After Sunset: Short Story

[Mooncloud]

Ch 1

Squirrelflight passed the WindClan border with the rest of her patrol. Two days had passed since Hawkfrost’s body had been returned to RiverClan. A chill ran down her spine from nose to tail tip when she thought about how close she had come to losing her father and her mate.
Firestar told her and her sister, Leafpool, to keep silent on how Hawkfrost died. Trusting him as both her father and leader, she had not breathed a word to anyone that Hawkfrost’s half-brother, Brambleclaw, had been the one to kill him and not the accident that they led everyone to believe.
Cloudtail parted his jaws with an enormous yawn. “All quiet. Let’s get back to camp.”
The patrol made its way through the forest and back to the stone hollow. The scents of the fresh kill pile filled her nose tempting her for another piece. The hunting patrol brought in plenty and she selected a young squirrel. Taking it to under the highledge, she tucked in. All the scents washed over her bite after bite.
“Another one?” grumbled Dustpelt.
“I’m hungry,” Squirrelflight retorted.
“Squirrelflight you’re eating like an expecting queen,” her former mentor said before heading to the warrior’s den.
Her eyes felt heavy urging her to curl up in her nest and rest. Before she could take a step towards the den, Ferncloud padded over to her. “He might be right,” she mewed sweetly. “You’re eating and sleeping more. Are you expecting kits?”
Surprise jolted her awake and her jaw dropped. “I-”
Ferncloud’s tail curled up with amusement. “Now I’m convinced! You’re mother had that same look on her face when Speckletail told her she was expecting you and Leafpool,” she added before she went to share tongues with Daisy.
I can’t be expecting already. Can I?
Brambleclaw walked straight to her from the warriors’ den. “You look like you’ve just seen the whole of Shadowclan cross our border,” he purred. Her mate looked at her seriously, “Is something wrong?”
“I-”
“You should go and see Leafpool right now!” He said nudging her towards the medicine den.
The expression in his face was enough for her to know he was worried.
“For what?”
Brambleclaw looked uncertain, “Y-you didn’t retort… about anything I’ve said.”
Her gaze shifted over to Ferncloud who looked back before continuing to share tongues with Daisy.
“Well if you’re not sick, then what is it? You know you can tell me anything,” said Brambleclaw.
Squirrelflight looked at him still wide eyed, “Ferncloud thinks I’m expecting kits.”
Brambleclaw’s eyes shot open. His gazed expectantly at her, “Are you?”
“I don’t know. But if a cat who has hardly left the nursery since she became a warrior tells me I’m going to have kits, then I think I should believe her don’t you,” she added playfully.
Brambleclaw rubbed his muzzle against hers purring happily.

Squirrelflight wanted to tell Leafpool, but she was sound asleep in her den. Following her sister’s example she went to the warrior’s den and fell asleep. By the time she had awaken, Leafpool was already out. Opening her mouth to taste the air she scented Leafpool not far away. She would soon see her and Squirrelflight hoped they would catch her collecting herbs and not looking over the border. The clan had forgiven her for leaving with the WindClan warrior, Crowfeather, but if they saw them together again there might be a problem.
Thankfully, Leafpool had a mouthful of herbs and it looked like she was on her way back to camp.
Catmint. Good, nowhere near the border.
Leafpool seemed so distant lately, but Squirrelflight assumed that her only littermate was growing deeper into her role as the only medicine cat in Thunderclan. Alone would be the perfect time to tell her the good news.
“Leafpool!”
Her sister froze like a kit caught trying to sneak out of camp. Had she been looking over the border?
“Squirrelflight! Don’t sneak up on me like that,” Leafpool snapped.
“Sorry,” she replied taken aback by Leafpool’s tone. Leafpool quickly recollected her herbs.
“Are you all right?”
Leafpool’s eyes darted back to her herbs, “I’m fine,” she said gently. “You just scared me, that’s all.”
“Would you like any help carrying this back?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
Squirrelflight moved in front of Leafpool, “Actually there was something I wanted to talk to you about.”
Leafpool sat down and curled her tail around her paws, “What is it?”
“I-I think I might be expecting kits.”
Leafpool’s eyes widened in surprise. “You do?”
“It shouldn’t be that surprising. After all I do have a mate. Kits are bound to come along at some point.” She realized at once that she should have used more tack since her sister’s pain on losing her mate was still fresh.
“What makes you think you’re expecting?” Leafpool asked as if she didn’t notice.
Squirrelflight listed her symptoms while Leafpool listened patiently. When she was finished, her sister was on all four paws. “Come with me.”
Deeper into the territory they went side by side. Squirrelflight was surprised that she led her to the abandoned Two-leg nest and even more surprised when they went inside. She had not been in here many times and neither had any cat for that matter.
Leafpool looked at her as if weighing something in her mind. “I don’t know how to tell you this,” she started.
Squirrelflights hopes rose higher. She would be having kits. While she always wanted to be a warrior the idea had settled in about becoming a mother.
“You’re not expecting kits,” Leafpool replied quietly.
Her sudden burst of happiness evaporated. “But…”
“You’re not,” Leafpool said more firmly. “I- I am.”
Squirrelflight took a step back from her but she tried to keep her fur down. She was a Medicine Cat. Her sister wasn’t supposed to take a mate let alone have kits!
Leafpool looked down to the floor. Squirrelflight didn’t know which emotion would be the hardest to fight, her disappointment that she wouldn’t be having kits or the fact her sister was. Squirrelflight stepped forward and licked her sister between the ears. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I didn’t know how to,” she wailed looking back up at her. “I thought StarClan had given their blessing to me and Crowfeather. We were going to be together outside of our clans and I was never going to be a Medicine Cat again. After what I did, I shouldn’t be a Medicine Cat. But since Cinderpelt…”
Squirrelflight could feel all the emotions pumping through her sister. She felt how strongly she loved Crowfeather, despite everything that should have kept them apart, how she felt when she betrayed her clan and mentor when she ran away with him, the loss she suffered when Cinderpelt died and Crowfeather returning to Windclan, and finally the mixed emotions finding out she was expecting kits.
“I’ll take them,” she said suddenly.
Leafpool looked at her hardly believing what she heard.
Squirrelflight looked at her sister more sure of what she was planning, “It’s for you and the kits. You’ll be able to continue as Medicine Cat and no one will have to know. Everyone will think they are mine and Brambleclaw’s. They will be treated just like any other kit in ThunderClan.”
“Y-You’d do that?” Leafpool’s eyes filled with hope.
“Stupid furball of course I will. You’re my sister.”
Leafpool looked into a corner of the two-leg nest. “What will tell Brambleclaw?”
“Exactly what I’ll tell everyone else. That I am expecting kits.”
“You wouldn’t tell him about this?”
It wasn’t fear of the secret these two now shared but a fear for her and her mate. “No, Brambleclaw is deputy. It’s best if he isn’t keeping secrets from the clan especially from Firestar. Just in case anyone finds out.”
Leafpool brushed her muzzle against hers, “Thank you.”

They went back for Leafpool’s herbs and then returned to camp. Brambleclaw was speaking with her father away from the others. She wondered what it was about, but he would tell her sooner or later.
Once they finished she padded over to him and brushed against his side. They enjoyed each other’s company for awhile intertwining their tails.
“Thought you would like to be the third cat to know you are going to be a father.”

[Mooncloud]

Ch 2

The wind blew hard that night and the three she-cats curled close together for warmth. It felt a bit strange sleeping in the nursery with Ferncloud and Daisy but it wasn’t as bad as she made it out to be when she was younger. In fact the only thing wrong with it at all was that Brambleclaw wasn’t next to her.
“Squirrelflight!”
She bolted up onto all four paws. It was a miracle that the other two hadn’t woken up. Not wanting to disturb them further she walked out of the nursery. Leafpool was there looking panicked.
“They’re coming.”
Squirrelflight blinked sleep from her eyes, “Who?”
“The kits! Come on, I can’t have them here!”
Both left the camp through the main entrance.
“Where are you two off to?” asked Spiderleg.
“Just out to stretch my legs,” Squirrelflight replied. “Be back later.”
Spiderleg shivered. “You’re crazy.”
Squirrelflight lifted her tail to let him know she heard him. Once they were out of sight the two she-cats ran for it. Her sister’s pain was her own as they made their way to the den where Leafpool would have the kits.
All the necessary herbs were already lined up against the wall. Leafpool paced nervously in the tiny area, her pains increasing with every heartbeat. Another contraction hit and Leafpool collapsed to her side. Soon a tiny wet bundle fell into the nest.
Squirrelflight set to work cleaning the kit. Once finished she picked him up and set him next to Leafpool. Instinctively the kit pushed his way to her belly and began to suckle.
“You have a son!” purred Squirrelflight
Leafpool took a few deep breaths. “No, you do.”

Three kits rested in the curve of Leafpool’s belly. They were so tiny and the two mothers purred over the newborns. Not wanting to miss a moment, Squirrelflight only left the den to hunt and bring back fresh-kill.
“Look,” Leafpool purred. “Their eyes are opening.”
Squirrelflight dropped the rabbit she caught and dropped down looking at the grey tabby tom’s eyes. Slowly they opened and she looked into two blue orbs. “They’re like a blue jay bird. Are they supposed to look like that?”
“Like what,” asked Leafpool while she cleaned the she-kit. Squirrelflight moved the kit in front of her. Her sister gasped. “Oh Starclan, no! It’s my fault, not his.”
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s blind!” Leafpool wailed.
Squirrelflight backed away. Was there something wrong with the other two? She checked. The she-kit and other tom stared at her through blue eyes, but not like their brother’s. “It’s just that one,” she said, but Leafpool didn’t seem to hear. “It’s about time we named them don’t you think?”
Leafpool looked up, “What?”
“Names.”
“Oh, uh you name them. You are going to be there mother after all.”
“Right then,” she said turning back to the kits. “Well, I think the gray-tabby should be Jaykit.” She looked at the other tom, a golden tabby. He was always so loud. A soft purr rumbled in her throat. “That one is Lionkit. And as for this one,” she said circling the only she-kit, “I think I’ll name Hollykit.”

[Mooncloud]

Ch 3


It had been a little less than a moon and Leafpool felt it would be safe to take them to camp the next morning. The three kits had names now. Her strongest son, a golden tabby, was named Lionkit. His brother, a gray tabby, was Jaykit and their sister Hollykit was solid black.
When they woke up, snow had blanketed the ground. “We can’t possibly take them out in this.”
Leafpool picked up Jaykit by the scruff. “We have to. I’m not sure how much longer it will be before they start remembering things and for all we know the weather might get worse and trap us here.”
They moved the three to the door of the nest. Leafpool went first to make a path for them to camp. It was long and difficult, but they were soon able to get the kits warm in the nursery.
“Are you mouse-brained taking your kits out in weather like this?” asked Dustpelt.
“We had no choice,” Leafpool mewed firmly. “Squirrelflight’s milk has stopped.”
The dark brown tom backed off after that. Everyone stopped in the nursery at some time or other to see the new arrivals. Goldenflower said Brambleclaw moved about camp like a paw about to go to their warrior ceremony. So far, no one knew and as long as both of them kept their mouths shut, no one would know that these kits belonged to Leafpool.


The End

[Leopardheart]

Wait wait wait why was Dustpelt there? Did they know that "Squirrelflight's" kits where out there but not old enough to move?

[Mooncloud]

I skipped over the long trip through the snow and just said they made it back to camp. That's when Dust shows up.

[Leopardheart]

Oh okay.