Half a moon later, Sandstorm finally had her kits. Jayfeather forced Graypaw to stay since he had never seen a kitting before. She had two kits, a ginger she-cat, who looked exactly like Firestar, and a pale ginger tom, who looked exactly like her.
"They're beautiful! The she-cat looks exactly like you! Her name will be Firekit." Purred Sandstorm.
"They are beautiful. And I told you before, one is Sandkit. I guess that will be the tom. Firekit and Sandkit. Good names for them. They'll make great warriors when they're older." Agreed Firestar.
"You know, I think we have some kits now who are ready to be apprentices. Hazeltail's kits are getting a bit big for the nursery. And Briarpaw, Bumblepaw, and Blossompaw are about ready to be warriors. That will give you some good mentors for Scorchkit, Brightkit, Burningkit, and Smallkit."
"Maybe Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Sorreltail, and Millie. They're good warriors. What do you think?"
"Any member of the Clan would be a good mentor for them. Dustpelt, Graystripe, and Thornclaw should start assessing their apprentices soon though. You might want to make them warriors before you name any new apprentices."
"Good idea. The apprentice den is getting a bit crowded. I think Bumblepaw, Briarpaw, and Blossompaw are ready to be warriors. I'll talk to their mentors later. We do seem to have a lot of apprentices now. And all the kits, plus Ferncloud is pregnant."
"Again! She's already the mother of half the Clan!" laughed Sandstorm.
"I've noticed. For the first time, I hope a queen has a small litter. We have too many apprentices already!"
"But by the time her kits are ready to become apprentices, they will be warriors. Dovepaw is a really fast learner, and even the outsiders are learning our ways quickly. I'm sure they will be warriors long before you even think about making Ferncloud's litter apprentices. Well, maybe not Lightpaw, but only because she has a broken leg, and even she should recover and be a warrior."
"I know. They're all doing well. I don't know about you, but I think Icewhisker is starting to look pregnant. She's spent a lot of time with Mousewhisker lately. I think the nursery might be crowded again soon."
"I think you're right. She does look pregnant. Mousewhisker will be happy." Answered Sandstorm.
"Having this many cats in the Clan is ok now, but it won't be in leaf-bare. How will we find food for so many cats?"
"We'll manage. We always do. Our Clan is strong, and we have a lot of good hunters. We can handle leaf-bare. I've noticed that Dovepaw and Nightpaw are turning into good hunters."
"Dovepaw seems to be good at everything. She's a fast learner. I just wish she would do what I told her to. She never wants to listen!" Exclaimed Firestar.
"She is very disobedient. I'm glad Ivypaw listens better. I would feel bad having you take over her training too if she was as disobedient as Dovepaw."
It's too bad she can't learn as fast as Dovepaw. It would make training them together much easier."
"Probably, but things are never easy. After Briarpaw, Bumblepaw, and Blossompaw become warriors, you can give Ivypaw to one of their mentors. Or any other member of the Clan who doesn't have an apprentice now. Maybe Mousewhisker. He's responsible and experienced. And Berrynose got an apprentice already. Mousewhisker would be a good choice." Meowed Sandstorm.
"You're right. I think Mousewhisker will be Ivypaw's new mentor, if he agrees. Then I can concentrate on getting Dovepaw to listen a bit better. She will be an amazing warrior when she gets older. I just wish she was more like Ivypaw. They're almost exact opposites!"
"Reminds me of a certain two she-cats. Squirrelflight and Leafpool always were so close, and at the same time, so different. I still can't believe Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather were Leafpool's kits. Leafpool lost so much, and so did Squirrelflight."
"I know. I never thought my first two kits would be so… I don't know, secretive, untrustworthy, able to lie to the Clan for so long. How could they think they couldn't trust us or Brambleclaw? We're their parents, and he was Squirrelflight's mate. Whatever happens, I'm sure we can make our new kits trust us more."
Sorry it took so long to update, I've been busy. REVIEW!
