River (Book 1) A Warriors Fanfiction

Chapter 8

    
•Brackenstar•

     Brackenstar huddled in his den. He hated rain more than anything. Except Darkmist, that was. Darkmist was his arch nemesis. It's funny how such a kind, loving cat came from him, Brackenstar thought, watching Beepaw tussle with his denmate in the clearing. Jaggedpaw and Beepaw were mock fighting. Brackenstar sighed happily. He wished he were as carefree as who he liked to think of as his son: Beepaw. He loved Beepaw like the little apprentice was his son. He loved him so much more than the ginger tom could ever imagine. Brackenstar felt guilty.
     Shouldn't his loyalty be to Dawnmist and her unborn kits? He ran out of his den into the rain and streaked across the camp towards the nursery. He stopped at the entrance and shook himself dry. "Dawnmist?" He asked, as his eyes slowly adjusted the pale light of the den. He heard a loud purr. A cream colored she-cat leaned against him.
     "Hey, Brackenstar." Dawnmist rubbed his muzzle with her own. "What brings you here?" She purred even louder this time.
     "I came to see you, obviously. I can't wait until our kits are born." He laughed. "How much longer now?"
     "Any day. Sedgefur told me not to panic if I get slight pains now and then." As if on cue, she gasped, the whites of her eyes visible. He pressed up against her. He fought the urge to wail even though he wasn't the one experiencing the pain.
     "Do you need me to fetch Sedgefur?" He asked frantically. She drew in a sharp breath. Then she gave a slight nod.
     "Yes, please." She managed. Brackenstar ran for the medicine den.
     "What in StarClan's name? Any cat would think that Dawnmist was about to start kitting!" Sedgefur appeared at the mouth of her den. "What happened, Brackenstar?"
     "It is Dawnmist." He panted. "She's having pains. She said you told her not to panic, but I don't think this is a 'slight pain.'" The old medicine cat called for her former apprentice, Bloomshade.
     "Fetch raspberry leaves, borage, and whatever else we use for kitting." She added. Brackenstar heard rustling in the den, and Bloomshade's apprentice, Mossypaw poked her head out.
     "Raspberry leaves? I think we're almost out." She mewed. Sedgefur huffed.
     "Just get whatever we have, then." She snapped. She and Brackenstar hurried toward the nursery. Dawnmist was on the floor, panting for breath. She lifted her head up as they entered. Brackenstar rushed to her side. Sedgefur pressed her paw against Dawnmist's swollen flank. She turned to him. "They're coming too early. One of them is the wrong way. I could feel it." Brackenstar stared at her, panic rising in his chest.
     "Is there anything you can do for her? Is there anything I can do?" He asked anxiously. Bloomshade and Mossypaw appeared on either side of him, jaws full of herbs. Mossypaw took her bundle of herbs over to Sedgefur. Bloomshade did the same. Then she pressed against Brackenstar's flank.
     "Dawnmist is strong. She'll be okay. The kits too." Brackenstar was grateful for her words, but all he could do was nod. Dawnmist yowled. His attention snapped back to his mate. Sedgefur was chewing up herbs for her while Mossypaw murmured something into her ear. Her shriek ripped through the air. Brackenstar lunged for her, but Bloomshade blocked his path. The tortoiseshell she-cat hissed slightly. "You'll do nothing but get in the way. Leave her be for now." He nodded again. He could see a spasm ripple through his mate's body.
     Dawnmist shrieked again and again. Something was wrong. Brackenstar could feel it; something was terribly wrong. He paced around the entrance to the den. Bloomshade was by his side the whole time, attempting to reassure him. He couldn't be calmed down. He was too worried about the beautiful cream she-cat lying in agony in her nest. It was quiet now.
What happened? He wondered. He poked his head into the den. Sedgefur looked up at him, her face expressionless. Bloomshade had her head bowed and Mossypaw was licking a small bundle. Two others lay beside her.
My kits? Brackenstar thought. It was dead quiet in the den. He hurried to where Dawnmist lay in her nest. She was deathly still. Too still for his liking. "I'm sorry, Brackenstar." Mossypaw whispered in his ear. "She's gone. She hunts with StarClan." She pressed close as he wailed and buried his nose her still fur. It was steadily growing cold. "Come meet your kits." She murmured. Brackenstar could only feel numb with grief as Mossypaw brought three tiny bundles to him. They wriggled when she set them down in the nest and immediately scrambled for their mother's belly.
Brackenstar couldn't bear to have them try to suckle from his dead mate. He gently pulled them away from her body and curled up with them. "Should we bring her out to the clearing?" Sedgefur asked quite coldly. He shook his head.
"Not yet." He croaked. "Let me grieve. Please." He huddled with his newborn kits.
"They need to eat, Brackenstar. What will we do? There is no other queen in SkyClan." Mossypaw pointed out sensibly. Brackenstar nodded.
"We'll have to take to another Clan. One of the other Clans must have a nursing queen." He mewed decidely. He glanced down at the kits; one tom and two she-kits. Bloomshade's mouth dropped.
"Another Clan? You'd really give up your kits to another Clan?" She asked incredulously. Sedgefur huffed and left the den
"Not give them up. Just until they're weaned." He replied. The tom squirmed. He yawned and snuggled up next to his sister. Brackenstar would have to give them names soon. The tom was cream, like his mother, while his sister had Brackenstar's own fiery orange pelt. The other she-kit was a pale ginger with brighter orange patches. He purred slightly, the joy of seeing his kits overwhelming his grief. Mossypaw settled down next to him.
"You should give them names. You wouldn't want another Clan to name now, would you?" Brackenstar saw sense in the pretty tabby's words. He stared down at the tiny, perfect little bodies.
"Dawnmist wanted one of them to be named Patchkit. We had talked about names just a few days ago. The little ginger she-kit will be Patchkit." Mossypaw nodded.
"What about her sister?" She prompted. Brackenstar looked down at her. Her pelt was identical to his. Grief clouded his mind for a few moments before he answered.
"She will be named after her mother. Her name will be Mistkit." He decided. "Their brother will be-" He broke off as the tom yowled. Brackenstar saw razor-sharp claws slide out. "Wolfkit, for his bold personality. I can tell that he will be a little fighter already. Patchkit, Mistkit, and Wolfkit. Welcome, my little ones."
***
Brackenstar, Mossypaw, and Beepaw each had a kit in their mouth. Brackenstar was dreading this. He didn't want to give up the kits that he had only just met. They were going to go to ThunderClan, if Lightstar would accept them. Wolfkit swung from his jaws and let out a high-pitched shrill. The little tom was going to be very bold, that was for sure. Brackenstar halted at the border, and signaled for his Clanmates to do the same. He dropped Wolfkit in between his paws.
"We will wait for a patrol." He said. Mossypaw and Beepaw nodded. A little while later, the leaves rustled and a black she-cat burst through the bushes. Her fur bristled when she saw the SkyClan cats.
     "Brackenstar. What a pleasure." She mewed drily. "What do want?"
     "Hollypelt," Brackenstar dipped his head. "We wish to speak with Lightstar." The rest of Hollypelt's patrol fanned out behind her. They escorted Brackenstar and his Clanmates towards the ThunderClan camp. The white she-cat, Icewing, padded next to him.
     "What are you bringing kits here for?" She asked curiously. Brackenstar flicked his ear to show her that he had heard, but he had no intent in dropping Wolfkit to tell her. He simply pressed on. She snorted, although she didn't sound hostile like her Clanmates. They arrived at ThunderClan's camp soon after. Lightstar leapt down from the Highledge as they entered. His gaze flicked to the SkyClan cats. Brackenstar could tell that he was surprised, though he hid it well.
     "Greetings. What can I do for you?" He hesitated slightly. Brackenstar knew that he had almost called him 'brother.' He gently set down Wolfkit.
"I have brought my kits here. They need someone to nurse them. Dawnmist is dead, and we have no other queens. I ask only that one of your queens nurses them until they can be weaned." Brackenstar pleaded. Lightstar nodded.
"I will ask Pinefrost. Oakpool, would you fetch her, please?" The white tom asked. The dark tabby warrior was soon back with a dark gray she-cat. Brackenstar dipped his head to her.
     "Will you nurse my kits, please?" He asked. "My mate, Dawnmist, died during their birth." Pinefrost's gaze softened.
     "Of course, if it's okay with Lightstar." She said with a glance at her leader. "I'm sorry for your loss." Brackenstar mewed his thanks before passing Wolfkit over to her.
     "Be good, my son. Know that I love you. I'll see you soon." Wolfkit gazed up at him with wide eyes. The newborn kit trembled.
     "Why do I have to go?" He asked innocently. Brackenstar nuzzled him.
     "Be a good kit and don't question. Pinefrost will take care of you." He said simply. He nudged the kit toward the dark gray queen. "This is Wolfkit. The other two are Patchkit and Mistkit." Pinefrost nodded. Mossypaw and Beepaw padded up with his other kits. They set them down in front of her. Brackenstar nudged Patchkit. The little ginger-and-orange kit huddled beside her brother. Mistkit did the same.
"G'bye, Brackenstar." She mewed, gazing up at him. "See you soon." She rubbed against him one last time before he was able to tear his eyes away. He purred and licked the top of her head.
"Yes. I'll see you soon," he promised. He and his Clanmates left the camp and head back toward their territory. Brackenstar wasn't ready to go home yet, though. Instead, he veered toward the edge of Clan territory. He needed some space to process what had just happened. "You guys go on ahead. I need a bit of time." Mossypaw stopped.
"I understand, but you're heading out of Clan territory. Who know what dangers are out there? If you're going to go there, let us come with you." Beepaw nodded eagerly, his eyes shining. Brackenstar suspected the young tom was eager at the prospect of going somewhere most cats never went. He sighed and dipped his head.
"Very well." He mewed reluctantly. "You may come with me." They were soon on unfamiliar land. Brackenstar tasted the air for any scent of danger. The air was clear. He broke into a run, not caring if Mossypaw and Beepaw kept up. He stopped by a clear, bubbling stream. He then saw the shape of a golden-furred cat by the edge. As he watched, the cat hurled itself into the swirling water. Brackenstar ran for the stream. He dove in to save the cat. Now that he was close, he could tell it was a young tom, around Beepaw's age. He faintly recognized the scent. He gripped the tom's scruff and yanked him up. The little cat's weight dragged him down. He fought the urge to let go and swim to the surface for a breath.
He churned his paws and pushed upward. He gasped for breath when he reached to surface. He dragged the apprentice onto the bank. The young cat coughed up a mouthful of water.
"Why did you save me?" He asked weakly. He pulled himself up to his paws. Brackenstar snorted angrily. This cat had gotten him drenched and cold. This is how he was going to thank him? This arrogant young tom had a faint trace of ThunderClan on him.
"Don't you want to be saved? You were drowning, for StarClan's sake!" He snapped. The golden tom lashed his soaking wet tail.
"I did that on purpose so I could end my miserable life!" He retorted. "Why else would I hurl myself in? I've had enough with my horrible life!" His hackles were up. He then relaxed. "Brackenstar?" He gasped. "What are you doing here, outside of Clan territory?" Brackenstar stared at him, confused.
"Nevermind what I'm doing here. What about you? You're a mere apprentice!" He exclaimed. The tom growled.
"I'm no apprentice! My name is Sun, just Sun. I'm a-a loner." Brackenstar saw Sun slide out his claws. He peered closer at the golden-furred, amber-eyed tom.
"Sunpaw? You're not a loner! You're a ThunderClan apprentice. The medicine cat apprentice, if I'm not mistaken." He circled around Sunpaw. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I told you. I'm here to end my miserable excuse for a life. That's all there is to it." The young tom snapped at the SkyClan leader. He stalked off with his tail held high. Brackenstar darted ahead and cut off his escape. Mossypaw and Beepaw caught up to him, out of breath.
"Brackenstar. Where did you run off to?" Mossypaw asked. She stumbled to a halt. Her eyes widened when she saw Sunpaw. "Who's that?" She added. Brackenstar jerked in front of him again.
"This," he growled, "is a bird-brained, runaway, ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice named Sunpaw." Beepaw sniffed him. Sunpaw flinched and scooted away.
"Get away! I don't like little apprentices sticking their noses in my fur!" He snarled. Beepaw smirked, but it was friendly.
"I might be little, but I'm older than you. You haven't even been an apprentice for a moon!" He laughed, his eyes sparkling. Sunpaw looked horrified, as though he realized he'd just addressed the older tom rudely.
"I-I'm sorry." He stuttered. He ducked his head, seeming embarrassed. Brackenstar huffed. Sunpaw is such a mouse-brain. He thought. He circled the young apprentice.
"Show some respect for others." He grunted. He sighed. Suddenly his pelt pricked. He felt as though someone was watching him. He glanced around to see if the others felt the same. Every cat had their fur bushed, and their ears back. The scent of rogue flooded the clearing.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"