New Horizons

Chapter 23

Two moons had passed since Leafpaw become an apprentice to Brightwing and she was prospering wonderfully. Miststar had moved into the nursery, expecting her final litter of kits. Miststar was aware that Fireheart wasn't too happy that she wanted this to be their last litter, but she wanted the rest of her nine lives to be dedicated to her Clan, not to having a Clan full of her and Fireheart's kits. Speaking of kits, Angel had moved into the nursery a little earlier than Miststar, expecting her and Nightstream's first litter of kits. They had been born a little over a dawn earlier than Miststar's, three pitch black kits, but one had a white paw which they named Oddkit; one of the kits had vivid green eyes to which they named him Vinekit; the final kit they named Blackkit.

A gasp of pain escaped from Miststar, feeling a tremor go through her body. The kits are here, she thought as Cinderpelt massaged her flank. "You're doing wonderfully, Miststar," mewed the old medicine cat, licking the first kit slightly before giving her to Miststar, a gorgeous ginger tabby she-kit. Silverkit, the she-cat thought before another two were gently placed at her belly so they could feed. One was a brown tabby tom, one that reminded her so much of her old leader, Crookedstar. Crookedkit, she thought immediately before looking at the final kit. He was a shade light than Crookedkit and could easily pass as ginger. Minnowkit.

"I'll leave you to rest," meowed Cinderpelt as she delivered a lick to Miststar's ear before leaving the nursery, glancing back inside, and watching as the leader curled around her three kits and swiftly fell asleep. The kits are so cute, thought Cinderpelt to herself as she padded to the medicine cat den where Shallowleaf, her apprentice, was organizing the herbs. Miststar and Fireheart should be proud.

~

Many, many moons passed and Miststar and Fireheart's kits - Crookedkit, Minnowkit, and Silverkit - became warriors of MistClan. Crookedkit became Crookedleaf, Minnowkit became Minnowpelt, and Silverkit became Silvercloud. Speaking of Miststar and Fireheart, the former had unfortunately passed on, moving to StarClan, Fireheart becoming Firestar. He had picked Oddfur to be the deputy of MistClan. Many of Firestar's old friends had passed as well - Graystripe, Ravenwing, Barley, Patchtail, Smudge, Princess... Almost everyone who knew the Old Forest well had unfortunately passed and soon it would be his time.

Firestar was sat near his den, looking up at Silver Pelt while lost in thought. The flame coloured tom was aware his time would soon end and he would be able to join his mate and their friends. Glancing to the nursery where Silvercloud, his and Miststar's female kit, was nursing her single kit she named Swiftkit, he couldn't help but smile before turning his gaze back to the beautiful night sky.

They'll be fine, Oddfur will treat them well. He thought before padding into his den, curling up in his nest and closing his eyes for the final time. He soon joined his mate in StarClan, Shallowleaf, the medicine cat of MistClan, finding the former leader's cold body curled up in his den.