Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 22

A/N: I'm sorry for not updating in a while! I got bored with it and then I went on vacation... but I'm back now!

Pinepaw returns from dawn patrol with Leafshadow and other ShadowClan warriors. Still feeling tired, the dark gray tom pads toward the apprentices' den. However, he is quickly interrupted.

"Pinepaw! Did you hear the news?" Milkpaw asks her mate excitedly.

"What is it?" Pinepaw asks curiously, having no idea what this news may be.

"Snowpetal moved into the nursery, she's expecting Spikepelt's kits!" Milkpaw announces excitedly.

"What?!" Pinepaw exclaims. "How did you find out?!"

"Spikepelt told me," Milkpaw responds. "I'm so excited! My brother is going to become a father!" She meows with an excited bounce.

"That's exciting, sure, but it's odd that they would have kits this soon. It just makes me wonder how long they truly were together," Pinepaw meows, feeling uneasy about Spikepelt becoming mates with his own mentor as her apprentice.

"Yeah, I would want to wait a bit longer before having kits if I were them. But, I'm not them so it's not my position to judge," Milkpaw replies.

"We can wait for as long as you need. You're the one who has to quit warriors duties and carry the kits, after all," Pinepaw tells his mate. "Of course, we would have to become warriors first," he then meows with a purr of amusement. Milkpaw purrs with amusement as well.

"Hopefully it won't be much longer," Milkpaw meows. "I've been training hard."

"I know you have," Pinepaw meows. "I'm proud of you." Then, their conversation finishes as Pinepaw's brother, Beetlenose, approaches the two apprentices.

"Hey," Beetlenose meows to his friend and littermate.

"Hey Beetlenose, what's up?" Pinepaw asks the black tom.

"I have some exciting news to share," Beetlenose meows, clearly trying not to burst in excitement.

"Please don't tell me Stormmist is expecting kits," Pinepaw mumbles audibly.

"How'd you know?" Beetlenose responds cheerfully. Pinepaw and Milkpaw then exchange concerned glances.

"Looks like the nursery will be busy these next few moons!" Milkpaw meows. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Beetlenose responds.

"It was just... a good guess," Pinepaw meows.

"Did you and Spikepelt plan this out?" Milkpaw then asks the black tom.

"Yeah! Since the four of us are all so close, we decided to have our first litters around the same time," Beetlenose answers, his tail twitching with excitement.

"That's so cute!" Milkpaw cheers.

More like, that's so weird. Who arranges stuff like that? This early in their relationships too? Pinepaw thinks.

"Thank you, Milkpaw!" Beetlenose meows happily.

"Congratulations to the both of you. To Spikepelt and Snowpetal too," Pinepaw meows.

"Thank you," Beetlenose meows, quickly touching noses with his brother.

"Do you have any kit name ideas?!" Milkpaw asks excitedly. "I've already thought of some for my possible future kits!"

"I'm afraid not. I think Stormmist and I are going name our kits after they're born. We may want to name them based off their fur or something," Beetlenose responds.

"Hey, you never told me about your name ideas," Pinepaw meows, glancing over at the cream-and-white she-cat.

"I have four!" Milkpaw meows.

"Will you share them with me?" Pinepaw asks his mate.

"Maybe later," Milkpaw meows with a quick wink, which makes Pinepaw's pelt grow hot. Beetlenose just stands there awkwardly.

"Well, I'll speak to you two later. I have to go check up on Stormmist," Beetlenose meows, turning around.

"See you around," Pinepaw simply meows.

"Bye! Tell Stormmist I said congratulations!" Milkpaw then meows as the black tom pads away.

"I'm going to be an uncle," Pinepaw repeats to himself after Beetlenose pass away, letting the news sink in.