Chapter Text
When the dream took shape, Tawnypaw found herself standing at the base of a large pile of rocks, much larger than the walls of the gorge she had grown up in. Above her, the half moon cast its rays down upon her, lighting the world in a dull silver-gray glow. And before her was the gaping maw of a cave, tendrils of darkness seeping out until they met moonlight.
Tawnypaw frowned, confused. Usually, when she and Echosong made their half moon visit to the Whispering Cave, she was at her mentor’s side, often with a Starclan cat waiting to guide them to solve their most pressing issues in the clan. Now, though, when they were the most desperate for guidance, she found herself here, in a place she had never been before, with not a cat in sight.
“It’s pretty tonight, isn’t it?”
Scratch that last part. Tawnypaw whipped around, heart leaping into her throat and claws unsheathing as she caught sight of a light brown tom padding towards her, stars spotting his pelt. He tilted his head at her actions, and Tawnypaw forced herself to relax as he approached, dipping her head in greeting to the Starclan cat.
“Who are you?” She asked. “Where am I?”
“I am Mudfur, an old medicine cat,” the tom replied amiably, halting next to her. “You’re Tawnypaw, aren’t you? Jayfeather’s spoken a lot about you.”
“He has?” Tawnypaw asked, surprised. Neither she, Echosong, nor Hawkpaw had heard anything about the strange cat since his mysterious appearance right before Sharpclaw’s death.
“Of course. It’s his job to watch over your brother, and you’ve woven yourself quite firmly into his destiny.” Mudfur chuckled. “You’re too much like your mother, he says. Determined to get to the bottom of everything.”
Tawnypaw drew a paw over her ear, embarrassed.
“Where are we?” she repeated after a moment, noting that her second question had yet to be answered.
“You would not have heard of this place,” Mudfur shrugged. “But I grew up calling this place Mothermouth. Those mountains up there are Highstones.”
“You’re not a Skyclan cat, are you?” Tawnypaw asked, realizing what he was suggesting.
“No. Skyclan was both before and after my time, I’m afraid. I was born and raised in Riverclan.”
“This is where the other clans live?” Tawnypaw asked, looking behind her to try and find signs of inhabitation, but found only the light of a large Twolegplace off in the distance behind them. Mudfur was shaking his head when she returned his gaze to him.
“No,” he said quietly. “But Barley will know this place. You and he must come here, and discover what you need to do to defeat Darktail and the other threats Skyclan faces.”
“Barley?” Tawnypaw echoed. The elderly tom had stayed with the clan for the last three moons in the elder’s den as Ravenpaw’s health had deteriorated. Now that the former Thunderclan apprentice was only days away from death, she had assumed he’d want to stay in the clan with his niece and nephew, much less take an arduous journey to some far-off monument.
“Skyclan’s answers will be found at Highstones,” Mudfur repeated, looking at her with a star-studded gaze. “You must come if your clan is to survive the war that is to come.”
“Wait, survive?!” Tawnypaw exclaimed. Skyclan’s existence was in danger? Cyanide was that dangerous?
“Skyclan has grown the roots it needs to survive. Now it must harken back to the days of old, and return the third to its rightful place alongside the other two to save the clans.”
Before she could ask just what he meant by that, the world faded into black, and Tawnypaw woke up.
Tawnypaw’s eyes blinked open, the ache of her muscles and the dripping of the Whispering Cave alerting her to her presence in the waking world. Slowly, she stretched so as to not aggravate the new aches in her limbs from sleeping in such a damp place. As she stood, the events of her dream came back into her mind, and she moved quicker, bounding over to Echosong as she slowly woke as well.
“Sleep well?”
Tawnypaw looked up to see Juniperpelt sitting a couple fox-lengths away from them, the newest warrior in the clan now that Hollyfrost was on bedrest, grooming himself as the first rays of dawn peeked through the opening of the cave, causing the wet moss to glow silver.
“Like a kit,” she replied happily as Echosong sat up with a grunt, elated that she had experienced such an important dream. She had to go on a quest to save Skyclan! Like Firestar!
“Did you dream? I didn’t see you in mine,” Echosong commented, rising to her feet. Tawnypaw nodded energetically. “Well, I suppose you won’t tell me about it? You can go on ahead, Juniperpelt. Don’t fall in the river.”
“Rude,” the cream tom quipped, flicking his tail to show he meant no harm. With a well-timed jump, he was off and out of the cave with ease.
Hurriedly, Tawnypaw relayed the contents of her dream to Echosong, doing her best to recall what Highstones and Mothermouth looked like, as well as the odd directives Mudfur had given her. Echosong’s tail twitched as she got to the point when Mudfur had told her to journey to the place in her dream, looking slightly torn.
“What did you dream about?” She asked once she had finished. Echosong hesitated a moment before answering her.
“I spoke with Fawnstep and Rainfur,” she said. “They warned me that a dark threat is preying on our apprentices and young warriors, and that “the three,” whoever that refers to, must be reunited. It seems our dreams were connected on that topic.”
Tawnypaw frowned. “The three? But the only special cat we know about is Hawkpaw, and we haven’t heard of any other cats having powers like his.”
“And yet the prophecy does specifically denote there being three cats with the power of the stars in their paws,” Echosong mused. “But it’s odd. Skyclan is so young; there hasn’t been time for large extended families to form. Sparrowpelt doesn’t have a mate, as much as he and Tinycloud dance around each other, and Brambleclaw has no other family in the clan. That would leave… hm.”
“Leave what?” Tawnypaw asked, blinking.
“Brambleclaw has family outside of the clan, I think, but they live very far away. If you want to know more, I suggest you ask him about it. I will certainly have to.”
Tawnypaw blinked at that. She’d never given her father’s kin outside of them much thought before, not like Featherpaw had earlier in their apprenticeship. She realized, quite suddenly, that he would have had a mother and father like she did, and most likely littermates. Idly, she wondered what had happened to them. Juniperpelt and Brackenfall had stuck together as loners, but from what she’d heard, rogue cats living with their parents into adulthood like that was quite unusual.
“We’ll need to talk to Leafstar about this,” Echosong hummed, interrupting her thoughts. “Especially if Starclan so desperately wants you to go to this Highstones place. With the medicine den so full, I don’t even know if I can spare you.”
“But I have to go if Starclan needs me to!” Tawnypaw protested. Echosong merely flicked an ear, beginning to walk out of the cave.
“We’ll see,” she replied vaguely as Tawnypaw hurried to catch up to her without slipping on the moss-covered rocks. “Perhaps we can speak with Brambleclaw as well. If anyone would know who Mudfur is, it’d be him.”
Tawnypaw pushed aside the questions that comment spawned, squinting her eyes against the glare as they left the Whispering Cave. Above them, the gorge was just beginning to come to life in the light of the rising sun. The daylight warriors (who had stayed overnight to avoid facing the dogs again with decreased numbers) were largely already awake—Tawnypaw could see Billystorm grooming Leafstar by the leader’s den, and Ebonyclaw and Macgyver were speaking near the warrior’s den. She couldn’t see Brambleclaw, but Firepaw and Hawkpaw were sunning themselves near the apprentice’s den, so that was a bit of a relief. After Sparrowpelt’s patrol had returned last night, having seen neither head nor tail of the rogue group, she’d worried that her brother would feel guilty. At least his shock had seemed to die down.
“Echosong!” There was a distressed call, and Tawnypaw turned to see Barley hurrying over to them. His ears were flat and he seemed to emit a desperate sense of grief. He slowed as Echosong rushed to meet him by the river. “It’s time. Brambleclaw’s with him now, but he doesn’t have long.”
Ravenpaw. Tawnypaw’s breath shuttered in her lungs. The tom’s presence in the medicine den had become a staple part of her life. She’d known—everyone had—that nothing shy of a miracle would let him recover from the mysterious sickness that was plaguing him, but the thought of him actually leaving—or dying? She found it nearly impossible to comprehend.
“Tawnypaw.” Her mentor’s voice, calm with a sense of resigned acceptance, jerked the tortoiseshell out of her thoughts. “Come. We have to make sure he’s not in pain.”
“Y-yes, Echosong,” Tawnypaw replied with a dip of her head, trying to still the shake in her paws as they rushed over to the medicine den, Echosong taking the lead. They were there in ten heartbeats flat, ducking into the entrance of the den.
Harveymoon and Hollyfrost, who’d been required to stay overnight due to their wounds, had already been awakened by the commotion, and Tawnypaw glimpsed them watching them come in with wide eyes. But she paid them little attention, instead turning her gaze to Ravenpaw’s nest, which was next to hers. The lithe black tom was easily dwarfed by her father’s larger size, as he had situated himself next to his old friend as he struggled to breathe, grooming him gently.
Echosong picked up some coltsfoot from their rapidly dwindling stores, along with one of the few poppy seeds left from the meager amount Tawnypaw had been able to find a couple days ago. As Brambleclaw moved to allow Barley to take his place, Echosong fed him the seeds, which Ravenpaw lapped up weakly.
Tawnypaw watched the three, paws itching to do something—anything! But her mind was frustratingly blank. All of her teachings so far were about healing with the intent to make someone better, not to comfort them in their final moments. Instead, she situated herself closer to her father, trying to stay out of Echosong’s way.
"It's okay, Ravenpaw," Barely murmured quietly, tail trailing along his old friend's spine. "We'll be alright."
Ravenpaw's eyes flickered open for a moment, clearer than they had been for days. He locked eyes with Barley, then Brambleclaw. He nodded slowly at the brown tabby, and Brambleclaw's shoulders sagged, as if something important had passed between them.
Then Ravenpaw's eyes fluttered closed. One breath rattled his body, then two, and then…
Nothing.
It was over.
Echosong looked away as Barley stifled a small sob. Brambleclaw let out a long breath, drawing himself up and turning to Tawnypaw to brush his muzzle against hers in a motion of comfort. Tawnypaw simply watched, somehow feeling detached from it all, as Echosong delicately placed some sprigs of lavender along Ravenpaw’s pelt, murmuring softly to Barley as she did so.
“Let’s go, Tawnypaw," Brambleclaw said quietly, voice thick with grief. "We need to fetch Bellapaw and Rileypaw, and tell Leafstar and Sparrowpelt what's happened."
"Yeah, I guess," Tawnypaw said, forcibly tearing her eyes away from Barley and briefly borrowing her face in her father's flank as if she was a kit again, breathing in his scent and finding a small sense of comfort in his presence.
What was she going to say to Rileypaw and Bellapaw? The two apprentices looked up to Ravenpaw like a father or grandfather. They only recently had seemed to understand that his sickness was a terminal one.
Brambleclaw led the way out of the medicine den, and Tawnypaw trailed behind him, heart thundering in her chest.
She didn't like this part of being a medicine cat at all.
The day passed slowly, yet agonizingly fast, after that. She told Bellapaw and Rileypaw the news, and quietly endured the grief from them both as the reality that one of their parental figures was dead crashed down on them. Rileypaw was particularly angry, and Barley had to take the apprentice aside and talk to him so he didn't attack the medicine cats for "not doing their job." As sunhigh came and went, the elders, working with Echosong to prepare the body, placed Ravenpaw's body near the Rockpile. Tawnypaw went out with Juniperpelt and Plumwillow to hunt for herbs that afternoon, in an effort to avoid having to look.
Mudfur's words still tingled in the back of her mind, however. And it seemed the half-moon dreams had not left Echosong's mind, either, as at sundown she called Tawnypaw and Hawkpaw over to the leader's den.
Tawnypaw ducked around the undergrowth covering the entrance of Leafstar's den behind Echosong, Hawkpaw on her heels. Letting her eyes adjust to the dimness of the den, she was mildly surprised to see Barley and Brambleclaw there as well as Leafstar and Sparrowpelt, all of them sitting near the back of the small cave.
"Why do you want to talk to us?" Hawkpaw asked, looking rather confused at the meeting. "Is this about my powers?"
Barley blinked, sharing a look with Brambleclaw, who simply flicked an ear in a way that conveyed dissatisfaction. It was easy for Tawnypaw to see that they had only been invited after a long discussion, and she had a gnawing feeling in her belly that it was because of the dream Mudfur had given her. She couldn’t help how her paws sang at the thought. Despite how bad today had been, the idea of going on a quest to save the clan was still as invigorating as ever, and a welcome solution to the troubles the clan was facing.
"In a way," Leafstar admitted, motioning for the two littermates to sit as she herself stood to address them. "Tawnypaw and Echosong both had very important prophetic dreams in the Whispering Cave last night, and after a long discussion, we have decided to follow Starclan's wishes."
"I'm going to Highstones?!" Tawnypaw burst, excitement singing through her veins. Echosong shot her a look as Hawkpaw tilted his head in confusion.
"What's Highstones?" He asked. "Why do you need to go there?"
"Highstones is a very important place from the Skyclan and the other four clans' original territory, and very close to where Barley lives," Brambleclaw spoke up. Tawnypaw's eyes flickered over to her father in surprise. The old territory of the other clans? Had her father been there before? "It houses the Moonstone, which was our version of the Whispering Cave. If Starclan wants you to go there, it is for a very good reason."
"How far away is it?"
Brambleclaw shifted, looking uncomfortable. "It depends. When Seedtail, Cherrytail and I came to Skyclan, we were intercepted by Darktail and had to go around them and through the Twolegplace. The travel time from the original territory to here was perhaps a moon."
"It took Ravenpaw and I, with the kits, half a moon to walk here," Barley put in quietly.
"When Firestar came," Sparrowpelt said. "He said it took him and Sandstorm a little less than that. But they were two warriors at the peak of their health, and Darktail hadn't arrived with Cyanide yet. Leafstar, Brambleclaw, and I have discussed this in length, and we've decided that you'll be taking the long way, the one Brambleclaw and his companions took through the twolegplace."
A moon? Tawnypaw let out a breath, some of the initial excitement ebbing away at the thought. That was a long time to be gone, and it would set her back on her training significantly. She was already facing a long apprenticeship thanks to being a medicine cat, did she want to extend that even further?
"So am I going on this trip?" Hawkpaw asked after a moment of silence. Leafstar shook her head.
"Not if I can help it. Your powers make you valuable, Hawkpaw, and we can't afford to risk your safety and set you back so significantly on your training. You're here because Echosong and Tawnypaw's dreams may have indirectly mentioned you. But we'll get to that in a moment. Sparrowpelt?"
"We've decided who to send on this patrol with you," the Skyclan deputy picked up where she left off. "Barley, as Mudfur requested, will guide you to Highstones."
"I would have returned home moons ago if circumstances had permitted," said tom put in. "As good as you all have been to me, I'm not a clan cat at heart. I will be staying at Highstones as a loner once we arrive.”
Hawkpaw shifted, looking conflicted, while Tawnypaw nodded sympathetically. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Ravenpaw and Barley had always spoken of the “barn” they called home fondly. Her heart panged as she realized that the former had never gotten the chance to return home.
“Juniperpelt will also be on the patrol,” Sparrowpelt continued. “Since he grew up a rogue, his skills with traveling and living without a clan will be invaluable. Seedtail will be acting as a secondary guide, and Waspwhisker will be the senior warrior leading the patrol.”
“While you’re gone, Tawnypaw,” Echosong added. "Juniperpelt will serve as a mentor of sorts. He'll teach you how to hunt and be able to provide for yourself if something happens during the journey.”
Tawnypaw took in a long breath, and nodded. Juniperpelt was alright to hang around, she supposed, and she probably would need to hunt for herself. Echosong had only given her a couple battle lessons so far; hunting had been postponed in the chaos of the last moon.
“We’ll expect this journey to take at least two moons,” Leafstar finished. “You’ll leave in a few days, once we speak to Juniperpelt, Seedtail, and Waspwhisker. If Starclan believes the survival of our clan lies at the Moonstone, then we expect you to act as a full medicine cat would. Do you understand? This is a very important mission.”
“Yes, Leafstar,” Tawnypaw answered, bowing her head even as her tail trembled with anticipation. She was going to see the old territories, the ones she had only heard about in stories!
“I’ll miss you,” Hawkpaw said quietly, drawing Tawnypaw’s attention back to her brother. The brown tabby looked rather worried but also excited for her, which Tawnypaw could understand. She would have to leave the company of the clan and her family during the journey. But Seedtail was practically an aunt to her, and Juniperpelt was usually fun to hang around, so it wouldn’t be too bad. And Hawkpaw would have the whole clan to protect him! He’d be fine.
“I just hope I won’t miss your warrior ceremony,” she elected to respond, winking at him. Hawkpaw flicked an ear in embarrassment as his eyes darted towards Leafstar.
“It would be close,” Brambleclaw agreed, speaking up for the first time. Unlike Leafstar, Sparrowpelt, and Echosong’s cautious optimism, he seemed less thrilled about this whole idea. “Cherrytail or I’d come with you—Starclan knows I have experience with going on long journeys—but the risk is too great that we’d be recognized, either by Cyanide or a rogue who knows them. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Of course I will!” Tawnypaw hurried to reassure him. “I’m on a mission for Starclan! They’ll keep me safe.”
Something flickered in her father’s eyes, and suddenly Tawnypaw wished she had Hawkpaw’s powers. He wasn’t telling her something. As it was, she glanced towards Hawkpaw, but he had already shifted his attention back to Leafstar.
“You said this journey might concern me?” He asked, tilting his head. Leafstar nodded.
“We aren’t certain, but Brambleclaw has some information that may pertain to the other part of Tawnypaw’s dream. Can you tell us what Mudfur said again, Tawnypaw?”
Tawnypaw paused for a moment, trying to recall the conversation, then spoke.
“Skyclan has grown the roots it needs to survive. Now it must harken back to the days of old, and return the third to its rightful place alongside the other two to save the clans,” she recited. “I’m not too sure what it means, though.”
Echosong nodded, sharing a look with Leafstar.
“It doesn’t sound like a prophecy,” the medicine cat said cautiously. “It’s more a directive than anything. But the first part… Skyclan having roots is a continuing motif in the advice and prophecies Starclan gives us.”
“What does it mean?” Hawkpaw asked.
“That we must have ‘connections’ and entrench Skyclan in its place in the gorge to survive,” came the reply. “Besides that, Mudfur is a Riverclan cat, not a Skyclan one. His appearance and the use of the word ‘clan s’ instead of ‘clan’ makes me think that the four clans may be involved in this issue in one way or another.” At this, Hawkpaw shifted. “We suspect that the other two in this prophecy may live in the other clans.”
“So far away…” Hawkpaw murmured, mulling over the information. Tawnypaw blinked as Echosong shrugged. One Hawkpaw is more than enough, thank you very much.
“Perhaps. The three might not even pertain to you at all.”
“So to recap,” Tawnypaw mewed. “Barley will be leading a patrol with me, Waspwhisker, Juniperpelt, and Seedtail to Highstones, and there might be a threat besides that that involves more cats like Hawkpaw and the other four clans. That sounds like fun.”
“Indeed,” Leafstar chuckled, a faint, stressed sort of amusement seeping into her voice. “I think that is all. We all have a lot to think about right now, so Hawkpaw, you have the evening off, but I expect you to be on the dawn patrol with me tomorrow. Tawnypaw, I’m sure you and Echosong have more to discuss, so I’ll grant you your leave as well. Good night.”
Tawnypaw and Hawkpaw ducked their heads in unision, and Barley and Brambleclaw stood up as well as the two littermates made to leave. Letting a fresh breeze brush past her face as they exited the den, Tawnypaw grinned, pawing at the ground in a sort of elated, nervous excitement. She was going on a trip to save the clan!
“Are you really going through with this?”
Tawnypaw paused, looking over to Hawkpaw. Her brother had a worried expression on his face, and seemed to be much less excited than she felt. Sensing he wanted to talk (again) she paused at the side of the path, letting Hawkpaw lead her to a nearby ledge.
“Why not?” She questioned, sitting down. Hawkpaw didn’t follow her lead, instead shuffling his paws nervously, as if he was resisting the impulse to pace. “Hawkpaw, you heard what we said. Mudfur said the clan was in danger!”
"You said we were going to be in this together! Now you're taking off to some far-away place, and I have no idea if you'll ever come back!"
Tawnypaw snorted, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry, Hawkpaw. Firestar and Sandstorm made the trip twice and were just fine. And remember our parents? Cherrytail got kidnapped by twolegs and got out alright. I'll have plenty of protection; don't worry."
"You didn't answer my first question."
"First off, that wasn't a question. Secondly, what do you expect me to do? Disobey Starclan and let Skyclan die off?"
Hawkpaw frowned at that but didn't reply, lashing his tail about in frustration. Tawnypaw simply rolled her eyes.
"Tawnypaw!" The two apprentices looked up to see Echosong leaving Leafstar's den and heading to her own. "We need to redress Harveymoon and Hollyfrost's wounds."
"I'm coming!" Tawnypaw called back, moving to go before briefly turning back to her brother. "Don't worry so much. You and I'll be fine."
Not waiting for a response, she leapt onto a nearby ledge, walking along it to merge onto the path Echosong was taking. Her mentor slowed to allow her to catch up before speaking.
"You seem rather excited to go on this quest," she remarked. Tawnypaw flicked an ear, an ember of embarrassment forming in her belly.
"Well, yeah," she responded after a moment. "I have a chance to save Skyclan. Who wouldn't want to help?"
"It's a lot of pressure to put on an apprentice," Echosong said simply, sending her a motherly look. Tawnypaw tilted her head, confused.
"What? Do you think I can't do it?"
"I don't think you understand what's being asked of you."
That didn't make any sense. "Is there something I'm missing?"
Echosong hummed, thoughtful. "Yes: experience. But that will come in time, I suppose. There isn't much else you can do to get it. You have to be prepared for this journey to be very difficult, Tawnypaw. You don't know how hard your father fought to keep you off this patrol. Adding Seedtail was our compromise."
"Really?" Tawnypaw's stomach churned at that. The thought of her own father fighting against her leaving didn't sit well with her. He’d always been so supportive in what she wanted to do, especially when she’d taken interest in becoming a medicine cat.”
"I don't blame him. If Starclan had not requested you specifically, I wouldn't have agreed either."
Before Tawnypaw could respond, they turned the corner to reach their den. Sitting in front was, surprisingly enough, Ebonyclaw and Macgyver. The former of the two noticed them first, and stood, her partner following a couple heartbeats later.
"Ebonyclaw, Macgyver," Echosong greeted them amiably. "Congratulations. I suspect you're here for a confirmation?"
Tawnypaw blinked in surprise while Macgyver's ears lowered in embarrassment. Ebonyclaw, on the other paw, laughed out loud.
"I knew you would figure it out," she chuckled, flicking Macgyver with her tail. Her mate scoffed, batting her back with a paw. "I told you, Macgyver. The medicine cat always knows."
"What is it?" Tawnypaw questioned, glancing between them. Echosong chuckled as Ebonyclaw smiled.
"I'm expecting Macgyver's kits," the senior warrior announced, with a giddiness that was quite unlike her. "I've already gotten a confirmation from the vet, Echosong, but I did want to talk to you both."
"Of course," Echosong said as Tawnypaw congratulated the couple. "Would you mind if we stayed out here? The medicine den is a bit crowded at the moment."
"I'm fine with that," Macgyver shrugged, sitting down. Tawnypaw and the others followed suit, and he waited a moment before continuing. "As I'm sure you know, Echosong, Ebonyclaw is the first daylight warrior to expect kits. We've been a bit conflicted on how to raise them, considering we love both our Twolegs and the clan, and feel both deserve to know them."
Echosong nodded sagely. "The rogue problem has no doubt complicated the issue."
Ebonyclaw's face fell. "Yes. I'm afraid so. The attack with the dogs yesterday forced our decision, I'm sad to say. Once I'm able to return to my Twoleg nest, I'll be staying there for the rest of my pregnancy."
Tawnypaw started. "But wouldn't staying in camp be easier?" She questioned. "There's a bunch of warriors everywhere, and Echosong and I have the supplies to help you!"
Ebonyclaw shook her head, but it was Echosong who answered.
"Twolegs have very good medicinal care, even for cats like us," she explained. "It's very rare for a cat to die while under their care. I understand where you're coming from, Ebonyclaw. I'm sure Leafstar will allow you to take the necessary leave from clan life. Do you plan to bring them to camp at all?"
Tawnypaw frowned, feeling off-put at her mentor's words. She knew that Echosong had once been a kittypet, but hearing her admit her own limitations so blatantly just didn't sit well with her. They were medicine cats! Healing was what they did, and they were good at it!
You couldn’t help Ravenpaw, some small part of her whispered. Tawnypaw pushed it away.
"Yes. Once they are well enough to travel, we'll bring them to the nursery to stay with the clan permanently." It was Macgyver who answered this time, sharing a look with his mate. "Probably when they are a moon or so old; before the Twolegs take them away. If the dogs are still around by then, however, we would need a patrol to guard us for the trip."
"I'm sure Leafstar would agree with you," Echosong agreed. "Would you mind if I visited every once in a while? Twolegs have good care, but I'd feel much better at heart if I could see you myself."
"As long as you're safe," Ebonyclaw replied, shooting her a knowing look. Echosong purred.
"How far along are you?" Tawnypaw asked suddenly, realizing that Ebonyclaw had fought the dogs the other day alongside the other daylight warriors, while pregnant. Pregnant!
"A little less than a moon." The happiness in Ebonyclaw's voice returned again, and her tail twined slightly with Macgyver's.
"Well, I'll let you lovebirds get to sleep," Echosong chuckled. "Hollyfrost and Harveymoon should be able to go home tomorrow." Macgyver laughed as Ebonyclaw leaned down to lick her chest hairs in embarrassment. In a couple of minutes, goodbyes were exchanged, and the two were gone, heading to their temporary nests in the warriors' den.
"How did you know?" Tawnypaw asked when they were gone, following Echosong into the den. "That she's pregnant, I mean."
"I haven't taught you much about pregnancy and birth yet, have I?” Echosong mused, shaking her head. “Then again, Ebonyclaw is the newest queen since Mintfur. Here, go get some cobwebs. I'll tell you once we're done treating everyone's wounds."