Hi everyone! :) I don't really have much to say today. I had fun writing this chapter.
Fawnpaw shivered, fluffing up her fur to keep the cold away. She stood in the middle of the forest with only Tigerclaw next to her. As they walked, Tigerclaw explained why they where out so early in the morning.
"You are getting close to becoming a warrior." Tigerclaw told her. "It's time we see how far you have come in hunting. You will hunt where ever you choose, and I'll be watching. Do the best you can and don't get distracted." He stopped walking. "We meet back at the training hollow. You may begin."
Fawnpaw nodded and bounded away, not sure where to hunt. It was still really early in the morning, so few animals where out. But she guessed that's why Tigerclaw brought her out early.
She slowed down and tasted the air. Mouse, bird, vole... She focused on the vole, as it smelled the closest. She crouched down, winceing as she remembered that her wounds hadn't fully healed yet. It was only three days since the battle.
She paused to feel the wind. She was upwind. Gently setting her paws down, she continued. There! She saw a clump of tall grass shake, then a small face peeked out. It sniffed the air before darting to the roots of a tree close by.
Fawnpaw tenced, then jumped. She landed with the vole between her paws, easily killing it with a clean nip to the back of it's neck.
She straitened and burried the vole, focusing now on the bird scent. Following it, she waited a long moment, hidden by bracken, for it to fly from a branch to the ground.
It hopped around, in search of bugs and twigs. Fawnpaw got down low, ready, and then she jumped. But as she jumped, her tail brushed against a bush, making noise. The bird heard it and called out an alarm call, flying into the air. Fawnpaw was fast enough though, and caught it in the air, killing it as she landed.
Quickly, she burried it. Glancing around, she hoped that Tigerclaw wouldn't hold her back because of that small slip.
She stood and took a deep breath, hopeing to find something else. Maybe the mouse was still close by. Though, she wasn't sure any animals where still out after the bird cried out. But then her pelt bristled as she caught a different scent. Blood!
Her eyes widened and she ran towards the scent. It lead her towards Riverclan, Sunningrocks to be exact. She leapt over the rocks and looked between them to see a silver tabby she-cat. Silverstream, Fawnpaw remembered, a Riverclan queen. A weak spasm shook her body.
Beside her was a very worried Graystripe. He was crouched down close to the queen, whispering something to her.
Fawnpaw didn't need to turn around to know that Tigerclaw was with them. He had stopped at the top of the gully and was watching them from above.
"Graystripe," Tigerclaw growled, "What is this?"
Graystripe didn't look up. His eyes where still staring at the pained Riverclan cat. Then Silverstream whimpered and a small kit slid out onto the ground and Fawnpaw knew that she needed to help. She was no medicine cat, but she knew what to do in a kitting.
"Tigerclaw!" She called up. "Get down here!" After a moment of hesitation Tigerclaw landed beside her.
Fawnpaw rushed forward, nipping the sack to reveal a dark gray kit. She picked up the kit gently and gave it to him. "Lick." She told him.
"I'm not-" He started to protest, but Fawnpaw's glare made him follow her order. "Fine." He mumbled and bent don't to lick the kit.
Then, a rush of paw steps told her cats where getting closer. The scent of Fireheart and Cinderpaw told her that help had come.
Cinderpaw came around the bottom of the rock and made her way to Silverstream's side. She dropped her herb bundle and sniffed at the queen.
"Good, Fawnpaw." Cinderpaw nodded to her in thanks. "I'll take over. Fireheart, get down here!"
Fireheart landed beside her and went over to Cinderpaw.
Fawnpaw turned Tigerclaw now. "Lick it more roughly." She told him, and he did as she said. "See?" She motioned for him to step back now. "You got it."
The dark gray kit had begun breathing evenly. He had opened his mouth in a soundless mew, shivering slightly.
"You've done it, Silverstream!" Cinderpaw shouted with triumph.
Turning back, Fawnpaw saw Fireheart licking a second kit. This one was a silver-gray tabby like her mother. But she couldn't see around him to Cinderpaw.
"You need to swallow this herb. Here, Graystripe, make her eat as much as she can. We've got to stop the bleeding." Cinderpaw was saying. But then she growled, "Hold on, Silverstream."
And Graystripe meowed, panicked, "Silverstream!"
Fawnpaw stepped forward at the same moment as Fireheart to see what was happening. She had known since the beginning that something was wrong, but she hadn't wanted to say it. Now, seeing the two cats in front of her, it seemed to break her heart.
Silverstream lifted her head weakly and licked Graystripe's cheek. "Good-bye, Graystripe." She whispered. "I love you. Take care of our kits." Her body gave a big shudder, had her head fell back. She was still.
"Silverstream!" Whispered Cinderpaw.
"No, Silverstream, no." Graystripe's meow was soft. "Don't go. Don't leave me." He bent over her body nuzzling her gently. "Silverstream!" Graystripe flung back his head, wailing now. "Silverstream!"
Fawnpaw backed up, giving them room. She went to stand by Tigerclaw instead.
"Do you know anything about this?" He asked her.
Fawnpaw shook her head, "Nothing." She said.
Tigerclaw stepped forward. "Can someone tell me what's going on? Graystripe, do you know this Riverclan cat?"
Graystripe fell silent, and Fawnpaw wanted to say that obviously, he was the kits' father.
He whispered, "I loved her." Graystripe looked up at the deputy, his eyes dull and cold.
"What- these are your kits?" Tigerclaw looked stunned.
"Mine and Silverstream's." A faint spark of defiance shown in Graystripe. "I know what you'll say, Tigerclaw. Don't bother. I don't care." He pressed his nose against Silverstream's fur again, murmuring softly.
Cinderpaw looked at the two kits. "I think they'll live," She meowed to Fireheart, though she sounded uncertain. "We need to get them back to camp, to find a queen to suckle them."
Fawnpaw almost suggested that she could, but Cloudkit was to be apprenticed any day now, that she knew she didn't have enough milk left for two newborn kits.
Tigerclaw spun around to face her. "Are you mad? Why should Thunderclan raise them? They're healf-breeds. No Clan will want them."
Cinderpaw ignored him. "Fireheart, you take that one." She ordered. "I'll carry the other."
Fireheart twitched his whiskers in agreement, but before picking up the kit, he padded over to his friend and pressed aginst his shoulder. "Do you want to come with us?" He asked.
Graystripe shook his head. "I have to stay here." He whispered. "Here, between Riverclan and Thunderclan. After this, not even her oun Clan will want to mourn her."
"I'll come back soon." Fireheart promised. More softly, Fireheart wispered something that Fawnpaw couldn't hear. When Graystripe didn't answer, he turned around and picked up the kit and they left Graystripe alone with Silverstream.
Now, as they walked back to camp, Fawnpaw padded next to Tigerclaw as they hurried on ahead of Fireheart and Cinderpaw.
"Don't be too hard on Graystripe." Fawnpaw meowed when they where out of hearing range of her brother.
"Don't be too hard?" Tigerclaw growled. "He was mates with a Riverclan cat! He broke the warrior code." His tail lashed angrily as he pressed forward. She slowed down to walk behind him instead of next to him as the path got smaller.
"Haven't you ever loved someone enough that you would break the code for them?" Fawnpaw asked bravely.
Tigerclaw stopped suddenly, making her almoust run into him. He looked back at her, with an emotion flickering in his eyes that she didn't recognize. But it disappeared so quickly, that she wondered if she had imagined it.
"Maybe." He finally answered in a quieter voice. "But if she ever found out what I've done..." He shook his head and continued towards camp.
Fawnpaw didn't press, but had to jog to keep up with him. They quickly reached camp. She followed the tabby to where Bluestar stood by the fresh-kill pile, talking with Whitestorm and a few other warriors.
Tigerclaw stood, waiting for her to turn and listen.
"Tigerclaw?" Bluestar stopped her conversation to look at the tom. "Is something wrong?"
"While assessing Fawnpaw's hunting, we found Graystripe with a Riverclan queen. Silverstream, is her name." Tigerclaw told his leader.
Fawnpaw looked around as the Clan gathered to hear the news.
"We found Silversteam was kitting. Graystripe told me that she was his mate, but Silverstream died birthing his two kits." Tigerclaw went on. "Fireheart and Cinderpaw should be here soon with the kits. Graystripe stayed behind to mourn."
Bluestar closed her eyes for a moment before nodding slowly and standing up. "Thank you for telling me, Tigerclaw. I'll deal with this."
Tigerclaw looked like he was about to protest, but clearly thought better of it as Bluestar padded toward the nursery.
"You can take the rest of the day off." Tigerclaw told her. "Your hunting skills are fine. You won't need to be assessed again. Now," He nodded towards the nursery. "Someone is waiting for you."
Fawnpaw looked over to see her white kit peeking out at her. "Cloudkit!" She called and he bounded over, looking up at Tigerclaw nervously. Tigercalw glanced down at him before walking away.
"It's alright." Fawnpaw licked his ear, purring.
"What's going on?" Cloudkit asked, looking around at the Clan. The cats stood outside their dens, watching silently. Only a heartbeat later, Fireheart and Cinderpaw entered the camp. "Who's that?" He watched the two new kits they where carrying.
"Come inside." Bluestar meowed as the two brought the kits to the nursery. She led the way inside.
Fawnpaw knew that Goldenflower would be the one to nurse them. She still had a lot of milk, even though she was suckling her oun two new kits. She would never let two kits go hungry.
"Those are Graystripe's kits." Fawnpaw told him. She knew that she might as well tell him now. He would figure it out sooner or later.
"Graystripe?" Cloudkit looked at the nursery curiously. "Where is he?"
"At Sunningrocks." Fawnpaw told him. "Now, will you promise me that when he gets back, that you won't bother him?"
"I promise." Cloudkit nodded quickly. "Can I go see the kits?"
"Yes, but be quite." Fawnpaw lead the way to the nursery, glancing over at Bluestar as they entered the den. She was sitting calmly outside the nursery now, a distant look in her eyes.
Oh Graystripe... I wish Silverstream could have lived, but you know. Anyways, I hope you all liked the chapter.