Chapter 13

"Were you able to find out any more info?" Lightleaf asked, looking at the apprentice in front of her.

"Only a little bit. I can't ask anyone directly. It'll make some cats suspicious." Smokepaw said, "But, I listened in on Fernflower and Spiderdapple. They said something about how shameful it was that Tallspruce was beaten that easily."Lightleaf nodded. "Maybe that's why he left. He had wounds inflicted, but to everyone else, that wasn't enough I guess." Smokepaw said.

"What do you mean it wasn't enough?" Lightleaf asked.

Smokepaw sighed, "Lionstar says that just a few wounds shows that you didn't fight well. Even more, Tallspruce ran away. But then again, so did Hawkstorm."

" Then why didn't Hawkstorm "leave?"" Lightleaf asked.

"Hawkstorm had fewer wounds, but they were more severe. Lionstar also thinks that the worse the wound, the harder you fought." Smokepaw said, "The whole point of that attack was to see how strong ShadowClan is."

Lightleaf's eyes widened, "So, that's Lionstar's way of doing things? If he wants to see how strong his warriors are, he should wait until a true battle comes along." Smokepaw nodded in agreement. "I'm beginning to think Lionstar has a whole hive of bees on his brain." Lightleaf said. She was a bit surprised that Smokepaw didn't defend his leader, but of course, the apprentice wasn't fond of the golden leader. "Smokepaw, why don't you just leave ShadowClan? It's easy to see that you don't like it." Lightleaf said.

Smokepaw smiled slightly as he shook his head, "Just because I don't like Lionstar, or how he does things doesn't mean I just leave. ShadowClan is the clan I was born in, and the clan I'll die in." Lightleaf remained silent. That, was a perfect example of loyalty. Smokepaw was only giving Lightleaf information because she was his friend, and he wanted truth too.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you in a few nights. Bye, Smokepaw." Lightleaf said, getting up and turning.

"Hi Lightleaf." Smokepaw said, doing the same. Lightleaf wasn't confused as others may have been. To Smokepaw, saying goodbye meant forever, so he always said hello.

Lightleaf continued back to ThunderClan's camp. Along the way, she noticed a brown and cream pelt. "Runningpaw, is that you?" she asked. The young tom looked up from where he was picking some marigold, "Yeah. What are you doing out here?"

"Just walking." Lightleaf lied, "Need some help?"

Runningpaw smiled gratefully, "Yes please. I've got the marigold, can you go find some raspberry leaves?"

Lightleaf nodded, "Sure." She walked a bit away, looking for a spade-shaped leaved bush. When she spotted some red berries, she went to check the leaves to make sure it was the right bush.

Lightleaf closed her eyes and began to rely on her past life for help. She let Leafpool take over. Flipping one leaf over, she saw that it had a silverish color. "Yes, this is raspberry." Leafpool said. Plucking some leaves from the canes of the bush, Lightleaf came back. "Thanks Leafpool." she said.

"Oh, you got them." Runningpaw said when she padded back to him.

"Yep. I can carry these back to camp for you." Lightleaf said.

"That'd be nice. Let's go." Runningpaw said.

xxxxxx*xxxxxx

"Ow, that hurt." Shadowclaw grumbled, rubbing his head. Sorrelfang huffed and continued to bite at her left shoulder. "You can't do that, Sorrelfang. You'll just make it worse." Shadowclaw said. Why did Blueheart have to ask him to deal with the elder?

"What else am I supposed to do?" Sorrelfang asked, "It itches and there's a tick on it too." Shadowclaw was starting to get irritated with her. Sorrelfang knew well enough that messing with her shoulder wound could end up with it infected, but did she care? No, it seemed not. Sorrelfang went on biting. Obviously, nothing he said would stop her. So he sighed, and left the elders' den. Shadowclaw jumped back as Blueheart hurried past.

What was she in such a rush for?

Shadowclaw was about to go ask her when he saw Lightleaf and Runningpaw entering camp. Forgetting the blue-gray medicine cat, he padded up to them. "I see you have your paws full. Did you need that much?" he asked.

Runningpaw nodded, "Dustpaw and Sorrelfang need the marigold, and Blueheart wants herbs ready for when Pollenheart starts kitting."

"Okay. Well, I'll get out of your way then." Shadowclaw said, allowing the two cats to pass him. Lightleaf's tail ran along his side, making his heart flutter. It remained that way as he watched her and Runningpaw walk to the medicine den. Then he saw Blueheart come back from wherever she had been and talked to them for a moment. Runningpaw quickly ran into the medicine den. He came back with a stick in his jaws. "What in the name of StarClan is going on?" Shadowclaw asked, mostly to himself.

He watched as Blueheart led her apprentice and Lightleaf away, towards the nursery. Eventually, Shadowclaw decided to find out what was happening. He made his way to the nursery and poked his head in. Pollenheart lay on her side, panting and whimpering. "Isn't it a bit early?" Lightleaf asked.

Blueheart nodded, "Yes. But we can't ponder on that right now. Runningpaw, give her that stick. She'll need it."

"Umm... what's going on?" Shadowclaw asked from the entrance.

Blueheart's head snapped up. "Shadowclaw, don't come in here. Pollenheart's kits are coming early." she said. The medicine cat then set her paw on the golden queen's belly. "Easy now Pollenheart. Breath and push, that's all you must do right now. Breath and push." she said. Pollenheart nodded painfully and did as told. Shadowclaw wondered whether or not he should get Foxslayer. When a bundle of wet fur hit the nest, he went to find the deputy.

He found the ginger tom eating a mouse. "Foxslayer, Pollenheart is kitting." Shadowclaw said.

Foxslayer stopped eating and buried the mouse for later. "Right now?" Foxslayer asked. Shadowclaw nodded. He moved aside quickly the deputy ran to the nursery.

"Does everyone want to run me over?" Shadowclaw asked, following at a slower pace. When they came to the nursery, Blueheart ordered them to stay outside, but they still peaked inside. There were already two kits at Pollenheart's belly. Okay, make that three.

"One more." Blueheart said. Pollenheart almost broke the stick between her teeth as she pushed another kit out. Lightleaf went to licking until the kit began mewling. "Three toms and one she-kit." Blueheart announced. Pollenheart kept biting the stick for some reason.

"You can stop." Runningpaw said. However, there was a surprise that had managed to hide from Blueheart's detection. A fifth kit made its way into the world.

"Oh my." Lightleaf said. Before anyone else could, Pollenheart began licking the kit herself.

"Now that should be the last one. I hope." Blueheart said, smiling. She looked at Shadowclaw and Foxslayer, "Come in."

Foxslayer was sitting beside Pollenheart in a heartbeat. "I love them." he said. Shadowclaw decided it was best to stay outside. Let the new family bond. Blueheart gave Pollenheart some borage and led a fascinated Runningpaw back to the medicine den. Lightleaf came out and sat next to Shadowclaw. "You think those kits will be okay? I mean, they were born early." she asked.

"With parents like Pollenheart and Foxslayer? Of course they will." Shadowclaw said.

Author's Note: I was kind of forced to make this chappie short. First, I ran out of ideas. -_- Second, I can't go further without the kits being named.

Do you guys have any ideas for kit names and appearances?

Again, that author note no longer slides. We have the kits named! Just telling everyone that! R&R! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own this story (yet), and none of it is my writing... yet... Takashimo and I do not own warriors.