Chapter Seven

Flowerpaw looked at Willowleaf's new kits, awestruck. "They're so… small!"

Her mother, Lilytail, laughed behind her. "You were that small once, Flowerpaw. I would know." She padded to stand next to her daughter. "Vinepelt told me that you were coming to visit the new kits, and I decided to come with you."

Lilytail was a blue-gray she-cat who had moved to the elders' den soon after her last litter of kits had become apprentices. She wasn't especially old, but her joints ached so much that it had become difficult for her to perform her warrior duties.

"What are their names?" Flowerpaw gazed at the tiny forms nestled into their mother's side.

"The light brown tabby is Pinekit." Willowleaf nudged her son proudly. "The mostly white tom is Oakkit, and the other light brown tom is Newtkit." Her eyes clouded over with grief. "Little Blizzardkit was born dead."

"I'm very sorry," meowed Lilytail. "At least you still have three healthy sons. Try to focus on that."

Willowleaf blinked in agreement. "I am." She glanced at Swanflight, who dozed in a nest near her. "I just hope that Swanflight's kitting goes more smoothly than mine. She's so young… I don't know if she can handle something that traumatic."

"I'm sure it'll be alright," meowed Flowerpaw confidently. "Thank you for letting me see them, Willowleaf. They're beautiful."

The white she-cat nodded. "Of course, Flowerpaw." She leaned down to groom the kits' squirming bodies.

Lilytail beckoned to her daughter and they walked to a stump near the edge of the RainClan camp. "I heard about what happened with Finchstripe," she meowed.

"What part of it?" Asked Flowerpaw.

Lilytail looked confused. "That he's the father of both Willowleaf and Swanflight's kits, and that you found out. What else?"

Flowerpaw groaned. She didn't really want to have to explain this to her mother. "Well… Finchstripe isn't happy with me, to put it lightly."

"What do you mean?" Lilytail got to her feet, fur bristling slightly. "If he's harassing my kit, I'll put him in his place."

Flowerpaw shook her head. "Mother, please no. That isn't what I want. This is something that I need to deal with myself. I'm an apprentice now, and if I'm ever going to be a warrior, I need to fight my own battles."

Lilytail dipped her head leaning forward to give Flowerpaw a gently lick between the ears. "I understand. But if you ever need me, I'm here."

"Thank you." Flowerpaw stood and looked to her mother. "I want to talk with Deerleap. I need to be better prepared for my next mock battle, and I'd like some extra training."

"Good luck," meowed Lilytail, a proud gleam in her eyes. "I know you don't always feel content. But I see how hard you work, and I know you'll succeed."

Flowerpaw felt a glow of warmth in her chest as she headed for the warriors' den. At least Lilytail is proud of me, she thought.

"Deerleap?" She called into the den, letting her eyes adjust to the dark in order to see her mentor.

The seal point she-cat's blue eyes met hers from where she lay in a nest. "Yes, Flowerpaw?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if we could get in some extra training. My shoulder's nearly fully healed, and I'd like to work on my combat skills."

"Alright." Deerleap hefted herself to her feet and they headed for the camp entrance. "Don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're still healing." Her eyes glittered with amusement.

Flowerpaw purred. "Of course not."