NEW BLOOD-BORN OF SMOKE & FIRE - take NEW POLL!
Jul 29, 2016 15:03:04 GMT -5
𝙿𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚜𝚢𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚘𝚗, 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵, and 9 more like this
Post by phantomstar57 on Jul 29, 2016 15:03:04 GMT -5
NEW BLOOD - BORN OF SMOKE & FIRE
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Greetings all!
NEW BLOOD-Born of Smoke and Fire is COMPLETED!
The time frame of the NEW BLOOD Universe is many seasons after BRAMBLESTAR’S STORM, and well into and beyond A VISION OF SHADOWS, and BROKEN CODE so
BEWARE of spoilers!!
This story is dedicated to my Kai , the huge Maine Coon who, as the inspiration and model for Kyestorm- passed to StarClan from kidney disease. (Aug 6, 2002 - Jan 26, 2015)
As for me, many of you know me, but many may not, so visit Phantomstar’s Corner to learn more about me, and find links to my NEW BLOOD stories and one shots. NEW BLOOD-Character Page (Allegiances) is on it's own for easy access.
SUMMARY
After the flood subsides, things return to normal for all around the Lake. Many seasons of peace pass, until disaster to her two-leg home drives Kye, a pregnant Maine Coon queen, and her mate, out into the forest, alone and unprepared. ThunderClan, after getting a message from StarClan, rescues them.
As outside danger threatens all in the form of a new invasive dangerous species, Kyestorm wonders if she and her family will be able to help defend the Clans, who saved their lives and accepted them as their own, against the growing menace? Will they drive away the danger, or be destroyed by it?
NEW BLOOD ART CONTEST! As outside danger threatens all in the form of a new invasive dangerous species, Kyestorm wonders if she and her family will be able to help defend the Clans, who saved their lives and accepted them as their own, against the growing menace? Will they drive away the danger, or be destroyed by it?
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For the Chapter 14 illustration!
Contest is over!
Congratts to Minted, who won with a clever drawing!
Thank you!
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NEW BLOOD - BORN OF SMOKE & FIRE
Prologue - Chapter Five
PROLOGUE
One bitter cold night, many seasons after the Great Flood, Bramblestar braved the frigid wind, and sat on Highledge, looking to StarClan for answers. His thoughts dwelled on the horrific events the Clans struggled to recover from over those seasons; the Great Battle with the Dark Forest, and terrible storm that flooded the lake and surrounding territories. Though the Clans lived in peace and prosperity since those hard seasons, this past Green Leaf, competition from other creatures, such as foxes, left the Clans battling to catch enough food, and the following Leaf Bares blew colder and snowier than in many, many seasons. Though the Clans prospered, Bramblestar felt anxiety wash over him as he surveyed the snow-covered land. This Leaf Bare brought even colder weather, with violent snowstorms that covered the territories in deep snows.
Bramblestar worried about the lack prey. After Cinderpelt and Lionblaze’s kits became warriors, and his and Squirrelflight’s’s kits anticipated apprenticing in a moon, much to his disappointment, only Lilyheart and Millie carried kits. With Millie and Graystripe in the Elder’s den, the announcement a quarter moon ago of Millie’s impeding kitting came as a shock, most of all to her and Graystripe. Millie long passed the age when queens normally kitted. Everyone protected Millie, giving her their prey, wishing so much to fill the nursery with kits come New Leaf, but Bramblestar worried. Millie continued to fret over Briarlight, sometimes giving her prey to her daughter, taking away from her unborn kits. To add to this, he worried that they might be born before New Leaf, unlike Lilyheart’s kits, who were not due for at least two moons.
Bramblestar shifted his body on the cold rock, staring through the leafless trees at the frozen lake. His stomach twisted into knots. Strange dogs barked and howled in the distance every night, their voices sounding very different from the dogs of Two-leg origins. Their haunting cries sent cold foreboding deep into Bramblestar's soul, and on cue, one wailing howl, answered by another, echoed distantly from across the lake.
"What are those creatures? " he meowed. “Leaf Bare is taking its toll on us. We can’t lose those kits,” he mumbled to the clear. starry sky.
No answer came out of the glittering stars, but the soft fall of pawsteps in the snow caught his attention. Jayfeather approached him, nimbly climbing the icy rocks. Bramblestar eyed his Medicine cat in surprise.
"What are you doing out here. It’s beyond freezing."
"I had a vision." Jayfeather hunched down against the wind, facing his Leader. “It woke me, and I heard your plea.”
"Any word for us?" Bramblestar asked, as the bitter cold wind ruffled his short thick pelt. He shivered.
"It's rather unclear. I saw smoke and flames, kits, and a very large pregnant queen in need of help," Jayfeather grumbled. "All Firestar said was to help the giant red Queen."
"When?" Bramblestar scowled, flicking his tail, amber eyes glinting under the waning moonlight.
"I don't know." Jayfeather retorted irritably. "The vision showed patchy snow cover. Obviously late Leaf Bare or early New Leaf. This has yet to pass."
"Then when the time comes, we assist this strange queen. I’ll keep patrols alert for cries for help." Bramblestar stood up, surveying the snow-covered territory. Nother haunting howl echoed across the lake from the direction of the Horseplace. The dogs living there barked and snarled in response, and Bramblestar glanced again at Silverpelt.
"What new menace threatens us now?" Bramblestar frowned at Jayfeather "This help best come quickly! I don't like what I hear echoing across the Clans' territories."
“Nor do I. But I know it’s something dangerous, a real threat. So we will help the giant red queen.” Jayfeather turned, and carefully descended the rocky ground, then veered off to his den.
“Giant red queen?” Bramblestar muttered. “Kittypet? I hope not. They are always so helpless at first. Rogue? Mousedung! I Another Clan cat? No. No big red she-cats in other clans. Maybe some loner? How can any loner help us?”
The wind whistled over the rocks, and Bramblestar jumped down from Highledge, heading back to his den. He curled up, trying not to disturb Squirrelflight, but before he fell back to sleep, a swirl of mist and sparkles formed at the mouth of the den. He jerked his head up. A familiar red form stood before him, translucent, shimmering like Silverpelt. Squirrelflight awoke with a start, faced the apparition, A squeak of shock left her jaws.
“Firestar?” Bramblestar finally found his voice.
“Do all you can to help the giant red Queen, her mate, and her kits.” Firestar’s green eyes shone. “Through fire and smoke, new blood is born.”
“I will,” Bramblestar meowed. “But, when, where? How?”
“You’ll know,” Firestar answered, and vanished in a swirl of wind and snow as a bitter breeze blew into the den.
“Great StarClan!” Squirrelflight exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with annoyance. “My father hated when StarClan spoke in riddles and vagueness, but now he does the same?”
“Maybe he has no choice, but at least we have a clue what to keep alert for.” Thunderclan’s Leader shook his head, then snuggled up against his mate. “Some unknown she-cat who has or will have kits. How under StarClan can she help us?”
“Are you sure it will be a cat?” Squirrelflight scoffed.
“I don’t know, but I assume, yes, a cat.” Bramblestar gazed at his mate. “I hope so, because queen means more kits. But I can’t see how this will help us catch more prey or fight some unknown enemy.”
“Then we should all keep watch for this big red queen.” Squirrelflight yawned. “More kits is alwasy a blessing to a Clan.My father has his reasons so we should heed his words.”
“I intend to, but, where will this queen come from, and when? It’s mid Leaf Bare.” Bramblestar lay his head down against his deputy’s flank.
“I don’t know,” she answered irritably. “Go to sleep. When Star Clan decides to send her, they will.”
“Out of fire and smoke new blood is born? Let’s hope the forest doesn’t have to burn down for her to show up.” Bramblestar heaved a huge sigh, exhaling in a grouchy growl. Visions of fire in the trees, and smoke blanketing the snowy hills, danced before his inner eye.
Bramblestar worried about the lack prey. After Cinderpelt and Lionblaze’s kits became warriors, and his and Squirrelflight’s’s kits anticipated apprenticing in a moon, much to his disappointment, only Lilyheart and Millie carried kits. With Millie and Graystripe in the Elder’s den, the announcement a quarter moon ago of Millie’s impeding kitting came as a shock, most of all to her and Graystripe. Millie long passed the age when queens normally kitted. Everyone protected Millie, giving her their prey, wishing so much to fill the nursery with kits come New Leaf, but Bramblestar worried. Millie continued to fret over Briarlight, sometimes giving her prey to her daughter, taking away from her unborn kits. To add to this, he worried that they might be born before New Leaf, unlike Lilyheart’s kits, who were not due for at least two moons.
Bramblestar shifted his body on the cold rock, staring through the leafless trees at the frozen lake. His stomach twisted into knots. Strange dogs barked and howled in the distance every night, their voices sounding very different from the dogs of Two-leg origins. Their haunting cries sent cold foreboding deep into Bramblestar's soul, and on cue, one wailing howl, answered by another, echoed distantly from across the lake.
"What are those creatures? " he meowed. “Leaf Bare is taking its toll on us. We can’t lose those kits,” he mumbled to the clear. starry sky.
No answer came out of the glittering stars, but the soft fall of pawsteps in the snow caught his attention. Jayfeather approached him, nimbly climbing the icy rocks. Bramblestar eyed his Medicine cat in surprise.
"What are you doing out here. It’s beyond freezing."
"I had a vision." Jayfeather hunched down against the wind, facing his Leader. “It woke me, and I heard your plea.”
"Any word for us?" Bramblestar asked, as the bitter cold wind ruffled his short thick pelt. He shivered.
"It's rather unclear. I saw smoke and flames, kits, and a very large pregnant queen in need of help," Jayfeather grumbled. "All Firestar said was to help the giant red Queen."
"When?" Bramblestar scowled, flicking his tail, amber eyes glinting under the waning moonlight.
"I don't know." Jayfeather retorted irritably. "The vision showed patchy snow cover. Obviously late Leaf Bare or early New Leaf. This has yet to pass."
"Then when the time comes, we assist this strange queen. I’ll keep patrols alert for cries for help." Bramblestar stood up, surveying the snow-covered territory. Nother haunting howl echoed across the lake from the direction of the Horseplace. The dogs living there barked and snarled in response, and Bramblestar glanced again at Silverpelt.
"What new menace threatens us now?" Bramblestar frowned at Jayfeather "This help best come quickly! I don't like what I hear echoing across the Clans' territories."
“Nor do I. But I know it’s something dangerous, a real threat. So we will help the giant red queen.” Jayfeather turned, and carefully descended the rocky ground, then veered off to his den.
“Giant red queen?” Bramblestar muttered. “Kittypet? I hope not. They are always so helpless at first. Rogue? Mousedung! I Another Clan cat? No. No big red she-cats in other clans. Maybe some loner? How can any loner help us?”
The wind whistled over the rocks, and Bramblestar jumped down from Highledge, heading back to his den. He curled up, trying not to disturb Squirrelflight, but before he fell back to sleep, a swirl of mist and sparkles formed at the mouth of the den. He jerked his head up. A familiar red form stood before him, translucent, shimmering like Silverpelt. Squirrelflight awoke with a start, faced the apparition, A squeak of shock left her jaws.
“Firestar?” Bramblestar finally found his voice.
“Do all you can to help the giant red Queen, her mate, and her kits.” Firestar’s green eyes shone. “Through fire and smoke, new blood is born.”
“I will,” Bramblestar meowed. “But, when, where? How?”
“You’ll know,” Firestar answered, and vanished in a swirl of wind and snow as a bitter breeze blew into the den.
“Great StarClan!” Squirrelflight exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with annoyance. “My father hated when StarClan spoke in riddles and vagueness, but now he does the same?”
“Maybe he has no choice, but at least we have a clue what to keep alert for.” Thunderclan’s Leader shook his head, then snuggled up against his mate. “Some unknown she-cat who has or will have kits. How under StarClan can she help us?”
“Are you sure it will be a cat?” Squirrelflight scoffed.
“I don’t know, but I assume, yes, a cat.” Bramblestar gazed at his mate. “I hope so, because queen means more kits. But I can’t see how this will help us catch more prey or fight some unknown enemy.”
“Then we should all keep watch for this big red queen.” Squirrelflight yawned. “More kits is alwasy a blessing to a Clan.My father has his reasons so we should heed his words.”
“I intend to, but, where will this queen come from, and when? It’s mid Leaf Bare.” Bramblestar lay his head down against his deputy’s flank.
“I don’t know,” she answered irritably. “Go to sleep. When Star Clan decides to send her, they will.”
“Out of fire and smoke new blood is born? Let’s hope the forest doesn’t have to burn down for her to show up.” Bramblestar heaved a huge sigh, exhaling in a grouchy growl. Visions of fire in the trees, and smoke blanketing the snowy hills, danced before his inner eye.
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CHAPTER ONE: ESCAPE
Part 1
A screech brought Kye out of unsettling dreams, and she jerked awake, sitting up in her soft plush bed, shocked by screams of her housefolk, searing heat, and choking smoke. Sirens split the night, pummeling her tall, tufted ears, and flashing lights pierced the shadows of the dark cottage. Kye wailed in terror, and spun to face the speaker. Her gorgeous mate, an enormous black-smoke Maine Coon tom with white markings glared at her from bright golden eyes dilated with fear.
“Get up!!”he yowled.
"What’s happening?” Kye wailed, then gagged on burning smoke.
"We have to get out of here!" he commanded. "Fire!"
Something smashed into the front door, sending wood splinters into the cottage. Flames sprouted along the front window, engulfing the drapes. Kye screamed, then coughed, the air scorching her windpipe. Dread shot through her body. An apparition came through the door, hauling a huge snakelike thing that spewed water, flooding the floors, engulfing Kye’s bed.
“What’s that?” Kye yowled, scrambling away from her bed and the water, her cry cut off by coughing.
"Follow me!" her mate bellowed.
"What about our housefolk?"
“ It’s too late! Smell that?" he meowed. "They burn! We have to run! Follow me!" Her mate leaped away, rushing toward the rear of the cottage.
"Demon B! Wait!" Kye plunged after him, hindered by her swollen bellyful of kits. She raced into the small back room where her housefolk washed their removable furs, just in time to see Demon B hurl his twenty-five pounds of Maine Coon muscle at the small window. Glass shattered, shards blasting outward, and the outer screen popped out of its track, flying into the small garden below. Without further question, Kye followed him, sailing her seventeen pound red-tabby body through the gaping maw. Jagged glass teeth pulled at her long thick fur, but never touched flesh. She landed on the grass beyond the garden, following her mate, who raced for the woods. Terror pounded her heart, pumping adrenaline into her legs. She breathed deep and fast, coughing, worried for her kits.
The two Maine Coons fled, running deep into the forest. Kye raced behind her mate in witless fear, her eyes adjusting quickly to the dark. Moonlight illuminated the forest. Her paws squelched through patchy snow, and above, trees stretched naked branches into the sky. After a while, her mate slowed down, and Kye ran up his very heels. She slowed, catching her breath, trying to control her hysteria, and stopped coughing. Ahead, a building appeared out of the gloom, and Kye’s heart leaped. Housefolk! Demon B led her there, and hobbled in, where, on the cold cement floor of the deserted dilapidated structure, he collapsed. Kye saw no evidence that any housefolk lived there. Dismay overwhelmed her.
"We’re safe," Demon B murmured, and Kye skidded to a halt, then saw the gash on Demon’s chest. Two more cut a hind leg and foreleg. Blood pooled on the concrete.
"Demon B! You’re hurt! There are no housefolk here! We’re lost! Noooo!" she wailed in anguish. "HELP! HELP US!" she screamed into the night, hoping someone somewhere might hear her. Her kits kicked and tumbled, and she wailed inarticulately in abject terror.
“Get up!!”he yowled.
"What’s happening?” Kye wailed, then gagged on burning smoke.
"We have to get out of here!" he commanded. "Fire!"
Something smashed into the front door, sending wood splinters into the cottage. Flames sprouted along the front window, engulfing the drapes. Kye screamed, then coughed, the air scorching her windpipe. Dread shot through her body. An apparition came through the door, hauling a huge snakelike thing that spewed water, flooding the floors, engulfing Kye’s bed.
“What’s that?” Kye yowled, scrambling away from her bed and the water, her cry cut off by coughing.
"Follow me!" her mate bellowed.
"What about our housefolk?"
“ It’s too late! Smell that?" he meowed. "They burn! We have to run! Follow me!" Her mate leaped away, rushing toward the rear of the cottage.
"Demon B! Wait!" Kye plunged after him, hindered by her swollen bellyful of kits. She raced into the small back room where her housefolk washed their removable furs, just in time to see Demon B hurl his twenty-five pounds of Maine Coon muscle at the small window. Glass shattered, shards blasting outward, and the outer screen popped out of its track, flying into the small garden below. Without further question, Kye followed him, sailing her seventeen pound red-tabby body through the gaping maw. Jagged glass teeth pulled at her long thick fur, but never touched flesh. She landed on the grass beyond the garden, following her mate, who raced for the woods. Terror pounded her heart, pumping adrenaline into her legs. She breathed deep and fast, coughing, worried for her kits.
The two Maine Coons fled, running deep into the forest. Kye raced behind her mate in witless fear, her eyes adjusting quickly to the dark. Moonlight illuminated the forest. Her paws squelched through patchy snow, and above, trees stretched naked branches into the sky. After a while, her mate slowed down, and Kye ran up his very heels. She slowed, catching her breath, trying to control her hysteria, and stopped coughing. Ahead, a building appeared out of the gloom, and Kye’s heart leaped. Housefolk! Demon B led her there, and hobbled in, where, on the cold cement floor of the deserted dilapidated structure, he collapsed. Kye saw no evidence that any housefolk lived there. Dismay overwhelmed her.
"We’re safe," Demon B murmured, and Kye skidded to a halt, then saw the gash on Demon’s chest. Two more cut a hind leg and foreleg. Blood pooled on the concrete.
"Demon B! You’re hurt! There are no housefolk here! We’re lost! Noooo!" she wailed in anguish. "HELP! HELP US!" she screamed into the night, hoping someone somewhere might hear her. Her kits kicked and tumbled, and she wailed inarticulately in abject terror.
Part 2
"Don’t be afraid," a voice whispered in Kye’s ears. She stopped shrieking and opened her eyes, gasping in shock. Standing before her on the floor, a tomcat the color of flame stood before her, glittering like the stars in the skies above her. She realized she saw through his form, but his green eyes shone bright in the waning moonlight.
Who, what, are you?" Kye found her voice.
"I am Firestar of StarClan. Stay calm, beautiful Red Queen. Help comes."
"S-s-starclan?" Kye stared in awe, noticing other ghostly forms standing behind Firestar. A blue she-cat stepped forward, her blue eyes shimmering.
“Yes, we are StarClan. I am Bluestar. We’re to make sure you fulfill your destiny. Don’t fear.”
“What destiny? Are you spirits?"
"In a sense, but no time to explain. You’ll learn more over time," Firestar answered. "Help comes. When they do, tell them I sent you.”
“Tell then Blackstar also sends you, should you meet my Clan. Be strong, and shed your kittypet roots.” A large white tom with black legs stepped forward. He nodded. “You, your mate, and especially your kits, such enormous Warriors to be, are important."
"What? How? Who comes?"
"My Clan. They will help you." Firestar faded.
"No! Don't go! Please!"
"Remember, you are important to all the Clans." Firestar vanished, leaving Kye and Demon B alone.
"Did you see them?” Demon B rasped.
"Yes, but who will help us? We ran so far and the spirits are gone!” Kye wailed, then froze as a voice echoed through the woods.
"Up here. I hear them up here."
“Are you sure, Leafpool?" another voice answered with an annoyed growl.
"Yes, Jayfeather. Someone is hurt, and I know a queen in distress when I hear it"
"So do I. I just hope you are right about their location.”
"What if they are other Clan's warriors?" another voice asked.
"Don't be mousebrained, Lionblaze. We help, and never ever leave kits in distress, born or unborn." Leafpool’s voice growled back.
Down on the slope below, the undergrowth rustled. Kye tensed, not sure what to expect, knowing wild Clan cats came to her aid instead of housefolk. She heard rumors of them, as did every cat, but she always thought them myth to scare kits. According to legend, they killed strangers! Kye gasped as her kits wrestled inside, sending bolts of pain through her abdomen. She knew stress hastened their birthing time. She thought of the starry, kind, but courageous figures she saw moments ago, and decided to put her trust in StarClan.
"Help! Help us! Pleease!" she wailed.
Four cats broke from the brush, and halted on the cement floor.
"Great StarClan!" a golden tabby tom exclaimed. "Are you sure they are cats?"
"Yes," the she-cat called Leafpool answered, after a moment of surprise. "Very large cats, and one is a very large red queen! These are the cats Firestar said to help. Come on."
Kye gaped in shock as a blind grey tomcat surged forward, gently running his muzzle over Demon B. Leafpool examined Kye with gentle paws.
"You will kit very soon!"
"Yes, in another quarter moon," Kye answered . "But it feels like now!"
"We have to get you to safety. Stress may bring on kitting. Jayfeather, how is he?"
"He lives. We need to get him to the Medicine Den, but who is going to carry him? He is enormous!"
"Mousebrains," the forth cat meowed. "Lionblaze, you and I will carry him."
“How? Cinderheart, have you lost your mind? He is larger than a big dogfox!"
“We will figure it out.” The dark grey she-cat stood beside Demon B, who gazed at the she-cat warily. "Can you stand?"
"I think so," Demon B answered weakly, and struggling, rolled over on his stomach and pushed himself up.
"He is so tall we can almost walk under him," Cinderheart said. "What’s your name?
"I’m Warlock Demon B," Kye's mate grunted, as the two cats slipped under him and lifted him onto their backs. His hissed with pain “But Demon B is fine.”
"Mousedung!" Cinderheart grumbled "You are heavy. Why such, uh, a weird name?"
“It’s what my housefolk named me,” Demon B grunted. “My registered name is Tabbyskins Warlock Demon B.”
“Tabbyskins?” Cinderheart exclaimed with a querulous growl. “That sounds horrible. Do they skin cats?”
“No!” Demon B answered with a guffaw, which ended in a grunt of pain. “It’s the cattery name.”
“What’s a cattery?”
“It’s the place where he was born,” Kye answered. “The housefolk keep Maine Coons there and breed them. My registered name is Pangurban Madame Kye. Our housefolk adopted us from different breeders.”
“Breeders?” Cinderheart narrowed her eyes, all mirth gone from her expression. “They choose your mates? Like two-leg livestock?”
“Yes,” Kye answered, suddenly feeling embarrassed and chagrined. “Our housefolk adopted me and Demon B many suncycles apart, but over time, we became mates. They stopped us from breeding for many moons, but finally, when I matured enough, they allowed it.”
“That sounds so wrong,” Cinderheart muttered as she helped Lionblaze steady Demon B.”Do you love him?”
“Yes!” Kye cried, as her kits kicked and tumbled again. “Why wouldn’t I? We grew to love each other!”
"Who cares how they met, or what their Two-legs did. Let's move. He is bleeding all over us," Lionblaze complained.
“All right, grouchy,” Cinderheart said, and Kye relaxed. She understood nothing of why they disapproved of her housefolk and the way she met Demon B. The cats headed out of the building and into the forest. Leafpool and Jayfeather flanked their companions, steadying Demon B. Kye trotted alongside, calmer, feeling relief help arrived. Might they save her mate's life?
"I can help," she said, noticing her mate's big paws and long bottlebrush tail dragging the path.
"We have this," Leafpool assured her.
"Thank you.” Kye trotted, careful not to trip over stones and roots. “Demon B and I are grateful for your help.”
“Odd names you have. Your mate’s sounds like something evil from the Dark Forest,” Cinderheart remarked.
“He isn’t evil,” Kye retorted with a hiss, insulted anyone would think that of her huge gentle giant of a mate. “What is the Dark Forest?”
“Long sad story. Perhaps once we settle you in, someone can tell you all about it,” Leafpool answered.
“I’d like that,” Kye let her fur flatten, wanting to understand why they thought Demon B’s name so terrible.
“Good,” Leafpool replied, and halted at an overgrown dirt road. “This old Thunderpath is clear as usual, but better safe than sorry.” Kye looked back at the overgrown road, as the they moved deeper into the forest.
“Thunderpath?” Kye asked.
“Yes, where the monsters go.” Jayfeather answered. “This one never gets used, but we are always careful anyway.”
“Oh, housefolk machines. They’re scary. The flying monsters are frightful. We came here in one.”
“Dreadful! You’re so huge and unlike any cats we have ever seen,” Cinderheart spoke up. “Nobody ever spoke of enormous cats with thick long fur and gargantuan paws. You’re larger than the famed, but illusive wildcats that live far north of here. Your housefolk control your breeding. You must be a pair of pampered purebreds that never set foot outdoors.””
“We are allowed out in the garden to play and hunt. I always loved being outside,” Kye meowed. “We’re not stuck up Persians or skinny cold-intolerant Orientals.” Kye’s voice rose. “We’re Maine Coon cats.”
“Maine what?” Cinderheart asked, then grunted as Demon B’s body shifted.
“Maine Coon cats,” Kye repeated. “We’re a breed from over the Great Water, and we came over here in a flying monster to live here a suncycle ago.”
“Suncycle? Great Water? You mean the Sundrown place?” Cinderheart exclaimed.
“Yes, a suncycle, many moons, twelve moons. Our housefolk finally let us have kits and they’re due in a quarter moon! But we woke tonight to fire!” Kye yowled with grief. “Our housefolk, the cottage, everything burned! It was awful. Demon B crashed through a window to save us. And he is hurt bad, but we made it to that old building”
“The old Two-leg place,” Leafpool said, her tone turning sorrowful. “You’re kittypets.”
“Kittypets? Yes, I suppose. Why is that so sad?” Kye mumbled.
“My father was a kittypet in his youth. He died in the Great Battle. He’s still missed.”
“Firestar?” Kye’s mind jumped with insight. “A red cat appeared to us, telling us not to be afraid.”
“I told you,” Jayfeather grumbled. “I saw this.”
“How do you know that name?” Leafpool urged Kye to answer, ignoring Jayfeather’s comment.
“You’ll think I’m crazy,” Kye meowed. “When we lay, scared, after our run, he appeared to us. He said he was from StarClan, calling himself Firestar. He said we are important, and that his clan would help us. We saw others, called Bluestar, and Blackstar.”
“You’re not crazy. Firestar, my father, is now with StarClan. Bluestar was leader before Firestar. Blackstar, leader of ShadowClan, died in the massive floods many seasons ago.” Leafpool leveled her amber eyes on Kye. “You were meant to come to us.”
“Really? But. . . our housefolk, they. . .”
“Tragic,” Leafpool answered, “but you escaped because StarClan touched you. Obviously they knew tragedy would fall.”
“They couldn’t stop it?”
“No. They have no influence over Two-leg life, but, they could help you.” Leafpool answered softly. Kye fell silent, thinking about all this strange information. What did they expect of her and Demon B? She grunted as her kits tumbled vigorously inside her.
“Demon? How did you wake in time?” Kye asked.
“A dream,” he mumbled. “A bad dream filled with wild cats, fire, vicious dogs, and when I woke up, smoke filled the cottage. I heard our housefolk screaming in their sleeproom. I wanted to help but there was no time. Flames trapped them in the room, spreading so fast. We had to get out.”
Kye uttered a keen of grief for her housefolk. She loved them, but said nothing, sensing these cats did not approve of housefolk or the life she and Demon B lost in that fire. They trotted through forest. The terrain sloped downhill, and they turned slowly eastward. Ahead, Kye saw a gap in brambles at the edge of a hollow.
"There is our camp." Leafpool told her. "We are taking your mate straight to the medicine den. Someone will show you to the nursery."
“Nursery?” Kye asked, but followed the cats through the gap and into a quiet clearing.
“Yes, the den where our queens have their kits. They are well looked after,” Leafpool assured her. Kye gazed around, noting the intricately constructed nests and dens, and the cliffs that rose on the north side of the hollow. Kye glanced up, and saw dawn lightening the eastern sky, while the moon set in the west. As Leafpool led Kye across the hard ground, the camp erupted to life. Cats poured out of the dens. A long-haired cream she-cat approached, along with other cats. Kye bristled with anxiety, as they closed in around her, blocking the cream she-cat’s way. Questions bombarded her from many.
“Who are you?” A large long-haired white tom asked, looking Kye up and down.
“A huge kittypet?” Another tom scoffed. “Its still Leaf Bare! We can’t help any more kittypets!”
“Shut it,” the white tom bared his fangs at the black, long-legged tom. “My uncle was once a kittypet and a better leader the Clan has never seen! How can you even say that?”
“I was a kittypet, too. Do you think I shouldn’t be here?” A grey tom snapped at the older cat.
“Sorry Cloudtail, Stormcloud.” The tom lowered his head, chastised.
“But times are so lean! The foxes plague us,” An old sandy ginger she-cat protested, but locked eyes with Kye. “How can our warriors feed more mouths?”
“Sandstorm, you of all should understand why we should,” the white tom said softly. Sandstorm gazed at Kye, her eyes full of sorrow, and Kye knew without a doubt the she-cat lost her mate some time ago but still grieved for him.
“Hallo! I’m Hollytuft. Why do you smell like smoke?” a young black she-cat asked, distracting Kye from Sandstorm. The she-cat’s eyes met hers, wide, but inquisitive, with no hostility.
“Hallo. Uh, we escaped a fire,” Kye answered, anxiety flaring up. Her kits kicked.
“We can’t feed ourselves now,” an elderly grey tabby tom said. “And my mate has two kits, our last, and I would never to do anything to jeopardize them. But, Firestar would never turn away a cat in need. We should not either.”
“I agree, Graystripe,” the white tom said. “She is heavy with kits!”
“The other Clans will think we are weak again, Cloudtail,” the lanky black tom muttered. The white tom bristled, whirling on the speaker, but never uttered a single hiss.
“Enough, Spiderleg, Cloudtail.” A brown tabby tom strode through the crowd. They parted swiftly, showing utter respect, and the tom stepped in front of Kye, gazing up at her.
“I am Bramblestar.” The dark brown tabby tom regarded her with golden-amber eyes. “You must be the giant red queen we’ve been expecting. Greetings, and welcome to ThunderClan.”
“Thank you,” Kye responded, sensing a kind and gentle soul in the battle-scarred tom. “Are you, are you, with StarClan?”
A few cats tittered, and an apprentice guffawed.
“No,” Bramblestar answered, a chuckle in his voice. “Leaders gain star in their names when they become Leader. You will learn over time, if you stay with us.”
“Stay? As in live here? Outside?” Kye lashed her tail, and alarm flashed through her. Cramps gripped her belly, and she uttered a wail
“Oww! Oh, no! My kits!”
Before anyone responded, the cream-colored she-cat she noticed earlier marched up to Kye, feathery tail flagged, and exchanged glances with Bramblestar. He nodded.
“Hallo, Kye, I am Daisy. I’ll take you to the nursery. All the excitement is making them enter the world a bit early.” Daisy hurried forward, snapping out the order. “Clear a path!”
“Oh, no!” Kye cried, but followed Daisy to a snug den protected by woven briars. Pain wracked her body and fear for her unborn kits shot through her. “Oowwww!”
“Come!” Daisy commanded, then barked out another order to an apprentice. “Alderpaw! Stop gawking! Fetch Jayfeather!”
The young dark red tabby tom raced off. Kye staggered after Daisy, her vision blurring as she entered the dark den.
“OWWW! My kits! Oh, please! Don’t let me lose them!” Kye shrieked in dread, before she crumpled to the floor, cramps engulfing her body. “Deeemon Beeeeeeeee!”
“Kyeeeee!” She heard his answering yowl before pain, terror, and darkness overwhelmed her consciousness.
Who, what, are you?" Kye found her voice.
"I am Firestar of StarClan. Stay calm, beautiful Red Queen. Help comes."
"S-s-starclan?" Kye stared in awe, noticing other ghostly forms standing behind Firestar. A blue she-cat stepped forward, her blue eyes shimmering.
“Yes, we are StarClan. I am Bluestar. We’re to make sure you fulfill your destiny. Don’t fear.”
“What destiny? Are you spirits?"
"In a sense, but no time to explain. You’ll learn more over time," Firestar answered. "Help comes. When they do, tell them I sent you.”
“Tell then Blackstar also sends you, should you meet my Clan. Be strong, and shed your kittypet roots.” A large white tom with black legs stepped forward. He nodded. “You, your mate, and especially your kits, such enormous Warriors to be, are important."
"What? How? Who comes?"
"My Clan. They will help you." Firestar faded.
"No! Don't go! Please!"
"Remember, you are important to all the Clans." Firestar vanished, leaving Kye and Demon B alone.
"Did you see them?” Demon B rasped.
"Yes, but who will help us? We ran so far and the spirits are gone!” Kye wailed, then froze as a voice echoed through the woods.
"Up here. I hear them up here."
“Are you sure, Leafpool?" another voice answered with an annoyed growl.
"Yes, Jayfeather. Someone is hurt, and I know a queen in distress when I hear it"
"So do I. I just hope you are right about their location.”
"What if they are other Clan's warriors?" another voice asked.
"Don't be mousebrained, Lionblaze. We help, and never ever leave kits in distress, born or unborn." Leafpool’s voice growled back.
Down on the slope below, the undergrowth rustled. Kye tensed, not sure what to expect, knowing wild Clan cats came to her aid instead of housefolk. She heard rumors of them, as did every cat, but she always thought them myth to scare kits. According to legend, they killed strangers! Kye gasped as her kits wrestled inside, sending bolts of pain through her abdomen. She knew stress hastened their birthing time. She thought of the starry, kind, but courageous figures she saw moments ago, and decided to put her trust in StarClan.
"Help! Help us! Pleease!" she wailed.
Four cats broke from the brush, and halted on the cement floor.
"Great StarClan!" a golden tabby tom exclaimed. "Are you sure they are cats?"
"Yes," the she-cat called Leafpool answered, after a moment of surprise. "Very large cats, and one is a very large red queen! These are the cats Firestar said to help. Come on."
Kye gaped in shock as a blind grey tomcat surged forward, gently running his muzzle over Demon B. Leafpool examined Kye with gentle paws.
"You will kit very soon!"
"Yes, in another quarter moon," Kye answered . "But it feels like now!"
"We have to get you to safety. Stress may bring on kitting. Jayfeather, how is he?"
"He lives. We need to get him to the Medicine Den, but who is going to carry him? He is enormous!"
"Mousebrains," the forth cat meowed. "Lionblaze, you and I will carry him."
“How? Cinderheart, have you lost your mind? He is larger than a big dogfox!"
“We will figure it out.” The dark grey she-cat stood beside Demon B, who gazed at the she-cat warily. "Can you stand?"
"I think so," Demon B answered weakly, and struggling, rolled over on his stomach and pushed himself up.
"He is so tall we can almost walk under him," Cinderheart said. "What’s your name?
"I’m Warlock Demon B," Kye's mate grunted, as the two cats slipped under him and lifted him onto their backs. His hissed with pain “But Demon B is fine.”
"Mousedung!" Cinderheart grumbled "You are heavy. Why such, uh, a weird name?"
“It’s what my housefolk named me,” Demon B grunted. “My registered name is Tabbyskins Warlock Demon B.”
“Tabbyskins?” Cinderheart exclaimed with a querulous growl. “That sounds horrible. Do they skin cats?”
“No!” Demon B answered with a guffaw, which ended in a grunt of pain. “It’s the cattery name.”
“What’s a cattery?”
“It’s the place where he was born,” Kye answered. “The housefolk keep Maine Coons there and breed them. My registered name is Pangurban Madame Kye. Our housefolk adopted us from different breeders.”
“Breeders?” Cinderheart narrowed her eyes, all mirth gone from her expression. “They choose your mates? Like two-leg livestock?”
“Yes,” Kye answered, suddenly feeling embarrassed and chagrined. “Our housefolk adopted me and Demon B many suncycles apart, but over time, we became mates. They stopped us from breeding for many moons, but finally, when I matured enough, they allowed it.”
“That sounds so wrong,” Cinderheart muttered as she helped Lionblaze steady Demon B.”Do you love him?”
“Yes!” Kye cried, as her kits kicked and tumbled again. “Why wouldn’t I? We grew to love each other!”
"Who cares how they met, or what their Two-legs did. Let's move. He is bleeding all over us," Lionblaze complained.
“All right, grouchy,” Cinderheart said, and Kye relaxed. She understood nothing of why they disapproved of her housefolk and the way she met Demon B. The cats headed out of the building and into the forest. Leafpool and Jayfeather flanked their companions, steadying Demon B. Kye trotted alongside, calmer, feeling relief help arrived. Might they save her mate's life?
"I can help," she said, noticing her mate's big paws and long bottlebrush tail dragging the path.
"We have this," Leafpool assured her.
"Thank you.” Kye trotted, careful not to trip over stones and roots. “Demon B and I are grateful for your help.”
“Odd names you have. Your mate’s sounds like something evil from the Dark Forest,” Cinderheart remarked.
“He isn’t evil,” Kye retorted with a hiss, insulted anyone would think that of her huge gentle giant of a mate. “What is the Dark Forest?”
“Long sad story. Perhaps once we settle you in, someone can tell you all about it,” Leafpool answered.
“I’d like that,” Kye let her fur flatten, wanting to understand why they thought Demon B’s name so terrible.
“Good,” Leafpool replied, and halted at an overgrown dirt road. “This old Thunderpath is clear as usual, but better safe than sorry.” Kye looked back at the overgrown road, as the they moved deeper into the forest.
“Thunderpath?” Kye asked.
“Yes, where the monsters go.” Jayfeather answered. “This one never gets used, but we are always careful anyway.”
“Oh, housefolk machines. They’re scary. The flying monsters are frightful. We came here in one.”
“Dreadful! You’re so huge and unlike any cats we have ever seen,” Cinderheart spoke up. “Nobody ever spoke of enormous cats with thick long fur and gargantuan paws. You’re larger than the famed, but illusive wildcats that live far north of here. Your housefolk control your breeding. You must be a pair of pampered purebreds that never set foot outdoors.””
“We are allowed out in the garden to play and hunt. I always loved being outside,” Kye meowed. “We’re not stuck up Persians or skinny cold-intolerant Orientals.” Kye’s voice rose. “We’re Maine Coon cats.”
“Maine what?” Cinderheart asked, then grunted as Demon B’s body shifted.
“Maine Coon cats,” Kye repeated. “We’re a breed from over the Great Water, and we came over here in a flying monster to live here a suncycle ago.”
“Suncycle? Great Water? You mean the Sundrown place?” Cinderheart exclaimed.
“Yes, a suncycle, many moons, twelve moons. Our housefolk finally let us have kits and they’re due in a quarter moon! But we woke tonight to fire!” Kye yowled with grief. “Our housefolk, the cottage, everything burned! It was awful. Demon B crashed through a window to save us. And he is hurt bad, but we made it to that old building”
“The old Two-leg place,” Leafpool said, her tone turning sorrowful. “You’re kittypets.”
“Kittypets? Yes, I suppose. Why is that so sad?” Kye mumbled.
“My father was a kittypet in his youth. He died in the Great Battle. He’s still missed.”
“Firestar?” Kye’s mind jumped with insight. “A red cat appeared to us, telling us not to be afraid.”
“I told you,” Jayfeather grumbled. “I saw this.”
“How do you know that name?” Leafpool urged Kye to answer, ignoring Jayfeather’s comment.
“You’ll think I’m crazy,” Kye meowed. “When we lay, scared, after our run, he appeared to us. He said he was from StarClan, calling himself Firestar. He said we are important, and that his clan would help us. We saw others, called Bluestar, and Blackstar.”
“You’re not crazy. Firestar, my father, is now with StarClan. Bluestar was leader before Firestar. Blackstar, leader of ShadowClan, died in the massive floods many seasons ago.” Leafpool leveled her amber eyes on Kye. “You were meant to come to us.”
“Really? But. . . our housefolk, they. . .”
“Tragic,” Leafpool answered, “but you escaped because StarClan touched you. Obviously they knew tragedy would fall.”
“They couldn’t stop it?”
“No. They have no influence over Two-leg life, but, they could help you.” Leafpool answered softly. Kye fell silent, thinking about all this strange information. What did they expect of her and Demon B? She grunted as her kits tumbled vigorously inside her.
“Demon? How did you wake in time?” Kye asked.
“A dream,” he mumbled. “A bad dream filled with wild cats, fire, vicious dogs, and when I woke up, smoke filled the cottage. I heard our housefolk screaming in their sleeproom. I wanted to help but there was no time. Flames trapped them in the room, spreading so fast. We had to get out.”
Kye uttered a keen of grief for her housefolk. She loved them, but said nothing, sensing these cats did not approve of housefolk or the life she and Demon B lost in that fire. They trotted through forest. The terrain sloped downhill, and they turned slowly eastward. Ahead, Kye saw a gap in brambles at the edge of a hollow.
"There is our camp." Leafpool told her. "We are taking your mate straight to the medicine den. Someone will show you to the nursery."
“Nursery?” Kye asked, but followed the cats through the gap and into a quiet clearing.
“Yes, the den where our queens have their kits. They are well looked after,” Leafpool assured her. Kye gazed around, noting the intricately constructed nests and dens, and the cliffs that rose on the north side of the hollow. Kye glanced up, and saw dawn lightening the eastern sky, while the moon set in the west. As Leafpool led Kye across the hard ground, the camp erupted to life. Cats poured out of the dens. A long-haired cream she-cat approached, along with other cats. Kye bristled with anxiety, as they closed in around her, blocking the cream she-cat’s way. Questions bombarded her from many.
“Who are you?” A large long-haired white tom asked, looking Kye up and down.
“A huge kittypet?” Another tom scoffed. “Its still Leaf Bare! We can’t help any more kittypets!”
“Shut it,” the white tom bared his fangs at the black, long-legged tom. “My uncle was once a kittypet and a better leader the Clan has never seen! How can you even say that?”
“I was a kittypet, too. Do you think I shouldn’t be here?” A grey tom snapped at the older cat.
“Sorry Cloudtail, Stormcloud.” The tom lowered his head, chastised.
“But times are so lean! The foxes plague us,” An old sandy ginger she-cat protested, but locked eyes with Kye. “How can our warriors feed more mouths?”
“Sandstorm, you of all should understand why we should,” the white tom said softly. Sandstorm gazed at Kye, her eyes full of sorrow, and Kye knew without a doubt the she-cat lost her mate some time ago but still grieved for him.
“Hallo! I’m Hollytuft. Why do you smell like smoke?” a young black she-cat asked, distracting Kye from Sandstorm. The she-cat’s eyes met hers, wide, but inquisitive, with no hostility.
“Hallo. Uh, we escaped a fire,” Kye answered, anxiety flaring up. Her kits kicked.
“We can’t feed ourselves now,” an elderly grey tabby tom said. “And my mate has two kits, our last, and I would never to do anything to jeopardize them. But, Firestar would never turn away a cat in need. We should not either.”
“I agree, Graystripe,” the white tom said. “She is heavy with kits!”
“The other Clans will think we are weak again, Cloudtail,” the lanky black tom muttered. The white tom bristled, whirling on the speaker, but never uttered a single hiss.
“Enough, Spiderleg, Cloudtail.” A brown tabby tom strode through the crowd. They parted swiftly, showing utter respect, and the tom stepped in front of Kye, gazing up at her.
“I am Bramblestar.” The dark brown tabby tom regarded her with golden-amber eyes. “You must be the giant red queen we’ve been expecting. Greetings, and welcome to ThunderClan.”
“Thank you,” Kye responded, sensing a kind and gentle soul in the battle-scarred tom. “Are you, are you, with StarClan?”
A few cats tittered, and an apprentice guffawed.
“No,” Bramblestar answered, a chuckle in his voice. “Leaders gain star in their names when they become Leader. You will learn over time, if you stay with us.”
“Stay? As in live here? Outside?” Kye lashed her tail, and alarm flashed through her. Cramps gripped her belly, and she uttered a wail
“Oww! Oh, no! My kits!”
Before anyone responded, the cream-colored she-cat she noticed earlier marched up to Kye, feathery tail flagged, and exchanged glances with Bramblestar. He nodded.
“Hallo, Kye, I am Daisy. I’ll take you to the nursery. All the excitement is making them enter the world a bit early.” Daisy hurried forward, snapping out the order. “Clear a path!”
“Oh, no!” Kye cried, but followed Daisy to a snug den protected by woven briars. Pain wracked her body and fear for her unborn kits shot through her. “Oowwww!”
“Come!” Daisy commanded, then barked out another order to an apprentice. “Alderpaw! Stop gawking! Fetch Jayfeather!”
The young dark red tabby tom raced off. Kye staggered after Daisy, her vision blurring as she entered the dark den.
“OWWW! My kits! Oh, please! Don’t let me lose them!” Kye shrieked in dread, before she crumpled to the floor, cramps engulfing her body. “Deeemon Beeeeeeeee!”
“Kyeeeee!” She heard his answering yowl before pain, terror, and darkness overwhelmed her consciousness.
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CHAPTER TWO: KITS
Kye slowly came out of her delirium, aware of cramps rippling her abdomen, but the pain seemed far away. She met the sightless blue eyes of Jayfeather.
“Good, you are lucid,” he said.
“How do you know?” Kye asked, astonished that he knew she opened her eyes.
“My other senses are sharper than normal, and Medicine cats are more attuned to their patients,” Jayfeather answered in curt tones, his paws gentle as he examined her belly. “You have a vigorous brood here.”
“My dam had seven of us,” Kye muttered. “Medicine cat?”
“It is what it sounds like,” Jayfeather grumbled. “If you have that many kits inside, stop pestering me and let’s get them safely into the world.”
“Let’s hope you don’t have that many!” Daisy’s voice responded with mirth and a touch of excitement. “Your first is huge.”
“Oh!” Kye struggled to lift her head, forgetting Jayfeather’s gruff comment. “I wish to see them!”
“I’ll help,” Daisy moved to Kye’s head, and offered her chest for support. Kye craned her neck to see a large bundle of damp fur. “He looks like his father!”
“Your mate has unusual color, black with white roots.” Leafpool’s voice joined the conversation as she entered the nursery. “How many?”
“One so far,” Jayfeather answered. A contraction convulsed Kye, and she wailed, but birthing the second kit hurt less than she anticipated.
“Another big tomkit!” Leafpool exclaimed “So enormous!”
“This one looks like his sire, in dark tabby!” Kye mewed, reaching over to nuzzle both kits to her belly. They mewled, then latched onto her to nurse.
“Sire?” Leafpool asked.
“Yes, sire. A kit’s father.” Kye answered, then groaned, feeling another enter the world.
“Another like your mate, but no white markings! A beautiful she-kit!” Leafpool commented, and Kye noticed the medicine cat did not lift her eyes. Leafpool freed the kit from the birthing sac and it mewed. Kye’s heart jumped, feeling love and anxiety all at once. “Another! They come so quick!”
“Such huge kits!” Another queen hissed. “She looks like a fox having foxcubs!!”
“Don’t be mousebrained, Millie!”A second queen uttered a meow of laughter. “None of them so far are that red with tabby stripes!”
“But Lilyheart! No she-cat is that large! I still say she is a fox!” Millie curled protectively around her two kits, born a couple of sunrises ago. Kye turned to face the grey queen. Sharp green eyes stared back at her, and Kye saw the older cat’s fur bristle with fear. The younger tortoiseshell queen regarded her with bright pale green eyes, and Kye noticed her swollen belly. She knew Lilyheart’s kits would enter the world by the next moon.
“Hello, Millie, Lilyheart,” Kye mewed. “I’m not a fox. I’m a Maine Coon cat. Most of us are all rather large.”
“A Maine Coon cat? That is an odd name for a type of cat,” Millie growled. “Are you one of those snooty purebred cats Two-legs cage like prisoners?”
“I suppose we are, though being a show cat can be exciting. The cages are for our protection against thieving housefolk,” Kye answered, as a shiver went through her body. “But we come from ancestors that roamed the great forests and mountains across the Great Water. We existed before any housefolk decided to make us purebred show cats.” Kye grimaced at Millie. “We aren’t weak useless creatures.”
“Well, let’s hope you aren’t a drain on the Clan, when they try to feed such huge needy cats, that birth huge needy kits.” Millie glared at her.
“How many mice will you eat being so huge?” Lilyheart asked.
“Eat mice? I have never eaten one, but I have caught them.” Kye sneezed with mirth. “If you think I am big, wait until you see my mate.” Kye’s heart leaped, and she faced Leafpool. “How is Demon B? Does he live?”
“Yes, he lives, but is gravely injured. The gash on his chest is deep, though it missed vital organs. His leg tendons were cut in one back leg and on one foreleg. He may be crippled for life.” Leafpool answered. “I am sorry. All we can do is wait.”
“I. . .” Kye groaned as another kit arrived into the world. She lifted her head, and guided the golden-brown tabby tomkit to her belly. The next two birthed quickly, and Kye nosed them both to her side. A brown tabby and white she-kit and a blue-smoke she-kit completed the large litter. The tabby and white she-kit nursed vigorously, uttering little growls. Kye eyed her feisty she-kit, then lay her head down as they nursed. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Nonsense,” Jayfeather snorted. “StarClan sent you to us for a reason, but like anything else, such things never go easy. But my visions were clear! Help the giant red queen, her kits, and her mate. You are a gigantic red queen with kits!”
“I suppose I am,” Kye sighed.
“Are you hungry?” Daisy asked. “You need strength with six kits to feed.”
“Yes, but. . .” Kye stammered. “What will I eat?”
“Fresh kill, like the rest of us,” Daisy answered and trotted out of the den, her tail waving with excitement. Kye thought of the mice she caught in the cottage, and wrinkled her nose. She pounced on them in fun, and killed them accidentally with her large paws without meaning to. She always felt disappointment when the mouse stopped moving. She lost interest whenever Demon B landed on one with both enormous paws and squashed it. The thought of touching it again, let alone eating it, never crossed her mind. Kye growled softly when Daisy returned with a large mouse, and placed it by Kye’s paws. Kye sniffed, repulsed by the fur.
“You expect me to eat this?” She turned her head. “It’s, it’s, nasty!”
“Kittypet foolishness! It’s the only food we have,” Daisy scowled, impatience flaring in her eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Eat it,” Millie spoke up. “I remember my first time. It really is better than the stuff two-legs give us.”
As the kits nursed, hunger rumbled Kye’s belly. She sniffed the plump mouse, and fur tickled her nose. She sneezed.
“I can’t eat this! it’s like eating a toy!”
“Oh, for StarClan’s sake!” Daisy growled, and marched over to the mouse, and with a quick motion, tore the prey open. Kye stared, but as the scent of blood and fresh meat filtered up through her nostrils, some deep instinct born of her ancestors across the Great Waters bloomed within her. Her stomach snarled with hunger. She impulsively licked the mouse, and tasted the warm blood. Obeying her instinct, she nipped the prey, and salivated, her distaste forgotten. Without further thought, Kye sank her teeth into the fresh kill, tore it apart, gulping it down in three bites. She crunched the bones and all, leaving only the fur in a neat pile between her big red-cream paws.
“I could get used to that. It was good! Now I wish I had eaten every single mouse we caught in our housefolk’s place.” She purred. “I’ll learn to hunt well. I promise.”
“I shall teach you,” Another she-cat entered the den, shadowed by two young cats Kye guessed were just past six moons old. “Greetings I’m Squirrelflight, Leafpool’s sister and Bramblestar’s mate and deputy.”
“Greetings,” Kye meowed. “I’m Kye.”
“You are every bit as large as Jayfeather claimed.” Squirrelflight halted in front of her. The youngsters hovered outside, whispering between themselves in excitement. “Great StarClan! SIX kits? And so big!”
“How will they help?” One of the young cats exclaimed. “They will all eat more prey than we can hunt!”
“Hush! You’re apprentices now. Act like it.” Squirrelflight admonished the red she cat. Kye noted with a start how much she looked like the spirit cat who guided them here
“Hello, young one,” Kye faced the apprentice. She stretched out a large tufted paw, and unsheathed her impressive cutlery. “Don’t worry. I’ll learn to hunt once I can leave the den. With these, I don’t plan to miss much prey.”
“Wow!” The youngster’s eyes widened. “You have such big feet!”
“Do you two not have anything else to do? Elders need tending?” Squirrelflight asked, hissing with annoyance. Kye watched the two apprentices bound away, and noticed sunlight touched the tops of the trees. She looked down at her kits, love filling her heart, wishing Demon B shared this moment with her.
“All went well,” Jayfeather said. “You do not need me any longer. Daisy will make sure you are taken care of.”
“Thank you,” Kye called after ThunderClan’s medicine cat. Leafpool followed, but glanced back.
“I will do my best for your mate,” She meowed and left the den. Kye groaned and lay back down.
“I’m sorry,” Millie suddenly spoke up. Kye picked up her head and met Millie’s gaze.
“For what?”
“Being so nasty. You just scared me. These kits are my last, and I fear they may not survive. They surprised us both, and I can’t lose them.” Millie heaved a big sigh, blinking her blue eyes. “I’m an Elder. At my age I should never have had kits, but here they are.”
“I will help you,” Kye felt sudden protectiveness of not only her kits, but the ones at Millie’s belly, and the ones inside of Lilyheart. She noted how frail the older she-cat appeared. “I won’t let anything hurt your kits or mine.”
“Thank you. We all need you. StarClan dropped you in our camp as a gift, and I see my kits that way, too,” Millie said. “But I am so afraid for them. It doesn’t help that foxes are breeding like rabbits and out-competing us all over Clan territories.”
“Foxes?” Kye reacted, anger filling her heart. All foxes she ever knew liked taking kits as prey. She growled.
“Doglike predators. They are slightly larger than the average cat, though you and your mate dwarf most! Maybe you are here to help us with this!” Millie raised her head, joy lighting up her eyes. Kye turned to see an old long-haired grey tabby tom saunter into the den. Kye noted the darker blue-grey stripe running down his back, from which smaller fading stripes streaked toward his flanks. He stopped short.
“Millie?” he yowled querulously, then narrowed his gaze at Kye.
“Graystripe! I’m here! Our kits are safe! This is Kye, the giant Red Queen of Jayfeather’s visions.”
“Hallo, Kye. Giant indeed. I have never seen so large a she-cat.” Graystripe’s expression softened. “Forgive me, but. . .”
“I know. Your kits,” Kye finished for him. “Don’t worry. I’ll treat them like my own.”
Graystripe nodded, and trotted over to Millie and sat down. Kye listened to their soft tones as they shared tongues, longing to have Demon B at her side. Daisy sat beside Kye.
“If anyone can help your mate, it will be our medicine cats. They are the best in all the clans. Have you thought of names yet?”
“Names? Uh,” Kye looked down at her nursing brood. “I never gave it any thought. Our housefolk usually give us our names.”
“Here it is different. Queens name their own kits.”
“Oh,” Kye murmured, then met Daisy’s gaze “I so want Demon B to be with me for that.”
“Maybe in a few sunrises he can visit,” Daisy said hopefully. Kye lay her head down with a sigh.
“Thanks, Daisy. Maybe so,” Kye yawned, glancing at her kits. The pile of fuzz by her belly stopped nursing and now slept. Kye sank into blissful slumber, exhausted, but feeling safe for the first time since she and Demon B escaped the flames.
“Kye?” The call dissolved her dreams, and Kye opened her eyes. Familiar golden orbs gazed down at her. Late after-sunhigh light slanted into the den.
“Demon B!”
“I can’t stay long, but the medicine cats let me come to see our kits.” Demon B sat down awkwardly, and Kye saw the gash down Demon B’s chest. Leaf poultices secured by cobweb stuck to the wound, and circled his right hind leg just below the stifle, while another wrapped his left foreleg just above the elbow.
“Oh, no, you are so hurt!” Kye exclaimed, hearing a short gasp from Lilyheart, who stared at Demon B like a moon-eyed apprentice. She blinked at the young queen. “My mate, Demon B. Meet Lilyheart and Millie.”
“Greetings,” Demon B dipped his head at the two queens, before returning his gaze to Kye. “I’ll need to go back to the Medicine cat den, but they were very pleased I could stand up. I just have to move very slow. I wanted to come and see our kits.” Demon B looked down at the pile of fur. “Six!”
“Yes, and we have to name them.”
“We do?”
“Yes. We have no housefolk to do it. I am sure, once upon a time, our ancestors named their own kits.”
“All right,” Demon B settled carefully on his chest, just as a cat strode into the den.
“Are you all right?” Kye recognized Leafpool’s voice. She came around to examine Demon B’s cobweb bandages.
“Yes. We are going to name our kits” Demon B answered. He winced several times, but finally settled in.
“Then do so. I’ll stay here.” Leafpool sat down. Daisy moved over to sit beside Demon B, blinking at him, eyes wide.
“Are you. . . are you. . . are you sure you’re a cat?” Daisy mewed, looking up into Demon B’s face.. “You’re so big! Why do you have such a name? Did you walk with the Dark Forest?”
“Dark what?” Demon B asked, hissing when he moved his injured foreleg.
“Great StarClan!” Millie yowled in sudden fear. “Is that why he’s so big? He’s from the Dark Forest?”
“Is that possible?” Lilyheart recoiled against the den wall.
“Mousedung!” Leafpool spat. “Listen to yourselves. Yes, he’s big, but he’s not from the Dark Forest!”
“How do you know?” Millie asked, suspicion haunting her eyes.
“They’re kittypets, like you were. Their housefolk named them.” Leafpool glared at the two she-cats. “Its not like he’s Tigerstar reborn.”
“StarClan would never have sent him here if he was. Let’s not be ridiculous.” Another voice joined the argument. Kye recognized Jayfeather’s gruff tones. “ We help the giant red queen and by helping her mate, we help her. Enough nonsense.” Jayfeather poked Kye with a paw. “Name your kits so we can get the big lunk back to the medicine den.”
“Yes,” Kye looked down at her kits, who jostled each other to nurse. Their long fur stuck out, making them look like puffballs. Kye licked the closest, a black kit with white markings in the spitting image of his sire. “This one I will call Demon, after his father.”
“You want to call him that?” Daisy asked softly.
“Of course! Demon B is a big gentle giant!” Kye snarled in sudden anger. “He’s sweet tempered, more so than I am. I will name a kit after him, and won’t suffer any more insults to my mate! ”
“Sure. Okay. Sorry,” Daisy mewed, and sat back, curling her tail around her front paws.
“Welcome to the Clan, Demonkit,” Leafpool said in firm loud tones. Kye looked at her.
“Demon, kit?”
“Yes, all cats are known by kit until they become apprentices. Then he will be Demonpaw until he earns his warrior name.”
“Will it be Demon still?” Kye asked.
“Yes, and if he ever became leader, he’d be Demonstar.” Leafpool snorted with mirth. “But let’s not count our prey before we catch it.”
Kye glanced down at the kit, then nodded, liking this custom of her new home. She nuzzled the second largest kit, a dark silver-tabby with black stripes, and identical white markings to his father.
“This one is Phantomkit. He resembles his father too, like a phantom copy.” Kye licked the last little tom, a golden brown tabby with stark black stripes. “My sweet little one. I call you, Gentlekit.” Kye raised her head to face Demon B. His eyes shone approval. Kye licked the dark brown tabby and white she-kit, who squalled with temper. Kye laughed.
“She is an independent spirit,” Demon B murmured. “How about Indikit?”
“Perfect,” Kye purred, then touched her nose to the silvery black kit. “This inquisitive ball of smokey fuzz is Smokekit.”
“How about Bluekit for our smallest. Our little blue one with a white undercoat like mine,” Demon B murmured. “After Bluestar.”
“I love it,” Kye meowed. Leafpool stood up.
“Welcome to the Clan, Phantomkit, Demonkit, Gentlekit, Indikit, Smokekit and Bluekit.” Leafpool nudged Demon B. “Come! You must get back. You’re bleeding again. We must change your wrappings, cobweb, and poultices.”
“Can’t I stay here?” Demon B begged.
“No. Your best chance is where we can monitor you constantly. Please Demon B, let’s go.”
“Go,” Kye urged, going against her heart. “Do as they ask. I want you to heal. And ignore the doubters. I know you’re not evil. Others will soon learn that, too.”
“All right,” Demon B agreed, and staggered after Leafpool, his bottlebrush tail dragging the ground. Kye knew how much energy he expended visiting his kits, and as much as she wanted him curled up beside her, she understood he needed to stay in the Medicine den. She lay her head down, hoping her mate healed soon. She worried. If he lived, but remained crippled, what might he contribute to the Clan? If he failed to hunt, or fight, would they drive him out? She knew the accusations of being evil cut his heart like a blade. Kye realized she liked it here, and dreaded the idea of wandering the wilderness alone, with six kits in tow, but the idea of separating from Demon B squeezed her very soul with pain. The thought of looking for new housefolk repulsed Kye. No other housefolk could ever replace what she lost. Her heart pounded suddenly and she buried her nose in her nest, thinking the worst. What if Demon B decided to drag himself away from those who thought him a villainous cat, and died from his injuries? She trembled, and concentrated on her kits, purring to them, trying to calm herself down.
As the morning waxed warm, with sunlight streaming into the hollow, Bramblestar stood on Highledge.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” the Leader’s command echoed under the cliffs. Squirrelflight urged Kye to the center of the gathering cats, and the Maine Coon queen sat at the base of the cliff, gazing up at Bramblestar, wondering what came next. He continued to speak, his eyes on her.
“I appoint a new apprentice today. Kye, though you still have kits in your care, you have shown great aptitude in your early training. Informally training with my deputy, and at times, me, you have shown you are ready for full apprenticeship.” Bramblestar’s voice rolled out over the hollow. “You came to us ready to bear kits, giving ThunderClan six gifts from StarClan, who has decreed we help you, your mate and kits. In training you, mentoring you, we do this to help strengthen all of us. Are you ready to continue your training?”
“Yes!” Kye answered enthusiastically, feeling eager to prove herself, and to repay this Clan for helping her in such a dire time in her life.
“Kye.” Bramblestar gazed down at her, his eyes gleaming. “From this day forth you will be known as Kyepaw, and your mentor is Squirrelflight. I know she will train you well.”
“Kyepaw! Kyepaw!” rose from many throats, and, in moments, the entire Clan joined in. Squirrelflight bumped her, green eyes sparkling with delight.
“Strange times call for strange ways,” Squirrelflight meowed. “But now, when your kits sleep, we train, full speed.”
“Of course!” Kyepaw agreed, embracing her new name, feeling acceptance. She worried for her mate, since many still distrusted him. After the Clan congratulated her, and dispersed to their duties, she growled under her breath, not understanding why her mate’s name unnerved so many. She returned to the nursery, and forced her annoyances away when her kits mewled for their meal. She stretched out on her side and fed them, anticipating her next session with her mentor, eager to learn the trick a smaller cat might use on a larger foe. She also wanted to learn how to hunt from above in the trees. The idea fascinated her.
After sunhigh, Kyepaw’s kits slept with full bellies and Squirrelflight called her out of the nursery. Kyepaw worked hard, and to her delight, other mentor and apprentice pairs joined the session. Thornclaw and Brackenfur gave her lessons by attacking her in tandem, then Squirrelflight joined them. Kyepaw reared, spinning and lashing out with her huge paws, slapping heads, bodies and anything she found within paw’s reach.
“Watch the big belly!” Brackenfur called out a number of times. “Small warriors can get up under you! Leap and twist so they never know where you will land.”
“Don’t let them land on you back, like this!” Sparkpaw meowed, leaping on top of her. Kyepaw whirled, spinning the apprentice off of her broad back. Her long thick bushy tail lashed another warrior across the face.
“Mousedung!” Thornclaw spat. “That tail hurts!” His eyes lit up. “Use it, Kyepaw! Whip your enemy hard.”
Kyepaw panted, pushing herself hard. Fighting lessons merged into hunting techniques. Primal joy surged through her, as mentors and apprentices gazed at her with respect in their eyes at session’s end. Squirrelflight led her to the fresh kill pile.
“Here take the biggest one. You earned it. Go feed your kits. Well done today!”
“Thanks,” Kyepaw murmured, suddenly feeling exhausted, as the exhilaration of her lessons ebbed. She took a fat squirrel, and carried it to the nursery, then sprawled out beside her kits, who immediately nursed. She ate her meal, giving Millie and Lilyheart big pieces, and fell deeply asleep while her brood fed.
Kyepaw jerked awake out of a deep sleep. Early morning light filtered into the den. Millie’s kits mewed and cried, and Millie fussed and worried over them. Kyepaw yawned, and lifted her head. Millie’s kits mewled, suckling at her belly, and Kyepaw heard the distress in their little voices.
“What is wrong?” Kyepaw asked, blinking sleep from her eyes.
“It’s me and my old body! I have no milk! Oh, no! My kits are too young! What do I do?” Millie’s voice rose to a heartrending wail.
“Again?” Lilyheart exclaimed in alarm.
“Yes!” Millie’s anguished cry brought Graystripe and Daisy in on the run. In moments, the entire camp milled outside the nursery. Jayfeather hurried in, followed by Leafpool. Both medicine cats examined Millie, and Leapool meowed. “Someone get fresh kill immediately!”
“That won’t help!” Millie cried in distress. “I’m well-fed! My body won’t make enough milk!”
“I’ll get some. . .” Jayfeather started, but Kyepaw shook herself out of her daze, cutting him off.
“Stop fussing! I have more than enough! Bring them to me!” Kyepaw commanded.
Graystripe carried his mewling kits to Kyepaw’s belly, and placed them against her. The kits found a place to nurse and latched on with gusto. Milk flowed freely.
“Thank you,” Greystripe mewed, and Kyepaw faced him. Millie rose and lay beside Kye, grooming her kits as they fed.
“Thank you, Kyepaw, thank you,” Millie mumbled.
“Thank you, Kyepaw,” Lilyheart mewed in sad tones. “I wouldn’t have been able to help, not for another moon or more.”
“My pleasure. No reason for kits to go hungry,” Kyepaw reassured both queens.
Blossomfall entered the nursery, and dropped some fresh prey at Kyepaw’s feet, then padded to her mother, touching noses in polite greeting. The tortoiseshell she-cat gazed at the kits longingly. Kye met the gaunt she-cat’s gaze, and nodded, before pushing the mouse back at Blossomfall.
“You eat it.” Kyepaw said. “I ate very well late night.”
“You just saved my little brothers from certain death,” Blossomfall mewed, then licked Kyepaw’s head. “I don’t care what others may say. Welcome to ThunderClan, Kyepaw. May StarClan bless you and your mate for more moons than we can count.”
“Thank you,” Kyepaw murmured, as Blossomfall walked out of the nursery with the mouse. Kyepaw watched until Blossomfall met Bumblestripe outside and stood a moment, heads together. They both glanced at her, deep gratitude in their eyes, then moved off to join a patrol. Kyepaw lowered her head and groomed the nursing kits, feeling more a part of ThunderClan now, glad that someone else appreciated her mate, too.
As the days passed, Kyepaw’s body produced more than enough milk, and she nursed Millie’s kits with her own on days Millie failed to produce milk, which happened more often than not, despite the fact that both queens grew plump. Thanks to Kyepaw’s rich milk all eight the kits waxed fat and healthy. Lilyheart grew larger, waddling when she left the den for the dirtplace.
The weather continued to warm, and the last patch of snow in the camp melted into the ground. When Kyepaw’s kits turned one moon old, the trees broke bud, and creatures emerged from hibernation. Lilyheart finally went into labor one morning, and bore three kits, black Larkkit, white and gold Honeykit, and tortoiseshell Leafkit. Joy filled the camp with a full nursery.
Demon B rested in the Medicine den still healing from his injuries, but often lay out in the early leaf break sun. Kye worried at his condition. Ragged clumps of fur covered his gaunt frame, and she knew he refused food for her and their kits. He looked beaten, defeated, and depressed, and Kyepaw hated how some of the Clan still shunned him. Demon B, always careful with his huge paws and jaws, never hurt a hair on anyone, but many eyed him askance, muttering and growling as they passed.
Most of the Clan cats also gave their fresh kill to Kyepaw, Lilyheart, and Millie, and the kits thrived. The rest of the Clan however, suffered from hunger, making sure what prey they caught went to feed the two queens and elders. Even Bramblestar looked thin and tired. Kyepaw vowed to hunt well, and feed her starving mate. Those who whispered behind his back, or avoided him and refused to speak to him, knew not the damage they caused. A half moon ago, Kyepaw learned the story of the Great Battle, and understood why everyone hated the Dark Forest. But StarClan and the Four Clans vanquished it so many seasons ago. Why did so many insist on thinking Demon B possessed any connection to that horrid place at all?
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦“Good, you are lucid,” he said.
“How do you know?” Kye asked, astonished that he knew she opened her eyes.
“My other senses are sharper than normal, and Medicine cats are more attuned to their patients,” Jayfeather answered in curt tones, his paws gentle as he examined her belly. “You have a vigorous brood here.”
“My dam had seven of us,” Kye muttered. “Medicine cat?”
“It is what it sounds like,” Jayfeather grumbled. “If you have that many kits inside, stop pestering me and let’s get them safely into the world.”
“Let’s hope you don’t have that many!” Daisy’s voice responded with mirth and a touch of excitement. “Your first is huge.”
“Oh!” Kye struggled to lift her head, forgetting Jayfeather’s gruff comment. “I wish to see them!”
“I’ll help,” Daisy moved to Kye’s head, and offered her chest for support. Kye craned her neck to see a large bundle of damp fur. “He looks like his father!”
“Your mate has unusual color, black with white roots.” Leafpool’s voice joined the conversation as she entered the nursery. “How many?”
“One so far,” Jayfeather answered. A contraction convulsed Kye, and she wailed, but birthing the second kit hurt less than she anticipated.
“Another big tomkit!” Leafpool exclaimed “So enormous!”
“This one looks like his sire, in dark tabby!” Kye mewed, reaching over to nuzzle both kits to her belly. They mewled, then latched onto her to nurse.
“Sire?” Leafpool asked.
“Yes, sire. A kit’s father.” Kye answered, then groaned, feeling another enter the world.
“Another like your mate, but no white markings! A beautiful she-kit!” Leafpool commented, and Kye noticed the medicine cat did not lift her eyes. Leafpool freed the kit from the birthing sac and it mewed. Kye’s heart jumped, feeling love and anxiety all at once. “Another! They come so quick!”
“Such huge kits!” Another queen hissed. “She looks like a fox having foxcubs!!”
“Don’t be mousebrained, Millie!”A second queen uttered a meow of laughter. “None of them so far are that red with tabby stripes!”
“But Lilyheart! No she-cat is that large! I still say she is a fox!” Millie curled protectively around her two kits, born a couple of sunrises ago. Kye turned to face the grey queen. Sharp green eyes stared back at her, and Kye saw the older cat’s fur bristle with fear. The younger tortoiseshell queen regarded her with bright pale green eyes, and Kye noticed her swollen belly. She knew Lilyheart’s kits would enter the world by the next moon.
“Hello, Millie, Lilyheart,” Kye mewed. “I’m not a fox. I’m a Maine Coon cat. Most of us are all rather large.”
“A Maine Coon cat? That is an odd name for a type of cat,” Millie growled. “Are you one of those snooty purebred cats Two-legs cage like prisoners?”
“I suppose we are, though being a show cat can be exciting. The cages are for our protection against thieving housefolk,” Kye answered, as a shiver went through her body. “But we come from ancestors that roamed the great forests and mountains across the Great Water. We existed before any housefolk decided to make us purebred show cats.” Kye grimaced at Millie. “We aren’t weak useless creatures.”
“Well, let’s hope you aren’t a drain on the Clan, when they try to feed such huge needy cats, that birth huge needy kits.” Millie glared at her.
“How many mice will you eat being so huge?” Lilyheart asked.
“Eat mice? I have never eaten one, but I have caught them.” Kye sneezed with mirth. “If you think I am big, wait until you see my mate.” Kye’s heart leaped, and she faced Leafpool. “How is Demon B? Does he live?”
“Yes, he lives, but is gravely injured. The gash on his chest is deep, though it missed vital organs. His leg tendons were cut in one back leg and on one foreleg. He may be crippled for life.” Leafpool answered. “I am sorry. All we can do is wait.”
“I. . .” Kye groaned as another kit arrived into the world. She lifted her head, and guided the golden-brown tabby tomkit to her belly. The next two birthed quickly, and Kye nosed them both to her side. A brown tabby and white she-kit and a blue-smoke she-kit completed the large litter. The tabby and white she-kit nursed vigorously, uttering little growls. Kye eyed her feisty she-kit, then lay her head down as they nursed. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Nonsense,” Jayfeather snorted. “StarClan sent you to us for a reason, but like anything else, such things never go easy. But my visions were clear! Help the giant red queen, her kits, and her mate. You are a gigantic red queen with kits!”
“I suppose I am,” Kye sighed.
“Are you hungry?” Daisy asked. “You need strength with six kits to feed.”
“Yes, but. . .” Kye stammered. “What will I eat?”
“Fresh kill, like the rest of us,” Daisy answered and trotted out of the den, her tail waving with excitement. Kye thought of the mice she caught in the cottage, and wrinkled her nose. She pounced on them in fun, and killed them accidentally with her large paws without meaning to. She always felt disappointment when the mouse stopped moving. She lost interest whenever Demon B landed on one with both enormous paws and squashed it. The thought of touching it again, let alone eating it, never crossed her mind. Kye growled softly when Daisy returned with a large mouse, and placed it by Kye’s paws. Kye sniffed, repulsed by the fur.
“You expect me to eat this?” She turned her head. “It’s, it’s, nasty!”
“Kittypet foolishness! It’s the only food we have,” Daisy scowled, impatience flaring in her eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Eat it,” Millie spoke up. “I remember my first time. It really is better than the stuff two-legs give us.”
As the kits nursed, hunger rumbled Kye’s belly. She sniffed the plump mouse, and fur tickled her nose. She sneezed.
“I can’t eat this! it’s like eating a toy!”
“Oh, for StarClan’s sake!” Daisy growled, and marched over to the mouse, and with a quick motion, tore the prey open. Kye stared, but as the scent of blood and fresh meat filtered up through her nostrils, some deep instinct born of her ancestors across the Great Waters bloomed within her. Her stomach snarled with hunger. She impulsively licked the mouse, and tasted the warm blood. Obeying her instinct, she nipped the prey, and salivated, her distaste forgotten. Without further thought, Kye sank her teeth into the fresh kill, tore it apart, gulping it down in three bites. She crunched the bones and all, leaving only the fur in a neat pile between her big red-cream paws.
“I could get used to that. It was good! Now I wish I had eaten every single mouse we caught in our housefolk’s place.” She purred. “I’ll learn to hunt well. I promise.”
“I shall teach you,” Another she-cat entered the den, shadowed by two young cats Kye guessed were just past six moons old. “Greetings I’m Squirrelflight, Leafpool’s sister and Bramblestar’s mate and deputy.”
“Greetings,” Kye meowed. “I’m Kye.”
“You are every bit as large as Jayfeather claimed.” Squirrelflight halted in front of her. The youngsters hovered outside, whispering between themselves in excitement. “Great StarClan! SIX kits? And so big!”
“How will they help?” One of the young cats exclaimed. “They will all eat more prey than we can hunt!”
“Hush! You’re apprentices now. Act like it.” Squirrelflight admonished the red she cat. Kye noted with a start how much she looked like the spirit cat who guided them here
“Hello, young one,” Kye faced the apprentice. She stretched out a large tufted paw, and unsheathed her impressive cutlery. “Don’t worry. I’ll learn to hunt once I can leave the den. With these, I don’t plan to miss much prey.”
“Wow!” The youngster’s eyes widened. “You have such big feet!”
“Do you two not have anything else to do? Elders need tending?” Squirrelflight asked, hissing with annoyance. Kye watched the two apprentices bound away, and noticed sunlight touched the tops of the trees. She looked down at her kits, love filling her heart, wishing Demon B shared this moment with her.
“All went well,” Jayfeather said. “You do not need me any longer. Daisy will make sure you are taken care of.”
“Thank you,” Kye called after ThunderClan’s medicine cat. Leafpool followed, but glanced back.
“I will do my best for your mate,” She meowed and left the den. Kye groaned and lay back down.
“I’m sorry,” Millie suddenly spoke up. Kye picked up her head and met Millie’s gaze.
“For what?”
“Being so nasty. You just scared me. These kits are my last, and I fear they may not survive. They surprised us both, and I can’t lose them.” Millie heaved a big sigh, blinking her blue eyes. “I’m an Elder. At my age I should never have had kits, but here they are.”
“I will help you,” Kye felt sudden protectiveness of not only her kits, but the ones at Millie’s belly, and the ones inside of Lilyheart. She noted how frail the older she-cat appeared. “I won’t let anything hurt your kits or mine.”
“Thank you. We all need you. StarClan dropped you in our camp as a gift, and I see my kits that way, too,” Millie said. “But I am so afraid for them. It doesn’t help that foxes are breeding like rabbits and out-competing us all over Clan territories.”
“Foxes?” Kye reacted, anger filling her heart. All foxes she ever knew liked taking kits as prey. She growled.
“Doglike predators. They are slightly larger than the average cat, though you and your mate dwarf most! Maybe you are here to help us with this!” Millie raised her head, joy lighting up her eyes. Kye turned to see an old long-haired grey tabby tom saunter into the den. Kye noted the darker blue-grey stripe running down his back, from which smaller fading stripes streaked toward his flanks. He stopped short.
“Millie?” he yowled querulously, then narrowed his gaze at Kye.
“Graystripe! I’m here! Our kits are safe! This is Kye, the giant Red Queen of Jayfeather’s visions.”
“Hallo, Kye. Giant indeed. I have never seen so large a she-cat.” Graystripe’s expression softened. “Forgive me, but. . .”
“I know. Your kits,” Kye finished for him. “Don’t worry. I’ll treat them like my own.”
Graystripe nodded, and trotted over to Millie and sat down. Kye listened to their soft tones as they shared tongues, longing to have Demon B at her side. Daisy sat beside Kye.
“If anyone can help your mate, it will be our medicine cats. They are the best in all the clans. Have you thought of names yet?”
“Names? Uh,” Kye looked down at her nursing brood. “I never gave it any thought. Our housefolk usually give us our names.”
“Here it is different. Queens name their own kits.”
“Oh,” Kye murmured, then met Daisy’s gaze “I so want Demon B to be with me for that.”
“Maybe in a few sunrises he can visit,” Daisy said hopefully. Kye lay her head down with a sigh.
“Thanks, Daisy. Maybe so,” Kye yawned, glancing at her kits. The pile of fuzz by her belly stopped nursing and now slept. Kye sank into blissful slumber, exhausted, but feeling safe for the first time since she and Demon B escaped the flames.
“Kye?” The call dissolved her dreams, and Kye opened her eyes. Familiar golden orbs gazed down at her. Late after-sunhigh light slanted into the den.
“Demon B!”
“I can’t stay long, but the medicine cats let me come to see our kits.” Demon B sat down awkwardly, and Kye saw the gash down Demon B’s chest. Leaf poultices secured by cobweb stuck to the wound, and circled his right hind leg just below the stifle, while another wrapped his left foreleg just above the elbow.
“Oh, no, you are so hurt!” Kye exclaimed, hearing a short gasp from Lilyheart, who stared at Demon B like a moon-eyed apprentice. She blinked at the young queen. “My mate, Demon B. Meet Lilyheart and Millie.”
“Greetings,” Demon B dipped his head at the two queens, before returning his gaze to Kye. “I’ll need to go back to the Medicine cat den, but they were very pleased I could stand up. I just have to move very slow. I wanted to come and see our kits.” Demon B looked down at the pile of fur. “Six!”
“Yes, and we have to name them.”
“We do?”
“Yes. We have no housefolk to do it. I am sure, once upon a time, our ancestors named their own kits.”
“All right,” Demon B settled carefully on his chest, just as a cat strode into the den.
“Are you all right?” Kye recognized Leafpool’s voice. She came around to examine Demon B’s cobweb bandages.
“Yes. We are going to name our kits” Demon B answered. He winced several times, but finally settled in.
“Then do so. I’ll stay here.” Leafpool sat down. Daisy moved over to sit beside Demon B, blinking at him, eyes wide.
“Are you. . . are you. . . are you sure you’re a cat?” Daisy mewed, looking up into Demon B’s face.. “You’re so big! Why do you have such a name? Did you walk with the Dark Forest?”
“Dark what?” Demon B asked, hissing when he moved his injured foreleg.
“Great StarClan!” Millie yowled in sudden fear. “Is that why he’s so big? He’s from the Dark Forest?”
“Is that possible?” Lilyheart recoiled against the den wall.
“Mousedung!” Leafpool spat. “Listen to yourselves. Yes, he’s big, but he’s not from the Dark Forest!”
“How do you know?” Millie asked, suspicion haunting her eyes.
“They’re kittypets, like you were. Their housefolk named them.” Leafpool glared at the two she-cats. “Its not like he’s Tigerstar reborn.”
“StarClan would never have sent him here if he was. Let’s not be ridiculous.” Another voice joined the argument. Kye recognized Jayfeather’s gruff tones. “ We help the giant red queen and by helping her mate, we help her. Enough nonsense.” Jayfeather poked Kye with a paw. “Name your kits so we can get the big lunk back to the medicine den.”
“Yes,” Kye looked down at her kits, who jostled each other to nurse. Their long fur stuck out, making them look like puffballs. Kye licked the closest, a black kit with white markings in the spitting image of his sire. “This one I will call Demon, after his father.”
“You want to call him that?” Daisy asked softly.
“Of course! Demon B is a big gentle giant!” Kye snarled in sudden anger. “He’s sweet tempered, more so than I am. I will name a kit after him, and won’t suffer any more insults to my mate! ”
“Sure. Okay. Sorry,” Daisy mewed, and sat back, curling her tail around her front paws.
“Welcome to the Clan, Demonkit,” Leafpool said in firm loud tones. Kye looked at her.
“Demon, kit?”
“Yes, all cats are known by kit until they become apprentices. Then he will be Demonpaw until he earns his warrior name.”
“Will it be Demon still?” Kye asked.
“Yes, and if he ever became leader, he’d be Demonstar.” Leafpool snorted with mirth. “But let’s not count our prey before we catch it.”
Kye glanced down at the kit, then nodded, liking this custom of her new home. She nuzzled the second largest kit, a dark silver-tabby with black stripes, and identical white markings to his father.
“This one is Phantomkit. He resembles his father too, like a phantom copy.” Kye licked the last little tom, a golden brown tabby with stark black stripes. “My sweet little one. I call you, Gentlekit.” Kye raised her head to face Demon B. His eyes shone approval. Kye licked the dark brown tabby and white she-kit, who squalled with temper. Kye laughed.
“She is an independent spirit,” Demon B murmured. “How about Indikit?”
“Perfect,” Kye purred, then touched her nose to the silvery black kit. “This inquisitive ball of smokey fuzz is Smokekit.”
“How about Bluekit for our smallest. Our little blue one with a white undercoat like mine,” Demon B murmured. “After Bluestar.”
“I love it,” Kye meowed. Leafpool stood up.
“Welcome to the Clan, Phantomkit, Demonkit, Gentlekit, Indikit, Smokekit and Bluekit.” Leafpool nudged Demon B. “Come! You must get back. You’re bleeding again. We must change your wrappings, cobweb, and poultices.”
“Can’t I stay here?” Demon B begged.
“No. Your best chance is where we can monitor you constantly. Please Demon B, let’s go.”
“Go,” Kye urged, going against her heart. “Do as they ask. I want you to heal. And ignore the doubters. I know you’re not evil. Others will soon learn that, too.”
“All right,” Demon B agreed, and staggered after Leafpool, his bottlebrush tail dragging the ground. Kye knew how much energy he expended visiting his kits, and as much as she wanted him curled up beside her, she understood he needed to stay in the Medicine den. She lay her head down, hoping her mate healed soon. She worried. If he lived, but remained crippled, what might he contribute to the Clan? If he failed to hunt, or fight, would they drive him out? She knew the accusations of being evil cut his heart like a blade. Kye realized she liked it here, and dreaded the idea of wandering the wilderness alone, with six kits in tow, but the idea of separating from Demon B squeezed her very soul with pain. The thought of looking for new housefolk repulsed Kye. No other housefolk could ever replace what she lost. Her heart pounded suddenly and she buried her nose in her nest, thinking the worst. What if Demon B decided to drag himself away from those who thought him a villainous cat, and died from his injuries? She trembled, and concentrated on her kits, purring to them, trying to calm herself down.
Part 2
During the next quarter moon, Kye left the queen’s den while her brood slept to hone hunting skills. True to her word, Squirrelflight mentored Kye, teaching her hunting and battle techniques within the confines of the hollow. After a quarter moon of training, Squirrelflight insisted Kye receive her apprentice name.As the morning waxed warm, with sunlight streaming into the hollow, Bramblestar stood on Highledge.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” the Leader’s command echoed under the cliffs. Squirrelflight urged Kye to the center of the gathering cats, and the Maine Coon queen sat at the base of the cliff, gazing up at Bramblestar, wondering what came next. He continued to speak, his eyes on her.
“I appoint a new apprentice today. Kye, though you still have kits in your care, you have shown great aptitude in your early training. Informally training with my deputy, and at times, me, you have shown you are ready for full apprenticeship.” Bramblestar’s voice rolled out over the hollow. “You came to us ready to bear kits, giving ThunderClan six gifts from StarClan, who has decreed we help you, your mate and kits. In training you, mentoring you, we do this to help strengthen all of us. Are you ready to continue your training?”
“Yes!” Kye answered enthusiastically, feeling eager to prove herself, and to repay this Clan for helping her in such a dire time in her life.
“Kye.” Bramblestar gazed down at her, his eyes gleaming. “From this day forth you will be known as Kyepaw, and your mentor is Squirrelflight. I know she will train you well.”
“Kyepaw! Kyepaw!” rose from many throats, and, in moments, the entire Clan joined in. Squirrelflight bumped her, green eyes sparkling with delight.
“Strange times call for strange ways,” Squirrelflight meowed. “But now, when your kits sleep, we train, full speed.”
“Of course!” Kyepaw agreed, embracing her new name, feeling acceptance. She worried for her mate, since many still distrusted him. After the Clan congratulated her, and dispersed to their duties, she growled under her breath, not understanding why her mate’s name unnerved so many. She returned to the nursery, and forced her annoyances away when her kits mewled for their meal. She stretched out on her side and fed them, anticipating her next session with her mentor, eager to learn the trick a smaller cat might use on a larger foe. She also wanted to learn how to hunt from above in the trees. The idea fascinated her.
After sunhigh, Kyepaw’s kits slept with full bellies and Squirrelflight called her out of the nursery. Kyepaw worked hard, and to her delight, other mentor and apprentice pairs joined the session. Thornclaw and Brackenfur gave her lessons by attacking her in tandem, then Squirrelflight joined them. Kyepaw reared, spinning and lashing out with her huge paws, slapping heads, bodies and anything she found within paw’s reach.
“Watch the big belly!” Brackenfur called out a number of times. “Small warriors can get up under you! Leap and twist so they never know where you will land.”
“Don’t let them land on you back, like this!” Sparkpaw meowed, leaping on top of her. Kyepaw whirled, spinning the apprentice off of her broad back. Her long thick bushy tail lashed another warrior across the face.
“Mousedung!” Thornclaw spat. “That tail hurts!” His eyes lit up. “Use it, Kyepaw! Whip your enemy hard.”
Kyepaw panted, pushing herself hard. Fighting lessons merged into hunting techniques. Primal joy surged through her, as mentors and apprentices gazed at her with respect in their eyes at session’s end. Squirrelflight led her to the fresh kill pile.
“Here take the biggest one. You earned it. Go feed your kits. Well done today!”
“Thanks,” Kyepaw murmured, suddenly feeling exhausted, as the exhilaration of her lessons ebbed. She took a fat squirrel, and carried it to the nursery, then sprawled out beside her kits, who immediately nursed. She ate her meal, giving Millie and Lilyheart big pieces, and fell deeply asleep while her brood fed.
Kyepaw jerked awake out of a deep sleep. Early morning light filtered into the den. Millie’s kits mewed and cried, and Millie fussed and worried over them. Kyepaw yawned, and lifted her head. Millie’s kits mewled, suckling at her belly, and Kyepaw heard the distress in their little voices.
“What is wrong?” Kyepaw asked, blinking sleep from her eyes.
“It’s me and my old body! I have no milk! Oh, no! My kits are too young! What do I do?” Millie’s voice rose to a heartrending wail.
“Again?” Lilyheart exclaimed in alarm.
“Yes!” Millie’s anguished cry brought Graystripe and Daisy in on the run. In moments, the entire camp milled outside the nursery. Jayfeather hurried in, followed by Leafpool. Both medicine cats examined Millie, and Leapool meowed. “Someone get fresh kill immediately!”
“That won’t help!” Millie cried in distress. “I’m well-fed! My body won’t make enough milk!”
“I’ll get some. . .” Jayfeather started, but Kyepaw shook herself out of her daze, cutting him off.
“Stop fussing! I have more than enough! Bring them to me!” Kyepaw commanded.
Graystripe carried his mewling kits to Kyepaw’s belly, and placed them against her. The kits found a place to nurse and latched on with gusto. Milk flowed freely.
“Thank you,” Greystripe mewed, and Kyepaw faced him. Millie rose and lay beside Kye, grooming her kits as they fed.
“Thank you, Kyepaw, thank you,” Millie mumbled.
“Thank you, Kyepaw,” Lilyheart mewed in sad tones. “I wouldn’t have been able to help, not for another moon or more.”
“My pleasure. No reason for kits to go hungry,” Kyepaw reassured both queens.
Blossomfall entered the nursery, and dropped some fresh prey at Kyepaw’s feet, then padded to her mother, touching noses in polite greeting. The tortoiseshell she-cat gazed at the kits longingly. Kye met the gaunt she-cat’s gaze, and nodded, before pushing the mouse back at Blossomfall.
“You eat it.” Kyepaw said. “I ate very well late night.”
“You just saved my little brothers from certain death,” Blossomfall mewed, then licked Kyepaw’s head. “I don’t care what others may say. Welcome to ThunderClan, Kyepaw. May StarClan bless you and your mate for more moons than we can count.”
“Thank you,” Kyepaw murmured, as Blossomfall walked out of the nursery with the mouse. Kyepaw watched until Blossomfall met Bumblestripe outside and stood a moment, heads together. They both glanced at her, deep gratitude in their eyes, then moved off to join a patrol. Kyepaw lowered her head and groomed the nursing kits, feeling more a part of ThunderClan now, glad that someone else appreciated her mate, too.
As the days passed, Kyepaw’s body produced more than enough milk, and she nursed Millie’s kits with her own on days Millie failed to produce milk, which happened more often than not, despite the fact that both queens grew plump. Thanks to Kyepaw’s rich milk all eight the kits waxed fat and healthy. Lilyheart grew larger, waddling when she left the den for the dirtplace.
The weather continued to warm, and the last patch of snow in the camp melted into the ground. When Kyepaw’s kits turned one moon old, the trees broke bud, and creatures emerged from hibernation. Lilyheart finally went into labor one morning, and bore three kits, black Larkkit, white and gold Honeykit, and tortoiseshell Leafkit. Joy filled the camp with a full nursery.
Demon B rested in the Medicine den still healing from his injuries, but often lay out in the early leaf break sun. Kye worried at his condition. Ragged clumps of fur covered his gaunt frame, and she knew he refused food for her and their kits. He looked beaten, defeated, and depressed, and Kyepaw hated how some of the Clan still shunned him. Demon B, always careful with his huge paws and jaws, never hurt a hair on anyone, but many eyed him askance, muttering and growling as they passed.
Most of the Clan cats also gave their fresh kill to Kyepaw, Lilyheart, and Millie, and the kits thrived. The rest of the Clan however, suffered from hunger, making sure what prey they caught went to feed the two queens and elders. Even Bramblestar looked thin and tired. Kyepaw vowed to hunt well, and feed her starving mate. Those who whispered behind his back, or avoided him and refused to speak to him, knew not the damage they caused. A half moon ago, Kyepaw learned the story of the Great Battle, and understood why everyone hated the Dark Forest. But StarClan and the Four Clans vanquished it so many seasons ago. Why did so many insist on thinking Demon B possessed any connection to that horrid place at all?
CHAPTER THREE:FOXES!
Part 1
On a warm breezy morning during late New Leaf, Kyepaw followed Squirrelflight out of camp for the first time since her arrival, eager for her first real hunt. She passed the Medicine Cat den, and she scowled at her mate. Demon B lay sprawled out in the sun, fur matted and clumped, parting to show the snowy white roots in a haphazard pattern, and not with the silvery highlights that should have graced his pelt. Her own red tabby fur shone with health, with the dark red swirling stripes standing out starkly from her creamy red base color. She slowed her trot, meeting his golden gaze, and saw weariness in his eyes, and haunting hunger.
“No more giving your food to me,” Kyepaw admonished, baring the tips of her fangs. “ Eat and live, so your kits know their father.”
“I will make sure he does eat the next offering.” Leafpool walked out of the den, and raked her claws through a mat on Demon B’s haunch. He growled.
“Fluff-brain,” Leafpool growled back, and continued to gently rake his fur. “I will not be cowed by those huge feet any longer.”
“Let her do it,” Kyepaw meowed, back over her shoulder. “Or I will!”
“Okay! Do it, Leafpool,” Demon B groaned and lay flat on his side. “I don’t want her doing this. She will rip it all out!”
Briarlight dragged herself out of the Medicine den and hauled herself up on Demon B’s body. She glared at him, kneading his spine with sharp claws. Kyepaw paused, watching the crippled she-cat, admiring her pluck and determination. Briarlight gazed at Demon B with adoration, which quickly turned to dismay. She took one paw, and combed her claws through his matted fur.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself!” Briarlight admonished the gigantic tom. She dug her claws deeper into his fur. “You’ll heal and never be as crippled as me. I’ll help groom this mess you call a coat. And stop listening to fools! Get well and PROVE how good and loyal you are. My parents and siblings already know this. So do many others.”
“For you, little Briarlight, I will,” Demon B answered, his voice soft and high-pitched. Briarlight purred with amusement.
“So big with a baby voice!” She groomed his coat with tongue and claws.
“Very common with our breed,” Demon B responded. “You did notice that about my mate, right? When she isn’t screaming, growling or snarling.”
“Yes. We all have, but everyone is afraid to ask.” Briarlight’s purrs shook with laughter, and she glanced at Kyepaw. “But yours is higher than hers!”
Kyepaw watched the exchange, and met Briarlight’s gaze, then nodded her thanks. Someone needed to convince Demon B to cease his pity party, and if anyone possessed the ability to do so, Briarlight did. Kyepaw glanced toward the nursery, and saw Millie watching anxiously, as she always did with her daughter, but in the old grey queen’s eyes, Kyepaw saw gratitude. At least Millie understood how much Demon B helped Briarlight, and vice versa.
Kyepaw never gave her voice a thought before training with Squirrelflight, who asked her with no fear. She gave the same answer Demon B offered Briarlight, and Squirrelflight merely responded “Well, only StarClan knows why such big cats must suffer such silly soft high voices. But you sure can bellow and yowl loud enough when you need to.” Kyepaw remembered the great laugh they shared over it, but never gave the issue any further consideration.
“Kyepaw? Do you want to hunt or not?” Squirrelflight’s sharp voice drifted back to Kyepaw, shaking her out of her thoughts.
“Of course!” Kyepaw yowled, and followed Squirrelflight out of the camp, and down into the forest. Kyepaw remembered her lessons, and walked on silent pads, bushy tail tucked to her body. She quelled the urge to twitch it. Leaves rustled, and she heard the chittering of foraging squirrels. Squirrelflight hung back, and vanished into the undergrowth, her pelt melting into the browns, rusts and golds of the brush A green blush of new leaves covered everything. Ahead, two squirrels raced around the base of a tree, digging in the leaf litter, chattering at each other. Kyepaw dropped to her stomach, and crawled, step by step, halting if one of them liftedits head. She watched every speck of ground for crispy leaves.
Out of her peripheral vision she spotted Squirrelflight paralleling her, heading for the other side of the tree. She kept her lessons in her mind. Concentrate! Move slowly, yet keep those hind legs tucked for the final pounce! The larger squirrel chattered at the other, and scurried toward Kyepaw, digging in the soil. Kyepaw judged the distance. The instincts of her long gone ancestors screamed in her blood, as she exploded from her crouch. The squirrel jerked its head up, but she landed her huge paws on its back, slamming it into the ground. She wasted no time delivering the kill bite to the back of the neck, then shook it for good measure. She salivated as the blood ran in her mouth, but resisted the urge to tear into the prey and gobble it up. She remembered; elders, injured Warriors, Queens and kits came first! The other squirrel screamed on the other side of the tree before silencing abruptly. Squirrelflight trotted over from behind the tree, dragging her kill, and seeing Kyepaw, her eyes widened with pleased surprise. She let go of her prey.
“Great job!” Squirrelflight inspected the catch. “Quick kill.”
“Yes,. I landed on its back. I hope I am always so lucky,” Kyepaw meowed around her prey.
“You have learned well and have fine instincts.” Squirrelflight picked up her fresh kill. “Let’s get back to camp and feed our clan and your stubborn, starving mate.”
Kyepaw followed her mentor through the entryway. The camp appeared deserted, but Kyepaw knew everyone roamed the territory, hunting. She worried, hearing so much about the marauding foxes this past moon. They competed with the Clan for every bite of prey. Squirrelflight brought her kill to the nursery, and Kyepaw heard the excited mews of Millie, Lilyheart, and Daisy. Kyepaw marched to the Medicine den, where her mate lay. He drowsed, and she noticed his fur looked better. Briarlight slept, draped over his flank, but she woke, sniffing the air.
“I’m hungry!” She nudged Demon B. “You better eat something!”
Leafpool and Jayfeather walked out of the den.
“I smell fresh prey,” Jayfeather commented.
“Great Starclan! Look at the size of that squirrel!” Leafpool exclaimed. “You caught that? Excellent first kill!”
“Yes, and thanks” Kyepaw answered, and dropped it at Demon B’s paws. She tore off a hind leg and gave it to Jayfeather. “Please, take this. For all you have done.”
Jayfeather gratefully accepted it. Leafpool shook her head.
“I don’t need the other leg, Kyepaw. My sister has been making sure I’m fed, and though I refused many meals to feed you, I’m fine. Your mate needs this more than any of us”
“Eat!” Kyepaw faced Demon B, pushing the prey under his nose. He licked it, then leveled his haunted gaze on her.
“Give it to someone else,” he mumbled. “I am crippled. Everyone hates me. What good will I be?”
“Just stop it,” Kyepaw yowled at him, fury and sympathy flashing through her, wondering what happened in her absence to fling him back into such depression. “Would you see your kits fatherless? You don’t know that you’ll be useless! Didn’t Briarlight knock sense into your mousebrained head? Promise me, please, that you’ll eat, exercise and get better!”
“Why?” Demon B flashed his impressive fangs. Briarlight cringed back, her eyes wide, but she stayed on Demon B’s back as he vented his despair. “So I can be a burden? I will never hunt like you just did. I can’t even fight as a warrior.”
“Maybe not now,” Kyepaw cuffed him on the head. “You always had strength! Remember when you sprained your leg and our housefolk took you to the vet?”
“So?”
“Think about it, mouse-brain!” Kyepaw clicked her teeth. “You may have been slow and clumsy during that time, but, you had no trouble pinning that intruder kittypet to the ground with one paw!” Kyepaw lashed her bottlebrush tail. “And held him immobile with those claws.”
“You did that?” Briarlight found her voice. The shock and fright left her eyes, replaced by admiration. “See? Spiderleg is wrong! He will see that soon! Don’t listen to him and the other doubters!”
“Once you gain your strength back, you will find your place. You’ll earn their respect. At seven suncycles old, you should know better!” Kyepaw added, her voice calmer.
“Seven suncycles?” Leafpool asked. “You mentioned that before.”
“Yeah, she did. It means a cycle of the four seasons,” Jayfeather grumbled, then faced Demon B, sightless eyes narrowing. “You are 28 season old?? You’re older than me! Older than my mother, yet your wisdom fails you.”
“Seven suncycles is not old!” Demon B protested, then sagged. “I feel like I am fifteen suncyles old now.”
“You’re not an Elder yet!” Kyepaw spat, then mewed softly. “Please, Demon B, for me, our kits, eat!”
“Eat, Fluff-brain,” Briarlight interjected, and glared at Demon B, picking up the piece of prey Squirrelflight offered her. “I am! So must you!”
Demon B dropped his head, then gazed at Kyepaw a long moment. With a sigh, tore into the fresh kill with gusto. He crunched the bones and ate everything but the fur. Kyepaw nodded approval and rubbed her head against his, and purred. His purr answered her, and love filled her heart. She knew she needed him, as his inner strength fueled her own. She poked him with a paw.
“If someone gives you fresh kill, you eat! Understand?”
“Yes, my Queen,” Demon B answered, mirth flickering in his golden eyes. “Keep rubbing it in that you are only three suncycles old.”
“Three?” Leafpool gazed at Kyepaw. “You’re twelve seasons old? And you are having your first litter now?”
“Our breed takes that long to full mature. Sure, I could have had my first litter at 9 or 10 moons, but I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t full grown yet.” Kyepaw wrinkled her nose. “My kits won’t be fully grown for many, many of your seasons! To us, a season is one suncycle, a cycle of the seasons that begin with leaf bloom, oops, New Leaf.”
“Well,” Jayfeather grumbled. “I hope you keep your longevity and pass it to your kits, and eventually, to your Clan, but our life is not always easy. It is rare to reach over forty seasons. Only kittypets can grow that old.”
“I’m not an elder, and I’m not a kittypet anymore,” Demon B retorted. “I‘ll eat and get strong again.”
“Good,” Kyepaw mewed “Now I’ll feed our kits. Soon they will leave the den to play in camp and begin learning about life. I want them to know their father!”
“And I want to see you recover! If I did, so can you!” Briarlight bumped Demon B with her head. Kyepaw watched, amused, since Demon B’s head loomed over the little crippled she-cat like a legendary lion. He merely flicked his tail, and groomed the top of her head. She faced Kyepaw. “I can’t wait to play with your kits!”
“I don’t know if your kits will live as long as you,” A warrior spoke up, and Kyepaw recognized Stormcloud. “You had plenty of food and shelter as a kittypet. Like I did. I chose this life, but it’s not easy. You didn’t choose.”
“No, I didn’t.” Kyepaw felt a flash of anxiety ripple her long thick fur. “But, I’m happy here and my kits are safe. StarClan chose for us, and it’s a good choice.”
“Would you return to your two-legs if they showed up here?” Stormcloud asked. Kyepaw lowered her head, feeling grief for the loss of her housefolk.
“I, I, don’t know,” she admitted. “If they were my housefolk? Maybe, but strange two-legs? I don’t think I would.”
“Even if they cured Demon B’s handicaps?” asked a pretty ginger she-cat, who sidled up against Stormcloud.
“I, oh, I don’t know, Cherryfall.” Kyepaw gripped the ground, flexing her formidable claws, gouging the soil.
“We don’t mean to upset you, Kyepaw,” Stormcloud said, his voice soft. “Some of us, well, we would hate to see you leave us. And not all of us distrust your mate. We understand that two-legs named him, and not some minion of the Dark Forest.”
“I’m grateful, and, I don’t think I’ll leave. My housefolk died in that fire. I have no two-leg home to return to.” Kyepaw mewed. “But if. . .”
"Stay," Another warrior insisted. Bumblestripe and Blossonfall joined Stormcloud and Cherryfall. Bumblestripe regarded her with a soft expression, his light green eyes in beautiful contrast with his silvery light grey base color with its jet-black stripes. "We love you as kin already. And who can dislike Demon B when Briarlight loves him so much? Our mother actually can cease her constant fretting over her, too, and I hope she does. Don't let a few foxhearts upset you or your mate."
“Stay, big red Queen,” Kyepaw recognized Purdy’s voice. He padded out of the Elder’s Den and sat beside Demon B.
“Purdy, I . . .”
“We need a youngin’ like yer kind around. Rare they are, since most purebred snooty two-leg cats ne’er step outside.” Purdy flicked an ear. “Yer different. Somethin’ runs in yer blood, a wildness two-legs didn’t breed outta yer kind.”
“I, Well. . .” Kyepaw stammered, not knowing what to say.
“Go, feed yer youngin’s,” Purdy flashed her a broad feline smile, baring the tips of his worn fangs. “Make ‘em grow strong. Now I’ll show yer mate his worth, and tell’im not t’listen to fools.”
“I will, and thank you. Demon B should love your stories,” Kyepaw replied, then spun away and trotted to the nursery, concerned how this way of life might affect her and her kits’ lifespans. Stormcloud’s admission echoed in her head, battling Purdy’s words of encouragement. Could she ever really leave her new home? As she entered, six balls of fluff attacked her, and she forgot her worry.
“Kyemama! We’re hungry!” Demonkit announced, his long tail straight up behind him. His white muzzle, throat and paws stood out in the darkness of the den. Phantomkit flanked his brother, his white markings mirroring Demonkit’s, but black tabby stripes over dark grey broke the illusion of twinning. Kyepaw purred and stretched out in her nest.
“Come and drink, my kits, but soon, you will learn to eat fresh kill.”
“I’ll be the best hunter!” Phantomkit bragged.
“No! I will be!” Demonkit argued, and Kyepaw’s purrs pulsed with laughter. The friendly rivalry between her two largest kits pleased her, since they also developed a strong bond that promised to be powerful. The six kits nursed, and Kyepaw flinched, feeling needle teeth pinching her belly. She sighed. Weaning time arrived, and with her next catch, she planned to introduce her kits to fresh kill.
“I’m glad mine don’t have their teeth yet,” Lilyheart uttered an amused purr as she nursed her young brood.
“It won’t be long,” Kyepaw retorted with a mrrrow of laughter.
“Your kits grow so big and strong!” Millie commented. “My two are so small in comparison.”
“Your kits thrive.” Kyepaw faced the old queen. “Remember, my breed produces very large kits. Don’t compare them. Greykit and Rainkit are healthy and well!”
“Yes, you are right. I keep thinking they are behind, but, they aren’t, are they,” Millie said. “And thanks to your milk! If not for you, my kits never would have made it this far. I don’t have enough milk. Not enough for only two kits! Just dreadful. I really am too old to be having kits.” Millie’s eyes widened as her kits squealed. Long-haired pale grey Rainkit wailed.
“Millieee! We hungry!”
“So sorry, my little ones,” Millie mewed. “Go to Kyemama. She will feed you.”
The two kits scurried to Kyepaw, and bravely jostled Demonkit and Indikit. Demonkit moved away, and sat down, blinking. Indikit hissed between clenched jaws, her white legs latching on to Kyepaw’s tummy.
“Stop that!” Phantomkit bopped his sister on the head with a big fuzzy white paw. “Rainkit and Greykit need to eat! Remember?”
“No! I’m not full yet!” Indikit protested. “They can wait.”
“Look at your round belly!” Phantomkit cuffed his sister on the head again. “Don’t be so selfish!”
When Indikit growled, refusing to let Greykit feed, Phantomkit pounced on her, forcing her away.
“Owww,” Kyepaw hissed, as Indikit’s teeth and claws scratched her belly. She tapped Indikit with a big paw on the kit’s exposed white belly. “Stop being such a brat and learn to share!”
“Okaaay!" Indikit wailed, and rolled over, her dark-brown tabby back visible again. Jet-black striped her head before mingling in the thick puffy fur of her rumpled back. She shook herself and pounced on Phantomkit The two wrestled on the moss bedding, and Indikit's loud squalls of rage echoed in the den. Lilyheart moved a leg, creating a barrier between them and her kits.
"She is the only one of your kits that has a very loud voice!" Millie sneezed her amusement.
"It’s as if she got all of the lung power," Lilyheart commented.
"It happens," Kyepaw replied with a chuckle in her purr. “Once in a while, one or two of us gets a big mouth. Phantomkit can compete with her when he wishes, but he only uses his strident voice when he has to. Indikit is just a brat.”
“She will be pawful, even for your huge ones,” Millie mewled with laughter, laying next to Kyepaw, grooming her kits as they fed. “If she channels that wild side, she will be a fine warrior one day.”
“Not if I flatten her out first!” Kyepaw bared her fangs. “She will . . .” A commotion erupted out in camp, whipping Kyepaw’s head around as cat screeching filled the air.
Part 2
“Foxes!” Leafpool’s wail echoed across the clearing. “Demon B! Briarlight! Get inside now!”
“They will not get past me!” Demon B’s snarl reverberated off the cliffs.
“ThunderClan warriors!!! Attack!” Bramblestar’s yowl followed. “They’re running for the queen’s den! Head them off!”
Fear, then rage flashed though Kyepaw, and her maternal instincts rose up with tornadic fury.
“They dare think they can eat our kits?” Kyepaw hissed with wrath. “Not while I breathe!” Kyepaw jumped up, shaking the kits free, ignoring their protests, and leaped for the entrance.
“No!” Millie wailed in sheer terror. “Come back!”
“Kyepaw, NO! ” Daisy shrieked, ranging herself in front of Millie. Kyepaw turned, and hissed at the eight kits.
“Go to Millie and Daisy! NOW!” The wall of fluff scurried back to Daisy’s flank, and eight pais of bright blue eyes peered back at her. Lilyheart’s kits fussed, sensing danger, fueling Kyepaw’s outrage. Kyepaw faced out at the camp, hesitating for a breath, before maternal fury overwhelmed her, flooding her body with adrenaline.
“NOBODY hurts our kits or my friends!” she snarled, and plunged forward, her long pelt bristling. Briars on the roof of the den ripped wads of her fur out, but she cared not.
“Kyepaw! No! Let the us take care of this!” Kyepaw caught a glimpse of Poppyfrost, a tortoiseshell warrior, who ran at the oncoming threat and the nursery.
“Nothing threatens our kits! I’ll rip them apart!” Kyepaw screeched, racing past her new friend, as two red doglike creatures raced toward the den. The largest ignored the two warriors on his heels, his eyes fixated on the queen’s den. The second stumbled, but followed, despite the two bleeding warriors, Berrynose and Spiderleg, hanging off of its body. A third, smaller than the others, battled two other warriors, yapping and growling by the camp entrance, where Bramblestar stood, battling another young fox. The fifth fox, a smaller vixen, darted toward the medicine den. Kyepaw saw Demon B stretched out in front of the medicine cat’s den, bristling so he looked twice his already impressive size, and he completely blocked the entrance. His staccato growl echoed across the camp, and with one lightning swipe of his enormous healthy paw, he slapped the little vixen across the hollow, scouring her pelt with deep gashes. The vixen rolled over several times, laying sprawled on the ground, stunned. Bumblestripe, Blossomfall and Cherryfall blocked the Elder’s den, creating a fearsome display of fang and claw.
Pride filled Kyepaw for that split second, then she returned her attention forward, dashing at the menace heading straight for her. In a micromoment, she sized up the enemy, and realized the red dog-fox stood taller than she did, but lacked the sharp claws and weight of her kind. Kyepaw shrieked, and launched herself at the dog-fox. Its yellow eyes widened, showing whites, but before it changed course, Kyepaw smashed into it, and extended her massive claws, latching onto her enemy. She bowled the fox over, and pounced, slashing, driven by raging maternal instincts. Her claws ripped open its face, drawing blood that poured from deep slashes. One claw tore an eye. Ruddy fur flew in every direction. Kyepaw spared one glance for the other fox, satisfied that the warriors chasing her foe turned to the other adult fox, which five warriors now attacked, slashing into its thick fur, drawing blood. Kyepaw renewed her attack, her massive forepaws blurs as she pummeled her enemy. She extended her claws fully, rending and tearing at her enemy, holding back nothing. Blood spattered the fox and Kyepaw’s bristling fur. She tore without mercy into the fox’s belly and flanks, furrowing deep gashes into its flesh.
“Leave us alone, and never ever attack our kits again!” she shrieked. The fox rolled over, and drew its legs beneath it, and with a shrill yap, fled Kyepaw’s onslaught. Its mate and half grown pup wiggled free of enraged warriors and escaped out of the camp entrance. The vixen Demon B flung across the camp staggered to her feet and vanished through a small gap in the thorn barrier. Kyepaw slapped the dog fox one last blow before it bounded away, leaving deep gashes on its rump. Kyepaw stood, framed by brambles and thorns, heaving for breath, wrath pounding through her entire body. She barely heard the cheerful meowing behind her, until her heart rate dropped. She turned back into camp, walked over to her mate and sat down, regaining her breath.
“Great Starclan!” Lionblaze exclaimed, as cats crowded Kyepaw. “You beat him witless!”
“Fine battle!” Cinderheart added. “I had my doubts about you. Too big to move quick, I thought. Wrong!”
“Excellent job!” Poppyfrost exclaimed, her eyes gleaming. “I always wondered how a big soft kittypet might fight! I’m impressed.”
“Fine work, youngin!” Purdy’s voice called out, as he squeezed between Cherryfall and Blossomfall. “Kits’ll hear this story fer many seasons!”
“I only thought to protect the kits,” Kyepaw stammered, surprised by the admiration her adopted Clan showed her. Daisy and Millie peered out of the Queen’s den, and clustered at their feet, the eight kits sat, eyes wide with wonder. Beyond them, Lilyheart’s wide eyes glinted in the dark den.
“Squirrelflight taught you well,” Demon B meowed, pride ringing in his voice.
“You were magnificent!” Briarlight clambered on Demon B’s back. “Kyepaw is a warrior! You too, Demon B! I saw what you did!”
“She had moves I never taught her!” Squirrelflight retorted, but Kyepaw heard the delight in her mentor’s tone. “Demon B is as powerful as a badger! Amazing move!”
“Great battle,” Bramblestar meowed, and he walked up to Kyepaw. In his eyes Kyepaw saw admiration and gratitude. “Well done to all. Kyepaw, you have shown yourself a worthy warrior, and your injured mate used his advantages to help protect the medicine den and our precious medicine cats. Deeds that shall not go unrewarded.”
Bramblestar turned, and trotted up the cliff to Highledge. Warriors milled, mewling and muttering with excitement, many glancing at the large log marked with memorials to fallen warriors. Kyepaw learned the tales of the Great Battle, heard how they almost lost the stick in the Great Flood, and the memorial meant more to her with each passing day. She vowed to defend her Clan and honor their memories by always fighting with all the strength she possessed. She heard Bramblestar’s paws land on Highledge. ThunderClan’s leader faced the expectant growing crowd, and uttered the command.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” Bramblestar’s voice rang out over the camp. “We gain new Warriors this day!”
“Come on.” A cat bumped Kyepaw. She turned, meeting Cinderheart’s amber eyes. Excitement danced in their depth, and Kyepaw saw it mirrored in every pair of eyes. She followed the throng of cats, glancing at the nursery, where Millie and Daisy sat just outside the entrance. The eight kits, sat in front, wide-eyed and obedient. Even Indikit sat rooted to the ground, not moving or fidgeting. She stared at Kyepaw, her blue-green eyes wide with shock and wonder.
“Your kits are so fluffy and adorable,” Poppyfrost mewed, and Kyepaw heard the delight and longing in her voice.
“You’ve had kits?”
“Oh yes, I have, and long for more. Lilyheart is lucky. Millie and Graystripe did not expect them, but they are a blessing from StarClan, as are yours!” Poppyfrost regarded Kyepaw with solemn green eyes. “We’re all hungry all the time thanks to those foxes. Hungry bodies can’t produce kits.”
“Then you keep your prey, mousebrain, and stop giving your share to me.” Kyepaw gently cuffed Poppyfrost. “I hope you do have kits soon.”
“Me, too. . .” Poppyfrost paused. “It begins!”
“Today we name two new warriors.” Bramblestar’s voice thundered, shattering the conversation. Kyepaw shook herself and hurried to the base of the leader’s rock, joining her mate, who lay between Jayfeather and Leafpool. “Two former kittypets displayed courage and bravery and helped their Clan this day. If any cat disagrees, please say so now, or forever keep your jaws shut!” Bramblestar's golden-amber gaze swept over the gathered clan “Kyepaw! You and your mate have proven your courage and loyalty in the face of grave dangers. I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice and her mate. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn”
Kyepaw trembled in spite of herself. She felt acceptance wash over her, and knew her home lay here in this hollow.
“Kyepaw,” Bramblestar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” Kyepaw answered without hesitation. She stood, pride and astonishment causing every hair on her long thick pelt to rise. She flagged her bottlebrush tail high over her back
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Kyestorm. From this moment you will be known as Kyestorm, a cyclone that fights for and protects the Clan! Welcome to ThunderClan new Warrior!”
“Kyestorm! Kyestorm! Kyestorm!” erupted from many throats.
“Thank you, Bramblestar!” Kyestorm sat down, and glanced at her mate, who lay beside her, still healing from his wounds. Blood seeped from the injury on his foreleg, but he ignored it. Demon B purred raggedly, looking worriedly around at the throng of cats.
“Demon B!” Bramblestar called out, and with a flick of his tail, indicated that Demon B remain prone. Demon B gazed up at Bramblestar. His golden eyes blazed, and though his wound bled, he struggled to sit up. Leafpool moved, but Demon B shook his head vigorously. Bramblestar continued. “Though you have not apprenticed, in the light of special circumstances, you have earned this. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?”
“Yes, I do!” Demon B rumbled, flicking his thick bushy tail.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name, Demonstone. From this moment you will be known as Demonstone. I give you this name in recognition of your courage, in making yourself a barrier to protect the Medicine cats and den, despite your own injuries. You have shown your warrior spirit, strong and solid like stone. You have shown you have no connection to the Dark Forest. If Briarlight shows no fear, and only love for this injured warrior, then none shall fear him, except our enemies! Welcome to ThunderClan new warrior!”
“Demonstone! Demonstone! Demonstone!” The cries echoed in the camp. Kyestorm watched every pair of eyes, and saw acceptance. Warriors crowded Demonstone, gently bumping him or cuffing him, all eager to fight beside him in some future battle. Many witnessed the enemy vixen’s unceremonious exit from the camp. Kyestorm’s heart swelled with pride and gratitude that her adopted Clan finally accepted her mate.
“ThunderClan honors your bravery and dedication. We welcome you both as full members to ThunderClan.” Bramblestar jumped down to where Kyestorm and Demonstone rested. He touched his head to Demonstone’s, who licked his shoulder, then with his tail, Bramblestar beckoned to Kyestorm. She stared for a moment, before she realized she needed to lay down for Bramblestar to complete the ceremony. She dropped to her chest, and Bramblestar rested his head on hers. She impulsively licked his shoulder.
“Thank you for what you did this day,” he whispered, then raised his voice. “ Soon, in five moons, we shall have new apprentices!” Bramblestar nodded towards the queen’s den. “ThunderClan recovers. We will meet any challenges ahead.”
Warriors meowed and yowled in agreement. Bramblestar stood up, and gazed at Kyestorm, his features breaking into a feline smile.
“Go to your kits. There is good reason why we sacrificed meals to you. And all should know what you did for Millie’s kits as well. By offering them your milk when she dried up, you saved their lives. I know you’ll take good care of them all.”
“I will,” Kyestorm nodded and turned away, hurrying back to her kits. She paused and looked back, worried for her mate, but Demonstone stood up, and hobbled back to the Medicine den. Warriors and apprentices alike assisted him, meowing all at once, asking him to tell the tale of the vanquished young vixen. Leafpool and Jayfeather swarmed all over him, replacing the cobweb, making sure the wound sealed. Demonstone stretched out, and Briarlight draped over him, purring. Kyestorm walked into the nursery, and the kits pounced on her.
“I am so thankful for your mate,” Millie meowed. “Briarlight does love him like a big brother. I don’t worry about her as much with him there.”
“He won’t let anything happen to her,” Kyestorm said. “And she gets exercise pulling herself off and on him all day.”
“I saw everything, Kyemama!” Phantomkit squeaked in excitement. “Demonpoppa was so brave, too!”
“We grow and be strong like you,” Demonkit added.
“I slap foxes! Slash and do the same!” Indikit exclaimed, pouncing on an imaginary enemy.
“Yes, my sweet kits. You’re the Maine Coons of ThunderClan,” Kyestorm mewed at them, laughter shaking her voice. “Come and eat. Grow strong. Greykit and Rainkit, you, too.”
“Kyestorm,” Daisy murmured Kyestorm’s new name. “A great warrior name. Will you really fight?”
“Of course she will,” Lilyheart scoffed. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“She’s a kittypet, like me. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t,” Daisy retorted with a hiss.
“I will fight. Foxes are too brave these days.” Kyestorm growled. “Invading our camp is just unacceptable.”
“They are too brazen,” Millie shifted nervously. “ We head into Green Leaf soon, and prey should be plentiful, but Leaf Fall and Leaf Bare come so fast and seem way too long.”
“We’ll be apprentices then!” Phantomkit sat down, facing Kyestorm, intelligence flaring in his blue eyes, which glittered with flecks of sea-green. “They won’t get us!”
“Never! They won’t get any kit, ever! Not on my watch,” Kyestorm bared her teeth and hissed. Rage flashed through her. “Next time, I will kill them!”
Her denmates purred approval and Kyestorm saw the hope shining in their eyes. A flicker of alarm rippled her fur, as she realized what she just claimed. She nosed all the kits to her belly, and as the adrenaline ebbed from her body, weariness invaded every muscle. She heard Millie’s purring as she washed each kit. Daisy fussed with bedding and Lilyheart purred raggedly to her new kits. Fears crept in to replace Kyestorm’s bravado. What have I done, she thought, what have I promised? She shivered, trying to purge the anxiety from her body and mind before she sat vigil that evening.
“No more giving your food to me,” Kyepaw admonished, baring the tips of her fangs. “ Eat and live, so your kits know their father.”
“I will make sure he does eat the next offering.” Leafpool walked out of the den, and raked her claws through a mat on Demon B’s haunch. He growled.
“Fluff-brain,” Leafpool growled back, and continued to gently rake his fur. “I will not be cowed by those huge feet any longer.”
“Let her do it,” Kyepaw meowed, back over her shoulder. “Or I will!”
“Okay! Do it, Leafpool,” Demon B groaned and lay flat on his side. “I don’t want her doing this. She will rip it all out!”
Briarlight dragged herself out of the Medicine den and hauled herself up on Demon B’s body. She glared at him, kneading his spine with sharp claws. Kyepaw paused, watching the crippled she-cat, admiring her pluck and determination. Briarlight gazed at Demon B with adoration, which quickly turned to dismay. She took one paw, and combed her claws through his matted fur.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself!” Briarlight admonished the gigantic tom. She dug her claws deeper into his fur. “You’ll heal and never be as crippled as me. I’ll help groom this mess you call a coat. And stop listening to fools! Get well and PROVE how good and loyal you are. My parents and siblings already know this. So do many others.”
“For you, little Briarlight, I will,” Demon B answered, his voice soft and high-pitched. Briarlight purred with amusement.
“So big with a baby voice!” She groomed his coat with tongue and claws.
“Very common with our breed,” Demon B responded. “You did notice that about my mate, right? When she isn’t screaming, growling or snarling.”
“Yes. We all have, but everyone is afraid to ask.” Briarlight’s purrs shook with laughter, and she glanced at Kyepaw. “But yours is higher than hers!”
Kyepaw watched the exchange, and met Briarlight’s gaze, then nodded her thanks. Someone needed to convince Demon B to cease his pity party, and if anyone possessed the ability to do so, Briarlight did. Kyepaw glanced toward the nursery, and saw Millie watching anxiously, as she always did with her daughter, but in the old grey queen’s eyes, Kyepaw saw gratitude. At least Millie understood how much Demon B helped Briarlight, and vice versa.
Kyepaw never gave her voice a thought before training with Squirrelflight, who asked her with no fear. She gave the same answer Demon B offered Briarlight, and Squirrelflight merely responded “Well, only StarClan knows why such big cats must suffer such silly soft high voices. But you sure can bellow and yowl loud enough when you need to.” Kyepaw remembered the great laugh they shared over it, but never gave the issue any further consideration.
“Kyepaw? Do you want to hunt or not?” Squirrelflight’s sharp voice drifted back to Kyepaw, shaking her out of her thoughts.
“Of course!” Kyepaw yowled, and followed Squirrelflight out of the camp, and down into the forest. Kyepaw remembered her lessons, and walked on silent pads, bushy tail tucked to her body. She quelled the urge to twitch it. Leaves rustled, and she heard the chittering of foraging squirrels. Squirrelflight hung back, and vanished into the undergrowth, her pelt melting into the browns, rusts and golds of the brush A green blush of new leaves covered everything. Ahead, two squirrels raced around the base of a tree, digging in the leaf litter, chattering at each other. Kyepaw dropped to her stomach, and crawled, step by step, halting if one of them liftedits head. She watched every speck of ground for crispy leaves.
Out of her peripheral vision she spotted Squirrelflight paralleling her, heading for the other side of the tree. She kept her lessons in her mind. Concentrate! Move slowly, yet keep those hind legs tucked for the final pounce! The larger squirrel chattered at the other, and scurried toward Kyepaw, digging in the soil. Kyepaw judged the distance. The instincts of her long gone ancestors screamed in her blood, as she exploded from her crouch. The squirrel jerked its head up, but she landed her huge paws on its back, slamming it into the ground. She wasted no time delivering the kill bite to the back of the neck, then shook it for good measure. She salivated as the blood ran in her mouth, but resisted the urge to tear into the prey and gobble it up. She remembered; elders, injured Warriors, Queens and kits came first! The other squirrel screamed on the other side of the tree before silencing abruptly. Squirrelflight trotted over from behind the tree, dragging her kill, and seeing Kyepaw, her eyes widened with pleased surprise. She let go of her prey.
“Great job!” Squirrelflight inspected the catch. “Quick kill.”
“Yes,. I landed on its back. I hope I am always so lucky,” Kyepaw meowed around her prey.
“You have learned well and have fine instincts.” Squirrelflight picked up her fresh kill. “Let’s get back to camp and feed our clan and your stubborn, starving mate.”
Kyepaw followed her mentor through the entryway. The camp appeared deserted, but Kyepaw knew everyone roamed the territory, hunting. She worried, hearing so much about the marauding foxes this past moon. They competed with the Clan for every bite of prey. Squirrelflight brought her kill to the nursery, and Kyepaw heard the excited mews of Millie, Lilyheart, and Daisy. Kyepaw marched to the Medicine den, where her mate lay. He drowsed, and she noticed his fur looked better. Briarlight slept, draped over his flank, but she woke, sniffing the air.
“I’m hungry!” She nudged Demon B. “You better eat something!”
Leafpool and Jayfeather walked out of the den.
“I smell fresh prey,” Jayfeather commented.
“Great Starclan! Look at the size of that squirrel!” Leafpool exclaimed. “You caught that? Excellent first kill!”
“Yes, and thanks” Kyepaw answered, and dropped it at Demon B’s paws. She tore off a hind leg and gave it to Jayfeather. “Please, take this. For all you have done.”
Jayfeather gratefully accepted it. Leafpool shook her head.
“I don’t need the other leg, Kyepaw. My sister has been making sure I’m fed, and though I refused many meals to feed you, I’m fine. Your mate needs this more than any of us”
“Eat!” Kyepaw faced Demon B, pushing the prey under his nose. He licked it, then leveled his haunted gaze on her.
“Give it to someone else,” he mumbled. “I am crippled. Everyone hates me. What good will I be?”
“Just stop it,” Kyepaw yowled at him, fury and sympathy flashing through her, wondering what happened in her absence to fling him back into such depression. “Would you see your kits fatherless? You don’t know that you’ll be useless! Didn’t Briarlight knock sense into your mousebrained head? Promise me, please, that you’ll eat, exercise and get better!”
“Why?” Demon B flashed his impressive fangs. Briarlight cringed back, her eyes wide, but she stayed on Demon B’s back as he vented his despair. “So I can be a burden? I will never hunt like you just did. I can’t even fight as a warrior.”
“Maybe not now,” Kyepaw cuffed him on the head. “You always had strength! Remember when you sprained your leg and our housefolk took you to the vet?”
“So?”
“Think about it, mouse-brain!” Kyepaw clicked her teeth. “You may have been slow and clumsy during that time, but, you had no trouble pinning that intruder kittypet to the ground with one paw!” Kyepaw lashed her bottlebrush tail. “And held him immobile with those claws.”
“You did that?” Briarlight found her voice. The shock and fright left her eyes, replaced by admiration. “See? Spiderleg is wrong! He will see that soon! Don’t listen to him and the other doubters!”
“Once you gain your strength back, you will find your place. You’ll earn their respect. At seven suncycles old, you should know better!” Kyepaw added, her voice calmer.
“Seven suncycles?” Leafpool asked. “You mentioned that before.”
“Yeah, she did. It means a cycle of the four seasons,” Jayfeather grumbled, then faced Demon B, sightless eyes narrowing. “You are 28 season old?? You’re older than me! Older than my mother, yet your wisdom fails you.”
“Seven suncycles is not old!” Demon B protested, then sagged. “I feel like I am fifteen suncyles old now.”
“You’re not an Elder yet!” Kyepaw spat, then mewed softly. “Please, Demon B, for me, our kits, eat!”
“Eat, Fluff-brain,” Briarlight interjected, and glared at Demon B, picking up the piece of prey Squirrelflight offered her. “I am! So must you!”
Demon B dropped his head, then gazed at Kyepaw a long moment. With a sigh, tore into the fresh kill with gusto. He crunched the bones and ate everything but the fur. Kyepaw nodded approval and rubbed her head against his, and purred. His purr answered her, and love filled her heart. She knew she needed him, as his inner strength fueled her own. She poked him with a paw.
“If someone gives you fresh kill, you eat! Understand?”
“Yes, my Queen,” Demon B answered, mirth flickering in his golden eyes. “Keep rubbing it in that you are only three suncycles old.”
“Three?” Leafpool gazed at Kyepaw. “You’re twelve seasons old? And you are having your first litter now?”
“Our breed takes that long to full mature. Sure, I could have had my first litter at 9 or 10 moons, but I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t full grown yet.” Kyepaw wrinkled her nose. “My kits won’t be fully grown for many, many of your seasons! To us, a season is one suncycle, a cycle of the seasons that begin with leaf bloom, oops, New Leaf.”
“Well,” Jayfeather grumbled. “I hope you keep your longevity and pass it to your kits, and eventually, to your Clan, but our life is not always easy. It is rare to reach over forty seasons. Only kittypets can grow that old.”
“I’m not an elder, and I’m not a kittypet anymore,” Demon B retorted. “I‘ll eat and get strong again.”
“Good,” Kyepaw mewed “Now I’ll feed our kits. Soon they will leave the den to play in camp and begin learning about life. I want them to know their father!”
“And I want to see you recover! If I did, so can you!” Briarlight bumped Demon B with her head. Kyepaw watched, amused, since Demon B’s head loomed over the little crippled she-cat like a legendary lion. He merely flicked his tail, and groomed the top of her head. She faced Kyepaw. “I can’t wait to play with your kits!”
“I don’t know if your kits will live as long as you,” A warrior spoke up, and Kyepaw recognized Stormcloud. “You had plenty of food and shelter as a kittypet. Like I did. I chose this life, but it’s not easy. You didn’t choose.”
“No, I didn’t.” Kyepaw felt a flash of anxiety ripple her long thick fur. “But, I’m happy here and my kits are safe. StarClan chose for us, and it’s a good choice.”
“Would you return to your two-legs if they showed up here?” Stormcloud asked. Kyepaw lowered her head, feeling grief for the loss of her housefolk.
“I, I, don’t know,” she admitted. “If they were my housefolk? Maybe, but strange two-legs? I don’t think I would.”
“Even if they cured Demon B’s handicaps?” asked a pretty ginger she-cat, who sidled up against Stormcloud.
“I, oh, I don’t know, Cherryfall.” Kyepaw gripped the ground, flexing her formidable claws, gouging the soil.
“We don’t mean to upset you, Kyepaw,” Stormcloud said, his voice soft. “Some of us, well, we would hate to see you leave us. And not all of us distrust your mate. We understand that two-legs named him, and not some minion of the Dark Forest.”
“I’m grateful, and, I don’t think I’ll leave. My housefolk died in that fire. I have no two-leg home to return to.” Kyepaw mewed. “But if. . .”
"Stay," Another warrior insisted. Bumblestripe and Blossonfall joined Stormcloud and Cherryfall. Bumblestripe regarded her with a soft expression, his light green eyes in beautiful contrast with his silvery light grey base color with its jet-black stripes. "We love you as kin already. And who can dislike Demon B when Briarlight loves him so much? Our mother actually can cease her constant fretting over her, too, and I hope she does. Don't let a few foxhearts upset you or your mate."
“Stay, big red Queen,” Kyepaw recognized Purdy’s voice. He padded out of the Elder’s Den and sat beside Demon B.
“Purdy, I . . .”
“We need a youngin’ like yer kind around. Rare they are, since most purebred snooty two-leg cats ne’er step outside.” Purdy flicked an ear. “Yer different. Somethin’ runs in yer blood, a wildness two-legs didn’t breed outta yer kind.”
“I, Well. . .” Kyepaw stammered, not knowing what to say.
“Go, feed yer youngin’s,” Purdy flashed her a broad feline smile, baring the tips of his worn fangs. “Make ‘em grow strong. Now I’ll show yer mate his worth, and tell’im not t’listen to fools.”
“I will, and thank you. Demon B should love your stories,” Kyepaw replied, then spun away and trotted to the nursery, concerned how this way of life might affect her and her kits’ lifespans. Stormcloud’s admission echoed in her head, battling Purdy’s words of encouragement. Could she ever really leave her new home? As she entered, six balls of fluff attacked her, and she forgot her worry.
“Kyemama! We’re hungry!” Demonkit announced, his long tail straight up behind him. His white muzzle, throat and paws stood out in the darkness of the den. Phantomkit flanked his brother, his white markings mirroring Demonkit’s, but black tabby stripes over dark grey broke the illusion of twinning. Kyepaw purred and stretched out in her nest.
“Come and drink, my kits, but soon, you will learn to eat fresh kill.”
“I’ll be the best hunter!” Phantomkit bragged.
“No! I will be!” Demonkit argued, and Kyepaw’s purrs pulsed with laughter. The friendly rivalry between her two largest kits pleased her, since they also developed a strong bond that promised to be powerful. The six kits nursed, and Kyepaw flinched, feeling needle teeth pinching her belly. She sighed. Weaning time arrived, and with her next catch, she planned to introduce her kits to fresh kill.
“I’m glad mine don’t have their teeth yet,” Lilyheart uttered an amused purr as she nursed her young brood.
“It won’t be long,” Kyepaw retorted with a mrrrow of laughter.
“Your kits grow so big and strong!” Millie commented. “My two are so small in comparison.”
“Your kits thrive.” Kyepaw faced the old queen. “Remember, my breed produces very large kits. Don’t compare them. Greykit and Rainkit are healthy and well!”
“Yes, you are right. I keep thinking they are behind, but, they aren’t, are they,” Millie said. “And thanks to your milk! If not for you, my kits never would have made it this far. I don’t have enough milk. Not enough for only two kits! Just dreadful. I really am too old to be having kits.” Millie’s eyes widened as her kits squealed. Long-haired pale grey Rainkit wailed.
“Millieee! We hungry!”
“So sorry, my little ones,” Millie mewed. “Go to Kyemama. She will feed you.”
The two kits scurried to Kyepaw, and bravely jostled Demonkit and Indikit. Demonkit moved away, and sat down, blinking. Indikit hissed between clenched jaws, her white legs latching on to Kyepaw’s tummy.
“Stop that!” Phantomkit bopped his sister on the head with a big fuzzy white paw. “Rainkit and Greykit need to eat! Remember?”
“No! I’m not full yet!” Indikit protested. “They can wait.”
“Look at your round belly!” Phantomkit cuffed his sister on the head again. “Don’t be so selfish!”
When Indikit growled, refusing to let Greykit feed, Phantomkit pounced on her, forcing her away.
“Owww,” Kyepaw hissed, as Indikit’s teeth and claws scratched her belly. She tapped Indikit with a big paw on the kit’s exposed white belly. “Stop being such a brat and learn to share!”
“Okaaay!" Indikit wailed, and rolled over, her dark-brown tabby back visible again. Jet-black striped her head before mingling in the thick puffy fur of her rumpled back. She shook herself and pounced on Phantomkit The two wrestled on the moss bedding, and Indikit's loud squalls of rage echoed in the den. Lilyheart moved a leg, creating a barrier between them and her kits.
"She is the only one of your kits that has a very loud voice!" Millie sneezed her amusement.
"It’s as if she got all of the lung power," Lilyheart commented.
"It happens," Kyepaw replied with a chuckle in her purr. “Once in a while, one or two of us gets a big mouth. Phantomkit can compete with her when he wishes, but he only uses his strident voice when he has to. Indikit is just a brat.”
“She will be pawful, even for your huge ones,” Millie mewled with laughter, laying next to Kyepaw, grooming her kits as they fed. “If she channels that wild side, she will be a fine warrior one day.”
“Not if I flatten her out first!” Kyepaw bared her fangs. “She will . . .” A commotion erupted out in camp, whipping Kyepaw’s head around as cat screeching filled the air.
Part 2
“Foxes!” Leafpool’s wail echoed across the clearing. “Demon B! Briarlight! Get inside now!”
“They will not get past me!” Demon B’s snarl reverberated off the cliffs.
“ThunderClan warriors!!! Attack!” Bramblestar’s yowl followed. “They’re running for the queen’s den! Head them off!”
Fear, then rage flashed though Kyepaw, and her maternal instincts rose up with tornadic fury.
“They dare think they can eat our kits?” Kyepaw hissed with wrath. “Not while I breathe!” Kyepaw jumped up, shaking the kits free, ignoring their protests, and leaped for the entrance.
“No!” Millie wailed in sheer terror. “Come back!”
“Kyepaw, NO! ” Daisy shrieked, ranging herself in front of Millie. Kyepaw turned, and hissed at the eight kits.
“Go to Millie and Daisy! NOW!” The wall of fluff scurried back to Daisy’s flank, and eight pais of bright blue eyes peered back at her. Lilyheart’s kits fussed, sensing danger, fueling Kyepaw’s outrage. Kyepaw faced out at the camp, hesitating for a breath, before maternal fury overwhelmed her, flooding her body with adrenaline.
“NOBODY hurts our kits or my friends!” she snarled, and plunged forward, her long pelt bristling. Briars on the roof of the den ripped wads of her fur out, but she cared not.
“Kyepaw! No! Let the us take care of this!” Kyepaw caught a glimpse of Poppyfrost, a tortoiseshell warrior, who ran at the oncoming threat and the nursery.
“Nothing threatens our kits! I’ll rip them apart!” Kyepaw screeched, racing past her new friend, as two red doglike creatures raced toward the den. The largest ignored the two warriors on his heels, his eyes fixated on the queen’s den. The second stumbled, but followed, despite the two bleeding warriors, Berrynose and Spiderleg, hanging off of its body. A third, smaller than the others, battled two other warriors, yapping and growling by the camp entrance, where Bramblestar stood, battling another young fox. The fifth fox, a smaller vixen, darted toward the medicine den. Kyepaw saw Demon B stretched out in front of the medicine cat’s den, bristling so he looked twice his already impressive size, and he completely blocked the entrance. His staccato growl echoed across the camp, and with one lightning swipe of his enormous healthy paw, he slapped the little vixen across the hollow, scouring her pelt with deep gashes. The vixen rolled over several times, laying sprawled on the ground, stunned. Bumblestripe, Blossomfall and Cherryfall blocked the Elder’s den, creating a fearsome display of fang and claw.
Pride filled Kyepaw for that split second, then she returned her attention forward, dashing at the menace heading straight for her. In a micromoment, she sized up the enemy, and realized the red dog-fox stood taller than she did, but lacked the sharp claws and weight of her kind. Kyepaw shrieked, and launched herself at the dog-fox. Its yellow eyes widened, showing whites, but before it changed course, Kyepaw smashed into it, and extended her massive claws, latching onto her enemy. She bowled the fox over, and pounced, slashing, driven by raging maternal instincts. Her claws ripped open its face, drawing blood that poured from deep slashes. One claw tore an eye. Ruddy fur flew in every direction. Kyepaw spared one glance for the other fox, satisfied that the warriors chasing her foe turned to the other adult fox, which five warriors now attacked, slashing into its thick fur, drawing blood. Kyepaw renewed her attack, her massive forepaws blurs as she pummeled her enemy. She extended her claws fully, rending and tearing at her enemy, holding back nothing. Blood spattered the fox and Kyepaw’s bristling fur. She tore without mercy into the fox’s belly and flanks, furrowing deep gashes into its flesh.
“Leave us alone, and never ever attack our kits again!” she shrieked. The fox rolled over, and drew its legs beneath it, and with a shrill yap, fled Kyepaw’s onslaught. Its mate and half grown pup wiggled free of enraged warriors and escaped out of the camp entrance. The vixen Demon B flung across the camp staggered to her feet and vanished through a small gap in the thorn barrier. Kyepaw slapped the dog fox one last blow before it bounded away, leaving deep gashes on its rump. Kyepaw stood, framed by brambles and thorns, heaving for breath, wrath pounding through her entire body. She barely heard the cheerful meowing behind her, until her heart rate dropped. She turned back into camp, walked over to her mate and sat down, regaining her breath.
“Great Starclan!” Lionblaze exclaimed, as cats crowded Kyepaw. “You beat him witless!”
“Fine battle!” Cinderheart added. “I had my doubts about you. Too big to move quick, I thought. Wrong!”
“Excellent job!” Poppyfrost exclaimed, her eyes gleaming. “I always wondered how a big soft kittypet might fight! I’m impressed.”
“Fine work, youngin!” Purdy’s voice called out, as he squeezed between Cherryfall and Blossomfall. “Kits’ll hear this story fer many seasons!”
“I only thought to protect the kits,” Kyepaw stammered, surprised by the admiration her adopted Clan showed her. Daisy and Millie peered out of the Queen’s den, and clustered at their feet, the eight kits sat, eyes wide with wonder. Beyond them, Lilyheart’s wide eyes glinted in the dark den.
“Squirrelflight taught you well,” Demon B meowed, pride ringing in his voice.
“You were magnificent!” Briarlight clambered on Demon B’s back. “Kyepaw is a warrior! You too, Demon B! I saw what you did!”
“She had moves I never taught her!” Squirrelflight retorted, but Kyepaw heard the delight in her mentor’s tone. “Demon B is as powerful as a badger! Amazing move!”
“Great battle,” Bramblestar meowed, and he walked up to Kyepaw. In his eyes Kyepaw saw admiration and gratitude. “Well done to all. Kyepaw, you have shown yourself a worthy warrior, and your injured mate used his advantages to help protect the medicine den and our precious medicine cats. Deeds that shall not go unrewarded.”
Bramblestar turned, and trotted up the cliff to Highledge. Warriors milled, mewling and muttering with excitement, many glancing at the large log marked with memorials to fallen warriors. Kyepaw learned the tales of the Great Battle, heard how they almost lost the stick in the Great Flood, and the memorial meant more to her with each passing day. She vowed to defend her Clan and honor their memories by always fighting with all the strength she possessed. She heard Bramblestar’s paws land on Highledge. ThunderClan’s leader faced the expectant growing crowd, and uttered the command.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” Bramblestar’s voice rang out over the camp. “We gain new Warriors this day!”
“Come on.” A cat bumped Kyepaw. She turned, meeting Cinderheart’s amber eyes. Excitement danced in their depth, and Kyepaw saw it mirrored in every pair of eyes. She followed the throng of cats, glancing at the nursery, where Millie and Daisy sat just outside the entrance. The eight kits, sat in front, wide-eyed and obedient. Even Indikit sat rooted to the ground, not moving or fidgeting. She stared at Kyepaw, her blue-green eyes wide with shock and wonder.
“Your kits are so fluffy and adorable,” Poppyfrost mewed, and Kyepaw heard the delight and longing in her voice.
“You’ve had kits?”
“Oh yes, I have, and long for more. Lilyheart is lucky. Millie and Graystripe did not expect them, but they are a blessing from StarClan, as are yours!” Poppyfrost regarded Kyepaw with solemn green eyes. “We’re all hungry all the time thanks to those foxes. Hungry bodies can’t produce kits.”
“Then you keep your prey, mousebrain, and stop giving your share to me.” Kyepaw gently cuffed Poppyfrost. “I hope you do have kits soon.”
“Me, too. . .” Poppyfrost paused. “It begins!”
“Today we name two new warriors.” Bramblestar’s voice thundered, shattering the conversation. Kyepaw shook herself and hurried to the base of the leader’s rock, joining her mate, who lay between Jayfeather and Leafpool. “Two former kittypets displayed courage and bravery and helped their Clan this day. If any cat disagrees, please say so now, or forever keep your jaws shut!” Bramblestar's golden-amber gaze swept over the gathered clan “Kyepaw! You and your mate have proven your courage and loyalty in the face of grave dangers. I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice and her mate. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn”
Kyepaw trembled in spite of herself. She felt acceptance wash over her, and knew her home lay here in this hollow.
“Kyepaw,” Bramblestar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” Kyepaw answered without hesitation. She stood, pride and astonishment causing every hair on her long thick pelt to rise. She flagged her bottlebrush tail high over her back
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Kyestorm. From this moment you will be known as Kyestorm, a cyclone that fights for and protects the Clan! Welcome to ThunderClan new Warrior!”
“Kyestorm! Kyestorm! Kyestorm!” erupted from many throats.
“Thank you, Bramblestar!” Kyestorm sat down, and glanced at her mate, who lay beside her, still healing from his wounds. Blood seeped from the injury on his foreleg, but he ignored it. Demon B purred raggedly, looking worriedly around at the throng of cats.
“Demon B!” Bramblestar called out, and with a flick of his tail, indicated that Demon B remain prone. Demon B gazed up at Bramblestar. His golden eyes blazed, and though his wound bled, he struggled to sit up. Leafpool moved, but Demon B shook his head vigorously. Bramblestar continued. “Though you have not apprenticed, in the light of special circumstances, you have earned this. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?”
“Yes, I do!” Demon B rumbled, flicking his thick bushy tail.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name, Demonstone. From this moment you will be known as Demonstone. I give you this name in recognition of your courage, in making yourself a barrier to protect the Medicine cats and den, despite your own injuries. You have shown your warrior spirit, strong and solid like stone. You have shown you have no connection to the Dark Forest. If Briarlight shows no fear, and only love for this injured warrior, then none shall fear him, except our enemies! Welcome to ThunderClan new warrior!”
“Demonstone! Demonstone! Demonstone!” The cries echoed in the camp. Kyestorm watched every pair of eyes, and saw acceptance. Warriors crowded Demonstone, gently bumping him or cuffing him, all eager to fight beside him in some future battle. Many witnessed the enemy vixen’s unceremonious exit from the camp. Kyestorm’s heart swelled with pride and gratitude that her adopted Clan finally accepted her mate.
“ThunderClan honors your bravery and dedication. We welcome you both as full members to ThunderClan.” Bramblestar jumped down to where Kyestorm and Demonstone rested. He touched his head to Demonstone’s, who licked his shoulder, then with his tail, Bramblestar beckoned to Kyestorm. She stared for a moment, before she realized she needed to lay down for Bramblestar to complete the ceremony. She dropped to her chest, and Bramblestar rested his head on hers. She impulsively licked his shoulder.
“Thank you for what you did this day,” he whispered, then raised his voice. “ Soon, in five moons, we shall have new apprentices!” Bramblestar nodded towards the queen’s den. “ThunderClan recovers. We will meet any challenges ahead.”
Warriors meowed and yowled in agreement. Bramblestar stood up, and gazed at Kyestorm, his features breaking into a feline smile.
“Go to your kits. There is good reason why we sacrificed meals to you. And all should know what you did for Millie’s kits as well. By offering them your milk when she dried up, you saved their lives. I know you’ll take good care of them all.”
“I will,” Kyestorm nodded and turned away, hurrying back to her kits. She paused and looked back, worried for her mate, but Demonstone stood up, and hobbled back to the Medicine den. Warriors and apprentices alike assisted him, meowing all at once, asking him to tell the tale of the vanquished young vixen. Leafpool and Jayfeather swarmed all over him, replacing the cobweb, making sure the wound sealed. Demonstone stretched out, and Briarlight draped over him, purring. Kyestorm walked into the nursery, and the kits pounced on her.
“I am so thankful for your mate,” Millie meowed. “Briarlight does love him like a big brother. I don’t worry about her as much with him there.”
“He won’t let anything happen to her,” Kyestorm said. “And she gets exercise pulling herself off and on him all day.”
“I saw everything, Kyemama!” Phantomkit squeaked in excitement. “Demonpoppa was so brave, too!”
“We grow and be strong like you,” Demonkit added.
“I slap foxes! Slash and do the same!” Indikit exclaimed, pouncing on an imaginary enemy.
“Yes, my sweet kits. You’re the Maine Coons of ThunderClan,” Kyestorm mewed at them, laughter shaking her voice. “Come and eat. Grow strong. Greykit and Rainkit, you, too.”
“Kyestorm,” Daisy murmured Kyestorm’s new name. “A great warrior name. Will you really fight?”
“Of course she will,” Lilyheart scoffed. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“She’s a kittypet, like me. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t,” Daisy retorted with a hiss.
“I will fight. Foxes are too brave these days.” Kyestorm growled. “Invading our camp is just unacceptable.”
“They are too brazen,” Millie shifted nervously. “ We head into Green Leaf soon, and prey should be plentiful, but Leaf Fall and Leaf Bare come so fast and seem way too long.”
“We’ll be apprentices then!” Phantomkit sat down, facing Kyestorm, intelligence flaring in his blue eyes, which glittered with flecks of sea-green. “They won’t get us!”
“Never! They won’t get any kit, ever! Not on my watch,” Kyestorm bared her teeth and hissed. Rage flashed through her. “Next time, I will kill them!”
Her denmates purred approval and Kyestorm saw the hope shining in their eyes. A flicker of alarm rippled her fur, as she realized what she just claimed. She nosed all the kits to her belly, and as the adrenaline ebbed from her body, weariness invaded every muscle. She heard Millie’s purring as she washed each kit. Daisy fussed with bedding and Lilyheart purred raggedly to her new kits. Fears crept in to replace Kyestorm’s bravado. What have I done, she thought, what have I promised? She shivered, trying to purge the anxiety from her body and mind before she sat vigil that evening.
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CHAPTER FOUR:GATHERING
Part 1
On the evening of the Fox Battle, Kyestorm walked out of the nursery. She waved her tail at Demonstone, and he got to his feet. He limped after her, joining her at the entrance of the hollow, sitting beside a clump of thick, tall ferns. They sat down, bodies touching, facing out toward the forest. They said nothing.
“Demonstone! Kyestorm? ” Leapool’s voice called out. “What are you doing?”
“We sit vigil, as all new warriors must,” Demonstone meowed back, his high voice dropping as he added. “Don’t try to stop me.”
“Kyestorm, the kits.” Leafpool hurried over on silent paws, not wanting to disturb the camp.
“They are fully fed, and can wait until sunrise for their next meal. Millie and Daisy will keep them snug and warm.” Kyestorm raised her voice. “It is my duty as a new warrior to sit vigil! I won’t be given exception.”
“Nor I,” Demonstone agreed, laying on his chest and settling in.
“Let them perform their duty,” Kyestorm recognized Bramblestar’s voice, and saw the Clan leader trotting toward them. “I see we won’t be able to talk them out of this.” Bramblestar halted, the three-quarter moon shining in his golden-amber eyes, as he gazed pointedly at Demonstone. “New warrior, if you start to feel badly, you must retreat to the medicine den. Is that clear? Your duty will still be fulfilled.”
“Yes, Bramblestar,” Demonstone nodded.
“Good. Carry on,” Bramblestar said and sauntered back to his den. Kyestorm watched a moment, then turned her senses out at the forest. She heard nocturnal prey scurrying through the brush. Moonlight streamed past New Leaf growth, and refracted off the lake, sparkling like Silverpelt above. Kyestorm looked up, listening to the muted sounds of the sleeping camp, then glanced at her mate.
“We did well today, and showed ThunderClan we belong. Do you think we filled our destiny yet?”
“I don’t know,” Demonstone murmured, his gold eyes peering into the brush. “I don’t feel I earned my warrior name. I didn’t even apprentice.”
“Don’t doubt yourself,” Kyestorm retorted irritably. “As hurt as you are, you sent that little she-fox rolling like a stone across the camp! Cats noticed!”
“Was that our destiny?” Demonstone asked, his black-smoke fur bristling briefly. “It can’t be that easy.”
“Why not?” Kyestorm asked. “It. . . .”
A faint haunting howl echoed over the lake from well beyond the Horseplace, answered by another, dissolving the conversation. Answering barks resounded from the Horseplace, as the resident canines uttered defiance. Kyestorm shivered and met Demonstone’s golden gaze. She knew that howl, knew it to the bottom of her soul, and in Demonstone’s eyes, she saw recognition. The source of that howl did not belong here in the land beyond the Great Water.
“That is our destiny,” Demonstone rumbled, a growl deep in his chest. “They should not be here, yet they are. They are the reason our housefolk forced us indoors at our old home.”
“How did they get here?” Kyestorm asked, a growl lowering her voice. “If they are male and female, and mate, they endanger us all!”
“Do you know what the creature is that howls like that?” Branblestar’s low voice startled Kyestorm. She whirled to face the ThunderClan leader. His eyes met hers and she saw deep concern glimmering in their depths, and the sure knowledge that she and Demonstone knew the answer. Demonstone hissed in the direction of the Horseplace.
“Yes,” Kyestorm answered. “If our destiny is to help you battle this creature, then Jayfeather was right. It won’t be easy.”
“Why? Is it a dog? If so what kind?” Bramblestar asked.
“It’s not a dog at all, but a wild canine. Our housefolk called them Coyotes.” Demonstone answered, still growling. “Cunning and ruthless, they run in organized packs.”
“”They will be worse than any foxes,” Kyestorm added, her fur bristling with fear.
“How can we defeat them?” Bramblestar asked, and Kyestorm heard dread for the Clans in his tone. “I’ve never heard of such beasts.”
“Demonstone and I will not be enough. Our kits grow fast, but it will take all the Clans to fight together, but if the pack grows too large, they can drive us out, or worse, eat us all.” Kyestorm lashed her tail and uttered a fearful wail. “That is our destiny! To battle them with the Clans, to drive them out!”
“How can I help?” Demonstone muttered. “Slinging a little fox away is one thing, but Coyotes get larger, often to more than twice my size! They gather in winter to hunt, but otherwise hunt alone or in pairs. It will take me in full health to battle one of those wild canines.”
“If this is so, we have time before Leaf Bare to get your kits trained, and warn the Clans of the danger. We will do so at the next Gathering. I am sure others have heard that howl.” Bramblestar bristled. “Don’t fear. You have ThunderClan behind you, and we know how valuable you will be come next Leaf Bare. Kyestorm, you will come to the next Gathering. We need to convince the Clans danger comes.”
“I will do my best,” Kyestorm purred, trying to stifle her fears. She turned to Demonstone as Bramblestar returned his den.
“We do have knowledge of this enemy,” he said softly. “I hope it is enough.”
“Me, too,” Kyestorm mewed. She and Demonstone finished their vigil in silence. As the sun rose, slanting warm rays into the hollow, Kyestorm stood up. Demonstone rose to his feet, slowly, with a few hissing grunts. Squirrelflight trotted past them on her way out on a hunting patrol. Her two kits flanked her. Alderpaw, the young tom that resembled Bramblestar in red, gave them a feline grin, but Kyestorm noticed something in the youngster's demeanor. His fur bristled with frustration and anxiety. In contrast, Sparkpaw, the bright red she-cat, nodded at them, her whole being full of pride and accomplishment.
“Hallo, new warriors,” Squirrelflight hailed them, waving her tail in their direction. “You are relieved of duty. Go and rest.”
Kyestorm nodded her head, and walked toward the nursery. She eyed Demonstone, noticing his stubborn leg wound leaked fluid, caking the black fur on his leg, which split to reveal the pristine white roots.
“Go to see Leafpool,” she meowed.
“Yes, my Queen,” he mewed, a rumbled of amusement in his voice. “Go see our kits. They must be hungry.”
“Of course,” Kyestorm laughed, watching him limp into the medicine den. Jayfeather’s grumbling echoed to her ears , but she only caught a few words, like “mousebrain” and “fluff-head.” Kyestorm halted outside the nursery on a sunlit patch of new grass, and lay down.
“Come kits! Time for breakfast!” she called.
“Kyemama!!!!!” Phantomkit and Demonkit bounced out of the nursery in tandem, followed by Indikit, Smokekit, Greykit, and Bluekit. Gentlekit trailed them, walking slowly, his tail up over his back like a curved branch. Rainkit followed Gentlekit, blue eyes full of hope.
“Come. Time for breakfast.” All eight kits rushed to Kyestorm and found their place to nurse. Millie shuffled out, followed by Daisy.
“Sorry, Kyestorm,” Millie mewed. “My milk supply is dried up completely.”
“No matter,” Kyestorm met Millie’s gaze as the kits fed. “I have plenty and they are ready for fresh kill now. Little kit teeth are sharp!”
“Demonstone!” Daisy exclaimed, and Kyestorm turned her head. The giant black smoke Maine Coon tom hobbled over to the sunny spot, with Briarlight riding his back, and gently stretched his considerable bulk out. Briarlight maneuvered herself so she hung onto Demonstone’s shoulders.
“I am cleared for playing with my kits,” Demonstone purred. “Jayfeather fussed, but realized the vigil did no damage.”
“I am so excited to play with them!” Briarlight squeaked in delight. Her sky blue eyes shimmered with joy. Kyestorm looked the little she-cat over, noticing the bulk to her forequarter muscles.
Demonpoppa! Briarlight!” Phantomkit left his spot at Kyestorm’s belly and scampered to his sire. Demonkit followed, squeaking in delight. Indikit ran over, and skidded to a halt, smashing into her brothers.
“Move outta my way!” she squalled and swatted Phantomkit, who raised his paw to slap back, but Kyestorm stopped his action with a low rumble deep in her chest.
“What did I tell all of you about treating you siblings?”
“Indikit,” Demonstone growled, but his eyes danced with mirth. Indikit whirled to face her father, and her eyes widened with alarm. “Don’t react with anger when what happened was your fault!”
“Sorry Demonpoppa! Sorry!”
“It’s not me you should apologize to,” Demonstone admonished her. Indikit turned to her brothers.
“Sorry,” she mewled, her eyes glinting.
“You don’t mean it,” her golden brown tabby brother remarked, his gaze deep with inner knowledge. “You shouldn’t be so bratty.”
“Quiet, Gentlekit,” Indikit snapped with sudden irritable temper. “You think you know everything.”
“I don’t,” Gentlekit purred. “But someday I will know a lot because I’m gonna be a Medicine Cat like Jayfeather!”
“I’m gonna be a warrior!” Rainkit cried.
“Me, too,” Indikit mewed, and jumped to pounce on her own long tail. “I’m going to be a powerful warrior!”
“If you live long enough!” Smokekit laughed, jumping high onto her father’s back. She balanced on long legs. “Someone is gonna flatten you because you’re such a smartbutt!”
“It won’t be you!” Indikit retorted, her eyes twinkling. Smokekit dismissed her sister and leaned into Briarlight with a purr.
“Glad to see you!”
“Me too!” Phantomkit joined his sister, and in moments the eight kits all greeted Briarlight and Demonstone. Kyestorm relaxed, glad her kits returned to normal bantering. Indikit’s temper worried her, and she glanced at Bluekit, who struggled to join Smokekit on Demonstone’s back.
“How did we give birth to two kits with such differences in leg length?” Kyestorm snorted, flicking her long bottelbrush tail. “Smokekit is so tall and Bluekit looks almost stunted.”
“I don’t know,” Demonstone shook his head, his gold eyes shining with delight as Greykit and Rainkit climbed up his flank. “Where did Indikit’s temper come from?”
“StarClan only knows,” Kyestorm sighed, then tensed as Indikit slapped Rainkit off of her father’s flank. Rainkit jumped again, but Indikit barred her way, rump wiggling, tail straight up.
“Indikit!” Kyestorm hissed the warning. “Don’t be so rough!”
“No, Kyestorm,” Millie interjected. Kyestorm glanced at Millie, who lay next to Daisy in the sunny spot. “Let them play as they would with their own littermates. Your kits try to be so gentle with mine. Only Indikit disobeys that rule of yours. I want them to grow strong and competing with your behemoths will make them strong!” Millie glared at Demonkit and Phantomkit. “Play hard with Rainkit and Greykit so they get strong and become great warriors!”
“Kyemama?” Phantomkit queried.
“She’s right!” Briarlight interjected. “Look what climbing on your mate has done for me! As long as they keep claws sheathed, they’ll make Greykit and Rainkit strong!”
“I’m gonna be the strongest little warrior ever!” Greykit announced.
“No, I am!” Rainkit retorted, sitting beside Greykit on Demonstone’s flank.
“I’ll be a medicine cat,” Gentlekit insisted.
“All right. But you still need to train so you can defend yourself and the Medicine den one day. You heard her, my kits.” Kyestorm answered. “You need not be gentle, but do not hurt anyone on purpose.”
“Yes, Kyemama!” Demonkit and Phantomkit answered, and in moments, the eight kits rolled, leaped, and climbed all over Demonstone. Briarlight joined in the fun, balancing on one foreleg to engage the kits with the other. Kyestorm shook her head, and the remnants of her ruff flared out, framing her face in ragged spikes. Daisy mewled with mirth.
“You’re shedding in huge clumps! If you keep doing so you’ll look like a shorthair.”
“It’s common for us to shed so much for Green Leaf. We almost look shorthaired,” Kyestorm returned the laugh. “But we rarely shed our tails and britches and the ruff never goes away completely.”
A tuft of red fur drifted on the breeze. Greykit spotted it and leaped from Demonstone’s back, and caught it. He tumbled down Demonstone’s side and landed with a thud on the bare ground. Before Millie moved a muscle in alarm, Greykit leaped up, the hair caught in one paw.
“I caught a leaping fox!”
“Great move, little one,” Bramblestar’s voice turned Kyestorm’s head. His amber eyes twinkled. Berrynose and Birchfall grinned. Brackenfur followed with his patrol, adding prey to the Freshkill pile.
All eight kits froze, staring wide eyed at ThunderClan’s leader.
“Wow!” erupted from Phantomkit.
“Carry on, kits. I expect new apprentices in five moons!” Bramblestar gave Kyestorm a wink, and headed toward his den.
“We’ll be ready!” Demonkit called after him. Bramblestar flicked his tail in acknowledgment. Kyestorm gazed at her brood with pride while they tumbled and pounced around their father.
“They are such big balls of fuzz,” Briarlight mewed. “Why don’t they have big huge bushy tails like you?”
“They will,” Kyestorm assured her. “At about five to six moons, when they lose their milk teeth, the tail inflates. But they will be ruffless wonders for a few more moons after that.”
“That’s funny,” Briarlight replied, clicking her teeth at Bluekit, who tried sneaking up on her from behind Demonstone’s haunch. “They will need all that fur if we have a Leaf Bare as bad as the last.”
“No worries,” Kyestorm chuckled deep in her chest. “By Leaf Bare, they will look like us, full tail, ruff and britches but they will be lanky and leggy for a good twelve moons after that, until they finally fill out their frames.”
“If they grow as large as you,” Blossonfall said, joining the group, a large mouse dangling from her jaws. “They will be formidable warriors. But for now, they must learn to eat fresh kill.”
“Kits!” Kyestorm called. All eight stopped playing and gazed at her. “Blossomfall brought you prey. Come see.”
Phantomkit led the eight kits to the tortoiseshell and white she-cat, who placed the mouse on the ground. All the kits stared at the prey.
“What do we do with it?” Gentlekit asked, and Indikit prodded the mouse with a paw. The prey suddenly jerked, and rolled over.
“Its trying to get away!” Demonkit squeaked, and leaped on the incapacitated mouse.
Phantomkit joined him and both grabbed the mouse, playing tug o war.
“I wanna play!” Indikit squealed and joined her brothers. She tried to rip it free of their jaws. Smokekit and Bluekit rushed forward, each taking hold of a leg. Greykit and Rainkit grabbed the long tail. They growled, mewed and squeaked in excitement. Gentlekit sat, watching with interest.
“Why not play, too?” Kyestorm asked her sweet-tempered kit.
“No room for me,” Gentlekit purred. “I’d rather go see what Jayfeather is doing.”
“Really?” Kyestorm eyed her golden brown tabby son. “But you must learn to eat fresh kill. In a moon or so I won’t have any more milk.”
“I know,” Gentlekit answered. “I’ll learn to hunt.”
Kyestorm looked at her other kits, who tore the prey into pieces, and merrily ran around the camp with them. Phantomkit ate his, then chased his siblings. Rainkit raced ahead of his milk brother, a piece of the prey in his teeth.
“If you don’t eat yours I’ll eat it!” he mewed.
Kyestorm uttered a meow of laughter. “He’s such a little glutton.”
“Well, well, do I hear right?” Jayfeather joined the group, sitting behind Briarlight. He glared at the youngsters with sightless blue eyes. “A kit wants to take my job?”
“I’ll learn,” Gentlekit braved Jayfeather’s stern gaze, rising to greet the Medicine cat with a touch to the nose. Jayfeather’s expression turned to delight.
“You are way too friendly for your own good! Do you promise to behave if I allow you into the Medicine den?”
“Of course,” Gentlekit answered, his tail flopping to and fro in his only display of underlying delight. Kyestorm stared in shock as Jayfeather led Gentlekit to the Medicine den. Gentlekit listened with rapt attention.
“He has great promise,” Leafpool commented, sitting beside Demonstone.
“He already seems more mature than his siblings, even Phantomkit, who is so smart, but, mischievous and naughty as any kit.” Kyestorm replied, twitching her tail. Red and cream tufts floated on the breeze. “He insists he sees star cats in his dreams.”
“He does?” Leafpool straightened. “He must be attuned to StarClan! How long has he said this?”
“He couldn’t have been even a moon old the first time he woke from a dream and said he was in StarClan.”
“Really? What did he see?” Leafpool asked.
“Cold, snow and a old rumpled grey she-cat who speaks to him.”
“Yellowfang?” Leafpool snorted. “I’m very surprised Gentlekit sees StarClan in his dreams, but all that shows is his enormous potential to be one of our finest medicine cats.”
“He does have the right temperament,” Kyestorm muttered with a wry grin, exposing the tips of her fangs.
"Really?"
“Yes, and I feel we may need all the medicine cats we can get,” Leafpool answered, a troubled look in her eyes, before she suddenly turned cheerful. “Your little one fears little, and I think he’ll be as good a taskmaker as Jayfeather someday.” Leafpool giggled like an apprentice. “I’d love to see someone match my son paw to paw in that respect.”
“Me, too” Millie mewed, and the entire group enjoyed a hearty laugh.
As the day passed sunhigh, the kits ran out of fuel. They toddled over, took a meal and promptly fell asleep in a huge ball of fuzz. Gentlekit returned, wobbling with fatigue, but his eyes full of joy. He fed, and promptly fell asleep, while chattering on about what they learned under Jayfeather’s watch. Daisy, Lilyheart, and Millie snoozed, as did Demonstone. Briarlight gazed at Kyestorm through half closed eyes.
“I heard you may go to the next Gathering,” she murmured.
“Yes, I am supposed to go.” Kyestorm yawned. “But I am so tired today, I might ask to stay here.”
“You MUST go. The Clans must meet you.” Briarlight insisted, conviction sharpening er meow.
“Why?” Kyestorm met Briarlight’s sky-blue gaze.
“It’s news! If you go, then the other Clan Leaders can’t accuse Bramblestar of lying or hiding secrets.” Briarlight glanced at the pile of sleeping kits. “Take a good nap! Then you won’t be tired.”
“You have a good point. I must anyway, since Bramblestar wants me there.” Kyestorm yawned and stretched, then lay her head down. The sun warmed her thick pelt, and before she knew it she slumbered, romping in sunlit greenleaf ,with her kits, mate, and Clanmates..
“Don’t worry, Kyestorm,” Cloudtail meowed. “Your kits will be safe.”
“I know,” Kyestorm met Cloudtail’s blue eyes. Brightheart’s copper eye shone.
“We will protect them with our lives,” she added. Kyestorm impulsively reached forward and licked both warriors on the head.
“Thank you. I know they will be safe.”
“Kyestorm?” Leafpool called out. Kyestorm whirled to face the pale brown tabby she-cat. Leafpool’s amber eyes glinted with suppressed excitement. “Are you ready?”
“Of course!” Kyestorm pushed down her anxieties, and trotted to join the throng of cats at the entrance. They parted, allowing her to take a place behind Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, who led the group down toward the lake. She heard the excited murmuring of the apprentices, and glanced back. The large tom, Alderpaw, looked more and more like Bramblestar, in a dark red tabby coat, every passing sunrise, and possessed the same gentle, caring soul. His sister’s pelt gleamed bright red even in the night, but the moon cast a silvery sheen to it. Sparkpaw put Kyestorm in mind of StarClan’s Firestar, her grandfather. She looked just like the fire-pelted apparition that appeared to her and demon. The two apprentices walked close together, excited, yet ready to protect each other and their Clanmates at the drop of a leaf.
Since that day she showed them the extent of her paw grip, they often came to visit the kits, and with permission from their mentors, asked for strength training that everyone knew Kyestorm excelled at. She came to adore them almost as much as her own kits. Friendships sprang up between Sparkpaw and Demonkit, and Alderpaw and Gentlekit. Kyestorm glanced at Alderpaw, noticing his nervous demeanor. She wondered why the youngster always looked steeped in anxiety, frustration or hesitancy, the total opposite of his brash, sometimes overconfident sister. She caught Leafpool eyeing the young apprentice, and confusion filled her, with a touch of concern. Might Leafpool disapprove of Gentlekit’s friendship with Alderpaw?
As the Clan moved along the lake edge, passing by WindClan territory. Kyestorm glanced up at the windswept moorland, forgetting her musings. WindClan warriors ran down the slope, and slowing down, allowed ThunderClan to pass, but their voices carried to her ears loud and cclear.
“So we get to see the mighty red warrior?” one of them scoffed. “The one that made the foxes come to our territory?”
“Furzepelt, enough,” a brown tabby tom admonished. “We should be so lucky to have such a warrior.”
“I know, Onestar,” the grey and white she-cat replied. “Not fair ThunderClan gets such.”
Kyestorm strained to hear more, but nothing but mumbling and hissing reached her tall ears, as Bramblestar picked up the pace.
“They sound angry,” Kyestorm said to Leafpool, who walked beside her.
“They are all a bit grumpy,” Leafpool tried to keep the mirth from her voice, and Kyestorm raised her brows.
“Why? Prey has been running very well!”
“For us,” Thornclaw joined the conversation, his bright yellow eyes full of humor. “Since you put the fear of StarClan in those foxes, they avoid our territory, and have invaded other territories. ShadowClan and WindClan in particular. They seem not to like RiverClan’s lands much, but a few have been seen there.”
“They leave us alone,” Bumblestripe added. “So ShadowClan and WindClan think it’s our fault.”
“Will there be trouble tonight?” Kyestorm asked, appalled she might be the cause of any strife.
“Maybe,” Bumblestripe answered, a ripple lifting his silver tabby pelt. The moonlight illuminated the tom’s silver grey base coat, which contracted starkly with his black stripes. Kyestorm scowled inwardly. Dovewing’s a fool, she thought, he’s a handsome, sweet tom. She knew the tales of their pairing and break up, and disapproved of Dovewing’s choices. Bumblestripe met Kyestorm’s gaze. “Rowanstar has some sense, but he’s too full of ShadowClan pride.”
“Onestar used to be so amicable, until he became Clan Leader. He’s a big grouch now.” Squirrelflight added, glancing backward. “Don’t worry about it. If they act like fools I am certain StarClan will let them know it.”
The cats trotted along the shore, and a thrill shot through Kyestorm when she saw the island. To her left, the land rose up and Kyestorm scented the Horseplace. The ground turned marshy and her paws squelched in the shoreline mud. The others moved further upland, but Kyestorm merrily slogged through it. Mischief rose up in her, and she swung her massive paws, slinging mud in the air. Her Clanmates all protested with meows, hisses and squalls. She bared the tips of her fangs in a grin.
“Come, Kyestorm,” Bramblestar said sternly, but Kyestorm heard a chuckle in his voice. “Stop behaving like a kit.”
“Sorry,” she purred. “I love playing in water, and especially snow! Oh, I love snow.”
“Fluff-brain,” Bumblestripe meowed, his eyes slits. Kyestorm heard the guffaw rumble his voice. “Snow means bad Leaf Bare.”
“Great StarClan,” Thornclaw muttered. “Then why did you end up with ThunderClan?”
“Maybe to teach you all some new things,” Kyestorm mewed with good nature. A wave of feline laugher ran through the Clan. “And prey hides in the snow. They think they are safe. Easier to catch with these.” Kyestorm flicked a muddy forepaw forward and spread her long toes exposing impressive claws.
“Are all Maine Coons so goofy?” Cherryfall giggled, the tips of her fangs visible. “Do you behave like kits all your lives?”
“Yes!” Kyestorm answered and bounced forward, flagging her bottlebrush tail, glancing back at Cherryfall and Bumblestripe. Mucky water flew skyward, sparkling in the moonlight. By time the Clan reached the fallen tree trunk, everyone meowed and chattered with good humor and anticipation. Kyestorm followed her Clanmates over the tree trunk, amused at the fear of the water so many showed. Mistystar and RiverClan waited under the Great Oak Tree. Mistystar raised her tail in greeting.
“Hallo, Kyestorm! Glad to finally meet you!”
“Hallo!” Kyestorm stopped under the grand old tree, touching noses with RiverClan’s leader. In Mistystar, she saw StarClan’s Bluestar, and felt drawn to her. Miststar touched Kyestorm with her bushy tail.
“I see you enjoy water games.”
“I do,” Kyestorm answered, and shook her coat. Mistystar stood firm with nary a flinch.
“Maybe you can learn to fish,” Mistystar quipped.
“Yeeuck,” Bumblestripe yowled in disgust. “Never.”
“I love fish!” Kyestorm said. “Its tasty!”
“Ugh,” Thornclaw laughed, slapping her with his tail. “StarClan should have sent you to RiverClan!”
“I’ll eat anything I can catch,” Kyestorm chittered a laugh.
“I see you’ve met the giant kittypet,” someone said, as WindClan joined the Gathering. shattering the banter. Mistystar only glared at the WindClan deputy, her blue eyes sparking with annoyance. She nodded to Onestar, who stared at Kyestorm, and she felt a mix of embarrassment and indignation. Rowanstar appeared out of the marsh and led his Clan onto the Island, silencing further retort from Harespring. With his arrival, the Clan Leaders all jumped into the old tree with their deputies.
“I’ll start since we have big news,” Bramblestar began.
“We know about your new kittypets,” Onestar interrupted, gazing down at Kyestorm. Kyestorm met his gaze, dipping her head respectfully but refused to look away. Onestar shifted on his branch, lashing his tail, but said nothing.
“They are kittypets no longer. Kyestorm here is a warrior now, earning that by her actions the day foxes invaded our camp to steal our kits!” Bramblestar paused, letting the gasp of dismay ripple around the throng of cats. “Her mate, though injured, smote the young vixen cub, and Kyestorm, by herself, drove the big dogfox out of camp saving many from injury and kept ThunderClan kits safe.”
“Kits?” Mistystar spoke up, The moonlight shimmered her blue-grey pelt in silver. She raised her feathery tail. “Do they thrive?”
“Yes, and Kyestorm had six upon arrival to ThunderClan. Kyestorm’s milk saved Millie’s two kits from starvation since her milk supply kept disappearing, and dried up completely a number of sunrises ago. Lilyheart had her kits, three of them. But we will have eight new apprentices in five moons.” Bramblestar answered. “Alderpaw and Sparkpaw apprenticed before Kyestorm joined us.”
Happy meowing echoed under the trees. The cries of Alderpaw and Sparkpaw reverberated under the trees and over the lake. As quiet settled over the Clans, Mistystar rose, balancing gracefully on her chosen branch. Kyestorm watched nervously, glancing at the bright full moon.
“RiverClan is well fed now that the ice melted and allowed us to fish, and we’ve not had much trouble from foxes. No kits yet, but we are hoping very soon!”
“No fox likes fishing or swimming,” someone quipped. Laughter rippled around the island, as Onestar rose to speak.
“Windclan is holding its own, but prey is still light. Our fox problems are still with us.” Murmurs of sympathy rolled through the gathered cats. Onestar continued. “But we’re strong and soon we’ll have those foxes driven out.”
“Nobody mentions the strange howling.” Rowanstar rose, his tail flicking to and fro. “Our patrols have seen strange tracks on our territory. Looks like we may have a dog problem.”
“Are you sure they’re just dog tracks?” Bramblestar faced the ruffled ShadowClan leader. “We have heard the howling. But Kyestorm here knows what it is. They are called coyotes, a wild canine from over the Great Water that somehow has reached our territories.”
“So?” Onestar sniped. “We can all handle dogs.”
“These are not two-leg dogs. They are wild canines, bigger than foxes. They are organized and in Leaf Bare hunt in packs. If they do this and they grow in numbers they can, not only drive us from our homes, but eat us, too.” Bramblestar retorted, and Kyestorm saw a flare of anger in his ambergold eyes. “This is a time when the Clans must come together!”
“How? Why?” Rowanstar hissed. “There is no enemy to fight yet.”
“Not yet,” Bramblestar warned. “But there will be. Accept Kyestorm, her mate and kits, since without a doubt, they will help us all win this fight.”
“They are all in ThunderClan,” Onestar grumbled. “What good does that do us?”
“StarClan has not made that clear yet,” Bramblestar answered. “But one thing is certain. Kyestorm and her growing kits are important to all of us, not just ThunderClan. Please keep open minds and remember the code!”
The full moon blazed in the night sky, as if approving his words. Kyestorm relaxed, not wishing to anger the other Clan Leaders, even if she wanted to bop two of them on the head with both paws. Mistystar stood up.
“We’ve heard the howling close by, and it’s only the Horseplace dogs that keep them away. For now. When Leaf Bare comes it might be different. We must not forget!” Mistystar raised her voice. “Under StarClan, four Clans will be One, to preserve the Four.”
“There is nothing to fight,” Rowanstar spat with annoyance. “ThunderClan is always meddling! We are fine, and train to battle the menace ourselves when the time comes. We don’t need help from big clumsy kittypets.”
“Then you’re a fool!” Kyestorm jumped forward, standing below Rowanstar, her coat bristling. His eyes widened briefly before he scowled at her.
“You dare be disrespectful?” He crept down his branch, eyes blazing.
“Forgive me, Rowanstar, but these are no ordinary dogs!” Kyestorm meowed firmly, her heart hammering in her chest as she faced the angry ShadowClan leader. “My mate and I know of them. You will need our help if these coyotes band into a pack come Bare Leaf.”
“It isn't even Green Leaf yet,” Rowanstar hissed. “This seems another attempt at ThunderClan to meddle in our affairs! All you have done, Kittypet, is chase foxes into our territory!"
“I didn’t, I mean, our kits . . .” Kyestorm stammered. Rowanstar glared at her. Kyestorm glanced at Tawnypelt, Bramblestar’s sister. The tortoiseshell she-cat just flicked her tail in sympathy, but said nothing.
“You come here and think you can tell us how we fight threats?” Rowanstar stood up on his branch. “Then disrespect me?”
“Rowanstar,” Bramblestar growled. “She’s new to our ways, but she is right. These coyotes will endanger us all and we need to be prepared to assist one another.”
“I remember the code, even if I was dragged into agreeing,” Rowanstar snapped. “ShadowClan will be ready for whatever comes.”
“As will WindClan,” Onestar yowled. “We have foxes driving out rabbits and denning in the burrows thanks to your new pet, Bramblestar.”
Many WindClan and ShadowClan cats yowled agreement. Arguments broke out between visiting cats. The jovial atmosphere evaporated like a puff of mist in a breeze. The mingled cats broke up into tight Clan groups.
“What fools,” Mistystar spat with frustration. “You believe you can handle these unknown canines alone? Foxes will seem like mouse play in comparison.”
“We can!” ShadowClan’s leader snarled the answer. “We don’t need your giant kittypet!”
“I am not a kittypet! When those coyotes attack your camps in search of food, you’ll be begging for my help!” Kyestorm snarled, her temper rising. She bristled until she appeared twice her size, causing both Clan Leaders to step backward on their branches. “You think I’m fat and weak and not a warrior?” Kyestorm flexed one of her massive forepaws, and her wicked pale-colored claws gleamed under the moonlight. “Do you want to test that theory?”
“Don’t temp me, big ball of fur,” Rowanstar hissed, arching his back, stepping forward to the end of his branch. He jumped down, marching up to her.
“Rowanstar! Don’t!” Bramblestar yowled.
“Don’t what? Teach a kittypet a lesson?” he sneered, and with a lightening strike of his paw, struck at Kyestorm’s face. His claws scratched her chin as she yanked her head back in alarm. Sudden outrage flooded her, and she reacted without thinking.
“Don’t scratch me!” She leaped forward, and flicked out one muddy paw, catching Rowanstar on the head. She sheathed her claws at the last moment, but the loud thump sounded loud in the silent clearing. The ShadowClan leader staggered sideways, blinking furiously before leveling his yellow eyes on her.
“So you dare attack a Clan leader?” Rowanstar snarled, and gathered his hind legs beneath him. His claws kneaded the ground in warning. Kyestorm crouched, ready for the attack. She waited, not caring if she embarrassed him by soundly beating his obnoxious butt in front of everyone. Distant thunder rumbled, startling the Gathering. All arguing ceased, and Rowanstar turned his head. Kyestorm jerked her head up, and gasped in horror. Clouds banked in the west, and a few wisps drifted over the moon. In a few more moments, thicker clouds reached for the moon touching the bottom rim. All bravado drained from the Maine Coon queen, replaced by dread and dismay at her own behavior.
“StarClan is angry! It’s all my fault! I’m sorry, Rowanstar!” Kyestorm wailed, and bolted. She flew over the tree trunk, and onto the lake shore, squalling like a scared kit.
“Kyestorm, wait!” Bramblestar called after her, but she ran toward ThunderClan territory, her strong long legs carrying her with great speed over the terrain. She cut corners, and plowed through the marshes, spattering herself with mud and muck. She shunned the curve of dry shoreline, sending up sprays of water as she raced through the shallows and under the broken half bridge. She skimmed along the WindClan shoreline, pebbles, sand and water flying up in her wake. She cleared the stream mouth in three leaps, and pounded up into ThunderClan land. She barreled through the entrance, skidding to a halt in front of her startled mate. Cats peered out of their dens, afraid to approach her, but she ignored them all. She buried her head in Demonstone’s ruff and collapsed to her belly.
“I angered StarClan! Ohhh noooo!” Kyestorm wailed hysterically. “I’m never ever going back there again!!”
“What happened?” Demonstone asked. Briarlight and Jayfeather peered out of the medicine den. They slowly walked over to her and Demonstone. She spilled her story.
“Rowanstar is a fool,” Jayfeather snapped. “StarClan should have let you slap him senseless.”
“Don’t fret, Kyestorm,”Leafpool meowed, running into camp and coming up to her. “StarClan wasn’t angry with you, but at Onestar and Rowanstar who started the strife. The fools reject you, which I’m certain displeased StarClan as well.”
“I slapped a Clan leader!” Kyestorm wailed. “StarClan was mad! I am never going to another Gathering ever again if those two are there, and they always are. NEVER!”
True to her word, Kyestorm refused to attend any further Gatherings. In the days and moons that followed, her Clanmates continued to comfort her, reminding her how ornery Onestar and Rowanstar always behaved. She soon understood that perhaps, Onestar and Rowanstar angered StarClan more than her actions, but she wished never to attend another Gathering. Her temper simmered, and she knew if she met them again, and received the same treatment, she might commit an atrocity to regret for the rest of her life. She also wished to never ever anger those starry cats who counted on her, who saved her, who gave her and Demonstone a new home.
“Demonstone! Kyestorm? ” Leapool’s voice called out. “What are you doing?”
“We sit vigil, as all new warriors must,” Demonstone meowed back, his high voice dropping as he added. “Don’t try to stop me.”
“Kyestorm, the kits.” Leafpool hurried over on silent paws, not wanting to disturb the camp.
“They are fully fed, and can wait until sunrise for their next meal. Millie and Daisy will keep them snug and warm.” Kyestorm raised her voice. “It is my duty as a new warrior to sit vigil! I won’t be given exception.”
“Nor I,” Demonstone agreed, laying on his chest and settling in.
“Let them perform their duty,” Kyestorm recognized Bramblestar’s voice, and saw the Clan leader trotting toward them. “I see we won’t be able to talk them out of this.” Bramblestar halted, the three-quarter moon shining in his golden-amber eyes, as he gazed pointedly at Demonstone. “New warrior, if you start to feel badly, you must retreat to the medicine den. Is that clear? Your duty will still be fulfilled.”
“Yes, Bramblestar,” Demonstone nodded.
“Good. Carry on,” Bramblestar said and sauntered back to his den. Kyestorm watched a moment, then turned her senses out at the forest. She heard nocturnal prey scurrying through the brush. Moonlight streamed past New Leaf growth, and refracted off the lake, sparkling like Silverpelt above. Kyestorm looked up, listening to the muted sounds of the sleeping camp, then glanced at her mate.
“We did well today, and showed ThunderClan we belong. Do you think we filled our destiny yet?”
“I don’t know,” Demonstone murmured, his gold eyes peering into the brush. “I don’t feel I earned my warrior name. I didn’t even apprentice.”
“Don’t doubt yourself,” Kyestorm retorted irritably. “As hurt as you are, you sent that little she-fox rolling like a stone across the camp! Cats noticed!”
“Was that our destiny?” Demonstone asked, his black-smoke fur bristling briefly. “It can’t be that easy.”
“Why not?” Kyestorm asked. “It. . . .”
A faint haunting howl echoed over the lake from well beyond the Horseplace, answered by another, dissolving the conversation. Answering barks resounded from the Horseplace, as the resident canines uttered defiance. Kyestorm shivered and met Demonstone’s golden gaze. She knew that howl, knew it to the bottom of her soul, and in Demonstone’s eyes, she saw recognition. The source of that howl did not belong here in the land beyond the Great Water.
“That is our destiny,” Demonstone rumbled, a growl deep in his chest. “They should not be here, yet they are. They are the reason our housefolk forced us indoors at our old home.”
“How did they get here?” Kyestorm asked, a growl lowering her voice. “If they are male and female, and mate, they endanger us all!”
“Do you know what the creature is that howls like that?” Branblestar’s low voice startled Kyestorm. She whirled to face the ThunderClan leader. His eyes met hers and she saw deep concern glimmering in their depths, and the sure knowledge that she and Demonstone knew the answer. Demonstone hissed in the direction of the Horseplace.
“Yes,” Kyestorm answered. “If our destiny is to help you battle this creature, then Jayfeather was right. It won’t be easy.”
“Why? Is it a dog? If so what kind?” Bramblestar asked.
“It’s not a dog at all, but a wild canine. Our housefolk called them Coyotes.” Demonstone answered, still growling. “Cunning and ruthless, they run in organized packs.”
“”They will be worse than any foxes,” Kyestorm added, her fur bristling with fear.
“How can we defeat them?” Bramblestar asked, and Kyestorm heard dread for the Clans in his tone. “I’ve never heard of such beasts.”
“Demonstone and I will not be enough. Our kits grow fast, but it will take all the Clans to fight together, but if the pack grows too large, they can drive us out, or worse, eat us all.” Kyestorm lashed her tail and uttered a fearful wail. “That is our destiny! To battle them with the Clans, to drive them out!”
“How can I help?” Demonstone muttered. “Slinging a little fox away is one thing, but Coyotes get larger, often to more than twice my size! They gather in winter to hunt, but otherwise hunt alone or in pairs. It will take me in full health to battle one of those wild canines.”
“If this is so, we have time before Leaf Bare to get your kits trained, and warn the Clans of the danger. We will do so at the next Gathering. I am sure others have heard that howl.” Bramblestar bristled. “Don’t fear. You have ThunderClan behind you, and we know how valuable you will be come next Leaf Bare. Kyestorm, you will come to the next Gathering. We need to convince the Clans danger comes.”
“I will do my best,” Kyestorm purred, trying to stifle her fears. She turned to Demonstone as Bramblestar returned his den.
“We do have knowledge of this enemy,” he said softly. “I hope it is enough.”
“Me, too,” Kyestorm mewed. She and Demonstone finished their vigil in silence. As the sun rose, slanting warm rays into the hollow, Kyestorm stood up. Demonstone rose to his feet, slowly, with a few hissing grunts. Squirrelflight trotted past them on her way out on a hunting patrol. Her two kits flanked her. Alderpaw, the young tom that resembled Bramblestar in red, gave them a feline grin, but Kyestorm noticed something in the youngster's demeanor. His fur bristled with frustration and anxiety. In contrast, Sparkpaw, the bright red she-cat, nodded at them, her whole being full of pride and accomplishment.
“Hallo, new warriors,” Squirrelflight hailed them, waving her tail in their direction. “You are relieved of duty. Go and rest.”
Kyestorm nodded her head, and walked toward the nursery. She eyed Demonstone, noticing his stubborn leg wound leaked fluid, caking the black fur on his leg, which split to reveal the pristine white roots.
“Go to see Leafpool,” she meowed.
“Yes, my Queen,” he mewed, a rumbled of amusement in his voice. “Go see our kits. They must be hungry.”
“Of course,” Kyestorm laughed, watching him limp into the medicine den. Jayfeather’s grumbling echoed to her ears , but she only caught a few words, like “mousebrain” and “fluff-head.” Kyestorm halted outside the nursery on a sunlit patch of new grass, and lay down.
“Come kits! Time for breakfast!” she called.
“Kyemama!!!!!” Phantomkit and Demonkit bounced out of the nursery in tandem, followed by Indikit, Smokekit, Greykit, and Bluekit. Gentlekit trailed them, walking slowly, his tail up over his back like a curved branch. Rainkit followed Gentlekit, blue eyes full of hope.
“Come. Time for breakfast.” All eight kits rushed to Kyestorm and found their place to nurse. Millie shuffled out, followed by Daisy.
“Sorry, Kyestorm,” Millie mewed. “My milk supply is dried up completely.”
“No matter,” Kyestorm met Millie’s gaze as the kits fed. “I have plenty and they are ready for fresh kill now. Little kit teeth are sharp!”
“Demonstone!” Daisy exclaimed, and Kyestorm turned her head. The giant black smoke Maine Coon tom hobbled over to the sunny spot, with Briarlight riding his back, and gently stretched his considerable bulk out. Briarlight maneuvered herself so she hung onto Demonstone’s shoulders.
“I am cleared for playing with my kits,” Demonstone purred. “Jayfeather fussed, but realized the vigil did no damage.”
“I am so excited to play with them!” Briarlight squeaked in delight. Her sky blue eyes shimmered with joy. Kyestorm looked the little she-cat over, noticing the bulk to her forequarter muscles.
Demonpoppa! Briarlight!” Phantomkit left his spot at Kyestorm’s belly and scampered to his sire. Demonkit followed, squeaking in delight. Indikit ran over, and skidded to a halt, smashing into her brothers.
“Move outta my way!” she squalled and swatted Phantomkit, who raised his paw to slap back, but Kyestorm stopped his action with a low rumble deep in her chest.
“What did I tell all of you about treating you siblings?”
“Indikit,” Demonstone growled, but his eyes danced with mirth. Indikit whirled to face her father, and her eyes widened with alarm. “Don’t react with anger when what happened was your fault!”
“Sorry Demonpoppa! Sorry!”
“It’s not me you should apologize to,” Demonstone admonished her. Indikit turned to her brothers.
“Sorry,” she mewled, her eyes glinting.
“You don’t mean it,” her golden brown tabby brother remarked, his gaze deep with inner knowledge. “You shouldn’t be so bratty.”
“Quiet, Gentlekit,” Indikit snapped with sudden irritable temper. “You think you know everything.”
“I don’t,” Gentlekit purred. “But someday I will know a lot because I’m gonna be a Medicine Cat like Jayfeather!”
“I’m gonna be a warrior!” Rainkit cried.
“Me, too,” Indikit mewed, and jumped to pounce on her own long tail. “I’m going to be a powerful warrior!”
“If you live long enough!” Smokekit laughed, jumping high onto her father’s back. She balanced on long legs. “Someone is gonna flatten you because you’re such a smartbutt!”
“It won’t be you!” Indikit retorted, her eyes twinkling. Smokekit dismissed her sister and leaned into Briarlight with a purr.
“Glad to see you!”
“Me too!” Phantomkit joined his sister, and in moments the eight kits all greeted Briarlight and Demonstone. Kyestorm relaxed, glad her kits returned to normal bantering. Indikit’s temper worried her, and she glanced at Bluekit, who struggled to join Smokekit on Demonstone’s back.
“How did we give birth to two kits with such differences in leg length?” Kyestorm snorted, flicking her long bottelbrush tail. “Smokekit is so tall and Bluekit looks almost stunted.”
“I don’t know,” Demonstone shook his head, his gold eyes shining with delight as Greykit and Rainkit climbed up his flank. “Where did Indikit’s temper come from?”
“StarClan only knows,” Kyestorm sighed, then tensed as Indikit slapped Rainkit off of her father’s flank. Rainkit jumped again, but Indikit barred her way, rump wiggling, tail straight up.
“Indikit!” Kyestorm hissed the warning. “Don’t be so rough!”
“No, Kyestorm,” Millie interjected. Kyestorm glanced at Millie, who lay next to Daisy in the sunny spot. “Let them play as they would with their own littermates. Your kits try to be so gentle with mine. Only Indikit disobeys that rule of yours. I want them to grow strong and competing with your behemoths will make them strong!” Millie glared at Demonkit and Phantomkit. “Play hard with Rainkit and Greykit so they get strong and become great warriors!”
“Kyemama?” Phantomkit queried.
“She’s right!” Briarlight interjected. “Look what climbing on your mate has done for me! As long as they keep claws sheathed, they’ll make Greykit and Rainkit strong!”
“I’m gonna be the strongest little warrior ever!” Greykit announced.
“No, I am!” Rainkit retorted, sitting beside Greykit on Demonstone’s flank.
“I’ll be a medicine cat,” Gentlekit insisted.
“All right. But you still need to train so you can defend yourself and the Medicine den one day. You heard her, my kits.” Kyestorm answered. “You need not be gentle, but do not hurt anyone on purpose.”
“Yes, Kyemama!” Demonkit and Phantomkit answered, and in moments, the eight kits rolled, leaped, and climbed all over Demonstone. Briarlight joined in the fun, balancing on one foreleg to engage the kits with the other. Kyestorm shook her head, and the remnants of her ruff flared out, framing her face in ragged spikes. Daisy mewled with mirth.
“You’re shedding in huge clumps! If you keep doing so you’ll look like a shorthair.”
“It’s common for us to shed so much for Green Leaf. We almost look shorthaired,” Kyestorm returned the laugh. “But we rarely shed our tails and britches and the ruff never goes away completely.”
A tuft of red fur drifted on the breeze. Greykit spotted it and leaped from Demonstone’s back, and caught it. He tumbled down Demonstone’s side and landed with a thud on the bare ground. Before Millie moved a muscle in alarm, Greykit leaped up, the hair caught in one paw.
“I caught a leaping fox!”
“Great move, little one,” Bramblestar’s voice turned Kyestorm’s head. His amber eyes twinkled. Berrynose and Birchfall grinned. Brackenfur followed with his patrol, adding prey to the Freshkill pile.
All eight kits froze, staring wide eyed at ThunderClan’s leader.
“Wow!” erupted from Phantomkit.
“Carry on, kits. I expect new apprentices in five moons!” Bramblestar gave Kyestorm a wink, and headed toward his den.
“We’ll be ready!” Demonkit called after him. Bramblestar flicked his tail in acknowledgment. Kyestorm gazed at her brood with pride while they tumbled and pounced around their father.
“They are such big balls of fuzz,” Briarlight mewed. “Why don’t they have big huge bushy tails like you?”
“They will,” Kyestorm assured her. “At about five to six moons, when they lose their milk teeth, the tail inflates. But they will be ruffless wonders for a few more moons after that.”
“That’s funny,” Briarlight replied, clicking her teeth at Bluekit, who tried sneaking up on her from behind Demonstone’s haunch. “They will need all that fur if we have a Leaf Bare as bad as the last.”
“No worries,” Kyestorm chuckled deep in her chest. “By Leaf Bare, they will look like us, full tail, ruff and britches but they will be lanky and leggy for a good twelve moons after that, until they finally fill out their frames.”
“If they grow as large as you,” Blossonfall said, joining the group, a large mouse dangling from her jaws. “They will be formidable warriors. But for now, they must learn to eat fresh kill.”
“Kits!” Kyestorm called. All eight stopped playing and gazed at her. “Blossomfall brought you prey. Come see.”
Phantomkit led the eight kits to the tortoiseshell and white she-cat, who placed the mouse on the ground. All the kits stared at the prey.
“What do we do with it?” Gentlekit asked, and Indikit prodded the mouse with a paw. The prey suddenly jerked, and rolled over.
“Its trying to get away!” Demonkit squeaked, and leaped on the incapacitated mouse.
Phantomkit joined him and both grabbed the mouse, playing tug o war.
“I wanna play!” Indikit squealed and joined her brothers. She tried to rip it free of their jaws. Smokekit and Bluekit rushed forward, each taking hold of a leg. Greykit and Rainkit grabbed the long tail. They growled, mewed and squeaked in excitement. Gentlekit sat, watching with interest.
“Why not play, too?” Kyestorm asked her sweet-tempered kit.
“No room for me,” Gentlekit purred. “I’d rather go see what Jayfeather is doing.”
“Really?” Kyestorm eyed her golden brown tabby son. “But you must learn to eat fresh kill. In a moon or so I won’t have any more milk.”
“I know,” Gentlekit answered. “I’ll learn to hunt.”
Kyestorm looked at her other kits, who tore the prey into pieces, and merrily ran around the camp with them. Phantomkit ate his, then chased his siblings. Rainkit raced ahead of his milk brother, a piece of the prey in his teeth.
“If you don’t eat yours I’ll eat it!” he mewed.
Kyestorm uttered a meow of laughter. “He’s such a little glutton.”
“Well, well, do I hear right?” Jayfeather joined the group, sitting behind Briarlight. He glared at the youngsters with sightless blue eyes. “A kit wants to take my job?”
“I’ll learn,” Gentlekit braved Jayfeather’s stern gaze, rising to greet the Medicine cat with a touch to the nose. Jayfeather’s expression turned to delight.
“You are way too friendly for your own good! Do you promise to behave if I allow you into the Medicine den?”
“Of course,” Gentlekit answered, his tail flopping to and fro in his only display of underlying delight. Kyestorm stared in shock as Jayfeather led Gentlekit to the Medicine den. Gentlekit listened with rapt attention.
“He has great promise,” Leafpool commented, sitting beside Demonstone.
“He already seems more mature than his siblings, even Phantomkit, who is so smart, but, mischievous and naughty as any kit.” Kyestorm replied, twitching her tail. Red and cream tufts floated on the breeze. “He insists he sees star cats in his dreams.”
“He does?” Leafpool straightened. “He must be attuned to StarClan! How long has he said this?”
“He couldn’t have been even a moon old the first time he woke from a dream and said he was in StarClan.”
“Really? What did he see?” Leafpool asked.
“Cold, snow and a old rumpled grey she-cat who speaks to him.”
“Yellowfang?” Leafpool snorted. “I’m very surprised Gentlekit sees StarClan in his dreams, but all that shows is his enormous potential to be one of our finest medicine cats.”
“He does have the right temperament,” Kyestorm muttered with a wry grin, exposing the tips of her fangs.
"Really?"
“Yes, and I feel we may need all the medicine cats we can get,” Leafpool answered, a troubled look in her eyes, before she suddenly turned cheerful. “Your little one fears little, and I think he’ll be as good a taskmaker as Jayfeather someday.” Leafpool giggled like an apprentice. “I’d love to see someone match my son paw to paw in that respect.”
“Me, too” Millie mewed, and the entire group enjoyed a hearty laugh.
As the day passed sunhigh, the kits ran out of fuel. They toddled over, took a meal and promptly fell asleep in a huge ball of fuzz. Gentlekit returned, wobbling with fatigue, but his eyes full of joy. He fed, and promptly fell asleep, while chattering on about what they learned under Jayfeather’s watch. Daisy, Lilyheart, and Millie snoozed, as did Demonstone. Briarlight gazed at Kyestorm through half closed eyes.
“I heard you may go to the next Gathering,” she murmured.
“Yes, I am supposed to go.” Kyestorm yawned. “But I am so tired today, I might ask to stay here.”
“You MUST go. The Clans must meet you.” Briarlight insisted, conviction sharpening er meow.
“Why?” Kyestorm met Briarlight’s sky-blue gaze.
“It’s news! If you go, then the other Clan Leaders can’t accuse Bramblestar of lying or hiding secrets.” Briarlight glanced at the pile of sleeping kits. “Take a good nap! Then you won’t be tired.”
“You have a good point. I must anyway, since Bramblestar wants me there.” Kyestorm yawned and stretched, then lay her head down. The sun warmed her thick pelt, and before she knew it she slumbered, romping in sunlit greenleaf ,with her kits, mate, and Clanmates..
Part 2
That evening, the full moon sent golden silver light streaming into the hollow. Silverpelt glittered above, as Clan members readied to travel to the Gathering. Moonlight reflected off the lake in shimmers of bright silver which sparkled between the trees. Not a single cloud marred the night sky, and Kyestorm knew StarClan approved of her decision to go. Her kits slept in the nursery, tuckered out by vigorous play before the evening meal. With full bellies and exhausted bodies, they snuggled between Daisy and Millie, safe and secure.“Don’t worry, Kyestorm,” Cloudtail meowed. “Your kits will be safe.”
“I know,” Kyestorm met Cloudtail’s blue eyes. Brightheart’s copper eye shone.
“We will protect them with our lives,” she added. Kyestorm impulsively reached forward and licked both warriors on the head.
“Thank you. I know they will be safe.”
“Kyestorm?” Leafpool called out. Kyestorm whirled to face the pale brown tabby she-cat. Leafpool’s amber eyes glinted with suppressed excitement. “Are you ready?”
“Of course!” Kyestorm pushed down her anxieties, and trotted to join the throng of cats at the entrance. They parted, allowing her to take a place behind Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, who led the group down toward the lake. She heard the excited murmuring of the apprentices, and glanced back. The large tom, Alderpaw, looked more and more like Bramblestar, in a dark red tabby coat, every passing sunrise, and possessed the same gentle, caring soul. His sister’s pelt gleamed bright red even in the night, but the moon cast a silvery sheen to it. Sparkpaw put Kyestorm in mind of StarClan’s Firestar, her grandfather. She looked just like the fire-pelted apparition that appeared to her and demon. The two apprentices walked close together, excited, yet ready to protect each other and their Clanmates at the drop of a leaf.
Since that day she showed them the extent of her paw grip, they often came to visit the kits, and with permission from their mentors, asked for strength training that everyone knew Kyestorm excelled at. She came to adore them almost as much as her own kits. Friendships sprang up between Sparkpaw and Demonkit, and Alderpaw and Gentlekit. Kyestorm glanced at Alderpaw, noticing his nervous demeanor. She wondered why the youngster always looked steeped in anxiety, frustration or hesitancy, the total opposite of his brash, sometimes overconfident sister. She caught Leafpool eyeing the young apprentice, and confusion filled her, with a touch of concern. Might Leafpool disapprove of Gentlekit’s friendship with Alderpaw?
As the Clan moved along the lake edge, passing by WindClan territory. Kyestorm glanced up at the windswept moorland, forgetting her musings. WindClan warriors ran down the slope, and slowing down, allowed ThunderClan to pass, but their voices carried to her ears loud and cclear.
“So we get to see the mighty red warrior?” one of them scoffed. “The one that made the foxes come to our territory?”
“Furzepelt, enough,” a brown tabby tom admonished. “We should be so lucky to have such a warrior.”
“I know, Onestar,” the grey and white she-cat replied. “Not fair ThunderClan gets such.”
Kyestorm strained to hear more, but nothing but mumbling and hissing reached her tall ears, as Bramblestar picked up the pace.
“They sound angry,” Kyestorm said to Leafpool, who walked beside her.
“They are all a bit grumpy,” Leafpool tried to keep the mirth from her voice, and Kyestorm raised her brows.
“Why? Prey has been running very well!”
“For us,” Thornclaw joined the conversation, his bright yellow eyes full of humor. “Since you put the fear of StarClan in those foxes, they avoid our territory, and have invaded other territories. ShadowClan and WindClan in particular. They seem not to like RiverClan’s lands much, but a few have been seen there.”
“They leave us alone,” Bumblestripe added. “So ShadowClan and WindClan think it’s our fault.”
“Will there be trouble tonight?” Kyestorm asked, appalled she might be the cause of any strife.
“Maybe,” Bumblestripe answered, a ripple lifting his silver tabby pelt. The moonlight illuminated the tom’s silver grey base coat, which contracted starkly with his black stripes. Kyestorm scowled inwardly. Dovewing’s a fool, she thought, he’s a handsome, sweet tom. She knew the tales of their pairing and break up, and disapproved of Dovewing’s choices. Bumblestripe met Kyestorm’s gaze. “Rowanstar has some sense, but he’s too full of ShadowClan pride.”
“Onestar used to be so amicable, until he became Clan Leader. He’s a big grouch now.” Squirrelflight added, glancing backward. “Don’t worry about it. If they act like fools I am certain StarClan will let them know it.”
The cats trotted along the shore, and a thrill shot through Kyestorm when she saw the island. To her left, the land rose up and Kyestorm scented the Horseplace. The ground turned marshy and her paws squelched in the shoreline mud. The others moved further upland, but Kyestorm merrily slogged through it. Mischief rose up in her, and she swung her massive paws, slinging mud in the air. Her Clanmates all protested with meows, hisses and squalls. She bared the tips of her fangs in a grin.
“Come, Kyestorm,” Bramblestar said sternly, but Kyestorm heard a chuckle in his voice. “Stop behaving like a kit.”
“Sorry,” she purred. “I love playing in water, and especially snow! Oh, I love snow.”
“Fluff-brain,” Bumblestripe meowed, his eyes slits. Kyestorm heard the guffaw rumble his voice. “Snow means bad Leaf Bare.”
“Great StarClan,” Thornclaw muttered. “Then why did you end up with ThunderClan?”
“Maybe to teach you all some new things,” Kyestorm mewed with good nature. A wave of feline laugher ran through the Clan. “And prey hides in the snow. They think they are safe. Easier to catch with these.” Kyestorm flicked a muddy forepaw forward and spread her long toes exposing impressive claws.
“Are all Maine Coons so goofy?” Cherryfall giggled, the tips of her fangs visible. “Do you behave like kits all your lives?”
“Yes!” Kyestorm answered and bounced forward, flagging her bottlebrush tail, glancing back at Cherryfall and Bumblestripe. Mucky water flew skyward, sparkling in the moonlight. By time the Clan reached the fallen tree trunk, everyone meowed and chattered with good humor and anticipation. Kyestorm followed her Clanmates over the tree trunk, amused at the fear of the water so many showed. Mistystar and RiverClan waited under the Great Oak Tree. Mistystar raised her tail in greeting.
“Hallo, Kyestorm! Glad to finally meet you!”
“Hallo!” Kyestorm stopped under the grand old tree, touching noses with RiverClan’s leader. In Mistystar, she saw StarClan’s Bluestar, and felt drawn to her. Miststar touched Kyestorm with her bushy tail.
“I see you enjoy water games.”
“I do,” Kyestorm answered, and shook her coat. Mistystar stood firm with nary a flinch.
“Maybe you can learn to fish,” Mistystar quipped.
“Yeeuck,” Bumblestripe yowled in disgust. “Never.”
“I love fish!” Kyestorm said. “Its tasty!”
“Ugh,” Thornclaw laughed, slapping her with his tail. “StarClan should have sent you to RiverClan!”
“I’ll eat anything I can catch,” Kyestorm chittered a laugh.
“I see you’ve met the giant kittypet,” someone said, as WindClan joined the Gathering. shattering the banter. Mistystar only glared at the WindClan deputy, her blue eyes sparking with annoyance. She nodded to Onestar, who stared at Kyestorm, and she felt a mix of embarrassment and indignation. Rowanstar appeared out of the marsh and led his Clan onto the Island, silencing further retort from Harespring. With his arrival, the Clan Leaders all jumped into the old tree with their deputies.
“I’ll start since we have big news,” Bramblestar began.
“We know about your new kittypets,” Onestar interrupted, gazing down at Kyestorm. Kyestorm met his gaze, dipping her head respectfully but refused to look away. Onestar shifted on his branch, lashing his tail, but said nothing.
“They are kittypets no longer. Kyestorm here is a warrior now, earning that by her actions the day foxes invaded our camp to steal our kits!” Bramblestar paused, letting the gasp of dismay ripple around the throng of cats. “Her mate, though injured, smote the young vixen cub, and Kyestorm, by herself, drove the big dogfox out of camp saving many from injury and kept ThunderClan kits safe.”
“Kits?” Mistystar spoke up, The moonlight shimmered her blue-grey pelt in silver. She raised her feathery tail. “Do they thrive?”
“Yes, and Kyestorm had six upon arrival to ThunderClan. Kyestorm’s milk saved Millie’s two kits from starvation since her milk supply kept disappearing, and dried up completely a number of sunrises ago. Lilyheart had her kits, three of them. But we will have eight new apprentices in five moons.” Bramblestar answered. “Alderpaw and Sparkpaw apprenticed before Kyestorm joined us.”
Happy meowing echoed under the trees. The cries of Alderpaw and Sparkpaw reverberated under the trees and over the lake. As quiet settled over the Clans, Mistystar rose, balancing gracefully on her chosen branch. Kyestorm watched nervously, glancing at the bright full moon.
“RiverClan is well fed now that the ice melted and allowed us to fish, and we’ve not had much trouble from foxes. No kits yet, but we are hoping very soon!”
“No fox likes fishing or swimming,” someone quipped. Laughter rippled around the island, as Onestar rose to speak.
“Windclan is holding its own, but prey is still light. Our fox problems are still with us.” Murmurs of sympathy rolled through the gathered cats. Onestar continued. “But we’re strong and soon we’ll have those foxes driven out.”
“Nobody mentions the strange howling.” Rowanstar rose, his tail flicking to and fro. “Our patrols have seen strange tracks on our territory. Looks like we may have a dog problem.”
“Are you sure they’re just dog tracks?” Bramblestar faced the ruffled ShadowClan leader. “We have heard the howling. But Kyestorm here knows what it is. They are called coyotes, a wild canine from over the Great Water that somehow has reached our territories.”
“So?” Onestar sniped. “We can all handle dogs.”
“These are not two-leg dogs. They are wild canines, bigger than foxes. They are organized and in Leaf Bare hunt in packs. If they do this and they grow in numbers they can, not only drive us from our homes, but eat us, too.” Bramblestar retorted, and Kyestorm saw a flare of anger in his ambergold eyes. “This is a time when the Clans must come together!”
“How? Why?” Rowanstar hissed. “There is no enemy to fight yet.”
“Not yet,” Bramblestar warned. “But there will be. Accept Kyestorm, her mate and kits, since without a doubt, they will help us all win this fight.”
“They are all in ThunderClan,” Onestar grumbled. “What good does that do us?”
“StarClan has not made that clear yet,” Bramblestar answered. “But one thing is certain. Kyestorm and her growing kits are important to all of us, not just ThunderClan. Please keep open minds and remember the code!”
The full moon blazed in the night sky, as if approving his words. Kyestorm relaxed, not wishing to anger the other Clan Leaders, even if she wanted to bop two of them on the head with both paws. Mistystar stood up.
“We’ve heard the howling close by, and it’s only the Horseplace dogs that keep them away. For now. When Leaf Bare comes it might be different. We must not forget!” Mistystar raised her voice. “Under StarClan, four Clans will be One, to preserve the Four.”
“There is nothing to fight,” Rowanstar spat with annoyance. “ThunderClan is always meddling! We are fine, and train to battle the menace ourselves when the time comes. We don’t need help from big clumsy kittypets.”
“Then you’re a fool!” Kyestorm jumped forward, standing below Rowanstar, her coat bristling. His eyes widened briefly before he scowled at her.
“You dare be disrespectful?” He crept down his branch, eyes blazing.
“Forgive me, Rowanstar, but these are no ordinary dogs!” Kyestorm meowed firmly, her heart hammering in her chest as she faced the angry ShadowClan leader. “My mate and I know of them. You will need our help if these coyotes band into a pack come Bare Leaf.”
“It isn't even Green Leaf yet,” Rowanstar hissed. “This seems another attempt at ThunderClan to meddle in our affairs! All you have done, Kittypet, is chase foxes into our territory!"
“I didn’t, I mean, our kits . . .” Kyestorm stammered. Rowanstar glared at her. Kyestorm glanced at Tawnypelt, Bramblestar’s sister. The tortoiseshell she-cat just flicked her tail in sympathy, but said nothing.
“You come here and think you can tell us how we fight threats?” Rowanstar stood up on his branch. “Then disrespect me?”
“Rowanstar,” Bramblestar growled. “She’s new to our ways, but she is right. These coyotes will endanger us all and we need to be prepared to assist one another.”
“I remember the code, even if I was dragged into agreeing,” Rowanstar snapped. “ShadowClan will be ready for whatever comes.”
“As will WindClan,” Onestar yowled. “We have foxes driving out rabbits and denning in the burrows thanks to your new pet, Bramblestar.”
Many WindClan and ShadowClan cats yowled agreement. Arguments broke out between visiting cats. The jovial atmosphere evaporated like a puff of mist in a breeze. The mingled cats broke up into tight Clan groups.
“What fools,” Mistystar spat with frustration. “You believe you can handle these unknown canines alone? Foxes will seem like mouse play in comparison.”
“We can!” ShadowClan’s leader snarled the answer. “We don’t need your giant kittypet!”
“I am not a kittypet! When those coyotes attack your camps in search of food, you’ll be begging for my help!” Kyestorm snarled, her temper rising. She bristled until she appeared twice her size, causing both Clan Leaders to step backward on their branches. “You think I’m fat and weak and not a warrior?” Kyestorm flexed one of her massive forepaws, and her wicked pale-colored claws gleamed under the moonlight. “Do you want to test that theory?”
“Don’t temp me, big ball of fur,” Rowanstar hissed, arching his back, stepping forward to the end of his branch. He jumped down, marching up to her.
“Rowanstar! Don’t!” Bramblestar yowled.
“Don’t what? Teach a kittypet a lesson?” he sneered, and with a lightening strike of his paw, struck at Kyestorm’s face. His claws scratched her chin as she yanked her head back in alarm. Sudden outrage flooded her, and she reacted without thinking.
“Don’t scratch me!” She leaped forward, and flicked out one muddy paw, catching Rowanstar on the head. She sheathed her claws at the last moment, but the loud thump sounded loud in the silent clearing. The ShadowClan leader staggered sideways, blinking furiously before leveling his yellow eyes on her.
“So you dare attack a Clan leader?” Rowanstar snarled, and gathered his hind legs beneath him. His claws kneaded the ground in warning. Kyestorm crouched, ready for the attack. She waited, not caring if she embarrassed him by soundly beating his obnoxious butt in front of everyone. Distant thunder rumbled, startling the Gathering. All arguing ceased, and Rowanstar turned his head. Kyestorm jerked her head up, and gasped in horror. Clouds banked in the west, and a few wisps drifted over the moon. In a few more moments, thicker clouds reached for the moon touching the bottom rim. All bravado drained from the Maine Coon queen, replaced by dread and dismay at her own behavior.
“StarClan is angry! It’s all my fault! I’m sorry, Rowanstar!” Kyestorm wailed, and bolted. She flew over the tree trunk, and onto the lake shore, squalling like a scared kit.
“Kyestorm, wait!” Bramblestar called after her, but she ran toward ThunderClan territory, her strong long legs carrying her with great speed over the terrain. She cut corners, and plowed through the marshes, spattering herself with mud and muck. She shunned the curve of dry shoreline, sending up sprays of water as she raced through the shallows and under the broken half bridge. She skimmed along the WindClan shoreline, pebbles, sand and water flying up in her wake. She cleared the stream mouth in three leaps, and pounded up into ThunderClan land. She barreled through the entrance, skidding to a halt in front of her startled mate. Cats peered out of their dens, afraid to approach her, but she ignored them all. She buried her head in Demonstone’s ruff and collapsed to her belly.
“I angered StarClan! Ohhh noooo!” Kyestorm wailed hysterically. “I’m never ever going back there again!!”
“What happened?” Demonstone asked. Briarlight and Jayfeather peered out of the medicine den. They slowly walked over to her and Demonstone. She spilled her story.
“Rowanstar is a fool,” Jayfeather snapped. “StarClan should have let you slap him senseless.”
“Don’t fret, Kyestorm,”Leafpool meowed, running into camp and coming up to her. “StarClan wasn’t angry with you, but at Onestar and Rowanstar who started the strife. The fools reject you, which I’m certain displeased StarClan as well.”
“I slapped a Clan leader!” Kyestorm wailed. “StarClan was mad! I am never going to another Gathering ever again if those two are there, and they always are. NEVER!”
True to her word, Kyestorm refused to attend any further Gatherings. In the days and moons that followed, her Clanmates continued to comfort her, reminding her how ornery Onestar and Rowanstar always behaved. She soon understood that perhaps, Onestar and Rowanstar angered StarClan more than her actions, but she wished never to attend another Gathering. Her temper simmered, and she knew if she met them again, and received the same treatment, she might commit an atrocity to regret for the rest of her life. She also wished to never ever anger those starry cats who counted on her, who saved her, who gave her and Demonstone a new home.
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CHAPTER FIVE: PATROL
Part 1
Green Leaf waxed warm, and prey ran well inside ThunderClan territory. One sun-drenched morning, as Kyestorm engaged her and Millie’s four-moon-old kits in rough play, Demonstone dragged large stones of all sizes in a heap at the bottom of the cliff. He carefully placed them several fox-lengths away from a large flat rock he moved there two moons ago for Briarlight. Kyestorm sat down and watched, pride filling her to the tips of her thick long pelt. Her and Millie’s kits developed into fine young cats over the last moon. Demonstone healed, and though he never ran and leaped in hunting or border patrols, he found a new calling, once his wounds turned to scars. With his great strength, he assisted Brackenfur in shoring up all the nests and the entrance barrier, pulling big vines and branches no other cat dared tackle. The giant Maine Coon tom moved a big stone to the growing pile, placing it in one of the ever growing stacks. The kits sat beside her, tilting their heads.
“What’s Demonpoppa doing?” Phantomkit asked, then pricked his ears, his sea-green eyes widening with insight. “I’ll help!”
“No. Sit your big butt down.” Kyestorm grabbed him by the scruff. “Watch and learn how smart your father is.”
Demonstone paused his work, and lifted his head when Briarlight appeared at the entrance to the Medicine cat den.
“I’m ready!” she called out. Demonstone trotted over to the little she-cat, his gait rolling and pitching like a two-leg boat out on the wind-tossed lake. He halted and lowered himself to his chest, allowing her to pull herself onto his back. He stood up and she gripped his neck with strong forelegs, her atrophied rear limbs draped on either side of Demonstone’s body.
Briarlight! Be careful!” Millie’s voice echoed through the camp as she raced across the hollow from the entrance to Demonstone, leaving her patrolmates frowning at her. Millie saw none of it. Her voice rose, as she skidded to a stop beside the huge tom. “Why must you stray from safety? This new obsession of yours is dangerous.”
“She’s safe,” Demonstone answered. “ I won’t let anything hurt her.”
“I’m fine, Millie.” Briarlight faced her mother, her sky-blue eyes darkening with sudden annoyance.
“The rocks can crush the rest of you!” Millie danced in place with anxiety. Kyestorm growled deep in her chest, annoyed that Millie relapsed into old habits.
“Demonstone made sure my workplace is out of the way!” Briarlight’s voice rose. “STOP BABYING ME! I finally have a great task to do for our Clan! Don’t ever take that from me! I won’t let you! Leave me alone!” She raised a front paw and tapped Demonstone. “Bring me to my rock!”
“Of course,” Demonstone moved off, leveling his golden eyes on Millie. “Stop worrying so much. Do you think I would allow anything to harm her? ”
“No, but, it’s still so dangerous away from the Medicine den,” Millie mewled miserably.
“So I might get a bit dirty or wet,” Briarlight snapped. “I’m stronger now than ever before. Let me do my work! Stop obsessing over me, please!”
Millie gaped at them, while Demonstone carried Briarlight across the hollow. Blossomfall popped out of the warrior den, her eyes wide with suppressed shock and mirth. She raced past Kyestorm, mrrows of laughter bursting from clenched jaws, and disappeared down into the training ring. There her hysterical guffaws pealed over the camp. Kyestorm looked at Millie, who lowered her head, and shuffled toward the Elder’s den. Rainkit jumped up and ran after her.
“Millie! Don’t be sad. Briarlight is safe.” He stopped in front of her, feathery tail raised. She mumbled something, then walked away. Rainkit’s tail sagged, and he returned to Kyestorm’s side, confusion in his green eyes. His long pale grey fur with darker blue-grey stripes bristled with emotion.
“Are you all right?” Kyestorm asked the kit.
“Yes, but, she told me I don’t need her anymore and to leave her alone. If I have problems she said to see you, Kyemama. Why does she worry so much about Briarlight?” Rainkit glanced at his older sister. “Jayfeather says she’s healthier than ever. Why doesn’t Millie love me and Greykit anymore?”
“I don’t have a good answer for you,” Kyestorm said, licking Rainkit’s head. “I think Millie is just confused and scared. She thinks something awful is going to happen to Briarlight because she can’t run away from danger.”
“But Demonpoppa wouldn’t let anything hurt her,” Rainkit mewed. “Millie once loved me and Greykit. Why did that change? It won’t change with you, will it?”
“Never. Millie still does love you, little one, in her own way. She just gets tunnel-sighted and can’t see or feel past her silly fears. Don’t let it bother you,” Kyestorm murmured, her heart breaking for the kit. She licked his ear. “Just know I love you just as much as my own kits and I always will. Never forget that.”
“I won’t, Kyemama, my mama!” His tail rose above his back, and he ran off to find his brother. Kyestorm wondered why Millie feared so much again for Briarlight, and her lapse into old behavior baffled Kyestorm. Briarlight possessed more protection from her Clan, and developed more physical strength since Demonstone healed and joined Clan activity. Kyestorm glanced after Rainkit, hoping he never grew to resent Millie or Briarlight. Kyestorm rumbled deep in her chest, and muttered, “not on my watch.”
Movement attracted her attention, and she saw Graystripe emerge from the Elder’s den. Millie pressed herself against him. He licked her head, murmuring to her in comforting tones. Kyestorm’s rumble turned to a low growl.
“Coddling her,” she grumbled under her breath. “Leaving me to clean up the emotional mess for those sweet kits.”
“Kyemama! Please let me help Brairlight now?” Demonkit asked, breaking Kyestorm’s thoughts. He held up a big forepaw, and Kyestorm noted how much it resembled her hosuefolk’s hand covering called a mitten. “She thinks my extra toes are so helpful in her weaving. ”
“Go, but stay out of the adults’ way. I know you’ve grown, but one of those big rocks can still hurt you.” Kyestorm nodded, thankful for the distraction.
“Yes, Kyemama! I’ll be careful,” Demonkit mewed in his high singsong voice, and raced over to Briarlight, who greeted him enthusiastically. Together they sat on the slab and wove anything Demonstone asked them for. Kyestorm shifted her forepaws in delight, watching her kit use his dexterous paws to enhance Briarlight’s work. All the dens showed the improvements created over the last moon, which everyone noticed, especially on rainy stormy days, when the new walls kept everyone snug and dry. Why did Millie not feel pride, instead of throttling anxiety over her daughter?
“Kyemama, why can’t I help Demonpoppa? Demonkit is always helping Briarlight!” Phantomkit asked boldly, his sea-green eyes full of indignation. Kyestorm glanced at her mate, and her annoyance turned to joy, so grateful of the strong bond which sprouted between her mate and the seasoned warrior Brackenfur over the last couple moons. The gigantic Maine Coon tom discovered he loved building and constructing, and won over Brackenfur the day he secured the biggest framing branch anyone ever used in a den. He also taught little Briarlight how to weave, and she improved on his techniques. Demonkit found he enjoyed helping her, and used his nimble paws to help her. She, worked diligently, creating rope, patches and ribbons. Demonkit chattered with her, and her eyes sparkled as bright as the sky with delight. Sparkpaw often indulged Demonkit’s search for the right grasses for weaving, taking the kit on grass hunting forays.
“All right,” Kyestorm mewed. “Go. If he says yes, you may help, but if he says no, you come back here immediately.”
“Yes, Kyemama! Thank you!” Phantomkit raced over to his father, and Demonstone eyed his son, before nodding and pointing with his huge bushy tail. Phantomkit, his eyes alight, merrily helped move long woven vines alongside Brackenfur. Kyestorm uttered a mew of surprise, noting her son stood taller than the old warrior. Brackenfur noticed as well, glancing at her with a pleased expression, nodding his approval. Kyestorm turned, catching motion at the entrance, and spotted Sparkpaw trotting over to Demonkit with a bundle of grasses she obviously plucked from the lake edge.
“Ah thank you,”Briarlight praised her. “This is perfect stuff.”
“Welcome,” Sparkpaw laid the grass at Demonkit’s paws, then glanced at Demonl kit. “Need more?’
“Not now,” Demonkit mewed. “Won’t you get in trouble doing this for me?”
“No,” Sparkpaw answered, a twinkle in her eyes. “It’s my turn to help the elders and do stuff around camp. This is part of that. Stop worrying.”
Kyestorm watched the exchange and twitched her tail, surprised the apprentice even gave the kit time of day, but a friendship sprouted two moons ago, and only grew as Demonkit matured. Excited kit voices attracted Kyestorm’s attention, and she glanced over at the nursery, where Lilyheart lay with her three moon old kits, who wrestled and played on the grass. Two orphaned half-moon old kits nursed at Lilyheart’s belly, and Kyestorm flicked her ears, recalling recent events. Alderpaw, who suddenly turned medicine cat apprentice a half moon after that gathering Kyestorm attended, found the kits near the end of his mysterious quest a quarter moon ago. Driven by some prophecy about finding something hidden in shadow that will clear the sky Alderpaw and Sandstorm dashed off on some quest. Grief rose up in Kyestorm’s heart. Sandstorm never returned home from the journey, and Kyestorm wished she volunteered to go, in Sandstorm’s place, but her kits held her firmly in camp.
Though she had questions like everyone else, Kyestorm cared more for the kits than some weird prophecy. Kyestorm remembered how much she wanted to take care of those poor babies when Alderpaw brought them to the nursery. Her heart leaped, wishing she curled around those kits instead of Lilyheart, but her milk stopped flowing a good half-moon ago. Rumor circulated that ShadowClan demanded to take one, and Kyestorm bristled, feeling protective of the kits. She cared not about Needlepaw’s part in finding them, and wanted the kits to stay in ThunderClan, and struggled to get over her aversion to gatherings. The next one determined the kits’ futures, but Kyestorm thought about her last Gathering, and shrank back from the idea.
“Brackenfur!” Demonstone called out, distracting Kyestorm from the kits. The golden-brown tabby tom turned from weaving vines and grass ropes into the warrior’s den wall, then muttered to Phantomkit, who diligently obeyed, continuing the weave all around the den.
“What under StarClan are you doing now, you big gooffball?” Brackenfur meowed, and trotted over to Demonstone, tail aloft with anticipation.
“Watch and learn,” Demonstone chattered his teeth cheerfully. Phantomkit stood beside his father, his long tail aloft in joy.
“Get on with it,” Brackenfur mewed, slapping Demonstone on the shoulder, drawing Kyestorm’s attention. “Why the pile of big rocks?”
“We can use these as anchors for all the dens. As long as they are flattish and not round, we can use them to anchor vines and long briars my son and Briarlight are weaving. Then we can anchor the big logs and actually strengthen the roofing. We may be able to keep water from flowing under the walls in big storms.” Demonstone flipped a large rock over toward the Elder’s den. “We start there.”
“Splendid idea, if we can do that,” Brackenfur exclaimed, then eyed the rock pile. “I can’t move those!”
“No, but I will, and my sons will be able to soon enough,” Demonstone purred with mirth. “I already gathered the thick heavy vines. Once I get the stones over there, we can, not only strengthen the Elder Den, and roof it well, we can enlarge it. Same with the warrior den. If you think it’s crowded now with me in there, wait until Kyestorm joins us after our kits apprentice! And, when my kits earn their warrior names. . . ”
“Ugh! Let’s do it,” Brackenfur agreed, and motioned with his tail. Mousewhisker joined him, eyes alight with excitement, his grey and white pelt rippling. In moments, construction began, and Kyestorm watched with pride. Demonstone and Phantomkit dug trenches around each den, and filled them with stones, then, with the larger rocks, created a barrier to any flowing water. They moved the bramble walls out, and tied each section together, until the warrior den doubled in size.
“I get it now!” Mousewhisker exclaimed. “What a great idea! Great StarClan! We were fools to ever think you had anything to do with the Dark Forest! Where did you learn all this?”
“Watching my housefolk,” Demonstone answered. “When we lived across the Great water, they built a cottage there in the woods. They didn’t like that I was underfoot all the time, but it fascinated me.”
“We’ll have the best dens in all the Clans,” Brackenfur meowed, full of energy and anticipation. As the builders dove into their work, Kyestorm heard pawsteps behind her.
“Since he healed, and started working with Brackenfur, he is a new cat.” Kyestorm recognized Bramblestar’s voice. She faced the ThunderClan leader.
“You gave him the perfect warrior name that day,” Kyestorm said. “And Briarlight as well. She and Demonkit have created wonderful bracings and windbreaks with what they can do.”
“I saw in him great strength, inner and outer, when he tossed that little vixen like we toss mice.” Bramblestar nodded. “I never imagined this though, nor what he’s done for little Briarlight,” Bramblestar chuckled, before leveling his amber gold gaze on her. “Do you think he’d make it to a Gathering?”
“I don’t know,” Kyestorm recoiled inwardly, but did not move a muscle. “He certainly isn’t as hot-headed as I can be, and the journey there should not bother him. He limps but he can move fast when he needs to. Why?”
“Because when your kits apprentice, I want all of you at that Gathering,” Bramblestar answered. “Green Leaf has brought much complacency, and to ShadowClan and WindClan arrogance. I have heard the coyotes again. Two, perhaps three. Sometimes my fellow Clan leaders have no foresight.”
“I can’t,” Kyestorm mumbled. “I want to, since I’d love to fight for those orphans for us, but. . .”
“There is nothing you can do for them,” Bramblestar said, his tone sharp, before he continued in a softer voice. “I know you want to protect those kits, but it’s a tricky issue. And tempers will be short I am sure. You need not attend, but the moon after, I want you there.”
“I don’t know. . . “ Kyestorm hesitated, taken aback by his initial curtness, but quickly accepted the excuse not to attend the next Gathering. Voiletkit’s sweet face floated in her inner vision, and Kyestorm’s material instincts battled with her aversions. She struggled not to yowl her torment.
“Demonstone is your strength, Kyestorm. If they dare ridicule you again, one soft growl and raised mane from that giant of a cat might silence those two fools. The mere sight of the eight of you might keep them utterly silent, since your kits will be bigger than many warriors by then. Leaf Fall will be on us, and no doubts, the coyotes will make themselves known. Think about it. StarClan’s anger that last Gathering you attended was not your doing.” Bramblestar said sternly. “Rowanstar was disrespectful to you, me, and StarClan by his actions. StarClan chose you, remember?”
“I will never forget,” Kyestorm mewed, her stomach twisting into knots.
“Good. In two moons, I expect you to attend with your newly apprenticed kits and your mate.” Bramblestar turned and hailed Brackenfur and Demonstone. Kyestorm watched as Demonstone nodded his head. Kyestorm looked down at the ground, knowing she will eventually have to show up at a Gathering again. The next one promised to be dreadful, dealing with the orphaned kits’ futures, and Kyestorm shivered, deciding her Clan leader knew best. She shook herself.
“Don’t worry, Kyemama. We won’t let anyone disrespect you,” Smokekit’s soft voice interjected. Kyestorm faced her young daughter, pride welling up. Smokekit stood so tall, and lanky, putting her in mind of Spiderleg, but the resemblance ended there. Her broad chest, long graceful body and thick muscles promised a swift very strong warrior to come. Silvery highlights colored her ruff, belly and tail fur. Bluekit stood beside her sister, shorter in stature, yet very broad-chested, stout, and agile, sporting the same silvery highlighting with a bluish sheen.
“We won’t let them disrespect you, Kyemama,” Greykit looked at her with shimmering blue eyes, his dark grey pelt gleaming silvery blue in the sunlight.
“Never,” Rainkit concurred, his blue eyes glittering. His long light grey pelt rippled down his back.
“If they do, they’ll have to deal with me, too!” Indikit joined the group, her green eyes shining defiance. Greykit and Rainkit flanked her. Kyestorm noticed Indikit’s long strong legs, large head, and very broad chest, and knew Indikit already vied with Demonkit and Phantomkit for sheer size. Indikit’s demeanor and body language screamed all warrior, and Kyestorm knew one day, her largest daughter promised to fulfil that destiny. Indikit held Kyestorm’s gaze. “We love you, Kyemama! I’ll slap Rowanstar for you, if he’s mean to you again!”
“No need, Indikit! No fighting at Gatherings, ” Kyestorm admonished gently. “I know, my kits, that you will defend me. I just want your first Gathering to go much better than mine,” Kyestrom meowed.
“It will,” Indikit stated, before cuffing Greykit. “Race you to the training area and back!”
The five kits darted away, mewing and laughing with joy. Kyestorm felt her heart tighten in dismay, knowing her kits grew so quickly. She inhaled a sharp little gasp, realizing she indeed, thought of Greykit and Rainkit as her own. If Millie thought likewise, it explained her woebegone state. Kyestorm shook her head. No, Millie reacted that way only when Briarlight chastised her, which happened because of the she-cat’s attachment to Demonstone. Millie made her choice when she left the nursery a moons ago to return to the Elders’ den, shortly after Demonstone showed Briarlight his weaving techniques. She recalled Lilyheart’s utter astonishment and now Lilyheart eyed Millie with exasperation. Kyestorm jumped to her feet, not wishing to go back to the nursery, and wanting to expel sudden excess anxiety. She saw Squirrelflight organizing a patrol.
Part 2
“May I join a you? Need an extra body?” she asked, trotting up to ThunderClan’s deputy, wanting to take her mind off her concerns.
“Certainly,” Squirrelflight motioned with her tail. Thornclaw, Bumblestripe, and Spiderleg joined Squirrelflight, and gazed at Kyestorm, their eyes blinking a silent greeting. Kyestorm dropped her eyes, surprised by Spiderleg’s lack of animosity. Squirrelflight continued. “We’ll hunt, but we also check the WindClan border today.”
“All right,” Kyestorm agreed, and followed the three warriors out of the camp. They headed north, toward the old Twoleg place, alert for prey. A breeze rustled leaves in the trees, creating moving lacy patterns on the ground. Kyestorm drank in the scents of soil, leaves, and the ever present lake. The sun warmed her back, as they headed up hill and crossed the disused thunderpath to the northern border. She glanced though the trees at the old Twoleg place, remembering vividly when she and Demonstone arrived in ThunderClan territory, and silently thanked StarClan for their guidance that terrifying night. Kyestorm scented Whitewing’s patrol, which headed west toward ShadowClan’s border. She blinked, thinking about how much she loved Cloudtail and his daughter, and of course, Brightheart, who never attended gatherings either. Kyestorm growled at herself. I don’t have any reason not to attend like she does, she railed at herself. I am just being selfish, she thought.
“Kyestorm?” Squirrelflight’s query shattered her musing. She looked up.
“Sorry, just thinking.” Kyestorm answered, trotting to catch up to her patrolmates, as they curved eastward toward the border with WindClan. Seeing the deputy reminded her of Alderpaw.
"How is your son?" Kyestorm asked softly, feeling sympathy for the young medicine cat, who fretted over Violetkit ,since the kit might be handed over to ShadowClan next Gathering. Kyestorm shuddered, glad her aversion to gatherings would shield her from that unpleasant event. As much as she wanted to argue in Violetkit’s behalf, the memories of her only Gathering filled her heart with horror. Not my business, she told herself, while her heart broke over what those two kits faced. She dreaded when she must go in two moon, then pushed her apprehension down as sadness welled up suddenly. Everyone still grieved the loss of Sandstorm, and Kyestorm wondered what secret mission demanded such a loss from her Clan.
"He is fine," Squirrelflight answered abruptly, and her tail lashed. Curiosity pushed away Kyestorm's grief, and questions bombarded Kyestorm's mind, but she asked nothing further. She wondered about this new prophecy, and why even the mdicine cats kept silent on the matter. How much did Gentlekit know, if anything? She exhaled, deciding to avert those thoughts, and glanced upward, catching a spot of gold. A few leaves waved bright yellow in the noonhigh sun.
“Look, leaves are turning already.” she announced.
“They shouldn’t be! Not for another moon!” Thornclaw exclaimed in dismay. “If so, it foretells a bad cold Leaf Bare.”
“Not a good sign,” Spiderleg grumbled, and slowed his pace until he walked beside Kyestorm. “I am sorry.”
“For?” Kyestorm met the black tom’s solemn gaze.
“My brother is right. I was an idiot to treat you, and especially your mate, with such hostility. Demonstone is fantastic, as are you.” Spiderleg frisked briefly like a kit on his long legs. “I wish I was there when you smacked Rowanstar. Birchfall said it was epic.”
“It was wrong of me,” Kyestorm said softly, lowering her head, feeling shame flash through her long pelt.
“Oh, please,” Spiderleg snorted. “Clan leaders are not StarClan. Rowanstar is just too full of himself. If he’d have challenged you, no doubts you’d have whipped his scrawny butt.”
“I might have.” Kyestorm allowed herself a sneeze of mirth, then sobered. “But StarClan really was upset. I should never disrespect a Clan leader.”
“Don’t feel like that,” Spiderleg meowed. “StarClan was angry with Rowanstar and his attitude, not you. Sometimes they do need a bite in the tail.”
“Maybe, but it’s not my place,” Kyestorm argued “Maybe if I was a deputy or another Clan leader. . .”
“What would you do if you caught him trespassing and he refused to leave and also refused to see Bramblestar? And claimed he was on his own territory?” Spiderleg asked.
“Challenge him of course,” Kyestorm answered without hesitation.
“And if he accepted and attacked you?”
“Of course I’d thrash him.” Kyestorm flicked her tail.
“Then you just answered your own question,” Spiderleg laughed and thumped her with his tail. “The only Clan Leader you never think about trouncing is your own. Remember, at the Gathering, you did not start the strife. You only tried to make him see reason.”
“Thank you for the support,” Kyestorm said, nodding at the rangy black warrior.
“He’s right,” Thornclaw added, as they approached the border. “Don’t forget, we all have your back, always.”
“Yes, we do,” Bumblestripe said, coming up alongside Kyestorm as Thornclaw and Spiderleg surged ahead. “Blossomfall and I am so grateful for what you did for our little brothers.”
“I did what any queen would do,” Kyestorm mewed.
“Not all queens are so giving or accepting.” Bumblestripe touched his tail to her back. “One of the best examples of that was Lizardstripe of ShadowClan who resented the kit Raggedstar gave her to raise many many seasons ago. That kit was Brokenstar.”
“Mousedung,” Kyestorm muttered, remembering Clan history well from days well-spent with the Elders. “I could never ever refuse to help a kit!”
“Such a queen is invaluable,” Bumblestripe said. “If not for you, my own mother’s neglect of herself because of her obsession with our invalid sister might have killed Rainkit and Greykit, and nothing rends a Clan’s collective heart than the death of kits.”
“She neglected herself?” Kyestorm stared, baffled even further by Millie’s actions.
“Yes, giving prey she needed to Briarlight. She didn’t need to do so since Blossomfall and I provided for our sister.” Bumblestripe scowled, a rare expression on his handsome features. “We do love her, but, we do resent our mother for the treatment we received afer Briarlight’s accident.”
“I did notice tension between Blossomfall and Millie,” Kyestorm admitted. “I never wanted to butt in to another’s business.”
“Our mother treated Blossomfall terribly after Briarlight was injured. She ignored me, too. Our mentors helped us, but it does hurt when a mother ignores her kits at any age. Blossomfall was deeply hurt, and our mother seems not to care even now.”
“So her milk drying up was partially her fault? Not just age?” Kyestorm replied, simmering outrage knotting her stomach. “Why has she left the nursery?”
“Yes. As for laving the nursery, I guess she thinks her job is done since Rainkit and Greykit are fully weaned, and you watch over them. She returned to fretting and hovering over Briarlight again.” Bumblestripe’s scowl suddenly turned to a smirk. “But she is suffering some consequences of conduct.”
“How so?”
“Well, Rainkit and Greykit view you more as their mother than her, and, get this, Briarlight is so infatuated with her new big “brother” that she is actually annoyed now with our mother’s obsessive attentions.” Bumblestripe mrrowed with laughter. “I am sure you’ve noticed the relationship. He is wonderful with her and never coddles her like Mother does. He gives her tasks, and she feels helpful for the first time since she got hurt. Her lungs are stronger and she can move better than ever. Not to mention how well she and Demonkit work together.”
“Yes, they do. I have, and that explains what happened this morning!” Kyestorm meowed, feeling a mix of guilt and mirth. “Millie came over and fussed over Briarlight when she pulled herself on Demonstone’s back to go to her workrock. Briarlight yowled “STOP BABYING ME”, then told her to “leave me alone,” and went with Demonstone. I thought Blossomfall was going to blow apart with laughter.”
“Yes, I saw her in the training area, laughing so hard she just rolled around in the dust. Briarlight’s heath has improved so much. Her lungs are stronger and she can move better than ever. I can’t understand why Mother won’t relax. When Briarlight saw how Demonstone weaves briars and brambles to protect our camp, she asked Demonkit to get tall grasses for her, which of course he did, then she worked for a whole day weaving them, then showed her efforts to Demonstone.”
“Yes, I remember that. She found her purpose, and everyone will appreciate their weaving skill when Leaf Bare brings those cold winds. I remember the day Demonkit first asked if he could search for grasses for Briarlight.” Kyestorm nodded. “I took him outside camp that day. I trust him now to go alone, as long as he does not stray too far.”
“Blossomfall watches out for him, too. That is how I knew of it.” Bumblestripe replied.
“I wish Millie would see how it’s helped her daughter and given her health and strength. Instead she continues to fret whenever Briarlight leaves the medicine den.” Kyestorm clicked her teeth. “Does she really think anything is going to get past my mate, or Demonkit, to get to her daughter?”
“Your sons are enormous already. With them and Demonstone with her. Briarlight is completely safe. Millie used to be much worse,” Bumblestripe said. “I know she loves Graystripe and he loves her, but she has to get over this fearful obsession. It almost killed Rainkit and Greykit. It’s completely understandable why they look more to you than her.”
“They do love their father very much. He spends time with them, and look to Demonstone as an Uncle and not their father.” Kyestorm flattened her ears. “I never intended to steal the love of her kits so much that they think I’m their mother.”
“Of course not, but who fed them, nourished them when they needed it? Once they gained their milk teeth she spent less and less with them in the nursery did she not? The only comforting tongue they will remember is yours.” Bumblestripe uttered a snarl of annoyance. “If she really cared for them as much as she does Briarlight, she’d never have left the nursery! You haven’t!”
“I should not until the kits apprentice and go to the apprentice den. I don’t understand why she left. Daisy, Lilyheart and I have never been cross with her at all.” Kyestorm flicked her tail. “But she did, and the kits come to me and sleep with my kits. They have for almost two moons now.”
“Don’t fret over it. One day, she will regret her actions. I just hope she comes to grips with her emotions soon, and lets all her kits know she cares, like you do.” Bumblestripe eyed her askance. “Maybe you should speak to her?”
“I’ve tried asking her why she won’t come back to the nursery. She won’t talk about any of it except to thank me profusely for giving her kits what she couldn’t. Graystripe just says to let it go. Today she said something to Rainkit when he tried to comfort her after Briarlight yelled at her. He looked confused, and hurt. He asked me if I would stop loving him like she did, and went to the Medicine den to be with Gentlekit.” Kyestorm growled her frustrations, then gave Bumblestripe a quick smile. “But all the kits know love, and always will, from me.”
“They know the truth, and that is all we can ask. Secrets and lies hurt more. They all are such marvelous kits. I so wish to have kits, but, well, can’t seem to keep a mate,” Bumblestripe lamented.
“Not your fault!” Kyestorm exclaimed, and blurted, “if I wasn’t already mated, I’d choose you and keep you. You’re a handsome, smart, and sweet tom!”
“Really?” Bumblestripe brightened, then his eyes widened. “No, Kyestorm! Don’t even say that! Demonstone would just smash me to bloody bits! He’s the only cat I know who can throw rocks!”
“Don’t worry!” Kyestorm mrrowed with mirth. “I have no intention of leaving Demonstone. I’m just saying, if she-cats ignore you, it is their loss.”
Maybe,” Bumblestripe flattened his ears, turning serious. “I can’t believe they want to give one of the orphan kits to ShadowClan.”
“Nor I,” Kyestorm growled, feeling some courage flash through her. “Maybe I should go to the next gathering fight for the kits.”
“You would do that?” Bumblestripe meowed, astonishment coloring his tons.
“No, you should not,” Squirrelflight yowled, stopping the patrol, and glared at Kyestorm. “This will be difficult enough without a kit-obsessed, hot-head like you there. Now let’s concentrate on our tasks.”
The patrol moved again, and Squirellflight marched in front, tail lashing. Kyestorm glanced at Bumblestripe, feeling like a fool.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Bumblestripe mewed softly. “This whole thing has the leaders on edge.”
“I don’t really want to go anyway,” Kyestorm grumbled.
A large rabbit startled the patrol, evaporating the conversation, and fled its hiding spot, racing for a burrow just inside the ThunderClan line. Kyestorm reacted without thought, her anger, frustrations and anxiety funneling into her actions. She launched herself after it, and drawing her hind legs at the last moment, she pounced, her toes spread, claws glinting in the sun. She flattened the shocked rabbit, sinking her claws into the prey. It uttered a deafening squeal, but Kyestorm delivered the kill bite swiftly, then stopped, wondering why nobody congratulated her on a swift catch. A stir of annoyance swirled in her guts at the thought Squirrleflight’s anger with her still festered. Kyestorm glanced at her patrol, who looked past her with narrowed eyes. She turned her head in time to see a WindClan patrol appear out of the brush lining the opposite bank of stream which marked the border.
“Stealing our prey?” A red-brown tabby and white tom sneered. Two she-cats flanked him, bristling with hostility. A young black tom with white splashed across his chest hung back, and Kyestorm recognized Slightfoot.
“Not so, Harespring,” Thornclaw replied calmly, while Kyestorm fumed with indignation. “The rabbit and its burrow are on our territory.”
“Rabbits are not ThunderClan prey,” one of the she-cats hissed. Kyestorm recognized gray and white Furzepelt, and growled, baring the tips of her fangs, waiting for the opportunity to slap that bossy she-cat silly.
“Why not?” Thornclaw asked quietly. “If they run our land, we’ll eat them. We have kits to feed, so all prey running in our territory is fair game.”
“That rabbit ran onto your territory from ours. You’re stealing it,” Furzepelt insisted.
“No we aren’t,” Spiderleg growled, narrowing his eyes.
“The burrow is on our territory. We didn’t steal anything!” Squirrelflight came to Thornclaw’s’s side, green eyes spitting with anger.
“Yes, you are!” Harespring stepped forward across the stream.
“Kyestorm caught it fair,” Spiderleg growled, his long black tail puffing in anger.
“Give it back!” a black she-cat hissed.
“Harespring, Breezepelt! Furrzepelt! Slightfoot! Get back on your own territory!” Thornclaw snarled. “You trespass!”
“The rabbit is ours and your kittypet stole it!” Harespring hissed, ready to spring on Thornclaw.
“You will pay!” Furzepelt screeched, landing beside the WindClan deputy.
“STOP!” Kyestorm yowled, her temper exploding. Slightfoot shrank back. She stood tall on tiptoe, towering over the WindClan cats. “I caught this fairly, on ThunderClan land and the burrow is right there, well within our territory! it’s obvious we stole nothing.” Kyestorm pointed her tail at the burrow. “Do you call me a liar?” She minced forward, her high voice dropping to a menacing growl. She swiped a huge paw under Harespring’s muzzle, dagger claws flashing in the dappled sunlight, and, sheathing her claws at the last second, smacked Furzepelt on the side of the head
Harespring’s eyes widened, showing the whites as he hastily backed up into the stream, stepping into the deeper water. He yowled with surprise, and sprang in the air, splashing water all over his Clanmates, and landed on the far shore. Nightcloud followed, shaking herself, and glared at Kyestorm. Furzepelt staggered across the brook, shaking her head, obviously stunned. Of Slightfoot, she saw nothing. Harespring bared his teeth, lashing his tail.
“We’re reporting to Onestar about this!” Harespring snarled over her shoulder.
“Fine,” Thornclaw hitched his shoulders, gold eyes gleaming. “Just warn him not to start a war over your lies.”
Harespring and his patrol disappeared, and Kyestorm caught her breath, flattening her fur. She faced Thornclaw.
“Sorry,” she mewed. “I hate being accused of lying.”
“No matter,” Thornclaw replied, delight dancing in his eyes. “I see where Indikit gets her temper, though yours takes a while to simmer.”
“Yes, it does,” Kyestorm deflated completely, her tail drooping to touch the ground. “I hope I didn’t start a war.”
“You didn’t, and if WindClan is foolish about this, I am certain any quarrel they bring will be squashed quickly.” Thornclaw uttered a mewl of laughter. “Did you see Harespring’s eyes when you flashed your claws under his nose? And Furzepelt may not remember our encounter at all, you hit her so hard. Slightfoot probably wet himself!”
“Yes, but. . .” Kyestorm stuttered.
“Great catch and defense!” Squirrelflight thumped Kyestorm with her tail, all anger and annoyance gone, then marked the boundary. “Pick up your prey and let’s get it back to camp.”
“Why were they so ridiculous?” Kyestorm asked, picking up the rabbit, copying Squirrelflight, marking a stone just downstream. “It’s foolishness like that which makes me so angry!”
“Harespring is a mouse-brained piece of foxdung,” Squirrelflight spat, in a another swift change of mood. “I’ll never understand why Onestar chose him. I don’t blame you for being angry, Kyestorm.”
“I don’t go to Gatherings so I don’t upset StarClan. Maybe I shouldn’t patrol anymore,” Kyestorm muttered.
“Nonesense!” Squirrelflight snorted, putting Kyestorm in mind of Jayfeather. “You should knock sense into those mushroom-heads with those big paws. It’s not your fault that foxes avoid our territory completely since you joined our patrols. It’s something the other Clans should covet and admire!”
“Is there not a way to chase the foxes away from all Clans?”
“Not really, unless every Clan had a cat like you,” Squirrelflight answered. “But at this rate, with their petty kittypet prejudices, they may never ever be lucky enough to gain what we have. Their fault, Kyestorm, not yours. And I think that is what StarClan is mad about. The other leaders reject you, except Mistystar, who has half a brain!”
“I suppose you are right,” Kyestorm relaxed, her angst replaced by the exhilaration of defending herself, her prey and her Clan.
“You acted perfectly,” Squirrelflight assured her. “And we spilled not a drop of blood.”
“Good. I enjoy patrols,” Kyestorm replied. She followed them into camp, and placed the big rabbit on the fresh kill pile. Her kits swarmed around her, bouncing with excitement, questions bombarding her ears.
“Kyemama! How’d you catch it?” Phantomkit asked, in strident tones he now used more often.
“I want to go hunting, too!” Demonkit meowed, his voice as high pitched as his father’s.
“Ohhhh! I want to hunt on the open moors!” Smokekit squealed. “It sound sso fun! To run and leap without worrying about brush and trees!”
“We didn’t run the moors,” Kyestorm retorted, flattening her ears, feeling a stab of angst in the pit of her stomach. Why did Smokekit care about running WindClan territory?
“You got a rabbit!” Smokekit mewled. “They run the moors! I know the tales!”
“I wanna go hunting, toooo!” Bluekit demanded.
“Me, too! When can we go?” Indikit demanded, her green eyes shining. “When?”
“You’ll apprentice soon enough,” Kyestorm admonished her noisy brood. “Enjoy being kits!”
“We may have to apprentice them at five moons,” Bramblestar commented, coming up beside Kyestorm. “Even little Bluekit is almost as large as our smallest warrior.”
“No,” Kyestorm shook her head. “Their brains have to catch up with their bodies.”
Bramblestar burst out in laughter, before eyeing Phantomkit.
“That young one is ready. Smart, strong, and fast,” he commented. “As is Demonkit. Gentlekit already spends more time in the medicine den than the nursery.”
“Smokekit grows so tall and graceful, while Bluekit is short, yet swift,” Kyestorm sighed. “I wish they could stay babies forever.”
“Greykit, Rainkit, and Indikit have formed quite the alliance. I never expected Rainkit to match Indikit for temper and mischievousness.” Bramblestar meowed. “They all will be fine warriors in their good time.”
“Yes,” Kyestorm agreed, then decided to brave the Clan Leader’s possible anger. “Must I go to the Gathering when they apprentice?”
“Yes,” Bramblestar answered without a speck of annoyance. Understanding shimmered in his amber gaze. “Remember, all eight kits will be there, and Demonstone already agreed. He is more than strong enough to make the journey. Your Clan will be there to have your back, and remember, Mistystar is on your side as well.”
“All right,” Kyestorm lowered her head, angst twisting her stomach. As Bramblestar trotted away, she sat, trying to conjure up any excuse not to go to that Gathering. She knew the medicine cats and Gentlekit would never allow her to lie, and she shuddered at the thought of injuring herself just to stay behind. She sighed. No, she thought, I will have to do this, for my kits, for my Clan.
“What’s Demonpoppa doing?” Phantomkit asked, then pricked his ears, his sea-green eyes widening with insight. “I’ll help!”
“No. Sit your big butt down.” Kyestorm grabbed him by the scruff. “Watch and learn how smart your father is.”
Demonstone paused his work, and lifted his head when Briarlight appeared at the entrance to the Medicine cat den.
“I’m ready!” she called out. Demonstone trotted over to the little she-cat, his gait rolling and pitching like a two-leg boat out on the wind-tossed lake. He halted and lowered himself to his chest, allowing her to pull herself onto his back. He stood up and she gripped his neck with strong forelegs, her atrophied rear limbs draped on either side of Demonstone’s body.
Briarlight! Be careful!” Millie’s voice echoed through the camp as she raced across the hollow from the entrance to Demonstone, leaving her patrolmates frowning at her. Millie saw none of it. Her voice rose, as she skidded to a stop beside the huge tom. “Why must you stray from safety? This new obsession of yours is dangerous.”
“She’s safe,” Demonstone answered. “ I won’t let anything hurt her.”
“I’m fine, Millie.” Briarlight faced her mother, her sky-blue eyes darkening with sudden annoyance.
“The rocks can crush the rest of you!” Millie danced in place with anxiety. Kyestorm growled deep in her chest, annoyed that Millie relapsed into old habits.
“Demonstone made sure my workplace is out of the way!” Briarlight’s voice rose. “STOP BABYING ME! I finally have a great task to do for our Clan! Don’t ever take that from me! I won’t let you! Leave me alone!” She raised a front paw and tapped Demonstone. “Bring me to my rock!”
“Of course,” Demonstone moved off, leveling his golden eyes on Millie. “Stop worrying so much. Do you think I would allow anything to harm her? ”
“No, but, it’s still so dangerous away from the Medicine den,” Millie mewled miserably.
“So I might get a bit dirty or wet,” Briarlight snapped. “I’m stronger now than ever before. Let me do my work! Stop obsessing over me, please!”
Millie gaped at them, while Demonstone carried Briarlight across the hollow. Blossomfall popped out of the warrior den, her eyes wide with suppressed shock and mirth. She raced past Kyestorm, mrrows of laughter bursting from clenched jaws, and disappeared down into the training ring. There her hysterical guffaws pealed over the camp. Kyestorm looked at Millie, who lowered her head, and shuffled toward the Elder’s den. Rainkit jumped up and ran after her.
“Millie! Don’t be sad. Briarlight is safe.” He stopped in front of her, feathery tail raised. She mumbled something, then walked away. Rainkit’s tail sagged, and he returned to Kyestorm’s side, confusion in his green eyes. His long pale grey fur with darker blue-grey stripes bristled with emotion.
“Are you all right?” Kyestorm asked the kit.
“Yes, but, she told me I don’t need her anymore and to leave her alone. If I have problems she said to see you, Kyemama. Why does she worry so much about Briarlight?” Rainkit glanced at his older sister. “Jayfeather says she’s healthier than ever. Why doesn’t Millie love me and Greykit anymore?”
“I don’t have a good answer for you,” Kyestorm said, licking Rainkit’s head. “I think Millie is just confused and scared. She thinks something awful is going to happen to Briarlight because she can’t run away from danger.”
“But Demonpoppa wouldn’t let anything hurt her,” Rainkit mewed. “Millie once loved me and Greykit. Why did that change? It won’t change with you, will it?”
“Never. Millie still does love you, little one, in her own way. She just gets tunnel-sighted and can’t see or feel past her silly fears. Don’t let it bother you,” Kyestorm murmured, her heart breaking for the kit. She licked his ear. “Just know I love you just as much as my own kits and I always will. Never forget that.”
“I won’t, Kyemama, my mama!” His tail rose above his back, and he ran off to find his brother. Kyestorm wondered why Millie feared so much again for Briarlight, and her lapse into old behavior baffled Kyestorm. Briarlight possessed more protection from her Clan, and developed more physical strength since Demonstone healed and joined Clan activity. Kyestorm glanced after Rainkit, hoping he never grew to resent Millie or Briarlight. Kyestorm rumbled deep in her chest, and muttered, “not on my watch.”
Movement attracted her attention, and she saw Graystripe emerge from the Elder’s den. Millie pressed herself against him. He licked her head, murmuring to her in comforting tones. Kyestorm’s rumble turned to a low growl.
“Coddling her,” she grumbled under her breath. “Leaving me to clean up the emotional mess for those sweet kits.”
“Kyemama! Please let me help Brairlight now?” Demonkit asked, breaking Kyestorm’s thoughts. He held up a big forepaw, and Kyestorm noted how much it resembled her hosuefolk’s hand covering called a mitten. “She thinks my extra toes are so helpful in her weaving. ”
“Go, but stay out of the adults’ way. I know you’ve grown, but one of those big rocks can still hurt you.” Kyestorm nodded, thankful for the distraction.
“Yes, Kyemama! I’ll be careful,” Demonkit mewed in his high singsong voice, and raced over to Briarlight, who greeted him enthusiastically. Together they sat on the slab and wove anything Demonstone asked them for. Kyestorm shifted her forepaws in delight, watching her kit use his dexterous paws to enhance Briarlight’s work. All the dens showed the improvements created over the last moon, which everyone noticed, especially on rainy stormy days, when the new walls kept everyone snug and dry. Why did Millie not feel pride, instead of throttling anxiety over her daughter?
“Kyemama, why can’t I help Demonpoppa? Demonkit is always helping Briarlight!” Phantomkit asked boldly, his sea-green eyes full of indignation. Kyestorm glanced at her mate, and her annoyance turned to joy, so grateful of the strong bond which sprouted between her mate and the seasoned warrior Brackenfur over the last couple moons. The gigantic Maine Coon tom discovered he loved building and constructing, and won over Brackenfur the day he secured the biggest framing branch anyone ever used in a den. He also taught little Briarlight how to weave, and she improved on his techniques. Demonkit found he enjoyed helping her, and used his nimble paws to help her. She, worked diligently, creating rope, patches and ribbons. Demonkit chattered with her, and her eyes sparkled as bright as the sky with delight. Sparkpaw often indulged Demonkit’s search for the right grasses for weaving, taking the kit on grass hunting forays.
“All right,” Kyestorm mewed. “Go. If he says yes, you may help, but if he says no, you come back here immediately.”
“Yes, Kyemama! Thank you!” Phantomkit raced over to his father, and Demonstone eyed his son, before nodding and pointing with his huge bushy tail. Phantomkit, his eyes alight, merrily helped move long woven vines alongside Brackenfur. Kyestorm uttered a mew of surprise, noting her son stood taller than the old warrior. Brackenfur noticed as well, glancing at her with a pleased expression, nodding his approval. Kyestorm turned, catching motion at the entrance, and spotted Sparkpaw trotting over to Demonkit with a bundle of grasses she obviously plucked from the lake edge.
“Ah thank you,”Briarlight praised her. “This is perfect stuff.”
“Welcome,” Sparkpaw laid the grass at Demonkit’s paws, then glanced at Demonl kit. “Need more?’
“Not now,” Demonkit mewed. “Won’t you get in trouble doing this for me?”
“No,” Sparkpaw answered, a twinkle in her eyes. “It’s my turn to help the elders and do stuff around camp. This is part of that. Stop worrying.”
Kyestorm watched the exchange and twitched her tail, surprised the apprentice even gave the kit time of day, but a friendship sprouted two moons ago, and only grew as Demonkit matured. Excited kit voices attracted Kyestorm’s attention, and she glanced over at the nursery, where Lilyheart lay with her three moon old kits, who wrestled and played on the grass. Two orphaned half-moon old kits nursed at Lilyheart’s belly, and Kyestorm flicked her ears, recalling recent events. Alderpaw, who suddenly turned medicine cat apprentice a half moon after that gathering Kyestorm attended, found the kits near the end of his mysterious quest a quarter moon ago. Driven by some prophecy about finding something hidden in shadow that will clear the sky Alderpaw and Sandstorm dashed off on some quest. Grief rose up in Kyestorm’s heart. Sandstorm never returned home from the journey, and Kyestorm wished she volunteered to go, in Sandstorm’s place, but her kits held her firmly in camp.
Though she had questions like everyone else, Kyestorm cared more for the kits than some weird prophecy. Kyestorm remembered how much she wanted to take care of those poor babies when Alderpaw brought them to the nursery. Her heart leaped, wishing she curled around those kits instead of Lilyheart, but her milk stopped flowing a good half-moon ago. Rumor circulated that ShadowClan demanded to take one, and Kyestorm bristled, feeling protective of the kits. She cared not about Needlepaw’s part in finding them, and wanted the kits to stay in ThunderClan, and struggled to get over her aversion to gatherings. The next one determined the kits’ futures, but Kyestorm thought about her last Gathering, and shrank back from the idea.
“Brackenfur!” Demonstone called out, distracting Kyestorm from the kits. The golden-brown tabby tom turned from weaving vines and grass ropes into the warrior’s den wall, then muttered to Phantomkit, who diligently obeyed, continuing the weave all around the den.
“What under StarClan are you doing now, you big gooffball?” Brackenfur meowed, and trotted over to Demonstone, tail aloft with anticipation.
“Watch and learn,” Demonstone chattered his teeth cheerfully. Phantomkit stood beside his father, his long tail aloft in joy.
“Get on with it,” Brackenfur mewed, slapping Demonstone on the shoulder, drawing Kyestorm’s attention. “Why the pile of big rocks?”
“We can use these as anchors for all the dens. As long as they are flattish and not round, we can use them to anchor vines and long briars my son and Briarlight are weaving. Then we can anchor the big logs and actually strengthen the roofing. We may be able to keep water from flowing under the walls in big storms.” Demonstone flipped a large rock over toward the Elder’s den. “We start there.”
“Splendid idea, if we can do that,” Brackenfur exclaimed, then eyed the rock pile. “I can’t move those!”
“No, but I will, and my sons will be able to soon enough,” Demonstone purred with mirth. “I already gathered the thick heavy vines. Once I get the stones over there, we can, not only strengthen the Elder Den, and roof it well, we can enlarge it. Same with the warrior den. If you think it’s crowded now with me in there, wait until Kyestorm joins us after our kits apprentice! And, when my kits earn their warrior names. . . ”
“Ugh! Let’s do it,” Brackenfur agreed, and motioned with his tail. Mousewhisker joined him, eyes alight with excitement, his grey and white pelt rippling. In moments, construction began, and Kyestorm watched with pride. Demonstone and Phantomkit dug trenches around each den, and filled them with stones, then, with the larger rocks, created a barrier to any flowing water. They moved the bramble walls out, and tied each section together, until the warrior den doubled in size.
“I get it now!” Mousewhisker exclaimed. “What a great idea! Great StarClan! We were fools to ever think you had anything to do with the Dark Forest! Where did you learn all this?”
“Watching my housefolk,” Demonstone answered. “When we lived across the Great water, they built a cottage there in the woods. They didn’t like that I was underfoot all the time, but it fascinated me.”
“We’ll have the best dens in all the Clans,” Brackenfur meowed, full of energy and anticipation. As the builders dove into their work, Kyestorm heard pawsteps behind her.
“Since he healed, and started working with Brackenfur, he is a new cat.” Kyestorm recognized Bramblestar’s voice. She faced the ThunderClan leader.
“You gave him the perfect warrior name that day,” Kyestorm said. “And Briarlight as well. She and Demonkit have created wonderful bracings and windbreaks with what they can do.”
“I saw in him great strength, inner and outer, when he tossed that little vixen like we toss mice.” Bramblestar nodded. “I never imagined this though, nor what he’s done for little Briarlight,” Bramblestar chuckled, before leveling his amber gold gaze on her. “Do you think he’d make it to a Gathering?”
“I don’t know,” Kyestorm recoiled inwardly, but did not move a muscle. “He certainly isn’t as hot-headed as I can be, and the journey there should not bother him. He limps but he can move fast when he needs to. Why?”
“Because when your kits apprentice, I want all of you at that Gathering,” Bramblestar answered. “Green Leaf has brought much complacency, and to ShadowClan and WindClan arrogance. I have heard the coyotes again. Two, perhaps three. Sometimes my fellow Clan leaders have no foresight.”
“I can’t,” Kyestorm mumbled. “I want to, since I’d love to fight for those orphans for us, but. . .”
“There is nothing you can do for them,” Bramblestar said, his tone sharp, before he continued in a softer voice. “I know you want to protect those kits, but it’s a tricky issue. And tempers will be short I am sure. You need not attend, but the moon after, I want you there.”
“I don’t know. . . “ Kyestorm hesitated, taken aback by his initial curtness, but quickly accepted the excuse not to attend the next Gathering. Voiletkit’s sweet face floated in her inner vision, and Kyestorm’s material instincts battled with her aversions. She struggled not to yowl her torment.
“Demonstone is your strength, Kyestorm. If they dare ridicule you again, one soft growl and raised mane from that giant of a cat might silence those two fools. The mere sight of the eight of you might keep them utterly silent, since your kits will be bigger than many warriors by then. Leaf Fall will be on us, and no doubts, the coyotes will make themselves known. Think about it. StarClan’s anger that last Gathering you attended was not your doing.” Bramblestar said sternly. “Rowanstar was disrespectful to you, me, and StarClan by his actions. StarClan chose you, remember?”
“I will never forget,” Kyestorm mewed, her stomach twisting into knots.
“Good. In two moons, I expect you to attend with your newly apprenticed kits and your mate.” Bramblestar turned and hailed Brackenfur and Demonstone. Kyestorm watched as Demonstone nodded his head. Kyestorm looked down at the ground, knowing she will eventually have to show up at a Gathering again. The next one promised to be dreadful, dealing with the orphaned kits’ futures, and Kyestorm shivered, deciding her Clan leader knew best. She shook herself.
“Don’t worry, Kyemama. We won’t let anyone disrespect you,” Smokekit’s soft voice interjected. Kyestorm faced her young daughter, pride welling up. Smokekit stood so tall, and lanky, putting her in mind of Spiderleg, but the resemblance ended there. Her broad chest, long graceful body and thick muscles promised a swift very strong warrior to come. Silvery highlights colored her ruff, belly and tail fur. Bluekit stood beside her sister, shorter in stature, yet very broad-chested, stout, and agile, sporting the same silvery highlighting with a bluish sheen.
“We won’t let them disrespect you, Kyemama,” Greykit looked at her with shimmering blue eyes, his dark grey pelt gleaming silvery blue in the sunlight.
“Never,” Rainkit concurred, his blue eyes glittering. His long light grey pelt rippled down his back.
“If they do, they’ll have to deal with me, too!” Indikit joined the group, her green eyes shining defiance. Greykit and Rainkit flanked her. Kyestorm noticed Indikit’s long strong legs, large head, and very broad chest, and knew Indikit already vied with Demonkit and Phantomkit for sheer size. Indikit’s demeanor and body language screamed all warrior, and Kyestorm knew one day, her largest daughter promised to fulfil that destiny. Indikit held Kyestorm’s gaze. “We love you, Kyemama! I’ll slap Rowanstar for you, if he’s mean to you again!”
“No need, Indikit! No fighting at Gatherings, ” Kyestorm admonished gently. “I know, my kits, that you will defend me. I just want your first Gathering to go much better than mine,” Kyestrom meowed.
“It will,” Indikit stated, before cuffing Greykit. “Race you to the training area and back!”
The five kits darted away, mewing and laughing with joy. Kyestorm felt her heart tighten in dismay, knowing her kits grew so quickly. She inhaled a sharp little gasp, realizing she indeed, thought of Greykit and Rainkit as her own. If Millie thought likewise, it explained her woebegone state. Kyestorm shook her head. No, Millie reacted that way only when Briarlight chastised her, which happened because of the she-cat’s attachment to Demonstone. Millie made her choice when she left the nursery a moons ago to return to the Elders’ den, shortly after Demonstone showed Briarlight his weaving techniques. She recalled Lilyheart’s utter astonishment and now Lilyheart eyed Millie with exasperation. Kyestorm jumped to her feet, not wishing to go back to the nursery, and wanting to expel sudden excess anxiety. She saw Squirrelflight organizing a patrol.
Part 2
“May I join a you? Need an extra body?” she asked, trotting up to ThunderClan’s deputy, wanting to take her mind off her concerns.
“Certainly,” Squirrelflight motioned with her tail. Thornclaw, Bumblestripe, and Spiderleg joined Squirrelflight, and gazed at Kyestorm, their eyes blinking a silent greeting. Kyestorm dropped her eyes, surprised by Spiderleg’s lack of animosity. Squirrelflight continued. “We’ll hunt, but we also check the WindClan border today.”
“All right,” Kyestorm agreed, and followed the three warriors out of the camp. They headed north, toward the old Twoleg place, alert for prey. A breeze rustled leaves in the trees, creating moving lacy patterns on the ground. Kyestorm drank in the scents of soil, leaves, and the ever present lake. The sun warmed her back, as they headed up hill and crossed the disused thunderpath to the northern border. She glanced though the trees at the old Twoleg place, remembering vividly when she and Demonstone arrived in ThunderClan territory, and silently thanked StarClan for their guidance that terrifying night. Kyestorm scented Whitewing’s patrol, which headed west toward ShadowClan’s border. She blinked, thinking about how much she loved Cloudtail and his daughter, and of course, Brightheart, who never attended gatherings either. Kyestorm growled at herself. I don’t have any reason not to attend like she does, she railed at herself. I am just being selfish, she thought.
“Kyestorm?” Squirrelflight’s query shattered her musing. She looked up.
“Sorry, just thinking.” Kyestorm answered, trotting to catch up to her patrolmates, as they curved eastward toward the border with WindClan. Seeing the deputy reminded her of Alderpaw.
"How is your son?" Kyestorm asked softly, feeling sympathy for the young medicine cat, who fretted over Violetkit ,since the kit might be handed over to ShadowClan next Gathering. Kyestorm shuddered, glad her aversion to gatherings would shield her from that unpleasant event. As much as she wanted to argue in Violetkit’s behalf, the memories of her only Gathering filled her heart with horror. Not my business, she told herself, while her heart broke over what those two kits faced. She dreaded when she must go in two moon, then pushed her apprehension down as sadness welled up suddenly. Everyone still grieved the loss of Sandstorm, and Kyestorm wondered what secret mission demanded such a loss from her Clan.
"He is fine," Squirrelflight answered abruptly, and her tail lashed. Curiosity pushed away Kyestorm's grief, and questions bombarded Kyestorm's mind, but she asked nothing further. She wondered about this new prophecy, and why even the mdicine cats kept silent on the matter. How much did Gentlekit know, if anything? She exhaled, deciding to avert those thoughts, and glanced upward, catching a spot of gold. A few leaves waved bright yellow in the noonhigh sun.
“Look, leaves are turning already.” she announced.
“They shouldn’t be! Not for another moon!” Thornclaw exclaimed in dismay. “If so, it foretells a bad cold Leaf Bare.”
“Not a good sign,” Spiderleg grumbled, and slowed his pace until he walked beside Kyestorm. “I am sorry.”
“For?” Kyestorm met the black tom’s solemn gaze.
“My brother is right. I was an idiot to treat you, and especially your mate, with such hostility. Demonstone is fantastic, as are you.” Spiderleg frisked briefly like a kit on his long legs. “I wish I was there when you smacked Rowanstar. Birchfall said it was epic.”
“It was wrong of me,” Kyestorm said softly, lowering her head, feeling shame flash through her long pelt.
“Oh, please,” Spiderleg snorted. “Clan leaders are not StarClan. Rowanstar is just too full of himself. If he’d have challenged you, no doubts you’d have whipped his scrawny butt.”
“I might have.” Kyestorm allowed herself a sneeze of mirth, then sobered. “But StarClan really was upset. I should never disrespect a Clan leader.”
“Don’t feel like that,” Spiderleg meowed. “StarClan was angry with Rowanstar and his attitude, not you. Sometimes they do need a bite in the tail.”
“Maybe, but it’s not my place,” Kyestorm argued “Maybe if I was a deputy or another Clan leader. . .”
“What would you do if you caught him trespassing and he refused to leave and also refused to see Bramblestar? And claimed he was on his own territory?” Spiderleg asked.
“Challenge him of course,” Kyestorm answered without hesitation.
“And if he accepted and attacked you?”
“Of course I’d thrash him.” Kyestorm flicked her tail.
“Then you just answered your own question,” Spiderleg laughed and thumped her with his tail. “The only Clan Leader you never think about trouncing is your own. Remember, at the Gathering, you did not start the strife. You only tried to make him see reason.”
“Thank you for the support,” Kyestorm said, nodding at the rangy black warrior.
“He’s right,” Thornclaw added, as they approached the border. “Don’t forget, we all have your back, always.”
“Yes, we do,” Bumblestripe said, coming up alongside Kyestorm as Thornclaw and Spiderleg surged ahead. “Blossomfall and I am so grateful for what you did for our little brothers.”
“I did what any queen would do,” Kyestorm mewed.
“Not all queens are so giving or accepting.” Bumblestripe touched his tail to her back. “One of the best examples of that was Lizardstripe of ShadowClan who resented the kit Raggedstar gave her to raise many many seasons ago. That kit was Brokenstar.”
“Mousedung,” Kyestorm muttered, remembering Clan history well from days well-spent with the Elders. “I could never ever refuse to help a kit!”
“Such a queen is invaluable,” Bumblestripe said. “If not for you, my own mother’s neglect of herself because of her obsession with our invalid sister might have killed Rainkit and Greykit, and nothing rends a Clan’s collective heart than the death of kits.”
“She neglected herself?” Kyestorm stared, baffled even further by Millie’s actions.
“Yes, giving prey she needed to Briarlight. She didn’t need to do so since Blossomfall and I provided for our sister.” Bumblestripe scowled, a rare expression on his handsome features. “We do love her, but, we do resent our mother for the treatment we received afer Briarlight’s accident.”
“I did notice tension between Blossomfall and Millie,” Kyestorm admitted. “I never wanted to butt in to another’s business.”
“Our mother treated Blossomfall terribly after Briarlight was injured. She ignored me, too. Our mentors helped us, but it does hurt when a mother ignores her kits at any age. Blossomfall was deeply hurt, and our mother seems not to care even now.”
“So her milk drying up was partially her fault? Not just age?” Kyestorm replied, simmering outrage knotting her stomach. “Why has she left the nursery?”
“Yes. As for laving the nursery, I guess she thinks her job is done since Rainkit and Greykit are fully weaned, and you watch over them. She returned to fretting and hovering over Briarlight again.” Bumblestripe’s scowl suddenly turned to a smirk. “But she is suffering some consequences of conduct.”
“How so?”
“Well, Rainkit and Greykit view you more as their mother than her, and, get this, Briarlight is so infatuated with her new big “brother” that she is actually annoyed now with our mother’s obsessive attentions.” Bumblestripe mrrowed with laughter. “I am sure you’ve noticed the relationship. He is wonderful with her and never coddles her like Mother does. He gives her tasks, and she feels helpful for the first time since she got hurt. Her lungs are stronger and she can move better than ever. Not to mention how well she and Demonkit work together.”
“Yes, they do. I have, and that explains what happened this morning!” Kyestorm meowed, feeling a mix of guilt and mirth. “Millie came over and fussed over Briarlight when she pulled herself on Demonstone’s back to go to her workrock. Briarlight yowled “STOP BABYING ME”, then told her to “leave me alone,” and went with Demonstone. I thought Blossomfall was going to blow apart with laughter.”
“Yes, I saw her in the training area, laughing so hard she just rolled around in the dust. Briarlight’s heath has improved so much. Her lungs are stronger and she can move better than ever. I can’t understand why Mother won’t relax. When Briarlight saw how Demonstone weaves briars and brambles to protect our camp, she asked Demonkit to get tall grasses for her, which of course he did, then she worked for a whole day weaving them, then showed her efforts to Demonstone.”
“Yes, I remember that. She found her purpose, and everyone will appreciate their weaving skill when Leaf Bare brings those cold winds. I remember the day Demonkit first asked if he could search for grasses for Briarlight.” Kyestorm nodded. “I took him outside camp that day. I trust him now to go alone, as long as he does not stray too far.”
“Blossomfall watches out for him, too. That is how I knew of it.” Bumblestripe replied.
“I wish Millie would see how it’s helped her daughter and given her health and strength. Instead she continues to fret whenever Briarlight leaves the medicine den.” Kyestorm clicked her teeth. “Does she really think anything is going to get past my mate, or Demonkit, to get to her daughter?”
“Your sons are enormous already. With them and Demonstone with her. Briarlight is completely safe. Millie used to be much worse,” Bumblestripe said. “I know she loves Graystripe and he loves her, but she has to get over this fearful obsession. It almost killed Rainkit and Greykit. It’s completely understandable why they look more to you than her.”
“They do love their father very much. He spends time with them, and look to Demonstone as an Uncle and not their father.” Kyestorm flattened her ears. “I never intended to steal the love of her kits so much that they think I’m their mother.”
“Of course not, but who fed them, nourished them when they needed it? Once they gained their milk teeth she spent less and less with them in the nursery did she not? The only comforting tongue they will remember is yours.” Bumblestripe uttered a snarl of annoyance. “If she really cared for them as much as she does Briarlight, she’d never have left the nursery! You haven’t!”
“I should not until the kits apprentice and go to the apprentice den. I don’t understand why she left. Daisy, Lilyheart and I have never been cross with her at all.” Kyestorm flicked her tail. “But she did, and the kits come to me and sleep with my kits. They have for almost two moons now.”
“Don’t fret over it. One day, she will regret her actions. I just hope she comes to grips with her emotions soon, and lets all her kits know she cares, like you do.” Bumblestripe eyed her askance. “Maybe you should speak to her?”
“I’ve tried asking her why she won’t come back to the nursery. She won’t talk about any of it except to thank me profusely for giving her kits what she couldn’t. Graystripe just says to let it go. Today she said something to Rainkit when he tried to comfort her after Briarlight yelled at her. He looked confused, and hurt. He asked me if I would stop loving him like she did, and went to the Medicine den to be with Gentlekit.” Kyestorm growled her frustrations, then gave Bumblestripe a quick smile. “But all the kits know love, and always will, from me.”
“They know the truth, and that is all we can ask. Secrets and lies hurt more. They all are such marvelous kits. I so wish to have kits, but, well, can’t seem to keep a mate,” Bumblestripe lamented.
“Not your fault!” Kyestorm exclaimed, and blurted, “if I wasn’t already mated, I’d choose you and keep you. You’re a handsome, smart, and sweet tom!”
“Really?” Bumblestripe brightened, then his eyes widened. “No, Kyestorm! Don’t even say that! Demonstone would just smash me to bloody bits! He’s the only cat I know who can throw rocks!”
“Don’t worry!” Kyestorm mrrowed with mirth. “I have no intention of leaving Demonstone. I’m just saying, if she-cats ignore you, it is their loss.”
Maybe,” Bumblestripe flattened his ears, turning serious. “I can’t believe they want to give one of the orphan kits to ShadowClan.”
“Nor I,” Kyestorm growled, feeling some courage flash through her. “Maybe I should go to the next gathering fight for the kits.”
“You would do that?” Bumblestripe meowed, astonishment coloring his tons.
“No, you should not,” Squirrelflight yowled, stopping the patrol, and glared at Kyestorm. “This will be difficult enough without a kit-obsessed, hot-head like you there. Now let’s concentrate on our tasks.”
The patrol moved again, and Squirellflight marched in front, tail lashing. Kyestorm glanced at Bumblestripe, feeling like a fool.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Bumblestripe mewed softly. “This whole thing has the leaders on edge.”
“I don’t really want to go anyway,” Kyestorm grumbled.
A large rabbit startled the patrol, evaporating the conversation, and fled its hiding spot, racing for a burrow just inside the ThunderClan line. Kyestorm reacted without thought, her anger, frustrations and anxiety funneling into her actions. She launched herself after it, and drawing her hind legs at the last moment, she pounced, her toes spread, claws glinting in the sun. She flattened the shocked rabbit, sinking her claws into the prey. It uttered a deafening squeal, but Kyestorm delivered the kill bite swiftly, then stopped, wondering why nobody congratulated her on a swift catch. A stir of annoyance swirled in her guts at the thought Squirrleflight’s anger with her still festered. Kyestorm glanced at her patrol, who looked past her with narrowed eyes. She turned her head in time to see a WindClan patrol appear out of the brush lining the opposite bank of stream which marked the border.
“Stealing our prey?” A red-brown tabby and white tom sneered. Two she-cats flanked him, bristling with hostility. A young black tom with white splashed across his chest hung back, and Kyestorm recognized Slightfoot.
“Not so, Harespring,” Thornclaw replied calmly, while Kyestorm fumed with indignation. “The rabbit and its burrow are on our territory.”
“Rabbits are not ThunderClan prey,” one of the she-cats hissed. Kyestorm recognized gray and white Furzepelt, and growled, baring the tips of her fangs, waiting for the opportunity to slap that bossy she-cat silly.
“Why not?” Thornclaw asked quietly. “If they run our land, we’ll eat them. We have kits to feed, so all prey running in our territory is fair game.”
“That rabbit ran onto your territory from ours. You’re stealing it,” Furzepelt insisted.
“No we aren’t,” Spiderleg growled, narrowing his eyes.
“The burrow is on our territory. We didn’t steal anything!” Squirrelflight came to Thornclaw’s’s side, green eyes spitting with anger.
“Yes, you are!” Harespring stepped forward across the stream.
“Kyestorm caught it fair,” Spiderleg growled, his long black tail puffing in anger.
“Give it back!” a black she-cat hissed.
“Harespring, Breezepelt! Furrzepelt! Slightfoot! Get back on your own territory!” Thornclaw snarled. “You trespass!”
“The rabbit is ours and your kittypet stole it!” Harespring hissed, ready to spring on Thornclaw.
“You will pay!” Furzepelt screeched, landing beside the WindClan deputy.
“STOP!” Kyestorm yowled, her temper exploding. Slightfoot shrank back. She stood tall on tiptoe, towering over the WindClan cats. “I caught this fairly, on ThunderClan land and the burrow is right there, well within our territory! it’s obvious we stole nothing.” Kyestorm pointed her tail at the burrow. “Do you call me a liar?” She minced forward, her high voice dropping to a menacing growl. She swiped a huge paw under Harespring’s muzzle, dagger claws flashing in the dappled sunlight, and, sheathing her claws at the last second, smacked Furzepelt on the side of the head
Harespring’s eyes widened, showing the whites as he hastily backed up into the stream, stepping into the deeper water. He yowled with surprise, and sprang in the air, splashing water all over his Clanmates, and landed on the far shore. Nightcloud followed, shaking herself, and glared at Kyestorm. Furzepelt staggered across the brook, shaking her head, obviously stunned. Of Slightfoot, she saw nothing. Harespring bared his teeth, lashing his tail.
“We’re reporting to Onestar about this!” Harespring snarled over her shoulder.
“Fine,” Thornclaw hitched his shoulders, gold eyes gleaming. “Just warn him not to start a war over your lies.”
Harespring and his patrol disappeared, and Kyestorm caught her breath, flattening her fur. She faced Thornclaw.
“Sorry,” she mewed. “I hate being accused of lying.”
“No matter,” Thornclaw replied, delight dancing in his eyes. “I see where Indikit gets her temper, though yours takes a while to simmer.”
“Yes, it does,” Kyestorm deflated completely, her tail drooping to touch the ground. “I hope I didn’t start a war.”
“You didn’t, and if WindClan is foolish about this, I am certain any quarrel they bring will be squashed quickly.” Thornclaw uttered a mewl of laughter. “Did you see Harespring’s eyes when you flashed your claws under his nose? And Furzepelt may not remember our encounter at all, you hit her so hard. Slightfoot probably wet himself!”
“Yes, but. . .” Kyestorm stuttered.
“Great catch and defense!” Squirrelflight thumped Kyestorm with her tail, all anger and annoyance gone, then marked the boundary. “Pick up your prey and let’s get it back to camp.”
“Why were they so ridiculous?” Kyestorm asked, picking up the rabbit, copying Squirrelflight, marking a stone just downstream. “It’s foolishness like that which makes me so angry!”
“Harespring is a mouse-brained piece of foxdung,” Squirrelflight spat, in a another swift change of mood. “I’ll never understand why Onestar chose him. I don’t blame you for being angry, Kyestorm.”
“I don’t go to Gatherings so I don’t upset StarClan. Maybe I shouldn’t patrol anymore,” Kyestorm muttered.
“Nonesense!” Squirrelflight snorted, putting Kyestorm in mind of Jayfeather. “You should knock sense into those mushroom-heads with those big paws. It’s not your fault that foxes avoid our territory completely since you joined our patrols. It’s something the other Clans should covet and admire!”
“Is there not a way to chase the foxes away from all Clans?”
“Not really, unless every Clan had a cat like you,” Squirrelflight answered. “But at this rate, with their petty kittypet prejudices, they may never ever be lucky enough to gain what we have. Their fault, Kyestorm, not yours. And I think that is what StarClan is mad about. The other leaders reject you, except Mistystar, who has half a brain!”
“I suppose you are right,” Kyestorm relaxed, her angst replaced by the exhilaration of defending herself, her prey and her Clan.
“You acted perfectly,” Squirrelflight assured her. “And we spilled not a drop of blood.”
“Good. I enjoy patrols,” Kyestorm replied. She followed them into camp, and placed the big rabbit on the fresh kill pile. Her kits swarmed around her, bouncing with excitement, questions bombarding her ears.
“Kyemama! How’d you catch it?” Phantomkit asked, in strident tones he now used more often.
“I want to go hunting, too!” Demonkit meowed, his voice as high pitched as his father’s.
“Ohhhh! I want to hunt on the open moors!” Smokekit squealed. “It sound sso fun! To run and leap without worrying about brush and trees!”
“We didn’t run the moors,” Kyestorm retorted, flattening her ears, feeling a stab of angst in the pit of her stomach. Why did Smokekit care about running WindClan territory?
“You got a rabbit!” Smokekit mewled. “They run the moors! I know the tales!”
“I wanna go hunting, toooo!” Bluekit demanded.
“Me, too! When can we go?” Indikit demanded, her green eyes shining. “When?”
“You’ll apprentice soon enough,” Kyestorm admonished her noisy brood. “Enjoy being kits!”
“We may have to apprentice them at five moons,” Bramblestar commented, coming up beside Kyestorm. “Even little Bluekit is almost as large as our smallest warrior.”
“No,” Kyestorm shook her head. “Their brains have to catch up with their bodies.”
Bramblestar burst out in laughter, before eyeing Phantomkit.
“That young one is ready. Smart, strong, and fast,” he commented. “As is Demonkit. Gentlekit already spends more time in the medicine den than the nursery.”
“Smokekit grows so tall and graceful, while Bluekit is short, yet swift,” Kyestorm sighed. “I wish they could stay babies forever.”
“Greykit, Rainkit, and Indikit have formed quite the alliance. I never expected Rainkit to match Indikit for temper and mischievousness.” Bramblestar meowed. “They all will be fine warriors in their good time.”
“Yes,” Kyestorm agreed, then decided to brave the Clan Leader’s possible anger. “Must I go to the Gathering when they apprentice?”
“Yes,” Bramblestar answered without a speck of annoyance. Understanding shimmered in his amber gaze. “Remember, all eight kits will be there, and Demonstone already agreed. He is more than strong enough to make the journey. Your Clan will be there to have your back, and remember, Mistystar is on your side as well.”
“All right,” Kyestorm lowered her head, angst twisting her stomach. As Bramblestar trotted away, she sat, trying to conjure up any excuse not to go to that Gathering. She knew the medicine cats and Gentlekit would never allow her to lie, and she shuddered at the thought of injuring herself just to stay behind. She sighed. No, she thought, I will have to do this, for my kits, for my Clan.
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