The next few days Jayfeather spent racing between the medicine cat's den and the nursery. Rainkit hadn't gotten any better, and it had started to get colder, indicating that leafbare was on its way. The change in the weather didn't help Rainkit either, giving him a cold that Jayfeather could do without. Rainkit was lively and optimistic though, despite his condition. He was the one to always offer encouragement and his condolences. He was so sweet and every cat loved him. It was sun high and Cloversplash spent the spare time between her warrior duties to be with him. Almost everycat did. As she padded towards the nursery, Rainkit popped his head out and squealed.
"Cloversplash, you came to see us again!"
"Ooooh! Let's play moss ball!" Added his sister, Silverkit.
"I call being thrower!" Stormkit yowled, catching up to his littermates.
"Awww, no fair, you were thrower last time!" Meowed Echokit.
"How about Echokit is the first thrower this time, then Rainkit, Silverkit, and Stormkit. That way, everyone gets a turn." Cloversplash suggested.
"Silverkit and Stormkit can go ahead of me," Rainkit meowed generously
"That's very nice of you, Rainkit." Cloversplash praised him. Echokit tossed the ball into the air and Stormkit was the first to reach it, tossing it back to Silverkit who passed to Echokit again then to Rainkit to Cloversplash. She then left the game to watch the kits play. Rainkit was doing surprisingly fine for his condition, until Stormkit spiked the ball at him and it hit him in the chest that made him crumple over, winded, then when he regained his breath he started coughing nonstop.
"Alright kits, that's enough, go back to your nests before you all catch colds too." Cloversplash meowed as she ushered them into the nursery. "Come on, Rainkit, we'll go to Jayfeather for something for that cough.
"T-thanks, Cloversplash." He meowed between coughs. When they arrived to his den, they found him sorting through his herbs frantically.
"Jayfeather, do you have a minute? Rainkit won't stop coughing." She asked.
"Just. Wait." He meowed between the piles of marigold in his mouth. It was a while until he finally emerged from his work to gather some comphrey for Rainkit.
"Eat those up, then stay in the nursery from now on. No more outside visits. You need to stay warm." Jayfeather instructed.
"O-okay." Rainkit answered, still coughing a little.
When Rainkit returned to the nursery, Jayfeather turned to Cloversplash and said "I could really use an apprentice. Im swamped here as it is without tending to a sickly kit. That was the last of the comphrey, and the plant will have died already in this weather, I can't gather anymore."
"What do you want me to do? Do you want to borrow Firepaw?" Cloversplash answered.
"No, no. Not her. I've been watching Moonpaw over there, and I think she might be interested." He replied, with a flick over his tail.
"Well then why don't you ask her?" She asked.
"I can't. She has to come to me." He replied.
"Well, I don't know what you want then." She stated.
"I want you to watch her fore me and if the time seems right hint that she could be the next medicine cat, if she wants." Jayfeather meowed.
"Oh, um, okay. But I won't be able to do it full time, you know. I have duties of my own." Cloversplash answered.
"Great." Was all he said as he entered his den once more.
Four sunrises later, Willowfrost came to Cloversplash with some, well, news.
"Cloversplash, I'm having Dewfeather's kits!"
"What? Really? That's amazing, Willowfrost. I'm so happy for you." She replied.
"I know. Me and Brightcloud will be in the nursery together, I'm so excited!" Willowfrost meowed.
"Does Dewfeather know yet?" Cloversplash asked.
"No, I only just found out. I'm going now though." She replied, then left with a flick of her tail in goodbye to Cloversplash. An excited squeal told her that Willowfrost had found Dewfeather already and have told him the news. He soon came bursting into the clearing, a proud look on his face.
"I'm having kits!" He yowled.
"No, IM having kits. He's just the father." Willowfrost corrected.
"Oops." Dewfeather meowed, looking down in embaressement.
As all the cats crowded around the happy couple, meowing their congratulations, Foxleap approached her.
"Good news about the kits." He meowed.
"Yeah, they'll be a lot of kits come leafbare." She replied.
"Bad time for kits I guess, but it's still good news all the same." He went on. "A couple more kits added to the clan wouldn't hurt."
"I know, Willowfrost's kits will be fine." She answered.
"No, I mean a couple after them." He meowed, sort of confidently.
"What do you mean- oh." It soon hit her like the moss ball on Rainkit's chest. Foxleap wanted to have her kits.
"Foxleap, I didn't know you felt that way." She meowed, feeling a bit awkward.
"Do you... Feel that way too?" He asked carefully.
"Yes, I do." She answered, looking into his deep green eyes.
"Then, Cloversplash, will you do me the honour of becoming my mate." He asked.
"I will." She replied, brushing up against him, feeling the warmth of his fur.
Together, they happily padded off side by side into the forest, as if they could stay brushed up against each other forever.