The Beginning Of Leafpools Secret

Leafpool padded through the thick white snow, her white chest barely visable against the frosty particals. Her stomach was plump with kits. Crowfeathers kits.

Though she was pregnant, Leafpool knew that she had to keep going as a medicine cat, and not move to the nursery like other queens. Why? Because she was a medicine cat. She wasnt supposed to have kits, especually with a Windclan warrior.

The tabby she-cat padded around trees, sniffing at a frosty clump of bracken in hopes of finding any herb that survived the frost.

Leafpool lifted her head and sighed. Nothing. Suddenly a sharp pain like a foxes claws snapped at her stomach. She gasped, crouching. She knew what was happening. She had seen Ferncloud, and Sorreltail do it. It was time for these kits to enter the world.

"No..." She clenched her teeth in pain. Every instinct was telling her to yowl for Squirrelflight, or Sandstorm... Someone. But she could not reveal her secret.

She spotted a long root in front of her,covered with holly. and she dragged herself over, laying carefully in the curve of the tree and the root. Leafpool struggled not to wail in pain as a sharper pang sliced at her belly.

She took a deep breath and pushed. After some struggle, she spotted a golden bundle roll out onto the frosty earth. Leafpool began to panic. Who would nip the sack?

She stretched her white paw forward, pulling the kit towards her. She gave it a nip, and the kit rolled out of the sack. Its a tom. She thought, smiling. The tiny golden kit let out a yowl of shock when the icy snow touched his fur.

Leafpool pulled him close to her stomach. "Shh, its alright." She whispered, licking his head comfortably. As if he understood, the tiny tom relaxed and began to suckle.

Another sharp pain hit her. Soon a tiny black kit tumbled out. Leafpool nipped the sack like she had done with the tom.

The she-kit looked at Leafpool with a piercing green gaze. then she pawed at one of the holly berries that had fallen off the branch. She let out a squeal of excitement, rolling the red berry on her paw.

Leafpool laughed and gently pulled her towards her belly. Not long after, a gray kit tumbled out of her.

Leafpool rolled him over to her and nipped the sack. The kit let out a hiss of annoyance, rolling onto a twig. the twig snapped, and above in the tree, a blue jay let out a startled cry, flying away. As he did so, on of its feathers floated down, landing on the gray tabbys back. He let out a growl, swiping at the feather.

Soon the kits were all suckling. Leafpool looked down at them happily. She had three beautiful kits. But the happiness soon faded. What could she do? She couldnt bring them to Crowfeather. He had a new mate and kit now. She couldnt raise them as her own. Thunderclan needed a medicine cat.

But now she had a reasonable thought. Squirrelflight! She pictured her and Brambleclaw, happily nuzzling. She didnt have kits. What if...

Leafpool got to her paws, gently nudging the three kits off of her. They looked at her, confused, and wailed.

"Shh, dont worry." Leafpool soothed them, lapping each one on the head. "Ill be back." Looking around, she scooped up each kit and put them under a clump of bracken. With a last look at them, she ran to camp.

I have to find Squirrelflight! She thought. She was nearly at the camp when she barreled into a cat, falling to the ground. Oh no! She thought, terrified. No cat can know!

"Leafpool?"

Leafpool froze, relief flooding over her when she recognized her sisters voice, and her ginger fur. "Squirrelflight!" She gasped, scrambling to her paws to face her.

"Whats wrong?" Squirrelflight tilted her head. "You look like theres a hoard of foxes after you."

"Come." She meowed urgently, nodding in the direction she came. Without a word, she darted off.

She was aware of Squirrelflight behind her as she reached the bracken. She lifted on of the leaves.

"What are you-" Squirrelflight began, only to freeze when she saw the kits. "Kits!" She exclaimed. "Whos are-"

Leafpool sat, looking at her paws.

Squirrelflight stared at her sister. "Oh Leafpool..."

Leafpool looked up, her eyes full of grief. The kits mewed, looking up at her. "You have to take them." She rasped.

Squirrelflight stared at her. "What?"

"They're Crowfeathers." She began to plead. "The clan cant know! Please, Squirrelflight, take them. Raise them with Brambleclaw. Give them the life i cant give them."

Squirrelflight rested her head on Leafpools. "Alright, alright. "She meowed softly. She looked at the kits. "What should i name them? How about-"

Leafpool broke in. "No. I... Ive already named them." She pointed with her tail at the golden tabby kit. "Thats Lionkit. When he was born, he yowled like a lion." Lionkit gazed at Leafpool, tilting his head.

Squirrelflight nodded slowly. "What about the black one?"

"Hollykit." Leafpool meowed. "She likes playing with holly berries." Hollykit looked at Leafpool, love glittering in her eyes.

"And thats Jaykit." Leafpool finished. "A Blue jays feather fell on-"

Suddenly Jaykit stumbled backwards,over the tree branch, and fell into a thorn bush. He let out a screech of pain.

Leafpool gasped. "Jaykit!" She leaped into the thorn bush, pulling out her kit. Blood was dripping from his eyes as he wailed.

Squirrelflight gasped in terror. "He must have gotten thorns in his eyes!"

They both worked quickly, and after a while, Jaykit had stopped wailing, and his eyes had stopped bleeding.

Leafpool sighed, relieved. "He's alright..." She suddenly noticed Jaykit stumble forwards, into the tree. he hissed with annoyance, shaking his head.

Leafpool froze. "He's blind!" The thorns must have been too much for such a new kit.

Squirrelflight blinked with worry. "Will he be alright?"

Leafpool calmed herself, sighing. "Yes. I was just surprised..." Bringing her self back to reality, she turned to Squirrelflight. "Lets get back to camp. Act like you gave birth."

She picked up Jaykit by the scruff, and Squirrelflight grabbed Hollykit. Squirrelflight glanced at Lionkit. "What about him?" She mumbled.

Leafpool blinked uneasily. "We cant leave him! A fox might get him." She suddenly had another idea. She put down Jaykit. "Squirrelflight, yowl for Brambleclaw." She meowed. "Like its urgent."

Squirrelflight put down Hollykit, narrowing her eyes at Leafpool. Leafpool knew at once she understood. Squirrelflight lay in the curve of the tree, nudging the three kits towards her. They each layed down with her. "Im going to tell Brambleclaw the truth."

Leafpool sat up. She hesitated. "Alright..." nodding to Squirrelflight, she added. "Now."

"Brambleclaw!" Squirrelflight screeched loudly.

The kits bristled in shock.

Moments later, Brambleclaw burst out of the bushes. "Squirrelflight!" He raced over, freezing in shock when he saw the kits. "Kits?" He exclaimed, shocked. "Are they..."

"I was looking for juniper," Leafpool began, lying. "I found her here, giving birth. Luckily i made it on time to help her."

Brambleclaw stared at Squirrelflight. "I didnt know you were expecting kits."

Leafpool flicked her tail impatiently. Mouse-brain! Arent you happy? She pushed the thought away. This was the cat who would father her kits.

Brambleclaw suddenly rushed forwards, nuzzling Squirrelflight. "Im so happy for you, for us." He purred, looking at the kits. "Have you named them?"

Squirrelflight flashed a glance at Leafpool. Leafpool understood. Brambleclaw was pleased. she couldnt break his heart now by telling him they were really Leafpools. Squirrelflight sighed, meowing. "Hollykit, Jaykit, and Lionkit."

Brambleclaw blinked warmly. "They're beautiful." He got to his paws. "Lets get to camp." He picked up Lionkit. "Squirrelflight, get Hollykit." He mumbled. "But lean on me. You must be tired."

Squirrelflight got up and grabbed Hollykit, padding alongside her mate.

Leafpool picked up Jaykit and followed them. She was giving up so much. But somehow she knew these kits would be Thunderclans greatest warriors. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw would raise them well...