I THINK I HAVE FAILED TO MENTION that I was the nosiest kit ThunderClan had ever seen. Well, at that time, when I saw something interesting, I would blurt it out. I've proved that when, one day, Snowfur and Thistleclaw had a scandallous conversation (in my opinion). I swear, I was nosier than the notorious elders!

It was a quarter moon after Pinestar left, and Leopardfoot said that I could go in the clearing. I saw Snowfur come out of the medicine cat's den. She sighed deeply, and her eyes glowed. Thistleclaw ran over to her.

"What is it?" Thistleclaw mewed.

"We need to talk..." Snowfur looked all over the clearing, "...in private."

Thistleclaw nodded, and they both went out of the gorse tunnel. I knew it was none of my business, and I couldn't leave far, but I was curious. *What's going on?*

Snowfur and Thistleclaw went behind a tree, not far away from the tunnel. Everything was huge, and I thought I'd faint! But, I need to find out what they were talking about. I snuck into a bush, hoping to get good sound reception, without being seen.

"What is it?" Thistleclaw murmured.

Snowfur hesitated. "Do you--do 당신 remember that belly ache I have?"

Thistleclaw nodded. "What about it? Is there something wrong?"

She purred, shaking her head. "Nothing's wrong. Turns out, it isn't a belly ache."

"What do 당신 mean?"

"Well," Snowfur started, "I visited Featherwhisker today, and he brought me good news. I just, need to be out of patrols for a while."

"Why?" Thistleclaw panicked. "Are 당신 hurt?"

"No," she meowed, "you worry too much!" Snowfur leaned against Thistleclaw's flank.

"You're hiding something from me," he said, sternly. "Tell me what's wrong."

Snowfur sttod up, took a deep breath, and started to speak. "Thistleclaw, I'm expecting kits."

*What?*

Thistleclaw stared in disbelief. "What? Are 당신 sure?"

Snowfur nodded, purring.

"Really?"

"Yes," she purred.

"But," he hesitated, "we're barely warriors! Don't 당신 think we're a little young?"

"Maybe, yes," Snowfur agreed, "but I'm excited! 당신 should be, too. I mean, we're going to be parents!"

"Yeah," he mewed, "I'm very thrilled. And our Clan does need warriors. There are only two apprentices."

"Yes," she agreed.

This is jucier than the time I found out that Lionpaw put burrs in the elders' beddings! I couldn't wait to tell the Clan!

"I 사랑 you, Snowfur," Thistleclaw whispered, "and I'll 사랑 our future kits, just the same."

Snowfur purred. "I 사랑 you, too."

Then, they brushed their muzzles against eachother's.

"Yuck!" I exclaimed, aloud. Oops!

"Who's there?" Snowfur exclaimed, very self-conscious. I inched out from under the bush, hoping to run quickly back to camp.

Hopefully they don't notice.

"Tigerkit!" *Busted, again!* Thistleclaw's yowl made me jump.

"Were 당신 there the whole time?" Snowfur gasped.

"Yup!" I squeaked.

Snowfur sighed with annoyance. "The Clan is now going to find out soon enough. Tigerkit, *please* don't tell Bluefur! She's going to burst her skins!"

I nodded. I know that I had to tell the Clan not to tell Bluefur, because secrets spread like sickness.

"Let's take 당신 back to camp," Thistleclaw mewed to Snowfur, pressing his muzzle to hers. He then turned and glared at me. "Both of you."

I squirmed as Thistleclaw picked me up 의해 my scruff. "I know how to walk 의해 myself!"

"Yeah?" Snowfur meowed. "Well 당신 don't know how to keep your mouth shut!"

We made it back to the camp, and, *Thank StarClan!* no one noticed I was gone. Even Swiftbreeze didn't notice!

"Go in the nursery, Tigerkit!" Thistleclaw mewed. He looked at Snowfur, softening his gaze. "You should go in, too."

"Not yet," she said, "I want to have one last patrol."

"You were in a battle when 당신 were expecting kits!"

"Okay," she meowed. "I'm going. Promise to visit me later!"

"I promise," Thistleclaw nodded and stalked away.

I leapt back into the nursery. "Snowfur's going to have Thistleclaw's kits!" I exclawimed to Leopardfoot and Swiftbreeze.

"What?" Swiftbreeze was stunned.

"*Already*?" Leopardfoot gasped, then purred. "Well, I guess 당신 can't deny true love."

Snowfur walked in. "Tigerkit, how could you?"

"What?" I shrugged. "You didn't say anything about me not telling Leopardfoot and Swiftbreeze."

Snowfur dug her claws into the earth.

"Relax, Snowfur," Swiftbreeze meowed. "It's always nervouse the first time. I'll help 당신 build a nest."

"Thanks," Snowfur sighed.

Soon, Snowfur was settled, making a nest close to the braken tunnel. Afterward, Thistleclaw bounded in, with a ground squirrel, 의해 the looks of it, in his jaws.

"I got 당신 the biggest vole I could find." *Close enough.* Thistleclaw dropped the fresh-kill.

Snowfur purred. "Thanks, Thistleclaw." She took a bite of the vole. "Is Bluefur here, yet?"

Thistleclaw nodded. "She just got back from patrolling."

Snowfur got up, "I need to tell her. She'll freak out, but I can't keep this from my sister long."

"We'll save the fresh-kill for you," Leopardfoot called.

"Thanks," Snowfur took a deep breath. "Bluefur is not going to like this."

"You're doing the right thing," Swiftbreeze encouraged.

Snowfur nodded, and went out of the braken tunnel.

"You are very lucky to have her, Thistleclaw," Leopardfoot mewed.

Thistkleclaw looked from outside the braken tunnel. "I know."

Featherwhisker then came in. "Is Snowfur settled?"

We all nodded.

"Good," he said. "How are Mistkit and Nightkit?"

"Weak," Leopardfoot muttered, "and sick. You're right; they won't make it. They don't even have the strength to lift their heads."

"I'm sorry," Featherwhisker meowed, "I did all I could do."

"It's alright, Featherwhisker," Leopardfoot mewed, licking between Mistkit's ears. "You did your best. Now, all we have to do is wait." My mother nuzzled my sisters clower to hear. The two toms left. Then, I'd noticed that Mistkit and Nightkit smelled very different. There was a strange tang that made me queasy, and both of them were gaunt and cold. Should I tell Leopardfoot? Mistkit then fluttered her eyes. They were dull and weary. Nightkit's eyes were the same.

"We'll miss you," Nightkit rasped, then purred, "you little runt."

"We're sorry, Tigerkit." That was the first time they called me Tigerkit in days! It was usually "runt" 또는 "weakling". *Who's the weakling, now?*

"I'll miss you, too," I whispered.

"Mom," Nighkit lifted her head, "I'm so cold."

"It's okay," Leopardfoot whispered. "You'll be warmer when 당신 get to StarClan."

"What's it like?" Mistkit rasped.

Leopardfoot started to tear up. "In StarClan, 당신 can roam all and sleep all night. 당신 wouldn't have the care in the world. All the moss bits 당신 can play with, all the 우유 in the world."

Nighkit feebly lifted her head. "Will 당신 come with us?"

"No," my mother sobbed. "I'll stay here, with your brother."

"It won't be the same in StarClan," Mistkit cried, "without 당신 또는 Tigerkit."

"We'll miss you," Nightkit whispered.

Leopardfoot shushed them lightly. "Go to sleep, now. 당신 can eat when 당신 wake up."

Nighkit shuddered as she fell asleep. Mistkit sighed softly, but deeply. The stench from their pelts was stronger, and they seemed darker. Leopardfoot didn't seem to notice and she fell asleep. *I have a feeling they won't wake up again...*



A shriek in the dawn light awoken me the nest morning. Leopardfoot was wailing with grief, and Swiftbreeze bowed her head. Snowfur stood beside my mother. In the middle of the two queens, there were two small bodies, freezing cold and stunk with an odorous tang. *Mistkit and Nightkit!* I looked up from my still sisters, meeting Leopardfoot's eyes, that were dull and grief.

"Are they--" I hesitated, feeling a sudden pang of sadness, "--dead?"

Leopardfoot nodded, sobbing. She reared her head back and wailed loudly. Featherwhisker sprinted into the nursery.

"What is it?" Featherwhisker exclaimed as he walked in. "Pain? Fox, a badger? I'll get--oh!"

Featherwhisker's gaze met my dead sisters.

"They didn't wake up from their nap," Leopardfoot cried. "I asked them if they were hungry. They didn't reply. They were freezing and they had a strange scent. I knew that they were dead." Leopardfoot was sobbing violently.

"It's okay, Leopardfoot," Swiftbreeze cooed.

"No!" her daughter snapped. "It's not okay! First my mate leaves me, now my daughters! What's next?"

Snowfur hugged closer to her grieving friend. "Leopardfoot, trust me. Things will get better, for all of us."

Leopardfoot was still crying. I hugged closer to her.

"It's alright," I mewed, "as long as I'm here, nothing will harm you."

My mother brushed her cheek against the side of my face. "Oh, my son!" she prayed. "Thank StarClan for such a wondercul son!"

*When I become leader,* I vowed, *I will make everything better.* ...


Chapter 5 coming soon!!!