It was a whole five sunrises before Copperstar sent a patrol to check the flooding. Unfortunately, the news was not good. According to Greenblaze, the camp was now filled with up to a tail-length of water. That meant that MoonClan's make-shift camp was going had to be endured at least until the water was gone.

Copperstar looked at the recently finished warrior's den, which he helped create. The place that the Clan had settled in was crowded with tall pines and the ground was softer than what he was used to. Low-growing bushes and other undergrowth hogged a lot of the area. Still, this place had a strangely safe feeling to it. Perhaps this could be used as an emergency camp from now on.

He gazed at his clanmates, observing how content they seemed, now that everything was settled.

Sorrelflight was telling a story to the apprentices, with Ruinheart sitting close by. Not too far from them, Pouncewhisker was busy sorting herbs that he had recently collected, and Ashwing was patiently assisting him.

Hollowmask was sharing tongues with Frostbird, something that Copperstar noticed was becoming a common practice. The older tom dragged his tongue through the small she-cat's fur as she spoke to him. The scene made Copperstar chuckle softly; he'd bet his share of fresh-kill that there would be new kits by green-leaf.

What surprised him, however, was when he caught sight of Finpool and Lionshadow. The two were locked in a play-fight; Lionshadow's large paws held his mate down, though he let her go after a couple heart-beats. Finpool twisted around and tackled him, and they tumbled around like kits with nothing better to do.

A purr rose up in Copperstar's throat. He had not seen the two do this for moons; not since Finpool discovered that she was expecting kits. This was a prime example of his clan at peace.

"Copperstar."

Turning, he was greeted by the sight of Snowfeather. His mate was now able to walk on her injured paw with hardly any wincing. She was just as elegant as ever: one of the many reasons that Copperstar loved her.

"What is it?" he asked, twitching an ear.

"Just checking; you were too quiet," the white she-cat mewed. She laid down at his side, leaning against him with her paws tucked neatly beneath her. Copperstar licked her muzzle.

"And you're too affectionate," he countered, "What's up?"

Snowfeather gave her chest a few licks, "Nothing. Is it that odd for me to be next to my mate?"

Copperstar purred, "With you, I never know what's odd and what's not"

"That should be my line," his mate mewed.

Unfortunately, life was quite a fickle thing; and their peace was shattered by an alarm call. Copperstar stood at attention, his ears perked.

Greenblaze raced into the camp, his eyes wild and his fur standing on end. Littlefox was close behind him, looking very much the same.

"What is it?" Copperstar asked, leaving Snowfeather's side to approach the two toms.

"Foxes!" Greenblaze meowed, "Two of them started chasing us, and we aren't sure how far away they are now!"

Taking in the news, Copperstar turned, "Hollowmask, take Bramblefoot, Ruinheart, Foxpaw, and Snowfeather and start fending them off. Lionshadow, Frostbird, and Ashwing; come with me. The rest of you will defend the camp in case one of the foxes gets here."

Ruinheart came to stand beside Bramblefoot, "What's the plan?"

"Hollowmask's group will start attacking the foxes, and my group will join in; but on my word," Copperstar replied, "We head out now."

The deputy nodded, and lead his cats away with a wave of his tail. Foxpaw had an excited bounce in his step, having never been in such a situation before.

Copperstar turned to give his own signal, only to see Finpool directly beside him. Her eyes were dark and worried.

"Are you sure that this is a mission to send Foxpaw on?" she asked.

"It's a good chance for some experience," Copperstar mewed, "Besides, you were sent on a mission like this as an apprentice."

Finpool sniffed, "And I lost quite a bit of fur to that dog."

Sighing, Copperstar replied, "This isn't the time for arguments; besides, he's already left."

Not allowing her a chance to respond, Copperstar waved his tail. He noticed that Lionshadow nuzzled Finpool reassuringly, before he trotted off with the rest of the group.

The foxes were tougher than Copperstar had figured them to be. They were two rowdy, young males with a determination to taste the blood of cats. It was a good idea to take two groups, considering that Hollowmask's had trouble all on their own.

Copperstar dodged the smaller fox's snapping teeth, and swiped at his muzzle. The russet mongrel growled at him, and was about to launch an attack before Ashwing and Bramblefoot targeted his sides. Angrily, the fox turned to get at one of them.

Both cats jumped away, confusing the fox. Copperstar moved in once more, and clawed at his forelegs. It seemed that it was the last straw for the canine, who decided to just give up and bolted in the opposite direction of the make-shift camp. Good.

Now there was only one fox to take care of.

Copperstar saw that his fellow clanmates were fighting valiantly, but the fox appeared to be more stubborn than his littermate.

Lionshadow and Hollowmask were both biting and yanking on the fox's tail. The creature was unable to turn and reach them, due to Frostbird wrapping her forepaws around his neck, and digging her claws in the back of it. Foxpaw and Ruinheart moved around the fox, hissing and yowling in an attempt to confuse him; and Snowfeather was latched on to the fox's back.

Bunching his muscles, Copperstar leaped at the animal's side, giving a deep cut that resulted in the russet fur around it to darken with blood. The fox screeched and managed to fling Frostbird from his neck, and then he turned with fury in his eyes.

Copperstar closed his eyes, prepared for the pain of teeth sinking into his flesh, knowing full-well that – even with three more lives left – he may not live. But he instead heard a piercing yowl of agony from one of his clanmates. He opened his eyes and was horrified to see Snowfeather locked in the fox's jaws by her small shoulders.

It only lasted a few heartbeats, since the white she-cat was thrown to the side and the fox yipped as his tail was released; due to Lionshadow and Hollowmask's shock. Having enough of the fight, the fox turned tail and raced in the same direction as his brother.

"Snowfeather!" Frostbird cried, hurrying to her sister's side, "Can you move? Are you okay?"

The wounded she-cat let out a pained whimper, and attempted to lift her head. She winced from trying to do so, and flopped back down; limp.

Copperstar looked down at his mate with a mixture of fear and concern. Never before, had he thought that he might out-live her, and he wasn't ready for her to join StarClan. Gently, he nudged Frostbird out of the way and moved to lift Snowfeather onto his back. Bramblefoot assisted him, and they both flinched when the white cat let out a groan of pain.

"Foxpaw, go tell Pouncewhisker what has happened," Copperstar ordered. The tabby apprentice didn't hesitate for a heartbeat, nodding and quickly running towards camp.

With that, the cats followed at a slower pace, and Copperstar strode carefully in hopes of creating minimum jostling for Snowfeather.

"I'll be honest, I expected something like this," Pouncewhisker meowed, placing some cobwebs on Snowfeather's poultice-covered wound.

The white she-cat was barely awake, due to the poppy seeds that had been giving to her as a pain-killer. Her head rested on her forepaws, and she shuddered every now-and-then.

"Will she be okay?" Frostbird asked, her tail twitching anxiously.

Pouncewhisker set the left-over oak leaves from the poultice in a cluster of ivy, "She'll live. But she won't be doing much for the next two moons."

Copperstar gaped, "It'll take that long to heal?"

"What? No, she'll heal within half a moon. But it's better for the kits that she should pause her duties now," the aging cat mewed casually.

Both Copperstar and Frostbird stared at him blankly, being confused by his words.

"…Kits?" the leader meowed.

Pouncewhisker rolled his eyes, "Yes, Copperstar, kits. Do you need me to explain what they are?"

"I know what kits are! But…Snowfeather is having another litter?" Copperstar asked, gazing down at his – now sleeping – mate.

"You didn't know? I just informed her this morning," Pouncewhisker meowed.

The leader thought back to when Snowfeather had acted strangely affectionate in the open, and how she'd licked her chest as if wanting to tell him something. Had she meant to give him the news before the fox-incident? Why hadn't she objected to going if she knew that it wasn't just her life at stake?

"More kits already, huh? Finpool's kits only just became apprentices," Frostbird mewed, seeming to absorb the news easier than Copperstar. Her tone was good-natured.

Pouncewhisker gave her a look, "You say that now…"

"What are you implying?" the small she-cat asked.

Copperstar blocked out the sounds of his clanmates' conversation as he crouched down beside Snowfeather. He licked her ear lovingly, even though she wasn't able to acknowledge it. The idea of having more kits pleased him greatly. After all, he missed the times when Greenblaze and Ashwing had clambered all over him when they were the size of a robin.

"I'm happy, Snowfeather," he assured her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: *Explosion* Bam, done! This chapter was longer than I intended, so I hope that pleases you! Please do R & R, because I love feed-back!

I don't know how many kits I want Snowfeather to have, so tell me what you think: 2, 3, or 4? The names and genders will be discussed later.

Later, my lovelies!

~ Tina