Ok sorry it took so long I kind of got a little side tracked. Anyway I know most stories usually cut to the main charter's POV on the second chappie but I realized I had forgotten a ton of stuff that's really important to the plot later on so R&R!
Chapter 2: Secrets and dreams
Rain continued to fall outside the queens den. To Windfur, it seemed like the whole forest was grieving for her beloved sister, Fernheart. Windfur wailed in grief once more, letting her emotions take control of her mind.
"Why are you doing this to me StarClan", wailed Windfur. "She had her whole life ahead of her! Why did you send me that stupid dream! Why couldn't you have led me to her instead?"
Windfur pushed her nose though her sister's blood soaked fur. Then her gaze fell to Fernheart's kits, the kits Fernheart had died to give life to, and the only family she had left. The kits were mewing pitifully, searching for milk that was not there. Windfur pushed the kits closer to her with a sweep of her tail. She let her gaze rest on Fernheart's first born, a white she-cat who looked almost just like her mother. The tiny kit had been the only one Fernheart had gotten to name. "I guess that I get to name the others now". She thought..
Windfur felt a rush of affection for Fernheart's kits. She began to think about their names. She wanted them to be perfect. To Windfur, this was one last thing she could do for her beloved sister.
Windfur gazed at the smallest of Fernheart's kits. He was the only tom, and he also looked like his mother. The kit seemed like the weakest of the four. The tiny kit's breathing began to slow, it's chest heaved and it took one last gasping breath and moved no more.
Grief crashed down on to Windfur yet again. It was so unfair! The kit's life had hardly begun and StarClan had already called him to join them.
Her gaze rested on the smallest kit next to kit that had just joined StarClan. It was a tiny copy of the kit's father, Hawkfur. The kit was very tiny and Windfur knew that she should be worried for the tiny she-cat's survival, yet something told her that this kit was strong. The kit pushed blindly toward her belly but half way there she seemed to realize that there was no milk to be found and edged back towards her siblings.
"Your fur is the color of new fallen leafs." murmured Windfur half to her self. "I will call you Leafkit."
The biggest of Fernheart's kits was a white she-cat. As she was born Fernheart had managed to let Windfur know that she wanted the little kit to be called Snowkit, so there was know need to name her. (me: don't get any ideas Snowkit IS NOT deaf.)
Windfur turned her attention to the last remaining kit, a silver-blue she-cat. Several names tumbled though Windfur's mind but not one seemed right for the silver-blue kit.
Outside rain continued to fall, once again reminding the Medicine Cat of all that had been lost.. Yet she knew that her sister would find peace with StarClan. It was a sign of comfort to Windfur to know that even though Fernheart had died she would always be watching over her, and her kits. "Take care of my kits, I will watch you forever", Fernheart had said as she joined StarClan. Windfur understood what that meant now.
Windfur's thoughts turned again to the little she-cat's name. Finally she came to a decision. The kit's name shall be Rainkit, for the way the rain brought sadness to the world by preventing the sun from shining yet, made it possible for new life. It was sort of like the way that the kits birth had taken Fernheart from WindClan and at the same time given it three new warriors.
"Windfur?", called Eaglestar from outside the den "Foampaw told me Fernheart was kit-" Eaglestar's eyes widened in horror as he laid eyes on Fernheart's body.
Even though he had not been the one to father Windfur and Fernheart, Eaglestar had had a close bond with the two sisters because his mate, Littleflower had been the one to raise them because Gingerpelt had died giving birth to them. Eaglestar had treated them all like his own.. Fernheart's death must have come as a great shock to him.
"No-no she can't be, she mustn't be" Eaglestar stuttered.
"I'm sorry Eaglestar", Windfur began, her voice full of sadness
"Fernheart died giving birth to her kits. There was nothing I could do."
Eaglestar pushed his nose though Fernheart's fur. There was no mistaking the grief and loss in his eyes.
"Did her kits survive?", he asked quietly
"Yes", said Windfur as she gestured towards the spot were the three kits lay.
"They need a mother, I'll go find Berryfur.", he murmured half to himself.
There was little hope in Eaglestar's mew. He knew as well as Windfur that the kits had little hope of survival. It was unlikely that Berryfur would even be able to feed the kits.
A few minutes later Eaglestar returned to the nursery with Berryfur behind him. Unlike Eaglestar, she didn't seem shocked about Fernheart's death. In fact, she didn't even seem upset at all.
"They need a mother Berryfur." said Eaglestar
"I am aware of that Eaglestar", said Berryfur smugly, not taking her eyes off of the kits. "These kits have bad blood in them, remember their mother was half-clan."
Windfur felt a growl rise from deep in her throat. How could Berryfur say that? Both sisters had proved themselves loyal WindClan warriors.
"Berryfur", said Eaglestar, "Fernheart was a loyal warrior how could you refuse to mother her kits? I don't care what your opinion of half-clan cats is, these kits need you and you will take care of them. That's an order!"
Eaglestar's eyes blazed with fire. Windfur had never seen him so angry. Berryfur seemed a little taken back by the harshness in her fathers words. She had almost always gotten what she wanted from her father in the past. With out another word Berryfur placed the kits into her nest and began to comfort them. Eaglestar gave a sharp nod and turned to Windfur.
" Windfur, please get Berryfur some borage. I need to announce Fernheart's death to the Clan."
He picked up Fernheart by the scruff and left the nursery. Windfur picked up the dead kit and followed
That night WindClan sat vigil for Fernheart and her kit. At dawn the elders took her body out of camp to be buried. After that Windfur could stay a wake no more. She returned to her nest and feel asleep almost instantly. This time not a single dream disturbed her.
By the time Windfur awoke it was almost sunhigh. Instinctually, she padded towards the nursery to see Fernheart. She stopped suddenly as she remembered the horrible truth; she would never see her sister again except in dreams. Windfur carried on towards the nursery anyway. She wanted to see how the kits were getting on. She was very worried about them. Windfur's greatest fear was that the kits had not survived the night. As she pushed her way though the entrance she braced herself for the worst.
"Berryfur?" said Windfur timidly
"What do you want", Berryfur grumbled. "The little brats are fine!"
"Have you been able to feed them?"
"What does it look like?"
"Oh I see I'm sorry Berryfur I'll leave you in peace now."
"Finally." , the ignorant queen replied.
"Well that went well", thought to herself as she left the nursery. Windfur was pleased that the herbs had done there job and Berryfur was able to feed the kits. She wondered if it would be enough though. Three kits needed quite a bit of food.
Windfur decided to collect more borage, she wanted to get away from camp for awhile anyway.. She was worried about the kits. It was clear that Berryfur was only taking care of them because Eaglestar had ordered her to. She didn't really like them. She hadn't even asked for their names! She hated Berryfur with all her heart and mind, it was so unfair! The kits didn't deserve a mother like that!
Windfur's paws carried her instinctively to a clearing near the ShadowClan boarder. She was over come with memories of the days of Fernheart and Hawkfur's relationship. Once she had been collecting herbs here and she had run into them. At that time she had not known about their forbidden relationship. She had been furious with Fernheart, the sisters didn't speck to each other for almost a whole moon. Yet they had found it in their hearts to forgive each other. Windfur had promised to keep their secret.
"Fernheart?", called the all too familiar voice of the cat that was the reason for all Windfur's pain. Hawkfur!
Rage exploded inside Windfur. If this stupid ShadowClan fur ball had stayed away from Fernheart her sister would still be alive. Yet Windfur kept her anger bolded up. She knew Fernheart loved him. Windfur felt a rush of compassion for the ShadowClan deputy.
He did not yet know of Fernheart's premature death.
"Oh I'm sorry Windfur, I thought you were Fernheart, she was supposed to meet me here today", said Hawkfur, trying to hide the concern in his eyes.
"I-I I'm sorry Hawkfur", said Windfur, her voice hardly more than a whisper. "Fernheart… she-she died yesterday".
"NO!!!!" wailed Hawkfur "she can't be dead, she can't"
Hawkfur let out several more wordless wails of grief for his beloved mate. Finally he managed to get control of himself and padded quietly over to Windfur.
"What about my kits?"
"They're alive Hawkfur", replied Windfur, afraid of what he would say next", "She had three she-cats; their names are Snowkit, Leafkit, and Rainkit."
A glimmer of pride threatened the pain in Hawkfur's eyes. It was obvious he wanted to see he's children. Windfur feared that he might want to take the kits to ShadowClan. Fernheart was dead, and Hawkfur most likely guessed who was raising his kits. Part of Windfur sympathized with him. She knew what it was like to lose everything, because of the choices she made. Yet Windfur felt losing Fernheart's kits would be worse than death.
"Windfur…", Hawkfur began. "I don't know how to ask you this but… can ShadowClan have Fernheart's kits?"
"NO, thought Windfur. If I let him have the kits I'll never see them again. It would be like losing Fernheart all over again". Windfur was about to tell Hawkfur no when she suddenly remembered Berryfur. If the kits grew up in ShadowClan they would never have to deal with a mother that didn't love them. They would grow up happy and safe. Hawkfur wouldn't have to worry about their survival every minute of the day. They would have a chance at life. How could she be so selfish? Windfur knew that she had to do what's best for the kits. How could she even think about refusing?
"Yes". Windfur replied, struggling for words. "But we still have to tell Eaglestar."
"I will tell him everything", said Hawkfur, head held high. "I don't want him to think I stole them. Besides he has the right to know who fathered his Fernheart's kits."
"Do me a favor please don't tell ShadowClan they are yours. I want them to be happy. I want their new Clan to except them."
With that Windfur padded away from Hawkfur, flicking her tail to signal Hawkfur to leave for his own Clan.
The Meeting with Eaglestar did not go well. He flat out refused to believe that Fernheart would take a mate from another Clan. He thought that the whole thing was just some plot to steal kits. Eaglestar finally believed them when he saw Leafkit. She looked exactly like Hawkfur. Believing them however, didn't serve much of a purpose. In all his disbelief, Eaglestar had insisted on talking the matter over with his two children, Berryfur and Stormheart. It was well known that Stormheart cared about Fernheart a little more than he would for a friend. Many, including Eaglestar, thought that he was the secret father of Fernheart's kits.
"Berryfur?", called Windfur gently as she, Stormheart, and Eaglestar entered the nursery.
"Yes", replied Berryfur in her usual rude tone.
"I need help with something.", said Eaglestar
"Well.." Eaglestar began to explain everything that Windfur had just told him to Berryfur.
"And their still here", said Berryfur after Eaglestar had finished speaking. "We should have gotten ride of these kits yesterday! StarClan will not be pleased with this! If their filthy father wants them let him have them!"
Eaglestar looked crushed by Berryfur's harsh words.
"What do you think we should do Stormheart?", said Eaglestar turning to his son. "I-I know you loved her, but her-her kits. Don't you want them to-"
"No, I never loved her. Take her worthless kits out of my sight!", Stormheart shoved past Windfur on his way out of the nursery, his eyes full of hurt, betrayal, and a new hatred for the thing he wanted but could never have.
Windfur felt a rush of pity for the black tom. Even though she had never liked him, she knew that he cared very deeply for her sister. It must really hurt him to know that Fernheart never loved him back, and that she had loved some one else the whole time.
Eaglestar let out a long sigh. "I guess it's settled then."
"Aren't you going to talk it over with Ravenpelt?"
"She will understand."
With that, Eaglestar padded out of the nursery.
Windfur meet Hawkfur later that evening, Rainkit in her jaws and Leafkit beside her. Ravenpelt stood next to her holding a struggling Snowkit. It pained Windfur to know that the last bit of her sister was about to be carried across the thunder path, never to return.
At last Hawkfur arrived. Behind him a brown apprentice followed behind him. Hawkfur's eyes filled with pride as he sniffed each of his offspring. He picked up Leafkit and passed her to the apprentice, then he took Rainkit from Windfur and Snowkit who was still struggling, form Ravenpelt. The two ShadowClan cats turned around and left the clearing.
The next few days were a blur to Windfur. Each night the dream of the starry cats returned, only now it was worse. After they vanished darkness engulfed Windfur and would not lift until the three cats returned. Something seemed familiar about these cats, but Windfur just couldn't put her whisker on it.
Windfur lay awake in her den. It had been along day. Berryfur had begun her kitting, early. Way too early. Only one, a small tom that Berryfur had dubbed Owlkit had survived. On the bright side, Berryfur had plenty of milk.
Finally, after what seemed like moons to Windfur the gray she-cat drifted off to sleep. She opened her eyes. Once again she was standing at the Fourtrees looking at the three stars in the sky. She wondered what the dream could mean. It was now obvious that it was important. StarClan wouldn't send her the same dream more than once if it wasn't important. The dream suggested that there were dark times coming to the Clans, that much was obvious. The bigger part, the part that Windfur was still trying to understand was the three cats that most certainly the Clan's only hope.
The starry cats were once again ascending towards the ground. Windfur let out a gasp. It should have been obvious! The three cats looked just like Leafkit, Snowkit, and Rainkit. Only grown up! Once again Windfur was left in darkness. "Children of Wind, Shadow, River, and Thunder shall walk different paths yet, there paws will shape the future of the Clans." said the voice as the darkness began to fade away. The three cats stood in front of her again. Windfur had a feeling she was about to wake up, she was wrong.
The scene changed. Windfur stood in a clearing apparently alone. She opened her mouth to sent the air. Her heart leaped. One of the scents in the air belonged to Fernheart.
Windfur turned around to see her beloved sister smiling at her. She let out a purr and rushed over to greet her. Fernheart did not return the greeting. Her eyes were clouded with pain and worry. She seemed to be staring at something only she could see.
"Fernheart?" Windfur asked tentatively.
"I am here Windfur." replied Fernheart. "I have brought you here for a reason Windfur, great danger is coming to the three whom you love most. Bring them home before the Hawk takes his final flight or prophecies will go unfulfilled and the forest will face un lifting darkness. Remember, the future is not set in stone."
With that see began to pad away. "Wait!" Windfur called after her "tell me what you mean!"
Fernheart stopped in her tracks. "Hawkfur will becoming to join me soon that is all I can say. Go carefully Windfur."
Fernheart vanished and Windfur awoke with a start.
"I can't believe I'm in ShadowClan territory again," thought Windfur as she padded silently though ShadowClan territory unseen and unheard by enemy warriors.
Windfur opened her mouth to scent the air, she was terrified of being caught, but she needed to speck to Hawkfur. She dove for the nearest bush, she had scented a ShadowClan patrol, close to
Windfur waited patently. It was crucial that she needed to speak to Hawkfur. She knew the dream meant that he would die, and when he did the three that she most loved, which were the kits and even the whole forest would be in terrible danger.
The ShadowClan patrol seemed to be approaching rather fast, Windfur prayed they hadn't scented her. She scented the air again. She smelled ShadowClan, stronger this time and mouse. The ShadowClan patrol was made up of four scents by the smell of it. She recognized two of them. One belonging to Hawkfur and the other to the apprentice who had come with him on the day she had given him the kits. "If I can just get Hawkfur away from the others-"
"Did you catch that mouse yet Dustpaw?" the voice of Hawkfur calling to his apprentice broke Windfur's chain of thought.
"No, I think it went that way."
Windfur braced herself as the sounds of the ShadowClan cats came closer and closer. Hawkfur was only a few tail-lengths away. She couldn't risk calling out to him, in case the other cats heard her. Windfur's only hope was for Hawkfur to scent her and not one of the other cats.
Dustpaw turned around. "Oh no! He scented me! Wait! I can get Dustpaw to get Hawkfur for me." she thought.
"Dustpaw!" Windfur hissed just loud enough for the apprentice to hear.
The tom apprentice pricked his ears and walked nervously over to Windfur.
"You're the WindClan Medicine cat. What are you doing on out territory?" he said
"I'm-, will you get Hawkfur to come and talk to me? It's important." replied Windfur
A look of doubt past over the apprentice's face, but the habit of obeying older cats won and he scampered away.
A few minutes later Hawkfur pushed his way into Windfur's hiding place.
"What are you doing here?" he hissed " This better be important. Do you have any idea what could happen to you if Sootpelt or Darkfur caught you?"
"I do Hawkfur." the Medicine Cat began. She took a deep breath, unsure of how the ShadowClan deputy would take the news she had brought. "Last night Fernheart came to me in a dream."
"Go on," Hawkfur prompted
"She told me: great danger is coming to the three you love most. Bring them home before the Hawk takes his final flight or prophecies will go unfulfilled and the forest will face un lifting darkness. Remember, the future is not set in stone. She also told me that you would be joining StarClan soon." Windfur bowed her head afraid of how the deputy would receive his foretold death.
Fear entered the deputy's eyes. "The three that you love most are the kits, aren't they?" he said in no more than a whisper.
"I'm sorry Hawkfur. I know you would have taken good care of them."
Hawkfur let out a sigh. "I just thought I would get to see them grow up into the amazing warriors Fernheart always wanted them to be. Rainkit is so like her mother though she looks like mine. I guess I'll see her soon."
Windfur once again felt a stab of pity for the ShadowClan tom. "So you will let me take them back to WindClan?" ventured Windfur causally.
"What else can I do?" sighed Hawkfur "I want my kits to be the best warriors they can be. I will do whatever it takes to protect Fernheart's kits."
Windfur felt amazingly grateful to the tom-cat. Now they had to face the horrible truth: Hawkfur was going to die and when he did his kits would be in terrible danger from StarClan knows what.
"How are we going to get ShadowClan to take them back?" asked Windfur.
"We shall tell them that there was a miscommunication. That you never intended to give ShadowClan the kits for good, just until one of your queens can feed them. If Berryfur has given birth, the plan will work."
"She gave birth yesterday. But Hawkfur, how will you convince ShadowClan to give up the kits?"
"I am ShadowClan's deputy they will support my decision."
"All right then."
Hawkfur lead the way to the ShadowClan camp. Windfur followed matching his pace as if her life depended on it. When they arrived they were greeted by snarls amid in Windfur's direction.
"Hawkfur! Why have you brought the WindClan Medicine Cat into our camp?"
"What is she doing here?"
"Intruder!"
"Pretty she-cat!"
"GET OFF OUR TERRTIORY!!"
"QUIET!!!" yelled Hawkfur as he lead me towards Brownstar's den.
The elderly tom sat in his nest with his paws tucked under his chest. He looked up as they entered the den.
"Hawkfur, and Windfur. What brings you here." said the ShadowClan leader.
"Windfur comes with a request Brownstar." said Hawkfur "She wishes that the kits her Clan gave to us be returned to their birth Clan. She says that there was a miscommunication and that they never intended to give us the kits for good, only until one of their queens was fit to be mother to them."
"Yes, that's what this is about" began Windfur with a sudden rush of confidence. "We mean no harm to ShadowClan and are sorry our intentions were misunderstood."
"I understand, but many of my Clan might not see it that way. We must talk to them first." replied Brownstar
Brownstar padded out of the den signaling for them to follow. He leapt on to a smooth boulder and let out a yowl. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the High-Rock for a Clan meeting. You all know that some three days ago WindClan gave us Fernheart's kits after the premature death of their mother. Windfur has come to take them back to WindClan."
Mews of shock broke out among the ShadowClan cats.
"What is the meaning of this Brownstar? WindClan gave them to us the kits will make us stronger! Why should we give them back like a Clan of mouse, like cowards."
"WindClan have no right!"
"SILENCE!," yowled Hawkfur! "Listen to what your leader has to say!"
The clearing fell silent once more.
"Anyway as I was saying, Windfur says that she never intended to give us the kits for good, just until another WindClan queen could raise them. It was only for the kits survival that she gave them to us."
Mews of agreement broke out among the listening cats.
"I think that we should give the kits back," said Hawkfur, his voice ringing loud and clear across the clearing "If we gave them their kits back without a fight then WindClan would be in our dept. Think of what they would owe us! This could benefit all of ShadowClan!"
More mews of agreement rang out though the clearing. However, a look of hatred was plastered across a tom's face.
"Why did we expect them In the first place?" yowled the tom "Everyone knows that Fernheart was half RiverClan! The kits have bad blood in them! ShadowClan must weed out such filth!"
Windfur could have attacked the ShadowClan tom right then and there but she held herself back. She was in an enemy camp and far from being a welcomed guest, attacking one of their warriors would be stupid and suicidal.
"Darkfur! This is not the time to discuss your option of half-clan cats. Those kits had no control over their heritage! Do not blame the kit for the mistakes made many generations before their birth! See me in my den when this is over! As my son and senior warrior I expect better from you!"
They dark warriors nodded, clearly embarrassed and walked swiftly towards the warriors den.
"Now that that's over I have made my decision: we will let the kits return to WindClan.
Ok that was REALLY long I hope that this time my grammar is up to elementary standards (it stinks to bad to hope for my own grade. Strangely enough I have a 96 in Langue Arts!) REVIEW the review button is LUCKY!!!!! Review and get an Eaglestar plushie!!!
Patronus Charm out!