HeatherClan Book: Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Attacked!

As soon as Silverstar stepped into the HeatherClan camp, she ordered guards to be posted at the entrance.

Only Cedarheart answered her...from her own den! "FearClan attacked," he mewed hoarsely. "Gracepelt, Angelflame, Sparklelight, Bird, and Mousepelt were killed. We managed to survive by staying in your den. Brightstar's cats aren't very good at climbing, it seems. Nightfall..." He broke off as he started coughing up blood, and Spottedpelt jumped down to the to face the band.

"Nightfall and Berrypaw ran off to join them. We couldn't stop them, it was too chaotic. I managed to treat some of the wounded cats with the remaining supplies the FearClan cats didn't destroy." She let out a shaky laugh. "At least I used to be a medicine cat. If I wasn't...well, who knows how many more cats would have died."

Swanfeather hopped down beside Spottedpelt. "All we could do was hope you were okay, and that the FearClan cats didn't intercept you..." She trailed off when she realized many of the warriors and apprentices had open wounds.

HeatherClan immediately sprang into action. The warriors and apprentices set about fixing the camp walls, sharing news while threading the brambles. The elders buried the dead. Meanwhile, Spottedpelt helped Jaywing and Aurorapaw collect herbs to treat the wounded.

Finally when they were all resting, Silverstar made an announcement. "Cats of HeatherClan, because of the raids Brightstar has led, I have decided to add some new rules. Every cat is not allowed to leave the camp alone. Kits and apprentices must have at least one warrior with them.  Even cats visiting the dirtplace must be accompanied by another cat. Elders, kits, and queens are advised to stay in their dens, unless another raid occurs. If this does happen, everyone must cross the Stone Cross as quickly as possible, except for the warriors and older apprentices. These warriors and apprentices will fight off the intruders, but if they fail, they must also cross the river. I'll have a couple warriors build a secret escape route leading out of the camp."

HeatherClan Book: Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Kits

Five moons later. . .

Goldenfur was heavily pregnant with new kits. Last moon, her older kits had passed their assessments and became Foxface, Iceclaw and Honeyflower.

Goldenfur felt a strong ripple through her belly. "Brackenfur, help!" she yowled. He realized she was having her kits and ran to Spottedpelt.

When they arrived at the nursery Spottedleaf started ordering cats around.

"Get some moss dipped in water and a stick," she instructed Brackenfur. He promptly hurried out.

Goldenfur let out a low groan of pain, and Brakenfur came back in.

"Bite on the stick when you feel pain, Goldenfur," meowed Jayfeather.

Brakenfur then gave Goldenfur the piece of moss and she drank gratefully from it.

Then, another ripple passed through her belly.

"Ohhh!" groaned Goldenfur.

"Just focus on breathing," calmed Spottedpelt.

An even stronger ripple passed, and a golden-yellow kit slithered onto the mossy ground. A tortoiseshell she-cat followed

Goldenfur pulled the small she-kit and her sister over to herself and started to nuzzle them.

Brakenfur the then left the nursery and started walking over to his close friends, Sunflare, Stormfur and Windflight.

Then Foxface, Iceclaw and Honeyflower bounded over.

"How's Goldenfur?" they asked.

"She's fine, come see your new sisters!" purred Brackenfur. The young warriors padded into the nursery quietly and looked at their new sisters.

"I just named them." she purred, "The yellow with the soft, brown eyes one is Aurorakit, the brown one with the blue eyes is Amber. . . she was cut off by Brightshadow bounding into the den.

"Silverstar, I need to see Birdkit," he begged.

"Very well," meowed Silverstar, shocked that a StormClan cat was in the HeatherClan camp. When she padded outside she realized that Lightningstar was outside with a kit.

"What time was you kit born at?" he asked.

"About two moons ago," Silverstar replied.

"That confirms my theory! Now we must find her power," Brightshadow mewed excitedly, in a low voice.

Silverstar invited Lightningstar into her den, and Runningkit demonstrated how fast he could run. The two kits started playing together. Runningkit pounced over a ledge in Silverstar's den. Birdkit followed, but instead of plummeting to the bottom, she spread her tiny wings and floated gracefully to the ground.

"She can fly!" Lightningstar and Brightshadowgasped together. Silverstar nodded proudly, a bit shocked herself, and ran over to groom her kit.

The two leaders and the deputy decided to head to CloudClan to see if there was a special kit there, but didn't tell their Clans.