Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. W to the A to the R to the R to the I to the O to the R to the S.

I think you'll like this one.

CHAPTER 13: Nonplussed

Stripedtail walked out of the warriors den into the weak daylight. It was the morning after the rogues of Shadow Den were attacked by FlowerClan and defended by TreeClan. The air felt unnaturally still, even though it was windier than usual, making it feel colder than it actually was.

Stripedtail knew that Midnightpaw was sleeping in the apprentices' den. Though the other apprentices were comfortable with Midnightpaw back where they thought she belonged, some of the elders and warriors frowned upon it. Stripedtail felt no problem with this. But Midnightpaw was the only Shadow Den cat that was residing somewhere other the medicine cat's den. The four toms, including Rattail, and Earthbrook were in there.

Stripedtail helped herself to a mouse. She was hungrier than usual lately. Stripedtail was going to see Frecklepaw the previous day, but she didn't get the chance. Since Frecklepaw probably hadn't eaten the previous night, Stripedtail brought him a rodent, too.

"Frecklepaw, I brought you breakfast." Stripedtail playfully flicked her tail over his left ear. "If you don't take a break and eat, I'll flay you!"

He purred in amusement and immediately started in on the mouse. "What did you need to see me for?" Frecklepaw looked up at Stripedtail with his big, innocent-looking orange eyes. In the background, two toms play-fought despite injuries from last night's battle.

"I've been feeling… funny lately. And I'm hungry. I don't think I'm sick, though." She stood up after another bite of her mouse. "What do you think?"

"I need to inspect you," Frecklepaw said. Stripedtail let him, as she stared at the two toms from Shadow Den. One had long brown fur and the other was a tall, dark tom with light, ice blue eyes. They playfully batted each other, being careful not to hit any of their cuts.

"Um…" Frecklepaw mumbled. "Um. I need to talk to Crazyeyes. I'll be right back." The jumpy apprentice darted into the back of the den.

The toms turned around suddenly, as if suddenly realizing Stripedtail's presence. "Hello!" The tall tom said. "I'm Coldeye. I'm a friend of Rattail. This is Longfur, he's impolite."

"I was going to introduce myself!" The other protested. "We thank you and your clan very, very much for basically saving our lives." He bowed his head to Stripedtail.

"Oh, it's no problem!" Stripedtail insisted. "We couldn't sit back and let you get terrorized by FlowerClan! They won't hurt you again!" Stripedtail declared, her eyes determined.

Crazyeyes emerged. He glanced under the standing Striepdtail, then pulled back quickly. Nervously, Stripedtail took a bite of her mouse. Crazyeyes looked her in the eye, her mouth full. "Stripedtail, you're pregnant."

Stripedtail spat out her breakfast, Crazyeyes jumping back to narrowly avoid getting hit with the chewed up food.

"I AM?!" Stripedtail shouted.

"QUIET!" Rattail came out and hissed. "You'll wake Earthbrook!"

"I am?!" Stripedtail whispered.

"Looks like it." Crazyeyes twitched his tail. "Who's the father?"

"What father?" Rattail was confused.

"Whose father?" Yellowpelt walked into the den.

"Her father," Longfur nodded to Stripedtail.

"What about her father?" Yellowpelt looked accusingly at Longfur, her dark blue eyes glaring.

"Nothing about my father!" Stripedtail stomped her right forepaw.

"Then why'd you say 'father'?!" Rattail got angry.

"MY KITS' FATHER, IDIOT TOM!" Stripedtail blurted.

Silence filled the crowded den.

"You're having kits?!" Yellowpelt's eyes widened, and she looked excited. She dashed over to Stripedtail. "Who's the father? Oh wait, right. I know. I know!" She raised her eyebrow suggestively. "It's my brother, isn't it?"

"It isn't late enough to tell how big the litter will be," Crazyeyes said to Stripedtail. "You remember to eat, okay?"

"Oh, and they'll be born right into newleaf!" Yellowpelt sounded breathless. "That's so romantic!" Stripedtail looked at her, surprised. "They'll be so pretty! They'll have your amber eyes and Spikefur's bright fur, with dark stripes from your fur. Or something pretty like that!"

Stripedtail was speechless. Yellowpelt never cared about romance, beauty, eloquence…

"Why don't you go tell the father?" Yellowpelt's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Stripedtail nodded. "I will!" She breathed.

"Tell what father about what?" A soft voice came from behind. The cats in the den stopped and turned around, and they saw Earthbrook emerge from deep in the den. Earthbrook had shiny, brown striped fur, and a pretty triangular face with green eyes similar to Rattail's.

"Earthbrook! Don't walk around! You need to rest!" Rattail insisted.

"I'll be fine. My injury isn't as bad as you think. You worry too much." She walked over to her brother and licked him on the shoulder. Earthbrook had a noticeable limp.

"Oh! Then you will be okay!" Yellowpelt darted over and licked Earthbrook on the ear. "I'm so glad this morning!"

Frecklepaw watched the other cats gather around Earthbrook. He thought the prophecy over. 'The flowers will climb the tree, choking it off. And the brook will dry up and wither away.' The brook… but Earthbrook looks like she will be fine! Frecklepaw got lost in thought. What could the prophecy mean?

"Hey, uh, Spikefur!" Stripedtail walked to the male tom, who was chasing an elusive butterfly similarly to a kit, in the sunny comfort of a grassy clearing. The grass was sparse and most of what was left was dead, but it still gave off an air of comfort.

"Hi! What's up?" He playfully sprinted over to his mate.

"I have good news!" She said, pushing enthusiasm.

"What?! What?!" He got excited, twitching his tail to the left.

"I'm pregnant!" She waited for his excited face.

His mouth dropped. "THAT'S GREAT!" He paused. "Oh, wait, are they mine?! Right?!"

"YES, they're yours, silly!" She batted his ear.

He got so excited that he play-tackled Stripedtail. She rolled him off of her and onto his side. Suddenly, he stiffened and stood up straight. "Um… I don't want to play too rough with you… if you're…"

"Right. Of course." Stripedtail shook out her thick fur, which was sprinkled with bits of cold, browned, dead grass. She thought a little play-fighting would be fine, for a little while at least, and was disappointed.

"I'll be going back to camp now, I guess. Splendid news, Stripedtail!" Spikefur stiffly walked off.

Then, a few seconds after he was out of sight, she heard him shout, "I'M GOING TO HAVE KITS!" Stripedtail purred in amusement as a flock of birds flew out of the trees in surprise.

I'll take suggestions for kit names. 'Cause I got nothing.