Chapter 9: Secrets
Twistedpaw and Tornpaw met a few more moons after their first meeting. Twistedpaw sometimes had to stay in camp because she didn't want Pikepaw to follow her, ….which meant pretending she was Pikepaw's secret mate.
Twistedpaw trudged out of the apprentices' den as Flamestar called her name twice. She didn't know why she was so tired, only that it affected her training.
"Why are you so tired all the time?" Flamestar asked Twistedpaw.
"That's none of your business!" Twistedpaw snapped. She was also very moody and rude.
"Maybe you should go and see Cypressbrook and Leafflash." Flamestar meowed, worried in his eyes.
"Whatever." Twistedpaw meowed and trudged groggily over to the medicine den.
"What can i do for you today, Twistedpaw?" Cypressbrook asked her when she entered the medicine den.
"I've been feeling really tired and moody and hungry."Twistedpaw growled. Cypressbrook nodded. He looked at her. Twistedpaw had also been gaining lots of weight.
"Twistedpaw." Cypressbrook meowed when he was done checking her over. "Whose are they?"
"What do you mean?" Twistedpaw asked him, confused.
"You're going to have kits. I think you have been carrying them for at least 2 moons."
Twistedpaw stopped breathing as she stared in shock at Cypressbrook.
"Please don't tell any cat!" Twistedpaw begged him.
"I'm sorry, Twistedpaw, but I have to." Cypressbrook meowed and left the den. Twistedpaw knew that he was going to tell Flamestar. Having kits before you were a warrior was strictly forbidden. Twistedpaw didn't know what terrible punishment she would get. Suddenly, Pikepaw came running in.
"You're carrying my kits!" He said jumping up and down, love in his eyes.
"Don't you know how much trouble we'll both get it?" Twistedpaw hissed.
"But I'm happy!" Pikepaw meowed.
"Pikepaw-" Twistedpaw started.
"No. You can't train anymore! You've got to stay in the nursery!" Pikepaw meowed. "Come on." He started leading Twistedpaw out of the medicine den when Flamestar padded up to them.
"I'm very disappointed in you both." Flamestar meowed sternly. "I'm afraid I must keep you two apart from now on. Pikepaw, you shall become a warrior now."
Pikepaw stared at him. "Thank you, but why do we have to be apart? They are our kits anyway?"
"One, because it's your punishment, two, because I don't want this to happen again. Do you know how much you've brought shame to your clan?" Flamestar growled. "And, it's extremely dangerous for an apprentice to have kits! Twistedpaw could die very easily!"
Pikepaw hung his head. "I won't let her die."
Twistedpaw sighed. She would hate to someday break Pikepaw's heart. But at least she didn't have to be near that annoying fur-ball anymore.
"Nursery time!" Pikepaw chirped and guided Twistedpaw to the nursery. The queens there glared at Twistedpaw, shock in their eyes.
Twistedpaw sat outside the nursery as Pikepaw was made a warrior.
"From this moment on, you will be known as Pikeheart!" Flamestar meowed.
"Pikeheart! Pikeheart!" Twistedpaw cheered with the rest of the clan, but not as loud. Pikeheart turned toward Twistedpaw and smiled at her as if to say, someday, you'll be up here, and I'll be cheering for you the loudest.