"Are you okay Dreamriver? Did something happen?"
She nodded for the first question, and shook her head for the second.
"I-i'm fine Cloudriver. Really...."
She shook her pelt, and tried to be calm again. Cloudriver nodded, still not believing her fully.
"You want to go hunting?"
She shook her head.
"I'm um... going to rest a bit. My shoulder is quite sore..."
Cloudriver nodded.
"O-okay... I'll bring you back a fish we can share."
He licked her shoulder gently before padding after the hunting patrol. I hate lying to him! She dug her claws into the ground and growled. Then she saw Eagleheart running over to her.
"Dreamriver! Dreamriver!"
Eagleheart's eyes were filled with happiness.
"Guess what!"
Dreamriver couldn't help but purr at her friend.
"What?"
Eagleheart tried to stop purring to speak.
"Me and Hollowcry are mates! But that's not all!"
Dreamriver smiled.
"That's great! I'm so happy for you!"
Eagleheart purred then continued.
"I'm expecting his kits!"
Dreamriver stiffened, then forced a smiled.
"Congratulations! They'll be perfect."
She gently nudged Eagleheart's shoulder. Eagleheart was radiating happiness and joy.
"I'm going to join the Nursery today. Sparrowleaf said they're coming soon."
Eagleheart pranced on the spot. Dreamriver smiled, though her heart was beating very fast.
"Want me to help you collect some moss?"
Eagleheart shook her head.
"That's okay Dreamriver. Hollowcry has already offered."
Dreamriver felt her heart sink.
"Oh. Okay. Go on, I think he's waiting."
Dreamriver forced a purr as Eagleheart spun around and padded "calmly" to Hollowcry. Then Dreamriver let out a slight yowl of shock as she felt something hit her side. She spun around, and saw she was facing Frostkit. Frostkit crouched on the ground.
"Sorry Dreamriver! Tigerkit and I were just playing!"
Dreamriver smiled.
"It's okay."
She looked at the piece of moss in front of Frostkit. She hooked the moss onto he claw, and threw it to where Tigerkit was. Frostkit leaped up and raced after it, determined to get it before Tigerkit. But that was nearly impossible, it landed only a mouse length from Tigerkit. Dreamstar let out a mrrow of laughter, then sighed. She padded out of camp, and padded to the MarshClan border.
She narrowed her eyes as a hunting patrol padded along the border. They didn't give her one glance, except for a black tom with silver streaks. She recognized him from Gatherings. Rippleblaze, the MarshClan deputy. He nodded at her, to show he noticed her, then continued to walk on. They all had prey in their mouths. They must be heading back to camp. She sat down, and stared into the river.
A MOON LATER
A yowl of pain ripped through the camp. Dreamriver was sitting in the Nursery, licking Eagleheart's head. This birth was going terribly wrong, and Sparrowleaf was keeping Hollowcry away, telling him to do certain things.
"Come on Eagleheart... you can do it."
Eagleheart had already had one kit. It had been born dead, sent much too early to the paws of StarClan. Eagleheart yowled, and another kit came.
"Come on. One more!"
Eagleheart had lost lots and lots of blood, and was very weak. She panted, and her eyes started to droop. Then, a spasm ripped through Eagleheart, and she pushed once more. The final kit came. Dreamriver looked over to see that Sparrowleaf had abandoned the second kit for the last kit. The second kit had also been born dead. Sparrowleaf licked the last kit clean, and cleared out it's throat. A faint mew came from it, and he quickly picked it up and ran to his done. Mumbling to Leopardwing on his way out. Leopardwing gave some poppy seeds, thyme and borage to Eagleheart. Soon enough, she had drifted to sleep.
Dreamriver saw Hollowcry come in.
"W-what happened?"
She got up and padded up to him.
"She had three kits, two died. Sparrowleaf has the last."
Right then, Sparrowleaf padded in wearily with the kit. He placed it beside Eagleheart.
"I can not do anymore for the kit. It is very weak. It'll be lucky to survive past one moon, let alone a night. I'm sorry."
Hollowcry nodded, and licked Eagleheart's head. He stared at the small tom. The tom was a tortoiseshell like Hollowcry.
"Just in case you don't make it. I shall name you right now."
He pressed his nose softly against the kit's forehead.
"Touchkit. Because you have already touched my heart."
Dreamriver felt her heart speed up, and she backed out of the Nursery. Then, a different yowl split across the camp. This time, a battle yowl. SandClan had attacked again!!
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