Disclaimer: I based the Clan structure on the Warriors books by Erin Hunter.

Thanks so much for reading my story. At Willowdream of ForestClan: Glad you like Cloudheart's name.

Now here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 20

Cloudheart came running into Falconstar's den on a warm morning. The medicine cat apprentice was excited as a young kit because Hawkfeather had started kitting in the middle of the night.

"There are here, Falconstar! Hawkfeather's kits. She wants you to come and see them."

"All right, Cloudheart." The Clan leader purred. "I'm coming."

Falconstar followed the medicine cat out into the clearing of the camp. The dawn patrol was just leaving the camp with Grayfeather in the lead. Rockpaw, the gray tabby tom's apprentice and Mousepelt were hard on his paws. Cloudheart and Falconstar had reached the hazel thicket that held the nursery and quickly slipped inside. A warm and milky scent filled Falconstar's nose. Hawkfeather lay in a deep nest of moss. The black queen raised her head at the sound of cats entering the nursery. Falconstar walked to her sister and looked down at the two tiny bundles of fur that lay in the curve of her belly.

"They are beautiful." The Clan leader mewed fondly. A noise from the nursery entrance made her turn her head around. Grasswhisker had returned with some borage for Hawkfeather. The old tom placed the herb in front of the young queen and told her to eat it.

"Oh, they are so adorable, Hawkfeather." Cloudheart mewed. She was very happy to have brothers. "The little black-and-white one looks like Grasswhisker, don't you think so?"

Falconstar took a closer look at the little tom and gasped in surprise. "You are right, Cloudheart. He really does look like him. Are you sure you're not the father, Grasswhisker?" the Clan leader mewed with twitching whiskers.

"Don't be mouse-brained, Falconstar. They are not mine, you know that." The medicine cat mewed undignified.

"Then you know who the father is, don't you Grasswhisker?" Cloudheart narrowed her eyes at her mentor.

"We are not discussing this issue right now. Hawkfeather needs to rest." The old tom changed the topic.

"I've decided on their names." The deputy mewed suddenly. Falconstar and the medicine cats turned their attention back to Hawkfeather and her kits.

"The one who looks like Grasswhisker is Buzzardkit, and the brown tabby is Hazelkit."

"Beautiful names." Falconstar commented. "They will be great warriors."

"And now you two get out of here." Grasswhisker shoved Falconstar and Cloudheart to the entrance. "Hawkfeather needs to rest. She needs to stay strong to feed her sons."

xxx

The days that followed, Cloudheart was on her mentor's paws wherever he went. The black she-cat had sensed that the old tom knew who the father of Hawkfeather's kits was and she wanted to know the truth. She had always been sad that she didn't have a father. Grasswhisker had stopped by at Falconstar's den frequently to discuss whether they should tell Cloudheart about Talonwing. Hawkfeather had always wanted her daughter to know the truth and the black apprentice was old enough now to cope with it. At the end, they agreed to tell Cloudheart the truth and Falconstar had asked the young she-cat into her den.

"What I am going to tell you now is a secret, Cloudheart. You must never tell this to any other cat. Do you understand?" The Clan leader mewed sternly.

"I won't tell anyone."

"Promise me that you won't tell this to any cat." Falconstar pressed.

"I promise by my honor as a medicine cat that I won't tell." Cloudheart mewed solemnly.

"Okay, well how do I start?" Falconstar shifted her paws on the ground. "Your mother was very young, about your age, when she fell in love with a cat from another Clan. He is your father and your brothers' father."

"Who is it?" Cloudheart breathed. She didn't seem troubled by the fact that she was half-Clan.

"It's Talonwing of ForestClan."

"I knew it!" Cloudheart exclaimed.

"What?!"

"I knew that some real cat must be my father. So at the Gatherings I looked around to see which tom was most like me. Grasswhisker told me once that I didn't take after Hawkfeather, which means I take after my father. Talonwing looks like me and we are similar in character. That's why I thought that he's my father."

"Yes, that's true. You are a lot like Talonwing." Falconstar mewed heavily. This fact had always troubled her. More cats could find out the truth by drawing conclusions just as Cloudheart did. "Your father had asked that Grasswhisker trains you as his apprentice so that he doesn't have to fight against you if there was a battle between our Clans."

"And Talonwing knows about me and Buzzardkit and Hazelkit?" Cloudheart asked excitedly.

"Yes, he does. He loves you and is very proud of you."

Cloudheart purred at her leader's words.

"Remember, don't tell anyone and don't chat too friendly with Talonwing." Falconstar reminded the apprentice.

"Yes, I will keep this in mind. Although, I would love to talk to my father and tell him that I am his daughter." Cloudheart mewed dreamily. Falconstar had a sudden idea spring to her mind.

"Cloudheart, how about you meet up with Talonwing tonight and tell him about Hawkfeather's sons. I hadn't had a chance yet to let him know that the kitting went well."

The young black she-cat's green eyes shone with delight. So much like her father's, Falconstar thought. She had met Talonwing on the hunting patrol earlier today and they had arranged for a meeting at moonhigh. Talonwing guessed that the kits must have been born and glowed at Falconstar.

"Be careful not to be seen. If you do run into someone in the forest, tell them that you are out collecting herbs or something. Do you understand?"

Cloudheart gave a brisk nod.

After the young cat had left Falconstar's den, the Clan leader delved in her thoughts. Talonwing and Hawkfeather had always wanted their daughter to know the truth. And Falconstar had felt that Cloudheart had a right to know who her father was. Now the truth was out and Falconstar hoped it wouldn't cause any more problems. Cloudheart was happy with Talonwing as her father and Falconstar was certain the black she-cat would keep her word and not reveal the secret to anyone else. Then Falconstar thought of her own kits. They also deserved to know who their real father was. She already threaded the day when she would tell them. But there was still time until then, Falconstar thought. She wouldn't tell her kits until they were much, much older.

xxx

Cloudheart spent the rest of the day restlessly walking between the medicine cat's den and the nursery. Falconstar had told her to meet Talonwing at moonhigh and inform him that Hawkfeather's second litter was born. The black medicine cat apprentice had learned only a few hours ago that Talonwing was actually her father. Tonight would be the first time that father and daughter would meet.

Night finally fell and once the sunset patrol was back and the camp had become quiet, Cloudheart left through the main entrance. Falconstar told her to pretend to collect herbs. No-one would be suspicious if a medicine cat wandered through the territory. The young black she-cat had decided to take a small detour before heading to the ForestClan border. Talonwing was already strolling along their shared border when Cloudheart got there. The ForestClan deputy spotted the black apprentice and greeted her formally.

"Hello Cloudpaw, how are you? You are out late."

"Hello Talonwing. Actually, I am Cloudheart now. Grasswhisker gave me my full name at the last half-moon." She replied.

"Congratulations, Cloudheart. It's a good name."

"Thanks, I am glad you like the name. Falconstar sent me." Cloudheart mewed.

Understanding flickered through Talonwing's green eyes. "Do you know the truth then?" he asked reluctantly.

Cloudheart nodded and stepped closer to the tom. "I know that you are my father, Talonwing." She purred and pressed her head into his fur. The deputy licked his daughter between the ears and purred.

"I am glad that you know the truth now. I always wanted you to know, but Falconstar said it's better to wait until you are old enough."

"Hawkfeather had had her kits a few days ago." Cloudheart began.

"Is she all right?" Talonwing interrupted.

"Yes, she is fine. She had two kits, both are toms. Hawkfeather has named them, too. Buzzardkit is black-and-white and Hazelkit is a brown tabby. They are adorable. I wish you could see them."

"I wish I could see them, too. Buzzardkit and Hazelkit; I like the names. My father's name was Hazelclaw, he was deputy before me. Could you tell Hawkfeather that I like the names she has chosen and that Hazelkit reminds me of my father?" Talonwing mewed.

"Of course. It's getting late. I have to go back, Talonwing. I would love to chat with you again and to get to know you." The medicine cat told her father.

"I would like that too. Let's meet here again in five days." He suggested.

"Sounds good. I'll be here." Cloudheart mewed. She gave Talonwing's shoulder a last quick lick and left the border. The ForestClan warrior watched her leave and then turned around to head back to his own camp.

Continues soon...