"Ripplestream! I missed you so much!" Moonheart mewed as soon as she spotted her sister waiting.
"Moonheart! Thank goodness you're here! My belly is getting really big."
"Let me examine." Moonheart drew closer to her sister. "The kits will be out by next full moon. Next half moon when I come here, I'll bring some more herbs. I'll leave them by that tree."
"Ok. By next moon, my kits are coming?"
"Yes"
"Thanks, Moonheart. How's prey running?"
"We had a lot of invading in our territory. But ThunderClan managed to protect our areas well. Firestar says we would need as much warriors as we can. That's why he sent me here to share dreams with StarClan to find you. Ripplestream, I'm so scared! What if he finds out?"
"I…I don't know. I'm really sorry about this."
"It's all right. Where's Rabbitclaw?"
"Follow me."
Dawn came, and Moonheart was walking back to her camp.
"Any sign of Ripplestream?" Moonheart jumped. She was so concentrated on her sister, she didn't even notice she was so near to camp.
"Thornwhisker… No, not even a bit." She mewed. Moonheart dropped her tail on purpose and slowly trotted toward her leader's den.
"Firestar…"
"Come in, Moonheart." He mewed. Then his face grew anxious. "Nothing good, is it?"
"No. I-I didn't see anything, but I heard Ripplestream's purr. I'm sure she's fine."
"I guess we just have to let go of her." Her leader's voice was gentle, but filled with grief. Moonheart's belly churned. "You may go."
Moonheart came back to her den, and found Cherrypaw sleeping beside Dovewing. Suddenly Moonheart was scared. Dovewing! She might have heard Ripplestream and my talk! Trembling, the she-cat went inside to check her herbs. All well stocked. Good.
Moonheart was in the nursery a few heartbeats later, checking up on Starfall. "Starfall! Are you well?" Moonheart whispered. The queen has caught a cough.
"Yes, I'm fine. Hi, Moonheart." The golden she-cat mewed. Moonheart left her alone and headed back out.
"Moonheart!" A tiny mewling called. Moonheart looked back. A yellow kit was squirming in cold. "I'm shivering!" Daisykit, one of Starfall's first litter, mewed. Moonheart padded toward the kit and rubbed her paws against the kit's flank.
"You'll be fine. Tuck under your litter mate's flank." The kit moved, her hind legs wobbling. The kit was especially small.
"Thanks." The kit mewed. Moonheart smiled.
