Chapter 3

A quarter moon later, Sagepaw laid her head down on her paws in the apprentice den. Sagepaw was exhausted. Every day ton of patrols were sent out, either patrolling or hunting. Every day, when patrols came back, cats stared hopefully. Wondering if they had caught something, anything. Their discouraged expressions pierced Sagepaw's heart whenever she saw them. Every cat was hopelessly thin, except for Birdflight and Whispersong who were expecting. Sagepaw knew that some of the warriors and apprentices were slipping into enemy territory to search for food. Mousefang's leg had been broken during the battle, so she was out of warrior duties for a while. Sagepaw's paw still hurt where the white she-cat had bit it, but Fawnstep had said it would soon be good enough to go on long patrols.

Sagepaw's head snapped up as Fogpaw padded into the den. Fogpaws usual gray fur was slicked back and black. He shook his fur and sat down in his nest with a sigh. "Did you catch something?" she asked. Sagepaw hated the way her voice seemed small and hopeless. Fogpaw looked at her, his yellow eyes discouraged. "No. It started to rain so we had to go back. Fawnstep needs her herbs. We can't risk getting sick" Sagepaw sighed and tucked her paw under her. She was hoping that she could have a nap before she would have to go on patrol.

As she began to close her eyes she heard Fogpaw add "Oh yeah, Birdflight is having her kits" Sagepaw's eyes blinked open and she stared at him. "For how long?" she asked worriedly. Fogpaw sighed and turned toward her. "For most of today. If you're so worried, head outside and wait with the rest of the clan" he said and turned his back to her. "Of course I'm worried! Birdflight hasn't had a proper meal in days! It could be very hard on her!" Fogpaw's only reply was a grunt. Sagepaw heaved herself out of her nest and padded out into the open. Almost immediately she was soaked. The rain pelted down onto the cats that were huddled in groups, whispering. Sasepaw raced over to where Thrushpaw, Bramblepaw, and Graypaw were and joined them, shivering.

"Where's Snowpaw" Sagepaw asked and scanned the clearing. Thrushpaw nodded toward a group near the warriors den. "She's busy mooning over Flamespots" Thrushpaw murmured, pressing closer to Sagepaw. Sagepaw glanced back over there to see Snowpaw chattering excitedly to Flamespots who was starting to look bored. Graypaw shook the droplets of rain from her whiskers and exclaimed "How can she follow him around like that! Can't she see he's not interested?" Bramblepaw's whiskers twitched. "Your one to talk! You're always trying to get Fogpaw's attention! And if not his Oakpaw's! So you have nothing to say" Graypaw licked her chest in embarrassment. Sagepaw sighed and let her eyes swivel back to the nursery. She didn't get her sister.

Why did her sister have to follow the toms around, prancing around and showing off? Sagepaw had once asked her this, but she had only replied "I want to have kits when I'm older" So the rest of her den-mates had to endure it, even though a certain white apprentice could care less, to busy following around Flamespots. Sagepaw returned her gaze back to the nursery and ignored her sister as she protested. Only when Thrushpaw's soft voice reached her ears she turned, her fur bristling. "What did you say?" Sagepaw asked. Thrushpaw stared calmly and stated softly "I said Oakpaw is too busy following around Sagepaw to pay any attention to Graypaw" Sagepaw smoothed her fur and murmured "I haven't noticed" Bramblepaw and Thrushpaw shared a disbelieving glance. Graypaw was fuming, her tail flicking from side to side.

"You never noticed? Are you serious? All he ever does is comment on your pelt and hunting skills" Bramblepaw's voice was scathing, as if she believed that she would never feel like that for any cat. Sagepaw realized that she had noticed all of the things that Bramblepaw had mentioned. Oakpaw had been tripping over himself to congratulate Sagepaw for catching a scrawny thrush. The other day he had said something about her pelt but she couldn't remember what. Plus he had conveniently made his nest closer to hers. Toms! "Though I don't see why he thinks you're so special? I can hunt better than all of you" Bramblepaw's voice was smug as she turned to start grooming her tail. Thrushpaw rolled her eyes and Sagepaw purred in amusement. Bramblepaw said things like that all the time.

Sagepaw's ears swiveled toward the nursery. Was that a kit's wail she had heard? She turned and looked carefully at the nursery. Some of the cats were on their paws, staring at the nursery. Whispersong poked her head out of the nursery. "The first kit has been born! A she-kit!" with that the pretty queen disappeared back into the nursery. Sagepaw purred in relief. Happy murmurs filled the clearing. "Where is Cloudstar?" Thrushpaw's worried voice made her spin around. "He went on a patrol with Oakpaw, Nightfur, and Lilyshade" Bramblepaw answered promptly. Content with the reply Thrushpaw and Sagepaw returned their gaze to the nursery. "Hey guys! What's going on? I heard one kit was born, a she-kit?" Sagepaw turned to see Beechpaw sliding out of the elders den. "Yeah but it's not over yet" Thrushpaw exclaimed, staring sideways at the nursery.

Beechpaw sighed and pressed closer to Thrushpaw. The rain seemed to come harder, and the cats pressed closer. The camp entrance shook as Cloudstar, Oakpaw, and Lilyshade padded into camp. Cloudstar stopped to quickly talk with Nightfur before racing to the nursery and disappearing inside. Lilyshade joined a group while Oakpaw stood in the middle of the clearing, scanning the groups of cats. His eyes lit up when he spotted Sagepaw and he started padding over. Sagepaw's tail twitched uneasily as he approached and Bramblepaw poked her in the ribs meaningfully. Oakpaw reached them and let out a large purr, and said "Hey guys! The patrol went great! So, how is Birdflight doing?" Beechpaw answered him "Already one kit has been born and the second one is close to being born". Oakpaw nodded and squeezed in between Sagepaw and Thrushpaw and ended up pressing himself close to her. Over his head Sagepaw saw Bramblepaw beamed at her. She felt Graypaw's gaze scorching into her fur.

Sagepaw held back a sigh. It wasn't as easy to make Oakpaw happy as it was to make Graypaw happy. She had known for awhile that Graypaw liked Oakpaw and Fogpaw. She had always been stuck in between the two. But now it became apparent that she had decided to like Oakpaw over Fogpaw. This was going to be bad. Suddenly Whispersong poked her head out and called "The last kit has been born! A tom! Birdflight and Cloudstar have two beautiful, healthy kits" Sedgefoot called out "What do the look like?" Whispersong purred and said " Spottedkit is a tortoiseshell she-cat and Gorsekit is a dark brown tabby tom!" Relieved mew filled the clearing as cats started heading back to their dens. Usually the cats would have a big feast in honor of the new little ones, but with prey so scarce it wasn't the time.

Night was falling and the stars started to come out. Sagepaw paused at the entrance of the den and looked up, marveling at the stars. "Sagepaw?" Oakpaw asked, slipping out of the den beside her. "You coming?" he wondered. She nodded and padded into the den. She curled up in her nest and let out a small purr. The stars had given her hope. Everything would be alright. With that she closed her eyes and gave into the darkness that rose up and swept over her like a wave.