverflight simply was glaring shards of ice at Brindleleaf, more than obviously jealous.

"Buzzardwing is heavily missed, but he will live on, in Brindleleaf's kits. May StarClan light their paths." Sunstar jumped off the HighHill, to give Brindleleaf a sympathetic lick on her forehead. "I had to raise you nearly alone, with Barkflower's milk of course. I'm just sad that these kits will grow up without a father, like you did without Cedarfern." Sunstar's voice shook at the mention of his dead mate.

Brindleleaf simply nodded, and her father went to Roseclaw, assembling a patrol. Brindleleaf headed for the nursery, planning on a long nap, when Streamfur approached Brindleleaf, the silver tabby's belly swaying with Eaglepelt's overdue kits.

"I'm very sorry, Brindleleaf. If Eaglepelt died, I'm not sure I'd make it! He means so much to me, and Buzzardwing must mean a lot too." Streamfur's amber eyes showed all the sympathy in the world as the queen trotted beneath the HighHill and lay on her side, closing her eyes to sun.

If I get anymore sympathy, I'm going to explode with guilt! All I want is to have strong, healthy kits, with a strong, caring father. Can't I have that?

That night, Brindleleaf was nudged awake by Lilypelt, a white and silver she cat. Cries and gasps were heard from farther out of the nursery. Streamfur must be kitting. I hope she's alright. Lilypelt maneuvered her way by Streamfur, who now had a stick in her jaws, though it threatened to snap.

Lilypelt curled her tail around her lone kit, Pebblekit. Lilypelt was an older queen, as Pebblekit was her second litter, but spaced out. the queen mate, Brownfang had died last season. She had Ryeclaw Buzzardwing, but she'd taken Stonefoot as a mate and had Pebblekit, who'd be an apprentice in the coming quarter-moon.

Pebblekit, a dark silver tom with a white muzzle sat near his mother, his thick tail curled over his paws. Brindleleaf turned to him. "Aren't you curious to see the new kits?" Pebblekit blinked. "Of course, but this is normal for me. I was here when Barkflower birthed Deerkit and Dustkit, and when Fernbreeze-" Pebblekit stopped talking as Lilypelt cuffed Pebblekit's ear.

"Pebblekit, you know Fernbreeze hates to talk about it. Those poor kits…" Lilypelt shook her head.

Silence.

Lilypelt and Brindleleaf both exchanged ominous looks before entering the nursery. Blueberry and Roseclaw each held identical grins on their faces, but their eyes glowed worriedly. Four, large healthy kits suckled at Streamfur's belly. Although Streamfur herself was a different matter. The silver tabby looked too exhausted to even breathe, and she lay nearly motionless. Streamfur! I-it must've been the kits… They look like they're already a moon old! Brindleleaf fretted in her own mind, casting worried glances to all the cats around her.

Lilypelt bopped Brindleleaf on the head with a paw, stopping the young queen's anxious pacing. "Stop it, if you keep pacing around you'll kits will be all muscle and no fur!" Lilypelt exclaimed. Brindleleaf sighed, an edgy tone to it.

Blueberry approached the two queens, a blank look in her eyes. "Streamfur is very, very weak. The kitting was too much for such a small she cat. Eaglepelt is with her now, but she's getting no better." Blueberry furrowed her eyebrows worriedly, digging her claws in the soft floor. "I am a medicine cat, it's my duty to heal! If I can't do this, what use am I?" Blueberry admitted, and without waiting for an answer, she stalked off.

Lilypelt ordered Pebblekit to stay in the nursery with Barkflower and her kits, while the silver-and-white she cat led Brindleleaf in the medicine den. Eaglepelt was just leaving. "Streamfu says she wants you to name her kits. She's sleeping now." Eaglepelt sounded drained of all his energy, his yellow eyes dull, and greyed.

Lilypelt and Brindleleaf looked at the four big kits at Streamfur's stomach. A dark brown tom with grey paws, a silver she kit with a black tail, an almost blue-grey-silver tom with dark brown splotches, and a silver and white tabby she kit with light brown flecks. Brindleleaf and Lilypelt examined the four kits. The two queens shrugged, obviously stumped. I can't even name Streamfur's kits, how could I care for my own? Brindleleaf wondered, looking down at her slightly swollen belly.

A/N

I need help on Streamfur's kits. The last she kit, the silver one, I already have her name, but I need help on the other three. And don't forget about Brindleleaf's kits, need help on those too… Please and thank you!