Chapter 2, What?
Shadowflight trotted into camp with a mouse in her jaws. She set it on the fresh-kill pile, then chose a vole for herself.
She gobbled it down, feeling exceptionally hungry. She glanced over at the pile, wanting more. She sneaked over and grabbed the mouse. It was still warm.
She had just toke one bite when there was a yowl from behind her. Shadowflight looked up. Mousefur was in front of her.
"You didn't bring back enough prey to take that much!" she snarled, "Up you get, on a patrol, take Cloudtail, Brackenfur and Rainpaw with you."
Shadowflight shot her a disgusted glance. But she got up and summoned those cats, then trotted on her way.
Suddenly Cloudtail stopped. "There!" he whispered, flicking his ears at a squirrel not far away.
Shadowflight raced forward. Brackenfur came at it from behind, and they soon pinned it down.
Cloudtail spat out a mouthful of fur. "It's tough and stringy," he reported. Shadowflight picked it up and went on.
"Look!" cried Rainpaw suddenly. Droplets of water were falling off of trees, fast. Shadowflight knew that newleaf was coming closer and closer.
A white hare trotted past, licking up snow. In an instant Rainpaw began to run at it, but Shadowflight cuffed him hard. He stopped, then sat down.
Shadowflight leapt onto it and bit its neck. Brackenfur trotted past with two mice.
"You carry the rabbit," She told Cloudtail. They trotted back to camp. Another patrol had already brought to mice and a vole.
The Clan slid out of there dens at the smell of fresh-kill. Shadowflight got a mouse and the squirrel, and tucked into the warm food.
Nearby, Leafpool was sitting with Cloudtail, their pelts brushing. Shadowflight was just close enough to hear what they were saying.
"I don't know what to think." Leafpool said. Excitement and fear shimmered in her amber eyes.
"I want one to be named Waterkit, for a she-cat."
Shadowflight froze. Leafpool and Cloudtail were having kits? Shadowflight was horrified.
"Brightheart already chose the names." Leafpool said.
Shadowflight spat at her stupidity. It was Brightheart who was having kits, not Leafpool!
She finished all her prey, but was still hungry. It's because I'm fat, Shadowflight thought angrily.
"Say Leafpool!" Shadowflight called, "I'm exceptionally hungry, which is strange!"
Leafpool stood up she looked at Cloudtail with eyes full of respect and something more. Then she trotted to her den.
She ran a paw over Shadowflight's belly, and then pressed her ear to her chest. She pressed the paw on her belly again, and moved it across a small lump.
Leafpool sat up. "You're going to have kits Shadowflight, that's great."
Shadowflight stared in shock. "But…But…But…"
"This is great!' Leafpool yowled, "More kits for the Clan! Who's the father?"
Shadowflight stopped. "It's um…err…Cloudtail." She announced finally.
Leafpool eyes shone, but jealousy shadowed their depths. "That's great! You should go tell him."
Shadowflight trotted out with her belly bulging, and found Cloudtail.
She just stared at him.
"What?" he finally asked.
"I'm going to have your kits!" she yowled, trying to show excitement.
Many cats turned and nodded there approval. Cloudtail looked shocked. "That's great."
Shadowflight trotted back to Leafpool. "When will they be born?" she asked.
"In half a moon, by their size. They usually grow pretty fast."
Shadowflight purred her thanks, and trotted over to the nursery. Ferncloud gave her a dip of congratulation, and then settled down.
OoOoO
Cats thronged around the four great oaks. ThunderClan looked down, and then plunged into the big clearing.
Shadowflight instantly looked around for Skychaser. But before she could say anything a couple of WindClan queens came up.
"Congratulations," a silver one meowed. "Just remember to stay relaxed when their born, and that everything is fine."
Shadowflight gave her a hasty thanks, but the queen didn't stop. "Also, get a lot of food and drink, so they will be healthy. I once had a stillborn, because I didn't drink enough. Also you want to make sure that-,"
"Look, I really have to go," Shadowflight interrupted, "See 'ya later," she vanished into the crowd.
Skychaser was nowhere to be seen. Shadowflight clenched her claws in frustration when he saw him surrounded by a bunch of ShadowClan and WindClan she-cats. He looked at her with anguish in his eyes.
There was a yowl from the great rock. Shadowflight sat down and looked up.
Graystar was the first to speak. "We bring with us a new queen. Shadowflight will be expecting kits in half a moon, and Cloudtail is there father."
Shadowflight looked at her paws and scuffled them with embarrassment.
The other leaders reported on prey, and small threats they had found in there territory. Shadowflight didn't listen though. Finally, the Gathering was over, and ThunderClan fell in with RiverClan, and walked home together as they usually did.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ferncloud asked. Next to her was Skychaser. Shadowflight shot him a frustrated look. "It's a long walk when you're expecting kits."
"I'm fine, Ferncloud," Shadowflight meowed. She fell back, and so did Skychaser, and then they could talk.
"This is great," Skychaser whispered, "Cloudtail isn't there real father, right?"
"Oh no." Shadowflight meowed hurriedly.
"Oh…" he whispered in awe, eyes shinning with excitement. "I can't wait!"
"You have to wait half a moon," Shadowflight meowed, laughing.
The two Clans separated, And ThunderClan trotted down the ravine and into the gorse tunnel.
Shadowflight walked into the nursery and fell asleep, but her dreams were disturbed by bright yellow lights. She woke up and looked out.
Flames were grasping at the camp, burning through the lichen and undergrowth.
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