It was about mid newleaf when the next gathering was happening. All the cats were ready to go to the next gathering as they have had decided to propose the deal to Windclan to see what they were going to think about it. Ever since Yewberry had got himself injured, Ravenstar and Rowanstar have agreed that no cats were allowed to go into the swamp incase anymore cats got injured as a result. Rowanstar decided that Featherfur will be going with him alongside Daisyflower, Toadleap, Crowstorm, Tawnypaw and her siblings to the gathering. Many of the cats were still lean but not half starved compared to the last gathering. Daisyflower was stretching her forepaws out so she could begin the journey to the gathering. Tawnypaw padded out from her den as well. She was looking unsettled as her belly was holding a litter full of unborn kits, they weren't big but they were still going to grow and this made her very worried.
"Is there anything wrong Tawnypaw, you seem to be behaving very oddly." Frostcloud mewed as she went over to the apprentice, she felt Tawnypaw twitch as she went to talk to her.
"Yes I feel unbalanced with the weight of all of these kits. I feel like I can't lie down and rest as they continue to tunnel inside me." Tawnypaw mewed. She fidgeted as she felt them move. Tulipleaf padded over to her kit to try to comfort her.
"All queens feel like this when they are expecting kits for the first time, it's that maybe you are an apprentice and you are full of energy and maybe these kits are putting a burden on you, maybe you should consider moving to the nursery soon." Tulipleaf mewed. "After all I took off my duties to take care of you and your sibling's maybe you should too."
"But I'm still an apprentice and having kits is something an apprentice would never do. The father of these kits is already messed up and I don't like him. He's hot headed and he got himself injured thinking he can take on a bear all by himself." Tawnypaw mewed. "I can't be around Yewberry."
"Maybe you're not considering him to be your mate after all he just likes you that's all." Daisyflower mewed. She soon brushed her fluffy tail against Tawnypaw's gently rounded belly where the kits were sitting. Tawnypaw shivered as she felt it.
"Maybe it's time we don't pester Tawnypaw, we should be getting to go pretty soon." Crowstorm mewed as he was standing up for his apprentice.
"Okay cats come with me." Rowanstar mewed as he began to lead the way with his clan mates. They soon traveled to the same spot before where the last gathering was held and they were the last clan to arrive.
"What was taking you? We smelt that you left first but arrived last, what happened?" Ravenstar mewed nervously as she was wondering what was going on.
"We had to move slower than usual since Tawnypaw was struggling to keep up." Rowanstar mewed.
"Yeah I'm noticing the change with your apprentice, she seems to be getting too plump for my liking and I'm worried about her." Ravenstar admitted. Tawnypaw went to go socialize with some of the apprentices as they wanted to talk as well.
"Hello Robinpaw I haven't seen you in almost a moon." Tawnypaw admitted. She was feeling a bit bashful around the tom.
"I'm Robinflight now, I just got my warrior name a couple of days ago." Robinflight mewed. He placed his head on the apprentice to try to comfort her.
"Congrats, Robinflight I feel happy for you." Tawnypaw mewed as she felt the apprentice. She had liked Robinflight more than Yewberry since he was a lot calmer and he often called the cat for advice by the other apprentices, it was his demeanor that made him liked by his clan mates.
"Tawnypaw you seem like you grew a bit." Robinflight mewed as he felt the apprentice with his paws. Her fur was warm like she was queen or a warrior.
"I smell milk on her, she must be having kits." Another apprentice called out.
"Yeah I smell it as well." Another apprentice mewed.
"Settle down, we don't want her to make her feel like she wants to suddenly take off." Robinflight mewed as he wanted the apprentice to try her best to socialize and it wasn't working. "Tawnypaw I would like to speak to you in private."
"Sure." Tawnypaw mewed. She got up and followed Robinflight to another section of the gathering where they could be alone. Robinflight sat down with her and spoke.
"Look I know this might be embarrassing but the other cats from the other clans are picking up the fact you're expecting kits. I don't want this to fall to Briarstar as she thinks Thunderclan might be weak and wouldn't be able to help defend Riverclan from attack. We need all the cats that the clans could muster in case the offering is either rejected or Briarstar pulls something else completely unexpected. It's up to us to make sure that you're not as weak as Briarstar anticipates. I want you to come to Shadowclan with us to meet this she-cat who never leaves the ?"had a litter of 4 kits sometime before we found out about you. Her name is Reedsplash and I want to make sure you do have a good kitting. Not many apprentices get to survive kitting because they lose a lot of blood and the kits always don't survive either so we better make sure you keep your strength up. The medicine cats are praying that you and your kits make it." Robinflight mewed as he wanted to make sure that Tawnypaw was well aware of this. It was clear that he cared for her and her safety. They decided to pad back out just in time for the gathering to begin.
"All cats at the gathering we would like to make an announcement, we decided after careful consideration, Briarstar will have full control of the swamp. Not only will she be getting Riverclan territory but also so Thunderclan territory as well." Rowanstar mewed.
"Finally you've decided that you are giving up the swamp?" Briarstar asked.
"Well your clan is the only one that uses it, the other clans don't bother going there at all. One of our warriors Yewberry was severely injured in the swamp so we've decided to abandon the swamp." Rowanstar mewed.
"So, what's the catch?" Briarstar mewed.
"Just swear to Starclan that you won't be invading the rest of Riverclan territory. If you do, then it means war." Rowanstar mewed.
"If you do declare war, Rowanstar has the right to take a bite out of your moors and claim it as his. Then Ravenstar could take a bite out of your territories that are the streams. We'll keep doing this until you're trapped in the swamp." Pebblestar mewed.
"While I do understand that we should let this happen but I don't want Windclan to be trapped in an area of territory that is too dangerous to them to live for an extended period of time, they will be reduced significantly." Ravenstar mewed.
"Well punishments don't have to be that severe." Briastar mewed. Her eyes were cold as she most likely had other plans. The crisis was adverted away but more problems would soon emerge as a result. The leaders explained what was happening and what resulted from this including new warriors as well as the changing territory. Briarstar was given a huge section of territory to control over but they had to keep a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't annex Riverclan from their lands.
Soon the gathering was over and most of the urgent problems were solved but nothing related to Tawnypaw. Briarstar walked up to her and her siblings as she looked at them.
"Looks like three out of three of the three gets to come to the gathering, this includes the angry one." Briarstar mewed as she said the words angry one in front of Jaypaw's face. Jaypaw was really mad that she was called an angry apprentice. All the cats soon went back to their camps except for Tawnypaw who followed Robinflight back to Shadowclan. When they got to camp Mudpool greeted her with Reedsplash waiting at the camp entrance.
"So we've heard about you and I want to make sure that you're okay." Mudpool mewed as she wanted to make sure that the apprentice was feeling fine. The two cats soon led Tawnypaw into the Nursery as the four kits were sleeping peacefully.
"This is Alderkit, Echokit, Stonekit and Eaglekit." Reedsplash mewed showing off her kits. "I see your getting plump yourself, are you expecting kits since I smell milk."
"I might." Tawnypaw mewed as she wanted to make sure she wanted to make sure she felt like she wasn't. She soon felt something sharp in her side as she lay down on her side. "Is this normal?" She felt the kicking slowly come to life if they were squirming inside her again.
"This is normal but as an apprentice, you might be more sensitive to the pain. It's becoming worrisome since we are seeing many apprentices expecting kits nowadays. They either don't live, their kits don't live or both." Reedsplash mewed as she pinned Tawnypaw down making sure she didn't squirm as Mudpool placed a paw on Tawnypaw's belly. Tawnypaw tried to squirm as she felt it but she couldn't go anywhere.
"Hold still I can't feel anything." Mudpool mewed. Tawnypaw soon fell silent as she stopped squirming. Mudpool was able to get a precise measurement about Tawnypaw.
"Yep, those are definitely kits all right." Mudpool mewed.
"How many?" Tawnypaw asked nervously.
"We don't know for sure but you're staying here until Rowanstar comes to get you." Mudpool mewed.
"Can we just escort her to the border?" Reedsplash mewed.
"Okay fine but tomorrow though." Mudpool mewed. Tawnypaw fell asleep in the nursery as she felt a bit comfortable with Reedsplash by her side.
"Any tips to about the kits?" Tawnypaw mewed.
"Yes, but you need to keep the kits warm and you must be giving them milk, give them moss or feathers to play with but try keeping them in the camp since the territory out there is dangerous." Reedsplash mewed. Soon both cats fell asleep with Tawnypaw feeling a steady beating of the kits squirming.
[A/N]: Big thanks for Grayshadow again for the third review and the character of Reedsplash and we are up to 400 views, I feel so excited that this is getting bigger. Submit your OC's here and review if you want to. Cheers my growing audience.