A/N: Five moons have passed since the Gathering. I forgot to put that in my last note.
Leafpool froze.
How does he know? Aloud she mewed, "Why do you ask?"
"Well, why did you tense when I asked?" Crowfeather countered.
Oh, he's good. Now, how do I tell him? I just can't come right out with it.
Leafpool shifted her weight on the rock. She took a breath and hesitate before meowing, "Crowfeather. . ."
"What?"
Oh, well. I might as well come out with it.
"I'm going to have kits."
Crowfeather's blue eyes grew round like an owl's.
Leafpool found herself shrinking in her fur. How was he going to take this?
"That's great!" he exclaimed. Apparently, he was taking it quite well. The dark gray tom pressed his muzzle against hers.
"But what about your other kits?" Leafpool asked.
"They're far away. They don't have to know."
"Still. . ."
"Leafpool." Crowfeather brushed his tail along her side and twined it with hers. "We've left the Clans behind. We can't go back now, and besides, we've been exiled."
Leafpool sighed. "I suppose you're right."
She stood up and headed towards their den. Crowfeather gazed after her for a few heartbeats, then leaped down from the basking rocks and followed her.
It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the den. When they did, they made out Leafpool curled up in their nest, her sides moving as if she was sleeping.
Crowfeather started to move towards her, then thought better of it. I'd better go find us some fresh-kill, he thought. He turned and left camp, heading into the copse of trees to hunt.
Leafpool curled into the nest and shut her eyes. When she did, she found herself on the path to the Moonpool.
What am I doing here? she thought as she padded forward. Sudden yowling forced her to move her paws faster. Before long, it seemed that she was moving as fast as a StarClan cat, her paws lighter than air.
When she reached the top of the rise leading down to the sacred pool, she froze in horror.