OMG, I have not updated ANYTHING in forever! I feel so ashamed with myself...(TT^TT)

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving break! So, I'll leave you to read a chapter rather than a dumb girl's rambling.

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"It seems that the stream is much fuller than usual," Leafstream observed. The stream that ran through SunClan's territory flowed on in a consistant march, branching from the river in the other clans.

"Of course, it rained quite heavily in that storm, so this could be expected, " meowed Embertail, " And with there not having been much flow lately, this is a blessing from StarClan."

That was true. Before the storm, the stream had been to very little use for the clan. It had run thin, trickling weakly over rocks and other obsticles. The furious storm was probably leaf-fall's way of sending a good-bye of sorts. The last rain before snow would bury the colorful, fallen leaves, and sent the prey into hiding. One last farewell until next time. Yes, a full stream would be a blessing to a much in-need SunClan.

'But,' Leafstream thought, 'This can't be much of a blessing for the other clans.'

He knew well-enough that the river had to be flooded farther upstream. That MoonClan and DuskClan had to know be wary of their sides of the river. Closing his eyes, Leafstream could imagine the banks that had been over-run by water.

"Hey, Leafstream, are you alright?" he heard Embertail mew. Opening his eyes, he looked at the ginger-and-brown cat, and assured him that he was fine.

"I'm just thinking about how the other clans must be dealing with this, is all. The river must be flooded," Leafstream meowed.

Embertail's blue eyes widened slightly, and he looked at the full stream, "Yes, it must. But there's nothing we can do about that. Whatever happens, it will be StarClan's will."

Leafstream suddenly flashed back to when he was younger, a mere apprentice. He had been horrified upon finding the dead body of a MoonClan cat, one who had drifted downstream long after dying. A flood had taken the cat's life. Poor, poor Dewcloud. The small she-cat hadn't even stood a chance in the raging river.

With a shudder, Leafstream was back in his paws, thankfully.

"I know what you're thinking about, Leafstream. But as I said before, it was StarClan's plan for her, " Embertail meowed, saying 'her' instead of 'Dewcloud'. That was a name that always brought back a sad image.

"Yes, yes, I know. I can't help remembering sometimes, especially when the river floods. She would've been a good leader for her clan, any cat would have agreed,"

Leafstream reminisced. He hadn't known the former MoonClan deputy long, but she had emitted an air of kindness, along with intelligence.

Before Embertail could respond to that, Leafstream realized that they had 'ought to retrieve the prey they caught, and return to camp. With the prospect to getting back to his heavily-pregnant mate, Embertail agreed.

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When the two toms returned to camp, Dovefrost bounded up to them. She had obviously been on her way to the nursery, but turned upon catching sight of the duo. The medicine cat's jaws had herbs locked between them, which she set down as she met them.

"Briarfawn has had her kits!" she mewed, her eyes glittered with joy.

Hearing this, Embertail dropped the fresh-kill he'd been carrying, "Really?!"

Dovefrost nodded with a purr, "Yes, and there were no problems at all! You should be quite proud, Embertail."

She then told him that he should give the crow to the queen, and for Leafstream to see the kits as well. With the news given, Dovefrost plucked up the herbs she'd chosen and padded away with an eager Embertail in tow.

Leafstream went on to set the squirrel he'd caught on the pile of fresh-kill. His paws tingled with happiness. Kits at last for SunClan! And hopefully, with much praying to StarClan, this litter would make it through the harsh leaf-bare.

He caught sight of Honeystar leaving their shared den. Her green gaze was fixed on the nursery. Without hesitation, Leafstream padded up to her side.

"Like, are you going to see them, too?" Honeystar asked. The dappled she-cat held no saddness or any of the sort in her tone. She was the same as always. And that was a silent relief to Leafstream.

"Of course, I couldn't miss it even if I wanted to," he replied. Their pelts brushed slightly was they leisurely approached the entrance to the nursery. Dovefrost slipped out as they came. She dipped her head to the two, still as happy as before.

Inside, Embertail was watching his mate and kits with pure pride. Briarfawn's small body curled around three tiny kits. They mewed and squirmed beside their mother's belly, fighting over the best spot for nursing.

"They're, like, totally adorable," Honeystar meowed. Leafstream gave an agreement.

The kits were quite defenseless. Blind and tiny for the time-being, but they showed promise as two of them kicked and squeaked with pure determination for milk. But the third, Leafstream noticed, wasn't as much a fighter as its' littermates. The little tortoiseshell allowed the others to push it out of the way. Away from Briarfawn's warmth and protection.

The concern that he felt washed away slightly when it suddenly squeaked loudly, realizing it had lost its' mother. Purring, Embertail bent down and lifted the kit. He then placed it back amoung the other two.

"So, have you decided on names yet?" Leafstream asked, wanting to forget the worry he held for the tiny tortoiseshell.

Briarfawn looked up from licking a brown kit, and nodded, "Only two, though."

She placed her tail-tip on the kit she'd been cleaning, "This little she-kit is Mudkit, for her brown fur."

Embertail nosed a white-and-ginger kit, "And he is Furzekit."

Honeystar purred, "Fitting."

Meanwhile, Leafstream felt sick suddenly. The tortoiseshell had yet to be named. Just like two long-gone little ones.

"Well, I hope you come up with something for the last one soon. I doubt it'd like to be nameless for long, " he mewed pleasantly, trying to ignore the clawing dread in his belly.

Briarfawn gazed at her un-named kit lovingly, "Of course. It's harder naming this one is all, she's quite the character."

"Like, take your time, Briarfawn. I'm totally sure that she can wait a bit," Honeystar meowed. She then turned to exit, saying that she'd better leave the new family to bond.

She told Leafstream to come out as well.

Obeying his leader and mate, Leafstream followed. He gave one last glance at the happy parents and hungry kits, before stepping out fully. Quietly, he padded away with Honeystar.

He certainly did not expect Honeystar to whirl around at him as soon as they were far enough away, her eyes serious.

"Are you alright? You were, like, totally spacey in there," the golden leader asked with concern in her tone.

Leafstream's eyes widened with surprise, "Ah, that's just from earlier. The stream was full, and I was just remembering some events from when we were apprentices. That's all."

Honeystar only stepped closer, her whiskers almost touching his own, "No, that can't be all of it. Come on, Leaf, I totally know you!"

Great, she was using the nickname she had had for him since they were kits. It was something that always got Leafstream to let everything out for her to hear. But this time, he kept his jaws shut. He knew full-well that telling his mate of his dread would ruin her mood for a long time.

"Leafstream," she meowed commandingly, "As your leader, I demand that you tell me what's bothering you."

Honeystar rarely spoke in such a way. And she hadn't used the words 'like' or 'totally' at all. Leafstream gave up upon hearing her command, he could not deny his leader.

"The little tortoiseshell, the un-named one; She's quite weak. Definetely weaker than her littermates. And leaf-bare is coming soon. I'm worried that...that will happen again," he mewed quietly.

He watched as Honeystar lost her serious expression, as understanding replaced it. He swore he saw a glint of pain mixed within Honeystar's green eyes.

The golden she-cat looked down at her paws, her head lowered, for a few heartbeats. It felt like moons to a very dreading Leafstream. Finally, she looked back up at him.

She had softened her gaze and had definetely lost any sign of saddness.

"Leafstream, I'm totally sure that she'll be fine. Dovefrost would have, like, said something if she wouldn''t. StarClan's got this, alright?" she meowed assuringly.

Despite having less faith than he'd like, Leafstream nodded, "You're right, Honeystar. She'll probably be bouncing around with her littermates soon, causing trouble all over camp."

Honeystar purred with amuesment, likely imagining such a scene, "Right."

With that, the leader continued on to greet a sleepy (therefore grumpy) Willowfang. Leafstream watched silently. He still couldn't fight the feeling of worry for the weak, tiny kit.

'StarClan,' he prayed, 'Don't let it happen again.'

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A/N: Hope ya'll like this chapter. Next chapter will likely be focused on DuskClan, but I make no promises. *derp*

I've been far too lazy. My family finished moving in late August, and it's almost December now... Ugh, I hate myself so much! Go ahead, shoot me full of bullets! Throw me off a roof! Do as you must!

I'm likely going to be putting the following stories up for adoption, since I have not been very devoted to them:

"Survival"

"Chains on my Heart"

If anyone would like to adopt them, just PM me. These fics deserve better writers.

Until next time, my lovelies!

~ Tina