He met Splashstar halfway back to his den, and to his warm nest and dreams of Juniperberry. Talonslash had escaped his leader's clutches and was back in the den with his mate. Duskeyes was returning to the warriors' den and to her mate and kits.
"Firefall told me you went for a midnight swim," Splashstar said humorously. Pinefrost glanced down at himself and saw that his pelt had dried in spikes. Too tired to really care, Pinefrost sat down with a wince.
"You know," he joked weakly, "most cats my age would have retired by now."
A shadowed look entered Splashstar's eyes. "Any news from StarClan?" he asked.
"Actually…" Glancing around to make sure no cat was listening, Pinefrost began to tell Splashstar in muted tones about his dream with Juniperberry.
"And she said, 'some storms are hard to forget'," he finished with a sigh.
Splashstar had sat down as well, and was staring off to the side, obviously thinking hard. "It hasn't rained in a few days," he said slowly. "Maybe there's a storm coming?"
Pinefrost shook his head. "I think it's more cryptic than that." Exhaustion pulled at his everything. "Can we riddle this out in the morning?" he rasped. "I need some rest."
Splashstar didn't look thrilled, but dipped his head anyway and let Pinefrost shamble away. When the grizzled medicine cat lay back down, he closed his eyes hard and willed himself to return to his dream with Juniperberry. But when sleep finally returned, it was dreamless.
He awoke the next morning to a camp abuzz with news of Skyleap's kitting. Yawning, he stretched stiffly and headed out into the clearing.
The air was thick with heat, not unusual for the middle of greenleaf. The dawn patrol seemed to have already left, as few cats milled about. Jaykit, Badgerkit, and Aspenkit were play fighting with Firefall in the clearing while Duskeyes dozed. Talonslash was exiting the warriors' den and heading for the nursery. Two apprentices, Whiskerpaw—a solid white tom—and Foxpaw—a ginger and white tom with big paws—were padding side by side out of the nursery, purring. Splashstar was speaking with his deputy Tuftyears—a tortoiseshell tom with fluffy tufts of fur on his ears—beside the Speaking Rock.
Pinefrost shambled over to the fresh-kill pile, poking through the meager offerings. Clearly no patrols had gone out hunting yet. With a sigh, Pinefrost picked up a shrew and a plump squirrel and glanced around for a place to eat them.
The Clan's two elders—Yulethorn and Flowerear—were sunning themselves on a flat rock that faced the direction of the setting sun. Pinefrost wandered over, humming a greeting.
"Well, if it's not Pinefrost," Yulethorn rumbled. His sight had failed him in his age, but no cat's nose or ears were sharper. Flowerear, only a few moons younger than Yulethorn, had retired with him so he wouldn't have to be alone in the elders' den.
"The only cat who refused to retire," Flowerear purred rustily. "Come to share some prey with us?"
"If you'll have me," Pinefrost returned jovially. Yulethorn shifted over and gestured with his tail at the rock.
"The warmth helps relax your stiff joints," Yulethorn meowed, bending down and sniffing at the squirrel. Pinefrost purred in happiness as he settled down, letting the heat seep into his bones.
"Have you had a sign about who will be your apprentice?" Flowerear asked.
"It's about time for you to retire," Yulethorn teased, taking a bite of the squirrel.
"I think so," Pinefrost replied, gnawing on the shrew's leg. "I spoke with Splashstar about it last night after Skyleap's kitting, but I can't talk about it because we haven't figured out what it means yet."
Flowerear purred rustily. "You and your secrets, Pinefrost," she teased.
They sat and basked in the sun, eating and chatting idly, until Pinefrost finally rose to his paws. His joints felt freer than they had in many days, and he was refreshed.
"If you'll pardon me," he mewed, dipping his head, "I must go check on Skyleap and the kits."
"We still have yet to see the little furballs," Yulethorn rasped with a purr. "All the young'uns have been in and out of the nursery all day looking at them, so we figured we'd wait our turn."
"They're beautiful, when you get a chance to see them," Pinefrost rumbled, waving his tail in farewell as he padded towards the nursery. The dawn patrol had returned, carrying prey, and another hunting patrol had gone out while he had been chatting. Pinefrost ducked into the cool dark of the nursery, meowing a greeting.
"Hello, Pinefrost," Talonslash purred, standing up from the back of the den. "Come to check up on the kits?"
"And their mother," Pinefrost replied, padding up. Skyleap looked up from where she was watching her kits nurse. The black and white she-cat was still nursing, kneading Skyleap's belly with paws that almost disappeared into her mother's black belly fur. The little gray tom, as Pinefrost watched, rolled away from his mother's belly and yowled loudly. Skyleap nudged him in close with her hind foot, and he lay still, then began sleeping.
"How are you feeling, Skyleap?" the grizzled medicine cat asked. "Is your milk coming okay?"
"Judging by their full bellies," Skyleap purred, "I would say so."
"Good." Pinefrost sat down, sniffing at the tiny bundles. They smelled like milk and lavender. "Have you decided on names?"
"I believe so," Talonslash murmured. "That's what we were discussing when you entered." He stretched his striped tail forward and touched the little she-kit's head. "This is Petalkit, because her pink pads, with her black and white fur, look like cherry blossom petals."
"And the little tom?" Pinefrost said, sniffing at the gray kit's distended belly, full of milk. He smelled healthy—just sleepy.
But he froze as Skyleap answered, with a mew soft as a bubbling stream.
"That's Stormkit."
DUN DUN DUNNNN! Sorry for the cliffhanger guys but it had to be done! Otherwise you wouldn't come back for more! Please read and review!