The ThunderClan deputy smiled as he was outside of camp, just waking up from sleep as the sun rose. He couldn't have felt better as last night was another night of passion with his new mate Mothleap, whom he even called by her twoleg name Kim.
She was cuddled beside him, her ears tucked in and a low purr rumbled as she was still asleep.
"Morning, Kim." Thornclaw purred, pawing her shoulder. "We should get back before the dawn patrols start."
Kim blinked and gave a long stretch.
"And to see that queen bloated with your kits?" Kim yawned.
"Only if there's any progress on the kits. There's no reason to stay there long." Thornclaw growled. "Especially when I have my sweet little moth right here."
Kim purred and licked his ear before trotting eagerly back to camp.
Thornclaw slowly followed and saw they were just in time, cats had only begun to stir.
"Wake up warriors!" Thornclaw hollered in excitement.
Many cats glared but some start to pour out of the warrior's and apprentice's dens.
"Okay, Ambershade, Spiderleg, Whitewing. You three will each lead a patrol. One near the ShadowClan border, two near the WindClan!"
Thornclaw looked to see Bramblestar trudge out of his den barely awake.
"Huh?" Bramblestar muttered. "Thornclaw, you already set up patrols?"
"Yep!" Thornclaw purred loudly.
"Terrific." Bramblestar whispered, going slowly back into his den.
Thornclaw paid no mind, prancing into the warrior's den for a little longer sleep.
"HELP! THEY'RE COMING!"
Thornclaw leaped in the air, it was Dovewing.
She's having my kits, great StarClan.
Thornclaw considered going over to help her throughout the process, but she was stuck-up the whole time she's been expecting.
She lashed out at the kits and was mean many times to Kim's sister whom was in the Nursery.
Thornclaw wasn't surprised at all but it was still very annoying. He decided that he wouldn't show up. He curled up in his spot and rested some more.
"Thornclaw?"
Thornclaw shook his pelt and looked up to see Jayfeather facing him.
"Yes?"
The two toms shook as another screech rang throughout the camp.
"Dovewing wishes for you to be there for her kitting." Jayfeather explained.
"Is that a joke?" Thornclaw scoffed. "Why should I go over there? She's been nothing but awful."
"You're the father regardless." Jayfeather growled. "Beetlepaw's former mate has left so he's been a mess, I can't keep him waiting much longer."
"Skydawn left?" Thornclaw whispered.
"Yes, now hurry up!" Jayfeather snapped.
Thornclaw joined Jayfeather and they both headed to the Nursery. He flinched when he saw Beetlepaw tripping out as the hissing queen threw herbs everywhere in anger.
"Sit down!" Jayfeather snapped. He put one paw on Dovewing and she dramatically tumbled over.
"The kits! StarClan, Dovewing!" Thornclaw growled.
"He pushed me!" Dovewing lied. She was about to speak again when she convulsed and grabbed the stick in the midst of the mess into her jaws.
Thornclaw felt angry but his fur flattened when he saw tears stream from Dovewing's eyes.
She's still the mother of my kits.
Thornclaw sat down and licked her tears. It surprised her and she tried to stay still.
"The first kit is coming." Jayfeather announced.
Beetlepaw looked scared, probably remembering Daisy's kitting and all that hellish struggle for one mere kit.
Thornclaw was anticipating being a father for the first time, and didn't hesitate to run to his firstborn kit: a fuzzy tom that was a spitting image of him.
He licked the kit and placed it at Dovewing's belly just in time to get to the last kits. A light gray tom and a cream yellow she-kit with brown patches.
Soon they were all at Dovewing's belly and Thornclaw was overwhelmed with love for his kits.
"This is Timberkit." Thornclaw stated. "His father sharp like a thorn, and hopefully he will make the whole ground timber at his paws."
"And Clawkit." Thornclaw added. "Dovewing, you can name the last-"
"Tigerkit."
"Her name will be Shimmerkit." Thornclaw sighed. "Let her shimmer like her fiery kin."
Dovewing hung her head and her ears flattened.
Thornclaw walked out and saw Kim.
"I saw you licking away her tears." She growled.
"Even if she drives the whole Clan crazy, she was still having my kits." Thornclaw muttered.
"She must be especially driving you crazy...in love."
"What?" Thornclaw stammered.
"Please. You're still pining over her, despite how pathetic she is." Kim growled.
"That doesn't make any sense." Thornclaw hissed. "I love you. But I also have always wanted to be a father."
"Then let me be the mother, and Dovewing can be nursing ourkits." Kim purred, twining her tail with his.
Dovewing should get opportunities to try to be a goodmother first, she's never had a litter before either.
"Very well." Thornclaw purred. "What my mate wants she gets."
Kim nuzzled him and trotted over to the fresh-kill pile and carried a huge chunk of rabbit to her bloated sister.
"How's it like?" Kim meowed.
"Expecting kits?" Acornfall asked. "Feels different but I can't wait to experience it."
Thornclaw was heading to the fresh-kill pile and saw Bigheart, the father of his mate's sister's kits, proudly leading back a patrol, tossing more prey onto the pile.
These new catsaren't bad after all, newleaf has broughtus lots of fresh-kill as well and I'm very grateful.
He was also happy that his kits would get to grow in greenleaf instead of the bitter cold like Bramblestar's motherless kits.
One thing he had not considered was Dovewing trying to rid of their kits.
He woke up in the middle of the night noticing the absence of meowing and froze.
No!
Thornclaw leaped over the other warriors and dashed into the Nursery. Much to his horror, his kits and their mother were absent.
He ran and saw Dovewing near the ShadowClan border, hissing angrily at Tigerheart. He looked to see their newborn kits squealing on the cold dirt.
My kits!
Thornclaw leaped and snarled and Dovewing, he lashed at her nose.
"Get our kits back to the Nursery!" Thornclaw snapped. "Or should I say mine and Mothleap's."
Dovewing froze and silently took the kits on her back and walked back.
"Sorry Tigerheart." Thornclaw sighed.
"It's fine." Tigerheart meowed. "I didn't want her kits. I love raising Jaguarkit and Olivekit anyway with Ivytail."
"So you don't like Dovewing anymore?"
"No, she's insane." Tigerheart hissed. "Who would leave newborn kits in the cold dirt?"
"Mothleap will be their mother." Thornclaw explained. "She would never do this."
Tigerheart agreed and Thornclaw went back to camp. He would move his sleeping spot toward the entrance to watch the Nursery from afar.