Chapter 5, Tigerstar's claws
The name passed between the two cats lips. Deathkit gave a squeak and latched onto Shadowflight's belly. Flamekit, Streamkit, and Rabbitkit did the same.
Shadowflight couldn't take her eyes off the tiny cats. "Skychaser, why are you here?" Leafpool finally broke the silence.
"It won't hurt to tell," Skychaser meowed, not taking his eyes off his kits. "You must keep this a secret, Leafpool. She is my mate."
Soon he explained to her their whole 'affair'.
Shadowflight nudged a straying Deathkit closer to her belly. Rabbitkit finished his dinner and fell asleep in the crook of Shadowflight's belly. Soon Flamekit and Streamkit followed.
"Is Deathkit okay?" Shadowflight fretted to Leafpool.
"She's just small, and is the runt. She'll grow."
"Skychaser, you should go," Shadowflight told the tom, "We don't want the Clan waking up and finding you here."
He opened his mouth to protest, and then stopped. He cast one more look at his kits, then turned and bounded out.
"I'll go too." Leafpool announced. "They'll be fine with just you now."
She left the den.
Shadowflight gazed down at her kits. Deathkit had fallen asleep on the pile with her siblings. What if their cold? Shadowflight wondered. She pushed them closer to her belly with a hindpaw.
She was very tired, but she was afraid to sleep. What if a kit got lost, or died?
Finally the first rays of sunlight trickled through the walls of the nursery. Shadowflight listened to the slight rustlings of the warriors den, as cats pulled themselves into the clearing.
Ferncloud opened her eyes. "You kitted!" she cried, seeing the tiny kits by her belly. "What are their names?"
"Streamkit, she's the silver she-kit, and Rabbitkit is that brown tom, and Flamekit is the red tom, and Deathkit is the little black she-cat."
Ferncloud gave a trill of excitement. When Dustpelt, her mate, entered the nursery, he stopped.
Shadowflight purred up at him. Soon more cats came into the nursery.
Rabbitkit woke up and stared at the cats with big blue eyes. The cat, Mousefur, looked down at him.
"What's his name?" the deputy asked.
"Rabbitkit," Shadowflight meowed.
"That's a stupid name." Mousefur turned and promptly stalked out of the nursery.
"You need to sleep," Ferncloud instructed. "It's good there so young. When their older they won't even let you close your eyes!"
Shadowflight cast her kits a worried look.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine." Ferncloud meowed soothingly.
Shadowflight closed her eyes and was asleep in an instant.
A huge cat loped toward her. He was a dark tabby, with massive shoulders.
"Brambleclaw?" Shadowflight asked.
"No. I am Tigerstar, Brambleclaw's father."
"Why are you here?" Shadowflight asked. Her fur bristled; she had heard the stories of the ambitious Tigerstar.
"I am here to tell you something," he meowed. He raised his head. "My blood runs in your veins… beware."
Shadowflight gave a wail as he unsheathed his claws. She unsheathed hers and saw…
His claws.
"What did you do to me?" she yowled, staring at the long, powerful, hooked claws.
"They have been like that all along." He whispered, "You have just never noticed. I am your father, Shadowflight."
"No!" she gasped, backing away from him; she raised her head and looked him in the eyes.
Eyes just like hers.
"You are capable of much, Shadowflight," he whispered, "kill when you need to."
He vanished and two shadows crept along the trees.
Another cat came.
"Death." Bluestar whispered.
Yes, I know it is preposterous for Tigerstar to be her father, but that's part of the plot. Review and check back soon!