“Waterfall will be kitting soon,” a black tom murmured, his hazel eyes flickering over to a bluegray shecat. They were in an abandoned Twoleg Nest, and two others were with them.

“She should have thought about mating until after we were done with the plan,” growled a scarred dark brown tabby, his one green eye looking over at the black tom.

“She mated before we met her, remember?” a black and white tom defended the queen. His side had a huge scar through it, a memory of a battle moons ago.

“Where is Shade?” the bluegray shecat, Waterfall, moaned.

“I don’t know,” the dark tabby answered.

“Have you thought about what to do with the kits?” the black and white tom asked.

“ThunderClan,” she replied. “I’m sure one of their queens will take care of my kits.”

“I will go with you,” the black tom said, nodding at her decision.

“Longscar, wait outside for Shade, please,” the black and white tom ordered. The scarred tabby nodded.

“Alright, Badgerscar,” the tabby said, padding outside. The black tom looked at Badgerscar.

“I hope Shade found that Healer. My rat bite is bugging me again,” he mentioned. Waterfall clenched her teeth together.

“It’s alright, Waterfall, we’ll help.”

“Thanks, Night,” she growled. Suddenly, she let out a piercing cry.

“Duskblaze, wake up, lazybones!” called a gray shecat. Duskblaze, a dark gray tom, blinked open his amber eyes.

“Graypelt, what do you want?” he mumbled.

“Lightningstar’s having a Clan meeting. I suppose you didn’t hear his call.”

“What’s happening?” Duskblaze asked.

“You’ll find out,” she teased, padding out of the warrior’s den. Yawning, Duskblaze looked around to find no cats in the den.

There really is a meeting, he thought to himself, padding out of the den.

Blinking, he gazed around the camp. Lightsong stood out of the nursery, her plump belly clearly showing.

“Last night, Morningshine gave birth to two healthy kits!” Lightningstar called from the HighRock. Murmurs of congratulations sounded, aimed at the nursery and Owlwing, the deputy and father of the kits.

“They are two shecats, a white kit named Brightkit, and a brown tabby with the name of Forestkit.”

“Brightkit! Forestkit!” called ThunderClan, and Duskblaze found himself calling out as well.

“Also, the Gathering is in a few suns, and I would like to announce who will be going.” Duskblaze tensed. Gatherings were always one of his favorites.

“Nightcloud, Blackfall, Shadestep, Leafbranch, Marshheart, Emberstep, Eaglepaw, and Duskblaze.”

“YES!” cried Eaglepaw. Duskblaze chuckled at the young apprentice. Quickly, he padded over to Graypelt.

“I’m sorry you don’t get to go,” he murmured.

“Oh, there’s a reason for that,” Graypelt said, flicking her tail over his nose. “Just keep listening.”

“And finally, I’d like to announce that Graypelt will be moving into the nursery!” Duskblaze looked over at Graypelt, and sure enough, her belly was becoming plump.

“Graypelt, that’s wonderful!” he purred, licking her ear.

“They’re your kits, Duskblaze,” she murmured in his ear. Duskblaze paused.

“Aren’t you happy?” she asked, looking suddenly down.

“I’m ecstatic!” he cried, letting out a rumbling purr. “This is wonderful!”

“Can somecat help me?” called an unfamiliar voice. Duskblaze turned his head to see a bluegray shecat standing at the camp entrance, three newborn kits beside her.

“Who are you?” called Thickmist, a longfurred light gray shecat.

“My name is Waterfall. I’m a loner, and I just had my kits,” the shecat said, her voice weary. “I can’t take care of them, can you?”

“I can,” Morningshine answered. The queen padded out of the nursery and up to Waterfall.

“Thank you,” Waterfall said gratefully. Her newborn kits squeaked, and she licked each of them.

“What are their names?” Morningshine asked, her white fur sleek along her body.

“The tortishell shekit is Dapple, the bluegray tom is Wave, and the tabby tom is Thrush,” Waterfall answered.

“I will take great care of them,” Morningshine promised, picking up Dapple. Graypelt picked up Wave, and carried him into the nursery, while Duskblaze picked Thrush up and padded next to Morningshine as they headed to the nursery. When Duskblaze looked back, Waterfall had vanished.

“These poor kits,” Graypelt murmured, setting Wave by Brightkit and Forestkit. Duskblaze nodded and set Thrush down by his brother. Morningshine placed Dapple gently beside her two adopted sisters, and the five kits began to drink milk from Morningshine.

“You’ll need some borage,” Sageleaf commented, padding to go get some of the herb from her den. Duskblaze padded out of the nursery, leaving the two queens to take care of the kits. Lightsong padded in after he left, and he padded over to Blackfall, a black tom with hazel eyes.

“What did you think of that?” Blackfall asked Duskblaze.

“Just a loner who couldn’t take care of her kits. I feel sorry for her, and the kits.”

“Yes, she will miss them.”

“They probably won’t figure out their true heritage for a while, though,” Duskblaze thought aloud.

“That is true,” Blackfall agreed.

“Duskblaze!” Graypelt called, padding up to her mate and rubbing her head against his shoulder. Duskblaze purred.

“Yes, Graypelt?” he asked as Blackfall walked away.

“I want to go hunting before I get confined to the nursery,” she said. “Come on!” Graypelt raced out of camp, Duskblaze running after her. Skidding to a stop, Duskblaze scented the air. Not much prey was in the area, but he could scent a squirrel about seven mouse-lengths away. Silently, he stalked the squirrel, and quickly ended its life. Putting a bit of dirt over his prey, he turned and padded in the direction of the Twoleg’s Abandoned Nest, letting Graypelt hunt on her own.

Suddenly, Duskblaze was tackled by a tom that looked almost exactly like Blackfall, but had more scars.

“Do not move,” the tom growled.

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Duskblaze replied. A black and white tom padded out of the Nest, a huge scar on his side and anger in his yellow eyes.

“Leave the Clan cat alone, Night,” the tom growled, pulling Night off Duskblaze.

“I’m sorry,” Duskblaze said respectfully. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“No, I’m glad you did,” the black and white tom said. “See, we need a warrior like you.”

“What do you mean?” Duskblaze asked.

“We are planning on taking over the Clans, and if you help us, we can promise you much.” Duskblaze growled, eyeing the toms suspiciously.

“What can you promise me?” he asked warily.

“Protection from being murdered when we have accomplished the plan.”

“Can you protect my mate and unborn kits?” Duskblaze asked.

“Yes, we can. We would not dare harm any kits, or the mates of warriors that help us.”

“I will help you, for my kits and mate,” Duskblaze answered.