Warriors Novella Set: She-Cats of the Lake

Chapter 1

Fallenrain pads into ShadowClan's camp, pressing her way through the bramble entrance with Honeypaw at her side. Once she takes her first step into camp, she observes her Clanmates. Quailwhisker and Brindlestep are laying outside the nursery, watching each of their kits play together. Graysky, Hollyberry, Mudtail, and Robincloud are resting in the sun outside of the elders' den. Mallowstar is relaxing on the Highbranch, just observing her Clan from above while Fallenrain's father and the Clan deputy Larchpelt shares a squirrel with her mother, Echobird. Rainbreeze limps towards the medicine cat den as a hunting patrol arrives back in camp. Fallenrain watches as her brother's head peeks out of the medicine cat den, asking the senior warrior what happened.

Everything is normal. Fallenrain thinks as she takes a deep breath of fresh air.

"Hey, Fallenrain!" A meow catches the dark gray tabby's attention. She regains her focus to spot her best friend, Ferretfur, standing in front of her with a toad in her mouth. "Do you want to share this toad with me?"

"I would love to," Fallenrain meows. "But, wouldn't you think it would be a better idea to ask Quickspring?" She smirks as she gazed over at the gray tom, who is chatting with Sandywing.

"N-No!" Ferretfur responds quickly, covering her face with her paw, getting flustered.

"The relationship is never going to go anywhere if you don't speak to him," Fallenrain meows. "Maybe ask him to be your mate while you're at it?" She suggests with a wink.

"No! W-What if he doesn't like me back?" Ferretfur asks.

"Then so what? Move on," Fallenrain asks. "If you don't ever ask him you'll regret it. You've had a crush on him ever since he became a warrior!"

"I guess you're right," Ferretfur murmurs, looking down at the grassy ground.

"See? Now, go for it!" Fallenrain encourages her friend. "I'm going to go spend time with Redclaw, let me know how it goes," she meows as she begins to pad towards her dark ginger-furred mate, who is sharing a sparrow with Foxfang. Once Foxfang notices that Fallenrain is padding over, he sits up and pads away from his son and the crow, allowing Fallenrain to share the crow with him instead.

"So, how was the hunting patrol?" Fallenrain asks Redclaw as she approaches him. She crouches down beside him, taking a bite out of the crow.

"We found a lot of prey, they must be loving the warmer weather," Redclaw meows. "But, Rainbreeze tripped over a rock and twisted her paw as she was chasing a mouse."

"Oh no, is she alright?" Fallenrain asks him sympathetically.

"I think she'll be fine, she didn't break it or anything I don't think," Redclaw responds as he takes a bite from the crow.

"That's good at least," Fallenrain meows, taking another bite from the crow. Then, she decides to change the subject. "So, are you down for having our first litter of kits once Honeypaw becomes a warrior?" She asks.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready to have kits yet," Redclaw meows. "Perhaps we should wait a bit longer."

"No, we should not wait," Fallenrain demands. "We are having our first litter once Honeypaw becomes a warrior."

"Well, why did you ask me then?" Redclaw grumbles as he tears at the crow.

"Just testing you," Fallenrain meows with a wink. "Honeypaw is almost ready to become a warrior, so it shouldn't be much longer now."

"But what if I don't want kits?" Redclaw asks grumpily.

"Then, you won't have to deal with them. I want kits, so I will be the one to take care of them. You don't have to be a part of their lives if you don't want to," Fallenrain meows with a huff.

"If you say so," Redclaw meows.

"Really?" Fallenrain meows, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Really, I just don't want to have anything to do with them," Redclaw meows.

"That's fine by me," Fallenrain meows, giving her mate a quick cheek lick as she leans into his side, beginning to purr. Redclaw begins to purr as well. Fallenrain then watches as Ferretfur dashes over to her.

"Guess what, guess what, guess what, guess what!" She repeats excitedly as she dashes over.

"What?" Redclaw is quick to respond.

"Quickspring said yes!" Ferretfur cheers. Fallenrain quickly stands up and bounds over to her friend excitedly.

"Did he really?!" Fallenrain asks excitedly.

"Yes!" Ferretfur meows happily. "He loves me too!"

"That's amazing, Ferretfur," Redclaw meows. "You two make a beautiful couple."

"You really think so?" Ferretfur asks the tom excitedly. He simply responds with a nod.

"I think so too," Fallenrain purrs. "And you two will have beautiful kits someday!"

"Thank you!" Ferretfur meows happily. "Thank you Fallenrain, for giving me the courage to tell him how I feel!"

"You're welcome," Fallenrain purrs.