Fire and Ice/Chapter 21

Chapter Summary
 Fireheart's PoV 
 * Fireheart is looking at the kit that Princess has brought to him. She explains that her housefolk will choose where the rest live, but she wants her firstborn to live with Fireheart. Fireheart imagined him in the Clan, and thought that there would finally be another cat in ThunderClan that was a kittypet. Princess says that she knows Fireheart was upset about his other apprentice, and that having one that's his own kin would make him feel less lonely. Princess says that she would be honored to have her son in the Clan, and Fireheart says that he'll take her son with him. He picks up the kit, and Princess says that he might even become leader one day. Fireheart looks at her, and worries about the kit's safety. He worries that the kit might not make it to newleaf, because his Clan's camp is infected with greencough. The kit's scent soothed him, however. Fireheart is confident that his sister's kit will survive the disease. He realized that he should hurry back, because the kit is getting cold. He blinks a farewell at Princess, and hurries off in the direction of the camp.


 * Fireheart notices that the kit is heavier than he thought. By the time he reaches the ravine, his neck aches. At the entrance to the camp, Fireheart hesitates. He wonders how he would explain the kit, but he realizes that it's too late now. Several cats turn to look at Fireheart as he arrives at the clearing. Both of the hunting parties had returned, but Graystripe was missing. Other cats left their dens because of the noise, and the kit's unfamiliar scent. The other cats all stared at Fireheart with a puzzled look in their eyes. He turns to look at all the cats as Bluestar emerges from Yellowfang's den. She questions Fireheart, and he says that it's his sister's kit. Other cats question that he has a sister, and Longtail says that the kit is from Twolegplace. Bluestar asks if that's true, and Fireheart admits that it is. He says that she gave him the kit because he told her about Clan life and how great it is. He goes on to say that he hasn't been visiting Twolegplace long, and that he's only gone there to see his sister.


 * Darkstripe questions Fireheart's loyalty to the Clan. Other cats ridicule the fact that Fireheart brought another kittypet into the Clan. Tigerclaw asks why he brought it here, and Fireheart states that it's because the Clan needs warriors. He realized that he must sound ridiculous. Runningwind says that the Clan already has enough to worry about. Mousefur agrees, saying that it will be nothing but a burden. Whitestorm says that the cat will be too soft, because it is a kittypet. Fireheart challenges him by saying that he was a kittypet, and that he's not soft. Graystripe emerges from the crowd, saying that if it has Fireheart's blood, it will be a good cat. The other cats turn to look at him. Darkstripe challenges him, saying that Graystripe doesn't know if he has worthy blood. Bluestar says that she believes Fireheart meant no disloyalty by bringing the kit back to the camp, but that it isn't his decision to make. Fireheart panics, thinking that bringing Princess' kit to the Clan endangered his position. Other cats add that the kit probably won't survive until newleaf, and that it will have greencough very soon. Bluestar says that she must think about it, and goes to her den. The rest of the Clan leaves the clearing.


 * Fireheart takes the kit to the warriors den. He curls around the small kit, and closed his eyes. He feels as if the Clan has disowned him. Graystripe settles into his nest, and Fireheart thanks him for sticking up for him. Graystripe shrugs, and says that nobody else was going to. Other warriors come into the den to get out of the rain, and some look at the kit. Darkstripe complains that the kit is being very loud, and Fireheart worried about the kit's safety. Frostfur enters the den, and goes over to Fireheart's nest. She offers to ask Brindleface to nurse the kit, because she has milk to spare. Fireheart is surprised, but Frostfur says that she hasn't forgotten that he rescued her kits from ShadowClan. They walk out of the warriors' den, and head to the nursery together.


 * Inside the nursery, Brindleface is curled around her two kits. Frostfur whispers that one of her kits died the night before, and Fireheart murmurs his condolences. Frostfur explains that the kit is starving, and that she wants Brindleface to feed him. Brindleface denies their request at first, but Frostfur urges her to. The kit smells Brindleface's milk, and begins to head towards it. He squirms his way between her other two kits, and begins to suckle. Frostfur and Fireheart thank Brindleface, and Frostfur goes to tell Bluestar that Brindleface will care for the kit. Fireheart follows her to Bluestar's den. He thinks about going back to the warriors' den, but he is anxious about Bluestar's decision. Finally, he sees Frostfur come out of Bluestar's den and hurry back to the nursery.


 * Bluestar summons the clan from the Highrock, and Fireheart worries that she will make him take the kit back to Princess. Bluestar begins saying that the Clan does need more warriors, and that there are many moons until newleaf. She continues on saying that as Graystripe pointed out, the kit carries Fireheart's blood, and it will make a fine warrior. She says that she decided to take the kit into the clan, but no cat makes a sound. She announces that Brindleface has offered to nurse the kit, and she says that it will be known as Cloudkit. Mousefur asks if there will be a naming ceremony, and Fireheart wonders if his sister's kit would have this privilege. Bluestar looks down at Mousefur, and answers no.

Important Events

 * Fireheart takes Cloudkit to the ThunderClan camp.
 * Brindleface agrees to nurse Cloudkit.