Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 28

"Stemkit let go of Squirrelkit!" She sighed, grabbing Stemkit's scruff. It had been three moons since the exile of Lionoak and her kits were getting big. Briarfang had come back the first moon of her three kits' lives and was turning into a better cat. She often helped with the kits. During leafbare the second moon of her kit's lives greencough had spilled through the clans. Only Waspear and Bramblestar lost their lives. Bramblestar was down to five lives but she was acting as if she was young again. Turtleheart looked up as Briarfang set down a vole for her. "Want to go on a walk? I can handle these three." She said.
Turtleheart padded to the medicine den and sat down, listening for her kits squeals. "I thought I would have an apprentice after the kits were born." Sparrowfeather's raspy voice sounded from the corner of the den. "I want to raise my own kits. Is that a problem?" She challenged. The tabby medicine cat turned quickly. "It is a problem when a medicine cat has kits! What do you think the clans are saying?" He growled. "The clans can talk. Speaking of, I thought a few moons ago Brackentail was supposed to meet his kits. They are asking about who their father is, you know." She glared. Sparrowfeather shrugged. "That's not my problem. You are interrupting me while I'm organizing these herbs." He turned, grabbing a mouthful of goldenrod and putting it where the yarrow goes. "That's where yarrow goes." She mewed. He huffed and put the herb in the correct spot. "Your eyesight is worsening." Turtleheart observed. "I should be able to retire but no. Windclan's other medicine cat wants to raise kits of her own." He hissed. Turtleheart flinched and backed from the den. Tears formed in her eyes as she laid in the clearing with a blank expression.
Around sunhigh, Bramblestar padded into camp alongside a brown pelted tom "Riverclan!" Graytooth hissed. "Easy now, Graytooth. I've only brought this tom to meet his kits." Bramblestar brushed her off. "Brackentail!" Turtleheart sniffled and bounded up to him. "Oh, i'm so glad to see you!" Brackentail purred "Where are my kits?" He added. "In the nursery, come and see!"
"They are beautiful. They look like they'd be good swimmers. Why can't they come to Riverclan?" Brackentail mewed. "Because, kits should be raised in their mothers clan." Turtleheart replied, getting annoyed. The tom had suggested her kits come live with him many times since sunhigh, it was now sunset. "But it is only fair, you are a medicine cat and Sparrowfeather is aging quite fast. Riverclan will fight for these kits, I'll have you know." He stood up. Anger flared in her body. "You're going to steal our kits from me?" She snarled. "These kits are mine. Graypounce was right, she can raise them with me just fine." He said. Hurt faltered in her eyes as she turned her head away. "Send your strongest battle waves and you'll never, ever take my kits away." She growled. "Leave now." Brackentail huffed and padded away.
"We must prepare for what is coming." Turtleheart stood on Tall rock next to her mother. "We are fighting for half-clan kits?" Stoneclaw rasped from next to the elder's den. Bramblestar hissed. "I'll fight for any of my kin. Even Lionoak if it came down to it. Train the apprentices harder. I want Lilypaw and Owlpaw to have their warrior assessments tomorrow. They'll be assessed by Mumblejaw and that's it. We cannot spare any more warriors out of camp." The cats nodded and padded to their dens.