Chapter 22

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Feathertail exchanged an excited glance with Foxtail. Fireheart had returned! The red-furred warrior rushed down the ravine towards the gorse tunnel, his prey swinging from his jaws. For once, Feathertail didn't follow more slowly. She leapt quickly from boulder to boulder, her nose nearly brushing Foxtail's fluffy tail. By the time they had pushed through the gorse tunnel, almost all of the Clan was gathered. Even Sandstorm, who was days away from kitting, sat outside the nursery with her ears pricked.

Feathertail deposited her prey in the fresh-kill pile quickly and sat near the edge of the crowd. Foxtail sat next to her, his midnight eyes glued to his father as the setting sun set his pelt ablaze. He didn't seem to notice the amused glances they got as their pelts brushed—but Feathertail felt her pelt prickling self-consciously. Finally, Fireheart spoke.

"Cats of ThunderClan, I left yesterday morning to seek StarClan's approval, and I have returned to you today with their blessing."

"Firestar!" Cindercloud started the call, and it was soon taken up into a jubilant cheer. Foxtail jumped to his paws, and Feathertail joined in, too. After a moment, their new leader raised his tail for silence.

"My first act as ThunderClan's leader is to assure the warriors and apprentice I named yesterday that StarClan was watching the ceremonies and approves." Feathertail felt a flash of relief, and satisfied murmured rippled through the Clan. "My second," Firestar continued, "Is to name ThunderClan new deputy." He lifted his chin, gazing up at the first star as it appeared in the sky. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve my choice." He paused for a long moment, his emerald gaze sweeping across his warriors. "The new deputy of ThunderClan will be Graystripe."

"Graystripe! Graystripe!"

Feathertail rushed to her father's side, purring too loudly to join in the cheering. Silverstream was already there, and Stormfur was fast on Feathertail's paws.

"Now," Firestar jumped down from the Highrock. "Green-leaf is nearly upon us, and the fresh-kill pile is fuller than it's been since last leaf-fall. Though we were faced with many trials through leaf-bare and new-leaf, we must go on. Tonight we feast, to celebrate the lives of those we've lost and to welcome a new season of growth and strength to the forest."

The Clan mingled and brushed pelts around the fresh-kill pile as they took turns picking out their meal for the evening. Tawnypelt joined Feathertail as she stepped forward and picked out a plump vole.

"Come eat with us," the tortoiseshell warrior offered, flicking her ears towards the nettle patch. Sootfur and Dustpelt were already there, as well as Swiftstep and Silverstream.

Feathertail purred her agreement around her fresh-kill as Tawnyeplt snatched a thrush from the pile and led the way to the growing throng of cats. All of ThunderClan seemed to extend from there, no cat sitting more than a tail-length away from the next. Sagepaw and Thistlepaw were among the last to get fresh-kill, and they hesitated slightly as they turned. The clan didn't quite reach the tree stump where apprentices usually shared their meals.

Stormfur waved his tail at the pair. "Join us," he called warmly. "Tonight isn't about being a warrior or being an apprentice, it's about being a Clan."

Hailpaw nodded an agreement, scooting over to make room for the two apprentices between them. Thistlepaw perked up immediately and rushed over to join them. She settled with her light tabby pelt brushing Stormfur's on one side and Sagepaw's on the other.

"Besides," Hailpaw added with an amused twitch of his whiskers as Sagepaw sat next to him. "I'm still an apprentice, too!"

Though they finished their meals before the moon had finished rising, they stayed up long into the night, chatting and sharing tongues until the moon reached its peak. Tawnypelt was among the first to turn in, followed closely by Sootfur and Sorreltail. Feathertail stood and stretched, beginning to feel tired herself. She slid silently into her nest, warm from the tips of her ears to her tail. They had survived, and while they had suffered great loss, they had also gained strength from overcoming their sorrows.

ThunderClan will only get stronger from here on out.

Another yowl echoed through the camp, and Feathertail flattened her ears and winced. It had been a moon since Firestar had become leader, and at long last, Sandstorm was kitting. Runningwind paced outside the nursery, his muscles rippling beneath his tabby coat and his tail lashing furiously. Feathertail wished she could do something for her former mentor's mate, but she knew that in this battle, she was just as helpless as the other warriors. Brightheart sat outside the nursery, trying to distract her own kits with a ball of moss. Swiftstep and Sagepaw waited for Ferncloud and Stormfur near the gorse tunnel, obviously eager to get out of camp on the sunhigh patrol. Graystripe and Firestar sat in the shade of the Highrock, their eyes trained to the nursery.

ThunderClan had indeed grown strong in the past moon. The forest had been bountiful, and even the elder's pelts had a glossy shine to them. But there was nothing their strength could do to help Sandstorm now, and it seemed to be driving all of the warriors crazy.

"I couldn't sleep at all," Brambleclaw's voice startled Feathertail, and she turned to greet the big tabby as he emerged from the warriors' den. The fur along his spine bristled as Sandstorm yowled again. "I can't stand to listen to that any longer. Want to hunt?"

"Yes, please," Feathertail was so relieved her words nearly jumbled together. "She'll be hungry when she's finished."

Brambleclaw nodded. He glanced at the nursery. "Should we bring him?" He flicked his tail towards Runningwind, but Feathertail shook her head.

"He wouldn't leave if StarClan themselves gave him the order."

"Point," Brambleclaw sighed.

Sorreltail joined them quietly, rubbing her cheek along Brambleclaw's shoulder in a warm greeting. "If you're trying to make a patrol, I'll go," she offered. Her amber eyes kept straying to the nursery, bright with fascination. "If I'm bringing her fresh-kill, I'll definitely get to be one of the first to see the kits."

Feathertail purred an agreement, and Brambleclaw flicked his ears self-consciously. Seeming uncomfortable, he started towards the gorse tunnel.

"Come on then," he called back over his shoulder. "We'll have to hurry if you want to make it back in time to be the first ones in."

Feathertail fell into step beside Sorreltail as they climbed the ravine. "You certainly seem excited about having more kits in camp," the light gray tabby teased quietly.

Sorreltail rolled her eyes, but whispered breathlessly. "I'm dying to have kits of my own."

Feathertail wasn't surprised. Sorreltail had been spending all of her free time playing with Brightheart's litter, and it was no secret that she and Brambleclaw were close. She had been expecting the announcement that her friend would be moving into the nursery any day.

"What about you?"

Feathertail nearly slipped on the last jump. "What about me?" She echoed, flustered.

Brambleclaw exchanged an amused glance with Sorreltail, and the other she-cat continued with twitching whiskers. "Come on, Feathertail. I've seen the way you look at the nursery sometimes. A blind cat could see you've thought about having kits. Besides," Sorreltail added mischievously, "You and Foxtail make a great pair."

"Foxtail?" Feathertail spluttered.

"Yeah," Brambleclaw shrugged. "You two are always together."

Feathertail shook her head. "It's not like that!" She insisted desperately.

"What's not like what?"

The silver tabby felt her fur grow hot as Foxtail himself joined them at the top of the ravine. The rest of the dawn patrol was trailing behind him. His midnight blue eyes were shining with curiosity, but Feathertail couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.

"Nothing!" She growled, lashing her tail and turning to escape into the forest.

"Feathertail, wait!"

She ignored Sorreltail's calls, running through the forest as if StarClan had given her wings. Why does every cat think Foxtail and I are mates? She tried to picture it—her, curled around kits in the nursery, Foxtail hovering anxiously at her side—but no matter how she thought of it, the image made her feel sick. Foxtail is practically my littermate! She slowed as she realized no one had pursued her. I couldn't have kits with Foxtail any more than I could have kits with Hailpaw. As she gradually calmed down, Feathertail dropped into a hunting crouch, determined to push her Clan-mates amused glances from her mind with a good hunt.

Itching to keep running, she parted her jaws and inhaled deeply. Perfect. She easily distinguished rabbit scent from the others that she could smell. Continuing to taste the air, Feathertail pulled herself slowly forward through the undergrowth. The scent was getting stronger, and before long, she caught sight of the plump brown creature. Feathertail crouched lower, then swept her tail across the ground, launching after the rabbit as it bolted. The chase exhilarated her and cleared her mind as the forest flew past her. She was gaining on it quickly, barely a tail-length separating them. Now! As she bunched her legs to make the final leap, something barreled into her, jerking her back and the sending the ThunderClan warrior and her attacker rolling as a horrible screeching sound split the air.

Feathertail struggled to her paws, gasping, as her attacker drew away with a scornful hiss.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The light gray she-cat couldn't answer, staring with wide eyes as the monster swerved away and out of sight. The rabbit she had been chasing lay flattened against the Thunderpath, its fur torn and bones shattered. Slowly, she blinked, turning to look at the cat in front of her. His fur was a darker gray than her brothers, but lighter than Sootfur's nearly black pelt, marked only by faint white markings beneath his eyes and a white ruff above his chest. His eyes were a striking pale green, made all the more piercing by the glare he was directing at her.

"You saved my life," Feathertail whispered. Her paws began to tremble as she realized how true the statement was. If he hadn't been there, she would have been as flat as the rabbit she had been chasing. He narrowed his eyes.

"Didn't you hear me?" He spat crossly.

Feathertail blinked as she watched the warrior lift his paw off the ground slightly. The grass beneath it was wet with blood. "And you're hurt." She stepped closer, ignoring his warning hiss. "Let me see." She met his bewildered gaze evenly. "My littermate is the medicine cat apprentice. You saved my life—the least I can do to thank you is wrap your paw for you."

The dark warrior flicked his ears uncomfortably, but she didn't give him a chance to argue. "Stay here, there should be some dock leaves right over there." She padded just into the forest, pleased that she had remembered from the last time she had helped Hailpaw gather herbs. When she returned, he was still sitting there, licking his pad clean. His eyes flashed cautiously as she approached, but she ignored it.

"Good, you've got it nice and clean." She chewed the dock leaves carefully and licked the poultice into his scraped pad. He watched on silently; if it stung he didn't say. She could feel his hostility melting away as she wrapped the treated paw with a thin layer of cobwebs. "Try that." She stepped back, proud of her work.

Reluctantly, he did as he was told, nodding as he put his weight on all four paws. "Better," he admitted. He met her gaze again, his pale eyes burning with curiosity. "What are you thinking, treating a ShadowClan warrior's wounds?"

Feathertail rolled her eyes. "What are you thinking, saving a ThunderClan warrior's life?" Her heart stuttered as his whiskers twitched.

"You must think you're pretty clever." Another monster roared past, but neither of them moved.

"Aren't I?" Feathertail teased. She remembered with a start that she was on a patrol—a patrol that she had run from. They were bound to still be looking for her, Foxtail may have even offered to help. She forced the longing to stay and talk from her chest. "I'm sorry," she mewed. "I'm on patrol, I'm sure they're not far behind me…"

The ShadowClan warrior dipped his head in understanding. "I'm afraid your rabbit won't be feeding any cat tonight."

"No," Feathertail admitted regretfully. "But thanks to you, I'll be able to catch something else to bring back." She hesitated for a moment, before bringing her eyes up to meet his again. "Thank-you," she murmured. "I won't forget this." Without waiting for a reply, she turned away from the Thunderpath and towards the safety of the trees. She had only taken five steps when heard him growl under his breath and follow her.

"Wait."

She stopped instantly, turning to look at the tom. He bent and licked at his chest fur, seeming self-conscious for a moment. Finally, he looked at her again. "What's your name?"

Feathertail's paws were tingling as she answered softly, "Feathertail."

"Feathertail," the ShadowClan warrior echoed quietly. "Mine's Cedarheart."

"Thanks again, Cedarheart," Feathertail lingered on his name as she spoke it. "I owe you."

"I'll hold you to that," Cedarheart murmured. It looked as if he was about to say more, but the breeze carried a fresh ThunderClan scent. Flattening his ears in frustration, Cedarheart backed away a few steps, before turning and racing back across the Thunderpath and into ShadowClan's territory.

Feathertail forced her paws to carry her back into the trees, where she met Brambleclaw and Sorreltail.

"There you are!" Sorreltail rushed towards her, stopping suddenly and wrinkling her nose. "You reek of the Thunderpath."

"I was chasing a rabbit," Feathertail explained absently, flicking her tail towards the remains of the rabbit in question. "A ShadowClan warrior pushed me out of the way of a monster, but I didn't manage to get the rabbit."

"A ShadowClan warrior?" Brambleclaw narrow his eyes.

Sorreltail snorted skeptically. "He probably didn't even see the monster. He just wanted to make sure you didn't cross the border."

As they fell into a debate about where on the Thunderpath the border really was, Feathertail led the way back to camp. When they arrived, Hailpaw was emerging from the nursery with some borage stems in his jaws, and Runningwind was nowhere to be seen.

Sorreltail dropped her catch in the already full pile. "Come on," she urged Feathertail. "Sandstorm must have finished her kitting, let's go see!"

Feathertail followed her enthusiastic friend slowly, feeling her heart begin to race as they slipped into the nursery. Sandstorm greeted them warmly, but her eyes never left the three little bundles tucked against her stomach. A fierce longing struck Feathertail with such a vengeance it nearly took her breath away. Sorreltail was right—she did want kits. She watched with barely veiled jealousy as Sandstorm told them their names: Gorsekit, the pale brown tom with faint tabby stripes and dark brown paws, Adderkit, the other tom, with light brown fur and dark brown tabby stripes, and Honeykit, a very pale ginger she-cat.

Feathertail excused herself quickly, and decided to go to sleep early in preparation for the dawn patrol the next day. She fell asleep quickly, but her restless dreams were haunted by kits' mewling and strikingly pale green eyes.

A/N: I know Cedarheart is just described as a dark gray tom, but I've always had a problem with how cats outside of ThunderClan always got passed over. "A brown tom" "A ginger she-cat" so on and so forth, so I decided to give him a bit of one of my own kitten's coloring to make things more interesting. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Extra thanks to the people who suggested names and appearances for Sandstorm and Runningwind's kits!

Also, if any of you have ideas for Brambleclaw's and Sorreltail's, they won't be coming around for a while yet, but I like planning ahead
(: Thanks again for reading, see you all next chapter!