Oh, yay! Yet another chapter! I love the ending part to this chapter. I bet you just can't wait to read it.
Blazeheart motioned to Blackwing with her tail tip. "Want to go see the kits? I hear they will make the best warriors this forest has ever seen!"
Blackwing nodded. His own little kits! He nodded. "Sure." He replied.
The two walked together to the nursery across camp. Already a few cats were looking inside. No tom entered though, for unless you are the father, that's a big no-no. She-cats are allowed, mainly because they aren't toms. Toms are allowed, though, to poke their heads in.
Paleflower walked up to join the two warriors. She smiled, showing many sharp fangs. "These are the cutest little kits! I wonder who will train them?" she mrrowed.
She and Blazeheart entered the nursery, each sitting by their friend and leader. They looked at the scraps of fur, white and black, ginger, black, and white tiger.
"Beautiful kits, Icestar." Paleflower congratulated.
"You too, Windear." Blazeheart added.
"Why thank you. More warriors for our Clan! I can't wait till they get apprenticed." Windear rasped.
"Icestar, just out of curiosity, who's the father?" Paleflower asked, sitting down next to her sister.
Icestar smiled. "We didn't find out our father till our warrior ceremony, did we? No one's going to know till then. The kits can understand us, Paleflower, they just can't speak yet." She grinned. It was so fun taunting everyone!
She poked Snowkit. "I know you can hear me, I am your mother, but you just choose to ignore me and sleep. I can't wait till I can sleep all day again." She purred. Snowkit moved to find a warmer spot to sleep in.
Blazeheart and Paleflower looked at each other, both thinking, "Has Icestar gone mad?"
The two bid their farewells and walked into the cooling leaf-fall. Orange leaves danced and whirled across the camp, and the evening star started to twinkle against pink and purple. Shadows danced while cats walked around camp. Some big, some small, all twirling about like black snowflakes.
Blackwing stuck his head in and purred. Four kits, all lined up in a row. Four small, helpless, strong, kits.
Windear looked at the new arrival. "Blackwing, take a look. See little Thunderkit over there? Doesn't he look like you?" she mused. Blackwing jumped up and glanced around. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Icestar laughed, fully and completely. It had been such a long time since she had laughed. It had been so long ago…her apprentice ceremony? Or her warrior ceremony, seeing her companion Lionpaw accidentally trip in his rush to get to Blizzardstar first? Laughter felt so good after seasons and seasons of nothing. She laughed and laughed, remembering the joy of happiness. Of bliss. Of love and loyalty.
She finally calmed down enough to see that her kits were crying. She gently nuzzled them and they went back to nursing, and Snowkit kept on sleeping, his favorite past time.
Windear looked at the happy family, fully of laughter and joy. "Icestar and Blackwing, why keep your love a secret? Why not let it fly free like a swallow in new-leaf?" she couldn't help but ask.
The joy and gaiety left as suddenly. They returned to their normal seriousness, the air of power and authority. Icestar started to speak. "Windear, imagine that your leader and deputy fell in love and had kits. How are they supposed to lead the Clan if they are making gooey love-struck eyes at each other? This is how the Clan would see it, and no matter how much the swallow may fly, someone always catches it."
Ooh...now I bet you just can't wait, can ya?
Aneis