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Chapter 8

The next morning, Skycloud was awoken by the sound of screeching and worried mews. Leafblade was missing from his nest. 'What on Earth...?' She thought as she slowly walked out of her den. "What's going on?" She asked Briarlight, who was dragging herself out of the nursery.

The dark brown she-cat looked up at her, her eyes full of worry. "Blossomfall is kitting. I don't think there's any major problems, but by the sound of it, it can't be too good." She responded with a sigh before returning to the medicine den for more herbs.

"A kitting!" Skycloud mewed with excitement, and yet a little worry. She walked closer to the nursery, hoping to hear the kits when they first started mewling. Suddenly a kit ran into her side, nearly knocking her over. "Fernkit!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing?" She asked with a smile, leaning down to the little kit.

"Sorry Skycloud!" The golden she-kit exclaimed. "We were just playing moss ball, but I wanted to see the kitting." She mewed innocently.

"Fernkit! Come here!" A voice called from a few tail-lengths away. "You know you're not supposed to be so close to the nursery!" the cream-colored she-cat that Skycloud knew as Daisy gently scolded Fernkit.

Fernkit let out a sigh. "Alright!" She called over her shoulder. "I have to go, Skycloud. But let me know when the kits are born!" She mewed as she ran towards Daisy.

"Will do!" Skycloud called in return. She saw Leafblade pad towards her from the fresh-kill pile, and to her disappointment; Molestripe was walking towards her also. Molestripe pushed ahead of Leafblade, triumph glowing in his eyes as he reached Skycloud first. She shot Leafblade a sympathetic look as he walked over to Graystripe, disappointment showing in the way he walked. "What is it, Molestripe?" Skycloud asked, unable to hide the annoyance in her voice as she faced the brown-and-cream tom.

He ignored her tone, though there was a hint of hurt in his eyes. "I just wanted to see how Blossomfall's kitting was going. I know that Graystripe is worried sick; she is his daughter after all." He meowed with a soft smile.

Skycloud's face remained emotionless, though she was torn up inside. He sparked up feelings in her, but they were not good feelings. They were feelings of anger and hurt; yet she didn't know why she was so offended by his very presence. It was just a misunderstanding, so why was she so upset? She tried to clear her head of the conflicting thoughts. "Yes, I'm sure he is," She responded with a slight sigh. "Thornclaw is inside the nursery I think. I'm sure he's pacing back and forth with worry," She tried to smile, but it would not come. Before Molestripe could reply, she spoke again. "If they don't mind too much, I was thinking of going inside to see how it's going."

"Oh," Molestripe sighed with disappointment. He knew that she would never look at him the same way after that incident in the forrest. But he was determined to make it up to her somehow. "I'd love to go with you, but I'm sure they don't need two more cats in there." He mewed quietly, unable to look in her eyes.

"Yeah well..." She wasn't sure how to respond so she just dipped her head and walked into the nursery, sneaking a short glance at Leafblade. "Can I come in?" She asked softly, suddenly overwhelmed by the fear-scent in the room. From the smell, she could tell that it was mostly Thornclaw and Millie's.

Blossomfall barely noticed her; there was already a single golden brown tabby kit suckling from her belly. She looked as if she was still in pain, so Skycloud guessed that there must still be more on the way.

"Yes, you can come in." the voice was Rosepetal's; and it was tight and strained with emotion. "Jayfeather says that there's still one more kit to be born." She whispered as Skycloud walked over to her.

From where she was sitting, Skycloud could now see the other cats more clearly. Thornclaw and Millie were talking in hushed voices in the corner, obviously worried for Blossomfall. Jayfeather was crouched over by the queen, guiding her in the obviously stressful kitting. "Is she okay? I'm nearly choking on fear-scent." She whispered to Rosepetal.

"What?" She responded, her mind obviously elsewhere. "Oh, yes she's fine," She murmured. "She's just bleeding a little more than usual; or at least that's what Jayfeather said. I'm sure she'll be fine." She mewed with a smile.

Suddenly there was a loud screech, then sigh of exhaustion as Blossomfall's last kit plopped out onto the moss. "Congratulations," came the somewhat muffled and detached voice of Jayfeather. "Two healthy toms," He turned to Thornclaw, though he couldn't see him. "They're healthy, but Blossomfall has lost a lot of blood," He whispered. "She'll be okay with a few herbs, but keep an eye on her." And with that, he gave the kits one last sniff before walking out of the nursery.

Thornclaw nodded to the medicine cat, worry and fear evident in his eyes. "They're wonderful, Blossomfall." He whispered to his mate as he licked her ear.

The obviously tired she-cat purred weakly before glancing at the cats in the nursery. Mille walked over to her daughter, pride radiating from her pelt. "I'm so happy for you two!" She purred.

Rosepetal walked over, Skycloud behind her. "Have you thought about any names yet?" She asked softly, gazing at the two toms nursing from their mother.

Blossomfall silently signaled for Thornclaw to speak. "Yes actually. We thought about it a while ago. The golden brown one is named Swiftkit, and the dark tortoiseshell is named Ripplekit." He purred proudly, not taking his eyes off of his kits.

"Those are wonderful names, Thornclaw," Skycloud mewed happily. "Well we'll leave you five to talk. Shall we send Graystripe in?" She asked with a smile.

"Oh yes! He'll be so happy!" Millie chirped. "Send him in right away!" She purred, trying to comfort her daughter who was obviously overwhelmed with emotions.

As soon as Skycloud and Rosepetal walked out, Foxleap had rushed to the cream she-cat's side. "Is she okay?" He asked, an emotion in his eyes that Skycloud could only guess as love for Rosepetal.

"Yes, she's fine," She purred at her mate. "She had two handsome toms; one of them looks just like Thornclaw!" She mewed with a smile. "Let's go tell Graystripe, Blossomfall wants to see him." She waved her tail at Skycloud as the two cats walked off to find the gray tom.

"Bye!" Skycloud called to them. 'Wow, they never seem to leave each other's side!' She thought with a smile. She saw Leafblade walk towards her, making her smile even brighter. "Hi, Leafblade!" She purred. "Did you hear? Blossomfall had two toms."

Leafblade greeted her with a smile and a flick of the tail. "That's great! What are their names?" He asked, his eyes reflecting his happiness.

Before she could answer, Molestripe came bounding over. "Skycloud. Squirrelflight wants us on a border patrol. Now." He mewed with a growl as he saw Leafblade.

"Now just hang on a second," The brown tabby responded with a slight snarl. "we were talking. Can you give us a minute?" He asked, his hackles rising slightly.

"Well excuse me! I didn't realize that I was in the presence of the great Leafblade!" Molestripe responded sarcastically. "I was just wondering if I could take my apprentice on a patrol. Or is that too much to ask?" He unsheathed his claws, obviously ready for a fight.

Skycloud stepped in the middle of the two toms. "Now, now. There's no need to fight," She mewed calmly, using all her energy not to claw Molestripe's fur off. "Molestripe, Leafblade and I were talking. I'll join you at the entrance in a moment." She growled slightly. There was obviously tension between the two toms, though Skycloud couldn't figure out why.

"Fine." Molestripe muttered as he stalked away to the gorse tunnel, clearly upset that she took Leafblade's side.

"I'm sorry, Leafblade," Skycloud apologized when her mentor was out of earshot. "We'll talk later, okay?" She asked with a smile.

He huffed frustratedly. "That's fine, Skycloud," He mewed, regaining his composure. "But just so you know," He leaned in close to her. "If he pulls anything funny; just let me know." He whispered before walking over to Icecloud to find out his duties for the day.

Skycloud smiled to herself at how protective he was. "Thanks." She whispered, even though he had walked away. She sighed and walked over to Molestripe. "So where are we patrolling?"