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

At Willowdream fo ForestClan: Thanks for your support and the reviews. I am glad you like Nightstorm's name.

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

Chapter 25

Snow was fallen now for a quarter moon. Falconstar watched her Clan grow hungrier with every passing day. It wasn't unusual for the Clans to survive with little fresh-kill in leaf-bare. But this season was worse than anything Falconstar had seen before. The fresh-kill pile was pitifully small. The black-and-ginger she-cat thanked StarClan that they didn't have kits in the nursery. She didn't know how they would have fed them. However, the nursery was empty since Hawkfeather's kits were apprenticed two moons ago.

Despite the cold weather, the apprentices' training went on well. Falconstar had assessed the three young cats' hunting skills just before the snow was fallen again. She had been worried about Rainpaw's training. The black-and-white she-cat seemed to have some problems with her mentor Birchheart. The warrior was growing increasingly short-tempered with his apprentice. Falconstar had questioned Birchheart; but the tom said that everything was fine between him and Rainpaw. Indeed, the young she-cat was being trained excellently, whatever problem she had with her mentor. Falconstar didn't stress the issue anymore. She trusted Birchheart. And perhaps, the tom was a bit more grumpy than usual because Shinyflower and Mudheart had become mates. Falconstar remembered Birchheart padding after the pretty she-cat for many moons. Seeing her with another tom must have hurt him. Only yesterday, Shinyflower announced that she expected Mudheart's kits. Falconstar hoped the cold season wouldn't last too long and that the prey would run plentiful again soon. Shinyflower would need to get enough fresh-kill for herself and her unborn kits.

xxx

A moon later, hope flickered in Falconstar. The worst of leaf-bare seemed to be over; the snow had melted and the nights weren't freezing anymore. Shinyflower lay in a warm nest in the nursery and was being looked after by the two medicine cats and her mate. Falconstar had just seen to the young queen and was on her way back to her den. She watched Birchheart and his apprentice leave the camp. As always, they argued as they trotted to the camp entrance. Birchheart slapped his tail over Rainpaw's ears and nudged her on. Falconstar still wondered what was going on between mentor and apprentice, but had decided not to ask Birchheart again. She met Hawkfeather waiting for her outside her leader's den. Falconstar flicked her tail to her sister and beckoned her to enter.

"You wanted to discuss something, Hawkfeather."

"Yes, there's something you should know. I'm expecting kits again."

Falconstar blinked at her sister a few times.

"You're expecting kits? Again?" her mew was hardly more than a whisper. "Your last litter is barely out of the nursery."

"I know. I didn't plan on having more kits." Hawkfeather mewed. She knew this conversation wouldn't be easy. She still remembered the last time she told her sister of her kits.

"You mean you planned to have Hazelpaw and Buzzardpaw?" Falconstar shot an angry look at her sister.

"No, I didn't plan to have them. But I did want to have more kits." Hawkfeather mewed sternly. She felt mistreated by her sister. "I didn't ask for this stupid prophecy. If I had been a regular warrior, you wouldn't yell at me now for having kits."

Falconstar thought back to the day so many moons ago when Grasswhisker told her about the prophecy StarClan had shared with him. The medicine cat had had a vision that MeadowClan would be protected by a falcon and a hawk. Based on that dream, Falconstar was made Clan leader and Hawkfeather became deputy.

"Yes, of course. Now it's my fault that you're deputy."

"Well, you made me deputy. I didn't ask for it." Hawkfeather shot back.

"Do you think I wanted to be Clan leader? And if you had been a regular warrior, you wouldn't be able to sneak out of camp ever so often to meet Talonwing. Perhaps you had chosen one of your own Clanmates as mate. Then we wouldn't have the problems that we have now."

"You are being unfair, Falconstar." Hawkfeather ranted.

"Unfair? All of ForestClan know of you and Talonwing. Did you know that? It's a miracle that Hawkstar is still friendly to us. What if she suddenly decides that she wants Talonwing's kits for her own Clan? Did you ever stop to think what you are doing to MeadowClan with your selfish behavior?"

"And your relationship with Bouldertail wasn't selfish?"

"How dare you bring up Bouldertail now?" Falconstar's fur bristled with rage.

"Every cat in the Clan is whispering about Rockheart. No wonder Whiskerheart hates him. They all know what's going on, but don't dare mentioning it to you."

"It's not my fault he looks like his father."

"And it's not my fault that I'm expecting kits." Hawkfeather mewed with her chin held high. She didn't wait for her sister's reply and pelted out of the den.

Falconstar stood trembling with rage and starring at the spot where Hawkfeather had been a moment ago. She had never before quarreled with her sister. Yes, she had been angry about Hawkfeather's relationship with Talonwing, but they never yelled at each other before. Falconstar wanted to claw Hawkfeather's ears off. Didn't her sister see what she was doing? To have kits now!? They were all weakened by the long hunger and it was still a few moons until new-leaf would bring plenty of prey. Feeding one queen would be hard, feeding two queens and their kits…

xxx

Falconstar hadn't spoken with Hawkfeather since they quarreled several days ago. Their Clanmates were shooting disturbed looks at each other whenever Falconstar and Hawkfeather met in the camp and passed by each other without uttering a single mew. Falconstar told Grasswhisker about Hawkfeather's pregnancy and the medicine cat was as worried as his Clan leader. He had told her that Hawkfeather would need to get more rest because she was weakened by the long cold.

Now Falconstar set out towards the warriors' den to name a new deputy to replace Hawkfeather. She decided that she didn't care what her Clanmates thought about this. It was Hawkfeather's responsibility to tell them why she expected kits again.

"Featherstorm, I want you to step in as deputy for Hawkfeather." The gray-and-black warrior looked puzzled at his Clan leader's words.

"Is something wrong with Hawkfeather?" he asked.

"She's expecting kits and needs to rest. I've spoken with Grasswhisker. He said that Hawkfeather has to join Shinyflower in the nursery."

Her Clanmates looked confused and murmurs rose at Falconstar's words.

"I can still see to my duties, Falconstar." Hawkfeather mewed.

"You'll move to the nursery. That's an order. Cloudheart made you a nest."

Hawkfeather dipped her head obediently and trotted to the hazel thicket that held the nursery.

"Featherstorm, I need you to organize the sunhigh patrol, and we need another hunting party out. When you're done, I want to speak with you in my den."

"Yes, Falconstar." The warrior dipped his head and Falconstar went back to her den, dragging her tail behind her as she went.

xxx

Gossip filled the camp after Hawkfeather moved to the nursery. Grasswhisker and Falconstar didn't explain how the she-cat could expect kits without having a mate and Hawkfeather was too tired to talk much. At least Shinyflower was happy to have company. Falconstar would visit the two queens quite often to see how they were doing. Shinyflower's belly was heavy now with her unborn kits. It wouldn't be long until her kitting.

"Everything all right with you?" Falconstar mewed to the two she-cats. She had just returned from the dawn patrol and wanted to check on the queens before seeing to her warriors.

"I'm fine." Hawkfeather mewed sleepily. The two sisters hadn't gotten over their argument and there was still a lot of tension between them.

"Shinyflower, are you ok?" the white-and-gray queen hadn't answered her. Falconstar nudged her shoulder and felt that the she-cat's body was hot with fever. Horrified Falconstar ran outside and called for Grasswhisker. A few cats poked their heads out of the warrior's den and glanced over to the nursery. Grasswhisker was running from his den, Cloudheart close at his paws. Falconstar beckoned them inside.

"She's hot with fever." Falconstar explained pointing at Shinyflower.

Grasswhisker was at the queen's side in a heartbeat and sniffed along the she-cat's body. Falconstar saw that his eyes clouded with worry.

"Quick Cloudheart. Fetch me coltsfoot and catmint." His apprentice dashed off and returned with the herbs a few moments later.

"She was fine last night." Hawkfeather mewed concerned.

"I know. I've seen to you myself before I went to sleep." Grasswhisker mewed quietly. "This isn't good."

Mudheart poked his head into the nursery. "Are the kits coming?" he asked excitedly.

"Wait outside." The medicine cat mewed brisk. "You too, Falconstar."

Falconstar left the nursery with a dreadful feeling. How did Shinyflower get so sick so quickly? She was so close to her kitting. What would happen to her kits now? Mudheart must have seen her face and realized that something was wrong with his mate.

"Is she alright, Falconstar?"

"I don't know, Mudheart. I am sorry."

xxx

The sun was standing high in the sky when Grasswhisker and Cloudheart left the nursery again. Falconstar had waited outside the den hoping the worst wouldn't happen. Now that she saw the medicine cats she knew it was in vain.

"She's dead." Grasswhisker mewed flat.

"And her kits?"

"Dead."

Grasswhisker raised his head and looked at the sky, although he couldn't see their ancestors shining there. "I thought I would never have to see this again." The old tom mewed.

"What do you mean?" Falconstar asked. Cloudheart had gone back to the medicine cat's den, her head and tail hanging down.

"When I was an apprentice, we had this sickness in camp for moons. The Clan lost so many cats that time. I have to prepare more herbs."

Mudheart had seen the medicine cats walk back to their den with hanging heads and approached Falconstar who still sat motionless outside the nursery.

"Is she dead?"

"I'm so sorry, Mudheart."

Continues soon...