Warriors: An Enemy's Victory #1, Fanfiction

Chapter 7

Thistlestep padded nervously outside the nursery. He winced as Tunnelwhisker groaned, torn between rushing to her side and keeping away like Eaglewing had told him to. The kits were coming a half moon early, and the rest clan was just as nervous as he was.

"It'll be alright. Nightflower is in with her to help the best she can. Don't worry about training, I sent Leafpaw to go hunting with Whitepaw, Pinepaw, Sappaw. Tallpoppy's kits are so grown now." Bumblecloud purred, sitting down in the sunniest spot. His littermate's closeness seemed to have soothed him. He had stopped pacing, and even took a seat beside her.

Just as he had calmed down, the apprentices burst through the door panting with fear scent all around them. Thistlestep immediately jumped to his paws, racing towards them.

As he drew closer, he saw Pinepaw on the back of Stormfur. Anger and sadness were mixed in his eyes, revealing a storm of emotions.

"What happened?" he hissed, stopping in front of Leafpaw.

"A fox! Pinepaw thought he could take it on, and Stormfur had to save him!" She panted, flopping on her side with exhaustion. She must have ran the whole way back.

"Whats going on?" Barkface ran out, Cinderpelt by his side. They padded over to him, ready to take the weight of the apprentice. Stormfur gave grateful nod, slidind the apprentice from his back to theirs'. Thistlestep padded at their sides as they took him to their den.

"He was attacked by a fox. Do you think he will be alright?" He murmured worried for the small tom. He and his littermate had only been apprenticed for a few moons more than Leafpaw, Whitepaw, and Squirrelpaw and the wounds looked bad. "Those wounds look serious.."

"That's because they are. We will talk with you and Tigerstar later after we have finished up." Barkface hissed, nosing him out. He heard a gasp, and spun around to see Tallpoppy racing towards the Medicine den.

This was supposed to be a happy moment! He hissed to himself, What else could go wrong?

"Thistlestep, come quick."

He turned to the nursery, Eaglewing giving him a solemn look. Thistlestep felt as those his stomach her stone as he padded into the nursery. His heart was beating so loud you could hear it moons away as he saw three kits nursing from Tunnelwhisker; a handsome dark brown tom, a dappled dark golden she-kit, and a black tom. His heart lurked as he saw the frail body of a tortoiseshell she-kit across from his mate.

"What's wrong with her?" He whispered to Eaglewing. He turned to him, sympathy in his eyes.

"She was born dead, Thistlestep. Tunnelwhisker decided to name her Sweetkit so she would have a name in Starclan." Grief wrapped around his heart, and he wanted to yowl his kit's name to the stars. He shook his fur, and dipped his head.

"You did all you could. I know I need to be strong for my surviving kits." He meowed, nuzzling his mate.

"That's the problem. They are so small and fragile, they might not make it and Tunnelwhisker is so skinny from leaf-bare that she might not have enough milk." He whispered. Thistlestep sprinted out, grabbing the fattest piece of prey on the fresh-kill pile; a Thrush. He sprinted back, nosing it to her.

"I will bring you fresh-kill everyday and wet moss." He turned to Eaglewing, "They is a herb for milk, right?" He was hoping with all his heart that there was. If not, his kits might die.

"Borage leaves help queens produce milk. I'll bring her a couple leaves every quarter moon. That should help her produce more." Thistlestep gave a nod, and Eaglewing stepped out the nursery to get her borage leaves.