THUNDERCLAN

Leader- Maplestar- Brown tom with black spots

Deputy- Nightfang- Black tom with large fangs

    Apprentice- Willowpaw

Medicine cat- Oaksong- White and brown tabby tom

Warriors-

Eaglefight- Black and brown, muscular tom

    Apprentice- Dirtpaw

Emberfur- Black tom with white ear tips

    Apprentice- Poppypaw

Owlbranch- Brown tom with white paws

Daisyroot- White she-cat with orange spots

Foxfang- Large orange tom

    Apprentice- Jaypaw

Briarnose- Brindle she-cat with white belly

Mosspelt- Brown tom

Redfeather- Red tom with black ears and tail

Breezewing- Grey and black tabby

    Apprentice- Cherrypaw

Feathertail- Lazy grey and white she-cat

Honeypetal

Apprentices- 

Willowpaw- Grey tabby

Dirtpaw- Brown tom

Poppypaw- small white and orange tabby

Cherrypaw- Pretty orange and white she-cat

Jaypaw- Grey and black she-cat

Queens

Swiftfoot- Sleek white tabby she-cat

Elders

Thornbrook- Blind brown She-cat

Whiteclaw- White and grey tom

Chapter 1

Cherrypaw's fur bristled with excitement, Jaypaw stood next to her, her sister's eyes glowing with anticipation.

The clan was already gathered around the High Rock.

Maplestar leaped onto the rock and called to Cherrypaw. Cherrypaw obediently stood up and padded over to the leader.

"I, Maplestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in turn." He looked at Cherrypaw. "Cherrypaw do you promise to 

uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," She answered, her paws prickling.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name." Maplestar continued, "Cherrypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cherryheart. Starclan honors your courage, as we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

Yowls of approval sounded through the clan, even Briarnose and Mosspelt, two cats that were never nice to Cherryheart were chanting her name. Maplestar said the same words to Jaypaw and gave her the name of Jayfeather. Joyous yowls spread through the clan, chanting the names of the two newest warriors.

Mosspelt walked over to Jayfeather.

"Now you can finally join us in the warrior's den," he said rubbing his cheek against Jayfeather's, purring.

"Come on, we have to sit vigil." Cherryheart told her sister.

Jayfeather twitched her tail in farewell before bouncing over to join Cherryheart.

"Out of all the cats in Thunderclan, you chose him?"

Cherryheart asked.

Jayfeather stopped in her tracks, "Why do you care?"

"Because. He used to make fun of us when we were kits. He used to make fun of Fernkit" Cherrykit said, a wave of sorrow hitting her.

"Well, he's different now." Jayfeather walked away, and positioned herself in the middle of the camp where they had to sit vigil.

The two sisters said nothing to each other, partly because they weren't aloud, and partly because they didn't want to speak to each other. At least Mosspelt isn't from another clan Cherryheart thought. She had been seeing Smokepaw for two moons and just a few sunrises ago he got his warrior name, Smoketail. A warm feeling rose in her chest at the feeling of telling him about her warrior ceremony but was soon replaced with cold dread. What would her clan think if they found out that she had gone against the code to see Smoketail? Sinking

her claws into the soil, she fought to stay awake before the sun rose.

Soon, the dawn patrol came out of the den stretching their sleepy limbs. Cherrypaw let out a sigh of relief as she made her way to the warriors den and flopped down on her new moss bed.

It was nearly sun high when Cherryheart stretched and padded out of the warriors den. She looked at the bustling camp, with Oaksong sorting his herbs in the sun, Swiftfoot's new pair of kits wrestling together as the elders watched with amused eyes, other cats sat nearby eating freshkill or napping in the warm sand. It's such a nice day! Cherryheart thought.

She padded up to her sister, who was sharing tongues with Mosspelt. Ignoring Mosspelt's greeting, she told Jayfeather that she was going hunting.

"I'll come too," Jayfeather suggested.

"Sorry, but I want to go alone." She said with a flick of her tail.

Cherryheart walked out of the camp and down the ravine, as pine needles crunched underfoot. She made her way to a small clearing and sat down. Soon, Cherryheart heard soft footsteps approaching, and her ears perked up.

"Cherrypaw!" Smoketail said happily as he rubbed his cheek against hers.

"Nope, I'm Cherry- heart now." She purred.

"That's wonderful news!" His always-amused eyes shone.

Together, the two talked about their clan's news, but they had an agreement never to use their conversations against the other's clan. Cherryheart told him about Jayfeather's behavior around Mosspelt, and Smoketail told her about Windclan's new kits and the loss of an elder. After a while, Cherryheart licked Smoketail's head and said goodbye to her mate. Before returning to camp, Cherryheart quickly caught a mouse. When she reached the camp's clearing, Jayfeather padded up to her.

"Just a mouse?" Jayfeather asked.

"It's all I could find," Cherryheart lied.

Jayfeather eyed her suspiciously and padded away. Dropping her pitiful catch in the freshkill pile, she laid down in the sun next to the warrior den. 

Cherryheart woke up with a stabbing hunger in her stomach. It was two moons since her warrior ceremony, and she had started to feel different. She heaved her sore body out of the moss nest and made her way to dirt place. After, she reached the freshkill pile, and took a large sparrow, devouring it in hungry gulps. Just as she was about to turn and head back to sleep, her legs seemed  to give out as she collapsed on the dusty

ground. Jayfeather, who had just returned from dawn patrol, rushed to her side.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She tried to get up but her legs staggered, "I just need some rest."

"I'm getting Oaksong," she said rushing away.

Cherryheart grunted in pain as Oaksong came with Jayfeather franticly explaining what happened. Oaksong studied her swollen belly and nodded when she told him about the hunger.

"Congratulations," He said as Cherryheart gave him a confused look, "You expecting kits, and their due soon. I suggest moving to the nursery." He padded away.

Chapter 2

"That's wonderful news!" Honeypetal exclaimed when Jayfeather told her.

"Yes," Cherryheart said with false cheerfulness.

"Who's the father?" Her mother asked.

"Uh, I am really tired, I'm just going to take a rest." Cherryheart walked into the nursery, where Swiftfoot was telling her kits, Ivykit and Berrykit, about the other clans, the two kits were listening intently.

"And Shadowclan has this really yucky smell." She told them.

Cherryheart settled on a comfey moss nest, lined with

feathers and bits of cotton. She could feel her kits moving restlessly inside of her as if they were trying to force their way out. Breezewing came into the nursery and placed a plump mouse in front of her.

"You must be hungry," she said as Cherryheart took a bite.

Night came and she was slowly lured to sleep as she listened to the kits snoring in the nest beside hers. 

Cherryheart stands in an open moor under a starless sky, the grass whispers in the night breeze, but the wind feels wrong- it's cold and sharp and carries the scent of Windclan. At first the wind carries her gently, almost like a comforting touch. But then it shifts, becoming fierce

and relentless, flattening the grass and pushing her backward. The horizon blurs, and she see's a lone Windclan tom silhouette, his eyes unreadable. From the darkness above, Starclan cats appear, their voices carried on the wind, overlapping and harsh,

"The moors breath does not belong in the forest"

The wind grows so strong it tears tufts of fur from her pelt, scattering them into the night, she hears the faint mew of kits, but the sound is swept away before she could reach it.

Cherryheart wakes up, her fur ruffled, heart racing, and the faint scent of moorland in her nose.

It was a mistake, I never should have been seeing 

Smoketail! She thought dreadfully, now Starclan's angry with me.

One moon later, Cherryheart woke to a horrible pain in her stomach, she lashed in her nest as the pain overtook her. She heard Swiftfoot, stir and then rush to her side.

"Oh, Starclan! I'm getting Oaksong." Her frantic footsteps padded away.

The pain became so great she felt that she could barely breath without sending a spasm of pain through her body. She hardly noticed Oaksong trying to give her herbs as she wailed in agony. 

"You're doing great," Swiftfoot said licking her ears.

She wailed louder as a tiny tortishell kit slipped onto 

the moss. Soon, she felt another kit, fully black this time, fall into the nest beside his sister. Cherryheart gave one last yowl of pain until a white and black tom tumbled into the nest, mewing loudly. She gave a sigh of relief as she noticed Honeypetal, Swiftfoot, and Oaksong staring down proudly. Cherryheart took a good look at her new kits. The tortishell she-cat looked like Honeypetal, but had her father's black accents in her beautiful fur.

"Specklekit." She said, "This will be Specklekit."

Cherryheart turned to the black tom, who was squirming angrily. She studied his dark fur, identical to his father's. 

"Coalkit," She whispered.

She then looked at the white and black spotted kit.

She acknowledged the soft patterns that almost looked like small stones.

"And Pebblekit." She said, looking at her new kits in awe. Maplestar entered the den and looked down at the kits, a mixture of disgust and disliking, he quickly changed his expression when he noticed Cherryheart was looking. Cherryheart still felt pain searing through her body, she groaned again, her body twisting awkwardly until a white she-cat fell onto the moss. She mewed loudly, squirming next to her siblings. Letting out a sigh of relief, Cherryheart started grooming her kit's untidy fur, while thinking of a name for the white kit.

"Her fur looks like snow," Honeypetal commented.

"Then that's her name. Snowkit." Cherryheart said drowsily.

Pebblekit pressed close to her flank, his tiny purrs echoing throughout the nursery. Swiftfoot's kits, Ivykit and Berrykit, were looking down at Cherryheart's four new kits.

"Can I play with them?" Berrykit asked, "I can teach them how to pounce and bite and-"

"They were just born!" Swiftfoot cut her off, "Give them a moon. Then you can play with them."

Cherryheart purred as Specklekit, Coalkit, Pebblekit, and Snowkit slept next to her flank, she loved her kits greatly, Now I have to tell Smoketail the news!

Honeypetal got up with Jayfeather, and walked out of the nursery. Oaksong told Cherryheart that her kits were completely healthy. Maplestar, who was still glaring at the kits, bent down and whispered in Cherryheart's ear.

"I know what you have been doing. Traitor." He said coldly before walking out.

Cherryheart couldn't believe what Maplestar had just said. How did he know she was seeing Smoketail? Oh no, she thought what if he tells the clan and... what if they hate me, what if they banish me? Pherhaps Smoketail will help me join Windclan but... but...  She trailed off, her eyes growing drowsy. Whetever happens, at least I have my kits.

Chapter 3

Cherryheart sat basking in the sun, watching Pebblekit wrestle with Coalkit, their clumsy legs sending small clouds of dust up into the air, Specklekit, who was sitting nearby. sneezed and launched herself at Coalkit. Snowkit was with Ivykit and Berrykit, the two bigger ones were showing her around the camp. 

"Cherryheart!" Coalkit's distressed mew made her jump up immediately.

"What is it?"

"I have a thorn in my paw." He said showing a tiny prickle in his paw.

"Okay, hold still." She grasped the thorn between her teeth and yanked it out.

"Thanks!" He said, already running back to tackle Pebblekit, his black pelt shining in the sun.

Cherryheart padded over to Swiftfoot.
"Hey, could you watch them for me?" She asked, "I just want to go for a walk."

"Sure!" She spoke, licking her paws.

"Thanks," Cherryheart padded away until Coalkit blocked her path, Pebblekit, Snowkit, and Specklekit bouncing beside him.

"Can we come?" Specklekit squeaked.

"No, I need a break from you kits. Make sure you behave

for Swiftfoot, and Coalkit, no biting."

"Awww," the kits said with dramatic disappointment on their faces.

Cherryheart left the camp, her tail brushing the newly fallen leaves as she made her way the Windclan border. She sat under an overhang rock and waited. Her ears perked up as familiar footsteps came toward her.

"Cherryheart!" Smoketail exclaimed, "Why have you not come to see me in so long!"

"I had kits," she said proudly.

Smoketail gasped in shock, "Are they-" he hesitated, "Mine?"

"Yup, all four of them!" She said as he gave a happy yowl.

"What are their names?" He asked, his eyes glowing with happiness and pride.

"Specklekit is the first born and she's a tortoisehell, then the second one is Coalkit, he looks exactly like you." She paused to let him give a happy leap, "Then the third born is Pebblekit, his black and white fur looks like rocks. And the last one is Snowkit, she has a white pelt."

"Wow," He said, "And their all ours." He intwined his tail with hers and licked her on the forhead.

"I'll bring them to meet you tomorrow." She promised.

"Great!" He exclaimed, "I can't wait."

On the way back to camp, Cherryheart could hear the shrieks of kits as she burst through the undergrowth. 

In a small clearing, Coalkit and Snowkit were crouching under a low rock, shivering with fear. Cherryheart could see why. A flame-colored pelt flashed into view. A fox! she thought, springing onto it's back, ferociously tearing at its pelt as it yelped in surprise. She saw a black tail near her kits, without thinking she clawed the fox in it's eyes and it shrieked and ran through the undergrowth. Cherryheart ran to the spot where she saw the flash of black and sighed in relief as Smoketail gently pushed the kits out of the rock's crevice

"Thank Starclan!" Cherryheart exclaimed.

Smoketail just looked at the kits in awe. Snowkit, who stopped shaking, backed behind Cherryheart.

"Cherryheart?" She asked, "Who is this?"

"Yeah, why is he looking at me like that?" Coalkit added.

"This is Smoketail." She answered, "He's your father." 

"Really?" Coalkit asked skeptically, "He doesn't smell like a Thunderclan cat."

"That's because I'm not." Smoketail said.

"Then how are you our father?" Snowkit piped.

"I am a Windclan cat, but I love Cherryheart," Smoketail answered.

"But that's against the code!" Coalkit answered, outraged.

"Yes, it is." Maplestar stepped out of the brambles, Cherryheart's heart sank to her paws.

"Who are you?" Smoketail said his fur bristling.

"I'm Maplestar. Leader of Thunderclan." He said looking at Smoketail, "I already know about this."

Smoketail's fur didn't stop bristling.
"If you haven't notice, you're in my territory." Did I see a glint of awe in his eyes? Cherryheart thought as Maplestar said these words. There it was again! Then Cherryheart started to notice that Smoketail had the same white tip at the tail that Maplestar had. It's just a coincidence, She said to herself, then her eyes recognized that the two toms had the same build. She gasped taking Maplestar's attention off Smoketail. She stepped back.

"H-how," she said, brambles brushing her fur.

Smoketail gave her a confused look, "What?"

"Maplestar..." She stared at him.

He lifted his head, "I thought you'd never notice." He said quietly.

"What is it?" Smoketail asked again, looking between the two.

"Smoketail," Maplestar said quietly, "I'm your father."

"Wait, wait, wait." Cherryheart jumped, she forgot Coalkit and Snowkit were there. "So Smoketail's my father and Maplestar's his father?" Snowkit asked with a confused look."

"It seems so." Smoketail said quietly, "That's why 

Windclan never seemed to accept me. Because my mother mated with a Thunderclan cat."

Smoketail ducked his head. "I should go back now."

"As should we." Maplestar said, nodding to the kits who were yawning and stretching.

When Cherryheart stepped into the clearing, Swiftfoot almost knocked her over as she sighed in relief at Coalkit an Snowkit.

"Cherryheart, I'm so sorry!" She said franticly "One moment the kits were here and then they weren't!"

"It's okay Swiftfoot, really. Their safe now."

Specklekit and Pebblekit were sitting outside the nuresery as Coalkit and Snowkit told them about the fox.

"All that matters is that no one was hurt." Cherryheart licked Coalkit's forehead.

"Oh yes, Smoketail came to save us!" Snowkit said excitedly.

"Who's Smoketail?" Specklekit asked.

"He's our father from Windclan." Snowkit said proudly.

"What!" A surprised and enraged yowl came from behind them. 

Cherryheart saw Swiftfoot staring at Cherryheart as if she were crowfood.

"You mated with a Windclan cat?" She questioned her angrily, "That's against the code!"

"I-" Cherryheart stammered. 

Swiftfoot backed away, "Keep those half-bred kits away from mine." She growled.

Cherryheart stared down at the ground.

"Mother, why is Swiftfoot so mad?" Snowkit asked.

"She just has bad temper, don't pay any attention to it." Cherryheart walked into the nursery and slumped down onto the moss, despite Swiftfoot's glare.

She going to tell the whole clan. She thought sadly. Cherryheart's kits snuggled close to her flank, snoring loudly. What am I going to do? 

Chapter 4

Cherryheart walked out of the nursery and stretched, her kits bouncing beside her.

"We're going to go play with Ivykit and Berrykit." Specklekit said, already dashing off with Snowkit.

Cherryheart padded over to the freshkill pile where she was met with Emberfur.

"Dawn patrol caught a lot to day," She said with false cheerfulness.

"Sure." Emberfur replied, refusing to meet her eyes.

Cherryheart's tail slumped down, and she could feel heavy sadness in her chest. Looks like Swiftfoot already