A/N: Yay for another update! Just wanted to post this and wish everyone Happy Holidays! Hope you all enjoy your holiday(s) ^^

Chapter Twenty-Two

Shadowheart made his way through the snow, his pelt spiked up to keep from freezing. Two moons had passed since the attack on the camp. Since then, the Clan faced more than just Hawk in their struggle. Prey had been scarce as Leaf-bare raged on, and many of the Clan had gone hungry. Shadowheart shook his paws out of the snow with an irritated grunt.

Excited squeals behind him caused him to look and see the Clan's newest apprentices—Batpaw, Mousepaw, and Volepaw—chasing each other through the snow drifts. Shadowheart watched them with amusement, as their mentors looked on nearby. Silverleaf looked up from the apprentices and met Shadowheart's gaze with a friendly nod.

"Glad to see the apprentices are enjoying themselves," Shadowheart remarked, walking over.

Sparrowsong flicked her tail with a purr. "You would think they've never seen snow before!"

"It would be nice if we didn't have so much of it," Larkflight commented nearby. The white-and-ginger tom looked uncomfortable and cold. "How I would give for Newleaf about now."

Silverleaf flicked some snow at his Clanmate, giving an innocent look when Larkflight hissed at him. "Lighten up," he mewed cheerfully. "It's nice to relax after so much tension."

Shadowheart mewed in agreement, aware of how much Silverleaf was like his father, Sagepelt. He looked over as Batpaw seemed to be digging in a snow drift. The dark gray-and-white she-cat was sniffing at the ground, her tail flicking from side to side.

"Batpaw!" her mentor, Silverleaf, called. "What is it?"

Flicking up her large ears, Batpaw had a mouthful of catmint in her jaws. She sat it down at her paws. "I smelled something really good under the snow, and found this."

"Catmint!" Sparrowsong's eyes lit up. "Ravenfeather has been complaining about her and Pinefrost's stores being low."

Larkflight dipped his head approvingly. "Nice find, Batpaw."

"I'll take it to them," Shadowheart offered, walking over to the young apprentice. He leaned down and carefully grabbed the stalks, his mouth watering at the minty taste.

Dipping his head to his Clanmates, he trotted off back towards camp. He was greeted by Lynxpaw, Tigerpaw, and Leopardpaw—now Lynxfang, Tigerfrost, and Leopardstrike—and continued on past the three new warriors towards the medicine den. Inside he could hear fretful mews, and as he peered in, Blackflame was ushered out by Pinefrost. Nearly knocked aside, Shadowheart quickly side-stepped out of the way.

"Are you sure she'll be okay?" Blackflame fretted, his tail flicking back and forth anxiously.

Pinefrost gave an annoyed huff, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Sandpool isn't the first she-cat to kit you know. Don't worry, Ravenfeather is with her right now. She will be just fine."

"Sandpool started kitting?" Shadowheart asked, dropping the catmint at his paws. "When?"

"Just after sun-high," Blackflame told him, his eyes round with worry. "She looks so uncomfortable, Shadowheart. I wish I could do something to help."

Pinefrost nudged him playfully. "Relax, everything will be just fine. Now Shadowheart, is that catmint I see?"

Shadowheart nodded. "Yeah, Batpaw found it hidden under a snow drift. I brought it back for her."

"Excellent!" she purred, using her tail to sweep it close to her paws. "Ravenfeather has been fretting over our stores for days. Thank StarClan we have a nice bunch in case greencough strikes."

A low moan came for the nursery, and Blackflame's hackles went up in dismay. He rushed over towards the den, leaving Pinefrost rolling her eyes at Shadowheart. "And please, could you keep your brother calm? He has been driving us all madder than a bunch of hares since Sandpool started kitting."

Shadowheart purred. "I will, don't worry."

Redfur had poked her nose out the nursery, having just moved in expecting Larkflight's kits. "Honestly Blackflame, Sandpool is doing fine."

Blackflame fidgeted. "But I-"

"Blackflame!" Shadowheart called, approaching him. "Come on, let the queens and Ravenfeather handle things."

Reluctantly, Blackflame turned and followed Shadowheart as they went across the clearing. Settling down outside the warriors' den, the two brothers laid side by side. A agonized moan echoed from the nursery.

"Oh, Sandpool," Blackflame frowned.

Shadowheart laid his tail across his brother's shoulders. "She'll be okay," he reassured him. "Ravenfeather is an amazing medicine cat. Plus, StarClan is watching over her now."

His words didn't seem to ease Blackflame however. Soon enough, he was up and pacing back and forth anxiously, leaving a trail in the snow-filled earth. A tiny squeal came from the nursery after some time, followed by a second one. Shadowheart quickly got to his paws, rushing after Blackflame as Ravenfeather peered out of the nursery.

"Two kits!" she announced, her eyes bright. "A tom and a she-kit."

Blackflame's eyes were full of emotion. "Can...Can I see them?"

Ravenfeather slipped out of the nursery. "Of course, but keep in mind that Sandpool is very tired."

Blackflame quickly rushed in, and Shadowheart followed more slowly. Eyes adjusting to the gloom, he saw Sandpool's smaller frame laying near the back of the den. Blackflame was beside her head, curled around her protectively as he gazed lovingly at their two kits. Shadowheart looked down at the two kits, just making out their pelt colors. The tom kit was brown, with a white chin and chest tuft, while the she-kit was a dark ginger tabby. Shadowheart felt himself swell with love for his new kin, and a surge of protectiveness came over him as he thought of Hawk.

I will protect you both from everything, he thought as he gently touched his nose to their heads. He lifted his head to gaze at Sandpool and Blackflame. "So what do you plan on naming them?"

Sandpool licked the tom kit's head softly. "I was thinking of naming this one Minkkit," she murmured.

Blackflame purred, nuzzling her neck. "It's a perfect name for him. What about we name our daughter, Daykit?"

"Daykit," Sandpool echoed. "I love it. Our two precious kits, Minkkit and Daykit."

"Welcome to LeafClan, little ones," Blackflame quietly whispered to his new kits.

Leaving the couple to enjoy their new kits in peace, Shadowheart turned and left the den. Firelight was waiting outside, a vole dangling from her jaws.

"Two new kits for LeafClan," he told her happily. "And Sandpool is doing well."

Firelight sat the vole down. "That's great! I was out hunting when they came, so I was hoping to see them."

Shadowheart purred. "I would wait until tomorrow at least," he told her. "Blackflame has been a nervous wreck all day. Now he can enjoy his new family in peace."

"Who would have thought Blackflame of all cats worried over anything?" Firelight joked, dropping the vole at the pitifully small fresh-kill pile.

"You should have seen it," Shadowheart purred. "It was definitely a sight to see."

Firelight looked down at the fresh-kill pile. "I guess we need something to distract us from this pitiful sight."

Shadowheart sighed. "I was out hunting earlier and didn't find a thing. Though, Batpaw did find some catmint. So I brought it back with me."

"Catmint will do us good," Firelight mewed. "With so many empty bellies it's only asking for sickness."

"We can only hope no sickness comes," Shadowheart replied, feeling a bleakness coming over him.

Firelight mewed a quiet response, and the two cats headed to their nests for the night. With so many things weighing on Shadowheart's mind, he was able to find peace by thinking of his new kin, born only moments earlier. With that, he drifted off to sleep.