Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 29

 The camp was filled with joy and hope, cheerful murmers spread from cat to cat, everything felt even warmer under the early greenleaf sun. Applespots had given birth to Cherrykit, Briarkit and Thrushkit. Cherrykit was a beautiful tortishell like her mother, Briarkit had thick, ginger fur and bright eyes, and Thrushkit looked exactly like his father. Pale brown with fierce amber eyes. Dawnfire looked at Cherrykit and Briarkit with joy, but couldn't help but feel a prickle of unease each time she met Thrushkit's tiny gaze, she knew she shouldn't judge him based off Thornpelt; but they just looked so similar. Dawnfire was worried that Thornpelt would teach his children to be as ruthless as he was, but then again they also had Applespots for a mother. She was probably one of the kindest cats in the entire Clan, she would keep them on the right path.

Dawnfire sat near the warriors den, watching as Cloudpaw brought Applespots a mouse to eat, her kits were barely two days old; but Cloudpaw wanted to play with them. Dawnfire knew that Cloudpaw would be very helpful to them as well as Squirreltail's when the time came. The ginger queen had a large round belly and was sunning herself outside the nursery. Soon the camp would be alive with the sound of kits, and six moons later; alive with new apprentices training to be warriors. Everything in SunClan was going wonderfully, but Dawnfire couldn't help but worry what was really on the horizon. Thornpelt was planning something, and it was only a matter of time before he acted. Dawnfire was trying very hard to hide her fears from the rest of the Clan, but she avoided Thornpelt like greencough, and she was worried that cats were starting to notice.

There were three cats who seemed to be paying particularly close attention, Flowerstar, Poppyfur and Lionclaw. Flowerstar gave her sharp looks every time she offered to be an a patrol that didn't have Thornpelt, and Poppyfur seemed suspicious ever since Thornpelt had nearly attacked Dawnfire over a moon ago. Lionclaw had asked a couple times, why should be staring at Thurshkit or tense every time Thornpelt came close; and Dawnfire couldn't come up with a good enough excuse, so she just shrugged it off. She knew he was concerned, but she just couldn't tell him the truth; not yet.

Dawnfire focused as her brother padded up to her, there was something in his green eyes that she couldn't identify. "Hi, Turtleblaze." She greeted with a flick of her tail.

"Hi," She shifted his paws. "Want to go hunting with me?" He questioned with a light tone to his voice. Dawnfire nodded happily, it had been forever since Turtleblaze asked her to do something with just him. Dawnfire stood up and stood beside her brother.

"Of course, sounds like fun." Dawnfire purred. Turtleblaze gave a small nod and the two of them exited camp together. They kept a steady pace, bounding through the forest. Dawnfire suddenly felt like an apprentice again; running through the forest with her brother without a care in the world. Turtleblaze didn't stop running until they reached the river, he looked across it over towards the Gathering Hollow.

"So I need to tell you something." Turtleblaze said, removing his gaze from the river and meeting Dawnfire's.

Dawnfire tensed slightly, but his voice didn't sound worried or angry, it sounds happy. "Alright, go for it."

"There's a lot of kits being born, Applespots just had her three and Squirrletail will be having hers in the next moon or so."

Dawnfire tilted her head. "Yeah?" Where was he going with this?

"There's going to be even more." His green eyes glowed. "Fawnheart is expecting my kits." Dawnfire's jaw dropped, she was shocked. Her brother? Having kits? He was going to be a father? Turtleblaze's happy gaze faltered a bit. "Are you okay?"

Dawnfire shook her head slightly, clearing her mind. Suddenly waves of emotion rushed across her. Turtleblaze was having kits! "Yes! I'm absolutely okay! You're gonna have kits!" She bursted out.