"Is it almost over?" Willowpelt mewled pitifully.

"Almost," Spottedleaf replied, stroking her tabby-striped tail over her sister' flank.

After Willowpelt's very unfortunate experience with Patchpelt, Spottedleaf had told her that she, yet again, was expecting kits against her own free will. When would she be able to raise kits when she knew was ready?

Now, she was in labor with her second litter of kits. This pregnancy was quite similar to the one with Darkstripe, so Featherwhisker had predicted that she would have a one-kit litter again.

Also, the contractions were slightly easier and the delivery was going much quicker than the last one. The medicine cat had told that since her body knew what was happening, it was "much more prepared".

If it's much more prepared, then why does it still hurt?

Another spasm gripped Willowpelt, and she clenched her teeth as she pushed in assistance to it. The pain suddenly increased, just as it did before Darkstripe came out.

"Are the kits here yet?"

"Ow! Sandkit, you're stepping on my tail!"

"Sor-ree, Dustkit."

A pale-ginger she-kit and a dark-brown tabby tom kit broke into the trauma.

Sandkit, the pale-ginger one, was the daughter of Redtail and Brindleface, making her Willowpelt's niece. Dustkit, the dark-brown one, was one of the sons of Fuzzypelt and Robinwing, making him the younger brother of Brindleface, and half-brother of Longpaw.

"Hey, Ravenkit!" Dustkit called to his brother, "Wanna come see the kits being born?"

"Uh...n-no," Ravenkit replied, "It's...a little bloody. I-I better not." The tiny black tom shifted closer to Robinwing.

"Off with you two!" Brindleface snapped at her daughter and brother, "Leave Willowpelt to her peace. You'll be able to see the kits when they arrive."

Crestfallen, the two kits slumped away from the laboring queen.

Willowpelt shuddered with relief when she felt a tiny bundle slide out of her. Her second kit had arrived. Featherwhisker nipped the kitting sac, and proudly announced, "A tom! And a strong one, Willowpelt."

Concern welled up inside of the very pale she-cat. "Are you sure?"

"Certainly," Spottedleaf replied, "Despite his...awkward heritage, he seems perfectly fine. He's a healthy one, just like Darkstripe was."

Willowpelt blinked gratefully at her sister and Featherwhisker placed the newborn tom kit at Willowpelt's belly. He was gray, with long fur and a distinctive darker stripe down his back. The familiar love and sense of protection returned to her as he began to suckle.

"A kit's here! A kit's here!" Sandkit squeaked from behind her mother. She stared at her new denmate, and then looked up at Featherwhisker.

"Where're his littermates?" she asked.

Featherwhisker placed his paw on Willowpelt's flank, and the replied, "There aren't any. He's a lone newborn. Just like his half-brother."

Sandkit nodded to the medicine cat. "Oh, okay," she looked over her shoulder, "Hey, Dustkit, Ravenkit, come and meet our new friend!"

Robinwing's two youngest kits climbed over their older sister and followed Sandkit to Willowpelt's new kit. Ravenkit's green eyes lit up at the sight of the newborn, and Dustkit prodded him with a tiny paw.

Sandkit stuck out her chest. "His mother's my father's sister," she announced proudly, "So that makes him my kin," she looked up at Willowpelt, "What're you gonna call him?"

Willowpelt gave her new son a long look, and then answered her niece, "His name is Graykit. You can probably guess why."

"Hiya, Graykit!" Sandkit purred to her new cousin, "I'm Sandkit, and this Dustkit and Ravenkit. We're gonna be great friends!"

Willowpelt beamed. She was happy that Graykit would have friends to play with. When Darkstripe was born, he was only kit in the nursery, and had no one to play with.

Consider yourself lucky, Graykit.

A sudden breeze rustled the brambles of the nursery. Willowpelt stiffened as a voice whispered in her ears.

That kit's life will have its ups and downs. He will show unintentional disloyalty, but will also bring with him a warrior with a heart of fire.

Willowpelt wanted to groan. Another message? At least this didn't seem as bad as the one about Darkstripe. Though there was one part of the message that made Willowpelt's mind buzz with wonder.

It mentioned Graykit one day bringing a warrior with a heart of fire.

Who's that?

"Willowpelt! Willowpelt!"

`Willowpelt heard the excited squeak of Graykit, now Graypaw, apprentice of Lionheart. She sat up from sharing tongues with Spottedleaf, who returned the medicine cat's den, now the sole medicine cat after Featherwhisker's death.

"Yes, Graypaw?" she prompted, "What is it?"

The long-haired tom bounced over to her side. "You won't believe what happened tonight!"

"What happened?"

"Well, I was out exploring the territory, when I picked up at scent," he sniffed as he did before, and then lowered his voice dramatically, "And it wasn't ThunderClan."

Willowpelt stiffened. "It wasn't ShadowClan, was it? Or RiverClan?"

"Nope. Kittypet."

"Kittypet?" Willowpelt echoed, and then she shrugged, "Figures. Those Twoleg-toys are always sneaking around in the territory."

"Well, this kittypet was different."

"Different?"

"Uh-huh. I jumped out of the bushes and chased him, and he started to head for his home, just as the kittypets are supposed to do when they see us, but you'll never believe what he did next?"

Willowpelt pricked her ears in interest. "What did he do?"

"He turned around and faced me!"

Willowpelt couldn't believe her ears. "Faced you?" she echoed, "As in returning the attack? Are you sure it was a kittypet?"

Graypaw nodded. "Unless warriors are wearing collars and carrying Twoleg scent, it was a kittypet."

Willowpelt gazed ahead thoughtfully.

A kittypet returning an attack? That's unheard of.

"So, anyway," Graypaw broke into Willowpelt's thoughts, "This kittypet was actually a pretty good fighter for a kittypet. And not only that, but it turns out that Bluestar and Lionheart say us, and were impressed with the kittypet's strength and bravery. And guess what Bluestar did next? She asked the kittypet to join the Clan! Isn't that crazy?"

Willowpelt stared stupidly at her son. Bluestar actually asked a kittypet to join ThunderClan?

"He –the kittypet– had flame-colored fur and green eyes," Graypaw continued, "His name was...oh, mouse-dung, what was it...? Oh, yeah! Rusty! His name was Rusty!"

"Rusty, huh?" Willowpelt murmured thoughtfully, the she shook her head, "Why would Bluestar let this kittypet, Rusty, join ThunderClan?"

"Well," Graypaw sat down, "Apparently having me, Dustpaw, Sandpaw, and Ravenpaw as the only apprentices in the Clan isn't enough," he then ran a soft paw over his ear, "I guess now I'll have to get used to calling him Rustypaw!"

Willowpelt chuckled. "Yes."

"It's getting late," Graypaw remarked, obviously done with his kittypet story, "I better hit the moss. Goodnight, Willowpelt!"

"Goodnight, Graypaw."

Willowpelt watched as her gray son slipped into the apprentices' den. She narrowed her blue eyes, deep in thought.

Graypaw mentioned the kittypet being flame-colored, and that he really wanted him to join ThunderClan...

Then it dawned on her.

The message! It mentioned him bringing a warrior with a heart of fire! Could that be Rusty?