Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 31

Pineshade exits the warriors' den after waking up, where he is instantly greeted by a seemingly anxious Flamepelt.

"What is it, Flamepelt?" Pineshade asks, worried about the dark ginger tabby fluff ball.

"Icewhisker is expecting my kits and I don't know what to do! We didn't even want kits yet!" Flamepelt meows frantically to his friend. "I'm not ready to be a father, Pineshade!"

Why is every cat coming to me with their problems recently? Do I give good advice or something? Pineshade thinks.

"So, why did you—" Snowpetal begins to meow,  overhearing their conversation as she exits the warriors' den, but she is quickly interrupted.

"I... don't know!" Flamepelt responds nervously.

"She's already expecting your kits, Flamepelt, so there's nothing you can change about it. So, I recommend that you just try to be the best father as you possibly can. I know you'll be great. Icewhisker will be a great mother as well, she always had a motherly charm to her," Pineshade meows, trying to calm the younger warrior.

"Great words, Pineshade," Snowpetal compliments. "And if you make her raise the kits alone, then you won't see the light of day again," she then threatens Flamepelt. The ginger tom gulps nervously at the words of Icewhisker's mother.

"I-I won't make her raise them alone," Flamepelt responds.

"Good, you're a great tom," Snowpetal meows. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to have a talk with my daughter," the white she-cat meows, padding away.

"My advice is to just stay by Icewhisker's side the whole time and make sure to help her raise the kits. Also, after they're born, make sure the kits don't feel unwanted by the two of you. I know both of you don't want them, but you still have to raise them correctly," Pineshade tells Flamepelt.

"Thank you, Pineshade. That really helped!" Flamepelt meows, beginning to head over to the nursery.

"You're welcome," Pineshade responds as the dark ginger tabby pads away.

***

Later that day, Pineshade thought it would be a good idea to head over to the nursery to check on Flamepelt and Icewhisker. He hasn't seen the ball of fur since morning, which begins to worry him.

Would he run away? Pineshade thinks worriedly. But, once he enters the nursery, he spots Flamepelt right by Icewhisker's side in her nest.

"Have you really been in here all day?!" Pineshade asks the younger warrior.

"You said to be by her side the whole time!" Flamepelt responds with a flick of his tail.

"I didn't mean literally!" Pineshade meows with a quiet growl. "You're not expecting kits too, are you?"

"Well, I'm a tom, so..." Flamepelt replies.

"Exactly, so you should still be doing your warrior duties! What if you were called on patrol?!" Pineshade meows.

"I'm sorry," Flamepelt immediately apologizes. He then turns his head to look at his pregnant mate.

"I'll be back later, okay?" Flamepelt meows as the two cats touch foreheads. Then, Flamepelt gives Icewhisker a quick forehead lick before getting up.

"Okay, I'll see you later," Icewhisker meows. "I love you."

"I love you too," Flamepelt meows before finally exiting the nursery.

"Did you get in trouble with your mother?" Pineshade asks Icewhisker.

"Yeah, a bit," Icewhisker meows. "But, I guess I kind of deserved it. I'm a young frogbrain," the white she-cat meows.

"Don't insult yourself like that," Pineshade meows. "Everyone makes mistakes, but that doesn't make you a frogbrain. You're bringing new life into ShadowClan, it should be an exciting thing."

"I guess you're right," Icewhisker responds. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Pineshade meows and leaves the nursery.

Oh frogdung, now I see why every cat comes to me for advice. I guess it can't be helped though. Pineshade thinks.

***

Pineshade is awoken by a shove against his flank. It has been a while since Icewhisker first moved into the nursery. The dark gray tom opens his green eyes to spot Flamepelt standing over him. As Pineshade can tell by the lack of any light in the den, it is still dark outside.

"Icewhisker had her kits," Flamepelt whispers. "But, to show our gratitude for helping us during a hard time, we want you to be the first to see them, other than the two of us and Acornfall, of course," he whispers.

"I'm coming," Pineshade whispers back, slowly getting up out of his nest. Once he is up, the two warriors exit the warriors' den and head over to the nursery. Once they enter the nursery, Pineshade spots Acornfall standing beside Icewhisker, who has two small bundles for fur near her belly.

"They're so cute," Pineshade meows. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Pineshade," Icewhisker purrs.

"Do you want to know their names?!" Flamepelt asks with an enthusiastic bounce.

"Of course," Pineshade responds happily.

"The ginger tom-kit is named Applekit, because his ginger fur reminds us of an apple, I don't know why but it just does. I can't really explain it to you. And the white she-kit is named Cloudkit, because, fluff," Flamepelt explains.

"Great reasoning," Pineshade meows with a purr of amusement. "Those are beautiful names."

"It feels like it wasn't long ago when the two of you were born, now you have kits of your own, time flies by," Pineshade meows.

"Like a bird," Icewhisker meows with a purr of amusement.

"Are you and Milktail planning on having kits soon?" Flamepelt asks Pineshade curiously. "If you don't want to answer, that's fine."

"We did decide that Milktail would be in the nursery before leaf-bare, but now I'm not so sure. Leaf-bare is scary and there's already enough cats in ShadowClan," Pineshade responds. "But despite my hesitations, Milktail still seems set on it, so Applekit and Cloudkit might end up having some friends in the nursery with them soon."

"It would be great if Applekit and Cloudkit had some other kits in the nursery with them to play with. It would be less stress on all of us. I for sure know Snowpetal enjoyed having Wolfclaw, Ivycloud, and myself around the same time as Stormmist had her kits," Icewhisker meows.

"We'll give it some thought, but we can't promise you that will happen," Pineshade responds.

"That's fine, you two shouldn't have kits just because of us. Wait until you're ready, unlike what happened to Flamepelt and I," Icewhisker meows.

"We'll keep that in mind," Pineshade meows. "I'll leave all of you alone now, I have dawn patrol in the morning, so I have to get as much sleep as I can. See you later," he meows.

"Goodbye!" Icewhisker and Flamepelt meow in unison as Pineshade pads out of the nursery.