DISCLAIMER: I don't own warriors. Poo. But I DO wish I DID. So yeah. POO!

Chapter 1

Rosetail dashed through the forest after a particularly plump piece of prey, her own belly slightly swelled. Newleaf was her favorite season because there was so much prey. Unfortunately for this mouse, she was faster. Dispaching it with a quick nip to the neck, she picked it up and backtracked to her apprentice, Mosspaw, who was gapping in amazement.

"That was so cool!" she shrieked. This was her first day as an apprentice.

"Don't worry, young one, you will soon be able to do the same," Rosetail said warmly. She sighed inwardly, though, and cursed Willowstar for giving her such a hyper apprentice. Then she cursed herself for thinking that way, when she'd been the same as an apprentice. She gave a flick of her tail, motioning for Mosspaw to follow her, and went to where she'd buried her other prey. She lifted all three mice in her mouth by the tail, and dashed to camp.

When they finally arrived Mosspaw was breathing heavily. It made Rosetail smile a bit. She dropped her prey on the fresh-kill pile and chose a robin for herself.

Springstep, her mate, walked up to her and nuzzled her affectionately. It made her heart lift with happiness as she remembered that they were expecting kits. She had not yet moved into the nursery, but it would surely become more obvious about her being with kit as the moons passed. It actually would not be long.

Rosetail nuzzled Springstep in return, and invited him to share her robin. He smiled and agreed.

"I love you," he whispered playfully, licking her ear.

"I love you, too," Rosetail whispered in reply. A sudden tapping at her shoulder startled her, and turned to see who it was.

It was only Snowkit, which caused her to laugh.

"Why, you will be a wonderful hunter when you grow up!" Rosetail cooed. "I didn't even hear you, or scent you!" Snowkit beamed at the praise, then looked a bit confused, as though he didn't know how to put his words.

"Rosetail," he squeaked finally, "are you and Springstep ever going to have kits?" Rosetail's pelt seemed to burn, but she forced a smile. Exchanging glances with Springstep, she decided to tell him the news.

"Well…" she began, "Um… I'm with kit right now!" she finally breathed. Snowkit squealed happily, and grinned.

"Really?!" he asked excitedly, so loud quite a few cats looked his way. His ears shot down in embarrassment, and he continued in a much softer tone. "When are you going to have them?" he asked, his paws kneading the ground. "Can I tell the clan? What are they going to look like? What will their names be? Who's going to train Mosspaw?" The questions flooded out, and Rosetail flicked her tail over his mouth.

"Shhhh," she said quietly. "Yes, Snowkit, you can tell the clan," she laughed. Instantly he dashed off in the direction of some other cats sharing tongues.

Rosetail sighed, then looked at Springstep, who was barely suppressing his laughter. It made her grin. "Come on, we'd better go tell Willowstar," she said quietly. He nodded and they set off to tell her, the forest scent at their backs as they entered Hollow Tree, the leader's den.

XxXxXxXxX

"Let all those old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Hollow Tree for a clan meeting."

Willowstar's voice echoed around the clearing filled with power and pride, and the cats in the clearing gathered as quickly as rain falling from the sky.

Rosetail's paws itched with the eagerness to get into her warm, cozy nest beside Springstep and just fall asleep. Then it struck her that as soon as she was in the nursery they would not sleep in the same den. Her whiskers twitched in a bit of anger at this, but she kept silent and hoped nobody noticed.

"We have gathered to make a clan announcement," Willowstar continued, "concerning a few of our clan mates. First, I have a cheerful announcement for Rosetail and Springstep. Rosetail is with kit!" Quite a few cats murmured excitedly, but the noise died down quickly since most of them had already known. "Since she was mentoring Mosspaw, we will need to choose a new mentor." Her eyes scanned the crowd, then stopped. "Gracepelt, would you apprentice her?"

The tortoise-shell looked a bit surprised, gave herself a reassuring lick on her chest, then answered, "I would love to!"

Willowstar nodded. "That is all," she dismissed. The clan broke up into small groups, chattering quickly and excitedly.

A tail flicked Rosetail's shoulder, and she turned to see Frostwing, the medicine cat, who was smiling warmly. "Congratulations!"

Rosetail licked her shoulder modestly. "Thanks, Frostwing," she mewed. "Say, do you have any poppy seed? I need some sleep." The medicine cat nodded and motioned for her to follow.

They walked into the tiny, damp smelling cave, and Frostwing gave Rosetail a few poppy seeds to help her sleep. "Thanks," Rosetail said, and stepped lightly back into the clearing.

Sticking to the shadows to avoid any congratulations, she slipped into the nursery and sank into the comfortable moss and sighed.

"Congratulations, Rosetail," came a voice from behind her, startling her. She turned to see who it was.

"Thanks, Rabbitleap," Rosetail sighed.

"You going to sleep?"

"Yes," Rosetail said softly, already half-asleep.

"Good night," Rabbitleap laughed.

"'Night," Rosetail whispered, then she felt herself drift off into dreamland.