Chapter Five, Part Four

Gradually night settled in. The moon was finally high up in the sky, not quite full, but big enough so that it cast a glowing light and illuminated the cats’ path. “I think it’s about time to rest for the night!” Bramblestar yelled from far up front, and Lilypaw felt relief flood her. She trailed after everyone else into a dark forest, but for once she felt at home.

            The dark treetops rustled in the faint breeze. There was a thicker amount of snow higher up there, but it didn’t freeze Lilypaw’s paws. Her feet were already numb, the blood running cold under the hardened pink pads.

            She found a fairly warm place underneath a bush. She had to share it with Amberpaw and another apprentice from RiverClan named Creekpaw, but Lilypaw didn’t care as long as they were nice and weren’t disruptive during the evening.

            In the middle of the night, a paw prodded her side, delving into a ticklish spot for her. Lilypaw roused with a giggle and glanced up, just for a moment thinking that it was Seedpaw, waking her up to inform her that she was back and back for good.

            But it was Bramblestar. “Get up,” he whispered. “Get up and follow me out here.” He tiptoed out of the brush, dark tabby fur tufts left behind on brittle branches that jutted out from the spiny leaves.

            Shocked, Lilypaw hopped up; she was shivering cold the heartbeat she stepped out from her shelter. Gently, inaudible snowflakes fell softly from the sky.

            He faced her and murmured, “I received a prophecy about you and your sisters.”

            “A… prophecy?” she muttered. “What type of prophecy?”

            Bramblestar shrugged. “I didn’t really get it,” he uttered in a low tone. “But it had part of your names in it. Here goes: A seed will be planted and a lilies and poppies will sprout; but can the cinder ashes save them all from the storm that approaches?”

            Lilypaw blinked. She thought. It sounds like Cinderheart will have to save Poppyfrost, Seedpaw, and I. So that means Seedpaw will come back! “Who gave you the message?” was all she said aloud.

            “Honeyfern,” Bramblestar answered wistfully, staring out in space beyond Lilypaw.

            “I’ve been getting visits from her, too. But she never told me anything about a prophecy that I was involved in.”

            The Clan leader leaned forward and mewed in her ear, “Whatever it may be about, I want you and Poppyfrost to help lead us all. I have a feeling that there is something hostile in the air about the tribe. Perhaps we should leave them alone for a bit. Now go back to sleep.”

            Lilypaw nodded, feeling her eyelids commence to droop again. She obeyed and padded back to the bush.

            The next morning arrived too soon for Lilypaw. Or maybe it was just the fact that she had been awake in the heart of the night just a bit too long.

            She thought back to the previous eve and wondered why Bramblestar had jumped to conclusions so quickly. Maybe he’s just desperate.

            Lilypaw smoothed her fur that had been ruffled from sleep, her rough tongue slick against her pelt. She stretched then climbed out from the bush. Creekpaw was still asleep, but Amberpaw had apparently woken up and left earlier.

            The dark tabby glanced around once she was out. Soft pine needles, orange with death, cushioned her paws as she walked. ShadowClan’s probably at home here.

            Over to the side of the small clearing most of the Clan cats had settled in temporarily, Squirrelflight, Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, and Graymist- all of the deputies- somewhat reluctantly and awkwardly sent out mixed patrols of cats to catch some prey.     

            Lilypaw started over to them to be assigned to a patrol, but Bramblestar found her first, and he took her over to a private gap in some bushes where Cinderheart and Poppyfrost already sat in waiting.

            “I told them beforepaw,” Bramblestar informed Lilypaw. “So are you and Poppyfrost willing to lead us?”

            Cinderheart narrowed her dim blue eyes and challenged her leader. “What about me?”

            Bramblestar arranged his lips into a thin, straight line. “You’re fairly close to having your kits, Cinderheart. I don’t want to put any pressure on you.”

            The gray queen scoffed but didn’t protest. “Whatever,” she mumbled.

            “Anyway,” Poppyfrost stood up, breaking the ice between her sister and Bramblestar. “I would be delighted to help you. I just can’t believe that I’m directly involved in a prophecy! It’s so neat.” She smiled.

            Tiredly Lilypaw nodded, and Bramblestar looked satisfied. “Great. Now how about you two rest up some more as much as you can before we all start journeying again? It will be a bit until all of us get fed.”

Chapter Five, Part Three

Once they were back on non-flooded land again, they met up with ShadowClan and WindClan as one big group. “Where’s RiverClan?” Bramblestar questioned nervously.

            The ShadowClan leader, Rowanstar, was panting heavily. He was soaked to the bone, his thin, lanky frame exposed. “I don’t know. They’re the ones that can swim, after all. Maybe they’ll survive where they are.”

            “We’re here!” a weak, raspy voice called out, and there was all of RiverClan, maybe minus a few cats. “We’re mostly safe and sound.” Reedstar’s black fur glinted with the sparkly tint of water.

            “Thank StarClan,” Ashfoot from WindClan murmured, practically dragging herself up to stand nearby Rowanstar. “Now we can continue… right?”

            Bramblestar looked puzzled. “But where’s Onestar, if you don’t mind my asking? Is he back there somewhere?”

            Ashfoot shook her head. “No. Onestar is dead. I am the new leader of WindClan, but I haven’t received my true name yet. I am still at one ailing life.”

            Crowfeather bounded forward to be with his mother. “I am her deputy.” His dark blue gaze scanned the line of exhausted ThunderClan cats, and they stuck on Leafpool. Lilypaw heard the tabby swallow faintly, and the gray tom looked away.

            The ThunderClan leader dipped his head in respect. “Congratulations,” he said. “Now let’s get a move on.” Bramblestar swiveled around on his hind paws and faced the way ahead of them. “Let’s beat the water to the mountains. It is about time we reunite with the Tribe of Rushing Water.”

            “What’s that?” a scrawny white apprentice from WindClan called out. Crowfeather smiled and glanced down at her.

            “You’ll see, Ticklepaw. You’ll see.”

            Life wasn’t getting easier. The heartbeat Lilypaw set a paw onto the rocky mountain landscape, she knew that it wasn’t going to be easy travel going up. Even worse, she was trapped between grumpy, complaining Thornclaw and silent, outspoken Leafpool for the time being.

            “I don’t remember it being this long,” Thornclaw whined, glaring at his paws. Lilypaw sighed. Shut up already.

Chapter Five, Part Two

Back in the hollow, Dovewing and Millie screamed in unison, “Evacuate!”

            Bramblestar sprung from his perch atop the Highledge near his den, Squirrelflight and Jayfeather on his heels. “What do you mean?” Jayfeather demanded, his blind blue gaze wild.

            Dovewing looked guilty, as if she was the one who caused all of this madness. She didn’t speak, so instead Millie did. “We were building a barrier, but the water broke through and flowed right past us!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Now it’s heading straight for the camp!”

            Beside the silver tabby, Dovewing’s eyes expanded. “Watch out!” she shrieked, and although she wasn’t facing the thorn tunnel, nor was there any sound of rapidly-moving water, she darted over to where she could climb up on the Highledge.

            Lilypaw was confused, but soon enough she heard that ugly, terrifying sound, and followed Dovewing upwards. The rest of the Clan pushed their way to the top, and somehow almost everyone was able to balance on the Highledge. Some cats were crammed in Bramblestar’s den, but Lilypaw was lucky enough to be in the heart of the group, squashed between Dewpaw and Bramblestar himself. Dovewing was directly behind her, breathing down Lilypaw’s neck. “It’s here,” the gray she-cat muttered.

            Lilypaw saw a cat was still down in the clearing just heartbeats before the water burst through the thorn tunnel. It was Graystripe. The gray elder was struggling to climb the rocks. He was nearly blind, and couldn’t see to get his way up there.

            Millie, who was crouched next to Dewpaw, yowled in despair and called for Graystripe to follow her voice. She was his mate, despite being a few seasons younger than him.

            The water broke through the thorn tunnel and gushed throughout the clearing. The water was rising fast. The cats at the edge of the ledge backed up, shoving more cats into the stuffy cave.

            Lilypaw heard Bramblestar yowl above the worried, anxious murmurs. “Cats in my den, if you can hear me, start digging on the back wall! It is earthen, and we should be able to escape through there!” The dark tabby apprentice picked up the sound of paws thumping against the vulnerable clumps of dry mud. Claws scratched against the only blockade that kept the ThunderClan cats from escaping to safety.

            By then Lilypaw had been shoved all the way in Bramblestar’s freezing cold cave. The stone froze her paws in time. She cringed in pain as one of her Clanmates, struggling to get through the crowd to the front to help dig, smashed her against a wall made of boulders melted together. Her shoulder smacked hard against the rock. Shaking it off, Lilypaw fixed her gaze on the progress of the diggers, one of whom- her father- she had a direct line of vision to.

            “I got it!” Brackenfur abruptly yowled, and the earth started to crumble before him. The golden brown tabby pushed into it harder, and eventually a gaping hole sat invitingly before the homeless Clan.

            Cats initiated to pour out of the stuffy cave, and soon Lilypaw had room to flex her shoulders, even her claws. She pulled in behind Thornclaw, who kept ramming his head into the cat ahead of him. “Hurry up!” the rude warrior demanded. “I don’t want to drown!”

            Wish you would, Lilypaw thought bitterly to herself, and suddenly realized that she was starting to behave a lot like Seedpaw now that her sister was absent. You are not a heartless cat that only thinks foul.

            Before long Lilypaw was the next cat to go. It was a fairly long jump: through the wide hole that Brackenfur and the other diggers had eventually created, there was a bulky tree branch extending out toward them like an inviting helping paw. It looked safe enough, and it was Lilypaw’s only choice besides drowning once the water flooded the cave or dropping the lengthy fall down, and they were nearly at the top of what used to be their hollow.

            She watched Thornclaw crouch down in a jumping position, and directly after that he leaped, landing on the tree limb safely. He shuttled along with two Clanmates that had been there to help him in case he had to scrabble up by one paw. Lilypaw gulped and tried not to glance down, although it was pretty hard not to.

            “Come on, you can do it. The rest of us are waiting,” a gentle voice encouraged her. At first Lilypaw thought it was Honeyfern in her head, but then she realized that it was Leafpool behind her.

            “Okay, I can do this.” Lilypaw took a breath, closed her eyes, bent her legs the way she had seen experienced old Thornclaw do. Then she did more of a hop over. I didn’t go far enough was her first thought as she sailed over as far as she could in midair. Suddenly Lilypaw felt her claws scrape bark, and she grinned, the butterflies fluttering out of her stomach. She had made it.

            Lilypaw climbed the rest of the way up and nodded to Thornclaw, who had been shoved back to help her when things didn’t look good for her. All Lilypaw could think was, I made it. I made it!

            She and Thornclaw stayed behind to assist Leafpool, and the brown tabby leaped onto the tree with them swiftly and easily without pressure. A few more cats went after her, including the three queens holding kits, then finally Tigerheart.

            Bramblestar leaned forward far ahead on the tree next door and counted his Clan. “Nearly all of us have made it,” he called, meaning Graystripe. “Now we will continue on. Our life at the lake is now behind us, and it is time for us to start a new adventure. I will call it… the Second Great Journey.”

            “The Second Great Journey,” Thornclaw breathed beside Lilypaw. “I remember the first one clear in my mind.”

            Leafpool nodded in agreement. “It was so tiring, and I was just a young apprentice full of energy then!”

            Lilypaw was already tired enough from the effort it took to make the pounce she did. I suppose another Great Journey it is.

            ThunderClan continued to balance, hopping from tree to tree. As they did so, Lilypaw hoped that they would find Seedpaw somewhere during the journey.

Chapter Five, Part One- Lilypaw POV

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!”

            Lilypaw jerked out of her nest at the sound of Bramblestar’s voice, anxiety entwined into it. She knew just what he was going to say, and it wasn’t going to be good.

            She followed Amberpaw out of their den, the emptiness from the absence of Seedpaw overwhelming her. Now that there was this new flooding problem, no one seemed to care about Seedpaw’s disappearance except her close kin.

            The dark brown tabby leader was standing boldly upon the Highledge, thick muscles bulging beneath his sleek pelt. Yet he looked worn thin- did he literally have to swim most of the way back to camp?

            Bramblestar bowed his head once everyone had crowded below him. “I am afraid that the flood has been progressing. It’s even closer to us than when Spiderleg’s patrol went out. We may have to evacuate if we cannot stop it. But no cat has told us that we can’t attempt to block the water from making the hollow a lake. Who is with me to ensure that the lake stays in its place?”

            Lilypaw observed Spiderleg jumping up and yowling in agreement, along with a ton of other cats. She joined in. I’m not in the mood for another Great Journey. From stories I’ve heard, it was harsh.

            All of a sudden the grief-stricken Sorreltail hopped up from her seat beside Brackenfur. He tried to cover her mouth with his tail, but didn’t get to it in time. “What if Seedpaw drowned in that flood?” she cried out, her voice a sharp edge unlike its usual casual, friendly tone.

            “Impossible,” Bumblestripe answered for Bramblestar. The gray tabby stood up and faced Sorreltail somewhat fearlessly.

            “Now, now,” Bramblestar narrowed his eyes as he said this, flicking his tail for Bumblestripe and Sorreltail to sit back down. “I am sorry Sorreltail, but none of the search parties have picked up any scent of her, not even the one I was on. Seedpaw is gone.”

            Lilypaw was placed on one of the “damage control” groups, not that she wanted to be part of the ongoing project. Bramblestar was a stubborn cat who would not give up hope until it really seemed that he had to.

            She padded out to the brand-new shore and was surprised to feel water lapping at her paws so soon. They were barely several fox-lengths out of the thorn tunnel. Her patrolmates, Dovewing, Millie, and Amberpaw, were determinedly prodding a few long-fallen limbs and dead branches that had been lying there so long that leaf mold was commencing to stick them together.

            “You need to help as well, Lilypaw,” Millie grumbled as she and Dovewing heaved a large stick away from its original place. “This is for the safety of all of us.”

            Lilypaw nodded, bored out of her mind. She wanted to help, but this wasn’t a very fun way to do so. The dark tabby clasped her jaws around the middle of the lengthy limb, watching as Millie took a step backward. Then she turned her head to watch Dovewing steal a shaky pace forward. It was the best Lilypaw could do to keep herself entertained.

            Eventually Millie dropped her end of the stick, as did Dovewing. Lilypaw was the last to drop it, her jaws throbbing in pain from gripping the object so hard. Behind them, Amberpaw was dragging over a thin, flimsy branch, which she let go of, watching it hurriedly fall down next to its larger cousin.

            Lilypaw wanted to remove the aftertaste from the limb from her mouth. It had a smoky, musty, moldy fungus taste that she majorly disliked. Running her tongue all over her mouth to collect the nastiness, she spat up all of the bark remnants that she could. Amberpaw gave her a humored, weird look, and then the two of them chuckled.

            All of a sudden, Lilypaw felt wetness licking her paws, and as she wiggled her toes, she felt them move slower, as if they were underwater. She glanced down and felt sick. The lake water had broken through their branch barrier easily and was now past them, heading straight for the hollow!

            Dovewing was already dashing back to camp to warn the warriors. Millie urged Amberpaw and Lilypaw forward, and soon paws splashing in and out of water was all Lilypaw heard as the blood roared in her ears. Her legs kept pumping up and down, up and down. There was nothing that could stop her. It was true. They would have to evacuate!

Chapter Four, Part Two

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Bramblestar yowled as Poppyfrost and her patrol pattered into the stone hollow. Blossomfall and Mousewhisker separated into their own little group. Bumblestripe excitedly bounded over to Dovewing and Ivypool. Poppyfrost searched for Berrynose and found him herding their kits over to where the rest of the ThunderClan cats were gathered. Poppyfrost joined them with a chuckle.

            “Reluctant to be doing something other than napping?” she inquired, noting Molefoot’s bleary gaze.

            “Meh,” Cherrystem answered for her brother.

            Berrynose rolled his eyes. “I had to wave a dead mouse in front of their faces to wake them.” He unleashed a growl of disapproval. “You two better step up and start preforming good warrior duties soon or…”

            Poppyfrost cut him off, resting her tail on his shoulders. “Hush,” she uttered. Bramblestar was waving his tail, his patience draining as cats persisted to whisper opinions on a ShadowClan cat being in their camp.

            “Icecloud’s kits have been born,” Bramblestar announced. “For the moment they are unnamed.”

            “Actually,” someone interrupted. The fur on the ThunderClan leader’s spine rose. It was Tigerheart. “Icecloud and I just named them. The tabby-and-white is named Puddlekit, the brown tabby is Oakkit, and the white one is named Bloodkit.” Icecloud ducked her head in minor shame as her mate completed the list of names.

            “Bloodkit?” a cat deep in the crowd called out in bewilderment.

            Tigerheart puffed out his chest fearlessly. “Check out his eyes,” he retorted, spinning Bloodkit around with his muscle-thick tail. Poppyfrost closed her eyes and swallowed hard as a gasp rippled through the cats. She squinted and examined Bloodkit.

            His eyes were pink-red.

            Bramblestar bent down from his position up high to see. “Well, t- there you go,” he stammered, shock overtaking his voice. “Anyway…” he trailed off, unable to think of how to explain the rest of the story to his Clan.

            Poppyfrost felt fur brush against her sleek spotted pelt and glanced over to see Berrynose stand up and boldly face Tigerheart. “What else is there? You don’t mean that you’re the father of these strange kits… are you?”

            “Yes, I am.” Tigerheart informed them steadily. “I will not hide it anymore. I am head over heels in love with Icecloud, and now that we have kits… I can’t stop loving her.” He leaned in closer to his mate and purred loudly.

            “I am afraid that I cannot allow this.” Bramblestar dipped his head. “I will not banish you, Icecloud, but I will have to go over this with Rowanstar. Smart of you to not hide it any longer, as you would eventually be discovered.” The tabby paused, taking a moment to look down at his sister’s son. “But you have both betrayed the warrior code. I am disappointed in both of you, having noble parents and kin…” He shook his head. “Icecloud, I suggest you either join ShadowClan or… erm, Tigerheart you could live with your… your mate here in ThunderClan.” Audible breaths of shock eliminated the silence Bramblestar had left hanging in the air for a heartbeat. The biggest one, Poppyfrost observed, came from Dovewing.

            The dark tabby dunked his head in respect directed to the rival Clan leader. “Soon all of the ShadowClan scent will be removed from my pelt. I will join ThunderClan.”

            Berrynose sat back down with a thud. He and Poppyfrost exchanged a fretful gander.

            Poppyfrost could interpret by her Clanmates’ rude attitudes that it was becoming difficult for Tigerheart to fit in. But he attempted not to show his troubles.

            Squirrelflight tried to help him by placing him on the third or fourth patrol, never putting Tigerheart on a group that headed to the ShadowClan border. Bramblestar had traveled to ShadowClan with Jayfeather to discuss the issue with Rowanstar. The dark ginger tomcat had accepted the fact that his son could stay with ThunderClan, but he wasn’t too happy about it, Poppyfrost had been told.

            One lazy, peaceful evening after Poppyfrost had completed all of her assigned patrols and dusk was approaching steadily, the tortoiseshell got the chance to observe Tigerheart interacting with other cats. She couldn’t help but feel curious.

            The dark brown tabby was playing with Puddlekit and Oakkit while Bloodkit sat off to the side, enviously watching his littermates with blood-red eyes as his mother washed him. The Clan was accepting Bloodkit’s eyes and arrogant personality faster than they were accepting Tigerheart.

            Thornclaw was always one of the warriors that had more attitude in him than wisdom. The golden brown tom strutted over as if he were the leader of all Clans and growled, “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

            Tigerheart glanced up and grinned, but Poppyfrost could see the hostility connecting their gazes with invisible cobweb. “It is indeed.” His attention was quickly returned to Puddlekit, who was batting at his ears, and Oakkit, who was nipping his paws. The kits definitely weren’t aware of their being half-Clan. Everything is so obvious. They just don’t realize it.

            The senior warrior settled down on one of the rare patches of sunlight that appeared in early leaf-bare. “Your kits are… er, um, cute.”

            “Thanks” was all Tigerheart said in reply.

            Thornclaw opened his mouth to say something else when suddenly a patrol of three raced in, their paws skidding on the half-frozen earth.

            Bramblestar leaped up from his place beside Squirrelflight and demanded, “What is going on?”

            The leader of the patrol, Spiderleg, had wild eyes. “The lake is flooding!” he exclaimed. “Rapidly!”

            Squirrelflight cocked her head in shock. “You mean it isn’t frozen?”

            Mousewhisker stepped out from behind the older warrior. “It had been last time I checked. But now it’s much farther out than it should be.”

            Toadstep was gasping for air. “We started padding on water a few fox-lengths from the normal shore. Everything beyond that was under water.”

            For a heartbeat Poppyfrost believed that her heart was beating in her throat. What if the water continued into Clan territory? What if their camp got flooded out?

            Bramblestar stepped forward, waving his tail to silence the murmur that had grown in the past few moments. “How deep is it?” he quizzed, tooth digging into his bottom lip.

            Spiderleg was calmer now, but his gaze was still terrified, pupils darting about in fear. “It just about touched my belly fur, and that was when we first entered the flood area. We have to evacuate now, or we’ll all drown.”

            All of the kits huddled under Hazeltail, Icecloud, and Cinderheart in mixed groups. Even the apprentices backed into their den. Cherrystem and Molefoot were wide awake now, soaking in all the info they could get.

            “I need to see this for myself,” Bramblestar decided, walking over to the thorn tunnel. “Spiderleg, you can come with me.”

            The gray-muzzled tom strode back after him, tail swishing from side to side.

            Poppyfrost trudged over to Berrynose, and they tapped noses with each other. She rested her head in his soft, creamy-colored fur. What was the fate of the Clans?

Chapter Four, Part One- Poppyfrost POV

“Poppyfrost, you can lead a border patrol to check the ShadowClan line,” Squirrelflight ordered, nodding to the tortoiseshell. Poppyfrost nodded. “Go with Mousewhisker, Blossomfall, and Bumblestripe.” After summoning her Clanmates to the thorn tunnel, they left and headed toward ShadowClan.

            Mousewhisker and Blossomfall started chatting up a storm, and Bumblestripe moved up next to Poppyfrost. “I think they like each other a lot,” he whispered in her ear, and Poppyfrost giggled. Young love… she was happy to have Berrynose.

            Soon the patrol was split in half, each pair deep in their conversations. So when Poppyfrost stumbled and fell flat on her face, she was pretty sure it was just a rock that she had tripped on. “Oh, Icecloud!” Blossomfall gasped, and Poppyfrost leaped up, Bumblestripe wiping the dirt off of her dark pelt with his tail politely.

            The white queen was having her kits, and she appeared to be struggling. “Mousewhisker, go get Jayfeather and Briarlight,” Poppyfrost snapped the order at him. She hadn’t meant to be harsh to the younger warrior, but her heart was racing. Kits weren’t meant to be born outside of camp. Lilypaw and Seedpaw were, and they turned out fine, but… Stop worrying, Poppyfrost commanded herself, although several thoughts raced about her head at once.

            “Poppyfrost… B- Blossomfall, I’m… scared,” Icecloud swallowed and clenched her jaws as a ripple passed over her belly.

            “Are you with anyone?” Blossomfall asked. Poppyfrost snorted inwardly. That’s a no-brainer, she thought. Obviously she’s not.

                Icecloud’s round blue gaze stared up at Poppyfrost and Blossomfall. “Cinderheart,” she moaned. “She went to get the… father.”

            Poppyfrost was confused. They hadn’t passed Cinderheart on the way. Where had her sister gone? Deciding that she shouldn’t pressure the queen anymore, Poppyfrost sat back and hoped for the best.

            “Medicine cat coming through!” Jayfeather hollered, barreling past Blossomfall and Poppyfrost. Blossomfall glared at the back of head.

            “Medicine cat apprentice coming through!” Briarlight copied despite the worry shining in her amber eyes. However, her exclamation was muffled due to the fact that many herbs were crammed into her jaws.

            Poppyfrost backed away a few steps to give the medicine cats space, but she still peeked over Jayfeather’s shoulder. She was curious.

            Blossomfall bit her lip so hard that it looked as if it could burst. “Will she have to have them here and now?”

            Jayfeather didn’t glance up from Icecloud as he answered. “Well, it will happen now,” he meowed hotly, tail-tip flicking in annoyance. “I don’t think she has the strength to get back to the camp in time though.”

            Poppyfrost’s stomach twisted. What was the fate for Icecloud?

            Briarlight piped up suddenly. “Jayfeather, a kit! A kit!” Poppyfrost leaned forward in anticipation, along with Blossomfall, whose eyes were wide in… horror? Poppyfrost noticed Mousewhisker rest his tail on her shoulders somewhat soothingly.

            A sharp mewl pierced the air, and the blood roared in Poppyfrost’s ears. “It’s a tom, the first of three!” Jayfeather announced in a mumble, probably only half to the audience. Poppyfrost glimpsed a pure-white bundle identical to his mother. There was not a single piece of another fur color on his pelt from what she saw.

            Quite abruptly, Cinderheart blundered in with a dark tabby that smelled of ShadowClan by her side. Both were panting heavily. Poppyfrost gulped. What was a cat from an enemy Clan doing here?

            The dark tomcat collapsed down next to Icecloud and stroked her rippling flank with his tail gently. “It’ll be alright, Icecloud,” he murmured in her ear.

            “Excuse me,” Jayfeather’s head snapped up like a twig breaking from a tree. “Why are you here?”

            The ShadowClan warrior fixed his unwavering gaze on Jayfeather. “I am Tigerheart, and Icecloud is my mate. I am not afraid to admit it.”

            Poppyfrost felt ill.

            “The second kit, Jayfeather!” Briarlight choked on her words as a second kit was released into the world. Jayfeather snapped back to attention and revealed that the second kit was again a tom.

            Eventually the last kit arrived, a she-kit. All were healthy and well. “May I see them?” Poppyfrost questioned, excitement fizzing in her paws. Seemingly reluctantly Jayfeather stepped aside, his blind blue gaze staring blankly at the new litter.

            Icecloud was licking her sons and daughter vigorously, and in protest they mewled weakly, pawing at her stomach for milk. It gave Poppyfrost sweet memories of when Cherrystem and Molefoot were newborns.

            Surprisingly, the first kit, the spitting image of his mother, was the smallest of the three, weakly kneading. His brother was the biggest, a brown tabby and white. The she-kit had shining dark brown tabby fur just like her apparent father. “They’re beautiful,” Poppyfrost heard Tigerheart whisper. Icecloud nodded cumbersomely in agreement.

            Jayfeather had to drag the patrol away from Icecloud, Tigerheart, and their kits. It wasn’t just because the little ones were so cute, but also the fact that Tigerheart was their father caused some quizzing.

            Blossomfall seemed in a daze. Poppyfrost thought she heard her mutter to Mousewhisker, “I want kits…”

            After remarking the slightly stale border swiftly, Poppyfrost, Blossomfall, Mousewhisker, and Bumblestripe rushed back to camp, the suspense killing them. What would happen to Icecloud, Tigerheart, and their kits?

Chapter Three, Part Three

Once they were a few fox-lengths from the camp entrance, Cinderheart let go of Icecloud’s scruff and heaved a tired sigh. “Phew, you’re really heavy!”

            “Oh, so you thought I weighed as much as a feather?” Icecloud growled, picking herself up and scowling at her denmate. She swung back around and started back to camp.

            “Hey! Why would I bring you out here only to let you return right back to camp?”

            Icecloud froze as if all time was stopped. Then she swiveled to face Cinderheart. “What do you want from me?” she grilled anxiously. Cinderheart observed her jumping from paw to paw. Obviously she was holding something in.

            Cinderheart leaned in, her gaze pulling Icecloud closer. “You have a relationship with Lionblaze. I know you do.”

            “N- no I don’t!” Icecloud protested, trembling all over. “Why would you think that?”

            “Because I heard you and him talking last night behind the nursery!”

            The white she-cat collapsed onto the ground and clenched her teeth. “Cinderheart… I… I…”

            The betrayed one’s eyes blazed. “You’re sorry? You better be. No, Lionblaze should-” Cinderheart quit speaking for a moment when she realized that Icecloud was producing low moans of pain. “Icecloud, are you alright?”

            “Clearly I’m not!” she snapped in response. “The kits are coming. Get Tigerheart!”

            “Er, don’t you mean Jayfeather and Briarlight?” Cinderheart questioned, puzzled. “Isn’t Tigerheart a ShadowClan warrior?” Then the gray queen narrowed her eyes. “Wait… he’s the father?” she grilled, shocked.

            Icecloud stared up at her. Her eyes shone with sadness and hurt. “Yes, if you need an explanation this heartbeat, it’s that Lionblaze and I loved each other, but the kits are Tigerheart’s, and he is in ShadowClan. Now get him.”

            A lump formed in Cinderheart’s throat, and she staggered backwards toward ShadowClan territory. “B- but… we’ll get in trouble! He’s a rival!”

            “Not to me, he isn’t. Please, I’m begging you.”

            “Who will help you have the kits?”

            “Tigerheart will. Get him, and bring him here. I’ll be waiting… if the kits can wait.”

            Cinderheart turned around and blindly raced through the forest, instinctively knowing the turns and twists. She finally arrived at the border. Swallowing the clump, she crossed over it and bounded into the dark pine forest, hoping that the rank smell of ShadowClan would lead her to their camp.

            “Hello?” Cinderheart choked on her words as she glanced around. Would anyone help her?

            Just then she bumped into a brown tabby cat, and they both collapsed onto the marshy ground. Cinderheart wrinkled her nose. Now there certainly would be ShadowClan scent embedded into her pelt for a while to come. She leaped up and examined the warrior.

            He was truly handsome, his young, muscly frame blocking any lower view behind him. He had sleek, dark brown tabby fur, and dashing, glinting amber eyes. It was Tigerheart!

            “Tigerheart, follow me,” Cinderheart motioned for him to trail after her the way she came.

            “But…” 

            “It’s Icecloud. She needs you. Now.”

Chapter Three, Part Two

It was when Cinderheart awoke with the urge to make dirt in the middle of the night when she heard some rustling. The creator of the noise was nearby, in fact very close. Cinderheart peeled open one eye and spotted a bulky figure sneaking out of the den right in front of her. It was most definitely Icecloud, considering how light-colored the cat was. Cinderheart figured that she was just making dirt, and the gray queen followed her out to do the same.

            But, thinking that no one was on her tail, Icecloud hung a left instead of heading straight to the dirtplace. Cinderheart really had to go, but she was wondering where Icecloud could possibly be traveling to at night, especially so close to having her kits. It wasn’t Cinderheart’s nature to eavesdrop, but this time she just had to. Curiosity got the better of her.

            Cinderheart pursued after Icecloud, who had disappeared behind the nursery. She realized that Icecloud would see her if she went directly after the white she-cat, so Cinderheart reentered the nursery and listened from her nest.

            “Hey, Icecloud!” a hauntingly familiar voice whispered in excitement.

            Some paws crunching heavily on slushy snow drowned out Cinderheart’s ears for a moment. Then she heard Icecloud reply, “Lionblaze, we can’t do this anymore.”

            Cinderheart felt sick. What was Lionblaze doing with Icecloud?

            Lionblaze was silent for a while before meowing, his voice gradually becoming quieter with each word, “What… do… you… mean?” His voice cracked.

            Now Cinderheart was in a grouchy mood. Icecloud hadn’t revealed the father of her kits. It was Lionblaze! How could he have performed a white lie right before Cinderheart’s face?

            Icecloud commenced to whisper her speech. “I’m pleased that you love me more than Cinderheart. I’m okay with you loving her as well as long as you like me more.”

            “Then what’s wrong?” Lionblaze interrupted.

            “The kits aren’t… t- they aren’t yours.” Cinderheart imagined the scene as if she were there at Icecloud’s bulged flank: the deep raven-black sky, the claw-moon drifting across the sky ever so slowly, casting its pitifully weak light down on the pair. The couple consisting of the liar and the mongrel. Lionblaze’s face so shocked, so devastated, and Icecloud’s expression exposing regret and guilt.

            I can’t believe I ever loved him.

            Cinderheart couldn’t listen to any more. Her eyelids fluttered down to cover her deep blue eyes, and she entered a dreamless slumber.

            She didn’t arouse from her sleep until late that morning. Cinderheart yawned and slunk out of the nursery on cramping legs. She cringed in pain from the hurt all over her body, including the love section in her heart. After a few good stretches, Cinderheart strode over to the smooth boulders used for sunning in greenleaf. Now they were cold to the touch from sitting in the freezing evening. She settled down beside one and began to groom herself.

            A cool breeze ruffled the ThunderClan cats’ fur; dawn frost glittered on the frozen tree limbs, and it replaced the usual dew on grass blades. Each individual one shimmered, proving that indeed the night had created a layer of pure ice over the green.

            Cinderheart shuddered. She believed that there was a blanket of ice over her. All of a sudden she sensed a presence behind her, and hot breath warmed her shoulder. Lionblaze, she uttered to herself after scenting the air. Why should I bother?

            “Hey, Cinderheart!” he purred, his scent glands rubbing against her cheek. Cinderheart hopped up and trudged away from him. Same exact greeting to Icecloud. Bet he started with ‘Guess who!’ to Icecloud as well. “Where are you going, silly?” he chuckled and proceeded after her.

            However, Cinderheart was searching for Icecloud. “Where is she?” she hissed to herself, scanning the camp clearing. Graystripe was climbing onto one of the sunning rocks, but left them with his teeth chattering. Squirrelflight stood tall and proud on the deputies’ Half-rock, assigning several patrols. Cats gathered around her exited then returned frequently. Bramblestar sat beside his mate, lazily observing his camp, grateful for peace after the battle with the Dark Forest around eight moons ago. If only Cinderheart was in a cheery mood too.

            The white queen was emerging from the nursery, and her blue eyes flitted around the clearing, probably looking for Lionblaze. Cinderheart scrambled over to her.

            Icecloud spun around and grinned somewhat nervously at Cinderheart. “Oh, hi!” she said. “Is there something you wan-” The white warrior was interrupted by Cinderheart dragging her to the thorn tunnel.

            Unfortunately, Berrynose was hanging around the camp exit and noticed them. He wrinkled his nose. “What are you two doing?” So nosy!

            “She-cats’ business,” Cinderheart retorted, lifting her muzzle into the air. She tried to move past the cream-colored tom, but he blocked their passage with his tail.

            “But you’re dragging Icecloud, and she…” Suddenly Berrynose stopped and shrugged. He removed his tail from their path. “Go, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Want me to come along?”

            Cinderheart’s head shook from side to side. “Nope, thanks though,” she declined his offer. “Bye.”

Chapter Three, Part One- Cinderheart POV

Cinderheart stared at Hazeltail’s tail as the queen exited the nursery. Cinderheart knew what that meant- she had to look after Larchkit and Smokykit. It was an assigned job that she and Hazeltail confirmed almost as soon as Cinderheart moved into the den. Icecloud was now too close to having her own kits to look after them. If she was left alone in the den with the kits and Jayfeather was out, what would happen? Briarlight only just became his apprentice, a bit after Hazeltail delivered. She didn’t have much experience.

            The gray she-cat watched the two little toms tumble and play, and Cinderheart smiled. Looking down at her rounded belly, her smile grew wider. She and Lionblaze finally were having kits! She thought she felt three inside her, as sometimes they kicked. In any of her free time when Larchkit and Smokykit weren’t causing mischief, Cinderheart kicked back and thought of names. For she-kits… how about Honeykit or Fernkit after Honeyfern and Ferncloud? As for toms… Pinekit, Sunkit, after former leaders… I like Lakekit too.

            “Hey!” a high-pitched voice exclaimed, jerking Cinderheart out of her thoughts. Icecloud was glaring grumpily at Larchkit and Smokykit, who were pretending her ears were the great mountains.

            “I’m so sorry!” Cinderheart cried, and she shuffled over and dragged Hazeltail’s sons off of the queen. Icecloud was losing lots of patience as she came closer to giving birth. Cinderheart’s fur pricked at the thought of the white queen going into labor now.

            Just then, Cinderheart heard a sob outside. She poked her head out of the nursery, wrapping her tail around Larchkit and Smokykit firmly.

            Sorreltail’s body was convulsing and shuddering, and Brackenfur was holding back a fresh wave of sadness. Lilypaw and Poppyfrost stood next to them, moist-eyed themselves. Cinderheart felt a sharp pang of agitation. Seedpaw, who wandered off a few sunrises ago, still hadn’t been found. Every day Sorreltail, who was Cinderheart’s mother as well, sadly trudged around the camp with her mate, Brackenfur, comforting her with every stride.

            The past hit Cinderheart hard, and she whipped around to look back into the nursery again. Besides the huge Icecloud resting in the corner of the den, not much had changed from when she remembered the nursery being when Cinderheart was a kit. She’d play with Poppykit, Molekit, and Honeykit excitedly, and each new day brought more fun. Sorreltail and Brackenfur were young, happy; there was no Lionblaze yet, no Power of Three prophecy. Yet still, for some reason, cats stared at her strangely. Later Cinderheart learned that the Clan’s medicine cat, Cinderpelt, died during her birth in this very nursery during a badger attack, back when the Clans were still new to the lake.

            Cinderpelt had a crippled leg which never healed; Cinderheart broke her leg, too, as an apprentice like Cinderpelt did. The bones in Cinderheart’s leg mended back together.

            She snapped back to current times when Larchkit tapped her paw with his tail. “Um, gray cat?” he quizzed, staring up at Cinderheart with round blue eyes.

            Cinderheart’s heart broke into pieces. He was so adorable! “Yes, Larchkit? And my name is Cinderheart.”

            Larchkit glanced at Smokykit, and the two brothers shrugged. Then Larchkit continued, “Whatever. Anyway, I was wondering who that fat piece of fox dung is over there.” He motioned to Icecloud in the corner.

            The gray queen gulped. Were kits really that disrespectful? Maybe it’s just a phase, or rude young toms. Cinderheart blinked and answered, “She is called Icecloud. Icecloud is your father’s sister, and soon she will have more playmates for you guys. So will I.”

            Smokykit growled. “What you just said didn’t make any sense at all. That ugly white thing isn’t related to Foxleap. That’s just impossible. And how can she produce more cuties like us? We’re awesome, plus we’re satisfied with just having each other as ‘playmates’.”

            “How dopey,” Larchkit muttered.

            I thought they were cute, innocent little ones. How wrong I was. “I can’t believe you two would be like that towards a cat in a higher position than you. Your parents will hear about this!”

            Instantly Smokykit and his littermate went into hiding, delving into Hazeltail’s nest. They are related to Berrynose, right?

            Desperately Cinderheart wanted to leave the nursery for a bit and stretch her legs. It was hot and stuffy in there, especially with Icecloud puffing warm air with each breath. Cinderheart couldn’t even stand up straight without her back smacking the bramble wall. A rumbling started up in her throat, but she resisted allowing it to last. Surely Hazeltail wouldn’t escape the horrors of her troublesome offspring for a purposely long time?

            Finally Hazeltail returned, and Cinderheart woke up from her nap happily. “Hazeltail,” she meowed, and the gray-and-white she-cat faced her. Cinderheart noticed the dark circles under the queen’s eyes and suddenly felt even worse than before. The pain in her stomach as increasing. Were kits this much work?

            “What?” Hazeltail snapped, not bothering to apologize for her snippy attitude. Cinderheart couldn’t blame her. Larchkit and Smokykit were disasters that already happened. Would Cinderheart’s unborn sons and daughters be disasters waiting to happen?

            “I’m sorry if I’m bothering you, but… I just wanted to say that Larchkit and Smokykit have been…” Cinderheart hesitated when she saw two little forms trembling behind Hazeltail’s moss.

            Hazeltail glared. “What are the menaces doing now?” She plopped down into her nest, making a blockade before her sons. Not seeing them shake made Cinderheart feel more confident.

            “They’vebeentreatingmeandIcecloudlikedirt.” With that Cinderheart raced out of the den, the excess weight she gained slowing her down a bit. Panting laboriously, she skidded across the clearing and threw herself down before the fresh-kill pile. She needed to eat.

            Behind her, Cinderheart picked up the sound of paws trotting cheerfully against the earth. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes tightly. Hazeltail would definitely kill her now.

            “Guess who!” a voice said teasingly, and a golden tail swept before Cinderheart’s eyes, making her temporarily blind.

            “Oh, Lionblaze!” Cinderheart chortled and glanced up at her handsome mate. She was so lucky to finally have him. He was her only true love, the only one she’d ever love.

            He collapsed down beside her in a sticky heap. “I would suggest that you don’t touch me,” he mewed, and Cinderheart jerked her muzzle away from his.

            “Why?”

            “I just came back from a patrol, and I ran into a huge cobweb. Now if Jayfeather’s looking for some cobwebs, he can just pick them off of me.” Lionblaze ducked his head in mock shame, as a grin still sat on his face.

            Cinderheart laughed a deep, hearty laugh and snatched a squirrel from the dangerously low pile of deceased prey. Then she froze. “Have the beauties and Graystripe eaten yet?” The warrior code’s harsh rules loomed before her.

            “I suppose so,” Lionblaze answered. “Graystripe isn’t complaining that he’s hungry, and the kits aren’t out trying to steal something. Anyway, you’re an expecting queen. You need to get nutrition not just for you but for our kits as well.” He purred as she dug in like a member of BloodClan. “Why did you call Larchkit and Smokykit the beauties?”

            “They treat me like mouse bile, for one thing,” Cinderheart started, talking between chews. “They called Icecloud a ‘fat white thing’, and there’s more. Hazeltail doesn’t seem to care. At all. I had to retreat from the nursery, Lionblaze. I’m freaking out.”

            Lionblaze frowned. “Wow. I’ve never known any kits that act like that. Do you want me to report to Bramblestar? All youngsters need to treat their older ones with respect.” Cinderheart detected some sarcasm in his tone.

            She shook her head no. “It’s not worth it. We’d just be causing even more chaos.” Cinderheart finished the rest of her squirrel and signed in contentment. “That was delicious.”

            “Is there anything I can do?” Lionblaze offered, finally sounding serious.

            “I want to get out of camp for a bit. Want to take a walk with me?”

            Cinderheart’s mate paused. “What if you go into labor outside of camp?”

            The gray warrior snorted. “I’m not that far along. Trust me; I’ll get much bigger before that happens.”