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Chapter Thirty Five

*Cinderheart*

Waking in the warm den I debate what to do today. I miss having Midnightstorm as an apprentice. We had a good time together. But now I can spend more time with Lionblaze so I guess I should be thankful.

Speaking of Lionblaze, he blinks his eyes open, purring and wraps his tail around me. I sigh and nudge him.

"Come on we should get up." I mew as I stand and am throne off balance, feeling inexplicably heavy.

"You okay?" Lionblaze asks, stepping closer to me with worry sparking in his amber eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I mew but I'm thinking fast. I've been putting on weight, but I've been eating sparingly. I've been feeling lethargic but I've done nothing different… StarClan how could I be so stupid?! I think frantically as heat rushes to my pelt.

"Cinderheart?" Lionblaze's voice seems a million miles away.

"I need to see Jayfeather." I mutter, slipping past him.

Entering the den I try to compose my thoughts. It's too late when I realize that Jayfeather is there, and so is Midnightstorm. They're arguing in hisses, eyes flashing furiously.

"Cinderheart," Jayfeather mews, turning to me, looking happy for the distraction, "What's wrong?"

"Jayfeather!" Midnightstorm protests.

"I have a patient." He mews sharply. She glares at him her face a mask. But as she leaves she hisses, "I thought you of all cats would understand. I thought you would care. But I guess I was wrong." I hear his breath catch and I look at him with sympathy.

"I can come back." I offer gently but he shakes his head.

"No," he mews, his eyes looking slightly frantic. He steps to me and I still have trouble believing he's blind. "Cinderheart what did you need to see me about?"

"I think I'm pregnant." I mew quietly.

He sighs heavily, "I think you are too. When did you begin to suspect?"

"Just now." I admit, feeling embarrassed that I didn't realize it earlier.

"Really? With all the early pregnancies… but yours is normal! This is wonderful!" Jayfeather's voice is joyful with relief that I don't feel.

"Uh yeah…" I mutter slowly, uncertain of what to say.

"No you don't understand!" Jayfeather mews as he moves closer, "Maybe they're losing power! Wait the kits, they're Lionblaze's?"

"Yes!" I mew defiantly, forgetting to be embarrassed.

"Then… that doesn't make sense…" He mutters half to himself. "How are you feeling?" He asks addressing me.

"Heavy, and lethargic." I reply at once.

"Well you can go to the nursery whenever you like, do you think you'll be able to hunt and patrol?" He asks diplomatically and I remember, with a heavy heart how fast the patrols have been going. I know with certainty that there's no way I can run that fast.

"No." I sigh.

He pats my shoulder with his tail and mews, "Then let's get you to the nursery." We leave the den and I see Midnightstorm not far away whispering desperately to Echosong.

"NO! No please! Listen to me!" Midnightstorm begs as Echosong walks away. That's odd, Echosong always looked up to Midnightstorm…

"Just leave me alone!" Echosong snarls as she races out of camp. Deflating slightly Midnightstorm pads to Ravenclaw and starts talking. It doesn't take long before Ravenclaw too snarls at her:

"It's not like that! I knew you'd never trust me!"

"That's not true!" Midnightstorm wails as her friend walks away. Blazefeather appears and whispers something in her ear. She turns miserably to him and I see worry appear on his face.

I glance sideways at Jayfeather to see how he's taking his daughter's life falling apart, but he's sitting stock still eyes closed.

"Jayfeather?" I ask.

"Do you want to go tell Lionblaze the news?" He mews, not looking at me.

"Uh... sure." I mew and walk off, passing Midnightstorm as Firestar calls for her to go on a patrol. I frown at Firestar; ever since she became a warrior he's been working her twice as hard as anyone else with no explanation. But as usual she makes no complaint and joins the patrol. The calm and collected look on her face that I know so well is masking her pain once again. I wish she wouldn't try so hard, no one can be perfect and I know that trying is wearing on her.

I join Lionblaze at the fresh-kill pile and mew, "Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah sure." He replies, smiling happily at me.

"Well, um, remember how we said we weren't going to have kits until the war is over?" I start nervously, unsure how he will take this.

"Yes…" he mews in confusion. I hesitate, my tail flicking nervously. "Cinderheart?" He mews his eyes catching and holding my own.

"Oops." I mew quietly, and his face lights up at once.

"You're-? We're…. we're going to have kits?" he asks, his voice filling with excitement.

"Yes." I breathe and a beautiful smile spreads across his face.

"That's amazing! Fantastic! It's – oh." The light dies from his face as he realizes what this truly means. "Then we'll just fight harder." He mews seriously.

"What?" I ask confused.

"To protect them. To protect all of them. It'll be alright Cinderheart!" He promises, his eyes glowing again, "And I mean come on! We're gonna have kits!"

Poppyfrost who is sunning herself looks up. "You're having kits?" She squeals. I smile at my sister and nod. "That's fantastic! Do you have any names? When are you going to the nursery? I'll be your personal servant, so don't worry about that, and I'll make sure he doesn't freak out." She mews, talking foxlengths a minute, and nodding at Lionblaze at the end of her spiel.

"Poppyfrost it's fine!" I mew laughing as flick my sister with my tail.

"Who said I was going to freak out?" Lionblaze asks looking insulted.

"Trust me dads always freak out." Poppyfrost mews confidentially.

"Okay you've only had one litter! You are not the all-knowing queen of kitting!" Lionblaze declares.

"Well it's more than you've had!" Poppyfrost shoots back, her eyes dancing.

"I'm a tom!"

"Guys!" I break in, and then burst out laughing with them. "No I don't have any name ideas, I'll name them when they're born, I'm going to the nursery now, and you do not have to be my 'personal servant'." I mew at my sister's look.

She sighs and then mews, "Wait till mom finds out! Oi! Nightwhisper." She yowls to our younger brother, who's just come up, likely to grab a snack.

"Yes?" he asks joining us, blue eyes surprised.

"Say congratulations to your sister!" Poppyfrost mews nodding at me.

"Congrats." He mews laughter in his blue eyes, "Why am I congratulating you?"

"She's going to have kits!" Poppyfrost shrieks.

"Oh that's great!" Nightwhisper mews, and though his tone is sincere I see some of my own worry reflected in his eyes, "Mom will be great when she finds out!"

"That's what I said." Poppyfrost mews.

He laughs and then mews, "By the way shouldn't Cinderheart be the one telling everyone?" Poppyfrost frowns at him while Lionblaze and I snigger.

"Okay I'm family. I can hurt you with no questions asked." Poppyfrost warns, trying to look menacing.

"I'm very scared." He promises.

"Now, now, don't plan murder in front of the deputy." Lionblaze mews lazily.

"Well you didn't hear anything." Poppyfrost replies and we all break down laughing.

"Well Cinderheart, I'm really happy for you," Nightwhisper mews as soon as he can breathe again, "and I'm sure when Echosong finds out she'll be happy too, but I have to go now. See you guys later." We chorus "bye" as he walks away.

"Come on we have to tell everyone!" Poppyfrost mews as she drags me toward the rest of the Clan.

So? Did I do a good job? I wasn't sure since this is from Cinderheart's pov but I think I got her right... wanna tell me in a review?

Please? Well I'm hungry so I'm going to shut up and go get some lunch.

Until next time my Faithful Readers=)