Starlight

Chapter 19

Feathertail padded into camp behind Swallowtail and Splashpaw. Their early morning hunt had gone well, and Splashpaw had proven herself a worthy hunter. The small apprentice had managed to catch several fish and a water vole in the time Swallowtail had given her, and it was nearly sunhigh by the time she was done. Swallowtail was plainly proud of her apprentice and even said they'd be feeding half the Clan off of one cat's hunt, though Feathertail couldn't disagree.

"Go get some rest before we head back out," Swallowtail told Splashpaw. "We have the evening patrol, so make sure you're up for that."

"Can I go battle train with Hailpaw after I nap?" Splashpaw asked eagerly, clearing not losing any energy. "I promise I'll be well rested for the patrol."

Swallowtail sighed playfully. "I don't know," she mewed. "I heard Dawnflower could use a break from her kits."

"Never mind! I'll do it!"

Splashpaw picked up a small trout and bounded away toward the apprentices' den. Feathertail watched her go in amusement, shaking her head at Swallowtail when she turned back. Grabbing a perch, Feathertail looked around for a place to eat her meal before a quick nap. She wasn't due for a patrol until moonhigh, so she had plenty of time to rest and help around the camp.

Across the camp, Leopardstar was sharing tongues with Mosspelt, but Feathertail wasn't interested in speaking to her Clan leader at the moment. Her foster mother would have to wait till later. She caught sight of Hawkfrost leaving the medicine den and trotted over hopefully. He saw her coming, stopping in his tracks and tilting his head curiously as she approached. Feathertail's heart warmed as she looked into his ice-blue eyes.

Feathertail placed the perch on the ground in front of him. "Would you like to share with me?" she mewed.

"Of course." Hawkfrost leaned forward and licked Feathertail's cheek, then leaned back and watched her hopefully. Purring, Feathertail picked up the perch again and moved to rub herself against Hawkfrost's side before leading him away to a sheltered part of the reed wall.

As he settled down beside her, Hawkfrost sniffed at her side a bit, his eyes narrowed in his concentration. Feathertail watched him, confused as to why he was so concentrated on her belly.

"Have you been gaining weight, Feathertail?" Hawkfrost asked.

Feathertail twisted her neck to look herself over. Hawkfrost was right; her belly was rounder than she had been a few moons ago. "I haven't been eating more than I usually do," she meowed, almost concerned that she actually was gaining weight. "Perhaps I should skip a few meals?"

"Or maybe you should see Mothwing," Hawkfrost suggested, giving her belly another good sniff. "Come on, she'll know what's going on."

Hawkfrost nudged her to her feet, the fish long since forgotten. Feathertail nearly laughed as Hawkfrost padded behind her, pushing her flank to urge her to move faster. If anything, it seemed as if he was more worried about this than she was! Mosspelt, who had stopped talking to Leopardstar when she saw them, rushed over as quickly as she could.

"What's going on?" she meowed.

"I'm taking Feathertail to see Mothwing," Hawkfrost replied, leaning around Feathertail to answer the worried queen. "Her belly's a bit round so I want her to get it checked in case it's something serious."

"Round?" Mosspelt looked vaguely concerned as she looked Feathertail over, then a gleam of amusement shone in her eyes and she leaned back with a purr. "Well, Feathertail, now's as good a time as any."

Before either of them could say anything else, Mosspelt padded away toward the queens with her tail in the air, walking like she'd just found a very juicy piece of prey. Feathertail had barely even a heartbeat before Hawkfrost was pushing her again, nearly stepping on her tail with how close he was following her.