I do not own Warriors.

Hola! So... she's having kits! Two moons later!

Chapter Five

Forestleap's POV

The bracken nursery walls confine me, my legs aching to race through the forest, the undergrowth brushing past my pelt. I wish to be catching birds, to climb trees, to leap from rocks to rocks, to play in the shallows of the lake, to be rolling on the grass, the dirt coating my pelt.

But I wasn't allowed to do any of this.

It was endless laying, watching, and being helpless. Luckily, I wasn't alone, at least not now. Lilypetal had moved in a half moon ago, expecting Gorsenettle's kits. We both wished to be in the forest.

I lift my head, dim light streaming into the den from the holes in the woven walls. My eyes are blurry from being closed for so long. Smokefog sits a few tail-lengths away from me, his yellow eyes bright.

I already told him that he was not the father, and that I didn't know who was, but we both decided to raise them as our own.

"Good morning, my love." He pads to my side, dropping a fat vole by my paws. I smile warmly up at him, yet envy grows in me.

He gets to hunt, while I'm stuck in here.

As I stretch out my furry legs, a buffeting, freezing wind slams into the den, causing the walls to shake and wobble. I growl, prickling with annoyance.

"It's warmer in the Warriors' Den. Even the walls are more sturdy!" I grumble. Amusement shines in his eyes.

"I'll have a word with Sharpstar." He purrs. Suddenly I begin thinking about what my mother told me; about Pricklepelt and everything.

Just as Smokefog is about to leave, I wave my tail.

"Smokefog!" He whips around, eyes wide.

"Is something wrong? Should I get Lilacbreeze?" Worry flows off of his pelt.

"No, nothing like that... it's just... I've been wondering what to name our kits. When they're born, I mean." I pause. "Can we name a tom- if we have a tom- Pricklekit?"

"Any name you think is right if just perfect to me." He gives me an affectionate lick on the ear, and pads away.

I sigh, taking a bite from the vole, savoring the forest-taste.

I wake suddenly, wondering what woke me. It was pitch black inside the nursery, the moon not shining tonight. I settle my head back down just as powerful pain hits me in my belly.

Hissing, I try to get comfortable, not wanting to disturb anyone with this pain that was anonymous. Lilypetal's faint outline shifts, her vivid green eyes standing out.

"Forestleap, are you kitting?"

Dread rises within me.

No! Not now!

"I-I don't know... ow!" I yowl. Lilypetal hurries out of the den and returns moments later with Lilacbreeze and Swirlpaw. Lilacbreeze arranges herself by my belly, with Swirlpaw watching behind.

"You'll be fine, Forestleap. Take a deep breath." Pausing, she turns to Lilypetal. "You may want to watch. It's your turn next." The violet eyes of Lilacbreeze turn back to mine, and I swallow nervously, the pains growing.

Placing Swirlpaw's paws on my belly, Lilacbreeze prompts him.

"How many kits do you feel?" She asks softly, like we have a moment to spare.

Get your paws off of me! I lash my tail irritably.

"Um... three, I think." Swirlpaw guesses. He steps back, and Lilacbreeze assumes his position.

"Correct. There's only three kits, Forestleap, don't worry. Okay, take this stick in your teeth. When I tell you to, push."

I grasp the stick in between my teeth, the pains racking my entire body.

"Push!" She suddenly says, and I do.

Before long, it's over. It was sunhigh now, and the light beamed into the den.

Three kits lay at my belly, suckling, tiny and frail. One was a silver she-kit with dark gray stripes that we had named Shiningkit. Another was a dark brown tom with a white stripe down his spine that we named Ryekit. And the last kit was a pale gray tom with a dark brown tail tip that we had named Pricklekit, in honor of Pricklepelt.

An odd feeling of pure love and pride towards the kits filled me whenever I saw their little shapes. Smokefog first saw them around dawn. He had curled himself around the kits and I, and whispered into my ear,

"Don't forget that you may not know the father, but we all know they are ours."

He was on a patrol. Envy fills me once more, but I force it down. Being in here was fine.

Firewhisker pads into the den, two voles in her mouth. She places one by me and one by Lilypetal, stepping back.

"Congratulations, Forestleap." She says warmly before padding off.

I look down at the kits. I lick their little bodies until they stopped feeding, and then, along with the kits, I fell asleep.

I open my eyes slowly, not wanting to leave the dream I was having. Ryekit was padding around on wobbly paws, green eyes alive with curiosity. Shiningkit and Pricklekit sit by my belly, watching their brother.

"How do you do it, Mama?" Shiningkit's mew snaps me out of my trance.

"How do you walk?" I pause. "You have to get to your paws and start moving them."

Shiningkit presses up against me, pressing her legs underneath her. Unstably, she begins creeping along, her breath coming as if it was an effort. Panic rises in me.

"If you get tired, you have to stop and try again once you feel okay." I call to Shiningkit, who tumbles over to me side and curls up. Ryekit stumbles over and begins to nurse, as well as Pricklekit, who had tried a little walking after Shiningkit started.

I begin to think about Thrushwave. He hadn't visited me. It would be awkward anyway. Sighing, I close my eyes yet again.

Darkness consumes me, but it morphs into light. I was in the nursery. Before I could do anything, the walls begin closing in. Terror fills my body, my instincts telling me to run, but my legs are frozen in place. My kits wail.

"Mama!"

"Help, Mama!"

The squeals of my kits ring in my ears, along with the thundering beat of my heart. The walls close in. Pure agony racks my body as I try to hold on, the pitiful shrieking of my kits fading until they are gone.

I am in the Tunnels.

Horrified, I scramble to my paws, racing towards the tunnel, claws raking my body. Cats tackle me, but I stand up again, still pelting towards the tunnel. I soon realize that the tunnel is endless, and my path towards the tunnel is infinite. I also realize that Smokefog is attacking me. The pain gets to me and I collapse, the attackers ripping me to shreds...

...

"Forestleap!"

My head snaps up, eyes wider than the moon.

"My kits!" I gasp, out of breath. "Smokefog!"

I glance around the nursery frantically, more paranoid than I think possible. I check for the walls. Nothing.

I look up. There stood Smokefog, worry in his yellow eyes.

"Forestleap, you're alright." He soothes. I notice that my fur is damp from sweat. He continues. "It was just a nightmare."

I pant, catching my breath.

"It felt real..." I whisper. "Watch the kits, please. I need some air."

I pad out of the den, a cool breeze ruffling my fur. It was the middle of the night. The moon was dark in the sky. Stretching my legs, I pad across the clearing, jumping at every rustle, creak, or noise, for that matter.

I sit down underneath Highledge. Why was I so scared? It was just a dream.

Behind me, I hear footsteps. I spin around to face Thrushwave.

"Oh, sorry, Thrushwave, I was just going-" I begin, stammering.

"It's fine, Forestleap." He pauses, parting his jaws to smell. "Why do you smell so scared?" His hazel eyes gleam with curiosity.

"I'm not, you're probably smelling something else, well, I better get back to my kits..." I say quickly, turning away.

"Oh, about the kits... congratulations." I look back at him. He nods his head curtly at me and pads away, his hazel eyes now brimming with pain. Confused, hurt, and frightened, I hurry back to the nursery.

Smokefog looks up from where he was curled around the kits. He stands and steps away so I can curl around them, hoping that they were all asleep.

"Thank you, Smokefog." He licks my head and wraps himself around me and the kits.

"No worries. Now you have to fall asleep. I'll make sure the nightmares stay away." Smokefog purrs.

Slowly, I drift to sleep, knowing that they will. For a moment I ponder if I could feel this way about Thrushwave. Have him be my protector. My mate. The father of my kits.

Feeling guilty, not about my decision, but about what I've put Thrushwave through, I decide that I couldn't.

I think Forestleap is slowly beginning to know that she made the right choice. Anyway, hope you liked it!