Spark { Warrior Cats Fanfiction ; Complete }

{twenty-three}

"Where in StarClan's name is Mintstar?" Sparkfur growled, wincing as Frostheart attempted to apply some cold cobwebs to her flank wound as they walked.

"He went out to MarshClan to talk about the next step in getting rid of the rogues before the battle broke out. A MarshClan tom was found dead on our border, meaning the rogues went through our territory or something like that." Berryfoot explained, stopping to check the air. He resumed walking again, staying close to Frostheart. "You said it was a bramble bush?" He flicked his ears to his sister.

      "No, just some undergrowth...." Sparkfur glanced around.

      "It's over here." Frostheart spoke up softly. "Can't you smell the milk?" She tipped her head to the side with a small smile. Sparkfur sniffed the air. Of course, I should have known...

      "Right." The golden warrior's fur grew hot and she swiftly bounded over some thick knotted tree roots that poked out of the cold ground. The bushes were piled up at the tree's side. She called out to her friend, "Grey..?" Small mews of kits answered them, and Berryfoot relaxed, having found them.

      "Spark..? Who are these cats-- er-- I mean-- Sparkfur." A broad gray face poked out. Frostheart smiled softly, pretending to have heard what the queen had said.

      "This is Frostheart and my brother, Berryfoot." Sparkfur mewed. Frostheart stepped closer to the bush, but Grey noticeably tensed.

      "Um, sorry-- may I?" Frostheart sheepishly pulled her ears back and looked up at the bigger cat. Grey blinked and picked up Briarkit, gently setting him down on the earth. He squirmed in protest, cold.

      "Oh, Sparkfur!" Frostheart murmured, her face soft. She began licking the kit's fur in the opposite direct, trying to preserve his minimal body heat production. "Is this the kit you said you were looking after?" She purred,wrapping herself around the dark kit. He instantly squirmed closer to her.

      "Well, I haven't done much of the looking after, I just merely picked it up-- I've only had it for a day or so, anyway, it's mostly--"

     "Oh, please tell me you're going to raise him?" Frostheart beamed, mismatch eyes hopeful. Sparkfur blinked, kneading her paws into the ground. I do but... I'm afraid I don't make very good mother material....

      "No, I think Grey is going to.. She's very nice, nothing like the rest of the rogues." Before Frostheart could protest, the tortoiseshell spoke up.

      "Sparkfur, where are my other kits? I would like to see them." Her Amber eyes bore into the three warriors, who glanced at each other.

      "Warriors are going to the other rain shelters as we speak to seek out and return kits and queens that we're to be harboring." Berryfoot dipped his head respectfully. Grey disappeared into the bushes for a moment, before returning with her own kit, a creamy colored one.

      "Let's get you guys back to camp. The queens love nursing back kits to health." Berryfoot leaned down, and picked up Briarkit. There was dried blood down the side of his ginger tabby face from a few new nicks in his right ear.

      "Although, I can't say they'll be as welcoming to a new cat as they will a new kit." Frostheart murmured. Sparkfur flicked her ear in agreement, and Grey looked down at her paws.

"As long as my kits can be raised safely." She murmured. "Come on, Florence..." She murmured to the creamy she-kit.

      The tortoiseshell queen gently picked up her kit, and Sparkfur glanced over to see Berryfoot with the small tom kit.

      "I'm going to help the other group." Sparkfur murmured, turning. Frostleap stepped in front of the weary golden tabby.

      "No way! You're coming back to camp-- there are just enough warriors to protect them, you on the other hand need to be treated. This cut on your flank is fairly deep..." She touched her white muzzle to where a heap of cobwebs were on the skin-and-bones she-cat. Sparkfur flinched away at the contact, twitching her ears.

"I suppose you're right...," she took off at a brisk pace, limping on her hind right leg.

A blur of red tabby suddenly rushed to catch up to her, and she turned her head to see Berryfoot padding along side her, having passed Briarkit off to Frostheart.

      "Hey, Sparkfur..." he began, his green eyes sparking an unreadable expression. The golden tabby turned to look at her brother. "You know, a lot has changed since you last were here." He twitched his tail, taking a large step so he didn't step on a bramble tendril.

      "Yes, I'm sure the clan has changed so much in two and a half moons, has it been?" Sparkfur mrrowed in amusement. Berryfoot nodded, all serious. "I'm sure I'll be able to figure out if something has changed." She added.

"I'm sure you will figure it out, I'm just not sure if you'll be okay with it..." He dropped back to pad next to Frostheart. Sparkfur narrowed her eyes and picked up her pace.

"I'm sure there's nothing that different." They neared the entrance, a wave of home sickness crashing down on the scrawny she-cat. She could see her little den just outside the camp walls, it even still smelled faintly of her and strongly of Frostheart. She cringed. It also smelled like Berryfoot. And something else... Her eyes widened. She quickly took long strides so that her head poked in.

A dark gray she-cat lay in Frostheart's best, five kits nestled at her side. She picked up her head, drearily.

"You're... Sparkfur? Right?" She murmured, sleep lacing her voice. Sparkfur curled her lip, her fur fluffing up.

"What is a queen doing in my den?" She whirled, growling. Berryfoot was padding up, Frostheart and Grey just behind him.

"She's taking care of my kits." Berryfoot growled, suddenly seeming to be able to defend himself.

Sparkfur breathed in deeply.

"I leave for two moons and you knock up some random she-cat?!" She hissed quietly, her eyes darting to look inside the den.

"No, you wool-brain!" Berryfoot growled. Frostheart took a step forward, gently setting Briarkit down.

"They're our kits. Berryfoot and I." She spoke, her eyes narrowed. Sparkfur blinked.

This wasn't what she expected.

AN

Sorry it's been so long. But I think this was worth it. Maybe.