Meh. I'll give u the last chappie i have uploaded...but i'm warning u, it'll be at least another week and a half or something (July 8) b4 i get back to my mom's place where i can upload more chappies...oh well, i think my mother sent me my mem stick that has two more chappies on it...oh well. At least on this chapter u can see Newtfrost's kits! YAY!!

And hey, at least when i get back i'll b able to give u the rest of the story! yippee! and i'll b able to give u the start of the 4th book cause i've got that one finished too! Whee!!

There was menacing cold in the air as the ThunderClan patrol headed back to camp from the Gathering. More snow had started to fall (as if there wasn't enough already!) and the crunch of paws on the ground was heard as the cats stepped on the frosty grass.

Runningshadow tried to shake out the feeling of foreboding. He sort of felt like he was being followed, and not just by his Clanmates. For some reason, Runningshadow knew somewhere inside him that Hurricanestar was following them, with his very few warriors, just waiting to plan an attack that would force Ashstar to give away a piece of ThunderClan's land.

The cats had arrived at camp. Runningshadow numbly let all the other cats go ahead of him into the gorse tunnel, ignoring the fact that the snow under him was turning his paws to blocks of solid ice. It felt good compared to the fear that he felt now.

"Coming, Runningshadow?" Asked an all-too-familiar voice.

Runningshadow looked up to see Ashstar, hovering over him with a look of worry etched onto her face. She reminded him of a fearing queen.

"Yes, Ashstar," Runningshadow meowed. He felt like the storm raging inside his chest was easing a little as he felt a small bit of support from his leader.

Ashstar pointed to the tunnel with her muzzle and gave the young deputy a nod. "Go ahead," She mewed calmly.

Runningshadow shouldered through the tunnel, amazed at how calm his leader was being. Wasn't she worried about the coming storm? ShadowClan were so angry at her Clan now- and it was all her fault. Wasn't she feeling a drop of guilt?

Runningshadow caught Pineclaw dashing to the nursery out of the corner of his eye, but knew the case and sat down near Owlpaw, who was rummaging through the fresh-kill pile.

"So how was the Gathering?" Called Owlpaw as Runningshadow plunged in through the gorse tunnel.

Shaking the snow off his paws, Runningshadow sighed and sat himself next to Owlpaw. "Horrible," He growled.

"What happened?" Asked Owlpaw. "Did any of the Clans fight?"

"No," Cut in Starpaw, "But we got really close to."

The pale tabby she-cat shivered. "Wh- wait, how did you almost get into a fight?"

Runningshadow sighed. "Hurricanestar-"

"Star?" Hissed Owlpaw. "Don't tell me that Hurricanesong is…" Her voice trailed off.

"The leader of ShadowClan, yes," Finished Runningshadow quickly. "Sharpstar died."

"How did he die?" Owlpaw interrogated. "Was it an attack? Was it those nasty rogues? Wait a second, they disbanded…"

"It wasn't the rogues," Snapped Runningshadow. "And stop asking so many questions! It was a sickness, it killed lots of ShadowClan cats."

"You mean they're-"

"Here, let me explain," Starpaw interjected before Runningshadow could say anything else. The black tom elbowed Runningshadow lightly and took his place on the spot.

Runningshadow cringed away guiltily. He didn't mean to be so harsh with the she-cat, but she was asking him so many questions, and he was so tired…

Almost involuntarily, Runningshadow turned to the fern tunnel. He started to run through the passage that led to the medicine cat's den, almost enjoying the freezing wind tugging at his fur. Suddenly Runningshadow remembered why his paws were taking him here, and felt his mood lighten a little.

Cloverpaw was fast asleep atop a nest of moss, her breathing steady and quiet. Mossflower wasn't there, Runningshadow figured that she was outside collecting herbs and padded out, giving the dozing tabby a tender lick on the ear before departing.

For some reason, he felt like going to the nursery. Perhaps the queens would make him feel a bit better. It scared him how unconscious the decision was.

Runningshadow poked his head into the nursery, and was pleased at the sound he heard. Lots of tiny squeals, coming straight from Newtfrost.

Three tiny bodies were huddled against the tortoiseshell: A yellow kit, a brown kit, and a white kit. Pineclaw was hunched over his mate, nervously checking over the kits. Newtfrost was still trying to dry off and warm up the tiny, squirming bodies.

"Newtfrost, congratulations! You must be so proud," Runningshadow meowed, as happy as he could summon.

Newtfrost smiled, although there was a hint of dismay in her amber eyes. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" She meowed weakly. She must have been exhausted.

"Do you mind telling me their names?" Asked Runningshadow, looking over the kits with admiration.

"Oh, sure," Newtfrost meowed. "The gray one is Budkit. The white one is Rosekit, and the brown kit is Rockkit. Aren't they beautiful?"

"Very beautiful," Runningshadow agreed. Rosekit especially caught his eye. "Are they…" His voice trailed off for the queen to finish.

"Sunkit and Rosekit are she-kits, Rockkit is a tom," Newtfrost finished.

"You must be so proud of your litter," Runningshadow said.

The tortoiseshell nodded in agreement, her eyes closed for a few moments and her muzzle laid on her kits.

Runningshadow heard a small clatter, and turned his head to see two gray shapes pick their way towards him. One of them, a gray and black one, batted at his tail.

Runningshadow laughed and felt a warm feeling of glee rise up inside him and melt into his heart. It was Ratfur's kits! Since when had they learned to talk? He hadn't been to the nursery in a while!

"Rawr! I'll get you, you dumb ShadowClan warrior!" Snarled the gray and black kit in a menacing voice.

Runningshadow giggled. "Hi," He greeted. "Are you Rainkit?"

"Yup!" The gray and black she-kit mewed. Her voice was very high pitched.

Runningshadow remembered how much he had wanted to see Rainkit's eyes. He tried looking into them without being too rude, but he didn't see them because Rainkit was still trying to impale the tip of his tail.

The other gray kit, a more silver one, was just lazily padding past Runningshadow, her white tail tip twitching, as she tried to get a good look of the new kits.

"Hello, Featherkit," Runningshadow greeted the other, remembering the she-kits name vividly. She had been named after Ashstar's daughter, Featherstream, who had been killed by an unknown killer. Perhaps it had been a badger, since it was such a vulgar death.

Featherkit waved her tail in reply. "Shh," She hissed a tad rudely. "I'm trying to see the kits without scaring anybody!"

Runningshadow shut his mouth, focusing on getting a rowdy Rainkit off of his tail. But it only resulted in two more bouncy kits leaping onto him and joining their sister.

Runningshadow recognized a calico she-kit, Frenzykit, and a black tom, Nightkit. "You get off me, you silly kits!" He growled playfully.

"Oh, come on," Whined Frenzykit. "We were pretending you were a badger!"

"Wait a second," Nightkit growled. "Rainkit said that you were supposed to be a ShadowClan warrior!"

"Frenzykit!" Hissed Rainkit, flattening her tiny ears playfully. "Don't change the story to get attention!" The gray and black she-cat tried taking a nibble at her sister's tail instead of hassling the young warrior's.

Frenzykit cowered, flattening herself low to the ground. "Well sor-ee," She snapped, snatching her ginger and white tail from Rainkit.

Runningshadow got away from the kits while he could, not wanting to have his tail worried anymore, and checked on Summerheart.

The golden she-cat was looking reproachfully at the kits, kneading her dark brown paws. She looked horrified. Apparently she had watched Newtfrost have her kits.

"Are you okay, Summerheart?" Asked Runningshadow.

"If having a litter will be that tortuous," She hissed lightly, "I don't want to have kits anymore…"

"Oh, come on," Runningshadow growled. "It may hurt at first, but you've no idea how happy you'll be when you have your kits."

"Maybe it was a horrible idea to have kits," Summerheart mewed quietly.

"Well, it wasn't exactly your idea," Runningshadow said, "But it's a natural part of a she-cat's life. Almost every she-cat has kits in their life."

Summerheart sighed. "Well, the Clan is getting huge, She hissed. "Like I'm going to help with our problem."

"Summerheart, it's not your fault that ThunderClan is huge. You should be happy you're having kits. You should have them any day now," He reminded her.

She shivered. "Runningshadow, you don't understand…cats die having kits. I just know I'm going to be one of those cats, I can tell."

"How exactly can you tell?" Runningshadow growled.

Summerheart was silent for a while.

"Exactly," Runningshadow growled. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. When your time comes, you'll be so proud you had your kits."

Summerheart flattened her ears shamefully and slunk back into her dark corner. Runningshadow noticed that she had trouble sitting down since she was so plump.

Runningshadow stepped lightly over to the she-cat and licked her ear. "Like I said, don't worry about these kits," He mewed. "You'll be fine."

Summerheart smiled at him. "Thank you, Runningshadow," She meowed happily. "You're a great deputy, even though you weren't expecting this duty."

Runningshadow felt stunned. That was the best compliment he had gotten since Newtfrost had told him the same thing. He felt joy flare up inside him. All he did was smile and look back at Newtfrost's kits.

So how did u like Newtfrosts kits? aren't they cute? i luv their names...anyway, review and i'll give u a newtfrost super pack! it has newtfrost and her three kits and i'll throw in a hurricanestar chewtoy! -squeaks little dark gray cat plush- REVIEW 4 ME!! and 4 this awesome plushie pack...