"Where were you? You had me worried sick!" Fuzz purred with worry and relief as he licked and nuzzled my face. I tried to back away but Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt blocked me as they pressed questions. Goldenflower was lucky enough to sneak off into her den without getting caught while I was getting smothered by questions.
"I'm fine!" I snapped.
"You were gone all night! Where were you two?" Brambleclaw protested.
"Where's Goldenflower? I need to ask her some questions!" Tawnypelt exclaimed. I rolled my eyes and bumped my way through them.
"Can I just go to my nest? I had a rough night and I'm super tired." I snapped. Then I padded off to the nursery. I sighed as I settled down into my nest and closed my eyes. Murmurs were filling the air outside the den and I growled as I flattened my ears to block out the noise. Then something landed on me and I jerked my eyes open to see Fuzz looking at me with a worried gaze.
"You were chased by dogs?! Why didn't you tell me this?!" he exclaimed. I growled and settled my head back down onto my paws.
"Probably because you kept pressing me with questions." I muttered.
"Let her rest, Fuzz. She's had a long night so she's really tired. I'm sure she'll be better in the morning." Speckletail's soft mew sounded. Fuzz sighed and licked my muzzle.
"Goodnight, Leopardstorm." he murmured. I opened an eye and smiled softly.
"Goodnight." I mewed. Then I closed my eyes as he walked out of the nursery.
I woke up back in Leopardclan. I yawned and stretched out my sore muscles. I looked around and saw Thunder Light leading out a patrol so I ran over to them. "Can I join?" I asked. Thunder Light shrugged and walked out the camp. Silver Frost was bouncing around in happiness.
"I can finally leave the camp!" she purred. I chuckled and nudged her.
"Just take it easy, ok?" I mewed. Silver Frost flicked her ear.
"I'll be fine!" she declared. I chuckled as she ran off to Thunder Light. Then I caught a whiff of Flying Eagle's scent. I followed it while everyone went off to hunt. I crept through the brambles and saw Flying Eagle bowing his head over Running Breeze's grave. I looked at him in sympathy.
"I know you're there, Storm Dream." Flying Eagle said. I lowered my ears and slowly walked out of the bushes. I sat beside him and sighed. We sat in silence as we stared at the detailed pebbles that marked where Running Breeze's body was. "This is all my fault." Flying Eagle whispered all of a sudden. I tried to find the right words to say but nothing came out.
"The battle never should've happened. Killing Storm caused this." I murmured. Flying Eagle's head jerked up at my words.
"Of course!" he snarled. "That rotten piece of bear-dung! He caused this! If that battle never would've happened, then Running Breeze would still be alive now and caring for our kits!" Flying Eagle gasped and broke off into wail. "She was expecting my kits!" I closed my eyes as Flying Eagle's pain rolled off of him in strong waves. I placed my tail on his shoulder.
"It's ok…" I murmured. Flying Eagle sniffed and bowed his head in grief.
"I'm so pathetic. I killed the only cat who can make me smile and now I'm sitting here crying while my clan needs me. What kind of deputy am I?" he muttered.
"You're not pathetic!" I scolded.
"Toms aren't supposed to cry." Flying Eagle retorted.
"Well a tom who can't cry, is a tom with no heart!" I shot back. "You saw what you did was wrong. And yes I know you have to suffer a punishment that will leave scars, but that doesn't give you an excuse to beat yourself up. Running Breeze loves you very much and I know you love her too. She's still with you Flying Eagle. Just remember that." I murmured. Flying Eagle sighed as he closed his eyes. I nudged his shoulder and padded away. I walked deeper into the forest and sniffed the air for prey. Then I froze as a spasm passed through my belly. I yowled in agony as the spasms repeated, causing me to fall onto my knees. My breath came out in quick shallow gasps as I held a paw to my stomach. Flying Eagle ran over to me.
"Storm Dream?" he asked in fear. I groaned and whimpered.
"Make it stop!" I growled. Starclan, what's happening to me?! Then I blacked out.
I woke up in Thunderclan with the pain still sprawling through my stomach. I whimpered and slammed my head into my nest. Willowpelt jerked her head up as she heard me. "Leopardstorm?" she asked with worry. I clenched my teeth together as my claws dug into my nest. Speckletail woke up at the noise and ran out the nursery.
"Cinderpelt!" I heard her call. Willowpelt licked my shoulder comfortingly. Then Cinderpelt ran in with Speckletail behind her. She pawed my stomach with narrowed eyes.
"Her kits aren't coming." she murmured.
"Then what's happening?" I growled through my teeth as more spasms went through my body.
"This is just a sign that your kits are healthy. See? They're starting to kick and play!" Cinderpelt purred. I growled as another spasm went through me.
"Well tell them to settle down or I'll make them wait longer to go out of the nursery!" I snapped. Then the spasms stopped and I pricked my ears. "That actually worked." I breathed. Then I groaned as they started again. Cinderpelt chuckled and dragged over some poppy seeds.
"Take these, Leopardstorm. It'll help ease the pain." she mewed. I lapped up the black seeds then plopped my head onto my paws. I yawned as the seeds started to kick in. Cinderpelt nodded briefly then padded out of the den while the other queens went back to sleep.
I woke up back in Leopardclan. Young Heart was standing over me with wide eyes. Dappled Fish was at her side as she held herbs in her jaws. "You're awake." Young Heart mewed. I stretched out my legs and sighed.
"What happened to you?" Dappled Fish's voice was muffled by the herbs she was holding.
"Probably eaten something spoiled." I muttered.
"So what you ate made you black out in the middle of the forest? Flying Eagle had to carry you back to camp!" Young Heart exclaimed. Thanks, kits. Thanks a lot. I sighed and shrugged.
"It was a really nasty fish." I mewed. Young Heart gave me a soft smile while Dappled Fish rolled her eyes.
"Honestly. You'd think a kit would know not to eat a rotten fish." Dappled Fish muttered. Young Heart shoved her.
"Be nice! This a warrior you're speaking to!" she scolded. Dappled Fish sighed and flicked her tail.
"Sorry." she muttered. I chuckled as she reminded me of Yellowfang. Then I let out a sad sigh as Yellowfang drifted into my mind. She shouldn't have died like that… Young Heart and Dappled Fish walked away to leave me alone. I groomed my fur as I looked at the sky. Ocean Breeze's words rang through my ears. If this battle is won by the wrong cat, your kits will die in a pool of their own blood. I closed my eyes as I thought about it. What can I do, Ocean Breeze? I can't do anything right now… I sighed and opened my eyes. I have to do something. Leopardclan isn't going to last any longer if Killing Storm still roams the forest. I have to get rid of him before he plays another trick. I got up from my nest and padded out of the medicine den. Thunder Light and Silver Frost were sharing tongues while Ocean Breeze and Feather Moon wrestled beside them. I chuckled and crept through the long grass over to them. I bunched my haunches as Ocean Breeze towered over Feather Moon in victory. I let out a sly smile and wiggled my haunches.
"You lost, Feather Moon! But I guess no one can defeat the great and graceful Ocean Breeze!" Ocean Breeze gloated with her paw to her chest. I leapt out of the grass and tackled her to the ground. Ocean Breeze squealed in surprise and wiggled in my grasp. Feather Moon laughed and joined in.
"Next time, don't boast about your victory! It can easily turn into a loss if you don't pay attention!" Feather Moon snickered. I laughed as I flung Ocean Breeze onto my back and jumped into the stream. Ocean Breeze squealed in laughter as the water splashed her long, golden fur. Feather Moon jumped on my back causing me to tumble into the water. I grunted as Ocean Breeze flew off my shoulders and landed in the water. I shared a look with Feather Moon and we both darted to catch her first.
"She's mine!" I growled playfully. Ocean Breeze squealed and scrambled onto the bank and ran out the entrance. Feather Moon pawed my head and chased after her.
"I had her first!" she called. I shook my head and gave chase. I burst out into the forest as water streamed down my fur. I heard thundering paws sounding in the distance and followed the noise. Then I saw Feather Moon a tail-length away from Ocean Breeze. I chuckled and climbed a tree. Then I jumped from branch to branch until I was over them. I leapt down from the branch and tackled Ocean Breeze to the ground. She grunted and rolled over with me grasping her shoulders. "You cheater!" Feather Moon exclaimed. I chuckled as I held Ocean Breeze on my back as a trophy.
"You never said I couldn't climb trees!" I snickered.
"I didn't know you were a squirrel as well as a fish!" Father Moon teased. I rolled my eyes and tossed Ocean Breeze off my back.
"Well I guess I'm just full of surprises." I chuckled. Feather Moon rolled her eyes and padded back to camp.
"Come on. It's getting late." she mewed. I darted in front of them and stuck out my tongue.
"Race you to camp!" I called behind me. I heard their pawsteps chasing me.
"You cheater! You didn't give us a warning!" Ocean Breeze giggled. I rolled my eyes and ran to camp with my tail streaming behind me as I left the panting leopards behind.
I woke up in Thunderclan as the sun was rolling high in the sky. I stretched out my back and winced when I heard a whimper coming from Willowpelt. I looked at her with worry. "Willowpelt?" I mewed. Willowpelt was clawing her nest to shreds as her teeth and eyes were closed tightly.
"I need Cinderpelt!" she gasped. I struggled to my paws and ran out of the nursery.
"Cinderpelt!" I called. Cinderpelt burst out of her den and ran to me.
"Leopardstorm! What's wrong?" she asked.
"Something's wrong with Willowpelt!" I exclaimed. Cinderpelt ran to get her supplies then darted to the nursery. "What's happening?" I asked as I followed her.
"Her kits are coming." Cinderpelt mewed around her mouthful of herbs. I widened my eyes and ran into the nursery. Yowls erupted from Willowpelt as Speckletail tried to hush her with soothing words. Bluestar burst through the nursery with narrowed eyes.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Willowpelt's kits are coming." Cinderpelt meowed. Bluestar turned to the cats gathered outside the nursery who were disturbed by the yowls. I took a peek and saw Whitestorm hurrying to the entrance. Cinderpelt blocked his way. "She'll be fine, Whitestorm. Just stay out here." she mewed. I settled beside Willowpelt and licked her ear. I struggled to figure out how to help but couldn't think of anything.
"Everything's going to be ok?" I murmured uncertainly.
"You sound reassuring." Willowpelt growled in pain sarcastically. Speckletail gave me a look then rolled her eyes.
"Think how wonderful your kits will be." Speckletail mewed, stroking her tail down Willowpelt's spine. I raised an eyebrow as Speckletail gave me a smug look. Is she challenging me? I lifted my chin in determination.
"Whitestorm is going to be so proud. They're going to be the most dashing kits." I mewed. Speckletail glared at me.
"And the most sweetest." she challenged. I flattened my ears and curled my lip.
"And the most beautiful!" I retorted. At that moment we both forgot about Willowpelt howling in pain and leaned into each other's face.
"And the most creative!" Speckletail snapped, shoving her snout into mine.
"The most adventurous!" I growled.
"The most strongest!" Speckletail countered. I opened my mouth to give her a retort but Willowpelt's snap interrupted me.
"You two aren't helping!" she snarled. I flattened my ears in embarrassment and turned back to Willowpelt.
"Sorry." I mewed. Then I felt her tense as the first kit began to slid out onto the nest. Cinderpelt nipped at it then passed it over to me.
"Lick it!" she ordered before turning back to Willowpelt. I looked down at the tortoiseshell kit then licked her wet body. Willowpelt panted hard as two more kits came out. Speckletail took one while Willowpelt took the other. Cinderpelt looked at them with satisfaction. "Two toms and a she-cat. Congratulations Willowpelt." she mewed. I purred and lifted the kit and gave her to her mother. Willowpelt was purring loudly as her kits began to suckle. Whitestorm stormed through the nursery and looked at his family.
"Are you ok?" he asked. Willowpelt was too busy gazing at her kits to answer. Whitestorm's purr rumbled deeply in his throat as he walked over to her. I moved out the way so he can sit with his new kits. Speckletail was looking at them with glowing eyes. I sat beside her with a smile.
"See, Speckletail? They're everything I said they would be." I purred, with a hint of smug. Speckletail gave me the stink eye then turned back to the kits.
"Your words are so full of mouse-dung." she mewed sweetly. I growled and glared at her.
"Why you little-"
"She-cats!" Willowpelt snapped. I jerked my gaze to Willowpelt. "Can you two stop being so competitive? Goodness, you two are like apprentices on their first day of hunting!" I smiled in embarrassment and flicked my ear.
"Congratulations, Willowpelt." I mewed. Willowpelt rolled her eyes and sniffed.
"Thank you." she said. Speckletail leaned to my ear.
"I hope they turn out ten times worse than her and Whitestorm combined." she chuckled. I laughed and rolled my eyes.
"Joke's on you, Speckletail. When they open their eyes, you'll be the one who watches them when I'm busy." Willowpelt retorted. I chuckled as Speckletail's expression dropped into a look of fear.
"You wouldn't." she said.
"I would. And I will." Willowpelt chuckled. I giggled then turned my attention to Willowpelt's kits as they mewled and suckled at their mother's belly. I can't wait for my kits to be born.