°|° Woodland °|° ✓

| Chapter 8 |

(Cat above is Eelspark)

Berrypaw brushed against Cherrypaw as they reached the WoodClan border. Stonestar glanced at them. "Do you know where we're going?"

"We do." they'd left the camp when the stars still shone and the kits were half-asleep. Now those kits were trotting alongside their mothers or being carried. 

Thrushfeather sped up to join them. His warm green gaze fixed on Berrypaw and softened with affection. "Ready."

Berrypaw took a deep breath and twined her tail with Cherrypaw's. They led the Clan across the border and to the thawing meadows. The grass was almost everywhere, and dripping wet from the melting snow. The kits squealed and bounded around, little tails high. Berrypaw kept her gaze fixed ahead as she leaned against Thrushfeather. "We'll make it, right?.."

"With you to guide us, we will," he promised. 

"Hey! Breezekit!" Cherrypaw scolded. "Stay close to Nightkit and your mother." 

Nightkit - a tiny grey tabby - batted Breezekit's calico ear. "Yeah, Breezekit!"

Before long, they were halfway across the meadow and were settling down. They made dens from twigs and a fresh-kill pile. Stonestar and Antfur shared a vole, Antfur's small black pelt curled into Stonestar's thick grey one. Nightkit and Breezekit chased around the temporary camp, squealing and mewling. 

Cherrypaw lifted a vole from the fresh-kill pile and trotted over to Fangpaw and Patchedpaw. Berrypaw watched the early New-Leaf sun dry the thaw-wet meadows. She closed her eyes and imagined the ThunderClan camp - the medicine den, Coffeenose, Eelspark, Hazelwing, training, the sandy pit..

To her surprise, the thought of home wasn't as comforting as it should be. WoodClan was like home now. And Thrushfeather.. he was the greatest friend she'd ever had. Maybe they could be more one day. 

"Hey, Berrypaw!" 

Her eyes snapped open. Nightkit and Breezekit crashed into her with a squeak. "Mom's going hunting, so can you play with us?"

"Okay. What?" Berrypaw jumped up.

"Moss-ball!" They chorused. Breezekit was carrying a ball of moss, carefully rolled and secured with grass. Breezekit tossed it at Berrypaw, who knocked it away with a flick of her paw. Nightkit caught it in his mouth and batting it  towards Breezekit.

A cream paw flashed out before Breezekit could react. Thrushfeather met Berrypaw's gaze, then glanced away awkwardly and tossed it to Nightkit.

Nightkit tumbled into the grass after the ball, their dark fur growing wet with the remains of the thawing snow. Breezekit laughed. "Daisytail will have fun washing that out of your fur!"

"She won't mind," huffed Nightkit crossly. "Daisytail's the best mom ever." They pawed the ball towards Berrypaw.

"How old are you?" Berrypaw asked, knocking the moss towards Breezekit.

"Four moons, though Breezekit is like, a few seconds older than me." Nightkit flicked out a paw and took the ball from Breezekit.

"Kits!" A yellow she-cat hurried towards them. "Are you bothering Berrypaw and Thrushfeather?"

"No, Daisytail," Breezekit looked up at her innocently. His blue eyes were round. "Tigerpelt told us that we can play with them."

"Tigerpelt's your father?" Berrypaw was surprised.

"Yes, why?" Nightkit patted the moss back into a ball. 

"Just curious. Breezekit's identical to him." Berrypaw shrugged. Inside, her mind was whizzing. Tigerpelt has kits! And a mate! Of course!

Thrushfeather looked at her strangely, as if he could guess her thoughts. She flicked her tail. "Okay, kits, go with your mother." She nodded politely to Daisytail as she herded Nightkit and Breezekit towards the makeshift nursery. 

"What is it?" Thrushfeather hissed in her ear. Berrypaw bent her head until their whiskers brushed together.

"Tigerpelt has a mate and kits!" She blurted out.

"So?" Thrushfeather was bewildered. 

"Tigerpelt somehow knew that we were coming, and he told Patchedpaw. The nursery was empty at that time, I remember seeing no fur between the gaps. So Daisytail and her kits weren't there." Her heartbeat sped up. "Do you get it? Daisytail knew we were coming. She went and looked out for us, then told Tigerpelt! I think she's a StarClan cat given a second life!"

"You mean..Daisytail is a reincarnation?" Thrushfeather widened his green eyes. "A reincarnation of one of the cats that chased WoodClan away?"

"Yes! It all makes sense."

Thrushfeather smoothed out his fur, and settled the glow in his eyes. "Slow down. We can't tell Stonestar. It wouldn't be fair on Daisytail, Tigerpelt, or Nightkit and Breezekit."

"You're right," muttered Berrypaw. She turned and flicked her tail in his face. "Doesn't mean I'm forgetting!"

A\N

So what do you think? ;) I was gonna make Tigerpelt da bad guy, until I started messing about. I'm OK with that kind of magic, but should I continue that? Let me know! :)

-Briar