Flameclaw padded out of the woods alongside Barkfern, carrying a dead squirrel in her jaws. They had spent the afternoon hunting for the clan, giving them some quality time together. It made Flameclaw miss the times they would spend in RiverClan together as apprentices, back before they had warrior duties.
But Flameclaw enjoyed being a warrior here, and she enjoyed being with her family here even more. It had been several moons now since her kits had become warriors, and she couldn't help but take pride in their accomplishments.
They had adapted to warrior life very well, and they seemed to get along with their mates even better. It was hard to imagine that they had once been slightly larger than Flameclaw's paw. Goldnose and Daisyfern were both larger than her now, though she and Snowripple were about the same size.
Flameclaw turned and glanced at Barkfern. He carried a dead mouse in his jaws. It was significantly smaller than Flameclaw's kill. She had teased him about when he first killed it, which had led to some laughter and fun. It reminded Flameclaw of her apprentice days again.
Barkfern spit out his mouse and glanced at his mate.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked.
Flameclaw chuckled. "No reason."
"If it's to make fun of my kill..."
"It's not. Don't worry," she teased. He retrieved his mouse and continued walking alongside her until they came into the opening of the camp. They quickly found their way to the fresh-kill pile and dropped their prey.
"Not a bad catch," Barkfern told her as he stared at the dead squirrel.
"Oh, now you say so," Flameclaw replied, shoving a paw against him.
"Hey, no wrestling here," Barkfern warned. "Or else we're as bad as the kits in the nursery."
Flameclaw rolled her eyes. "You're no fun."
She glanced over toward the nursery where several kits played. Her heart warmed as she heard their tiny shrieks of laughter and watched them bound around with their tiny legs. She had at one time considered another litter, but she was content now. Her mind now drifted to the possibility of her children having kits of their own.
"Hey, Flameclaw, Barkfern," came a familiar voice.
Flameclaw spun around and recognized Goldnose.
"Can I talk to you guys for a second?" he asked.
"S-Sure," Barkfern stammered, taken aback.
Goldnose led them to an empty corner of the camp and sat down. Flameclaw and Barkfern sat down across from him and waited for him to speak. The tom appeared to be nervous though as he suddenly stood up again and began pacing in front of them.
"Is everything okay?" Flameclaw asked.
"Goldnose?" Barkfern spoke up.
"Oh," the tom replied, realizing they were waiting for him to speak. "Yeah. Everything's fine. Great actually. Hazelstream is expecting kits."
Flameclaw let out a shriek of excitement, so loud that Goldnose jumped.
"Congratulations," Barkfern purred.
"Thanks," Goldnose replied quietly.
"Everything all right?" Flameclaw asked.
"I'm just nervous," Goldnose admitted. "I wasn't expecting to have kits so soon. Hazelstream is excited, but I don't know if I'll be a good father or not."
"You should talk to your father," Flameclaw said, eyeing Barkfern.
"I didn't think I was ready either," Barkfern explained. "And for us, it was so much more difficult. We were clanless when your mother discovered she was pregnant, and we worried she'd have the kits before we even reached a clan. But you are in a stable and safe clan here. All of us will work together to make sure your kits are safe and well taken care of."
"But what if they don't like me?" Goldnose whimpered.
"Who couldn't like you?" Flameclaw told him. "You're one of the best toms I know."
Goldnose stood a little firmer now. "Well...I guess so."
Flameclaw laughed slightly, knowing just how to make her son feel better.
"Spottedmask is a good medicine cat. She'll know what to do," Barkfern assured him.
"Thanks," Goldnose purred.
He padded off happily, leaving Flameclaw and Barkfern alone.
"Well, I feel old now," Barkfern admitted.
Flameclaw laughed. "I can't wait to see my grandkits!" she exclaimed.
A few moons passed, and Flameclaw had grown with excitement as Hazelstream's stomach grew and eventually she moved into the nursery. While she could tell Goldnose was still nervous, he seemed more confident than he had before, and even excited to perform fatherly duties.
One morning in the SnowClan camp, Flameclaw was awakened by a sudden shriek. She glanced up, realizing Hazelstream's kits were coming. Her eyes grew wide, and she shook Barkfern's side.
"I think Hazelstream is giving birth," she whispered.
Barkfern slowly rose to his feet, and the two peeked out of the den. Flameclaw noticed Goldnose rushing to the nursery, and she was about to take off herself when Barkfern stopped her.
"No. We should give them all the space we need. We'll visit after they're born."
Flameclaw pouted but agreed. She laid down with her head resting outside the den's opening, anxiously anticipating her new grandkits.
The screams grew louder though and appeared to sound more like screams of fear than pain. Flameclaw listened intently, wondering what was wrong, when she watched Thornfrost, the deputy, bounding into camp and toward the nursery.
"Hazelstream!" he shouted.
"Is something wrong?" Barkfern asked.
"I-I don't know," Flameclaw admitted, growing very nervous suddenly.
Hazelstream let out more screams, and the world appeared to darken around them slightly. She heard Thornfrost hissing from the nursery and gasped as two shadowy cats emerged from the nursery and flew into the air, a newborn black and white she-cat grasped in their paws.
"Hazelstream's kits!" Flameclaw shouted.
"What's going on?" Barkfern asked.
The other cats seemed to be confused as well, and Flameclaw bounded to the nursery. Hazelstream's screams had stopped, and she could hear Thornfrost and Goldnose arguing from inside the nursery.
"Don't be angry with him, Goldnose," she heard Hazelstream plead. "If he hadn't helped, all of our kits would be dead."
Flameclaw backed away slowly, not wanting to get involved in whatever argument they were having. Her heart dropped as she realized the kit that had been taken had been one of theirs. She had lost a grandkit, and her heart ached.
"Let's give them some space," Barkfern advised, leading her away from the nursery.
They sat in the sun for a while, not speaking to each other. They were not sure what happened, but they knew it couldn't have been good. Finally, Goldnose approached them. He did not appear as upset as when they had first seen him, though sadness still gleamed in his eyes.
"What happened?" Flameclaw demanded.
"I still don't understand it, but apparently Hazelstream was connected to some prophecy of Thornfrost's. Apparently Thornfrost's kin are currently in danger from the Dark Forest, and...one of the Dark Forest cats stole one of our daughters. Thornfrost fought off the others though. There are still three kits for you to meet," Goldnose explained.
"I'm so sorry," Barkfern murmured.
"Come on. Meet your grandkits," Goldnose insisted, trying to divert away from the topic.
Flameclaw followed him to the nursery. While she was still saddened that they had a lost a kit, she was excited to meet Hazelstream and Goldnose's remaining kits. He led her inside the nursery where Hazelstream lay splayed on her nest. Three kits suckled at her belly.
"Two toms and one she-cat," Hazelstream explained.
"Hi, there, little ones," Flameclaw spoke quietly, glancing at the newborn kits.
Two were mucky brown toms while the other was a white and gold she-cat.
"What are their names?" Barkfern inquired.
"The larger tom is Muddykit," Goldnose exclaimed.
"And the smaller is Grasskit," Hazelstream added.
"And the she-cat?" Flameclaw asked.
"Caramelkit," Goldnose said.
"Did you name the...other one?" Barkfern asked quietly.
Hazelstream sighed. "We decided to call her Rosekit. I-I hope to see her in StarClan one day," she stammered, holding back tears.
"They're all beautiful," Flameclaw assured her. "We'll let you rest now. I know it's been a long day."
Goldnose led them out of the nursery.
"Congratulations, Goldnose," Barkfern told him. "You'll make a great father."
"But I couldn't save Rosekit," he spoke quietly.
"There was nothing you could do," Flameclaw assured him. "You can't dwell on one kit so long. You have three others who are safe and healthy and need your care. And you can help protect them by caring for them."
"Thank you. I...I'm trying my best," her son replied.
"Let us know when we can visit again," Flameclaw said.
Goldnose nodded and padded back to the nursery to be with his mate and new kits. Flameclaw smiled weakly. She knew the event had taken a toll on her son, but she hoped it wouldn't interfere with his new relationship with his kits.