"Time to get up!"
Hollyleaf let out a dramatic groan as her father's voice carried up the stairs. She hated getting up in the morning. Her mother and grandfather sometimes joked that she was more cat than human, which made her hiss and bare her teeth like the animal. Her father would pat her head to calm her down, which worked effortlessly.
"Come on, Hollyleaf!" Brambleclaw called from the doorway. "You have school in less than an hour and your Aunt Leafpool's going to drive you!"
The black-haired girl slid out of bed and into her Moonpool Academy uniform. As quickly as she could, she yanked a brush through her thick locks and gazed at her reflection. Her hair went down to her waist, making it seem like she'd never had a haircut in her life. She had pale skin that was dotted with freckles, but by far, her most defining feature was her eyes—bright green and piercing. More than a few people had made eye contact only to be startled by how intense her eyes were.
She headed downstairs to find her aunt talking animatedly to Squirrelflight. Leafpool was a pretty woman with long brown hair that was tied into a bun. Hollyleaf admired her for not needing a man or kids in her life and focusing on her career instead. That was the kind of person that Hollyleaf wanted to be.
"Hey, Hollyleaf," Leafpool greeted her with a smile. Her amber eyes were almost as piercing as Hollyleaf's green ones, but whenever Hollyleaf looked into them, she saw nothing but warmth.
"How's work been?" Hollyleaf asked, sitting down next to her aunt.
"Oh, you know. Nothing's really changed."
"Unlike around here, where a big change is happening." Hollyleaf glanced at her mother, who rested a hand on her slightly-swollen belly.
It had been a mystery to Hollyleaf why Squirrelflight hadn't given birth to two babies over the years. She'd been pregnant twice since they were born, and both had ended with her mother going to the hospital and returning home empty-handed and crying. After that, she and Brambleclaw would avoid each other while showering their children with love and adoration. Jayfeather was used to that kind of treatment; he was blind and their parents made sure that he knew how much they loved him. Lionblaze was a little freaked out but went along with it.
Hollyleaf just wanted to know where the damn babies were.
"Any ideas what you're going to name the baby when it gets here?" Leafpool asked her sister.
"Alderheart for a boy, Sparkpelt for a girl."
"Wow. You've really thought this out already."
"Yep!" Squirrelflight smiled brightly. "This one's going to make it!"
"I know they will, because this time, you're taking my medical advice instead of insisting on winging it." Squirrelflight—like a child—stuck out her tongue. Hollyleaf gave her mother a look.
"Why would you wing it, Mom?"
"Because I thought ultrasounds and things like that were too much fuss to make over a baby. That's what I did with you three, and it worked out fine."
"…we were born at the cabin during a blizzard in the middle of winter with nobody helping you but Aunt Leafpool."
"See? Fine!"
Hollyleaf rolled her eyes as Jayfeather entered the kitchen, followed closely by Lionblaze and Brambleclaw. Leafpool gave them her typical 'not-your-mom-but-still-proud-of-you' look, which Lionblaze accepted with a smile. Jayfeather simply tried to get some breakfast, side-stepping Squirrelflight and bumping up against her belly by accident.
"Sorry," he said, biting his lip. "The baby seems healthy, at least. For now."
"And the baby will remain healthy," Squirrelflight insisted. "Between you and Leafpool, why wouldn't it?"
"Weird stuff happens when you're pregnant."
Brambleclaw started chuckling. Squirrelflight, quick as lightning, grabbed a dishrag off the counter and threw it at him. He caught it with ease, smiling all the while as he gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Lionblaze and Leafpool had grins that matched Brambleclaw's, while Jayfeather had a blank expression.
"You two are so sweet it's sickening," Hollyleaf complained good-naturedly. Lionblaze responded by hugging both his siblings at once, which they both protested furiously.
"Hurry and eat," Leafpool urged. "I'm taking you three to school today."
"We know." Lionblaze released Jayfeather and Hollyleaf. "It's the first day. You always drive us on the first day."
"And Dad told us," added Hollyleaf, digging a foil-wrapped package of Pop-Tarts out of the pantry.
"You know those things are going to sap your energy, right?" Jayfeather pointed out.
"What things?"
"Pop-Tarts."
"How the hell do you know I'm eating Pop-Tarts?"
"I can hear the foil wrapper and smell the cinnamon."
"Hmph." She ignored his warning about her energy and put her breakfast in the toaster. Lionblaze simply made a bowl of cereal. Jayfeather was eating a banana and a granola bar with a glass of milk.
Once they were finished eating, all three headed upstairs to brush their teeth and grab their backpacks before coming back to head to school with Leafpool. She was waiting patiently in the kitchen, while Brambleclaw was grabbing his essentials for work as a sheriff. Squirrelflight usually worked at the station as an officer, but Brambleclaw had insisted that his wife remain at home for the duration of her pregnancy to minimize the risk.
"I call shotgun!" Jayfeather called to his siblings.
"No fair!" whined Hollyleaf, dashing out the door. Lionblaze was hot on her heels.
"No fighting over the front seat," Leafpool warned, following them. Jayfeather found his way to the front seat without any problem, leaving his siblings to sit in the back.
"Another year in hell," Hollyleaf sighed.
"School isn't that bad," Leafpool told her affectionately. "I had to go to school a lot longer than your mother did to become a doctor."
"Yeah, because Mom doesn't have the patience for more education. Dad says she barely got her diploma."
"That's because your mother was a terrible student. You're all very good students. You get it from your father."
"…hey, Aunt Leafpool?" Lionblaze inquired.
"Yes, Lionblaze?"
"How come you never had any kids?"
"I… never found the right person to settle down with. But it's okay. I have you three and my job. That's all I need."
None of them noticed the subtle tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Out of my way, nerd!"
Lionblaze glanced up from his lunch tray just in time to see a boy with black hair shove Jayfeather to the side. Jayfeather stood back up, only to be shoved back aside.
"What are you—blind?" the boy sneered.
"Yes, actually," Jayfeather replied bluntly. "I apologize if I was in your way."
"Hmph. You're a loser. Of course you were in my way."
"Well, I'm sorry. Can I go sit down now?"
"No. I want you to stay on the floor where you are."
"What is your problem?"
"My problem is the fact that you seem unaware that I am in charge around here. And I don't see anybody coming up to defend you."
"Lionblaze!" warned Hollyleaf as her brother stood up and marched over.
"Leave him alone," Lionblaze demanded. The black-haired boy narrowed his amber eyes; his pale skin contrasting against his dark hair reminded Lionblaze of his sister in a way.
"Who are you to make me, blondie?" the boy snapped.
"I'm his brother. Leave Jayfeather alone."
"Make me."
"Lionblaze, you don't have to—" protested Jayfeather, but the black-haired boy kicked him in the shin. The blind boy held his injury with a hiss.
Lionblaze threw the first punch. It turned into an all-out brawl, all the other students coming to watch what was going on. Cheers and jeers came from the crowd as Hollyleaf pushed her way to the center, as did another girl. The other girl had reddish hair and blue-violet eyes.
"Jayfeather!" hissed Hollyleaf, grabbing her brother by the shirt. "Come on!"
"Breezepelt, you're going to get in trouble!" the reddish-haired girl told the black-haired boy.
"What's going on?!" asked a voice. The students parted to let a teacher through—Ashfur, if Hollyleaf remembered correctly. Lionblaze looked up in alarm, allowing Breezepelt to get in a hit.
"Lionblaze!" gasped Hollyleaf.
"Break it up!" snapped Ashfur, grabbing Lionblaze's collar. A second teacher—this one by the name of Whitetail—grabbed Breezepelt's. "Office, now! Both of you!"
"Shouldn't we look at their injuries?" asked Jayfeather in a nervous tone. Ashfur gazed at him, then nodded.
"You come down to the office, too."
"I'm going with him!" announced Hollyleaf, crossing her arms.
"How do you know him?"
"The three of us are triplets."
"Ah." Ashfur nodded again. "You'll have to give me your mother's phone number so I can inform her of what just happened."
They were walking to the office when a thought occurred to Hollyleaf. Brambleclaw had put Squirrelflight on maternity leave several months early because he was worried about the baby. He likely wouldn't appreciate her having to come down to the school because their kids got into a fight. She had to call someone else. Her grandmother and grandfather were busy people, and there weren't really any other family members she could call… except Leafpool.
"I'll call her," Hollyleaf volunteered. "Just… give me a moment."
She went to the phone and dialed Leafpool's number. Her aunt picked up on the first ring.
"Hello? This is Leafpool."
"Hi, Mom!" Hollyleaf laughed nervously. "Listen, we need you to come down to the school. Lionblaze got in a fight."
"Hollyleaf, did you just call me Mom?"
"Please come quick! The other kid's parents need to be called, too! Love you!"
Hollyleaf hung up, leaving Leafpool extremely scared and confused.
I have no idea what I'm doing with this story.
By the way, Squirrelflight had two miscarriages in this story. This is to reflect the fact that in canon, she only has two living kits. The other two died extremely young. That's why Brambleclaw is being so weird about everything.
Oh, and next time, Crowfeather meets his other children.
So long and thanks for all the fish!
