Morning light shone through the entrances of the Nursery as Foxfur stuck his head inside, a plump rabbit clenched in his jaws. His yellow eyes softened as he spotted the sleeping figure of Turtlepelt; Foxfur smiled and padded towards her, placing the rabbit in front of the pregnant she-cat.
"Good morning." He mewed softly as the she-cat stirred at the inviting smell of prey. Turtlepelt blinked slowly and purred.
"Thank you. Would you like some?" The queen tore off a piece of meat and quickly ate it, feeding herself and her soon-to-be-born kits.
Foxfur shook his head. "No, you need strength for your kits." The tom licked the queen's head and left the Nursery as his impatient apprentice, Dappledpaw, called for him.
"He will make a great father to your kits." Mewed the other queen that resided in the Nursery.
"Yes, I am sure he will. Thank you." Turtlepelt answered, looking over at the orange queen, "When are your kits due, Morningdew?"
Morningdew's blue eyes moved to her own swollen stomach and she purred happily. "Eaglesoul says within the next few dawns." She said excitedly, "And yours?"
Turtlepelt had finished the rabbit and she looked back at Morningdew. "Eaglesoul has said the same to me." Mewed the tortoiseshell queen, her emerald eyes shining.
"Kits expected within the same dawns…StarClan must see our need." Came the voice of Featherstar as she appeared in the entrance of the Nursery, her senior warrior, Greyfang, at her side. The muscular grey tom nodded to the two queens as he followed his leader inside.
Turtlepelt dipped her head in greetings to both of the cats. "Yes, StarClan must have heard of our need."
"Featherstar says that you should get out of the camp for a while and she has asked me to escort you to Sunningrocks." Greyfang explained, flicking his tail in acknowledgement to Featherstar's departure. Both queens mewed with relief as they rose slowly to their paws.
"Thank you, Greyfang. We appreciate it." Turtlepelt mewed as the group left the camp. The soft breeze ruffled their furs as the two queens and their guard continued their trek. As Sunningrocks came into view, the sound of the bubbling river drifted towards them, mixing with the warm pleasure from the sun.
Finally Sunningrocks came into view; Turtlepelt headed slowly towards the bank to drink, the liquid cool and refreshing as it ran down her throat. Fish swam past, but her eyes paid no attention for she was here to enjoy the freedom of camp.
Suddenly, an unwanted scent was carried towards the tortoiseshell queen causing her eyes to widen. Looking over at Morningdew and Greyfang who were in deep conversation, Turtlepelt excused herself as if she had to make a dirt. Then she reluctantly padded into the nearby bushes.
"I knew you would come." Tigereye purred as he moved closer to nuzzle the younger cat.
Turtlepelt backed away in disgust and fear. "What do you want?" she hissed, staring defiantly at him.
The tom's eyes suddenly hardened and he stepped closer to her, towering over the queen murderously. "Come to the Gathering. Tonight." Tigereye hissed, his eyes dark, "Or something unfortunate will happen."
The queen was terrified, and Tigereye knew it. "I-I-I can't! T-The kits are due a-anytime!" she mewed in desperation, trying to get her way out of it.
Tigereye bristled as her defiance, making himself seem larger than he already was. "You will come tonight or another apprentice, or someone close to you, will die." Turtlepelt stared in horror at Tigereye, the image of her dead apprentice, Stormpaw, flashing through her mind.
"Turtlepelt? Are you alright?" Greyfang called from outside of the bush, a hint concern and worry within his voice. Tigereye glared at her and began to dissolve into the foliage.
"I-I'll be right out!" she mewed, glancing back in time to see Tigereye disappear completely. What will Foxfur think! Complying to his horrid requests and in my condition!, Turtlepelt thought, licking her ruffled chest fur to calm herself, But, if I don't, something could happen to Foxfur or someone close to me!
---------------------------------------
The sun was high in the sky when Greyfang and the two queens returned. Bidding good-bye to the two, Turtlepelt made her way to Featherstar's den. The last time the queen had been to see her Leader was when she had confessed her love of Brackentail and told of the terrible thing Tigereye had done to her. Taking a shaky breath, the queen stood before the entrance, her green eyes penetrating the darkness once more. "Featherstar?" she called.
"Come in, Turtlepelt." Featherstar replied, inviting the young queen to enter, "What do you need?"
Turtlepelt entered the den, pushing aside the curtain of lichen. Her green eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and she cleared her throat. "I want to go to the Gathering tonight."