Vineleaf sat outside her den watching Sunheart's kits. They continued to ask where their mother had went but Vineleaf didn't want to alarm them so she couldn't answer. Vineleaf pricked her ears when she heard the sound of pawsteps. Bramblestar emerged out of the camp entrance with the rest of the patrol behind him. Trailing at the bery back was Sunheart, her face soaked with tears. Vineleaf and the kits ran up to her. "Sunheart! Are you ok?" Vineleaf asked.
"Mom! You're back!" the kits joyously leaped around Sunheart's paws but Sunheart judged padded past them, tears still rolling down her cheek. She went into the nursery with her kits following, confused looks on their faces. Vineleaf followed, worried about her sister. She entered the nursery to find Sunheart lying in her nest with Daisy lying right beside her trying to comfort her. Vineleaf padded over and sat beside her sister, knowing Sunheart was thinking about Hawkfur.
"Mom! What's wrong?" Firekit asked.
"Did those WindClan warriors hurt you?" Swiftkit asked.
When Sunheart didn't answer Vineleaf leaned down down. "No, little one. The WindClan warriors didn't hurt her."
"How do you know?" Firekit asked.
"Because a medicine cat knows these things," Vineleaf answered.
"Then what's wrong with her?" Firekit whimpered.
"Is she sick?" Swiftkit asked with a worried look on his face.
"No, she's not sick. She's just depressed," Vineleaf answered.
"Why?" Firekit asked.
"She may never see her mate again," Vineleaf replied.
"Vineleaf," Vineleaf turned to see Lionblaze standing in the nursery entrance. "Jayfeather said you'd be here."
"Watch over them, Daisy," Vineleaf meowed. Daisy nodded and Vineleaf followed her father out of the nursery. "What is it?"
"I need advise," Lionblaze confessed. "Can we talk about this out in the forest?" Vineleaf nodded and Lionblaze led the way out into the trees.
"What's on your mind dad?" Vineleaf asked as the walked.
"Sunheart having a WindClan mate. Why would she do that?" Lionblaze asked.
"A lot of cats have taken mates from other Clans," Vineleaf began. "Remember Bluestar? She took Oakheart, and RiverClan warrior as her mate. And Graystripe's first mate was the RiverClan warrior Silverstream. And Leafpool had kits with Crowfeather. They all were true to their feelings. So why should Sunheart ignorehers?"
Lionblaze thought a little while on what Vineleaf said. They then stopped. They had reached the border and heard a cat running straight toward them. They looked up to see Hawkfur with a paniced look on his face. Breezepelt was on his tail with his teeth bared and claws unsheathed. "Traitor!" Breezepelt yowled. Hawkfur looked behind him but slipped into the stream since he couldn't see where he was going. Breezepelt stopped at the edge of the stream. "Never come back, traitor!" he snarled as he turned and dashed back to the WindClan camp.
Vineleaf ran to the edge of the stream and reached out a paw. "Need a paw?"
Hawkfur smiled. "Thanks Vineleaf," he meowed as he accepted her gesture and pulled him out of the stream.
"Why were you running from Breezepelt?" Lionblaze asked.
"He kicked me out of WindClan," Hawkfur confessed.
"How can one warrior make that desicion?" Vineleaf asked. "Isn't that Onestar's desicion?"
"Yeah, but Breezepelt doesn't care," Hawkfur pointed out. "He said if I ever came back he'd kill me."
"Breezepelt's always been like that," Lionblaze growled.
"Well, I guess I'll be getting out of your territory. I have to go find a place to shelter," Hawkfur meowed as he began to walk away.
"Hawkfur, wait," Lionblaze stopped him. Hawkfur turned and looked at him. "Would you like to join ThunderClan?"
Hawkfur's mouth dropped open as if he couldn't believe what he had heard. "R-Really? You mean it?"
"Of course. Sunheart wouldn't be happy with me if I just let you go, now would she?" Lionblaze pointed out. He smiled at Hawkfur. Hawkfur smiled and his eyes brightened.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Hawkfur meowed in happiness.
"Then let's head back to camp and take it up with Bramblestar," Lionblaze meowed. He led the way back to camp. Vineleaf went to the nursery to check on Sunheart while Lionblaze went with Hawkfur to talk to Bramblestar. The warriors in the clearing stared at Hawkfur through narrowed eyes.
Vineleaf found Sunheart still lying in her nest tears rolling down her cheeks. Firekit and Swiftkit were lying next to her, silent now, knowing their mother wasn't in the mood to talk. Vineleaf padded over and leaned down to whisper in her sister's ear. "You'll be better soon."
Sunheart glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. Her expression didn't change. Vineleaf then padded out of the den and headed toward Bramblestar's den. Before she got there Bramblestar, Hawkfur and Lionblaze came out. Hawkfur ran down to Vineleaf. "Where's the nursery?" he asked.
"Follow me," Vineleaf meowed as she led him to the nursery. They entered, Sunheart completely oblivious to their presence. "Go on," Vineleaf meowed as she nudged Hawkfur. He padded over and licked Sunheart's cheek. Sunheart blinked and looked up at him. She imediately leaped out of her nest and tackled him.
"Hawkfur! You're here!" she rasped.
"Yes, I'm here," Hawkfur meowed. "And I'm never going to leave your side again."
"But you're..." Sunheart began.
"A ThunderClan warrior," Hawkfur cut her off. Sunheart smiled and nuzzled him.
"Mom, who is this cat?" Firekit asked.
"He smells funny," Swiftkit sniffed.
Sunheart let Hawkfur sit up. "Kits, this is your father, Hawkfur. Hawkfur, meet your kits. Firekit and Swiftkit."
Hawkfur gazed at them affectionately. Firekit and Swiftkit looked up at him. "Are you really our father?" Swiftkit asked.
"I am, Swiftkit," Hawkfur purred. He leaned down and nuzzled each kit. "I'll always be your proud father."
