Shattered Clans- A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter 28

For warriorcats2011

Today was the day of the vigils. Cranefrost had visited Jackalflame the night before and Cranefrost told him the news Aldercoat had told her- that the kits were due in half a moon. Word had gotten out that she was expecting kits and everyone had assumed that Leafshade was the father.

Cranefrost was eating a mouse that the dawn patrol had just brought back. It was a fine day but tension, fear and loss still hung in the air. The cats of Thunderclan hadn't recovered from the clanmates they had lost.

Leafshade padded toward her and Cranefrost stiffened. He had an curious and gentle expression on his face, and Cranefrost immediately knew what he was going to ask.

The mottled brown tom sat down next to her, his tail brushing her spine. "Cranefrost, can we talk?" He meowed. Cranefrost set aside her prey, deciding that Leafshade deserved the truth- that the kits weren't his.

She stood up with a nod. "Why don't we walk?" 

Leafshade nodded. "Good idea."

Cranefrost spied a small stream in the forest. It trickled over timeworn rocks and down the small hill. Fluttering butterflies drifted over it lazily. She bent her head down to drink from it. Cranefrost followed it, head down, watching it. She stopped as they came into a small clearing. Then she saw the lake in all of its glory.

The lake was silver she could see the reflection of the sky above clearly, as if the ground had reached up and trapped some of the sky in a large pool. There was not a single ripple in it.

Cranefrost just stared at it.

 "Cranefrost?"

 Leafshade's sharp voice pulled her out of her trance and she turned to look at him. His green eyes glimmered and she could tell he was serious. "Cats have recently been congratulating me for becoming a father? Is it true?"

Cranefrost turned her full body to him and rested her haunches. She sighed.

"It is true that I'm expecting kits... but they aren't yours. I'm sorry, Leafshade. I really am. I know how you felt towards me. I just... I liked another tom, and now everything has gone wrong." She finished, looking down. She hoped Leafshade didn't hear her voice quiver.

Leafshade nodded, understanding and a hint of sadness brimming in his wide fern-green eyes. "Will you tell the clan who the father is?" He asked.

"No, I can't. So... I was wondering if you could... do me a big favour?" Cranefrost asked uncertainly. 

Leafshade looked at her. "If the favour is pretending to be her father, then of course I can." 

Cranefrost purred. "Thank you so much!" 

They walked back to camp together. "Cranefrost! Where are you going?" He called as she separated from him and back into the forest.

"Hunting." She replied.

"You need to get in the nursery!" Leafshade insisted.

 Cranefrost hung her head. "Ok." She slowly trudged to the nursery den and the scent of milk filled her nose.

Olivekit, Hollowkit and Scalekit ran around, squealing and tackling each other as they scrambled for the moss ball. Cranefrost's heart lurched as she remembered Acornshine as a kit.

So small.

So sweet.

So oblivious to the danger of life outside the camp. Cranefrost knew she wasn't ready for kits. But she couldn't turn back now. She couldn't control it.

Poppyfrost welcomed her in. She was a kind queen that looked after the nursery, the kits and the queens. The russet she cat with warm amber eyes beckoned Cranefrost forward with her tail.

"Everyone is scared on her first litter. It's ok." She assured her.

"I don't think I'm ready... after Acornshine died." Cranefrost whispered. Poppyfrost suddenly looked sad and Cranefrost remembered that she was Acornshine's mother.

"Acornshine sacrificed herself for you. She is watching you right now from Starclan and wants you to be happy. It may seem hard when you lose someone, but you can't hide from your life. It's ok to grieve, but don't let it affect your life." Poppyfrost advised kindly.

Cranefrost nodded solemnly.

After was the vigil. So many warriors had died- Cloudmist, Shrewwhisker, Songpaw, Flamebriar, Acornshine, Russel and Ryebrook. They had all fallen in battle and Thunderclan respected them.

Their bodies lay lim, although Flamebriar and Ryebrook's bodies weren't there.

Each cat went around remembering how the fallen were, and cherishing the memories they had shared with them. Cranefrost slept with Acornshine's body. It was stone cold. She longed to hear it beat again, but the life and effervescent spirit it had once possessed were long gone, as he body was dark and motionless.

Cranefrost squeezed her eyes closed and remembered her bubbly apprentice. She longed for things to go back to normal- how it was before the battle. Not complicated. Not dark. Just fun and happy.

But Cranefrost knew that the time of happiness for her was gone, and however much she willed herself to sleep and dream for a better place, she's just return to the same old miserable reality she lived in currently.

Redstar had leapt on the high rock and a clan meeting was held. Cleardawn had still recalled the words he had addressed the clan by.

"Flamekit and Birchkit you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. 

From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, Flamekit will be known as Flamepaw. Your mentor will be Snowfall. I hope she will pass down all she knows on to you. And Birchkit, from this day on until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Birchpaw. Your mentor will be Cleardawn."

Cleardawn was shocked and unprepared but she managed to pad up and touch noses will the light brown and white tabby tom. His blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and he whispered "I'll try really hard!"

 Cleardawn purred. "I know you will."

"Birchpaw!"

"Flamepaw!"

Redstar lifted his tail for silence. Apparently, he wasn't done yet. 

"Our deputy, Ryebrook died in the battle. I have decided it is time to appoint a new one. I say these words before , so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of Thunderclan is Cleardawn."

Many, many pairs of eyes turned to Cleardawn.

Her jaw hung.

"Me?"