Book One, Batpaw's Courage

Chapter Seventeen

Batheart thought the night would never end, she was so grateful when she saw Rivertail come through the thorn barrier. "Your vigil is over." she had said. Now Batheart was sleeping peacefully in the warriors den.

***

Batheart was awoken by Sweetwish prodding her with her paw. "Wake up!" Sweetwish exclaimed.

Batheart rolled onto her back. "Why?" she said annoyingly.

"Ambermoon is giving birth!" exclaimed Sweetwish.

Batheart got up almost instantly, burst out of her nest and out of the den. She raced over to the nursery to see Cherryfur coming out of the nursery shaking her head.

"Wha-what's wrong..?" asked Batheart, worry clouded her mind. "I-it's Ambermoon.." Batheart left Cherryfur and burst into the nursery, she saw Ambermoon looking down at her two kits, then looked anxiously at her belly.

Cherryfur came rushing back in with some herbs in her jaws. "Eat these, they'll help your milk come." she instructed to Ambermoon, she lapped up the herbs.

"So what's happening with her?" Batheart asked. "She has one more kit left in her but it's breech." Cherryfur shook her head.

"Breech?" Batheart asked. "The kit is facing the wrong way." Cherryfur explained.

Batheart's eyes widened as Cherryfur went over to Ambermoon and reached for the kit and attempted to turn it around.

"Oh my StarClan that hurts!" Ambermoon exclaimed. "You can do it, Ambermoon, you're stronger than you think." Cherryfur calmed her.

Batheart walked over to Ambermoon and rested her head on hers. "You can do this. I know you can." she whispered.

"Okay, Ambermoon, your kit is facing the right way now, all you need to do is push." Cherryfur explained carefully, Batheart felt so anxious for Ambermoon.

Batheart felt Ambermoon's pain as Ambermoon pushed out the final kit. It was a white she-kit. Cherryfur begun to lick the kit to warm it.

"Congratulations!" exclaimed Cherryfur, she gave Ambermoon a lick on the forehead. "You have two toms and a she-cat."

Batheart looked down at the small bundles of fur laying next to Ambermoon.

"Ambermoon are you alright?" exclaimed Swiftbreeze, bursting into the nursery, her kits trailing behind.

"I'm fine, Swiftbreeze," she breathed. "Look at our beautiful kits!" Ambermoon looked down at them.

Swiftbreeze touched her nose to each kit and layed next to Ambermoon and watched them suckle. Oakkit and Moonkit went up to see their new brothers and sister. "They're so cute!" Exclaimed Moonkit.

"I want to name that one Cloudkit." Moonkit flicked her tail at the small white she-kit.

"Okay." agreed Ambermoon. "How about that one Tuftkit?" asked Oakkit, he pointed to the small ruffled tom.

"Alright. Batheart do you want to name one?" asked Swiftbreeze. "Me? Would that be okay?" she asked, shocked that they'd let her name one of their kits.

"Of course," replied Ambermoon, looking down at the last unnamed kit.

"I'll name him Pinekit" Batheart said after waiting a few moments.

"Pinekit.. It has a ring to it." Ambermoon nodded to Batheart. "Thank you, Batheart. But I must rest now." Ambermoon dipped her head to her.

Batheart nodded and mewed a final congratulations to them and padded out of the den.

"Batheart!" Called Rivertail. She turned her head and ran over towards her.

"Yes?" Batheart asked once she had reached her. "You and Crowflight will patrol the RiverClan border." Rivertail explained.

Crowflight came up behind Rivertail and eyed Batheart curiously. Great. I spend more time with that furball then I need. But Batheart just sighed and flicked her tail for Crowflight to follow. She felt his breath on her tail as they walked out of camp.

Crowflight followed her all the way down to Sunningrocks. They sniffed everywhere and sent down markers.

Crowflight came very close to her and tackled her down to the ground, claws out. "You stupid she-cat, I am going to kill you!" he exclaimed, bending down to bite her neck.

"No!" exclaimed a familiar voice, then a white pelt slammed into Crowflight and the cat started to rip his pelt apart. The scent of RiverClan washed over her.

"Skypaw!" exclaimed Batheart, Skypaw rolled off of Crowflight, panting.

"It's Skywing now, Batpaw," Skywing explained. Batheart sent out a mrrow of laughter. "It's Batheart now too."

"You know this tom?" Crowflight stared at them, shocked. "From Gatherings." Batheart explained.

"Wait why does she have to explain anything to you?" Skywing narrowed his eyes. "You tried to kill her!"

"Shut up!" Crowflight angrily grunted. "You know nothing about me!" Skywing's glare turned harder. "I know you were trying to kill Batheart." he muttered.

"Give up already! You're done!" exclaimed Batheart.

"You haven't seen the last of me!" Crowflight turned away into the bushes.

They both watched him run away, Batheart let out a huff of relief. "Thank you, Skywing, if it weren't for you, I'd be crow-food!" Batheart exclaimed.

"It's no problem. Who was that tom?" Skywing asked. "I've seen him at Gatherings but I can't remember his name."

"That foxheart is Crowflight. He keeps trying to do something to me ever since I rejected him like millions of moons ago." Batheart explained, she felt comfortable with Skywing, she knew he'd keep her secret.

"That foxheart better not try anything," Skywing started, "or he'll be crow-food."

Batheart looked up at Skywing, his eyes were burning with hatred. She looked down at her paws.

"You'll be okay, Batheart, I promise." Skywing bent his head to touch his nose to hers. Batheart felt a little spark in her chest and it sent shivers down her spine.

Batheart knew it was wrong to be seeing a RiverClan tom every once in a while, but she didn't care.

"S-Skywing?" Asked Batheart. "Yes?" He responded, looking down at her. "I really should be getting back to my Clan." she nuzzled him and padded off.

"Bye, Batheart!" He called to her. She waved her tail in goodbye. Batheart started to pad back to camp. I think I like him! Happiness bubbled up inside her.

He makes me feel safe, with kind words and gestures... "Ow!" Batheart exclaimed. She had run herself into a tree! Stupid furball! She thought, and she padded on back to camp.