Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 14

Stormpelt blinked his eyes open. He looked down at Heartkit, curled up next to him. Heat from Heartkit's small body warmed Stormpelt up. He smiled. Heartkit looked so peaceful he didn't want to disturb him but he needed to get up. Slowly, he crept away from Heartkit. Heartkit murmured incomprehensibly then slowly opened his eyes. He saw Stormpelt getting up and sprung to his paws suddenly. 

            "Where are you going?" he asked. 

            "I need to mentor Firpaw," explained Stormpelt. "Go to sleep alright? I'll come and see you later."           

           "Ok," murmured Heartkit. Stormpelt gave him a small loving lick then slipped out. Heartkit was left alone in the den. 

Stormpelt finally entered the camp an trotted to Heartkit after talking to Firpaw. 

            "Heartkit!" smiled Stormpelt. Rabbitleap passed them and shot Stormpelt a look. 

            "You've moved into the nursery?" Rabbitleap said, almost as an accusation. 

            "I'm not leaving Heartkit to sleep alone," replied Stormpelt indifferently. Rabbitleap scoffed. 

             "The deputy shouldn't be sleeping with his kit in the nursery," Rabbitleap said. Stormpelt sighed. He couldn't bring himself to be angry. He knew these kind of circumstances were not normal to the clan so they're normal reaction would be to treat it badly. He needed to change these cats' thinkings. 

             "I am the deputy, I take care of my Clanmates, of my Clan. Taking care of Heartkit is part of my job," Stormpelt explained. Rabbitleap opened his mouth to say something but closed it again and walked away. 

             "Right," he muttered as he padded off. Stormpelt sighed and led Heartkit to the nursery. 

            "I need to sort a few things, alright?" Stormpelt said. "I'll come and sleep with you later, go to sleep now though." Heartkit nodded numbly and retreated to the nursery without a word. Heartkit slipped into the den, feeling lonely. He had felt Stormpelt tense when Rabbitleap had accused him. He knew Stormpelt was not supposed to be with him in the nursery. He knew Stormpelt was slightly ashamed. Stormpelt watched as Heartkit disappeared into the den. He felt guilty for feeling slightly ashamed and embarrassed and hoped Heartkit hadn't sensed it. He knew he would never leave Heartkit alone. He loved him too much. 

Stormpelt snuck into the nursery and curled up next to Heartkit. He felt the warmth of his kit an love bubbling deep in him. Heartkit reminded him of Brightheart and he finally knew that Brightheart was happy and she was watching them proudly from Starclan. He licked Heartkit warmly in apology for getting mad at him. In apology for being busy all the time. Stormpelt frowned. Being a deputy took all his time and he had a kit now. A kit who didn't have a mother or a she-cat nursing him anymore. Heartkit needed him more than ever but Stormpelt's duties were keeping him from his kit. He sighed, he would have to do something about that.