Disclaimer: I based the Clan structure on the Warriors books by Erin Hunter.

Thanks for reading my story... and the reviews...

Now here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 12

The end of green-leaf was close and the nights were getting chilly. Falconstar was meeting Bouldertail now for almost two moons and since half a moon ago they were mates. When the dark gray tom had first told her that he loved her, she felt overwhelmed. Now, his love made her feel happy. Was this how Hawkfeather felt about Talonwing?, Falconstar wondered.

The last few days Falconstar didn't feel well. Hawkfeather had suggested her sister to see Grasswhisker, but the Clan leader had declined. She wasn't sick and their medicine cat and his apprentice were busy stocking up their supplies while all the herbs were still fresh. Falconstar woke up early today. She had dreamed about her mother and she told her something that disturbed her a lot. Cloudstorm told her daughter that she would soon know what it feels like to be mother. That information had shocked Falconstar so much that she woke up panting hard. Did StarClan tell her that she expected kits; worst of all, Bouldertail's kits. That would be a disaster.

A quarter moon had passed and Falconstar still didn't know what to do with the information her mother had given her. She hadn't told anyone; not even Bouldertail whom she had met again two nights ago. The black-and-ginger she-cat thought that she could feel something growing inside her, but she wasn't sure if perhaps that was her imagination. Now Falconstar had made up her mind and talk about her dream with Hawkfeather. Her sister had had a kit and might help her figure out what was wrong with her. After the sunset patrol got back to camp, Falconstar told her deputy to come to her den.

"There is something I need to discuss with you, Hawkfeather." The Clan leader mewed to her sister after they were alone the in the leader's den.

"Sure, what is it, Falconstar." Hawkfeather replied and settled herself comfortably on the ground.

"A couple of days ago I had a vision from StarClan. Cloudstorm came to me and told me that I would soon know what it's like to be a mother."

Hawkfeather's eyes grew big. Falconstar didn't know whether it was from hearing about their mother or what Cloudstorm had said. A few moments later, the black she-cat had recovered and replied.

"Well, you and Bouldertail are mates, aren't you? It is possible that you are expecting his kits."

"How can you say that?" Falconstar protested.

"Do you want me to tell you that you are not expecting his kits?" Hawkfeather asked confused.

"I don't know. What will happen to the Clan? Who will lead it? There is so much I have to decide." The Clan leader mewed distressed.

"The Clan will be fine. I will step in for you and we will find someone to help me with my deputy work, Falconstar. More importantly, what will you tell the Clan about the father? I don't think Grasswhisker can make up another weird story."

"You sound as though you are convinced that I am expecting kits. What if Cloudstorm meant something else?"

"I doubt that. Why would our ancestors tell you that you would be a mother soon, if you didn't already expect kits? Maybe they wanted you to have time to find a father." Hawkfeather suggested.

"What do you mean, find a father? The kits have a father."

"Do you plan on telling our Clanmates that Bouldertail is the father of your kits?" the deputy mewed outraged.

"No, of course not. They would never forgive me for having a mate in a different Clan." Falconstar let her head hang and crouched in her nest. What was she thinking of becoming mates with Bouldertail? It was almost inevitable to end in a disaster.

"You have to find a mate in MeadowClan. Quickly. And pretend that he is the father of your kits. I suggest you take Whiskerheart. He has padded after you for so long, the Clan wouldn't be surprised to find out that you are having his kits."

"But they won't be his kits. It wouldn't be fair to him." Falconstar mewed, but she knew that her sister was right. They had to cover up for the kits quickly. Even if it meant using Whiskerheart. It was for the best of the Clan.

"That's the price you have to pay for choosing Bouldertail as your mate."

xxx

In the days that followed, Falconstar spent a lot of time with Whiskerheart. The brown tabby tom was surprised and pleased by his Clan leader's attention and the black-and ginger she-cat pressed hard on them becoming mates. Falconstar knew that it was wrong to use Whiskerheart's feelings for her to cover up her adventure with Bouldertail, but she had to do it. Soon it would be evident to everyone in the Clan that she was expecting kits. Until then, she had to have a believable mate. Falconstar had tried very hard to develop feelings for Whiskerheart, but it never felt the same as it did with Bouldertail.

xxx

It was almost a moon since Falconstar had taken on Whiskerheart as her mate. The MeadowClan leader had told Bouldertail that they couldn't meet any longer because the nights were getting too cold. She felt terrible to lie to the gray HedgeClan tom, but she couldn't sneak out of camp to see him anymore. She was supposed to have a mate in her Clan. And besides, the nights were getting colder.

Yesterday, Falconstar had announced that she was expecting kits to her Clanmates. Many of them congratulated Whiskerheart on becoming a father and Falconstar felt a pang in her heart for making her Clan believe in a lie. So far, sister's plan was working out.

Falconstar's belly had swollen quite a lot now and Grasswhisker insisted that she moved to the nursery. The Clan leader was the only queen at the moment, but Hawkfeather told her that Sweetcloud might join her soon. The young black-and-white she-cat and her mate Grayfeather were inseparable. Grasswhisker and his apprentice Cloudpaw were checking on Falconstar every day. Cloudpaw was excited at the prospect of helping with a kitting and the young cat's mentor told her that it wouldn't be long.

Falconstar had been in the nursery for half a moon. Whiskerheart came to see her very often. And although Falconstar didn't love the brown tabby, she appreciated his care for her. The tom had just left the nursery again when Grasswhisker came to see his Clan leader. The medicine cat sniffed along the queen's body and carefully placed a paw on her belly.

"The kits are growing well. It won't be long until your kitting. But I was wondering what you are going to tell your Clanmates if the kits look like a certain cat from another Clan." The old black-and-white tom mewed.

Falconstar's heart missed a beat. Did Grasswhisker know who the real father of her kits was?

"I don't know what you're talking about." She mewed sternly.

"Don't play with me, Falconstar. I followed your scent when you left the camp at night. It led straight to the border with HedgeClan. So, I am asking you again, what are going to do if any of your kits look like Bouldertail." The old tom mewed brisk.

"You know?" Falconstar gasped. She never imagined the medicine cat to find out about her time with Bouldertail.

"I do. I was surprised when you suddenly became mates with Whiskerheart. You didn't seem interested in him before. But now I understand that you tried to cover up."

"Please don't be mad at me, Grasswhisker." Falconstar pleaded.

"Don't worry. I won't tell any cat. But I do wonder why you and Hawkfeather couldn't find mates in your own Clan."

The medicine cat looked at his Clan leader once more and then turned around and left the hazel thicket that served as the nursery. Falconstar watched the old tom leave.

Continues soon...