Storm: The Storm That Poured

Chapter 2:

        Lightpaw yawned, stretching. Yellowpaw's nest was empty, but Wasppaw was still laying in his. She stared at him for a second before Maplepuddle poked her head into the den. 
        "Minnowpelt has asked us to go on a hunting patrol with Loudstep and Poppyflame." Mapplepuddle meowed.
        "I'll be out in a moment," she replied, stretching each of her paws.
        As Maplepuddle padded out, Lightpaw went over to Wasppaw's nest.
        "Morning," she rolled onto him playfully.
        Wasppaw laughed, "Get off me, you big furball!"
        She ran to the den entrance before he could paw her, "Going on patrol!"
        Maplepuddle was waiting for her just outside. "You're pretty friendly with him aren't you?" she smiled teasingly.
        Lightpaw licked her chest fur. "Aren't you mates with Dappledfeather?" she smirked.
        Maplepuddle looked away embarrassed. "let's just find Loudstep and Poppyflame."

        
        "I want to talk to you," Maplepuddle told her. 
        Lightpaw nervously shifted her paws. She hoped this wasn't about her training.
        Except Maplepuddle didn't talk until she pointed to her stomach. She could see that it was only a bit rounder than it had been when she first looked at her mentor. She felt her heart skip a beat. If this was what she thought it was, she would need a new mentor.
        "I think I know what you're saying," Lightpaw meowed hesitantly. 
        "I just have to check with Icepool," Maplepuddle looked at the medicine den nervously. 
        "Well that's great." Lightpaw meowed.
        Maplepuddle licked her ears, "It'll be okay, I can still mentor you if I am expecting."
        While Lightpaw knew that was true, she knew Maplepuddle would have to join the nursery at least a half moon before she gave birth. "Can I come to the medicine den with you?" she asked, her voice getting caught in her throat.
        "Of course," her mentor had a sympathetic look in her eyes and tone.
        When they walked into the medicine den, Icepool was sorting herbs. 
        "Icepool," Maplepuddle started.
        Icepool turned around. "Oh no! Has something happened?" the medicine cat came over, sniffing her.
        "Well, I think I'm expecting kits." Maplepuddle swallowed.
        Icepool smiled, "Here, lay down. Mistpaw! I want to teach you how to know when someone is expecting kits."
        Mistpaw looked at Maplepuddle, her expression unreadable. 
        "So press your paws right here," Icepool pressed her paws on Maplepuddle's belly.
        Mistpaw copied her mentor's stance, her paws pressed gently on the spot Icepool showed.
        "Am I expecting kits?" Maplepuddle whispered nervously.
        "You are," Icepool helped her onto her paws. "You're due in 2 moons."
        Lightpaw couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. "When will I have to get a new mentor?"
        "When she's around a half moon away from giving birth," Mistpaw looked at Icepool for confirmation.
        Icepool nodded, "Precisely right."
        Maplepuddle took a deep breath, "I have to tell Dappledfeather."
        Within a moment Lightpaw was left alone, Icepool and Mistpaw going back to sorting herbs, and Maplepuddle running across camp to find Dappledfeather. 
        Lightpaw walked out of the medicine den, lost in her thoughts. She felt a bigger body bump into her, and her mother's scent filtered into her nose. 
        "Oh! Lightpaw, you scared me. Watch where you're going next time," Twilightnose licked her ears. "Is something wrong?"
        "Well, Maplepuddle is expecting kits, that means I'll have to get a new mentor when she's closer to having them," Lightpaw confessed. "I really like her as my mentor, and I don't want anyone else,"
        "I'm sure you'll be fine," Twilightnose rubbed Lightpaw's side with her tail.
        Lightpaw sighed, the only thing she could do was hope her mother was right.

        Lightpaw scooped her mouse's body in her jaws. She was out hunting with Maplepuddle. The sun was setting, and this was the last time she'd go out hunting for the day.
        "You can have the mouse when we get back, but share it with your friends," Maplepuddle said. That was her way of saying she did good.
        Lightpaw quickened her pace, her stomach rumbling.
        When she entered camp, cats were swarming around the nursery. Yellowpaw came up to her.
        "Darknight's had her kits!" her friend informed her.
        Lightpaw smiled, "Want to share this mouse I caught?" 
        Yellowpaw seemed to already move past the fact that  Darknight had her kits. "Of course!" 
        They found a nice spot to sit, sunlight shimmering through the leaves of the bush. She tore her share off, giving the rest to Yellowpaw.
        "This is a huge catch!" Yellowpaw mumbled. 
        She took a big bite, finishing up her share. 
        Maplepuddle called over, "Get some sleep, Lightpaw! Tomorrow I'll be assessing you."


        It wasn't even dawn before stabbing pain in her stomach awoke her. She tried to stand, but her paws wouldn't support her. She looked around, Yellowpaw and Wasppaw's nests empty. Mistpaw slept in the medicine den, so she didn't have a nest in the apprentices' den.
        Wasppaw came back in, looking at her. "Do you have a stomachache as well?"
        She tried to answer, but his voice seemed faraway. Her voice felt like it caught in her throat. She felt sweaty, and her head burned. She closed her eyes and let blackness take over.