DISCLAIMER: I don't own Warriors, I'm just using the characters to make a story. I'm making no money off this!

TAGLINE: What happens in between Warriors #6 The Darkest Hour, and Warriors: The New Prophecy: #1 Midnight.

Warriors #7(in first series): Winding Path

Prologue

"Yep," meowed the ThunderClan medicine cat, Cinderpelt. "Sandstorm, you are expecting kits." Sandstorm nearly leaped for joy, but Cinderpelt signaled to her to remain calm as she examined Sandstorm's belly. She heard three heartbeats.

"Three heatbeats," she reported. "One is yours. So two kits." Cinderpelt straightened herself. "So are you going to tell the lucky father, Firestar?"

Sandstorm eyed Cinderpelt, wondering how the medicine cat knew. Cinderpelt laughed.

"Everyone in the Clan knows about you and Firestar!"

Sandstorm looked at her paws. Cinderpelt was right. Who were they kidding? She hurried out of the medicine cat's den, thinking about how 'everyone in the Clan knew.' Firestar was outside of his den, talking to the ThunderClan deputy and his best friend, Graystripe. Sandstorm sat beside her mate.

"Firestar," she meowed into his dark ginger fur, "Can I talk to you alone?"

Graystripe stopped talking about how his border patrol found a dead squirrel on the Thunderpath and looked at Sandstorm.

"Is something the matter?" asked Firestar. Sandstorm scuffed her paws on the dusty ground. Firestar seemed to understand.

"Graystripe, can you organize a hunting patrol? We will dicuss this later."

Graystripe gave Firestar and Sandstorm a confused look, then nodded and padded off. Then Firestar stood and led Sandstorm into his den.

Once they were settled inside, Sandstorm took in a deep breath and meowed, "Firestar, I've just been to see Cinderpelt. She has I am expecting kits! Two of them!"

Firestar's eyes widened. "That's wonderful!" he meowed, purring. He sat beside his mate and for a while they simply nuzzled each other, enjoying their company.

Then, rather out of the blue, Sandstorm said, "Cinderpelt knew the kits are yours. She said the whole Clan knew about me and you." Firestar smiled, a glint of playfulness in his eyes.

"She said that, didn't she?" he meowed, cuffing Sandstorm over her ear playfully. "We'll get her for that."

He playfully nipped Sandstorm on the ear. Sandstorm laughed.

"I guess I should be moving into the nursery now," she meowed.

Firestar purred. "Yes," he meowed, "I'll see you around."

Sandstorm purred, nodded, and left Firestar's den. She padded over to the warrior's den and went inside, realizing this would be the last time in a while before she went in there again. She took her pile of moss that she used for bedding and carried it to the nursery, where she found a nice, cozy, and warm place to sleep. She settled down into the little nest of moss and tried to go to sleep, despite the excited feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Firestar couldn't believe he was to be the father of two kits soon. He was really excited, and hoped things would work out. He hurried out of his den and told his deputy, Graystripe. The news spread throughout the Clan, and everyone was happy.