The Book of Warriors One-Shots

Daylight

Shadefall curled tighter next to Owl, the combined body heat in the small nest making it feel like it was a greenleaf day, not too hot, but much more pleasant than this cold leaf-bare night. He knew that when the sun crept up, he would have to go, but tonight he curled next to his mate, as close as can be. Right now, it didn't matter that he was a ShadowClan warrior and she a loner. It didn't matter the complications later when she had his kits. Right now, it was nighttime, and Shadefall didn't have to leave - yet. He awoke to gentle prodding in his side and opened his eyes to see Owl, smiling at him in amusement, though her eyes showed pain beyond pain, the same that he felt.

"Hey, mouse-brain," she whispered. "I can't believe you forgot your own deadline."

Shadefall glared at her and slapped her ever so lightly in the side with his tail, so she hardly felt it at all. In return, he got a swift glare filled not with anger or even amusement, but pain. That pain again. The pain that he had to leave. But Nightfeather's patrol would come soon. He had to go. Shadefall urged himself out of the warm nest as dawn crept up. He could almost hear pawsteps, reminding him yet again that he still had problems to deal with. Owl would kit in a half moon. They both wanted ShadowClan to raise the kits. There would be no big fight. But they had to convince Lightstar that the kits would be a good addition to the Clan and Shadefall was still loyal enough to be their only biological parent. Plus, they had to convince Thrushleap, his sister who had a litter of her own coming soon, to nurse them. It would be difficult, and he had put it off. But Shadefall squared his shoulders. I can do this. And I will.

~1/2 Moons Later~

Shadefall wrapped his tail around his paws as he listened to Rainflame speak. The medicine cat was examining Thrushleap, but she wanted to see him afterward. Songpaw, her apprentice, had told him that he'd been "distracted during everything and might be sick." What a pile of fox-dung. I'm perfectly fine, just worried about my loner mate who'll kit any day now, and how the Clan will accept the kits-if any survive. And what if she dies in kitting, she has no medicine cats! Even worse, he knew that Owl had recently joined a band of rogues for protection when she kitted. I have a bad feeling about it...

"Hey hey hey! Shadefall!" He started as he realized Songpaw was talking to him, her sleek, very dark gray tail waving in front of his face. "Thrushleap is fine," the medicine cat apprentice mewed. "So you can stop worrying."

Shadefall shook out his fur. "Kay," he meowed. Awesome, one less thing to worry about. He shifted his paws nervously and padded off to see if he could see Owl.

"Shadefall!"

He looked up as Nightfeather and Silverclaw raced into camp, closely followed by Stormpaw. "Your mate's kitting!" Nightfeather gasped. "Go to her!"

Shadefall ignored the shocked and confused states of his Clanmates and followed Silverclaw while Stormpaw padded over to his sister, Songpaw, and whispered in her ear, and Nightfeather left to report to Lightstar. He knew that Stormpaw and Songpaw would spread the gossip before Lightstar announced it, but it was not a concern to him compared to the problem at paw. Owl is kitting!

//-//

It was a long and painful night in the rogue camp.

Silverclaw kept shooting Shadefall angry and disappointed glances. He had always been one for loyalty. Plus the rogue healer, Apple, and her "learners," Sand and Rain, wouldn't let Shadefall or Silverclaw inside. They even posted a guard outside it! Plus the fact that the rogues were hostile and Owl was yowling in pain and he could do nothing to help her... Shadefall paced angrily, tail lashing, ears flicking, tail swishing, flank twitching, fidgeting in general. No wonder Silverclaw was fed up with him.