A soft breeze coming through the brambles of the nursery woke Honeybreeze up.

She groggily opened her eyes and looked around the den. She saw Daisy's sleeping form in her nest and Cinderheart was stretched out in her own with Skykit and Copperkit curled into her belly. She sighed, closed her eyes, and was just about to fall back asleep when she realized something wasn't right.

She blinked her eyes open and sat up in her nest. Her kits weren't there. She hopped out of the warm mossy nest and padded over to the other queens. Every now and then her nest got a little crowded and one of her kits would go and climb in with Daisy or Cinderheart.

She peered in, careful not to wake anycat up, and checked, but they weren't there.

They can't be out playing already. It's not even dawn yet!

Careful not to disturb any of the sleeping cats Honeybreeze padded out of the nursery and stepped out into the hollow. She arched her back and shook out her dappled coat, scanning the camp at the same time for any sign of her kits.

She felt the first prickles of fear creeping up her pelt.

Don't panic. They've probably gone to explore or they're in the elders den. Oh, I hope they haven't woken anycat up!

First, she went to check the mossy hollow because sometimes they liked to go there and "battle-train". They weren't there so she went to the elders den. Ferncloud and Dustpelt were curled up together in their nest and Purdy was lying on his back, snoring away. She felt bad for waking him up, but she had no choice.

She gently prodded his side and whispered, "Purdy. Purdy, wake up."

The old tom suddenly sat straight up, his fur sticking out at all angles, "Wha? What's going on?"

Not wasting any time on pleasantries, she got straight to the point.

"Have you seen my kits?"

Purdy looked confused, "Which ones are you kits again?"

Honeybreeze held back an impatient sigh, "They're Lilykit, Creekkit, Swankit, and Eaglekit", she answered. "Swankit is the little cream she-cat who usually comes to visit you."

Recognition flashed across his face. "Oh yes, Swankit, such a lovely she-cat and she loves my stories, why there's this one time…"

Honeybreeze cut him off, "well, have you seen her this morning? Any of them actually?"

Purdy cocked his head and thought for a moment, "nope youngin', can't say that I have, but I'll help you look for 'em."

It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but she was grateful.

The two cats checked everywhere in the camp: every den, every crevice, every cave, and all possible hiding spots. By the time the sun began to rise and warriors started getting up from their nest, Honeybreeze was in full blown panic.

"I can't find them!" she wailed. "Oh Starclan, where could they be?"

Honeybreeze had never felt like this before. The utter despair that was welling up inside her was overwhelming. Her love for her kits, was something that could not be described. From the day they were kitted, she knew she would do anything for them. She would love them, protect them, and fight for them. She would fight a thousand Lionclan warriors, if it meant keeping them safe. The love she felt for her kits was different from the way she felt about Oaklight or her kin. It overshadowed every single feeling she had ever had in her entire life.

It was immeasurable.

And now she had lost them.

At that moment the dawn patrol returned, her mate Oaklight spotted her in the middle of the hollow and raced over to her.

"Hi! I missed you! I was actually just about to see if you and the kits were up…"

Finally noticing the terror in her pale blue eyes he stopped.

"What's the matter?"

Honeybreeze felt as if a thousand warriors were raking their claws across her pelt.

"I can't find them Oaklight," she whispered.

"Find who?" he mewed; worry starting to creep in his eyes.

Our kits! I've looked everywhere for them. No cat's seen them. And it's all my fault! I was sleeping. I should have been watching them. They're only one moon old! Oh Starclan, what have I done?" she whimpered. The big dark brown tom covered her face in hard, comforting licks. "It is not your fault," he said fiercely. "You need sleep more than any cat. Don't worry love, we'll find them. I promise."

But even the words of her mate couldn't soothe the storm inside her.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Firestar heading towards them, Sandstorm and Brambleclaw at his tail.

The powerful flame-colored tom stopped before them. "Honeybreeze and Oaklight, I know you two must be so incredibly worried right now, but I vow to you both, that we will find your kits," he meowed. Sandstorm ran her tail over her back, trying to comfort her.

"We've already sent out three patrols," Brambleclaw noted. "Two of them are covering the outer edges of the territory and working their way in the heart of the land while the other one is going along the lake edge just in case…" He trailed off as he noticed the same alarm reflected in Honeybreeze and Oaklights eyes.

Oaklight gulped and pressed against his mate. "Well, we want to go too. We can't just stay here and wait."

Firestar nodded his head, "Of course. It would probably be a good if you looked close to the camp. They are only one moon old, so they couldn't have gotten far."

Honeybreeze and Oaklight nodded and thanked their leader. They were already heading out towards the tunnel that led out of the camp when they heard Brambleclaw's voice behind them.

"Wait!" he yowled. "Jayfeather is coming with you."

What? He'll only slow us down!Honeybreeze growled in her head, but the gray tabby tom was already racing out to meet them, a bundle of herbs in his mouth.

Oaklight and Honeybreeze shared a look.

"Jayfeather…" he started.

The medicine cat cut him off with a glare, "Don't even start. When we find your kits, they're going to need some sort of medical attention, and the sooner the better."

Oaklight was starting to say something again, but Honeybreeze silenced him with her tail. He was right.

"Okay," she mewed. "Let's go."

TO BE CONTINUED

P.S- Sorry guys that I haven't uploaded a story in forever! But, with school and everything, there just hasn't been time. I'll try to get the next story out as soon as possible. I hope you all like it!(: