Wildstar was attempting to sleep in his den. The dark night sky twinkled coldly with many stars while the patch furred tom tossed and turned in the moss that made up his nest. Sighing, the LeafClan leader gave up trying to sleep. He felt something in the pit of his heart that something, something bad was going to happen to his Clan. He decided to talk it over with the medicine cat, Otterfoot. Wildstar poked his head into the medicine den. Otterfoot was sweeping some dried herbs around his den, their scent was overpowering.
"Otterfoot?" Wildstar flinched when he saw the black tom's sharp green eyes.
"The herbs ward off danger." Otterfoot explained.
The medicine cat must have sense his confusion because he sighed.
"Softfeather came to me in a dream. She says trouble is brewing." His words were vague.
"What kind of trouble?" Wildstar shot the pale black tom a glare, asking him to elaborate.
"Inside, outside, anything you could think of. All of it is outside you're control." The black tom continued to sweep the herbs around the den.
"Is it Dapplefern?" The leader needed to know how right Gentlestream was.
"Dapplefern, Dapplefern, Dapplefern..." Otterfoot seemed to ponder this.
"Who knows?" He finally meowed simply.
Wildstar scowled before leaving the den. Fernwhisker thundered past him into Otterfoot's den. He glanced at the nursery and spotted Bramblespots pacing outside of the den. Spiderfrost was slipping outside with a look of worry plastered onto his face.
"What's going on over there?" He flicked his tail to beckon Bramblespots and Spiderfrost.
The icy eyed black tom walked forward, head held high. The brown furred she-cat followed him, seeming very meek.
"Hazelcloud's having her kits." Spiderfrost glanced back the nursery.
Fernwhisker and Otterfoot were entering the nursery, jaws filled with herbs.
A sharp shriek escaped the nursery and Spiderfrost raced to the entrance, only to be growled at by Fernwhisker. The black tom stood outside lashing his tail. Bramblespots's blue eyes were fixed on the medicine den. Wildstar glanced at the former medicine cat apprentice. He could see she was afraid, praying to StarClan that Hazelcloud would live.
"She'll be fine." Wildstar promised the young she-cat and walked to the nursery.
He settled beside Spiderfrost, the two toms sitting in an awkward silence.
The shrieks of his daughter rang in his ears but he refused to panic.
After what felt like forever, Otterfoot poked his head out.
"Four healthy kits. Two toms and two she-cats for your first litter Spiderfrost." Otterfoot nodded to his littermate and returned to his den.
The LeafClan leader followed Spiderfrost into the nursery and landed his gaze on four tiny bundles in the curve of his daughter's belly: two nearly identical, spotted gray kits, a dark ginger kit, and a small copy of Spiderfrost.
"Our kits..." Spiderfrost breathed.
Wildstar wondered if Pebblestar had the same motherly look when she gave birth to Molewhisker, Hailstorm, and Hazelcloud, he decided she probably did.
"Father, would you name a kit?" Hazelcloud inquired.
He nodded, his eyes instantly fell on the smaller spotted gray kit. On closer inspection he saw that it was a slender she-cat, almost RainClan slender.
"How about Riverkit for this one?" He flicked his tail at the small kit.
The pale ginger queen nodded.
"I want to name this one Nightkit." She pointed her tail to the black kit, a tom.
"She will be Seedkit." Spiderfrost nodded to the larger spotted gray kit, another she-cat.
"Flamekit." Hazelcloud gazed down proudly at the ginger tom.
"I'll announce it to the Clan. Flamekit, Riverkit, Seedkit, and Nightkit are the newest members of LeafClan." The large tom padded out of the nursery, spirit lifted.
A light brown tabby was being held prisoner by BreezeClan. She had been found in a hollow tree well within the border and was discovered by a hunting patrol, Riverheart had happened to be the cat to track the she-cat down. Darkstar kept her as prisoner because she was having kits. Most likely, he was planning to keep her until the kits were early due then slaughter her in cold blood. It was a typical BreezeClan practice although the golden brown she-cat felt that this particular loner was different from others. As the leader's mate stalked out of the warriors' den into the moonlight she stiffened. The loner she-cat was being guarded by Frogsong and Ratfang. The two toms shot her a curious look. The golden furred she-cat slipped past the two toms.
"Yowl if you need us." Frogsong called after her.
Goldenmist flicked her ears.
The cave where the loner was being kept was quite large and Goldenmist took a while to spot the light brown tabby curled up at the back of the den. She was a pretty she-cat and was very slender despite obviously expecting kits.
"Hello." Goldenmist purred.
"Hi," The tabby spat.
"Who are you?" Goldenmist changed her casual tone.
"Willow, why must you know?" The she-cat lashed her tail.
Goldenmist saw that the loner's neck fur had risen and her claws were unsheathed.
"Look here you little twig! I could snap your neck like you would a mouse now do you want to show a Clan warrior respect or would you rather die?" The warrior snarled.
Willow trembled under Goldenmist's sharp gray gaze. She glanced down at her small paws in fear.
"Look here. I can save your life. You can become a warrior and we will train your kits to fight and hunt-" Goldenmist was cut off.
"Too many laws, rules, and regulations for life. Why can't I just go where I want when I want?" Willow regained her composure for a bit.
Goldenmist turned to face a she-cat, barely larger than Bramblepaw. However, Willow knew more than any apprentice would.
"These 'rules' are what keeps cats from tearing out your throat whenever they wish." The golden furred she-cat flicked her tail.
"Why do you care?" Willow's blue gaze was accusing.
Goldenmist glared at the she-cat again.
"Don't you worry your kits heads about that." She muttered darkly before leaving the den.