Leafshade's Revenge

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Leafshade stalked a mouse, wobbling slightly as she placed her paws unevenly on the snowy floor. The sun was hidden beneath dark winter clouds, and she felt weird, without the cover of the tree leaves above her. She paused when she was about a fox-length from the mouse. Bunching her legs together, she leapt, but the mouse saw her and sprinted off, dropping its little seed and disappearing beneath the bracken.

"Fox-dung!" she spat, scraping the forest floor with her claws. She felt snow fit between the curves of her paw and she shivered, shaking it out. Great. I've been a warrior for just two days, and I've already missed four mice and a squirrel. What has gotten into you, Leafshade?

She sighed, and then jumped a little as she saw Tigerflame pad up to her, a sparrow in his mouth. He set it down. "Missed another mouse?" he mewed. "Sorry. You can carry mine back, if it would make you feel better. I've got a vole back there." He pointed with his tail to somewhere in the forest.

She shrugged. "No, it's fine. You head back to camp, I'm going to try again." Her shoulders sagging, she turned and stalked off, feeling sadder than ever. I used to be able to brag about my hunting skills, she thought. And now I feel as plump as a kittypet, and as useless at hunting as a newborn kit!

She stopped in her tracks and sniffed the air, scenting Sorrelfur and Mintfern. They padded up to her. "Tigerflame told us what happened," Mintfern meowed. Her eyes shone with sympathy. "I know how frustrating and annoying that is." She flicked her tail, shaking out her pale gray fur.

Sorrelfur paused, and then looked at Leafshade with her eyes sparkling. "So? When were you going to tell us you were having kits?" Leafshade frowned, taken aback by the question.

Am I really that fat? She thought worriedly.

Mintfern nodded. "And who's the father?"

"Wait—is this some joke?" Leafshade asked them, narrowing her eyes. "If it is—"

Mintfern purred, her whiskers twitching. "Oh. Oh. I thought you knew...uh, ok, now this is awkward."

Sorrelfur tipped her head to the side. Her dappled coat fluffed up. "You should head back to camp," she told her. "You've managed to get by for quite a while, but your kits will be due soon. I'm surprised no one told you to stay inside."

Mintfern's eyes glimmered with amusement as they started to head back. "Tell Leafshade? If anyone else told her that, for sure she'd rip their ears off!"

Leafshade walked behind them, fury building up in her chest. No! This can't have happened! I can't of kits right now! How did this happen to me? She shook her head, her footsteps heavy as she followed them back to camp. She stared down at the ground as they pushed through the bramble tunnel, entering the camp. Mintfern hurried forward and whispered something to Dovewish, who shook her head and said something in a hushed tone back.

Her ears burned and she felt her skin get hot as Thornfrost padded over, looking hopeful. I don't know who the father is...but he's the most likely option. "Is..." he paused, as if unsure of what to say next. "Congratulations," he meowed, his voice revealing his curiosity. "The...the father...?" he asked.

She hesitated, not sure what to say. He's probably it, she thought. "Who do you think, mouse-brain?" she hissed through gritted teeth. This cannot be happening to me. She blinked up at the sky. StarClan, what have I done to deserve this punishment?

Thornfrost's ears pricked up. "They're going to be such fine warriors," he told her, his face warm. He wrapped his tail around her, staring into her eyes with joy.

Fur prickled along her spine, and she shifted her feet uncomfortably. Yeah, I've had a little bit of a crush on him since I became an apprentice...but I don't think I'm ready for this. Mothering kits? Being someone's mate? She gave him a small nod. "Yeah...they'll be great," she stammered. StarClan help me, I can't do this.

+++

"What do you mean, I'm not leaving the Nursery?" she spat at Thornfrost, jerking sideways multiple times to try and rush past him. "I'm not sick or something! Move right now or I swear I will claw your ears off!" She let out a frustrated hiss, clawing the ground.

Thornfrost stared at her firmly. "A couple of seconds ago you told me you were going to go catch some squirrels," he growled. "That's when I decided you shouldn't be going out." He didn't budge as she tried to push past him, and she groaned and padded back to her new nest.

"You're such a mouse-brain," she muttered, glaring at him.

Finally, he turned and left, casting a few glances back behind him, and she decided not to move this time. He'll have someone barricade me in here for sure, she thought grimly, sighing. She looked down at her rounded flank. "I hope you're having fun with this, because this is so miserable I wouldn't care if you all died," she growled, but immediately she knew she didn't mean it.

She yowled in pain as another spasm hit her. She shook, closing her eyes shut and screeching as her body jerked. Splotchpaw, help me I can't do this! "Arghh!" she hissed. She writhed as she saw Dovewish run in, carrying bundles of herbs, and with her Clearfrost, who carried some more herbs.

"I think the first one's coming," Dovewish told her. "Get ready; push!"

Leafshade howled, feeling ripping as a kit slid out. She writhed, pain shooting through her body. She arched her back, feeling another kit slide out.

Dovewish gasped. "I think one's stuck," she mewed, then massaging her aching belly to try and rearrange its position. "There...."