Chapter 4

Dovewing scurried out of the warriors den, worry tugging at her fur like brambles on trees. Making her way to the medicine den, she was interrupted by Bumblestripe; her mate.
"Hi Dovewing!" He chimed. "Do you want to go hunting with me?" He mewed. His eyes shone with excitement, and Dovewing felt bad to turn him down.
"Um . . . Sorry, but I need to get to the medicine cat den right away." She replied. Suddenly, she smelt Bumblestripe's fear scent, and realized he was sniffing her all over.
"Are you okay? You're not hurt or injured, are you?" He wailed. "No, no!" She reassured.

"I just need to check something, I'm fine, I promise." She breathed. Bumblestripe's gaze flickered with doubt, but she could see he shook it away.
"Alright, but if anything's wrong, come and tell me." And Bumblestripe stalked away, the excitement drained from his eyes. Dovewing felt guilty, but she knew she had more important problems. As she neared the medicine den, she could hear the scuffling of herbs, and muttering coming from Jayfeather. Sighing, she approached the gray tabby.
"Is sorting herbs all you do?" She muttered. Jayfeather's blind gaze met hers.
"No."
"That was a rhetorical question." She meowed. Remembering what she came here for, Dovewing changed the subject, interrupting Jayfeather's herb sorting.
"I need to ask you something." She soothed. Jayfeather flicked his tail, signalling Dovewing to talk.
"I want you to check me." She muttered, embarrassed. Jayfeather's paws stopped scuffling, and he turned his head towards Dovewing's.
"Where do you want me to check you?" He snapped. "I can't just check everywhere you know."
"I know." Dovewing soothed. "I just feel like something's squirming inside of me." She pointed towards her stomach, poking it gently with a claw. Jayfeather squinted his eyes, as though suspicious. Then, gave a brisk nod and pointed to a moss bed with his tail.
"Lie down there." He said. Following the medicine cat's instructions, Dovewing crawled into the bedding, and sprawled herself onto the bedding, getting comfortable. Jayfeather approached her and sat on his haunches, poking her stomach and putting his ear against it. Feeling uncomfortable with Jayfeather so close, Dovewing tried to scoot back, but Jayfeather snapped at her. Finally, after what felt like moons of poking on her stomach, Jayfeather stood up.
"You're expecting kits." He meowed. Then, he left. Dovewing sat in the moss bedding, awestruck.
'I'm expecting kits!?' The thought hit her like a hard log, unexpected and shocking. Dovewing's mind raced with thoughts, most of them being worries about her kits.
"First, I need to tell Bumblestripe." Then Dovewing limped out of the den, weak with shock. She noticed Bumblestripe by the fresh-kill pile, picking up a mouse and a sparrow. Suddenly, his ears perked up, and he turned towards Dovewing, scampering up to her.
"I got you a sparrow." He chimed, holding it up with his claw.
"Thanks." She meowed. "But, could you come with me for a minute? We need to talk." She stammered. Bumblestripe cocked his head to one side, eyes filled with curiosity. Then, he dropped the mouse and sparrow and stalked after Dovewing.
"Sure." The two cats walked into the forest, and hid inside a bush.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Bumblestripe asked anxiously. Dovewing looked up at him, and knew there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath, inhaling as much air as possible, then let it out.
"I'm . . ." She stuttered.
"You're?" Bumblestripe questioned.
"I'm . . . I'm expecting kits." She finished. She waited for Bumblestripe's reply, worried that he would be upset with her. Bumblestripe stared at Dovewing, eyes wide, as though processing what she had just said.
"You're . . . Expecting kits!?" He yowled.

"Yes . . ." She muttered.
"Why are you down?" He asked. "That's great! Our kits will be the best in the Clan, the greatest warriors, and maybe one might be the leader!" He continued. "Thank you, Dovewing!" He stuck muzzle into hers, purring with affection.
'Dovewing stared at her stomach; disbelief shaking her as she realized lives were moving and squirming inside her.

'Maybe it won't be entirely bad.'