Warriors: Storm and Flood

Chapter Seven

     Is Puddlepaw who they're smelling? Thrushtail wondered frantically. He kept silent as Riverclan trekked back to camp; Splashpelt padded beside him and glanced over, but said nothing as they both ducked under a tree. A war is going to be started over... Us?

"You don't know anything about the Thunderclan scents, do you?" Splashpelt meowed suddenly.

"Of course not," Thrushtail lied. "All I know is that some cat has been crossing the border." His pelt began to grow hot as he felt Splashpelt's green gaze bore into him. She said nothing else and walked a bit ahead of him. She doesn't believe me. He sighed and shook his head to clear his thoughts; there was no way any cat would accuse him of seeing Puddlepaw. He was the least likely out of every other cat.

"Thrushtail!" A harsh whisper startled him and he whipped around, seeing Puddlepaw's familiar pelt in a clump of reeds. He looked around to make sure no one else saw her; he ducked back while the rest of the clan moved forward.

"You shouldn't be here," he hissed, the fur on his neck rising. "If you're caught they'll shred you!"

"I have to see you again!" She protested, keeping her voice low. "It's been so long since we've seen each other, Thrushtail!"

"Puddlepaw, you need to go back to Thunderclan,"

"I'm Puddlepelt now," her mew had a twinge of pride, but it was quickly dismissed and her eyes grew sad. "Please visit tonight."

Sighing, he nodded. "In our usual place?"

"Of course!" Puddlepelt reached out with her muzzle and brushed it against his. "I love you."

Thrushtail suddenly felt at ease as he leaned into her mottled pelt; the world around him seemed to melt away, and it was just the two of them. "I love you, too."

The riverside was silent as Thrushtail hurried through the reeds; he kept his ears pricked for signs of any cat as he squeezed through the bramble thicket he had passed through several times before to see Puddlepelt. His pelt tingled with excitement and he passed through a clump of reeds, emerging in a clearing covered with moss and morning flowers. Puddlepelt hadn't arrived yet; she usually sat under the small willow that hung over the clearing, creating a lithe screen. I must be early. He thought and licked his chest fur.

The reeds behind him rustled and his tail shot up. He saw Puddlepelt squeezing through the reeds; she had grown since the last time he saw her; her pelt had thickened and her belly reached lower to the ground than it used to. Prey must be running well in Thunderclan, he purred and padded over to her, touching his nose to her muzzle. "You're not usually late." He pointed out.

"I haven't been able to get around as well," she meowed happily and sat next to him; there was a different light about her that Thrushtail couldn't quite place.

"Want to go for a run?" He asked and rose to his paws, flicking his tail. "It's a nice night. We could look at Silverpelt for a while."

"I can't do a lot of running at the moment," Puddlepelt's tone suddenly softened. "Sit back down. I need to talk to you."

Thrushtail did as he was told and sat back down; he searched Puddlepelt's face for any negative signs, but all that was there was pure joy. "Is everything okay?" He asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes, everything is wonderful," she meowed reassuringly, then her eyes brightened in the moonlight once more. "Thrushtail, I'm expecting kits. Your kits."

The forest around them seemed to go completely silent. Thrushtail stared at Puddlepelt with disbelief. "K-Kits?" He stuttered. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Puddlepelt purred, her chest puffing with pride. "They're due in a moon."

Kits! A rush of happiness flowed through him and he thrust his muzzle to hers, purring loudly. I'm going to be a father!

"Wait, how would we take care of them?" He asked suddenly, pulling away from her. "I'm in Riverclan and you're in Thunderclan. It would never work."

"I've thought about that," Puddlepelt murmured and looked up at him. "The only thing we can do is to leave the clans."

"Leave?" Thrushtail frowned. "I can't leave. I have kin here. I wanted to be deputy of Riverclan!"

"It's the only way our kits will survive!" Puddlepelt persisted, rising to her paws. Her tail bristling with obvious anger. "I can't take care of them on my own. They need their father to protect them." Her tone then softened and she sighed. "Please, consider it. I know being the next deputy means a lot to you, but we have a family now." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. Thrushtail's heart sank at the expression and he thought for a moment. I can't abandon them. He told himself.

Lifting his head, he blinked slowly. "I'll leave with you, but only once the kits are born. For now I have to stay with Riverclan. They need me right now." A cold wind blew in around them and he looked up; he saw Ashheart's silhouette gazing at him through the willow tree, her starry eyes glazed with sadness. Don't be foolish, Thrushtail. He heard the old cat's meow ring through his ears. You know what is right.