I'm not sure wether to finish this story or not. I guess I'll just have to see if the readers enjoy it or not.

Prologue

Moonlight filtered down through leaves in the trees above leaving splotches of light on the hard ground. A single cat lay curled up by the trunk of a wide tree, her dark fur barely visible in the dark forest. She laid down, moaning in pain. Her kits were coming.

She'd tried to hide it from the rest of her clan for about a moon. How could she let them know she was having kits? She was a medicine cat! It was forbidden by the warrior code.

Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw someone. She turned her head to see her beloved brother. The StarClan warrior stood across from her, dead silent.

"Why have you come here?" she asked. For a moment, he was silent. Then, he spoke up.

"To watch," he laughed, good naturedly. The two locked their eyes on each other for a few heartbeats when a strong spasm rippled through her body. She screeched in pain. Something was defiantly wrong.

"Is this my punishment?" The starry warrior nodded. "So you came to take me with you, not to watch." He nodded again, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I wish it could have ended differently. Why couldn't I have died back there where everyone thinks I did? Why do they only have to think he carried away my body instead of know? Then I could be honored in death, not as a punishment for loving an apprentice, a kittypet, at that!"

"As far as there concerned, they do know. The truth will stay hidden until you confess." Another spasm rippled through her body.

"Will my kits die with me?"

"No. They will live long, happy lives, outside the clans." The she-cat sighed before another spasm passed through her, and in moments, a small, wet bundle slid onto the ground, wailing. She nudged it towards her and began licking it vigorously. Soon, two more kits sat beside it, each beginning to eat. One was a black tom with eyes the same color as hers. Another kit, a she-cat, had a wonderful tortoiseshell coat like her own, and the last kit had a pelt just like her father.

She gasped for breath as she lay in a pool of blood. The tom, who had sat down to watch the birth, got to his paws and turned to the other direction. "Come on," he whispered. "Adderfang and Swiftbreeze are waiting for us." And he walked into the trees, disappearing.

She stood up and followed him, looking back to her helpless kits. Just then, a dark gray cat with matted fur raced into the clearing at the sent of blood. When she saw the figure of the she-cat, she asked in an angery voice, "Are these yours?"

"Yes, Yellowfang, they are. Take them to Twoleg Place for me. Redtail is waiting for me." And she followed the former deputy into the forest to StarClan, leaving the new ThunderClan Medicine Cat with the trio of helpless kits.

Yellowfang knew exactly whose kits they were. She had now clue that Spottedleaf was expecting kits. Firepaw was their father, she knew. Staring back to where she'd seen Spottedleaf's spirit leave for one last time, she huddled the three together and carried Spottedleaf's limp body to camp, for the Elders to bury.

Yellowfang nudged the three kits towards Brindleface, Firepaw looking over her shoulder, unaware they were his. "Take them," she spat. "Do what you want with them. There mother left them in the forest."

Speckletail narrowed her eyes. "Where exactly in the forest did you find them?"

"How should I know? Near Sunningrocks, maybe. Why do you care?"

"Because they might be a rouge's kits that carry diseases that will spread to my kits."

"Speckletail," Firepaw interrupted when he saw Yellowfang's fur raise, "Yellowfang is a medicine cat. Wouldn't she have them in her den if they had a disease?" Speckletail said nothing.

"Will you take care of them, though?" The old medicine cat asked Brindleface.

"Of course," she meowed, gathering them towards her with her tail. "I'd love to take car of kits like these." Yellowfang nodded and left the nursery. Firepaw scampered after her, and with his eye filled with loss, he asked a question that stopped her in her tracks.

"Yellowfang, why do those kits smell like Spottedleaf?"

"What? I didn't smell anything but the forest and blood."

"You're hiding something, aren't you?"

"Firepaw, you need to know that some things are just better left hidden."

It was a stormy night as Firestar lay in his nest, tossing and turning. Sickness was clawing at ThunderClan and Jayfeather could do nothing about it. He needed to speak to StarClan as soon as possible. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get to sleep. Finally, he lay down and felt sleep wash over him.

The sun showed bright in a starry clearing. Cats of all clans were gathered together, playing, sunning, or eating prey that never ran out. Spottedleaf sat among them, running up to him the moment she saw him. "I need to have a word with you," she murmured urgently. "It's time for the truth to come out, Firestar. I've kept this secret long enough. Leafpool and Squirrelflight aren't your only kits."

"Does this mean Sandstorm is expecting more?" he asked, confused.

"No, Firestar. You've had kits from when you were an apprentice. We've had kits since you were an apprentice."

"You mean…"

"Yes, Firestar. I had your kits. Shadow, Dapple, a Flame. They live in twoleg place. I didn't get killed by Clawface. I died giving birth."

"And you never told me all this time?" The ginger tom's fur began to bristle. "Sandstorm's my only mate and Leafpool and Squirrelflight are my only kits. You mean nothing to me, Spottedleaf, nothing! You're just a dead fool! I have bigger problems then the fact you can't tell the truth to the one you say you love!" Spottedleaf felt her heart split in two.

"I never want to see you again," and the ThunderClan leader left the heartbroken medicine cat behind. Spottedleaf stared at him as he left, wide eyed in shock and pain. How could this happen to her?

The sky was a dark purple that loomed over the ThunderClan camp. Few cats were out of their dens. Kits were shaking in fear. Not a single morsel was left on the fresh kill pile.

The rouges had come again, tearing up the camp, stripping them of all their food, and taking two more lives. Deertail, now the only elder after his den mate's death, was taking the bodies of Brokenfoot, an elder, and Goldenflight, the deputy, out to be buried.

Blood was scattered across the ground, mostly clan blood. In Heatherfur's den, many injured warriors lay helpless on the ground. The medicine cat did not have enough moss for many of them. Fogkit and Tigerkit, curled up next to each other, covered in cobwebs, whispering about their fears of another attack.

The rest of the warriors sat side by side in the entrance to the warrior's den, tails twitching and eyes filled with fear. The camp was silent.

Lionstar watched the camp in horror. So much unneeded blood had been spilled. The weakened ThunderClan cats had barely put a scratch on the well trained and feed outsiders. He looked out hopefully at the lucky warriors who had managed to make it out of battle without serious wounds. Brackenheart, a friend of his, was helping Heatherfur heal the wounded.

"I wish I had an apprentice," he heard her mumble to the tabby looking at the nursery. "I already have someone in mind."

Lionstar took a deep breathe and leapt onto the High Branch, a large branch that overlooked the entire camp. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Branch." Cats slowly began to crowd beneath their leader.

"As you know, Goldenflight has died," he began. "I have already made up my decision on the next deputy. I say these words before the body of Goldenflight so that his spirit may hear and approve my chose. Brakenheart will be the new deputy.

"Also, many warriors have been dieing. It is time I name three kits as apprentices. I wish this was a proud day for ThunderClan, but I am afraid that is not so, but by naming apprentices, we show that we will remain strong. Shadowkit, Hollykit, and Icekit please step forward." Lionstar's heart sank when he saw no excitement or joy that they were becoming apprentices. "Shadowkit, from now on until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Shadowpaw.

"Frostfang, you trained Hawkfur very successfully, and I am sure you will do the same for Shadowpaw. Hollykit, from now on until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Hollypaw. I will mentor you myself. And finally Icekit-"

"Wait!" came Heatherfur's shrill cry. "Times are becoming harsh, and with all of theses attacks and Leaf-Fall dawning on us, I believe I need an apprentice. I have chosen Icepaw for his intelligence and kindness."

Lionstar continued, "Icepaw, do you accept the position as medicine cat?"

"I do, Lionstar."

"Then at the Half Moon you must travel to Star Cave to be accepted by StarClan before all the other medicine cats. The good wishes of all ThunderClan go with you." Icepaw raced up to Heatherfur, and touched his nose to her's. "Meeting dismissed," he called. Quieter, he motioned Heatherfur towards him, saying, "Have StarClan sent you a message yet?"

"Tonight, actually. I was to busy tending to wounds to speak with you."

"What did they say?" he pleaded.

"Look for the Flames and the Night, or the clans will perish in water."

"I don't know any cats by the names of Flame or Night. Does this mean that the clans will flooded again?"

"I'm not StarClan, Lionstar. I'm just a mere messenger, you could say. Good night, and sleep well. You need all the rest you can get." And the she-cat padded away to her den.

So much skipping around. I'm going to have a headache...