Ashfur & Squirrelflight

Chapter 9

Ashfur's POV

~A Moons Later~

I picked up a squirrel from the fresh-kill pile and brought it to the nursery for Squirrelflight. I walked and Squirrelflight spotted me right away. "I want you to help me name the kits." She said. "Oh ok." I said. "I got a name for the she~cat." She said, looking down at the tiny ginger she~cat with black paws and a white tipped tail. "Foxkit"

"Beautiful..."I purred, as I looked and the kit with black specks on his body and had my gray fur. "I want to name this one Stonekit." I said, pointing to the kit. "And this one?" She said, pointing to the little tom that looked like Tawnystar but was ginger with gray speckles on him. "Robinkit." I stated simply. "Cute!" She said. I purred as I looked down at the kits. I will protect you kits with my life! Just like I protect your mother. I thought to myself. "I brought the squirrel for you to eat if you're hungry I need to go get patrols ready for the day." I said to Squirrelflight, nuzzled her quickly before padding out of the nursery. "Oh and I have Ravenpaw and Crowpaw. I'm going to ask Graystripe for help." I said.

Squirrelflight's POV

I watched as Ashfur went out the nursery entrance. I looked down at my kits and realized that Foxkit, my youngest kit at birth, started opening her eyes. Her eyes look like mine but with one blind eye. My mother, Sandstorm comes in and looks at me and the kits. "Her eye is it...?" She said. I nod, "I have no idea if she's going to be able to hunt..." I said quietly to her. "Sweety, She's your kit... I betting she'll be an amazing hunter and fighter just like her mother and father!"

Stonekit and Robinkit slowly opened their eyes after their sister. Brightheart was studying little Foxkit's movements. "If I wasn't having kits I could train her!" She told me. "Brightheart even if you could what about your kits, they need their mother." I told her, looking at her newly born kits next to her flank. 

I peered out of the nursery to check on my kits and I happen to see my niece, Hollyleaf playing with the kits so I squeeze out and watch them. Leafpool padded up to me, "Um... Ashfur...." She began, looking in the opposite direction. "What..?" I said, looking in he direction she was looking in and saw Ashfur with another she~cat, Poppyfrost. I gasp, and looked at Leafpool. "Can you.... Watch the kits for me, Leafpool...? I need some fresh air..." I said. "Um... Yes of course..." She said, looking at the kits. I got up and padded out of camp, tears filled my eyes as I broke into a run.

I startled a patrol that was heading back to camp as I ran but never looked back. I came to a stop beside Shadowclan border. A saw a Shadowclan patrol from afar and just peered into the lake. Watched the ripples upon the lake, it was an endless cycle of ripples just like my feelings that were slowly fading away. I extended my claws and slashed at the ground, my eyes were full of pain and hate. "I need to leave for a little bit... Stay away from the clans.... I can't bear it any longer.... but I will take my kits and Leafpool should come with me... maybe Lionblaze and Hollyleaf...." I said. I padded slowly back to camp after dark and Leafpool was waiting for me. 

"You were gone for awhile..." She said, quietly seeing that the clan was asleep. "I need to leave..." I said, in a whisper. "Leave the clans?" Leafpool asked queitly, but also disbelievingly. "Yes... I'm taking the kits with me... But I want you, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf to come with me." I told her. Leafpool looking at the ground deep in thought. "I'll go get them..." She said. "Because i can see the pain in your eyes and I know you can't deal with it." 

She padded away and I quietly padded to the nursery and look at the kits sleeping in a tiny pile in my nest. Lionblaze and Hollyleaf quietly came in after me. Lionblaze quietly and gently picked up Robinkit and Hollyleaf picked up Stonekit. I bent down and picked Foxkit and quietly left the nursery and saw Cinderheart was also with Leafpool. "It's ok. I'm coming with you. Extra protection the better." She said softly. I nodded and padded out through the dirtplace tunnel and climbed to the top of the cavern peering back as the first light of a new day began. "Let's go before they realize we're gone." Leafpool said. 

I nodded and we began our journey. The kits began to wake up slowly as we crossed over the last bit of Riverclan territory. I saw the mountains that I crossed many moons ago making the journey with Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Crowfeather when he was Crowpaw, Feathertail (~A/N - R.I.P Feathertail) And Stormtail. 

Cinderheart took up the rear and Leafpool took the front, I took the place behind her, the Lionblaze, and then Hollyleaf. We started our slope up the mountain. We jumped the gap without dropping the kits. I watched as some dark looking clouds started coming towards us and we started looking for the Tribe. I heard a mew in the distant. "Brook!" I said, after dropping Foxkit. "Oh my Squirrelflight! And you have kits!" She said, looking at Foxkit. "Come on we need to get you in the cave." 

Brook lead us into the Cave and Stormtail spotted us. "Squirrelflight! Leafpool! Lionblaze! Hollyleaf!" He stated. I dropped Foxkit at my paws and touch his nose in greeting. "Why hello Squirrelflight!" I heard Stoneteller, formally know as Crag, said. "Hello Stoneteller." I dipped my head to him. I noticed he spotted my kits. He looked at Brook and nodded. "Brook will get you settled." He purred. 

"Thank you Stoneteller." I purred back. I followed Brook along with Lionblaze and Hollyleaf and they settled Robinkit and Stonekit down in a nest. I placed Foxkit with them. Leafpool examined them, "They seemed to be in good shape." She told me. I sighed in relief. I curled up around them and fall asleep. 

Ashfur's POV

I woke in my nest. Squirrelflight! I quickly made my way out of my nest, out the warriors den, and over to the Nursery. I peered in and saw only Brightheart and her kits, No Squirrelflight or the kits. But I could smell her, Lionblaze's and Hollyleaf's scent. I traced their scent to dirtplaceand that's when it hits me like boulder. "They lefted..." I said. I yowled loudly and every warriors was up and out of their nests when they realized there was something really wrong. Firestar was on Highledge and looked down at the gathering clanmates below. He looked at me and shook his head as if saying 'you know why she left', I hung my head in shame."My clanmates! I know that we're worried about Squirrelflight. But...." Firestar began but got interrupted Jayfeather and Poppyfrost. "Cinderheart, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze is also gone!" Poppyfrost said. "And Leafpool!" Jayfeather growled. "SILENCE!" Sandstorm screeched. Everyone turned to look at her. I looked at Firestar, who sat there in shock that his mates outrage. "We need search patrols to see where they went..." Firestar said but was interrupted by Tawnystar padded through the entrance, with Crowfrost, Ratscar, Tigerheart, and her Deputy Dawnpelt.  

"Firestar! I need a word with you." Tawnystar said, sickly calm for her. Firestar ears perked up, and was clearly listening. "Yes, Tawnystar? I'm listening!" He said from where he was. "Look I'm not trying to start trouble but A scent of Thunderclan warriors was scented on our land and it seems they were heading for the mountains and one seemed to have a milk scent." she started. "I'm willing to send some warriors to the mountains with some of your warriors..." She said, looking back at Ratscar, Tigerheart, and Crowfrost. I looked at Firestar, who seemed lost in thought. "Very well, Ashfur, Dovewing and Sandstorm. You may go." He said. 

Jayfeather came to me with Traveling herbs. "Firestar?" I said. He looked at me. "May I bring Ravenpaw and Crowpaw with us?" I asked. Firestar nodded as if understanding. "It might do them some good to know about the tribe and how they do things there." He said after a few moments. "Tribe?" I heard Ravenpaw peep up. "The Tribe of Rushing Water! Long before you were born, all four clans made a Great Journey to the Lake where we settled where we are today." Tawnystar said. "Every warrior knows that story." 

Jayfeather passed out the rest of the Traveling herbs. When Firestar came up beside me, "You bring my daughter and my kin home safely. Graystripe will take your place while your gone." He said. I nod, "Tawnystar we will escort you back to camp and then we'll be off." I dipped my head to her. "Thank you Ashfur." She purred. When we left camp, escorted Tawnystar and Dawnpelt to their camp and she said her goodbyes, we left the clan territories and found found ourselves tracking Squirrelflight's scent along with Leafpool, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze, but no scent of the kits anywhere. They must have carried them the entire time, I thought but as we got closer to the mountains they're scent got little by little stronger. We picked up the pace as we climbed up. I'm coming Squirrelflight! I yelling in my head.