Chapter 3

Squirrelflight's P.O.V.

Squirrelflight ran to the Highledge and leaped into the air. She landed squarely on it, and turned to face her Clan. She looked at Firestar, Sandstorm, a harsh glare in her sister's direction, Graystripe, and finally, Brambleclaw. She took a deep breath.

"Cats of ThunderClan, I know you may be shocked, angry and wondering why I took Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather as my own. Well, I love them dearly, but I didn't want to take them at first, not have I never did. I do love them as a mother love their kits, but I never wanted them in the first place. It all starts a couple moons after Leafpool comes back from her little 'trip' with Crowfeather…

Flashback

Squirrelflight bounded after Brambleclaw, laughing. "I'll get you if it's the last thing I'll do." She took off full speed and jumped onto his back, rolled them over and started laughing.

Brambleclaw turned around and pinned Squirrelflight down, looking at her with deep love in his clear amber eyes, and laughing at the same time. "You got me. I didn't think you could."

Then a voice interrupted them, anxious and worried. "Squirrelflight, I'm sorry to interrupt your moment, but I need to talk to you immediately." Leafpool.

"Aww, Leafpool, did you have to ruin it? We were having fun! Something you seem to lack." Squirrelflight started laughing, and with the speed of a snake, slithered out from under Brambleclaw and was up an oak tree in a heartbeat. "Leafpool, relax and have fun. You're too much like Father. Be carefree for once. Great StarClan, why can't you ever have fun?"

Brambleclaw stared after her in shock. "Uh, Squirrelflight? You just slithered out from under me and climbed up a tree in a heartbeat. You're that fast?"

"Duh! Have you not noticed? That's why I caught you." She began laughing again.

"Squirrelflight! Please I need to talk to you!" Leafpool's impatient, irritated voice cut Squirrelflight's laughter short.

"Okay! I'm coming! Hold your fur!" Squirrelflight leaped down the tree and stalked over to Leafpool.

Leafpool turned and lead Squirrelflight to her den. Squirrelflight was angry that Leafpool had interrupted her moment with Brambleclaw. They rarely ever got to have fun.

"What do you want, Leafpool?" Squirrelflight growled.

"Squirrelflight, I'm…pregnant."

Silence.

"Earth to Squirrelflight. Are you there?"

Squirrelflight snapped out of her reverie and was instantly furious. "WHAT? How could you break the warrior code, Leafpool? And with Crowfeather? I know it's him! I sensed how you felt about him. Never forget the telekinesis we have, the special mind-link thing we have! How could you?"

"I didn't mean to, Squirrelflight. It just happened. Will you take care of them for me?"

"Why? Why would I take care of your kits?" Squirrelflight growled, her neck fur rising and her teeth bared.

"Because I want to keep my position as Medicine Cat."

"As far as your concerned, you're done being Medicine Cat!"

"Not if you took care of them for me."

"Never! I will never take care of your kits! Mouse-brain! When did you plan on telling Firestar, our father? Or Sandstorm, our mother?"

"I don't know, Squirrelflight. Please help me."

"I already said NO! I will never do that! Dad will shred me! Besides, you broke the warrior code, so you have to deal with the consequences! Never before did I think my mature older sister would be so immature! I am absolutely disgusted! I'll never help you!"

Squirrelflight turned around and stalked out.

End flashback

Squirrelflight heard murmurs of approval, only one stood out, who had her head bowed in shame and guilt.

"So, you refused form the start? Leafpool, is this true?"

Leafpool lifted her amber gaze and nodded. "Yeah, it's true."

"But what made you change your mind."

"Well, I was furious with Leafpool that she broke the warrior code, so I tried to keep as far away from her as possible, but she kept begging me to help her. I was so sleepy all the time then and hungry. Sandstorm told me I was pregnant the day I finally gave in to Leafpool's annoying pleads. I knew I'd never forgive for that, and I knew the consequences, but I accepted them as a warrior should, but my Mom's news came too late. I'd already agreed and I was shocked. Since then, I've regretted it even more. My kits died at birth and I was angry with Leafpool the day they died, but I'd already made my promise. Dad always told me to keep your promises, so I did."

"What made you change your mind."

"I talked to my Dad, Mom, and….Brambleclaw. I asked what to do when someone you know broke the warrior code and they pleaded for help. All of them said, "Help them. Protect them. The warrior code says 'Help your fellow warriors out.' So I promised I'd helped Leafpool. But I didn't know I was pregnant until Sandstorm told me!"

Firestar, Sandstorm, and Brambleclaw hung their head in shame, knowing that she had, in fact, asked them and they gave them advice. The Clan gasped in shock.

"You gave her advice? When that cat broke the warrior code?"

All three nodded shamefully. "But we didn't know it was Leafpool she was talking about!" They defended themselves at the same time.

"Who else would I have been talking about? I basically gave you a clue! And who wanted to talk to me so impatiently, Brambleclaw?"

Brambleclaw sighed. "Leafpool. But that still doesn't explain how Leafpool 'forced' you to do it."

Squirrelflight looked away, her green eyes sad. I really don't want to tell him this, but I have to. Squirrelflight glared at Leafpool, determination and anger in her emerald eyes.

"Leafpool forced me by giving me and herb to make my unborn kits die. She said if I wouldn't take care of her kits and protect her position, I'll never be able to have kits! When they died, that day, before mom gave me the news, I ran away from my sister. She was so cruel to do that. I knew her kits would never replace my dead kits, but I had to do it, so I could have kits."

Gasps of shock and horror erupted in the clearing. Leafpool flinched under her sister's cold gaze and her Clanmates horrorstruck ones.

Firestar looked at his older daughter gravely. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"Yes, dad. I'm sorry Squirrelflight. Forcing you to look after my kits by killing yours wasn't the right way. I should've told dad and mom and accepted the consequences, but I didn't and I'm sorry. I'm sorry to you Brambleclaw, I didn't mean to kill your kits. I was desperate. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. And now, because of my mistake, Brambleclaw won't even accept Squirrelflight back and the whole Clan hates us. I'm sorry for my part. I'll resign being Medicine Cat, now that Jayfeather is a fully trained apprentice."

"I can't believe you, Leafpool. Lying about your kits is one thing, but killing my kits with an herb? I'm disgusted! You're the Medicine Cat! You're supposed to help cats, not kill them," Brambleclaw growled.

Squirrelflight leaped down from the Highledge and hissed at her sister, "I'll never forgive you. You killed my kits! You made me look after them by killing the ones in my stomach!"

She launched herself at her sister, snarling and clawing at her. Squirrelflight could easily beat her, as Leafpool never really has warrior training, only trained by what Cinderpelt knew. She and Leafpool tumbled in a tussle.

"This is for killing Flamekit, Thistlekit, and Oakkit! You killed them and felt no mercy! Traitor! Murderer!" Squirrelflight clawed at her belly until Brambleclaw grabbed her neck fur and gently backed me away form her, while Squirrelflight still growled and tried to claw at her. "I'll never trust you again! You are no longer my sister! You're just like Tigerstar! Killing to get what you want! Maybe you should be his daughter! You sure do act like him! Not even Brambleclaw acts like him and he's his son!"

Brambleclaw let go of Squirrelflight's neck fur and dashed around in front of her. "Hey. Hey. Calm down. It's okay. We'll try and have kits again. Just don't kill Leafpool. You might regret it later," Brambleclaw gently soothed her, quietly.

Squirrelflight calmed down at hearing that and coming from Brambleclaw's mouth.

"Really?" She asked quietly. He nodded.

She yelped in excitement and bowled him on to his back, purring.

To be continued