Warriors: Feather's Path

Chapter 18

Feathercloud followed Mistycloud, Oakleap, and Stormpool with their two apprentices Shadepaw and Blazepaw. Ravepaw bounced along side, like it was his first time in ThunderClan territory. But the small tabby she-cat guessed the young black tom was just exited to see his friends once again.

Feathercloud heard Hawkclaw grunt. Turning to the tom, she noticed he was limping on three paws.

"Dumb thorns." The dark golden tom growled quietly. 

Feathercloud let out a small mrrow of amusement, but broke out into a small cough.

Shadepaw glanced back. "Are you getting sick in this cold weather?" She asked.

Feathercloud shook her head. "No I think I just got something in my throat." She glanced at Hawkclaw, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Are you sure?" She asked, stopping so she could walk beside the small she-cat. "It sounds like a phlegm cough."

"...How do you know?" The small tabby she-cat asked. "You're not a medicine cat apprentice."

Shadepaw purred. "My brother, Dovepaw, is." She mewed. "So I know a lot for a warrior."

Feathercloud nodded. "That's right." She mewed. "But it is  just a snow flurry in my throat or something." She tried to convince herself that.

I can't be getting sick when I'm expecting kits.

"...Okay," Shadowpaw mewed just before she bounded up back beside Ravenpaw, but glanced back. "Make sure to check in with Owltuft or my brother about your kits though, when we get back to camp."

Feathercloud flicked her tail. Really? She thought, turning to Hawkclaw. "It it that noticeable?" She whispered to the large tom.

Hawkclaw nodded. "Yes." He purred, resting her tail on the she-cat's back. "But don't worry." He meowed. "It's normal."

"I know..." Feathercloud murmured. "It's just, I cant get over the fact that there are living kits inside me, and how plump I'm getting." She looked down at her paws. "I probably look so huge because I'm such a small cat."

Hawkclaw pressed against the she-cat. "You're my  small she-cat."

The ThunderClan patrol padded on in no more of silence but the rustling of trees and a couple murmurs of comments, until they finally reached camp. Feathercloud had already spotted the deep, rocky-walled camp through the bramble and oak trees when they started to pad down the cold, and frozen ground of the trail.

"We're here," Mistycloud meowed when all cats padded into camp. Feathercloud remembered the high ledge, the queens and kits from the nursery, and just about every living cat in ThunderClan camp. She suppressed a sigh as she finally got to stop walking. Her paws were practically swollen.  

Hawkclaw glanced at Feathercloud. "Are you okay?" He asked as the she-cat nosed her paws.

She looked up and shrugged.

"Maybe we should go see the medicine cat?" He murmured, touching his nose to the she-cat's ear. 

Feathercloud shook her head. "No," She mewed. "I'm fine."

Shadepaw bounded over to Feathercloud and Hawkclaw. "I insist you should, Feathercloud." She mewed.

The small tabby she-cat was surprised at Shadepaw's hearing. But yet again, she was only a couple tail lengths away. Feathercloud shook her head. She shouldn't have been eavesdropping. "I insist I'm fine." She meowed.

Hawkclaw rolled his eyes. "Then you'll just see them later today." He meowed. "Come on," The large tom stood up. "Let's go get some fresh kill and say hi to Spottedwing and others."