(reference: Rising Storm pg 174)

The late afternoon sunlight leaked between the leaves and twigs making up the roof of the nursery. Willowpelt's kits had grown, and now they were tumbling around their mother, mewing and squeaking as they played. Tawnykit sat near her own mother, watching the younger kits in amusement. Me and Bramblekit must have done that too when we were-

"Got you!"

Tawnykit let out a startled squeak as her brother pounced on her tail with sheathed claws. "Hey!" She spun.

He purred in amusement, his amber eyes gleaming. "You've always got your head in the clouds, don't you?"

She bristled and purred playfully. "Oh yeah?" She crouched and wiggled her haunches, ready to pounce on Bramblekit.

"Kits, settle down!" Goldenflower urged softly. "You've been jumping around like squirrels all afternoon."

With a twinge of disappointment, Tawnykit sat down, abandoning her attack on Bramblekit. "Sorry, Goldenflower."

As her mother licked her head, Bramblekit looked up at her. "I'm thirsty," He complained. "Can we get something to drink?"

Goldenflower raised her head and peered outside the nursery. Tawnykit followed her gaze and saw many cats in the clearing sharing tongues. "It shouldn't be long before a warrior brings us some water," She told them. "Be patient."

Sure enough, a few moments later, a cat entered the nursery, and Tawnykit started at the sight of the familiar flame pelted warrior. Fireheart! He was carrying a bundle of soaked moss in his jaws. The clan deputy himself!

He stepped closer and dipped his head as he placed the moss between the two queens, and Willowpelt purred gratefully. "Thanks, Fireheart."

"There'll be more after supper," He promised. As she and Goldenflower began to drink from the moss, Bramblekit hesitantly stepped toward Fireheart, staring up at him. Tawnykit pricked her ears and straightened. Would he say something to them?

But the clan deputy seemed to take no notice of them, instead keeping his green eyes fixed on the queens. "Brindleface is going to lead the other elders to the river once the sun has set and the woods are clear of twolegs."

Goldenflower raised her head from the moss, licking her lips. "It's been a while since some of them have been out in the forest after dark."

As Fireheart responded, Tawnykit felt her paws itch with excitement at the thought of going into the forest. It was beginning to feel like the world was no more than the ThunderClan camp.

"I'm looking forward to taking these three out into the forest for the first time." Willowpelt's meow broke Tawnykit from her thoughts, and she saw the pale gray queen licking Sorrelkit. Fireheart's attention was now focused on her.

"They look like they'll make fine warriors," Fireheart meowed as he watched Willowpelt's kits play. 

Tawnykit felt a twinge of envy. Lucky! Imagine getting a compliment like that from the clan deputy! 

Fireheart's eyes suddenly grew distant, and he blinked, dipping his head to the queens before turning away. Before he left, he paused, his gaze flicking to Bramblekit and Tawnykit.

Bramblekit's ears perked a little, and Tawnykit's pelt prickled under Fireheart's gaze. Is he going to say we'll make fine warriors too?

But to Tawnykit's disappointment, the warrior only mumbled a quick goodbye before slipping out of the nursery. It was quiet for a moment, then Bramblekit turned to her, his amber eyes clouded. "I-I guess he had things to do."

Tawnykit sighed, dropping her gaze. "He doesn't think we'll make good warriors," She muttered.

Goldenflower must have heard her, because she turned to her and gently nudged her with her muzzle. "No, no, don't be silly," She meowed quietly. "Fireheart is just upset about Cloudpaw."

Bramblekit blinked up at her. "What happened to him?"

I haven't seen him in the clearing for a while. Tawnykit realized. Being one of the only white cats in the clan, he was impossible to miss.

Their mother lowered her voice. "He's been taken by twolegs."

Tawnykit's belly twisted at the thought of being abducted by a twoleg. She'd never seen one, but Goldenflower had told her that they were tall, hairless creatures with monsters that could crush a cat. Poor Cloudpaw! He must be terrified.

"So he's a kittypet now?" Bramblekit asked curiously.

Goldenflower twitched her tail. "I suppose so." After a long moment, she purred and nudged the wet bundle of moss. "Come on kits, you're still thirsty, aren't you?"

Bramblekit hurried forward and began lapping at the moss, while Tawnykit followed more slowly. She couldn't shake the odd look that Fireheart had given them. He always seemed so awkward around them. More so than any other cat.

A thought suddenly struck her. Could Fireheart be our father?

***

"Bramblekit!" Tawnykit whispered, prodding her brother with a paw. 

He shifted in their nest and raised his head, blinking. "Wha-"

"Shhh!" She whispered. "Don't wake Goldenflower." She looked past him anxiously. She was still asleep, her pale ginger flanks slowly rising and falling. She wanted to speak to Bramblekit alone about her theory. She looked around. "Come on," She breathed and turned away.

Bramblekit slowly rose and blinked at her. "Where are we going?" He whispered.

She said nothing and waved her tail as she exited the den, hoping he was following. The clearing was empty, but through the thorn tunnel, she saw two cats on guard. She hoped they wouldn't hear them. 

She glanced over her shoulder, and when she saw Bramblekit behind her, headed to the edge of the clearing by the elders' den under the shadows of a clump of ferns. She peered around to make sure no cat saw them.

Bramblekit settled beside her, shivering. "It's cold out here," He muttered, looking at her anxiously. "What's so important?"

Tawnykit looked at him, her tail twitching. "I think I know who our father is!" She whispered.

His amber eyes widened. "You do? Who?"

"Fireheart!"

She was answered by silence, Bramblekit's face narrowing in confusion. "Fireheart..?" He breathed. "But... He acts stranger around us than anyone."

"Exactly!" Tawnykit whispered. "He has no reason to, unless we're his kits and he doesn't want us to know."

Bramblekit looked down, his tabby tail twitching. "I don't know..." He mewed thoughtfully. "Why wouldn't he want us to know? Besides, we look nothing like him. Surely our father is a tabby?"

I was so excited about my idea, I hadn't thought of that. She realized with a rush of embarrassment. Goldenflower was ginger, and yet Bramblekit was a dark tabby. "There aren't a lot of tabby toms in ThunderClan," She meowed.

Bramblekit narrowed his eyes as he thought. "There's Darkstripe... Runningwind... Dustpelt..."

Tawnykit considered the three toms thoughtfully. Could one of them be their father?

"Kits?" 

A soft meow snapped her out of her thoughts, and she gasped. A dark gray and black striped warrior was padding toward them, his amber eyes glowing in the darkness. It was Darkstripe.

Great, now we're in trouble! Bramblekit and Tawnykit stared up at him anxiously as his shadow fell over them.

"What are you doing out here?" Darkstripe asked, twitching his tail. "Shouldn't you be asleep in the nursery?" 

Tawnykit was surprised to find his tone soft rather than accusing and angry. Most warriors would likely have scolded them for leaving the nursery in the middle of the night. "We- um..." Her mind spun for an answer.

"We couldn't sleep." Bramblekit cut in, looking up at the warrior. "So we thought we'd play a game. We're sorry, Darkstripe."

The shadowy warrior studied them for a moment, then let out a purr. "Kits, always getting into mischief." He crouched and nudged Bramblekit lightly with his muzzle. "I did the same when I was your age. But you'd better get back to sleep, or you'll be tired tomorrow."

"I'm not-" Bramblekit objected, then broke into a long yawn, stretching his jaws wide open. 

Darkstripe purred in amusement. "Right. To the nursery." As Bramblekit turned away, he nudged Tawnykit gently. "If you're going to be the greatest warriors in the forest, you'll need your sleep, won't you?"

Tawnykit started forward, then stared up at the tom in awe. "You think we'll be the greatest warriors in the forest?" She whispered hopefully.

"I know so." Darkstripe's eyes gleamed fondly at her. "You and your brother are destined for greatness."

Warmth swelled through her, and she purred. "We'd better get our sleep then!" She hurried after Bramblekit. "Come on, Bramblekit!"

She felt Darkstripe's gaze on them as they slipped back into the nursery. Tawnykit settled in her nest and curled up against Goldenflower, a soft purr rumbling in her throat. Darkstripe believes in us. I hope he is our father!