Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own the warrior series.
Chapter One
"Jayfeather?" Jayfeather continued stripping tansy leaves from the stalk, not even bothering to face the cat that had entered his den. "Jayfeather? It's me Millie." I know that. Just cause I'm blind doesn't mean I'm stupid.
"Hello Millie. What can I do for you today?" he asked politely, even though he already knew the answer.
"I just want you to check again to make sure my kits are going to be okay." I knew it. Jayfeather thought glumly. Doesn't she know by now that there's no way to tell? It wasn't his fault she was expecting kits!
"I'm busy, come back later." He muttered angrily. He felt surprise spark from her pelt.
"Sorry." She stammered, shock radiating through her words. " I just wanted to make sure my kits would be healthy, because I'm not so young anymore." No! I hadn't an idea! Jayfeather turned and began taking stock of the juniper berries. He heard her pad out of the den.
Ever since Millie found out she was expecting kits again, it seemed as though she'd been in the medicine den whenever Jayfeather turned around.
He was so distracted he hadn't even noticed that he'd gotten juniper all over his paws. "Mouse dung!" He said aloud.
They didn't have any herbs to spare, not with Leafbare on the way. He would have to ask a border patrol to pick some up on the way back to camp.
Lionblaze had just gathered a hunting patrol when he saw Millie pad out of Jayfeather's den with her head down.
"Hey, Millie, what's up?" She padded over heavily; even walking was a struggle for her, with her belly so round with kits.
"Jayfeather wouldn't check to see if my kits are okay." Can Jayfeather even do that? Lionblaze thought. "I know I'm not as young as I used to be, but I want to know if my kits will be fine," she continued "I mean, I'm getting closer to kitting every day." Lionblaze nodded like he was listening, but he was really thinking of his own mate, Cinderheart, who had just moved to the nursery. "What do you think, Lionblaze?" Millie asked.
"Huh? What? Oh, yeah totally." He replied halfheartedly. Looking satisfied, Millie padded to the nursery. She eased herself down onto her side, her belly resting on the mossy ground.
Lionblaze flicked his tail to lead the patrol out of camp, but Jayfeather hurried out of the medicine den, and right towards Lionblaze's patrol. What is it now?
"Lionblaze!" he mewed, tasting the air, "Are you going on a patrol?"
"Yes." Lionblaze reported unenthusiastically, "If I can actually get around to leaving the camp." He added under his breath.
"What?" Jayfeather mewed, then he quickly continued; "Never mind. I need you to pick up some juniper on the way back to camp." Jayfeather instructed.
"Juniper," meowed Lionblaze thoughtfully, "that's a berry, right?"
"Yes," said Jayfeather impatiently, "now get on with it." Under Jayfeather's blind gaze, Lionblaze lead his patrol out of camp.
Dovewing stretched luxuriously in her nest. She brushed her pelt against Bumblestripe's. Her movement woke him up. He purred and twined his tail with hers.
"Want to go hunting this morning?" he murmured in her ear.
"I'd love to," she replied as she washed her face. She padded out of the den with Bumblestripe by her side. They headed to the fresh-kill pile. Dovewing's stomach growled.
"Somecat's hungry." purred Bumblestripe, his whiskers twitching with amusement. She purred in agreement and picked out a plump starling. Bumblestripe found a tasty looking shrew and settled down beside her. She devoured her starling in a few quick bites. "That was fast." Said Bumblestripe mildly, but she could tell he was surprised.
"I guess I'm just really hungry." She mewed, "I was up pretty late on a patrol at moonhigh." He flicked his ear sympathetically, as he finished off his mouse. She couldn't help glancing back at the fresh-kill pile; she wanted another piece of fresh-kill so badly. But Bumblestripe stood and headed towards the tunnel.
"Are you coming?" he meowed. She stared at the fresh-kill pile longingly, then nodded and padded after him.
"Let's go to the beech copse!" yowled Bumblestripe once they were out of camp. "I'll race you there!" they shot through the forest, darting between trees, Dovewing was just pulling ahead when she felt a sharp pain in her belly. She stopped, and dropped into a crouch. "Are you okay?" Bumblestripe's stride faltered, and he halted beside her.
"I'm fine." She mewed, straightening with difficulty. "Maybe we should go back to camp though."
Ooh, what's up with Dovewing? R&R please!