A/N: This is the halfway point of the story and the point where it'll actually have more than just a few characters! Thank you so much for the 5 reviews so far; we've really enjoyed reading positive feedback! Enjoy!

Chapter 16 | New Life

Over the next moon, the new wolves began to fit in nicely with one another, especially Frostfur and Lightningclaw. Swiftbreeze, of course, noticed this affection between the two, and predicted, The prophecy must be coming true! There will probably be new cubs!

Lightningclaw was delighted that Frostfur had joined his Clan. He spent every moment he could with her, whether it be sharing tongues or being on the same patrol. Frostfur felt the same way.

Riverclaw and Windrunner, like all wolves, were a little bit intimidated by Lightningclaw's enormous size and strength, and respected him. They, of course, being mates, were already very close.

Deep inside, subconsciously, Yellowtail felt jealous that the wolves all had mates and she did not, but she thought, If Swiftbreeze isn't bothered by this, I can't be either. However, Swiftbreeze, as a medicine lion, would never understand Yellowtail's longing for a mate of her own.

Swiftbreeze, patient as always, was quietly waiting for the prophecy about cubs to come true, and it did! She watched, happily, Lightningclaw and Frostfur padding away on patrol; Frostfur's belly seemed to be hanging lower, and she was getting tired more easily. Swiftbreeze decided not to tell Lightningclaw; she wanted it to be a surprise for him.

Frostfur felt the changes too. One night, she was suddenly awakened by a hard kick in her belly. She gasped, and, thinking it was just a stomach pain, ignored it. However, in the morning, she felt something squirming around inside her, and thought delightedly, I'm expecting cubs! When she told Lightningclaw, his eyes widened and shone with happiness and delightful surprise, and he said, "That's… that's wonderful!" Swiftbreeze looked on, happy that her friends were happy.

One day, when Windrunner was eating a bite of fresh-kill with Riverclaw, she felt a kick inside her, something she had felt only once in her life. She too was joyous, and whispered to her mate, "We're having cubs! Again!" Riverclaw's eyes sparkled with pride.

By the third moon after that, the two she-wolves were confined to the new, sturdy nursery as they drew closer and closer to giving birth. "I can still hunt perfectly fine! I don't need to stay in the nursery!" Frostfur protested. Lightningclaw, however, was nervous about the health of his mate and insisted, "You need to stay in the nursery, Frostfur. If you stay healthy, our cubs will be healthy also." Frostfur finally consented, but was still grumbling. Windrunner, having already experienced this, obediently moved into the nursery without complaining, and Riverclaw was totally at ease.

One day, as Swiftbreeze was feeding the queens their borage to help their milk flow in preparation for the cubs, Frostfur felt a painful kick and squirming inside her. She gasped in pain. Swiftbreeze was instantly at her side, pressed her paw against Frostfur's belly, and cried, "Already?! The cubs are coming!" Windrunner, from her nest, let out a low moan. Swiftbreeze whipped her head around, and saw that she too was going to have her cubs also. She felt overwhelmed, and scared; she had never assisted a queen in giving birth. This was her first time.

As soon as Lightningclaw and Riverclaw had heard Swiftbreeze's alarm about the cubs, they both came charging out of the warrior's den to the nursery. "What can I do to help?!" demanded Lightningclaw. When Frostfur let out a loud groan, he asked nervously, "What's happening to her? Let me help!" Riverclaw looked concerned also, but struggled to remain calm for the sake of his mate.

Swiftbreeze answered, "You can go get a sturdy stick for Frostfur to take her pains out on, when they come. You too, Riverclaw." Both wolves looked relieved at being able to help their mates, and dashed off to find the perfect stick.

Frostfur was getting very nervous and scared. She had never had cubs before, and had no idea what to expect. Windrunner from the other nest tried to reassure her, and licked Frostfur comfortingly, but it was of no use.

Riverclaw and Lightningclaw barged in with their selected stick and gave them to their mates. Lightningclaw said to Frostfur, "It's all right. Don't be scared. Swiftbreeze will take care of you." Meanwhile, Riverclaw had quietly licked his mate and exited the den. Suddenly, Frostfur began writhing about in pain, and the whites of her eyes showed. "Help her!" Lightningclaw demanded of Swiftbreeze.

Swiftbreeze replied, "There's nothing I can do. We just have to let it happen." Frostfur gasped, and howled in agony, biting down hard on the stick. Windrunner did also. Lightningclaw backed out of the nursery nervously.

Swiftbreeze rolled her eyes and thought, Males! So tough and brave in battle, but as scared as mice in the nursery. "Frostfur, keep pushing! There's a cub, but it's not coming out!" With a scared heave, Frostfur gasped, and the cub was born: a gray male wolf cub with a cute chestnut nose. Swiftbreeze nipped the sac off and went to help Windrunner.

But she didn't need to help at all. Windrunner's three cubs lay at her side: a reddish-brown she-wolf, a dark brown she-wolf with white paws and tail, and a golden brown male wolf with green eyes.

Meanwhile, Riverclaw and Lightningclaw were waiting outside the nursery. Lightningclaw was nervously pacing near the the front of the den; Riverclaw was calmly sitting down. He said to Lightningclaw, "Scared, Lightningclaw?"

Lightningclaw nodded and answered, "Very. Aren't you worried about Windrunner?"

Riverclaw responded, "It's only natural that you're nervous. All new fathers fret about their mates. I've experienced this before, and I know that I can trust the medicine lion and wolves."

Swiftbreeze went to help Frostfur, but the next cub wasn't coming out. She stuck her head outside the den and yelled, "Lightningclaw! Please bring me raspberry leaves! They're by the catmint!"

Lightningclaw lurched up, sensing the urgency in Swiftbreeze's voice. But in his panicked state, Riverclaw knew he wouldn't be able to get the herbs quickly. Riverclaw dashed toward the medicine den with Lightningclaw at his heels. Riverclaw located the catmint and felt the edges of the leaves next to it, feeling for the serrated raspberry edge. Finally they found it and Lightningclaw scooped it all up and raced for the nursery.

Frostfur's eyes were widened in pain, and she howled in agony. Finally, the cub came out, a bluish gray she-wolf.

Swiftbreeze murmured, "You're almost done, Frostfur. Just a few more cubs." She took the herbs from Lightningclaw with a quick nod and returned to Frostfur. "You can do it. Almost there."

Frostfur screamed, splintering the stick. Finally the cub was born. Swiftbreeze pawed raspberry pulp towards her. "Frostfur, eat this to get your strength up." Swiftbreeze peeled the sac off the cub, a dark gray male.

Swiftbreeze pawed at Frostfur's belly and determined, "One more cub, Frostfur. It's okay." Frostfur nodded, to scared to speak. Then she let out an ear-splitting wail, and a male cub with gray fur and an even darker gray head came sliding out. The four cubs started wailing and pummeling Frostfur's belly for milk. Swiftbreeze said, "That's it, Frostfur. Four beautiful cubs." Frostfur sighed in relief.

Once Frostfur was done with the raspberry, Swiftbreeze gave both queens fresh-kill, borage, and moss-soaked water. Then she called outside, "Lightningclaw! Riverclaw! Your cubs are here. Yellowtail! Come see these cute cubs!"

Lightningclaw came in first. Swiftbreeze watched as his tough, normally scary look seemed to fade away in a flood of affection for his cubs.

The rest of WaterClan crowded the nursery. Swiftbreeze and Yellowtail stood off to the side. Swiftbreeze's eyes were filled with love and happiness for the cubs and their parents, but Yellowtail's revealed barely hidden jealousy and pain that she would never get to have cubs of her own. Soon she'd be too old to have cubs, and she'd never know the love that came from having a mate and raising cubs.

Lightningclaw breathed, "They're the most beautiful cubs ever. What should we name them?" Frostfur flicked her tail towards the gray male with the chestnut nose.

"I think we should name him Stormcub. And the bluish gray female should be called Dawncub." Lightningclaw nodded in agreement.

"I think we should name the dark gray male Falconcub. And the male with the dark head should be called Thundercub. Stormcub, Dawncub, Falconcub, and Thundercub." Lightningclaw looked down at his four cute, beautiful, perfect cubs and his world expanded just enough for him to take them in. He would love them and protect them with all the ferocity in his heart.

"Good names," whispered Frostfur.

Windrunner and Riverclaw were naming their three cubs also. "They're beautiful," whispered Riverclaw. "Have you decided what you're going to name them?"

Windrunner pointed with her tail to the reddish-brown she-wolf. "This is Honeycub." She gestured to the black she-wolf with white paws and tail. "This is Hollycub. And you can name this last one."

Riverclaw smiled down at the light gray male wolf that had green eyes. "How about Dustcub?"

"Sure," Windrunner agreed.

"They're so cute, aren't they?" Frostfur laughed. "I can't believe I have cubs now! I've always wanted them but never had a mate!"

"Well, you do now," Lightningclaw said, unsure of what else to say. "Um."

Frostfur laughed. The sound was like MoonClan singing to Lightningclaw. She announced, "I'm so happy right now. Four beautiful cubs! Stormcub, Dawncub, Falconcub, Thundercub."

Swiftbreeze smiled too at the scene and said, "Windrunner has Honeycub, Hollycub, and Dustcub!"

"That's wonderful!" Lightningclaw said.

Suddenly, Frostfur lurched violently in her nest, and she screeched in pain. "Wha-" Lightningclaw started to say, but Swiftbreeze ordered, "Everyone, leave. Windrunner, you can stay." All obeyed and quickly left the nursery.

Swiftbreeze pressed her paw against Frostfur's belly, and gasped, "Another cub!" She didn't have time to react, though, before a blue-gray she-wolf came tumbling out onto the nest. Immediately, Swiftbreeze licked the little cub; the cub nestled itself in the curve of Frostfur's belly and began suckling along with its littermates.

"Lightningclaw, you can come in. The rest of you can as well," Swiftbreeze called, poking her head out of the den.

Lightningclaw came hurrying back in and gasped, "Another cub! We have a big litter! Well done, Frostfur!" He affectionately licked his mate's ears, and she sighed in contentment.

"I think we should name this cub Poppycub," she murmured.

Lightningclaw nodded. "A perfect name."

As Yellowtail watched the happy scene, she herself was happy for her Clan on one level. But on a deeper, truer level, she was sad. Depressed, even. It just wasn't fair that she would never have cubs or a family.

Subconsciously, she then made the decision. She would have a mate. Yellowtail didn't know about this promise, but it was made, and it would shape the rest of her life.

()()()()

Swiftbreeze was kept busy in the next moon keeping the two little families in order and treating warrior injuries as Riverclaw and Lightningclaw kept having border skirmishes. Riverclaw never patrolled the ThornClan border, Swiftbreeze noticed, and Lightningclaw was unusually aggressive along ThornClan, presumably because they had kicked Frostfur out.

Swiftbreeze was very busy one day, treating ticks, itches, coughs, injuries, and Hollycub's adventurous outings into the medicine den. However, she wasn't so busy that she wouldn't notice that Yellowtail had left on a hunting patrol at dawn and hadn't come back until past sunset. Swiftbreeze had noticed her friend going on longer hunting trips, and she'd attributed this to the fact that the two queens needed much more fresh-kill now. Their cubs were only a moon old, and in another half-moon they'd be eating solid food.

But Yellowtail returned with only two birds and a vole, and she herself looked plump as if she'd eaten the rest of her catch. Swiftbreeze didn't call her out on it; after all, Yellowtail was more loyal to WaterClan than Frostfur was. But day after day, the Clan went more hungry than usual and invasions farther into the territory became more often as the male wolves split hunting with patrolling.

Swiftbreeze couldn't put it off any longer. A half-moon had passed and the cubs needed good, fresh meat. She approached Yellowtail one night in the clearing while everyone else went to sleep and Yellowtail took night watch. "Yellowtail, I've noticed that you've been catching less than normal. Is something wrong?"

Swiftbreeze was sure to keep any accusational or annoyed tones out of her voice, but Yellowtail flinched as if she were struck.

Yellowtail stammered, "No, nothing's wrong. Why… why do you ask?" She winced as if expecting another blow.

Swiftbreeze let concern creep into her voice, which wasn't hard. "Are you sick, or tired?"

"Um, no. I haven't noticed that I've been catching less…."

Or that WaterClan is going hungry? Swiftbreeze thought scathingly. But she'd never get Yellowtail to talk with that kind of attitude. Instead she said, "Are you depressed about something?"

"No, not at all." But to Swiftbreeze the reassurance came too fast, as if Yellowtail were lying.

"Yellowtail, I'm your best friend. I'd keep a secret. Really, Yellowtail, I'm worried about you."

For a second, Swiftbreeze thought she'd gotten through to her friend, but then Yellowtail shrank away. "No. I can't tell. I'd be kicked out of the Clan. Please don't tell anyone I have a secret." She turned away. It was clear that the conversation was over.

Swiftbreeze sighed and slowly turned and padded back to her den. If Yellowtail didn't want to tell, then she wouldn't.

But she didn't stop being worried about Yellowtail. She herself started hunting to try and keep the fresh-kill pile full. And soon Yellowtail was taking overnight "hunting" trips. Lightningclaw himself noticed soon.

"Swiftbreeze!" Lightningclaw called. "Meet me in the leader's den."

Swiftbreeze walked up the hidden path to the den. She already knew what Lightningclaw wanted to talk about. Yellowtail's disappearances weren't exactly inconspicuous, though she always came back wet and all scent washed off.

"I'm worried about Yellowtail," Lightningclaw said. "She's been… vanishing for days at a time."

Swiftbreeze winced. "I know," she said.

"Do you know what she's been up to?"

"No."

"Aren't you going to do something?"

"Leave that to me. I'm sure Yellowtail wouldn't be doing anything disloyal to the Clan," Swiftbreeze snapped, suddenly feeling suspicious that Lightningclaw thought Yellowtail was being disloyal.

Lightningclaw stepped back. "Of course she wouldn't do anything disloyal. I just wanted to know what she's up to."

Swiftbreeze suddenly felt guilty about snapping to the cub (she still sometimes thought of Lightningclaw as a cub) she had raised. She lowered her eyes. "Sorry," she muttered.

Lightningclaw bent down and licked her ears affectionately. "It's all right, I forgive you," he murmured.

()()()()

That night, Swiftbreeze watched Yellowtail creep out of camp. She was curious to see what her friend was up to, and quietly followed her into the forest. I shouldn't be spying on my best friend, she thought guiltily. Then she shook herself. It's because she is my best friend that I need to see what she's up to.

Swiftbreeze hoped that Yellowtail was truly hunting, but somehow, she suspected that that wasn't what her friend was doing. As Yellowtail neared a clearing, Swiftbreeze smelled the excitement coming off of her in gigantic waves. What is she so excited about? It definitely was not prey. However, Swiftbreeze did smell a scent she hadn't smelled in a long time. Something that would make a non-medicine-lion very excited. She crouched down behind a bush as Yellowtail trotted into the clearing bathed in moonlight.

Yellowtail sat expectantly in the middle of the clearing, the moonlight shining off of her glossy pelt. She had not detected Swiftbreeze in her excitement to get to the clearing.

Swiftbreeze watched patiently. Finally, the bushes near Yellowtail rustled and a huge shape bounded into the clearing. It took a moment for Swiftbreeze's mind to register what it was, but then it clicked: it was a lion. A male lion.

Yellowtail was elated, and she whispered, "Sunrise! You came!"

Sunrise nuzzled her lovingly and whispered back, "Of course I came! I would risk anything to see my mate again."

Swiftbreeze nearly fainted. Yellowtail had a mate? It was too much to comprehend.

Yellowtail buried her muzzle deep in Sunrise's sweet-smelling mane. "I missed you so much! I've been waiting all day for now."

Suddenly, everything made sense to Swiftbreeze; Yellowtail had been sneaking out on "hunting trips" to see Sunrise. And she was fat because… she was expecting cubs!

Sunrise smiled, then leaped onto Yellowtail playfully. Swiftbreeze's eyes widened in horror. Is Sunrise going to hurt her?

But Yellowtail laughed, and teased, "You better watch out. Lightningclaw taught me fighting tricks."

Sunrise responded, "Oh really? Wolf tricks or lion tricks? I'll show you how a real lion fights." He leaped again and tackled Yellowtail. She dodged, then began to mock scratch Sunrise. Sunrise, using his greater bulk, flipped over, pinned Yellowtail to the ground, and tickled her. Yellowtail laughed hard, and her eyes shone. Swiftbreeze hadn't seen her this happy in days.

Suddenly, an owl hooted, and the two broke up. Yellowtail murmured sadly, "I should probably go back to camp now. My Clanmates will be waiting for me."

Sunrise responded, "I know. I wish you could stay with me forever. I love you so much, Yellowtail." Their tails twined, and Yellowtail buried her nose in Sunrise's beautiful golden fur. Sunrise lovingly licked Yellowtail's head and whispered, "Goodbye." Then, looking back at his mate, he bounded off into the woods.

Yellowtail looked after him, and when he was gone, she plodded out of the clearing, head down and tail drooping. Swiftbreeze stepped out from behind the bush and gave Yellowtail a long, sympathetic look. She murmured, "You sacrificed your Clan for him?"

Yellowtail's eyes widened and she asked, "You… you saw?"

Swiftbreeze nodded and said, "Yes. Yellowtail, you are my best friend. Why wouldn't you tell me?"

Yellowtail lowered her eyes and answered, "I was afraid you wouldn't understand, and thought you would banish me from the Clan. I am loyal to WaterClan, I really am, it's just… Ever since the wolves got their own families, I wanted one of my own also. It's something that I've been longing for, and Sunrise is the answer. He's a great lion."

"And he would probably be a good Clanmate too."

Yellowtail looked up and exclaimed, "Really? You would really let Sunrise join?"

Swiftbreeze nodded and replied, "If it would make you happy."

Yellowtail looked overjoyed and said, "Thank you so much, Swiftbreeze!"

Swiftbreeze nodded, and asked, more quietly, "Does he know about your cubs?"

Yellowtail's eyes widened and she looked down at her belly, which was now a lot bigger. "C- cubs? I… We have cubs?" Swiftbreeze smiled and nodded.

()()()()

Three moons later, Yellowtail lay in the nursery with Swiftbreeze by her side. She gasped, and exclaimed, "It.. it… hurts! Why-" Her sentence was cut off by an enormous gasp. "Ouch! I think my cubs are ready to be born! They're kicking like crazy!" Frostfur, who was assisting Swiftbreeze, nodded, and replied, "I'm sorry to give you bad news, Yellowtail, but it's going to hurt a lot more."

Yellowtail sighed. "I wish I could go hunting. Why do I have to stay in this nurs-" She stopped midsentence and let out an ear-splitting yowl. Swiftbreeze pressed her paw against Yellowtail's belly. "The cubs are coming!" she yelled in excitement.

Sunrise came bounding over to the nursery and shoved his way through the brambles. "The cubs are coming?!" he gasped.

Swiftbreeze nodded and asked, "Do you want to help?"

Yellowtail gritted her teeth together and let out a gasp of pain. The whites of her eyes showed, and her whole body heaved.

One look at his mate and Sunrise's tail tucked between his legs and he shook his head, backing out of the nursery. Swiftbreeze shook her head in amusement. I should have known. Males act all tough, but are scared of being in the nursery! She turned to Yellowtail; her whole body was writhing and heaving.

Swiftbreeze encouraged her, "That's it Yellowtail. It may hurt, but your cubs are coming." Yellowtail nodded, and her body heaved. It was then that Swiftbreeze noticed Hollycub at her side, staring at Yellowtail in fascination. "What are you doing here?'' she hissed.

Hollycub looked up and responded, "I wanted to see the birth. I wanted to watch you."

Swiftbreeze sighed and said, "Okay, you can watch. But don't get in the way!" Hollycub nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Swiftbreeze turned to Yellowtail. Beside her lay a golden male cub. Swiftbreeze licked off the birth membrane and whispered to Yellowtail, "Good job, Yellowtail. Just one more."

Yellowtail heaved, and a wet ball of fur came tumbling into the nest. It was a dusty-gold she-lion. Swiftbreeze bent down to lick the cub, but Hollycub was faster. She bent down and licked the cub to warm it, as perfectly as Swiftbreeze herself could have done.

Swiftbreeze felt Yellowtail's belly and announced, "Well done, Yellowtail! You have two healthy cubs!" Then, raising her voice, she called to Sunrise, "Sunrise! Come see your cubs!"

Sunrise darted into the nursery, and at the sight of his cubs, his eyes brightened. He licked his mate. "Well done, Yellowtail! What should we name our cubs?"

Yellowtail nodded toward the she-lion. "I think we should name her Sandcub."

Sunrise replied, "Good name. I think we should name the golden male Goldencub." Yellowtail nodded, then rested her head on her paws while Sandcub and Goldencub nursed.

Sunrise and Frostfur retreated out of the nursery and Swiftbreeze smiled at Yellowtail. "The Clan has many cubs," she whispered.

"Yes," Yellowtail murmured, staring happily at the two little cubs at her belly. She looked at Swiftbreeze anxiously. "Will the Clan accept Sunrise into WaterClan? I don't… I don't think I could be happy without him."

"I think Lightningclaw will be okay with him," Swiftbreeze soothed, but Yellowtail knew her friend well enough to know that Swiftbreeze wasn't sure.