I wake up the next day and know they're coming. Next thing I know, I'm in Leafpool's den, and 5 little furry bundles are all around me.

"You're lucky I found you!"

Leafpool soft hiss whispers in my ear. "If I hadn't been there who knows who would've found out!" But her eyes are warm and soft, and soon she says, "Have you thought of any names for them?"

"To tell you the truth, no," I mew back in reply.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I told Thornflight I'd bring them and we'd discuss names there."

"You can't be serious! If anyone finds out, you and I'll be CROWFOOD!!!!!!!!"

"But he's my mate! I can't just think of names for them without him!"

"Well, you can discuss names, but the kits aren't going! They aren't strong enough!"

Just as she says this, my worst fears come true. A cat walks through the brambles and stops abrubtly in the entrance and stares at me.

"Swifttalon?!?!"

Leafpool hastily says,"Squirrelflight, we're a bit busy, so whatever you need, could it wait?"

"Sure, but-?"

"It's nothing."

"OK, but if you need any help, give me a yowl."

Squirrelflight walks out of the den, and I shoot a worried glance at Leafpool. "Do you think she'll tell?"

"No, she wouldn't do that," Leafpool replies. "Now come on, I'll help you think of names."

"OK. I was thinking about this one for Snakekit. His fur resembles scales, and his eyes and belly make him look even more like a snake."

"That would work. What about this one?" Leafpool gestures with her tail toward an almost completely black tom with green eyes. Leafpool sighs, and I can tell she's thinking about Crowfeather. I'm about to ask her why she didn't stay with him, but I bite my tongue. You know she doesn't like to talk about it! You mouse-brain! I think to myself. "How about Juniperkit?" I suggest, looking toward her herb supply.

"That's a great idea!" Leafpool seems to brighten up. "Now, how about Pouncekit for this one?" She points her nose toward an orange-ish brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes.

"I like that!" I reply.

"Wow, now that I think about it, Pouncekit is the only girl in this bunch! Whoa, looks like these are gonna be your two toughest ones, Swifttalon!" Leafpool mews in amusement as a brown kit with white in different places and amber eyes pounces on Poucekit, and they wrestle playfully on the floor.

Falconkit. A voice says in my head. Falconkit is the perfect name for a kit as wild as this.

"Let's name this one Falconkit," I suggest to Leafpool.

"Great, and this can be Thrushkit," she gestures toward the cutest of the bunch. A white tabby kit with big, inanimate blue eyes stares up at me, closes its eyes, and lays down beside me, falling into a deep sleep.

Later, Leafpool, Icenose and I are all carrying 1 or 2 kits in our jaws.

"I can't believe you talked me into this," Leafpool's muffled growl sounds from behind her kits.

"Me neither," Icenose complained sourly.

"Come on, I promised him. I can't let him down," I say uncomfortably. "Besides, we're almost there. Just a little farther ahead."

Almost immediately we see the silhouette of a tom standing right where he promised to be. He begins to pad closer and yowls a greeting, but stops and hisses when he sees Leafpool and Icenose with me. I walk up to him with Pouncekit and Snakekit in my mouth and gently put them down. I tell Thornflight softly,"I wasn't able to carry the kits on my own, and they both already know. Don't worry," I say when I see his fur begin to rise on his back,"they promised not to tell, and Icenose is my sister. Why would she tell?"

Apparently I've convinced him, for he goes back toward the ThunderClan cats and, since he has bigger jaws than them, takes the kits from them, dips his head, and walks back to me. Leafpool and Icenose pad away without a glance back.

I sit down, tell him the names, and tell him about the apprentices. He's listening all the while, eager for information about his kits.

Suddenly, it all went wrong. A rustle in the bushes sounds, and Tornear, Crowfeather, and Breezepaw all step through. OH, CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!