Brambleberry's Path

Chapter 20:

Brightface curled her tail around the three small bundles of fur nestled against her belly. Hawkwing was staring at them with bright emerald orbs, and she purred when the small white and brown shackled tom wiggled his way over to get out of the nest, but she tucked him back in gently. She leaned back and stared at them with joy.

"They're wonderful." She mewed. Brightface purred a thanks and craned her head to lick Icewing's cheek as he stared down at his kits with pride. Hawkwing watched the small kits as they squirmed around and squealed occasionally.

"Are you ever going to have kits?" Brightface asked her friend as she looked up at the light brown she-cat. Hawkwing flattened her ears against her head and blinked before she glanced away from her friend.

"I would like kits, but I don't think I'm ready for them yet. Or even a mate!" She mewed, looking back at Brightface.

"But Hawkwing, not everyone is better off alone." Brightface mewed, frowning at her friend. Hawkwing purred and shook her head before she stood up and turned away.

"I'll leave you and Icewing alone. Don't-" she started, looking at Icewing pointedly, "do anything fish-brained." The white and grey warrior glared at her before nudging a white tabby kit back to it's siblings.

As she padded out of the nursery, she saw Pondfrost staring over at it with troubled eyes. She tilted her head and was about to pad over to him, but she heard Blazecloud call her name and turned to look over at him. He was waving her over to a patrol with his tail. Hawkwing nodded and gave Pondfrost one last glance before she bounded over to them and left the camp.

Pondfrost stared down at the fish before him and dug his claws in the ground.

"The fish will come back when all the pebbles on the island have gone." He muttered.