Lost In The Stars (Book Two)

Chapter Eleven- Cloudpool

Cloudpool was utterly confused when the cats returned with a ShadeClan cat. She had thought they were attacking them, not sheltering them!

"Summer?" Coldwind asked, jumping up from his place beside Cloudpool. He bounced over to his sister, purring loudly. Cloudpool watched her mate, feeling a pang of pity after realising what Coldwind had left behind when he joined MudClan. His sister licked him on the ear affectionately, so Cloudpool guessed that she was welcome in their camp.

Frostpaw and Leopardpaw also greeted their sister. Cloudpool found herself walking to join them, settling down beside Coldwind. "You guys are lucky you got out." Summer was saying. "I understand why you left. Most of us ShadeClan cats are not as bloodthirsty as Bloodshed! I belong in ShadeClan because I was born there, but I don't think my kits deserve the same." She sighed.

Coldwind bent down to lick the little kits, purring intensely. "What are their names?" He asked.

"Viper and Pixie." Summer said proudly.

"You know," Came a voice, "If you really don't want your kits in ShadeClan, I can take them in." It was Dawntail, emerging from the nursery with Foxkit and Stormkit. "I just lost my daughter, Birdkit, so I have some extra milk."

Summer stared at her kits lovingly. Cloudpool knew all too well that a mother always wanted what was best for her kits, and she guessed that Summer was taking the offer into consideration. "That's very kind of you." She whispered, licking Viper on the head. "They won't do well in ShadeClan. Will you really take them?"

"What do you two think?" Dawntail looked at her kits. Foxkit spat at the other kits, but Stormkit dashed over to them, purring loudly. "Well, at least Stormkit liked them. She'll be happy to have some sisters around." Dawntail murmured. "They can stay here. Come visit whenever you like."

Summer stared at Dawntail gratefully. "That's so, so wonderful. I uh.. Didn't catch your name?"

"It's Dawntail." She dipped her head.

Summer looked at Coldwind, her ears pricked. "Can I trust her?" She whispered to him. Cloudpool looked away guiltily when she realised she wasn't supposed to hear that.

"Of course you can. She's one of my best friends' sisters, you should be fine." Coldwind replied. "I trust her."

Summer nodded. "Raise my kits well. I.. I hope I will see them again. I will report to Bloodshed that they have drowned in the river."

Dawntail licked her shoulder. "It was nice meeting you. I promise that your kits will do well."

"Thank you." Summer whispered, saying her farewells to her siblings and kits, then rushed away without another word.

Stripedstar, who had been watching from her den, padded over to join Dawntail. She sniffed the kits, then announced, "The kits will be called-"

"No!" Hawkstar cut her off. The GreenClan leader limped over to Stripedstar, his sides heaving. Frostytail and Rosepaw walked on either side of him, in case he were to fall. He was barely strong enough to stand. "Dawntail is a GreenClan cat. I will name her kits, unless she wishes to do it herself."

Stripedstar glared at him. "You can barely stand, and you want to make decisions for your clan?"

Hawkstar hissed. "I am still leader!"

"And who will succeed you? You have no deputy."

"Neither do you," Owlflight pointed out. "The clan is in a tough situation now. We shouldn't be fighting among ourselves."

"The clans, not clan." Sandtail spat at him. Cloudpool wondered why the sandy gold she-cat always insisted on being so difficult.

"Shut up, the two of you." Frostytail rolled her eyes.

"I'll name the kits," Stripedstar decided.

Hawkstar shook his head. "No, you won't."

"I will!" Dawntail finally broke in. "I would like Viper to be called Dustkit. And Pixie.. Can be called Squirrelkit."

"Okay.." Stripedstar looked uneasy. "Welcome to the clan, kits."

"Clans!" Hawkstar corrected. Cloudpool rolled her eyes, amused to see the leaders fighting like difficult apprentices. I wonder how long it will be until we establish clan boundaries again.