The Beginning

I stumbled over a rock while trying to hunt. Lionstar had noticed my balance was off. I knew it too but didn't want to admit it. Maybe everything will be ok, I thought. I raced back to camp with three mice in my mouth. Leafpool had died two days ago, a sad death that is. Jayfeather took her place and he also took the apprentice, Toadpaw.

Lionstar was waiting for me at the thorn tunnel. "Icecloud?" he mewed. His coat was like his father, Firestar's. He was the one I loved. He loved me back.

I mewed back, "Yes, it's me." I came inside the camp and set down the mice. No one had figured out I was 4 moons ago with kits. I was the only one that knew. And Lionstar is their father. I saw Jayfeather and Toadpaw walk into camp. Both were carrying watermint.

"It's come to my attention that you are expecting kits. You should be in the nursery, not hunting," Lionstar scolded.

"Sorry. By the way, they are yours. And I best be going to the nursery," I mumbled back. I headed over to the nursery. My friend, Cinderheart, was expecting kits too. Although she didn't say who the father was, everyone knew it was Jayfeather. Also, Cinderheart's sister, Honeyfern, was there too.

Honeyfern looked at me. She mewed, "Finally, Icecloud has come. We've known for about a moon that you were expecting." She smiles at me and then got up and made me a nest. Her two kits, Jaggedkit and Hawkkit, were curled up near her mother's nest.

"Thanks Honeyfern!" I muttered. I lied down and soon after, Thornclaw's apprentice, Frostpaw, brought me a squirrel to eat. I gobbled up the squirrel and then fell asleep. When I woke up from my little nap, Lionstar and Jayfeather were crowding me, checking on me.

Lionstar smiled, "You're up! Good!" He looked at me happily.

I hissed at both Lionstar and Jayfeather. They backed off immediately. "Thanks! I need my sleep. Now let me be and I will let you check me over in the morning." They left soon after that. I didn't go to sleep. Honeyfern had taken her kits out and Cinderheart had gone walking so I could rest. I was happy that they thought of me. Cinderheart padded in at that moment. She looked at me.

"You're up… So… what's it like to have a nap?" she asked deliberately.

"Very nice. Just as long as I don't wake up to cats standing over top of me. They scared me…" I mewed.

Cinderheart mewed a laugh. She looked happy for once. "You have it lucky, Icecloud. You can be with the one you love and have kits. I can't. Jayfeather isn't allowed. I don't get that stupid rule. But I'm having his kits and he doesn't know…" Cinderheart mewed sadly.

I frowned at the thought of being Lionstar's brother's mate. It wouldn't be nice. But at the very least, I can help Cinderheart. She and I have been good friends for a while. If I helped her, it would probably mean a lot to her and Jayfeather. They love each other so much, I thought, but how can their love be if they are warrior and medicine cat?

Cinderheart frowned at my silence. "Icecloud?"

"Sorry Cinderheart. I was thinking of a way to help you. I think if you told Jayfeather it would be easier." I scrapped at the moss in my bedding.

"You're right, Icecloud! I'm going to tell him now!" Cinderheart exclaimed as she ran off toward the Medicine Cat's den.

Will have other chapters up later. I am new at this. But I am a fantastic writer!!!! Please R & R