A few mornings later, Amberfeather awoke with pains in her stomach. First she was frightened that the kits were coming, then she reassured herself by remembering how early it was. The pain was more...urging. Like she needed to do something. Amberfeather heaved herself out of her nest and briefly reflected on how obvious her pregnancy was becoming. Heavily, she walked over to Shadowclaw. Her sister was near Mothstar and Sweetbriar, the leader and deputy of the Clan.
Shadowclaw didn't notice her approach.
"Hi,"she meowed, straining to get the tiredness out of her voice,"I...I heard that Lakebreeze is gonna have Birchmask's kits...that's good,"
"W...what? Oh! Amberfeather...did you say something?"Shadowclaw meowed. She sighed and shook her head in annoyance.
"Sorry...Mothstar said that I could mentof and apprentice!"Shadowclaw blurted out,"And I'm nervous!"
"Oh...okay..."Amberfeather padded away, feeling weighed down by the amount of cats that she took with her.
Before she reached the fresh-kill pile, Mothstar lept up onto the Highrock, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"he yelled.
Gradually, ThunderClan sat beneath his perch and waited gor the gathering to begin.
"Berrykit and Redkit,"Mothstar started,"You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become apprentices,"
"Shadowclaw, you've shown determination and cunningness and I trust that you will pass these qualities onto Redpa-"
Mothstar cut off as a cat sprinted into camp, wailing.
"Squidflower!"Oddeye exclaimed, "What is she doing?"
The SkyClan she-cat caught her breath for a moment then coughed slightly, glancing around the camp with wide scared eyes, as if trying to plead with sight rather than sound.
"Mothstar!"Squidflower rasped, "Y...you have to help SkyClan! Stripedwhisker is panicking a...and Stonestar's...i...i...ill!"