Warrior Cats: Rainfall

Chapter Eight

   It's been two quarter-moons since Ashfrost and the patrol went to go fetch Featherwing. After Featherwing and Heronstar refused, Stonestar did not share the same anger that Bouncestep had about the situation. Stonestar agreed that it may be a good decision. Plus, Featherwing was teaching them new skills that should be unique to CloudClan. So she would know the moves that they used, therefore it could be used against them if a battle ever needed to occur.

   These past two quarter-moons, Ashfrost has been noticeably uncomfortable. It felt as if she had a bellyache, and today it was worse than it ever has. She dragged herself around camp, feeling unusually heavier than before.

   Treefur was the first to notice, or to at least point out, her condition, "Ashfrost, are you okay? Your fur is all ragged and you look like you haven't slept in moons. Have you been eating a lot lately?"

   Ashfrost thought about it, in fact, she'd been eating normally. Had she been overeating? She pushed the thought away and replied, "I just haven't been feeling like myself lately. I didn't know I looked so bad."

   "Have you been feeling different?"

   "A little bloated. I guess I need to cut down on the prey," Ashfrost began to walk away. "Thanks for telling me."

   "Ash-" She wasn't able to hear the rest, or Treefur just stopped talking once he realized she was out of earshot.

   Ashfrost was extremely tired despite just having slept in rather late. She yawned and decided to go take another nap. However, on the way there, her belly started to churn. She froze in her tracks as she felt her belly lurch and gurgle. Her throat convulsed as she gagged on the rising bile. With a loud choking sound, she vomited on the ground. She collapsed in fatigue.

   Mousefoot had just entered into camp, a shrew in his jaws. His eyes widened, he dropped the mouse and sprinted over to her, "Ashfrost!"

   Ashfrost hardly felt him nudge her and was barely aware of cats crowding around her.

   "Flowerstorm!" Some cat called out.

   The she-cat emerged from the medicine den and rushed over to Ashfrost, "What happened?"

   "She just threw up!" Fernpaw exclaimed.

   "Out of nowhere?" Flowerstorm pressed. 

   The apprentice nodded.

   "Ashfrost, can you talk?" Flowerstorm ran her paw through Ashfrost's fur.

   "Yes," Ashfrost groaned. "But I don't really want to."

   "Come into my den. . . can you? Or do you need help?"

   Ashfrost pushed herself up, her belly swaying side to side. She felt like vomiting again, but she tightened her throat, determined to keep the bile down. She staggered after Flowerstorm and into the medicine den.

   "Lay on your side," Flowerstorm ordered.

   Ashfrost laid on her side, glad to not have to stand anymore. She was panting from the short walk. All she wanted to do was sleep.

   Flowerstorm groomed Ashfrost for her and ordered Fernpaw to bring her prey. She ran her paw across Ashfrost's soft belly. A loud purr erupted from the medicine cat. 

   "Ashfr-"

   Fernpaw jogged into the den and lay the shrew Mousefoot had caught in front of Ashfrost. Flowerstorm ordered him to go away. The medicine cat sat down in front of the tired she-cat.

   "Ashfrost?"

   "Yes?" Ashfrost said after she swallowed a bite of shrew.

   "Ashfrost, you're pregnant," she purred.