Skyfur looked up anxiously as he heard footsteps. He sighed in relief when he saw Willowtail padding through the bracken toward him. He stood up and stretched.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming!" He narrowed his eyes affectionately. She shook her small head,

"No, no. I just got caught up with a late hunting patrol, that's all. This Clan life isn't easy!" He chuckled,

"I could've told you that!" She smiled and pressed her muzzle into his fur,

"I missed you Skyfur." He purred. Suddenly she drew back. He glanced at her, startled.

"What's wrong?" He asked gently. He could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

"Well… I… I have something important to tell you." Her big blue eyes were serious.

"What?" He asked, slightly nervous.

"It could change everything… I just…" Her voice trailed off. He lay down beside her and brushed her flank with his tail.

"It's ok, take your time." His words were calm but his stomach was churning. She looked up at him. Her eyes were still scared and serious, but there was a bit of joy in them. As he gazed into their depths he realized that you could tell exactly what Willowtail was thinking from her eyes. He wasn't sure what he saw there now though. All of a sudden she sighed and blurted out,

"I'm going to have kits, Skyfur! Our kits!" He gazed at her disbelievingly. All of a sudden realization sunk in. He started purring fiercely, covering her head with licks. She drew away, her eyes troubled.

"Skyfur, don't you know what this means?"

Skyfur shrugged,

"That we will be united forever through our kits?" She shook her head, a gesture filled with pain.

"No Skyfur. These kits will be born Thunderclan. I won't be able to see you when I am nursing them. You might even have to fight them when they grow up! Skyfur… I don't know…" Her voice was filled with regret and sorrow. Skyfur stared at her, his eyes flaming.

"Are you mad at me! Do you not want these kits!" His voice dripped with anger. She stared at him, too shocked to speak. Suddenly she regained her composure and went to press her nose into his fur comfortingly.

"No, no, no Skyfur." Her voice was soft and her eyes softer. "No, I simply regret the pain and disloyalty that these kits may cause us. And that the adversity they may have to face..." her blue gaze burned into him. A sudden noise in the bracken caused them to both look up, startled. A squirrel popped through the bushes, followed closely by Sorrelpaw. Willowtail gasped as Sorrelpaw skidded to a halt, the squirrel forgotten.

"Willowtail…what… who…" Sorrelpaw stammered her eyes wide with shock.

"Sorrelpaw, it's not… it's… I mean…" Willowtail's eyes were large and scared, her fur bristling. Skyfur pressed up against her comfortingly and hissed at Sorrelpaw. Sorrelpaw simply ignored him. She had relaxed her hackles and her voice was calm as she spoke.

"I'm not going to hurt my best friend, Skyfur." Her voice was dry, yet it seemed emotionless. "Willowtail, explanation please?" Willowtail's eyes were blank. Skyfur prodded her gently,

"Willowtail?" She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.

"Sorrelpaw.. . Sorrelpaw, can we talk about this later?" Sorrelpaw looked away as an answer.

"Let's go, now!" her voice was hard but there was an underlay of care. Willowtail pressed her muzzle against Skyfur's in a goodbye.

"We'll talk later" she murmured, causing Sorrelpaw to hiss. As Willowtail padded mournfully up to her Sorrelpaw muttered, "This won't help the clan accept you any faster!" Willowtail merely sighed.

"Wait!" Yelled Skyfur

"What?" sighed Sorrelpaw exasperatedly.

"You… you won't… tell… will you? You can't!" He seemed scared to hear her answer. She glared back at him scathingly.

"What kind of a cat do you think I am? I'm not going to tell her… you guys need to work this out for yourself!" She turned back around and shook her head slowly. Skyfur watched them until they were out of sight. He dug his claws into the grass, mousebrain, he muttered, but he couldn't help feeling rather elated. Willowtail was going to have his kits! He ran back to camp, his paws barely touching the ground. For a small time, all seemed right with the world. Yet there was a small nagging doubt at the back of his mind telling him he would never feel like this again.