Heartstorm had not guarded Cinderstar for a whole quarter moon. Reedpelt had said it was because Frogleap said that Heartstorm couldn't be trusted near Cinderstar. Heartstorm though, was very relieved. He had more time to spend with Silverdrop and his kits. Silverdrop said she felt good enough to walk around camp now and Frogleap approved. So together they walked towards the elder den as Brightkit had asked. 

           "Is Pigeonfeather really in the elders den when he isn't even old?" asked Brightkit excitedly. 

            "Yes," sighed Heartstorm. "But he's was a very good warrior." Silverdrop smiled kindly. 

            "Is Floodwhisker nice?" asked Bumblekit. 

              "Of course he is," assured Silverdrop. They passed a few bushes and lounging int he sun was Floodwhisker and Pigeonfeather. Pigeonfeather beamed at the kits. 

             "And this must be Brightkit," Pigeonfeather said, looking at Brightkit who ambled up to him to stare at him. "And you must be Bumblekit. I see the resemblance to your father. Silverdrop's told me a lot about both of you." 

              "Do you mind if we leave them with you for a while?" asked Silverdrop. Pigeonfeather nodded. 

             "Of course," he exclaimed. Heartstorm and Silverdrop thanked him. Heartstorm bent down in front of Brightkit. She was more likely to cause trouble. 

              "Don't be rude, understand?" Heartstorm said sternly but lovingly. Brightkit nodded. "And do as Pigeonfeather and Floodwhisker say." Brightkit nodded once more. Silverdrop licked both kits goodbye and they slipped away. 

               "They're more than a moon old now and they're old enough to eat real prey. Brightkit has been bugging me about it," Silverdrop said. Heartstorm agreed. 

                "They'll be so excited when we tell them," Heartstorm grinned. 

               "I know," smiled Silverdrop. 

                 "Tonight, instead of them drinking milk I'll give them a mouse or something," Silverdrop said. 

               "Brightkit is going to love it. She keeps complaining that Heatherkit and Daisykit can eat real food but she can't," chuckled Heartstorm fondly. 

                "It's been a long time since we've gone on a walk, just us," Silverdrop said blissfully. They headed for the camp entrance but Heartstorm stopped. 

                "Are you sure you can go out?" Heartstorm said worriedly. 

                "You heard Frogleap," replied Silverdrop sternly. "Let's go." Heartstorm sighed and followed Silverdrop out of camp. Silverdrop trotted about happily even if the air was frosty and their breath turned into silvery mist. Heartstorm fluffed up his fur and followed Silverdrop through the forest. 

                  "One night we should let Acornheart take care of the kits and we can go out for a walk at night. To the hill. Like we used to," Silverdrop said. Heartstorm smiled at those memories. Their first meeting at the hill hadn't gone too well but Heartstorm found he missed his nightly strolls with Silverdrop. 

                  "Yeah, that'd be great," smiled Heartstorm. "Brightkit would be happy we're finally treating her like an adult." 

                  "Is Cinderstar getting better?" asked Silverdrop. 

                   "Huh?" frowned Heartstorm. 

                   "You bit her on the neck. Gave her quite a thrashing, according to Eelfrost," Silverdrop said. 

                 "Oh yeah. I don't really know. Haven't been in the medicine den. Only been right outside when Bumblekit wants to visit Frogleap. I don't like going in and seeing Cinderstar," shrugged Heartsorm. 

                     "Heartstorm," Silverdrop said in exasperation. "You've got to see her. I mean, don't you want to know if she's improving?"

                   "Not really," Heartstorm said truthfully. Silverdrop rolled her eyes but smiled. 

                   "And you let Bumblekit go into the medicine den alone?" Silverdrop asked. 

                   "There's always somebody guarding Cinderstar and Frogleap's there too," Heartstorm said. "Bumblekit can manage." Silverdrop sighed. They walked in silence, both thinking about Sagekit. 

                   "I wonder what Sagekit would have thought...," Silverdrop murmured. 

                    "What do you mean?" asked Heartstorm. The image of Sagekit's small limp body flashed in his mind and a wave of sadness threatened to wash through him. 

                   "I mean, about growing up. About going out of the nursery, about eating real food, about seeing the elders, about Cinderstar, about the medicine den. About everything," Silverdrop said, her eyes sad. "I miss him so much." Heartstorm hung his head. 

                  "Me too," he whispered. Suddenly, Sparkbelly burst out of the bushes. He smiled at Heartstorm and Silverdrop. 

                  "Ooh the lovebirds out for a walk," he cooed. Silverdrop raised an eyebrow and didn't look very impressed. 

                   "Hey, Sparkbelly," grinned Heartstorm. 

                   "There's a Gathering tonight, you going?" he asked. 

                  "Dunno, Thornstar hasn't said yet," shrugged Heartstorm. Sparkbelly peered at Silverdrop. 

                   "When will he chose you? You never go," Sparkbelly said. Silverdrop didn't answer. She padded away. 

                    "She doesn't want to," defended Heartstorm. "I don't think I want to go tonight. If Thornstar says I'm going, I'll tell him to replace me. I wanna spend some time with Silverdrop... and the kits." 

                    "Oh yes, of course, the kits," Sparkbelly nodded. "Well, see you guys then." He beamed and trotted away. Silverdrop gave Heartstorm a questioning look. 

                  "What's with him?" she asked. 

                  "He's always like that," shrugged Heartstorm in amusement. "We should get back." Silverdrop nodded and they headed back to camp. Before picking their kits up from the elder's den, Silverdrop chose a plump moue from the fresh-kill pile and they headed towards the elder's den. Bumblekit was lying on the ground, staring at a ladybug while Brightkit was looking mesmerised by a story old Floodwhisker was telling. Pigeonfeather smiled at Hearststorm and Silverdrop. Bumblekit leapt to his feet and stumbled towards them. 

                "Hi Mum. Hi Dad," he grinned. 

                 "Hey Bumblekit," smiled Heartstorm. Silverdrop dropped the mouse. 

                  "And I was trapped. There was nowhere to go. So I faced the fox. It had sharp fangs and it was three times as big as me. But I leapt at it, fearlessly an raked by claws across its snout. It was so surprised! You should've seen the look on its face. So I then bit into its tail and it gave the loudest cry ever. It was even funny. And it ran off. Scared away the fox myself, I did," Floodwhisker bragged. Brightkit gaped. She hadn't even realised Silverdrop and Heartstorm had arrived. 

                 "Were they good?" asked Heartstorm. Pigeonfeather nodded. 

                 "Of course," he said. 

                  "Say thank you Bumblekit. We've got a surprise for you," Silverdrop said. Bumblekit thanked Pigeonfeather. Heartstorm trotted to Brightkit and nudged her gently.  

                 "Say thank you to Floodwhisker and bye. We've got to go," Heartstorm whispered. Brightkit squeaked a thank you and Floodwhisker grunted in response. Then the four cats padded back towards the nursery. 

                 "Why do you have a mouse?" asked Brightkit. 

                 "You'll see," said Silverdrop knowingly. They all sat down on the soft sand in the nursery.

                  "you both are old enough to eat prey," declared Heartstorm. Brightkit squealed and Bumblekit's eyes went wide. 

                   "Yay!" exclaimed Brightkit, leaping to her feet. Silverdrop put the mouse to the ground. 

                   "Take small bites," she said. Brightkit leapt at the mouse and sunk her teeth into it. Bumblekit did the same. Brightkit gobbled down the meat, frowning slightly. She grimaced then smiled. 

                  "Wow! It's so good!" she cried. Bumblekit chewed slowly then gulped down the food. 

                  "Tastes weird," he muttered. 

                   "You'll get used to it. Now that you can both eat prey, you can try pigeon, fish, vole, sparrow and even lizards," Heartstorm said. Silverdrop beamed proudly. 

                 "Lizards?" gaped Brightkit. "That's weird!" 

                 "Is it hard to catch lizards?" asked Bumblekit. 

                  "not if you know how to," Heartstorm said. 

                 "Can you teach me? Please?" asked Brightkit. 

                 "Of course," Heartstorm said. The kits took a few more bites then returned to wrestling with Heatherkit and Daisykit. Heartstorm and Silverdrop finished the rest of the mouse, watching their kits lovingly.