Warriors: Heronpaw's Secret (Complete)

Prologue

 The sun shone brightly over the quiet forest. The only things that were interrupting the silence were the birds chirping in the trees, the rivers, and the Clan cats, talking, patrolling, or hunting.

 The gorge flowed peacefully without being interrupted by anything. Although it was deadly to cats who fell in it, some cats enjoyed just sitting and watching it.

 Far away from the Clans, on the other side of the Thunderpath, in front of some bushes, sat a black-and-cream she-cat with a white chest. Her green eyes looked around impatiently. Where is he?

 As she was looking at her paws, waiting, she heard paw steps. She looked up and twitched her ears, squinting her eyes.

 ''I'm home!'' A brown tom with black stripes emerged from the bushes, flicking his fluffy white tail.

 The she-cat got up and nuzzled him, purring. ''I almost thought you abandoned me.''

 The tom purred, amused. ''I would never.''

 ''I know, Rattlesnake.'' She purred, then sniffed the robin the tom was carrying. ''Did you catch that?''

 ''Yes, but it was pretty difficult. This bird tried to trick me and fly over the gorge.'' Rattlesnake meowed and dropped it. ''Here, are you hungry?''

 ''Very!'' The she-cat exclaimed and crouched, eating the robin. ''It's delicious!''

 Rattlesnake purred. ''Since when are you this hungry?''

 ''Since yesterday.'' The black-and-cream she-cat meowed, finishing the robin. She got up and licked her muzzle. ''Do you want to go for a walk?''

 ''Sure.'' The tom meowed. ''The gorge?''

 ''Yes!'' The she-cat purred.

 ''All right.'' Rattlesnake nodded and padded to the Thunderpath, his gaze darkening. 

 The she-cat followed him and hissed. ''I hate the Thunderpath. There's so many monsters.''

 ''Same, but it's pretty calm now. Let's go.'' Rattlesnake meowed and quickly crossed it. 

 The she-cat followed him silently. I should tell him. But what if he'll get angry? What if he'll abandon me? No, he said he would never. It would be pretty stupid.

 While she was thinking, she didn't notice that Rattlesnake stopped. She bumped into him and let out a screech as she fell on her back. 

 The brown tabby tom turned around, alarmed. ''Nectar! Are you all right?''

 ''Yes, I'm fine. Thanks.'' Nectar sighed and got up. ''Sorry, I wasn't looking.''

 ''You don't seem like yourself today.'' Rattlesnake meowed, his gaze clouding with worry. He sat down. ''Are you all right? Did something happen? Please, tell me.''

 Nectar hesitated and looked at her white paws. ''I-''

 She stopped, scared. She then took a deep breath and looked in Rattlesnake's amber eyes. ''I'm expecting your kits.''

 Rattlesnake froze and stared at her, wide-eyed. ''A-Are you serious?''

 ''Yes, I'm serious.'' The she-cat meowed and shut her eyes tightly, expecting to be yelled at.

 ''Oh, this is the best thing that ever happened to me!'' Rattlesnake exclaimed and nuzzled Nectar. ''I'm going to be a father!''

 The she-cat opened her eyes, surprised. She let out a purr. ''I thought you'd be angry.''

 ''Angry? Why?'' Rattlesnake tilted his head, confused.

 ''I don't know.'' Nectar sighed, then purred. ''Anyway, let's think of some names for our kits.''

 ''All right.'' Rattlesnake sat down, obviously excited. ''For some reason, I really love the name Hiron. I think it sounds adorable.''

 ''Then one of our kits will be called Hiron.'' Nectar purred. ''And I like the name Meadow for a she-kit. Maybe Clover too.''

 ''I love the names! And maybe another name could be Pine?'' Rattlesnake asked, flicking his tail.

 ''All right. So far we have Hiron, Meadow, Clover, and Pine. But first, we should wait until the kits are born.'' Nectar meowed.

 ''Good idea. But no matter what happens, I promise to be a good father and a good mate.'' The brown tom meowed, purring.

 ''Same. I'll never let anything bad happen to our kits.'' Nectar purred. Then, she sat down next to Rattlesnake and looked down at the gorge. One day, our kits will be on this same spot, admiring the gorge.