And now you may read chapter 11 :)
CHAPTER 11
"You are not a burden, Spiderleg." Briarlight tried to convince the black tom.
"Yes I am." Spiderleg huffed. "I can't walk, I can't hunt-"
"That's why I'm showing you how to drag yourself."
"It's no use. I'm staying in the elders' den with Brackenfur and Purdy. My legs hurt terribly whenever they touch the ground."
"Well, keep trying. Don't give up."
Briarlight got up to leave for the gathering. Spiderleg, crookedly dragged himself to the elders' den.
Briarlight struggled to keep up with Jayfeather. Her hind legs caught on everything possible. She never noticed, and tried to pull onward. Bumblestripe finally walked behind her, and had to untangle her twice. They were the last to reach the tree-bridge.
Briarlight lowered herself onto the island. She looked around. She hadn't been here in ages.
Onestar began the gathering. "WindClan has nothing to report, other than seeing a few rabbits."
Briarlight heard giggling from Lilypaw and Dewpaw. Amberpaw silenced them.
Mistystar dipped her head. "RiverClan doesn't have anything to report, except for a whitecough outbreak that ended quickly. We all managed to shelter during the storm."
The giggling turned to laughter. Now it was from all the apprentices.
"Lilypaw, Snowpaw, Seedpaw, Dewpaw, Amberpaw, what is so funny that you can disrupt the gathering for?" Bramblestar asked.
"Nothing, nothing!" Seedpaw was laughing between her words.
"I will wait before I speak until you tell us what you're laughing about."
"Well," Dewpaw giggled. "Of course WindClan have seen rabbits. They live on the moor!"
Onestar hissed at the white apprentice.
Amberpaw stood up. "And Mistystar probably isn't telling us that the outbreak is still happening."
Bramblestar stared at the apprentices. "If you laugh one more time, you're going home early."
The apprentices quieted down.
"Anyway," Bramblestar went on. "The storm was harsh on our camp, and Spiderleg broke his legs because of a falling branch. He and Brackenfur have moved to the elders' den. Be sure to congratulate Dovewing. She is going to have Bumblestripe's kits. Now unfortunately," his gaze darkened and he swallowed hard. "Dawnpelt of ShadowClan has unfairly killed Squirrelflight."
There were gasps of shock from everyone in the clearing. Crowfeather gazed up at Bramblestar from the roots of the tree.
"Our new deputy is Graystripe."
Tawnystar stepped forward. "I am very sorry for your loss, Bramblestar. RiverClan, you do not need to worry. Dawnpelt is dead, and no, we did not kill her. We have two new apprentices, Thistlepaw and Quickpaw."
The apprentices giggled, then quickly stopped. Bramblestar glared at them.
"You are lucky the gathering is over."
Briarlight waited to cross last. She noticed Dovewing facing Tigerheart, bristling.
"They aren't even yours, Tigerheart!"
"I wish they were." Tigerheart grumbled.
"Well, they're not, and I'm done with you. I've moved on, and so should you! Find some ShadowClan cat to be your mate!"
Dovewing whipped around and stalked onto the tree-bridge.
...
"Streak has kitted!" Daisy called.
The small white loner had kitted the night after the gathering. Briarlight watched as Streak licked her kits softly.
"Foxy and I have named them," Streak whispered. "The smallest one, the she-cat that looks like me is Flurry, since she looks like a snowflake. The sandy-colored kit is Pumpkin, and the red-brown tom is Fuzz."
"Fine names," Briarlight dipped her head. "They match each kit well."
She turned to Dovewing. "Did you see how the kitting works?"
Dovewing nodded. "I'm still a bit nervous, though."
Jayfeather purred while talking to Haykit. "What do you look like?"
"How would I know? I can't see myself! All I know is that I have cream paws and a brown tail."
"She's brown and cream tabby." Hazeltail answered for her kit.
"You're getting distracted, Jayfeather." Briarlight hissed.
...
Jealous, Tigerheart? Too bad. I'm not really a can of DoveXTiger. Bumblestripe always wins! Tigerheart's not bad, though. Just not good for Dovewing. Anyway, please review!