"Larkflight, about this rogue Clan-" Brackenstar approached Larkflight after she had returned from a patrol. It had been a moon since she had received her warrior name, and tonight was going to be her first Gathering.

"Clan-s, Brackenstar. There are four of them, just like us," corrected Larkflight, washing her paws.

"Oh dear. Well, I was wondering…were you telling the truth? Because this could mean danger for the Clans if you are – a lot of danger," said Brackenstar.

"I'm not lying. It scares me just as much, but it's true; I swear it by StarClan. I spoke with them myself. One of their leaders didn't want you to find out about their plans, so she sent one of her warriors to kill me before I told anyone. Aspenstar didn't believe me, but I hope you will."

"I do because you're my daughter, but I doubt that any of the others will. They don't like to admit that anything that might be dangerous to them."

"Yes, it's true. But there has to be something we can do about it," said Larkflight, cocking her head and thinking.

"Yes."

Larkflight looked up at her father, and eventually Brackenstar caught her gaze. He immediately seemed to realize that something else was on her mind.

"What are you thinking about? Is there something you want to tell me?" he asked anxiously, sensing her hesitation.

"Well…yes, but I don't really know how to say it," she croaked. Brackenstar looked worried.

"You can tell me anything, Larkflight, I'm your father. But I want to help you, so you've got to tell me," he meowed, peering at her closely. Larkflight looked like she was going to be sick.

"This is harder to say than what you're thinking," she muttered. Brackenstar forced a smile.

"Just tell me," he pleaded.

"Well…I think…" Larkflight closed her eyes, bracing herself for the next words. "I think…"

"Yes?" prompted Brackenstar.

"I think I'm going to have kits!" Larkflight blurted out. Brackenstar's face curved into a smile, and he blinked at her understandingly.

"But that's wonderful! You didn't have to be afraid to tell me! I have to say though, I haven't seen you hanging around any toms these days," said Brackenstar, smiling at her.

"Oh…yeah. It was pretty…covered up, I guess," said Larkpaw, wishing she could sink into the ground. She had been seeing Moonpaw in secret every night or at least every other night since she had returned to FireClan. She had had to tell Brackenstar about the kits sooner or later, but it nearly killed her to do it. She hadn't yet had the chance to tell Moonpaw, and she almost dreaded his response.

"Okay, spit it out. Who's the tom?" said Brackenstar teasingly, hardly able to contain his excitement.

Larkflight paled underneath her fur, and her heart skipped a beat. What could she say? Huntingspirit? She laughed inwardly. Yeah right. I have to tell him sooner or later, it might as well be sooner.

"Um, well, it's not what you might think," she began slowly, avoiding Brackenstar's gaze.

"It's not…Briskpaw, is it?" whispered Brackenstar. Larkflight cringed with disgust, and looked over at the new medicine cat apprentice. She had to admit, Briskpaw was handsome, but he was so immature, and…how could her father even think that?

"No way!" she spat, and hurriedly lowered her voice, realizing the apprentice was almost next to her.

"I mean, of course not! The father is a warrior,"

It was true. About two days after Larkflight, Moonpaw had received his warrior name. He was now Moonleaf, and a full medicine cat…, which just made their bond even more forbidden.

"Good. But…he's not…dead, is he?" Brackenstar said, looking worried again. Larkflight thought for a moment. This could be a good way to lie to him...no, she couldn't.

"Daddy, who has died recently?" she asked sarcastically, raising her eyebrow at him.

"I was just thinking-" Then it dawned on him. Brackenstar's eyes became dark and he asked, "The tom is from another Clan. That's why I've never seen you with him. You've been seeing each other…in secret," growled Brackenstar darkly. Larkflight nodded, her eyes showing the terror that she felt in her heart. What could this mean for her relationship with Moonleaf?

"I can hardly say I'm happy for you…" rumbled Brackenstar. "Which Clan?"

"LeafClan," squeaked Larkflight, her tongue hardly working.

"Ah, well, that's something to be thankful for. I was afraid you were going to say StoneClan, than I would really have something to say. Please Larkflight, what is his name?"

Larkflight whimpered slightly, and her father looked pained, but he didn't relinquish the question.

"Daddy-"

"Tell me, Larkflight!" her father hissed. She may have been his only daughter, but this was still a terrible thing.

Larkflight cried out in anguish, but she knew there was no way she could deny her father the truth.

"Moonleaf," she moaned, and scrambled away, dragging herself desperately towards the warrior's den. She heard Brackenstar draw in his breath sharply, and she tried to move faster, but her paws wouldn't let her.

"Larkflight!" her father growled, and sprang after her. He dropped down in front of her just as she was about to slide into the safety of her nest, and there was fire in his eyes.

"How could you?" rasped Brackenstar. "He's a medicine cat! Have you no respect for StarClan? Have you no loyalty to your Clan?"

Larkflight wailed in fear and guilt, but she had no reply. Brackenstar glared at her furiously, his separate consciousnesses battling with such ferocity inside his mind that he could hardly think of what to say to his own daughter. Finally, his eyes clouded and he hissed at her, "You disgust me! Stay in the nursery, I have no wish to speak with you!"

Larkflight watched him turn and stalk away, but suddenly, that feeling rose in her again, the rebellious voice of her spirit.

"Brackenstar!" she cried, and many heads turned toward her. Brackenstar stopped, but he didn't look around. "Daddy…I love him! I still do, and I always will! If you can't understand that, than maybe his love for me is greater than yours, and mine for him! Maybe, Daddy, my life with him would give me greater joy!" she screamed, and dashed down into the nursery. She felt the suspicious stares directed at her, and Brackenstar's pained glance as she scrambled through the entrance, but she didn't turn.

"Larkflight? Why are you down here? And what was that commotion?" questioned Redflower, a queen who had just recently given birth to three kits. The little balls of fur were crowded all around her, and Larkflight watched them with a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Larkflight?"

"Oh…well, I'm here because I'm expecting kits," answered Larkflight. "That was also the commotion.

"Oh! How wonderful! Who's the father?" asked Redflower, puzzled at Larkflight's dark tone.

"Why does everyone ask that?" muttered Larkflight mostly to herself.

"What was that, dear?"

"Oh nothing. The father, right. Well, the father of my kits is Moonleaf of LeafClan." Larkflight held her head high. She was fed up with being ashamed of what she had done. She loved Moonleaf more than any other cat, possibly even her father, and she was proud to bear his kits.

"Oh! Well! That explains the commotion!" said Redflower rudely and moved away, scooting her kits to the other side of the nursery. Larkflight sighed. Would her kits be treated this way when they grew up? She shuddered. What if she really had done a horrible thing? For herself, and the kits? Larkflight shook her head, dismissing the thoughts, and tried to fall asleep.

Somehow, there was no way that Larkflight's eyes would close. Every little sound and rustle of cat's sleeping soundly in their nests came as a roar in her ears, and she was wide-awake when the moon and the stars were full overhead. She shifted restlessly, got up, changed position, changed position again, but it was no use…she couldn't fall asleep. Finally, Larkflight knew why.

She rose to her, shaking bits of moss from her pale gray fur, and stepped out into eh eerie silver light of the moon. Her eyes glistened, and she looked like a ghost padding silently through the camp, then through the forest, and then standing over the Moonpool. Her pelt reflected in the pool like a pale storm cloud, her eyes shimmering drops of rain.

"I had hoped you would be here," Moonleaf purred. He merged from the trees like a sliver of ice, his white pelt also shining in the moonlight. Larkflight turned to meet his gaze, and she smiled.

"I hoped the same. I have to talk to you about something," she murmured, walking up to him and pressing her muzzle against his shoulder.

"About what?" he whispered, sitting down and motioning for her to join him. Larkflight sat.

"Two things. One boring…one…more interesting," she mewed awkwardly.

"Okay. Go ahead, I'm listening," he purred, pressing against her. Larkflight cleared her throat.

"Well, first of all, I am a warrior now, and my name is Larkflight."

Moonleaf purred loudly and licked her shoulder. "Congratulations. What a beautiful name,"

Larkflight chuckled and entwined her tail with his. "And the other thing…" She dropped her head, and shuffled her paws a little, wishing again that she didn't have to tell anyone.

"Hm? What is it?" asked Moonleaf, bending down and peering at her face.

"Well…I'm expecting your kits," she breathed quickly, pulling up her head and looking at him, to see his reaction. At first, the white medicine cat had no expression at all, then his face was wide and horrified, then it looked puzzled, then he took on a overjoyed expression, and finally settled with a contented smile.

"That's certainly news…" was all he could mumble, and Larkflight leaned against him.

"But I'm so excited," she purred, and Moonleaf rested his chin on her head.

"I am too. That's wonderful!" he rumbled proudly, closing his eyes.

"But…but my father is angry with me. He says I have no loyalty to my Clan, or to StarClan. I'm afraid of how he'll treat our kits," said Larkflight worriedly, looking up at Moonleaf with scared eyes. Moonleaf licked her ear protectively, and said, "I'll make sure he does nothing o them. But you will have to choose…will they grow up in LeafClan or FireClan?"

Larkflight looked across into the clear water of the Moonpool, her eyes searching. Finally she whispered, "I can't say. If there are two, then perhaps one to each, if three…I don't know. I just don't know what to make of any of this. I'm afraid I'm not going to be a very good mother, Moonleaf," she said softly, seeking reassurance in his eyes.

"I know you will be, and our kits will the best cats of any Clan. But that's hardly all I can say to you…this is going to get us into a lot of trouble, you and I. We're going to have to be very careful with these kits. But I'm so proud…" He brushed his nose against her cheek, and purred softly.

"I am too. I think if I should have a tom, his name will be Sagekit, and if a girl, Maplekit. What do you think?"

"Lovely names, both of them." Moonleaf's eyes sparked happily, and he pressed his nose into shoulder. "I love you so much…"

"Fernmist! Fernmist come quickly! Larkflight is having her kits!" Quicktail cried, leaping from the nursery. The deputy was one of the few cats who didn't blame Larkflight, and spent time with her as much as she could.

"As if I should do anything," muttered the medicine cat darkly as she emerged from her den carrying herbs in her mouth.

"Where is my apprentice?" howled the gray she-cat, looking around furiously. "Do I have an apprentice? Brackenstar, come here right now, you maniacal furball!"

The brown tom stumbled from his den blinking.

"I have two very important things to say to you, my ballistic old friend, one, why in the name of StarClan don't I have a stinking apprentice? And secondly, your daughter is kitting. Don't just sit there, move!" screeched the old she-cat, spitting and mumbling through the bundle in her mouth. The confused leader hopped from his crouch, and pattered to the nursery, still half-asleep.

"OPEN YOUR EYES, FOX-BRAIN!" howled the medicine cat, glaring at Brackenstar. He blinked rapidly and wiped his face with his paw, hardly daring to move. 20 minutes later, Fernmist tramped from the den, her pale green eyes sharp and piercing.

"Get in there, mouse-brain, you're a Grandpa. Stupid…" muttered Fernmist under breath, trotting away.

Inside the den, Larkflight was heaving gasps of air, and Quicktail sat beside her, licking five squirming balls of fur.

"Are they, are they all alive?" choked Larkflight, trying in vain to raise her head.

"Yes. They're very beautiful, Larkflight. Four toms and two she-cats. Very beautiful…" replied Quicktail, her eyes sparkling. Larkflight sighed contentedly, catching her breath. Finally she asked, "Is my…is my father here?"

Quicktail looked around desperately, and quickly peered outside. She motioned wildly for Brackenstar, and he tiredly turned toward her.

"What?" he grumbled, completely forgetting why he was sitting in the middle of the camp instead of sleeping.

Larkflight's had her kits, mouse-brain! She wants you!" hissed Quicktail pointing to the gray flank, rising and falling slowly. Brackenstar's face widened, and her scowled at first, but soon, as he entered the den, his face softened.

"Four toms, and a she-cat," he muttered, smiling.

"Father?" wheezed Larkflight looking up.

"I'm here. I'm here. Your kits are beautiful," whispered Brackenstar

"Oh, thank you…Daddy," murmured Larkflight. After a moment, she stopped breathing hard, and Brackenstar seized the opportunity to ask, "Have you thought of names?"

"I haven't even seen them yet, Daddy!" said Larkflight laughing. She lifted her head, dragging herself to a sitting position. She peered down next to her, and a wide, bright grin spread across her face. A giggle escaped her lips, and her eyes danced.

"I think that the she kit," she pointed the snow-white kit, whose blue eyes were barely open, "Will be Featherkit. This tom," she pointed to black tom with stunning blue eyes, "will be Ravenkit, and the gray tom," she touched a large slate gray tom on the shoulder. The kit squealed. "This tom will be Stormkit. The white tom," she pointed to silver-white tom with gray patches, "will be…" Larkflight hesitated, and looked up at Brackenstar.

"Any suggestions, Daddy?" she asked, smirking playfully.

"Well yes, since you asked," he replied haughtily, smiling as well. "How about…" Brackenstar poked the kit thought fully, and it yowled fiercely, latching on to his paw. Brackenstar yelped in surprise and shook his paw violently, trying to dislodge his tiny attacker. The kit growled ferociously and hung on, his tiny body writhing.

"Daddy, careful! Don't hurt him!" cried Larkflight.

"This little guy? I don't think so! He's stronger then me!" bellowed Brackenstar, wriggling his paw gently. The kit kicked his legs in protest. "How about Wildkit? It's appropriate, for him!" Brackenstar scraped the kit off with his other paw, and the kit landed, thrashing, in the bed of moss.

"Wildkit it is!" purred Larkflight, nuzzling the tiny tom.

"And the last?" put in Quicktail, who had squeezed in behind Brackenstar. Larkflight looked at the kit. He was a fiery dark red, and Larkflight's mind briefly flashed to the other Clan leader, Firestar, who had threatened to destroy the Clans. Would her kits be in danger from the blazing tom? She shook her head, dismissing the thoughts.

"Well, I can't conceive how he came by his color, but I think…" Larkflight's eyes clouded, and her whiskers drooped for a moment. "I think I'll let the father name is son," she stated firmly, blinking away her brief sorrow.

Brackenstar's face was shadowed. "Fine," he muttered, and stalked away.

Larkflight padded out of the camp six nights later, the flame-colored kit swinging from her jaws. The other four stumbled behind her, barely able to pick up their clumsy feet. She winced as one of them squealed, and nudged the white tom gently. It hurt her to be pushing them like this, but she had to.

Finally, they reached the Moonpool, after much squirming and screeching from the kits. The flame-colored kit crouched passively at the edge of the pool, his eyes deep and penetrating.

"Larkflight? I'm glad-" Moonleaf stepped from the shadows, his eyes wide. "Great StarClan. Kits," he barked shortly, his eyes widening. "I didn't - I mean I - wow."

"Featherkit? This is your father," prompted Larkflight lamely, pushing the white she-cat forward. Featherkit blinked, yawned, and twitched her paw. "They can hardly speak, they-"

"Hello, Daddy. I think your very pretty," Featherkit declared firmly, nodding her tiny head. Larkflight gaped at the kit. Finally she choked out, "That was a very…nice…thing to say, Featherkit." Moonleaf beamed, and stepped forward to lick Featherkit affectionately on her head. The kit tolerated it with a stiff neck.

"And this is Ravenkit. Ravenkit, your-" Larkflight was cut off.

"I know, mother," snapped the sleek black kit, annoyed.

"Well okay. Say hello," replied Larkflight, shocked. The pitch-black kit smiled up at Moonleaf, who was making funny faces at his children.

"And this is Stormkit." Larkflight shoved forward the gray tom, who sat there, blinking. "Stormkit…" The kit shook his head, twitching his tail, and looked up.

"Sorry. Hello, father!" he meowed, standing tall and pressing his nose to his father's leg.

"Hello, Stormkit!" meowed Moonleaf back, cheerily patting his son on the shoulder. The large, lithe tom backed away, tumbling into Ravenkit, who hissed indignantly.

"This," Larkflight pulled the white and gray spotted tom in front of her, dragging him away from his play-fight with Featherkit.

"Aw, Mom! I was just about to smack her in the ears!" cried the tiny tom, lashing his paws out at the she-cat.

"This is Wildkit," grunted Larkflight, desperately trying to restrain the flailing kit. "Wildkit, say hello to your father!" yelped Larkflight, tugging at the kits neck scruff. Wildkit whirled around, his eyes lighting up.

"Awesome!" he cried, and managed to leap out of Larkflight's constricting hold. The kit bowled into Moonleaf's legs, nipping and scratching at him. The medicine cat gently cuffed Wildkit in the flank, and the kit tumbled head over heels, quickly scrambling back up to launch a second attack. Before he reached Moonleaf's tail, Larkflight swept him up into the air, setting him down beside Featherkit. All thoughts of he play-fight with his father forgotten, he leapt onto Featherkit, playfully batting at her ears.

"I haven't finished introductions. There's one more, and he hasn't yet got a name. I want you to name him. Come here, my son," called Larkflight softly, beckoning to the flame-colored tom. He looked up, his striking blue eyes like pools of liquid sapphire. Moonleaf gasped sharply, his eyes narrowing.

"Firekit. Of course…" Moonleaf murmured. "Firekit," he said a little louder.

"My name?" asked the kit, turning to Moonleaf. "Firekit?"

"Yes, my son, your name." replied Moonleaf, standing tall and proud next to the kit. Firekit smiled, but it was a slow, meaningful smile, and Larkflight shivered lightly.

"Whom will you take to LeafClan, Moonleaf?" asked Larkflight quietly, once the kits were all playing a safe distance away.

"I'm not sure. I think that Featherkit should stay with you. Daughter's need mothers, it's very true." Said Moonleaf.

"Yes." Larkflight was secretly happy. She had always wanted a daughter, and she had been hoping she could take Featherkit.

"Perhaps Stormkit with me…and only him. I want you to have the others," finished Moonleaf, glancing lovingly at the gray tom.

"Alright. He'll loving having a father, especially you. But what about your Clan…?" Larkflight's eyes grew worried, and she looked up at Moonleaf, her face afraid.

"Don't worry. I will say I found him wandering in the forest. No one will ask questions, my Clan isn't like that.

"Do they know?" asked Larkflight, hesitantly.

"No. It's a secret in my Clan. It's hard, believe me," said Moonleaf, his eyes glazing.

"I understand. Of course I had to tell. All right, I'll keep the rest of them. But I'm worried…about Firekit. He's so…so distant," muttered Larkflight, looking out into he shadows.

"He seems like he has a connection with StarClan like no medicine cat I have ever seen." Moonleaf looked over at the tom, who was staring thoughtfully up at the stars. "But he is strong and intelligent…he will make a great leader of FireClan some day," said Moonleaf, purring. Larkflight smiled softly.

"Indeed,"