Chapter Three
Dawn peeked over the horizon as morning woke the forest up.
Birchthorn woke with a start. He forgot about his meeting with Applepaw. He looked around camp as he padded out of the warrior den. The camp was busy.
Birchthorn tiptoed over to the camp entrance with out being seen. He smiled thinking how happy he was that he was going to see Applepaw. He was out of the thorn tunnel when a voice interrupted him. He turned to see Cinderpaw.
"Hey Birchthorn, where ya goin'." Asked Cinderpaw.
"Err…" he stuttered. He was about to lie when Cinderpaw's mentor, Cloudtail, saved him.
"Come on Cinderpaw, hurry up." Cloudtail called from somewhere in the forest.
"Coming Cloudtail, see ya Birchthorn." She called.
As soon as Cinderpaw's fluffy tail disappeared into the forest, Birchthorn bolted into the trees and ran to the Sky Oak.
Applepaw lifted her head when she saw him. Her eyes were filled with hurt.
"Where were you last night?" she whispered. She eyed his body and saw some of his scars. She gasped. "Your hurt." She mewed as she rubbed her tail over the biggest scar on his flank.
"It's nothing, really. There was just a battle with ShadowClan. We won, but I got a few scars. Good thing I'm a warrior now." He purred. He liked her being so close. After he got done talking he turned to a very confused Applepaw.
"You're a warrior now?" she asked.
"Yep, I'm Birchthorn now. Whitestone and I had it last night." He replied with pride.
"Whitestone?" She asked with suspicion.
"She's…just a friend." Birchthorn stuttered when he saw uncertainty flash against Applepaw's dark green eyes.
"If you say so." She spat on the ground. Birchthorn bit his lip. What did Applepaw care if Whitestone was a warrior like himself? He shook his thoughts away. And turned when Applepaw's eyes brightened and she spoke. Her voice was warm and oddly Birchthorn found it comforting.
"That's great. Now my best friend is a warrior." She purred.
"Yeah, your older. You also deserve to be a warrior." He meowed.
"No, I don't. I ran away from home and now I don't even want to go back." She cried.
"Sure you do, you deserve it as much as any other apprentice by the lake." Birchthorn reassured her. Applepaw looked up at him her eyes filled with gratitude.
"That's why I like you. You always know just what to say." She mumbled. The sound of paw-steps made Applepaw stiffen with terror.
"I must hide, come and see me again shortly." She whispered. Then she disappeared into a narrow hole that made a den under the tree. The paw-steps grew until two figures stepped out of the bracken, Cloudtail and Cinderpaw.
"Birchthorn, what are you doing here." Asked Cloudtail.
"Err…I'm hunting." Mewed Birchthorn.
"I see," mewed Cloudtail his voice thick with suspicion, "well carry on." Then he walked back into the trees. Cinderpaw followed.
"Phew, that was close." He muttered to himself. He walked back to camp carrying a juicy vole, to make it look like he was hunting.
He wandered into camp and set his vole on the fresh kill pile as Firestar was assigning the patrols, due to Brambleclaw who was still hurt.
"Birchthorn, I want you to go on the sun-high patrol with Smoky, Thornclaw, and Poppypaw." He ordered.
"Okay." Birchthorn mewed. He joined Smoky, Thornclaw, and Poppypaw by the tunnel. They were heading out when Brook came out of the nursery.
"Firestar wait, I want to go with them." She called. Firestar looked surprised.
"But it's so close to your kitting. What if they come early." Called a voice behind Firestar. It was Brook's mate, Stormfur.
"Don't worry bossy fur-ball." Brook mewed. "Please Firestar?" she begged.
"Well okay." He mewed and a happy Brook came over to the sun-high patrol.
"Can we go already?" asked Thornclaw. Brook nodded. The sun-high patrol headed over to the ShadowClan border. The air filled with the putrid smell of …ShadowClan. The borders were freshly renewed.
"You would think after the battle we gave them they would be suffering, at least a bit." Mewed Brook dryly. Poppypaw nodded in agreement. The smell was drifting down the way.
"Come on, we can catch them if we run." Mewed Thornclaw.
The sun-high patrol ran and came to the patrol of ShadowClan cats.
Birchthorn recognized the patrol. He saw Rowanclaw, Russetfur, Oakfur (who had some pretty deep scars thanks to Birchthorn), and his apprentice Wavepaw.
"So, I see ShadowClan is still on it's feet." Mewed Thornclaw.
"Why yes. You can't defeat ShadowClan that easily." Growled Russetfur.
"Oh, then it had to be the sun in my eyes when I saw the entire ShadowClan fleeing up the hollow." Thornclaw mewed smugly.
"You deserved that battle, you are barely considered a clan anymore, your all are kittypets. " Sneered Oakfur as his gaze landed on Smoky and Brook.
"Oh so you want a fight?" mewed Smoky and Brook hissed in agreement, "Bring it." He whispered.
"Okay we'll fight you." Mewed Russetfur, and with a flick of her tail ShadowClan cats came into a crowd behind her.
"Still want to fight?" she mewed. Without waiting for an answer she flung herself into battle with a cry of fury. She landed square on Smokey's back.
Birchthorn came face to face with Oakfur, again. He saw a flash of happiness in his eyes as he saw whom he was fighting.
"You won't win so easily this time." Spat Oakfur.
"I see you want me to add more scars to your collection, I see." He mewed. He could feel fury and the cry of battle rising up inside him. He flung himself at Oakfur but the brown tom stepped aside and Birchthorn let out a squeak of surprise as he landed on the ground.
He felt a heavy weight and turned his head to find Oakfur slashing into his pelt. Pain shocked through his body with every slash.
Birchthorn rolled over onto his back and Oakfur let out a grunt. Birchthorn was distracted by a yowl. Oakfur took advantage of the moment and leapt on Birchthorn.
Birchthorn and Oakfur was a ball of fling fur and blood. Soon Oakfur came out on top. Birchthorn wondered how he could defeat this large warrior. The answer came.
A yowl of fury rang out above them. Oakfur and Birchthorn turned to see a hunting patrol, Firestar, Squirrelflight, Cinderpaw, Cloudtail, Graystripe and lagging behind them a very worn out Poppypaw.
The new group flung themselves in to the heat of the battle. Cinderpaw jumped on top of Oakfur and Cinderpaw and Birchthorn worked together to fend off Oakfur. Soon he, and the rest of the ShadowClan, went running into the bushes.
Birchthorn was panting heavily. The rest of the cats were pushing themselves up. Thornclaw padded up to Firestar.
"Good thing you came when you did, we were losing." Mewed Thornclaw with relief.
"We were hunting and we heard it, it wasn't easy to miss. You were making enough racket to wake up the whole forest. Poppypaw also came to us." Purred Firestar, an edge of amusement in his voice.
"Yeah, ShadowClan put up a pretty good fight, compared to what we did to them." Mewed Thornclaw.
"Right," nodded Firestar, "come on, lets start heading back." Firestar mewed to the worn-out cats.
The group was about to leave when a yowl made them stop in their tracks. It came from Brook.
"Brook, what is it?" asked Firestar his eyes wide with worry.
"My kits…they're coming." Panted Brook.
"Can you move under that shielded overhang?" asked Firestar. Brook was too weak to speak so she only nodded. She heaved herself up and staggered over under the overhang. She staggered under the bush that sat under the over hang.
When Firestar saw that she was under it, he looked at the cats waiting anxiously around him. There was Smoky, Thornclaw, Birchthorn, Poppypaw, Cinderpaw, Cloudtail, Squirrelflight, Graystripe and himself. Firestar started to give orders.
"Squirrelflight, Poppypaw, Cinderpaw. Go in by Brook." He ordered the three she cats. The nodded and padded through the overhanging grass.
"Thornclaw and Birchthorn, you guard the entrance." The two cats nodded and Birchthorn took his position on one side.
"Smoky and Cloudtail. Run and get Stormfur. He's on a patrol near the WindClan border." The cats nodded and sprinted off.
"Graystripe, go get Jaypaw. He should be at camp." Graystripe nodded but before he ran to camp, he turned.
"Firestar, what are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going to fetch Leafpool, now run!" he yowled. Graystripe and Firestar ran their separate was and Birchthorn watched them go.
From inside he could hear the shrikes of pain. Every time, Birchthorn winced, but held his position. Thornclaw turned to face him.
"At least were going to have more warriors for the ThunderClan." Mewed Thornclaw. Birchthorn was about to answer when Graystripe and Jaypaw came bursting through the trees.
"Jaypaw, you're a medicine cat apprentice, get in there." Mewed Birchthorn.
Jaypaw looked a little unsure but shook his head and bravely walked in there. Birchthorn heard Jaypaw reassure Brook.
"What should I do now?" asked Graystripe.
"I don't know, just wait for Firestar. I guess." Mewed Thornclaw. Graystripe nodded and sat down. He paced and went in the forest to wait for his son.
"Yeah," Birchthorn mewed trying to keep their previous conversation going, "I guess this does mean more kits." Thornclaw nodded blankly.
"Yeah, more kits…" His voice was quiet and he could barely be heard. Birchthorn saw longing in his eyes.
"I wish she was giving birth to my kits. That beautiful she-cat. Oh only StarClan knows." He murmured as he scraped his sheathed claws in the damp ground.
"You…like her?" Birchthorn couldn't keep surprise coming from his voice. Thornclaw sighed.
"Yes," His voice was hoarse and a faraway look came into his eyes, "But Stormfur was always a much better mate for her. I know that they lov…" His voice faltered as if he couldn't bring himself to say 'love'. "Love…Each…Other." He chocked out the words as if each word was a deadly claw mark from ShadowClan.
"But you will find someone else." Birchthorn tried to convince the older warrior. Thornclaw shook his head.
"No, I'm growing old. Maybe to old." Thornclaw's blue eyes filled with pain. "But you, you still have time. There are many she-cats for you to have. Me, I blew my last chance." Birchthorn thought of Applepaw as Thornclaw told him there were many she-cats. The two toms were silent from then on.
Soon Graystripe returned and Stormfur arrived.
Stormfur looked at his father. He nodded his head to the overhang and Stormfur ran in to it to Brook.
Cloudtail and Smoky sat down next to Graystripe. What seemed like days but was only a few moments Firestar and Leafpool walked in.
"Jaypaw's in there." Birchthorn told Leafpool as she ran past him.
"Firestar, what do we do now?" asked Graystripe.
"You three can run back to the hollow and help the queens get a spot ready for Brook." Firestar answered. The cats ran off once again.
The remaining cats waited, and waited, and waited until Leafpool came out.
She went over to Firestar and whispered something. Firestar nodded.
Firestar padded over to the two cats.
"You can go in to see the new kits." He mewed and then walked in himself.
Thornclaw and Birchthorn looked at Firestar and trailed behind him.
It took a second for Birchthorn to adjust to the dim light. Snuggled into the curve of Brook's body, were five kits.
"There beautiful. Do you have names for them yet?" asked Birchthorn. Thornclaw stiffened beside Birchthorn.
"I wish." He whispered so quietly that Birchthorn had to strain himself to hear. Thornclaw's eyes again became watery. Birchthorn could tell that he was trying to restrain himself.
"No, but I have a few ideas." Mewed Brook. Squirrelflight, Poppypaw, Cinderpaw, and Jaypaw squeezed past the cats and waked out to Leafpool.
"For the tom," mewed Stormfur touching his tail to tabby tom that looked like Brook, "I like Ragekit. And for the feisty she-cat," mewed Stormfur touching the tip of his tail to a light gray she-cat who was moving around, "I think Furykit would work." Finished Stormfur. Brook nodded.
"I like those names. For the little white she-cat what about Winterkit?" asked Brook.
"Perfect." Purred Stormfur, "how about for the dark gray tom, hum… Twilightkit?"
"Now we only have to name the little blue/gray she-cat." Meowed Brook.
Birchthorn looked down at the little cat. He saw her gray fur blowing in the wind. The little she-cat filled his heart with something that he hadn't felt in a long time.
His memory took him back to the time of the Great Journey. He remembered he was a kit and they had just found their new home by the lake. They clans were sitting on the bank of the Lake. They were looking at the dawn of a new day, of a new life.
That same feeling of hope of a new home came to him as he was looking at this kit.
"Dawnkit…" he whispered. Brook and Stormfur looked at him.
"Yes, that's perfect." Purred Brook, touching the gray she-cat, "my little Dawnkit."
"We must get back to camp. Thornclaw, Birchthorn, pick up a kit." He mewed then he went outside to get the three she-cats to pick one up.
Thornclaw picked up Ragekit. His gaze softened at Ragekit and Birchthorn knew what was going through his head. 'I wish this was my kit.'
Birchthorn shot him a glance. Thornclaw nodded and motioned to Brook.
Birchthorn picked up Dawnkit. Squirrelflight picked up Furykit, Cinderpaw picked up Twilightkit, and Firestar picked Winterkit.
The group trudged back to the hollow where they found a group of eager cats asking questions.
Birchthorn tried to answer but quickly remembered that he had a small kit in his jaws.
He carried it into the nursery where Brook was laying. As soon as he set down the kit Thornclaw came in. He set down Ragekit.
"There beautiful. You will make a wonderful mother. And Stormfur is a great mate. " Thornclaw got the words out of his mouth. Birchthorn knew how much pain each word was costing him.
"Thank you. They are beautiful. One day you may make a wonderful father also. " Brook cooed, looking down at her kits. Thornclaw blushed. For a second a silence hung in the air. They looked at each other with thoughtful glances. Luckily, Just then Firestar called a meeting.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the high ledge for a clan meeting." Firestar called. Thornclaw ran out of the nursery as fast as he could. Birchthorn knew why.
Birchthorn walked out of the nursery and sat down next to Whitestone.
"Today we were blessed with a litter of kits. Before that there was a battle with the ShadowClan on their border. They are now less stronger, but still strong. They might still want to attack. We need to fix up any holes in out camp. Dustpelt get a few cats and do that, after this. Smoky come up here." Mewed Firestar. He turned to Smoky.
"M…m…m…me? Why?" Smoky stammered looking bewildered.
"Yes you. Today and in the ShadowClan battle you fought like a warrior, not a loner. Smoky you have proven your loyalty to this clan by fighting to save it. Do you, Smoky promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life and promise to never go back to the life you once knew?" asked Firestar.
"I do." Mewed Smoky.
" Your old life is now no more, from this day forward you will be known as Smokescreen."
"Smokescreen, Smokescreen, Smokescreen!" cheered the crowd. Dingo, another loner, came up to him.
"Great name. I can't wait for my name. I hope it's good like yours." Mewed Dingo.
" I never expected it, but it is a great name." Mewed Smokescreen. Then the two cats walked over to the warrior den where Daisy was waiting for them.
Daisy purred and said something that Birchthorn couldn't hear. Then the Smokescreen mewed something back and they intertwined their tail together and walked over to their kits (Mousepaw, Berrypaw, and Hazelpaw) were playing.
Birchthorn watched them with jealousy rising in his body. He wished that that could be him and Applepaw. But there were a few reasons that could never happen. He looked at the happy couple and sighed.
"Jealous are we?" called an amused purr from behind Birchthorn. Birchthorn jumped in surprise and turned to see his old mentor Ashfur.
"No, well maybe." Confessed Birchthorn.
"Don't worry, you'll find the right one someday." Purred Ashfur.
"You shouldn't be talking, you, Rainwhisker, or Thornclaw hasn't found a mate yet." Augured Birchthorn. Birchthorn felt guilt rising as he knew how much Thornclaw wanted Brook. It's not his fault he didn't have a mate. Ashfur smiled.
"Yes that may be true, but we all are still young and so are you. You have plenty of time." Mewed Ashfur. 'Not according to Thornclaw', thought Birchthorn. Ashfur kept talking. "Now come on it's getting late. You need some sleep." Birchthorn nodded.
He crept into the warrior's den and snuggled down next to Whitestone.