By the time that they reached the ravine, Amberfeather had collapsed. She'd realised that last night's landing point had been just outside of ThunderClan's border, so it hadn't been a long journey.
"I can't go any further!"she wheezed, "The kits! They make it too hard!"
Sweetbriar and Oddeye exchanged a troubled glance,"Okay, we'll sleep. Birchmask, you take the first watch," the deputy ordered.
Gratefully, Amberfeather sunk down, too tired to fuss about bedding.
She woke up to see five cats sneaking down to ThunderClan. There was a small yellow she-cat, a black she-cat, a one-eyed tom and an orange tom. The fifth cat was no! Dandelionshade.
"Argh! Why don't we just attack now?" the yellow she-cat hissed.
"Because I'm waiting for Amberfeather to have her kits, Ashwing. When they're born, she'll be so focoused on protecting them that she won't notice her Clan dying like whispers around her,"Dandelionshade growled.
The one-eyed tom backed her up, "Yeah, Ashwing,"
The two other cats stepped to her aid as well.
"Thank you, One-eye, Violetslash, Hickorypelt,"Dandelionshade thanked sarcastically.
The three backed away before Ashwing continued,"But if we attack now, Amberfeather won't be able to co-operate in the battle,"
"We're attacking later end of story. Now, let's get back to spying," Dandelionshade snapped.
That was when Amberfeather noticed something about Violetslash, One-eye and Hickorypelt. They were ghosts.
Dread hollowed through her. In that moment, she awoke.
"Are you okay, you were mumbling in your sleep?"Shadowclaw roused her.
She glanced around, confused at what was happening. Everyone else but Oddeye, who'd had the final watch, was awake.
"We have to get back to camp!"she exclaimed,"Dandelionshade and some ghosts are spying on ThunderClan!"
☆☆☆

Soon, the five reached the camp. The kits had threatened her to stop, but Amberfeather wouldn't.
What if Dandelionshade found a weak spot?
Oh wait, she's coming when the kits are born. Argh! Whg can't they just stay in my stomach forever? It's work carrying them but still!
"Amberfeather oh thank StarClan you're safe!" Lakebreeze rushed up and purred at her. The queen had often stopped by the nursery as an apprentice, taking Birchmask and Shadowclaw off Wheatrye's paws and encoraging Amberfeather to open her eyes. Her stomach was a great size, so her kits would soon be alive.
"Yes, all thanks to these four,"
Oddeye puffed out his bare chest proudly as Sweetbriar went to tell Mothstar about their succsess, and maybe about the kits she was carrying.
More cats rushed over to welcome Amberfeather back, but some like Grapelight and Patchpaw hung back.
As Amberfeather was being congragulated, Lakebreeze let out a gasp.
"What? What is it?"
"M...my kits! They're coming!"she cried.
Amberfeather supported Lakebreeze through to the nursery, sympathetically knowing what it was like to be pregnant.
But I bet that giving birth is terrifying!
While she fretted, the first seizure captured Lakebreeze, and she yowled. The expectant she-cats squeazed into the nursery as another spasm gripped the kitting queen.
"Amberfeather...g...get Birchmask!" Lakebreeze screeched.
I can't leave a cat who's giving birth!
Glancing around wildly, Amberfeather spotted Squirrelpaw just outside of the den.
"Get Birchmask!"she yelled at him. In the midst of panic, she noticed that a strange air was pulsing off of Lakebreeze. She focoused.
Why didn't she tell me that she had a fever?
A few moments later, Birchmask lunged in,"What's happening?"he shouted.
"She has a fever!"Amberfeather explained quietly,"I...I'm sorry but it's too late,"
As she spoke, a grey head popped out, "But it's not too late for the kits!"
"No! I'm not giving up on Lakebreeze! I love her!"Birchmask squealed.
"I'm sorry. It's hard, I know but your kits need you to be strong for them. Lakebreeze, you can do it, keep kitting!"
"There are no more, he is my only kit!"Lakebreeze panted,"A...and Birchmask, please, take care of our son..."
"No! Lakebreeze please!"
"Let him know that I love him..."
"Don't leave!"
"And know that I love you with all my heart..."
"Lakebreeze!"
"Goodbye,"
"No!"Birchmask threw his head back in a wail of grief.
No.
As Birchmask nuzzled the kit, Amberfeather heard Lakebreeze's voice,"I will always be with you,"
Tears grew in her eyes while her brother sobbed,"I will call this kit Saltkit, as salt always reminds me of lakes,"
"I'm sorry,"Amberfeather's voice shook with emotion. But it wasn't enough. Sorry would never be enough.