Chapter 16: Greyleaf
It'd been three sunrises since the battle, and it had haunted Greyleaf ever since. She twisted and turned in her nest from nightmares about Pinestar's stained muzzle, the loud yowls of the fighting cats, and her father's dead body below her. She didn't want anyone to know about her terrors; she didn't want any sympathy.
So, Greyleaf did her best to avoid all cats. At first, she had taken frequent walks in the forest, but Sunstar soon forbade those due to her kits, leafbare, and presence at the battle. Then, Greyleaf hid in the nursery, but Blackfur kept visiting her. After that, Greyleaf stayed in the medicine cat den, falsely complaining about aches and pains, but she grew tired of Featherheart's constant doting.
Now, the grey she-cat just spent time with Goldenfur, because he helped calm her and knew not to tread on the sensitive train of thought that was the Shadowclan battle. He kept her entertained with funny jokes and clan news. On this particular leafbare day, they were sunning themselves on the rocks near the elders den, and Goldenfur told Greyleaf a exceptionally good bit of information.
"Hey Greyleaf," Goldenfur mewed at bit nervously, his voice quivering a bit.
"Yeah?" She murmured, her eyes half closed.
"Did you know that Shadowclan has called off the war?" He said hesitantly.
Greyleaf's head shot up, alert, her eyes wide open and focused on Goldenfur's striped face. "No, I didn't. Why'd they give up?"
He opened his mouth to answer, but closed it when Sunstar walked by to check on the elders.
"I'll tell you when we're in the forest." Goldenfur whispered.
"But how-"
"Shhh," He meowed, "Give me a minute."
The golden tom then hopped off the rocks and padded over to their leader. "Hey, Sunstar," He called, "Is it okay if I take Greyleaf into the forest? She's been dying to get out."
Sunstar's gold pelt prickled noticeably, "I don't know..." He began, but Goldenfur cut him off.
"Please, Dad! I haven't been on a walk with Greyleaf in ages." Goldenfur smiled and made his pupils turn into big circles.
The golden leader sighed in defeat, his brown eyes glowing with love for his son. "Okay, but don't stay out too late."
"Thank you Sunstar!" Goldenfur meowed and turned to Greyleaf, who slid off of the rocks and tottered to his side.
Together, they left the camp and entered the forest. The Thunderclan she-cat breathed in deeply, smelling the crisp, leafbare air. It had changed so much since she had seen it last and was actually paying attention, all of the once lush trees bare, the forest quiet and with little prey, the floor covered in dead brown leaves.
Greyleaf was interrupted from her reminiscing when Goldenfur pulled her aside to hide in a bush, which prickled at their fur, but concealed them.
"Okay," He whispered hesitantly, his blue eyes darting back and forth, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, because it's a secret, but I think you deserve to know, because Pinestar murdered your father."
Greyleaf flinched at this statement, but kept listening, her green eyes focused on Goldenfur and her ears swiveled forward towards him.
He took a deep breath, and continued, "Pinestar surrendered after the first battle. He said that he had wronged our clan by killing our deputy, and gave us the twoleg clearing as repayment. But he didn't want anyone to know, so he made a deal with Sunstar that they would each select a few trusted warriors and have mock battles, pretending that Shadowclan lost after a couple sunrises." His blue eyes searched her face, trying to find how she would react.
He really did that? Maybe this means that he didn't mean to kill Leopardheart! Maybe he's sorry! Oh, Pinestar, I forgive you! Even if you don't know it! Greyleaf's gloom turned to hope, and she leaped into the air in triumph. In her joy, Greyleaf forgot that Goldenfur was there, and she realized that he was with her in mid leap, losing focus and crashing down unto the bush. The branches struck her belly with such a force that the air was knocked out of her, and she tumbled off of the shrub to hit the ground with a thump, lying still on the cold earth.
"Greyleaf!" Goldenfur shouted, sped to her side, and pawed her leg.
She coughed and tried to stand up, but winced as a violent spasm racked her body. She cried out in pain and slumped to the floor.
"Oh my Starclan!" Goldenfur yowled, scared for his friend, "Are the kits coming!?"
She didn't reply, just cried out in pain as another spasm came. Goldenfur paced around her, panting heavily and freaking out.
"Not helping!" Greyleaf wailed, and then yowled again as a small kit arrived.
The tom stared at her, confused and shocked at the same time.
"Well don't just stand there," The queen snapped, wincing, "Lick it!"
He did as he was told, and was just done with the first when the second came. Greyleaf cradled the first, a gray-brown striped tom, in her paws, ignoring the pain as she licked his little head. Then, Goldenfur gave her a petite grey she-cat with darker grey spots just as the final kit arrived. Her friend quickly got to work on licking the last kitten, and gasped. Greyleaf turned her head to look at him. He was staring down at a little golden she-cat that looked startlingly similar to himself. Greyleaf smiled hastily and grabbed the kit by her scruff, pulling it towards her. She placed the three at her belly and purred as they suckled.
"Goldenfur," She asked, not taking her loving gaze off her kits, "Would you mind helping me name them?"
"Uh.." He mumbled, startled that she would ask, "Okay," He padded over and hesitantly motioned to the grey she-kit, "What about -um- Sparrowkit for her?" He asked.
Greyleaf nodded and replied, "That sounds nice," She nuzzled the she-kit, "My little Sparrowkit," She purred.
Goldenfur, now with renewed confidence, continued, "And we could name the brown one Nightkit!"
Greyleaf purred, looked at the last she-cat, and mewed, "I wanna name this one Goldenkit."
Goldenfur was taken aback, blue eyes wide and paw in the air. "You want to name your kit after me?"
She turned her green eyes to him. "Of course! Your my best friend, Goldenfur, and she looks like you anyways." Greyleaf licked the newly named Goldenkit, and asked one more question, "Hey, Goldenfur?"
"Yeah?" He asked, his blue eyes hopeful, but for what, Greyleaf didn't know.
"Will you get Featherheart?"
Goldenfur nodded at bit sadly, the hopeful look leaving his eyes, and went to retrieve Featherheart.
Greyleaf purred and licked her kits, nuzzling them and telling them all about their father. The cool leafbare air made them shiver, and she wrapped her tail protectively around them. When the grey cat heard the sound of frantic paw-steps, she ceased her Pinestar story-telling and looked up. Featherheart, Goldenfur, Sunstar, and Featherstorm were all running towards her, anxious looks on their faces.
"What's wrong?" Greyleaf asked, concerned and suddenly worried.
While the others stood nearby, the grey medicine-cat ran over to the queen, eyes scanning around for the kits. Greyleaf removed her tail, and Featherheart immediately started to give them check-ups, her troubled look growing.
"What's wrong?" Greyleaf asked, distress creeping into her voice.
Feathrtail looked her in the eyes, her blue eyes saddened, "You kits were born early," She mewed quietly, "They may not survive the night."
Greyleaf panicked, starting to hyperventilate, "Then we need to get them to camp! Guys," She yowled at the trio standing by, "Grab them! We need to get my kits to camp!"
No one protested, and Sunstar grabbed Nightkit, Featherstorm picked up Sparrowkit, Goldenfur took hold of Goldenkit, and Featherheart helped Greyleaf to her paws. The five cats made their way back to camp and into the nursery. Blackfur joined them, and the group watched over Greyleaf and her kits through the cold night.
Hey guys! So how do ya like the newest chapter? I hope yall enjoyed it! Sorry if you had kit ideas that weren't included, Whencowsfly was the only one who submitted them at the time when I was making the story.
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: What do you think will happen next? Why does Goldenkit look like Goldenfur? And Why did Pinestar surrender?