"What are you going to name them?" Ravenpaw asked.

I looked at my second kit. She was a cream colored she-cat with blue eyes. My oldest was a tom with an extremely fluffy, pale ginger pelt with a brown face, white collar, and black paws. My youngest was a she-kit, who had my pelt and her father's bright green eyes. "I'll name the tom Eaglekit, the cream she-cat Sweetkit, and the youngest Lightkit." I meowed.

"The three traits of their father." Barley added. He was absolutely right. Eagle, for he would grow to be the fastest, Sweet, after the mother of a past ThunderClan leader, and Light, for she would be the lightest on her paws.

Just like my mother, I waited until they had opened their eyes, and then I named them. By the time Eaglekit, who was the late bloomer, had opened his eyes, all three of them were able to walk. We said goodbye to Ravenpaw and Barley, and we headed off on our way.

Halfway through we were stopped by a patrol. "Stealthheart?" Onewhisker meowed. "What are you doing here?"

"It doesn't matter!" Mudfur hissed. "She's on WindClan territory!"

Deadfoot pushed through. "Mudfur, the warrior code states that no warrior may neglect a kit, no matter the clan. Look. Kits! We will not drive her off or fight. We will take her to our leader."

Onewhisker leaned over and hesitantly picked up Sweetkit. Mudfur then reached for Eaglekit, but I hissed, still carrying my youngest in my jaws. Eaglekit followed at my heels.

They led me into Tallstar's den. He took one look at me and meowed, "Leave us."

Deadfoot took Lightkit from me, and I reluctantly left Eaglekit with Mudfur. "Stealthheart," he meowed. "I know Runningwind is dead, but you can't abandon your clan to speak to him at the Moonstone, much less take your kits."

"I didn't," I meowed. "Please, don't hurt my kits."

"We won't hurt them," he meowed. "But please, tell me, what were you doing? Where did you go?"

I sighed. "I will tell you, but you must swear that none of your warriors or any others will know about it."

He hesitated. "I swear. But know now that if it is danger to my clan, StarClan knows and approves."

I told him everything. Tigerclaw, who I learned was Tigerstar, Runningwind, the barn, Fireheart, and my kits. He slowly nodded as I finished. "Please," I pleaded. "Let me go. I must return to my clan. I gave my life to protect them, and that is a promise I can't turn away from."

Tallstar sighed. "I see your concern," he began. "Sadly, Bluestar has not been herself lately. It would be unwise to present her to you now. I know my clan will care for you. Fireheart has brought us back and saved our kits, and now we shall return the favor."

"Thank you," I meowed. "May StarClan light your path, always."

"Onewhisker!" he meowed. Onewhisker popped his head into the den. "Help Stealthheart carry her kits to the nursery. Let Ashfoot know that she is to be treated like a guest."

"Of course, Tallstar." He gestured for me to follow him. I dipped my head to Tallstar and left the den.

"So, what are their names?" Onewhisker asked.

"Well, the tom is Eaglekit, and the two she-cats are Sweetkit and Lightkit."

"Where did the names come from?"

"Well, Sweetkit was the name of an apprentice who died when Bluestar was a warrior. She was named after Pinestar, the leader when Bluestar was a kit. My mother told me about that, and I thought that would be a good name. Eaglekit is my oldest, so I could see him as a great warrior one day. Lightkit looks like me, so I thought she'd have stealth like me, being light on her paws."

"Didn't it also come from being the youngest?"

"Well, I was the youngest, and Brindleface gave me my name when I pounced on her tail after I opened my eyes. Lightkit did the same thing."

Laughter shone in Onewhisker's eyes. "Well," he meowed. "The nursery is over there. Tornear left your kits with Gorsepaw. His den is over there. I'll go tell Ashfoot." He bounded off.

I peered through the den. Gorsepaw was teaching them how to play mossball. He was very gentle, and the kits looked like they were having fun. I hated to disturb them.

"Eaglekit, Sweetkit, Lightkit, we're going to the nursery."

"Aw, do we have to?" Eaglekit pouted. "We want to stay here with Gorsepaw. We want to be apprentices like him someday!"

I hesitated. I didn't want to tell them about their real heritage. They were too young. I shook away memories of Runningwind's lifeless body. "Oh, okay. It was just sunset and I had started to think you were hungry, but apparently not." Their eyes widened. They bounded off with me to the nursery.

A gray she-cat, who I had guessed was Ashfoot, was waiting at the den. Apparently there were no kits in the clan at the moment, since the den was empty and Ashfoot's belly was still swollen with kits. "Stealtheart?" she meowed. I nodded. "You can take Morningflower's nest. She recently moved back to the warriors' den." She led me in. We both sat down. As soon as I did, my three kits butted into me.

"Oof!" Ashfoot laughed. Lightkit shook her head. I turned over. I rested my head on the moss. As much as I wanted to talk to my new denmate, sleep gave in.

It was sunhigh when I woke up. Ashfoot was just coming into the den. "You must have traveled a long way," she meowed. "You were so tired."

"Where are my kits?" I meowed.

"They're with Gorsepaw. They were making such a racket, and I didn't want to wake you." I nodded. "Are you hungry?" she meowed. She nudged a rabbit to me. "We could share it if you'd like."

I nodded. As we chatted and I told her about why my kits were born outside of ThunderClan, I couldn't help but feel confused. Why was this clan being so nice to me? Despite it being in leafbare, they didn't hesitate to share prey.

Does StarClan intend for me to stay?

.

Soon I was able to hunt again. This may sound bad, but I think I kinda like it out here. Just as when I was an apprentice, I could run through the moor, without a care in the world. I still tell my kits of ThunderClan, so they will not forget this is not their home.

But I didn't know how I could leave Onewhisker.

I had lost Runningwind. One of my brothers. I had abandoned my clan, the one I had dedicated my life to saving. I didn't know how I could leave the other tom so close to me.

Onewhisker was someone else. He was strong. Brave. Loyal. So much like Runningwind. He was one of the only warriors I trusted with my kits, besides the Ashfoot and Tallstar.

I remember falling asleep. Having a dream that would burn into my mind forever.

I was dumped in the river. My kits were drowning. I couldn't reach them. Time was running out. Voices flashed in my head.

I will care for this clan...

An oath to keep with a final breath.

My life will go on.

Do you promise to defend your clan...

I am Stealthpaw...

No. I am Stealthheart. And for now, I will care for these kits with my final breath.

I kicked. I'm swimming, I thought. I kept at it until I reached all three of my kits.

No. I am Stealthheart. And for now, I will care for these kits with my final breath.

Your kits are your clan...

I awoke with a start. My clan! I saw Spottedleaf in front of me.

"Pack, pack," she meowed.

"No..."

"Kill, kill."

They were in danger. I ran with Spottedleaf to the river. Dogs were swimming. I saw Bluestar's head bobbing above the surface.

I instinctively dived in. Stalk the prey, I told myself. Claw, kick, claw, kick. I held my breath and caught Bluestar as she started to sink. Two other cats helped pull her to shore.

Bluestar coughed. "Stealthheart! Ho-" Fireheart started.

"Spottedleaf," I meowed. He still seemed surprised, but he didn't ask anymore questions.

I listened as Bluestar's kits forgave her, and how she spoke to Fireheart. She turned to me. "Stealthheart," she coughed. "I know who you are. Your path will twist in ways you least expect. But remember that someone loves you."

.

You could stay, Fireheart had said. You will be welcome in ThunderClan.

My heart was torn. I couldn't leave Onewhisker. I took a deep breath and entered the den.

Onewhisker was sulking. He was sitting in front of a rabbit, but not eating. He looked up as I walked in. "You could stay," he said. "You'll be welcome in WindClan."

There were those words again. You could stay. You'll be welcome here. I ran to him. "I'm sorry Onewhisker," I meowed. "I dedicated my life to my clan, and my kits deserve to know there birth clan."

"I understand," he meowed.

"Promise you won't forget me?"

"I promise."

I left the den. Said goodbye to Ashfoot. My kits were with Gorsepaw.

We stopped at the border. I sighed. "Welcome to ThunderClan, my kits."