Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 36

 Dawnfire hadn't slept, and her heart ached with fear and pain. She crawled out of the warrior's den as dawn broke but saw that Snakewhisker had already woken up. The gray tom's green eyes filled with sadness and sympathy.

"Both Flowerstar and I want you to take a short break from your deputy duties, she understands you want to be there for Lionclaw." Dawnfire looked at Snakewhisker, then cast a glance at the SunTree, she felt like arguing but knew that she wouldn't be at her best and all she wanted to do was mope around camp anyway.

"Thank you, Snakewhisker." Dawnfire dipped her head and looked at the medicine den, she wondered if Pebblestep would be awake yet. She slowly approached the den and peered inside, sure enough Pebblestep was awake and sniffing Lionclaw's wounds. His chest and stomach were covered in thick layers of cobweb. Pebblestep heard her approach and turned around, she flicked her ears.

"You can come see him, I actually wanted to talk to you." Pebblestep said, Dawnfire took a slow step forward. The heavy scent of herbs wafted off of Lionclaw. Dawnfire couldn't take her eyes off of him, he almost looked like he was completely still, but she spotted the very slow rise and fall of his sides. Dawnfire sat beside him, she looked at him, pain running through her heart.

"How is he?" Dawnfire asked quietly, looking over every inch of his golden fur. Never wanting to forget a single strand.

"No better no worse." Pebblestep said before standing up and moving to face Dawnfire.

"Then what did you want to talk to me about?" Dawnfire asked curiously, if it wasn't about Lionclaw's condition then what else could it be?

"Have you been eating more than usual?" Dawnfire gave Pebblestep a bewildered look. Is she calling me fat? Dawnfire shook her head.

"What? Why are you even asking that?"

Pebblestep reached a paw out and placed her forepaw on Dawnfire's stomach, a mixture of joy, fear, sadness and compassion. "It's just as I thought..." Pebblestep stepped back. "I noticed it a few days ago, but yesterday when you were sitting outside I really saw it." Dawnfire flattened her ears, what in the name of StarClan was she talking about? "You're expecting kits, Dawnfire."

The world went silent, Pebblestep's words seemed to echo in her ears. The world slowed down, and suddenly Dawnfire was alone with Pebblestep, she stared the medicine cat in the eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled with emotion, she waited for a response. Kits. Dawnfire looked at her stomach, it was slightly larger than normal. She stared, could she feel moving? Or was it her mind. There were kits inside her, Lionclaw's kits. Dawnfire's thoughts began to race, a litter of tiny kits. Golden and golden brown, running around and playing with their father. Letting out squeaks of joy and happiness as Lionclaw taught them how to be warriors.

Color slowly ebbed back into Dawnfire's world, she broke Pebblestep's gaze and looked at Lionclaw, his still body breathing slowly. Dawnfire stepped closer to him, crouching close to him. "Kits, huh?" She said softly.

"I know it's difficult to take in--" Dawnfire stopped Pebblestep mid sentence, she twitched her tail.

"Can I have a moment with Lionclaw please?" Dawnfire questioned, Pebblestep didn't respond but Dawnfire heard her gentle pawsteps leave the medicine den. Dawnfire looked over Lionclaw, he looked so peaceful. Like he was just sleeping, and Dawnfire was really hoping he would wake up soon. Dawnfire touched her nose to his, she could feel is slow, yet warm breaths. "Lionclaw..." She said softly, barely above a whisper. "You have to wake up, okay? You have to come back from this. I can't lose you, Lionclaw not now." Pain choked her words. "We're gonna have kits...little golden warriors just like you, Lionclaw. They are going to be the best warriors the forest has ever seen, just like their father. You have to wake up, I can't do this without you..." Other than a twitch of his paw, Lionclaw didn't respond. Dawnfire let out a pained sigh and rose to her paws. She decided she needed to tell Flowerstar, and her brother.