CHAPTER EIGHT

It had been a moon since the battle, and everyone was healing well. Falconpelt had been found, but he had been barely alive. He had died soon after he was brought back to camp. Floodfang was now deputy. Soon after that Iceberry and Mosspaw had traveled to the Moonriver on the half-moon, and Mosspaw had received her full name: Mossleaf. She still hadn't delivered her first litter of kits without Iceberry, though.

"Robinheart's kitting!" The cry went up. But the cat who padded out of the medicine den was not Iceberry, but Mossleaf. She had some leaves in her jaws. She quickly entered the nursery. Pinetail was pacing outside, and Mossleaf snapped, "Pacing isn't going to help. Go hunt or something. Make yourself useful." Pinetail stared in surprise at Mossleaf, who vanished into the nursery. Mothflower was startled. Mossleaf rarely snapped at anyone. She must be really nervous.

"Mothflower!" It was Floodfang. "You're on a hunting patrol!"

"Can I come too?" Splashpaw burst out of the medicine den. "My leg feels better, really!"

"Sorry, Splashpaw." Iceberry mewed from inside. "You aren't going any farther than the dirtplace until I say you can!" Splashpaw's tail drooped, and he slowly went back into the medicine den.

"I'll bring you back a warm mouse!" Mothflower called to Splashpaw, but he didn't reply.

"You're leading the patrol," Floodfang mewed. "You choose who comes."

"Where should I hunt?" Mothflower asked.

"You choose that, too."

Mothflower spotted Pinetail milling around nearby. "Pinetail, hunting patrol," she called. "Blizzardwing, Blueleaf, Flowerpaw, you're coming too."

Her patrol complete, she padded out of the camp. "Flowerpaw, where do you think the most prey will be?"

"The huge oak tree by the Thunderpath," she replied.

"But prey will be scared away by the monsters," her mentor mewed.

"Oh. How about the beech tree near the BreezeClan border? There are always beechnuts on the ground."

"That's a good idea," meowed Blizzardwing. "Let's go."

"Hang on," Pinetail whispered, flicking his tail toward a rabbit a fox-length away from him. He killed it quickly and buried it so he could come back to it. Then the patrol headed to the beech tree. As soon as they arrived they saw three squirrels.

"Pinetail, Blueleaf, Flowerpaw, hide nearby. On my signal, pounce!" Mothflower mewed quietly. She waited until the three cats were in position, then raised her tail above the bushes. The three cats leapt on the squirrels. Blueleaf and Pinetail killed theirs instantly, but Flowerpaw missed the spine when she bit hers. It squeaked and staggered away toward the bush where Mothflower was hiding. She pounced on it and quickly took its life. Flowerpaw padded up to Blueleaf, tail drooping.

"I messed up!" she meowed.

"Don't worry," Blueleaf mewed to her downcast apprentice. "Even Lionstar missed his mice."

"Really?" Flowerpaw looked up at her mentor. "Lionstar did?"

"Sure! Every cat misses prey every once in a while. At least you got a bite in!" Pinetail meowed.

"Let's get back to camp," Mothflower decided. "That squeak probably scared all the prey away, and the sun is setting."

As they arrived in camp, Dawnpetal came to them with good news.

"Robinheart's had her kits! Two toms and two she-kits."

"That's great!" Pinetail exclaimed. He dropped his rabbit and hared to the nursery to see his mate and kits. Mothflower followed more slowly, placing his rabbit and the squirrel she held on the fresh-kill pile. She took a magpie for herself and settled down to eat it. She plucked the feathers from it after she had eaten and brought them to the nursery.

"Feathers! Thanks, Mothflower!" Pinetail took the feathers and pushed them into the mossy nest below his mate. Mothflower noticed that one kit was red, one brown, one brown and white, and one tabby.

"Did you name them yet?" Mothflower breathed, entranced by the precious bundles.

"The tabby tom is Tigerkit. The brown tom is Mousekit. The brown-and-white she-kit is Larkkit, and the red she-cat is Red..." Pinetail trailed off, lost in memories.

"Redpelt was his littermate," Robinheart explained quietly. "He died of greencough right after you were born."

Mothflower exited the nursery and headed to the warrior's den. The cave was cozy, but Mothflower had no idea where she could sleep.

"Mothflower, there's a nest near me." It was Willowstripe. Mothflower padded toward her and settled down, murmuring her thanks. Exhausted, she fell asleep quickly.