Thank you to my fellow reviewers. Some responses to your questions or critical comments:
A Harry Potter Lovin' Girl: Sorry, can't tell you yet! But you're on the right track with white pelt and blue eyes. Oh wait I said that in the story. *slaps herself*
MyrtleFalls: Yay the story is going to be here soon! I await your story!
JayxWillow: We have a Lion supporter here!
Swiftpath: Sorry, I didn't know what else to put…
Now on with the story!
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give both of you your warrior names. Swirlypaw from this moment on you will be known as Swirlycloud and Robinpaw you will be known as Robincry," meowed Bramblestar as he smiled at the new warriors.
"Swirlycloud! Robincry!" cheered the cats. Lionblaze joined in, secretly glad that he was freed from Swirlypaw, Swirlycloud.
The apprentice den had been rather full with Swirlycloud, Robincry, and Icecloud's kits who were now apprentices so Bramblestar had decided to make the older apprentices warriors.
The new mentors were well picked. Shimmerkit went to Whitewing and Smokykit went to Molenose who was thrilled.
Lionblaze was very tired because of his extra deputy duties but it made him feel proud of his Clan. Yet, it was a bittersweet pride because he knew that if Heathertail agreed to Dovesong and Tigerheart's plan, they would all have to run away.
Heathertail! Lionblaze was instantly reminded of his mate. It was the Gathering tomorrow so he would be able to explain about the DarkClan meeting then.
Lionblaze was excited. This was his first Gathering as the new ThunderClan deputy and he wondered whether or not the other Clans would approve of Bramblestar's choice.
"Ahem," coughed a rather impatient voice.
Lionblaze turned around to see Foxleap sitting behind him, twitching his tail impatiently.
"What is it Foxleap?" Lionblaze sighed. The red tom was always arguing with Lionblaze's choices and trying to make Lionblaze look bad. Lionblaze suspected that the tom still believed that he would be a better deputy.
"Patrols….?" asked Foxleap with a smug expression, which probably meant that he was glad that he had thought of a 'deputy thing' before Lionblaze.
Lionblaze felt his anger rise up but pushed it down. This was no time to be arguing when there were new warriors in the Clan.
"Right. Thanks for reminding me Foxleap," he replied smoothly. He felt a spark of triumph when he saw a scowl flash across Foxleap's face. It was obvious that the other warrior was expecting a sharp response.
Lionblaze looked at the camp. His gaze landed on the fresh-kill pile which was almost empty. He decided that about two hunting patrols would suffice at the moment.
"Pigeonfur, Molenose, Toadstep, and Smokypaw!" he called. The cats ran over with curious expressions on their faces.
"Are you okay if you were in a hunting patrol?" he asked. Smokypaw nodded eagerly and then turned to his mentor.
"Come on! I worked on my hunting crouch a lot!" Smokypaw mewed. To prove it, the apprentice crouched down.
Lionblaze had to admit that it was pretty good, considering that Smokypaw hadn't been an apprentice for a very long time.
He noticed that the apprentice's paws were a little too far out. Before Lionblaze could point it out, Molenose carefully nudged Smokypaw's paws back.
"There. Now it's perfect," Molenose mewed. Smokypaw beamed.
The cats exited the camp and Lionblaze had Poppyfrost, Streamwater, Hazeltail, and Foxleap (mainly because he wanted the red tom out of camp) be on the second patrol.
Lionblaze yawned. He had been up all night thinking about DarkClan and Dovesong's plan. He knew that a new deputy would be needed and decided that either Bumblestripe or Cinderheart would be the best choices.
"It looks as if you are tired," mewed Bramblestar as he leapt down from the Highledge.
"Sort of. Being deputy is a lot more tiring than I thought," admitted Lionblaze.
Bramblestar purred. "That's true. Being leader is harder. When I'm gone I'm sure that you'll make a great leader."
Lionblaze felt sick. Bramblestar really trusted him but Lionblaze couldn't respond with loyalty.
"Uh, yeah but I'd appreciate it if you stayed a couple more seasons," he meowed.
Bramblestar laughed loudly causing some warriors to stare at him. "Well-,"
A loud shriek came from the nursery interrupting whatever Bramblestar was going to say.
Jayfeather shot out of the medicine cat's den and into the nursery.
Flowerpetal ran in after him and after a moment she rushed out and ran towards Bramblestar.
"It's Squirrelflight and she's having her kits!" she meowed with excitement.
Lionblaze was shocked. Already? But Squirrelflight had moved into the nursery only four moons ago!
"What? This early?" asked Bramblestar, echoing Lionblaze's thoughts.
Flowerpetal nodded and ran off into the medicine cat's den to fetch some herbs.
Another pain-filled shriek ripped through the air and Bramblestar's eyes widened.
He started to go towards the nursery when Lionblaze blocked him.
"No! You'll only make things more crowded and confusing," Lionblaze growled, remembering what Jayfeather had told Berrynose when Poppyfrost was giving birth.
Bramblestar hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Tell Jayfeather to get me immediately if anything happens," he ordered.
Lionblaze flicked his tail in response and then padded to Flowerpetal who was rushing out of the medicine cat's den.
He repeated Bramblestar's message to her. Flowerpetal nodded and zipped past him and into the nursery.
The next few moments were silent. There was dead silence in the camp because it was taking Squirrelflight much too long.
Soon, the sun was coming down. Bramblestar paced back and forth in front of the nursery.
Then it was night. Jayfeather had still not come out of the nursery and Squirrelflight's ragged breaths were easy to hear in the silent night.
Lionblaze was worried. He hoped that Squirrelflight was alright. Although he had never forgiven her, she was his aunt after all.
He padded into the warriors den and curled up into a nest. His eyes wouldn't close and he could see that he wasn't the only one. Pairs of blue, green, and amber lights were all around the den.
Even Dovesong had joined the warriors along with her kits because it was impossible to sleep in the nursery.
It wasn't long before the pale lights of dawn appeared in the sky. The cheerful rosy clouds were nothing like the mood of the ThunderClan camp.
Lionblaze tried to act as if nothing was wrong. He assigned patrols, went on patrols, and chatted with warriors who were also trying to be optimistic.
Then, finally, a very tired looking Jayfeather padded out of the nursery.
Jayfeather was drowned in questions. A rustling at the entrance drew ThunderClan's attention away from the tired medicine cat.
Lionblaze was surprised to see Bramblestar at the entrance of the camp. Perfect timing, he thought to himself.
"Bramblestar, you can see your kits if you want to," mewed Jayfeather quietly.
For a moment, Bramblestar was too stunned to respond. Then the leader bounded across the camp, clearing the whole entire area with only three leaps.
He darted into the nursery. Lionblaze hoped that Squirrelflight's kits were healthy.
Lionblaze was surprised when Jayfeather beckoned him to come with his tail.
Lionblaze padded to Jayfeather. "What is it?" he asked quietly.
A low, sad moan answered his question. "Is it Squirrelflight?" Lionblaze asked, dread filling his heart.
To his relief, Jayfeather shook his head. "Two of their four kits didn't make it," he explained.
Icy claws gripped Lionblaze. "Oh….," was all that he could manage.
"Do you want to go inside? You know, to see our new kin," meowed Jayfeather.
Lionblaze hesitated not wanting to seem like barging in on personal business. "You are their family," mewed Jayfeather quietly.
Once again it was as if his brother had read his mind. "Okay then," decided Lionblaze and slowly padded in.
Bramblestar was crouched over two tiny and much too still bodies. Lionblaze padded closer and saw that one was a brown tabby tom with dark ginger stripes and the other was a pale ginger she-cat with dark brown spots speckling her whole entire body.
Squirrelflight had her head down while two other kits suckled at her stomach.
"I'm so sorry," Lionblaze whispered. Bramblestar looked up, his amber eyes full of sorrow.
"We cannot change fate. Do you think that we could still name them?" meowed Bramblestar gazing at his mate.
Squirrelflight looked up. Much of her fire had disappeared from her eyes. "StarClan must be able to call them something, am I not correct?" she mewed softly.
Bramblestar nodded. "I'd like to name the tom Loyalkit," he mewed.
Lionblaze flinched. Why did it always come to loyalty? He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't notice that Squirrelflight had spoken until she asked him what he thought about the she-cat's name.
Lionblaze quickly glanced at Jayfeather. The medicine cat mouthed the name "Birdkit".
With an almost invisible flick of his tail as a thank you Lionblaze turned his gaze back to Squirrelflight.
"I think that it's a wonderful name," Lionblaze assured. Squirrelflight only responded with a mournful yowl.
"Loyalkit and Birdkit. May you rest safely in StarClan," murmured Bramblestar softly touching his lost kits with his nose.
Lionblaze lowered his head. Then, when both Bramblestar and Squirrelflight made no comments or praises about their other kits, Lionblaze grew angry.
He snapped his head up and stood up quickly.
The sudden movement caused all three cats to look at him.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Lionblaze hissed.
Bramblestar glared at him, anger blazing in his eyes. "Two of my kits are dead and you're saying that I shouldn't mourn them?" he growled.
Lionblaze shook his head. "Of course not. That's perfectly normal. What I'm saying is that although two of your kits didn't make it, you still have two lovely and very healthy kits left. Instead of wasting your energy by continuing to long for something that you can't change, why don't you use all that energy to love your surviving kits with all your strength?"
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight were quiet for a moment. Then to Lionblaze's surprise Squirrelflight slowly nodded.
"Lionblaze is right, Bramblestar. We have been foolish to wreck this joyous day. We should raise our remaining kits with all of our might," she meowed softly.
After a moment of consideration, Bramblestar nodded also.
"So what should we name these two?" he asked nudging the other kits gently.
One of them, a fiery colored tom gave a loud, indignant squeak and batted at Bramblestar's nose.
Lionblaze felt a rush of satisfaction as he saw Bramblestar purr and lick his son.
"Would you agree if I named this tom Firekit?" asked Bramblestar. All of the cats nodded. It was the obvious choice.
The other kit was a dark ginger she-cat with a brown tail tip. "I'd like to name this one Rushingkit in honor of the Tribe of Rushing Waters," mewed Squirrelflight.
"That's a great name," agreed Bramblestar. "I'll try not to make her warrior name 'Rushingwaters' though."
The cats purred. "This is a wonderful day. We have two more lives in the Clan," meowed Lionblaze.
Bramblestar flicked his tail in agreement and then gazed down at his children.
"Welcome to ThunderClan, my little ones."