Wow. I checked this morning and the views of this story have reached Israel. That's more than I could ever hope for. So, to celebrate (even though I'm sick), I'm posting a chapter! I don't own Warriors, and the father will be revealed...by Chapter 10! Sorry to keep you in suspense, but it's just the way the story is unfolding in my mind.


Blacknight crouched down further, his jet black coat blending in with the shadows of the night. He always prefered night hunting, though he was never able to convince Lionblaze or Silvermist to go with him. With one last check of the wind, he sprang, landing squarely on the quail, killing it swiftly and sending up praise to StarClan.

Heaving, Blacknight struggled to pick up the massive bird. He had only heard rumors of such a bird before tonight. It took awhile, with a lot of stopping and just plain dragging it before he got to the enterance to the hollow. Over the four moons he had been here, a lot of work had gone into rebuilding it, with the two elders Dustpelt and Brackenfur supervising.

Poppyfrost was on watch that night, and gasped when she saw the bird. "You caught that? Where?"

Blacknight jerked his head towards the Abandoned Twoleg Nest, unable to speak through all the feathers.

"Do you have more prey out there?" She suddenly asked.

Dropping the quail lightly, the black tom hissed. "I forgot!"

"Go get it," she mewed gently. "I'll watch the quail for you, and tell everyone you caught it."

Blacknight dipped his head. "It's for the queens and elders. Squirrelflight's kits are almost ready to eat freshkill, so maybe they'll be more intrigued by a rare bird." He meowed hopefully before spinning around and racing back the way he came.


Silvermist yawned and strode out into the clearing. Her jaw dropped in amazement when she saw Poppyfrost.

"Hey, don't just stop!" came the cranky mew behind her.

"Sorry Moletunnel, but look at Poppyfrost!" Silvermist got out of her denmate's way, and watched him have the same reaction.

"Is...is that a quail?" he asked, astonished. Poppyfrost turned around, delight gleaming in her eyes, beckoning with her tail for them to come forward.

"Isn't great? Blacknight caught it! He dropped it off before going to get the rest of his prey." She mewed excitedly.

Just then, Blacknight staggered into the clearing, four mice, a vole, and two shrews hanging from his jaws. Silvermist rushed forward to take some of the load, but he just shrugged her off and laid his catch beside the quail.

"That is amazing!" Bramblestar mewed, spooking Moletunnel. The poor tom jumped, scared out of his fur. Bramblestar blinked apologetically before turning back to Blacknight.

"I planned on giving the quail to the queens and elders." Blacknight mewed respectfully. "Besides that, would you like first pick of the rest?" he offered.

Bramblestar's eyes widened in surprise. Blacknight rushed to explain. "I caught what I did for the queens and elders, but the rest I was going to offer to you, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Briarlight. You are leader, Lionblaze is temporarily deputy, and the other two are our medicene cats. It only seemed right."

Bramblestar nodded, respect in his eyes. "Take it first to the elders and queens. Then to the medicene cats' den. Lionblaze and I shall have the last pick if need be." The leader flicked his tail in dismissal.

Silvermist began picking the mice while Moletunnel picked up the vole and two shrews. "You can't carry this all yourself," the white she-cat mewed around the tails. Blacknight pushed his muzzle into her shoulder for a brief moment before grabbing the quail.

"All right, queens and elders first."


Dovewing watched her kits carefully, pride in her eyes. They were only a few days old, and already they were trying to opening their eyes. The oldest Bumblestripe named Graykit, after his father, even though it was a she-kit. But Dovewing could see why. The shape of the head and paws reminded her of Graystripe, along with the coloring of her tiny pelt.

The second was a fiesty she-kit, a pale ginger with white patches. She had already managed to bite all of her siblings' tails! They had named her Sandkit, after Sandstorm.

The last two were toms. One was completely gray and fluffy, just like Dovewing. The other was a replica of his father, with long, black stripes. They decided to name them Stormkit and Stripekit. It wasn't until a few days after, when Graystripe and Sandstorm came to visit did the new parents notice what they did.

"It's almost as if we were the only inspiration behind their names," Sandstorm had muttered playfully. Graystripe had been too happy to speak.

Cinderheart laid in the nest next to Dovewing, nursing her three kits. Her and Lionblaze had decided on all prey names, but for good reason. The three kits were named after the prey Cinderheart had prefered while pregnant. Volekit, the oldest, was a ginger tabby tom with muscular shoulders, Shrewkit was a cream-colored tom, and Swallowkit was a pale ginger she-kit. The two gray queens joked that one day they would mix up Swallowkit and Sandkit, for the two were almost identical, except the latter had white patches.

Squirrelflight's head raised from her nest, her nose twitching. "Does anyone else smell quail?" Dovewing sniffed the air, smelling a strange bird.

"I-I think so. I've never smelled it before now." Dovewing responded.

Blacknight pushed through the opening, hauling a huge quail in after him. "Here you go queens!" He mewed happily.

"Blacknight, did you catch that yourself?!" Dovewing exclaimed.

"Yes, and whatever you don't eat will go to the elders. Silvermist is waiting outside the den to take what's left over to them. If you want, I can leave a mouse, a vole, or a shrew as well." He meowed, glancing around.

Cinderheart perked up. "Could I have a vole and a shrew instead? I'll take a bite of the quail, but I'm still craving those two bits of prey." She blinked apologetically.

Blacknight purred, hooking the two bits of prey on his claws and lifting them over to her. "I'm one step ahead of you," he purred before whisking out of the den.

"Well," Squirrelflight mewed, "let's feast to new life!"

"To new life!" the other two queens echoed. Daisy woke up and prodded Brightheart awake. She purred, watching her three kits tumble towards the bird.


Blacknight collapsed in the middle of the clearing, Moletunnel and Silvermist copying him. It was just barely after sunrise, and all three were exhausted. The rest of the quail had went to the elders, three mice to the medicine cats, and the last mouse and shrew to Bramblestar and Lionblaze.

Thornclaw noticed them, padding over. "Get some rest. You all deserve it. Blacknight, Bramblestar says you won't be need until the sunset patrol, but you two will be need by sunhigh." The older warrior began to pad away before pausing. "Thank you."


WHEW! Long chapter. But AWWW! There are now THIRTEEN kits in the nursery, if anyone is curious. R&R, and I'll see you next chapter! (FYI, I just did revisions. I realized I forgot about Brightheart and her kits! My bad...and, for those interested, Seedpaw and Lilypaw are being trained by Bumblestipe and Blossomfall, respectfully.)