Shadows in the Night

Chapter Ten

A/N The winner for the deputy competition was Webfoot, and as for Emberpaw's warrior name... you'll find out below!

“Webfoot.”

Webfoot widened his blue eyes in surprise. “Thank you, Nightstar, I promise I will do my best to serve LightningClan.” As his eyes met his mates, he detected a glimmer of pride in her green eyes. She trusts me to lead the clan while she’s in the nursery.

Webfoot flattened his ears against his head as the clan cheered his name. He had never been fond of attention. 

“Webfoot?” Duskfoot’s quiet voice snapped his out of his thoughts. “You have to appoint a deputy while Nightstar’s in the nursery.” 

“Right.” Webfoot cleared his throat. “The new temporary deputy will be Sunstrike.” 

“Sunstrike?” Owlfang snarled. “He’s only been a warrior for a few moons! Why choose him instead of-”

“Are you saying that he was not mentored well?” Frostpelt interrupted, baring her fangs. The usually calm she-cat looked quite ticked off.

“Enough!” Nightstar yowled, her voice full of authority. Her large stomach swung from side to side as she padded over to the bickering warriors. “I trust that Webfoot has made a good choice. Besides, it will only be for a few moons,” she meowed, rearing up on her hind legs to capture every cat’s attention. Losing her balance, she crashed to the ground with a thump. 

“Nightstar!” Webfoot yowled, running through the crowd to reach his leader and mate. Her eyes were open, but her flank was rapidly moving up and down. No... please don’t tell me i’ll lose her too! 

Leaffur stiffly tried to reach the black she-cat, but Frecklepaw was faster. The apprentice placed a paw on Nightstar’s flank, closing her eyes in concentration. Webfoot sat worriedly at the side. 

“How is she?” He dared to ask. Leaffur grinned. 

“She’s fine, you know. It’s just that she shouldn’t have reared up like that when she’s....” the elderly medicine cat’s voice trailed off. 

“She’s what?” Webfoot asked, panicked. 

“Nightstar will tell you herself- when she’s ready,” was all Leaffur revealed as the brown she-cat padded away. Nightstar rose to her paws, with the support of Frecklepaw. Webfoot waved his tail to dismiss the clan, before following his mate into the medicine cat den. 

“I’m fine! I don’t need any herbs!” He heard Nightstar protest. 

Pushing his way through the hanging brambles, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light and saw Nightstar and Frecklepaw. 

“Is something wrong?” Webfoot meowed. Nightstar’s green eyes immediately brightened up. 

“No, nothing at all!” She replied, stepping closer to him. “Webfoot, we’re having kits!”

It took him a moment to comprehend all of the new news. I won’t let these kits get taken away like the ones I fostered before...

“That’s great!” He purred, twining his tail with Nightstar’s. Webfoot turned to face Frecklepaw. “How long until they’re due?”

“Less than a moon,” she replied, giving her leader a friendly shove. “You should be moving to the nursery soon.”

Nightstar sighed. “As you wish, medicine cat.” She then turned to Webfoot. “Assign some cat to keep an eye on Leaf. I have a feeling that she won’t stay put.”