I woke up to hear Fireheart giving orders. I yawned and stretched out my aching bones. Fuzz was sitting beside me in my nest, his gaze dark. I licked his ear and looked at him. "What's wrong?" I asked. Fuzz shook his head and padded out the den. I narrowed my eyes and followed him out to see Fireheart on the High Rock.
"Whitestorm, can you take the dawn patrol? Brambleclaw, I want you to lead a patrol and go hunting." Fireheart meowed.
"But there's no prey! How are we going to find anything to eat?" Brindleface called. Fireheart sighed and looked reassuringly at the queen.
"We'll find some. We're Thunderclan warriors for Starclan's sake! We can survive anything!" he mewed. Some of the clan looked unsure and I scoffed at their uncertainty. What happened to us?
"Fireheart's right." I meowed. Cats looked at me and I lifted my chin with pride even though all their gazes were making my fur prickle with unease. "What happened to our pride and courage?" Fireheart looked at me with gratitude and looked at the clan.
"Let's get to work. Darkstripe, can you-" Fireheart broke off as he searched for the tom. "Darkstripe? Where is he?" the clan looked around but there was no sign of the dark tom. I growled under my breath. How dare he accuse me of breaking the warrior code and not caring for my clan like a true warrior, when he's not even here to help rebuild the camp! Fireheart sighed in frustration then turned to me. "Ok, Leopardstorm. You're in charge of the rebuilding. Tawnypelt, can you help her with that?" he meowed. Tawnypelt nodded and padded to my side.
"Can I help?" Fuzz asked beside me. Fireheart looked at him in surprise. "You gave me shelter when my den was destroyed by the fire. I want to thank you for your kindness." Fuzz mewed, undisturbed as the clan looked at him. I smiled in pride at his effort and Fireheart nodded.
"Thank you, Fuzz. You can help rebuild the camp." he said. Fuzz nodded and I looked through the clan with narrowed eyes.
"Dustpelt, Fernpaw, Ashpaw, Mousefur, Longtail, and Brackenfur. Can you all help with building the camp?" I meowed. Mousefur padded over with the others. Tawnypelt sat beside me as she looked at the gathered cats.
"Ok. Fernpaw, Ashpaw, and Longtail, you three can go and collect branches and materials. The rest of us can clear away the debris." she meowed. Everyone nodded and went off to their chores. I padded over to a pile of leaves and branches and lifted them into my jaws and onto my shoulders. Tawnypelt walked beside me with leaves in her jaws. We walked out of the camp and to a clearing. "So you and Fuzz." she meowed. I narrowed my eyes and felt unease prickling my skin.
"Yeah?" I mewed.
"You never told me you loved a rogue." Tawnypelt said. I flicked my ear and licked my paw to hide the uncertainty creeping through my fur.
"It just sorta happened." I murmured.
"Like you just sorta happened to love Riverfang?" Tawnypelt asked coolly. I flattened my ears. "Why couldn't it be a Thunderclan tom? There are plenty of cats who would take on a mate like you."
"That's not the point! I don't like any of the Thunderclan toms." I snapped. Then I lowered my voice and sighed. "They're not like Fuzz." Tawnypelt gave a deep sigh and shook her head.
"I'm not saying that it's wrong. But I'm not saying I approve either. As long as he treats you right, then I don't care who he is or where he came from." she mewed. I smiled and nuzzled her shoulder. Tawnypelt purred and licked my head. Then we heard rustling in the bushes and I turned to see Darkstripe padding through the undergrowth. I narrowed my eyes as Shadowclan scents filled my nose.
"Where were you, Darkstripe?" I asked. Darkstripe scoffed and flicked his tail.
"I was out looking for some new materials that we could possibly use to rebuild the dens. I don't need a cat looking after me like a kit. You have no right to accuse me of betraying the clan either because you chose to have a rogue as a mate." he snapped. Then he padded away. "Traitor." he added under his breath. I growled and struggled not to leap at him as he disappeared among the ferns.
"He isn't worth it." Tawnypelt murmured, glaring at the spot Darkstripe disappeared to. I sighed and padded back to camp.
It took a while, but we all eventually finished rebuilding the elders' den along with the nursery and medicine den. I smiled in satisfaction. "Great work, everyone! Tomorrow we can finish the warriors and apprentices' den." I meowed. Everyone purred in delight. I looked at Fuzz and saw him looking at my clan with thoughtful eyes. Then he caught my gaze and beckoned for me to follow him. He led me out the camp and into the forest. "What's wrong?" I asked as we settled in a patch of flowers. Fuzz looked at me as the wind ruffled my fur.
"My den is destroyed." he meowed. I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll help you rebuild it. I'm sure my siblings will too if we ask." I mewed.
"No, that's alright…" Fuzz murmured. I looked at him. "I saw how you and your clan worked together. How you treated each other as your family. Now I see why you can't leave them." I felt my heart quickening as I listened to him.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked. Fuzz sighed and looked at me.
"I love you, Leopardstorm. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you…" he said. Then he smiled and sighed. "I want to join your clan. I want to feel that bond you and your clanmates have every time you hunt or fight with each other. I want to sleep under the stars with you and actually have a purpose in life." I widened my eyes at what he was saying. Then I purred and nuzzled his chin.
"I would love for you to join my clan… but you have to ask Bluestar. And I don't think she's ready to make any decision at the moment. Ever since Yellowfang and our two elders died… she hasn't been herself. She's lost faith in Starclan and the clan is lost. I don't know what she'll say." I murmured. Fuzz sighed and licked my head.
"We at least have to try, right?" he mewed. I nodded and looked back at camp.
"Let's ask Fireheart first. He might have an idea what to do." I suggested. Then I stood up and began to walk back to camp.
"Wait!" Fuzz called. I stopped and turned to face him. Fuzz narrowed his eyes as he looked at my belly. "Have you been eating more prey than usual?" he asked. I gasped in hurt.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked, looking at my belly. It is getting bigger… but how? I don't eat more than the other cats… I shook it out my head and shrugged. Fuzz's eyes widened and he purred loudly. I raised an eyebrow. "What?" I asked. Fuzz walked in front of me.
"I'll let you figure out for yourself." he purred. I narrowed my eyes and followed him.
Fireheart was sitting with Sandstorm under the High Rock, sharing a squirrel and I padded over to them with Fuzz. Fireheart looked at us and swallowed his mouthful. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I would like to join Thunderclan if you would have me." Fuzz meowed. Fireheart widened his eyes and looked at us in uncertainty.
"I don't know… the clan is pretty weak at the moment and prey is running low." he said. Fuzz leaned to his ear and whispered something. Fireheart raised an eyebrow and leaned to the side to look at my belly. His eyes were narrowed then widened.
"I see it now." he mewed. I looked at them in confusion.
"What on earth are you two talking about?" I snapped.
"Leopardstorm, you're-" Fireheart broke off as Fuzz covered his mouth.
"You're amazing." Fuzz finished. I growled in annoyance and stomped my paw. Sandstorm chuckled and flicked her ear.
"Come with me." Fireheart mewed to Fuzz as he walked into Bluestar's den. Sandstorm checked to make sure we're out of earshot then leaned in.
"You really don't know, do you?" she chuckled in my ear. I looked at her expectantly. Sandstorm laughed and rolled her eyes. "Leopardstorm, it's plain to see that you're expecting kits." she chuckled. I gaped at her and looked at my belly.
"I'm not that fat, am I?" I asked. Sandstorm rolled her eyes.
"It's not fat, Leopardstorm." she mewed. Then she patted my belly. "There are tiny little warriors in your belly." I looked at my stomach with wide eyes. Then a soft smile crept onto my face. I'm expecting kits… I'm a mother now… I purred in happiness along with Sandstorm. "Congratulations." she mewed.
"Thank you." I purred. Then I saw Goldenflower. I padded over to her and sat down. "I have news." I announced. Goldenflower looked at me as she licked her paw.
"That you're expecting kits? Yeah, I already know that." she meowed.
"Is it that easy to see?" I asked. Goldenflower didn't answer and busied herself by licking her paw. I flattened my ears and lowered my chin. "You're not happy."
"Of course, I'm happy. You're expecting kits! That's the greatest thing in the world! It's just that… I don't feel right about Fuzz." Goldenflower mewed. I sighed.
"He's a really great cat and I'm sure if you actually get to know him, you would agree." I said. Goldenflower sighed and drew her paw over her ear. "Ok, why did you love Tigerclaw?" I asked. Goldenflower looked at me.
"That-"
"Why?" I pressed. Goldenflower sighed and looked at the sky.
"I loved him because he made me feel strong and proud. He saw the fighter in me when everyone else only saw weakness and insecurity." she murmured. Then she smiled at old memories. "He made me feel as if I had a purpose in life." I smiled at my mother.
"Well that's how Fuzz makes me feel. And I know he feels the same way. He really cares about me, Goldenflower. Why can't you see that when it's right in front of you?" I mewed. Goldenflower closed her eyes then looked at me. Her gaze traveled down to my belly and she softly smiled.
"You will make a great mother. And I'm sure Fuzz will make a great father as well." she murmured. I purred and nuzzled her cheek.
"Thank you." I mewed.
Night fell as the clan gathered around the High Rock. "The gathering's tonight. Why isn't Bluestar out of her den by now?" One-eye whispered to Dappletail. My whiskers quivered in worry.
"Thunderclan has to go to the gathering! We can't let the clans think we're weakened by the fire!" Swiftpaw snapped. All worries were silenced as Bluestar walked out of her den with Fireheart.
"Sandstorm, Longtail, Darkstripe, Whitestorm, Leopardstorm, Brambleclaw, Goldenflower, Tawnypelt, One-eye, Dappletail, Swiftpaw, Ashpaw, Fernpaw, and Cloudpaw." she meowed. Her gaze searched through the hopeful clan. "You're coming to the gathering tonight." I sighed in relief and the clan followed. Fuzz touched his nose to mine as I began to follow my clanmates.
"What did Bluestar say?" I asked.
"She said she needs some time to think." Fuzz mewed. I nodded then followed the clan out into the forest. We made our way to Four Trees with heads held high and I smiled. This is the true Thunderclan. We made it to Four Trees to see Windclan and Riverclan gathered in the clearing and I narrowed my eyes. Where's Shadowclan?
"Leopardstorm!" a voice called. I turned my head to see Riverfang and Goldwing. I padded over to them and Riverfang's eyes widened when he saw me. "You're… fat." Goldwing shoved him while I chuckled.
"Riverfang! Is that how you speak to your friends?" Goldwing scolded.
"It's alright." I chuckled. Then I lifted my head with pride. "I'm expecting kits." The two Riverclan cats gaped at me with wide eyes.
"You're expecting kits?" a voice asked behind me. I turned to see Dawncloud. Her eyes were full of happiness and pride. "Congratulations!" she purred. I lowered my ears in unease.
"Thank you." I said. Then I saw more Shadowclan cats padding into the clearing. Gasps filled the air as a tom walked through. I caught a glimpse of brown, striped fur but the crowd blocked my view. I widened my eyes and tried to peer over their shoulders. Then my heart dropped as the cat jumped onto the Great Rock. Thunderclan bristled and spat at him. The cat who I tried so hard to avoid… the one I vowed to never call father. "Tigerclaw." I whispered. As if hearing my whisper over the yowls of my clan, Tigerclaw looked at me. His mouth turned into an evil grin as it formed the words I never wanted to hear.
"I'm back."