Tigerheart and I raced back to camp as fast as we could. When we arrived we saw Crowfeather just arriving with a good strong stick. "I don't want to go in the nursery. I'll wait out here." Said Tigerheart nervously. I rolled my eyes. Toms! I hurried into the nursery to find Leafpool lying down with some moss soaked in water near her head.
As another spasm passed through Leafpool's body, Dovewing noticed that she seemed to be getting more and more exhausted. "She's getting tired." I hissed to Jayfeather. Jayfeather put his paw on the pregnant queen's belly. "Ok, Leafpool, it's now or never." announced Jayfeather. Just then Lilypaw came running up with some herbs. "Borage." she told me. "Good for queens as it helps their milk supply come." Jayfeather nodded approvingly.
Just then Leafpool let a groan. "Ok Leafpool, push!" ordered Jayfeather. Leafpool's face was determined as she pushed as hard as she could, and out slithered a wet bundle of fur. Jayfeather quickly passed the tiny kit to Daisy, who was now licking its fur rapidly the wrong way round. She saw me staring at her. "Licking their fur the wrong way helps them to warm up." She informed me. I nodded as to show her I understood.
"Are there any more?" I asked Jayfeather. "No. There was only one this time. It's a she cat. " He announced to Leafpool and Crowfeather, collecting the splinters of the stick and the leftover herbs. "Come on Lilypaw." Jayfeather called his apprentice. Lilypaw ran after her mentor to the medicine den. I turned to see Crowfeather and Leafpool looking proudly at the little black she cat who was now suckling.
I popped my head round the nursery entrance. "Tigerheart, come see her. She's so cute." Tigerheart hesitated, before making his way in. "What shall we call her?" Leafpool was asking Crowfeather with love in her eyes as she looked down at the tiny kit. Just then the little scrap of fur blinked open her pretty eyes. They were a deep midnight blue.
"I don't know what to call her." Crowfeather admitted. "Well the important thing is that she is healthy." said Brightheart sternly. She then turned to Tigerheart and me. "You two better go and get some rest as well. It's the gathering tomorrow night." We nodded and then made our way to the warriors den. "Wait there." I told him as I ran to the fresh kill pile to see if there were any good pieces of prey. I picked out a plump vole at the bottom of the pile and shared it outside the warriors den with Tigerheart. After we had finished the remaining scraps, Tigerheart turned to me.
"Are you tired?" he asked me. "Not really. Why?" I replied curiously. "Let's go for a walk. Come with me." He beckoned me with his tail and led me out of camp. Rosepetal, who was guarding the camp entrance, whipped her head around to glare at us suspiciously. "Just going for a walk." I said quickly. She looked less curious but I could feel her gaze boring into mine and Tigerheart's pelts.
"Where are we going?" I asked, curious to find out where he was taking me. "Do you still not remember those nights?" I stared at him clueless, before figuring out what he was talking about. I know that tree, and that bush! I would know this path as blind as a hedgehog! I thought guiltily about all the nights that I had betrayed my clan to see Tigerheart. I get it! I worked out. Tigerheart is taking me to the abandoned twoleg nest!