Greystripe
At sunhigh, the clan had settled down to their daily routine. Nightfrost turned to the rustle of the gorse tunnel. Four RiverClan cats appeared, the same four who had joined in the battle the day before: Leopardfur, Mistyfoot, Stonefur, and Blackclaw. Leopardfur bore a newly healed wound across one dappled shoulder, and Blackclaw's ear was torn at the tip, proof of how they had fought with ThunderClan to drive out the rogue cats.
Fireheart padded to them and dipped his head as a deputy would to another deputy.
"Greetings," meowed Leopardfur, her eyes registering surprise at Fireheart's new attitude. "We need to speak to your leader."
Fireheart bowed his head again and padded to Bluestar's den. Graystripe returned with the group he was with and put his prey to the fresh-kill pile. The tom padded to Mistyfoot with meows of greetings. Bluestar soon padded out with Fireheart behind her.
Leopardfur began. "We've talked for a long time about Silverstream's kits, and we've decided that they belong in RiverClan. Two RiverClan kits died yesterday. They had been born too soon. Their mother, Greenflower, has agreed to suckle these newborns. We think it may be a sign from StarClan. The kits will be well cared for."
"They're well cared for here!" Fireheart exclaimed.
Leopardfur glanced at him but still spoke directly to Bluestar. "Crookedstar has sent us to fetch them." Her voice was calm but determined, showing that she genuinely believed in her Clan's right to take the kits.
"Besides," Mistyfoot added, "the kits are older now, and the river has gone down enough to allow a safe passage across. They will be able to cope with the journey to our camp."
"Yes," meowed Leopardfur, with an approving look at the younger warrior. "We could have taken the kits before this, but we care just as much about their welfare as you do."
Bluestar drew herself up. Though she moved stiffly and she still looked exhausted, outwardly at least she had recovered the authority of a leader. "The kits are half ThunderClan," she reminded Leopardfur. "I've already told you, I'll give you my decision at the next Gathering."
"The decision is not yours to make." The RiverClan deputy's tone had an edge like ice. At her words meows of protest rose from the assembled cats.
"Cheek!" spat Sandstorm, from where she sat close to Fireheart. "Who does she think she is, walking in here and telling us what to do?"
Fireheart padded over to Bluestar and murmured in her ear, "Bluestar, these are Graystripe's kits. You can't send them away."
Bluestar twitched her ears. "You can tell Crookedstar," she calmly addressed the visitors, "that ThunderClan will fight to keep these kits."
Leopardfur's lips drew back in the beginnings of a snarl, while the ThunderClan cats yowled their approval. Then a louder meow rose above the rest. "No!"
It was Graystripe. The big gray cat came to stand beside Bluestar. ThunderClan gave him looks of suspicion, and they drew back as he passed. But Graystripe seemed to have hardened himself against their hostility. Glancing first at the RiverClan patrol and then at the cats of his own Clan, he meowed, "Leopardfur is right. Kits belong with their mother's Clan. I think we should let them go."
The Clan was silent, except for Yellowfang, who muttered, "He's mad."
"Graystripe, think again," Bluestar urged him. "If I let Leopardfur take these kits, they are lost to you forever. They will grow up in another Clan. They will not know you as their kin. One day you may even have to fight them." Her words were strangely filled with sorrow, as if she had lost kits to another clan.
"I understand, Bluestar," Graystripe agreed. "But I've caused enough trouble for this Clan. I won't ask them to fight for my kits." He paused and added to Leopardfur, "If Bluestar agrees, I'll bring the kits to the stepping-stones at sunset. I give you my word."
"Graystripe, don't…" Fireheart burst out. The gray tom turn to his friend, his eyes sad but determined.
"Don't…" he repeated softly, but Graystripe did not reply.
Nightfrost was about to step up when he saw Sandstorm had pushed her nose into Fireheart's fur and murmured a few words of comfort.
Bluestar bowed her head for several long moments. Fireheart could see how much of her hastily summoned strength was ebbing away in the confrontation, and how desperately she needed rest. At last she spoke. "Graystripe, are you sure?"
The gray warrior lifted his chin. "Quite sure."
"In that case," Bluestar went on, "I agree to your demands, Leopardfur. Graystripe will bring the kits to the stepping-stones at sunset."
Leopardfur looked startled to win an agreement so quickly. She exchanged a glance with Blackclaw, almost as if she were asking if there could be trickery here. "Then we will hold you to your word," she meowed, turning back to the ThunderClan leader. "In the name of StarClan, see that you keep it." She dipped her head to Bluestar and led her cats away.
Fireheart had turned only to see who he was looking for at the nursery.
As the sun slid down behind the trees, Fireheart waited by the gorse tunnel. Leaves rustled above his head, and the air was filled with the warm scents of late newleaf, but some cats were sadden.
Graystripe emerged from the nursery, herding the two kits on stumpy, unsteady legs in front of him. The small dark-gray tom already looked as if he would grow into a sturdy warrior, while the she-cat with her silvery coat was a copy of her mother, promising the same beauty and swiftness.
Goldenflower followed them out of the nursery and dipped her head to touch noses with both kits. "Farewell, my beloveds," she mewed sadly. The two kits let out bewildered meows as Graystripe nudged them away, and Goldenflower's own kits nuzzled their mother's flank, as if they meant to comfort her.
"Graystripe—" Fireheart began, stepping forward as his friend approached with the kits.
"Don't say anything," Graystripe interrupted him. "You'll understand soon. Will you come with me to the stepping-stones? I…I need your help to carry the kits."
"Of course, if you want me to," Fireheart readily agreed. The current deputy picked up a kit and followed Graystripe.
"I don't get it, Nightfrost. Why did all this happen?" asked Fireheart after he had returned.
"Sometimes, things just happen that we will never understand, Fireheart," Nightfrost answered, shaking his head. "At least, Tigerclaw is gone for now."
"Yes, he is. Wait. For now?"
"No cat knows the future, Fireheart. Like Brokentail, he might attack camp later on. Would you be prepared for that?"
Fireheart nodded, determined. "Of course."
Let's see. How to let the kits stay(am not, but was toying with the idea)...
Bluestar-"Tell Crookedstar about the kits given to his clan. It's only fair that Riverclan has two and we have two."
Leopardfur(tilts head(unlikey, the she-cat would probably snarl and hiss while confused))
(forgot Bluestar doesn't know Crookedstar knows. So kind of creepy since Crookedstar doesn't know that she knows what he knows...so many knows lol. Maybe Crookedstar told Oakheart and he told Bluestar?)