"You can sleep here

"You can sleep here. Graystar mewed to Eveningpelt. The sky was dark and a light drizzle began to fall.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for her to stay in the nursery?" Freefoot meowed.
"Yes. It would." Said a lithe she-cat. Her pelt was snow white and she seemed to have slipped through the shadows. "Besides it looks like rain tonight."
"Where have you been Silentstep?" Graystar asked her deputy.
"Investigating" she said simply.
"Oh. Freefoot will you please tell Racoontail I need to speak with him? And then take Flamepaw to fetch Foxtail." Graystar paused, "I've been so busy I have forgotten we need to sit vigil. I'd like to do this before it starts to rain."

Freefoot dipped her head and Graystar turned to Eveningpelt. The gray leader could tell she was worried about something. "Silentstep, Please take Eveningpelt to the nursery."

Silentstep patted beside the gray queen. The two said nothing to each other, and Eveningpelt entered the nursery with even more worry than before. She could hear Freefoot report to Graystar; "I can't find Flamepaw or Racoontail anywhere!"

Nightkit and Icekit were curled up together sleeping. Icekit's white fur blended with Nightkit's black one.
"You must be their mother." Spottedflower mewed.
"Yes.. I'm Eveningpelt." The pale queen replied.
"Greetings Eveningpelt. I'm Spottedflower. Are you hungry?"
"Very" Eveningpelt admitted. She placed herself across from the sleeping sisters.
"Food should be here shortly"
Wolfpaw appeared as if on cue with three mice in his jaws. He dropped two in front of Eveningpelt and gave the other to Spottedflower. "Thank you Wolfpaw." The tabby purred.
"Yeah." The apprentice replied. Eveningpelt just dipped her head.
"One of those is for your kits." Wolfpaw told her in a matter-of-fact sort of way.
"Yes Thank you." The gray queen answered.
Wolfpaw glared at her and then stalked away.
"Don't mind him. He's always like that." Spottedflower mewed.

The nursery was silent as the queens ate. The soft patter of rain was the only noise. Suddenly, a commotion outside broke the silence. Even the kits woke up. Quietpaw scurried in, her eyes round with shock and her fur ruffled.
"Racoontail and Flamepaw came back and they killed Eveningpelt's kits!"