Heartstorm sprung up. He leapt over sleeping warriors and burst out of the warrior's den. The sky was covered in clouds and it was raining lightly. Heartstorm didn't care. Nothing was going to spoil his mood. He spotted Cloudbreeze by the camp entrance. Cloudbreeze smiled at him and joined his side. Heartstorm headed for the nursery, his head spinning with joy and happiness to see Silverdrop and their kits. 

         "It's great, having kits, isn't it?" Cloudbreez remarked. 

          "It is," nodded Heartstorm. 

         "Daisykit has started to open her eyes," Cloudbreeze told Heartstorm. "They're still blue but I think they're going to be just like mine when they turn to their real colour. I think Heatherkit's eyes will be just like Acornheart's." Heartstorm nodded, thinking about his kits' eye colours. He trotted into the nursery, followed by Cloudbreeze. Silverdrop looked up. She smiled at him. He padded to her side and settled down beside her. Bumblekit was crawling about, trying to get more milk. Sagekit was sound asleep and Brightkit was moving about, trying to find the right position. Heartstorm studied Silverdrop. She looked tired but much stronger than she had the day before. He sighed in satisfaction and turned his attention to the kits. 

          "They're so cute," whispered Heartstorm, mesmerised. They were his kits. He'd protect them no matter what. He'd love them no matter what. Silverdrop smiled blissfully, leaning her head to Heartstorm's shoulder. She closed her eyes. Heartstorm watched the kits. He loved the peaceful atmosphere in the nursery. Cloudbreeze and Acornheart were talking while Daisykit meowed for food. 

         "Frogleap said that, although they were born early, they're healthy. Except... Sagekit... He said Sagekit might have.. trouble doing certain things," Silverdrop whispered into Heartstorm's ear. "But I don't care. I'll love him no matter what." 

           "I know, me too. Nothing will change it," Heartstorm agreed. Silverdrop's stomach gave a small grumble. 

           "I'll get you some food," Heartstorm said immediately. Silverdorp opened her mouth to protest. "Don't. You're too tired and you know it." Silverdrop closed her mouth once more and the look she gave Heartstorm was full of love and gratitude. Heartstorm smiled softly, stood up and slipped out of the den. The day was grey outside. Water splattered at Heartstorm's pelt. He shivered and fluffed out his fur. Ugh, rain. He hated rain. He padded towards the fresh-kill pile, avoiding mud. Not many other cats had woken up. It was almost dawn and Heartstorm only spotted the shape of two cats by the camp entrance. Heartstorm dug through the fresh-kill pile. There was only a pigeon, two mice and a vole. Heartstorm picked the pigeon as Silverdrop had already eaten vole the day before and the mice were scrawny and skinny. Heartstorm decided he had to go hunting later on to fill the pathetic fresh-kill pile. He trotted back to the nursery, shaking himself dry outside. He slipped inside and dropped the pigeon by Silverdrop's side. She thanked him and nibbled at the food. Brightkit awoke at the smell and started meowing for food. Heartstorm nudged her closed to Silverdrop so she could suckle on milk. 

         "I'm going to need to go hunting later. The fresh-kill pile is practically empty. No way it's going to feed the whole Clan," Heartstorm told Silverdrop. She nodded understandingly. "you'll be fine without me, right?"

           "Don't worry, I made it the night without you," said Silverdrop playfully. "I'll be fine." Heartstorm nodded. They talked in hushed tones as Sagekit and Heatherkit were still sleeping. Finally, Heartstorm heard the rain outside stop. 

          "I think I should go hunting now. I'll bring you something," Heartstorm told Silverdrop, getting up. 

          "I'm fine. I'm full," Silverdrop assured Heartstorm. 

          "We'll share something," Heartstorm insisted. He bent down, gave a small lick to each of his kits, gazed at Silverdrop fondly and walked out of the nursery. The sky was still downcast and it felt cold but at least it had stopped raining. Heartstorm gratefully headed for the camp entrance. He didn't want to go on a hunting patrol. He'd hunt for himself, Silverdrop and the Clan. He slipped out. The air was fresh and the ground wet. Heartstorm headed through the forest, staying alert for food. He stayed away from the river. He didn't want to go swimming in this weather and he didn't like the idea of getting wet right now. As Heartstorm hunted for prey, all he could smell was the aftermath of rain. He sighed, remembering what Brightheart had said. Rain was a new beginning. It gave life to plants... He understood why rain would be good in that sense but... rain was still annoying. Suddenly, Heartstorm heard some fluttering. He crouched immediately, glancing around attentively. He spotted a crow, pecking the ground. Heartstorm slowly crept towards the crow. He was focused on the bird. He finally thought he was near enough. He made sure he was ready and pounced. He caught the bird easily in his claws. He snapped its neck and quickly buried it under a tree. He sighed in satisfaction. A nice plump crow. He hunted for more prey till he had a pigeon, two voles, a mouse and a lizard. Heartstorm stared at the limp lizard on the ground. It was twisted in a strange way. With a shrug, Heartstorm took his haul back to camp, happy to find Silverdrop once more. He slipped into camp, dropped his prey into the now empty fresh-kill pile. Reedpelt spotted him and smiled. 

           "Thank you," Reedpelt said. "I just made had to organise a hunting patrol." Reedpelt seemed very grateful as he padded away. Heartstorm beamed proudly, took the plump crow and trotted to the nursery. He knew Silverdrop had already eaten but maybe she was hungry. He sure was. His stomach grumbled to prove the point. Heartstorm slipped into the nursery. Acornheart was licking her kits and Silverdrop was sleeping gently. Sagekit was wriggling around on the ground while Brightkit and Bumblekit were sound asleep. Not wanting to wake Silverdrop, Heartstorm dropped the crow, picked Sagekit up gently and settled down, letting Sagekit snuggle up to him. Sagekit stopped moving, settling down in Heartstorm's warm fur. Heartstorm watched Sagekit fondly. He took small bites of his crow. It was succulent and juicy. Just then Hawkflight poked his head into the nursery. He saw Silverdrop sleeping and lowered his voce.

            "Hey," he smiled. "I thought I'd just like to see the.. um.. kits." 

             "Of course," exclaimed Heartstorm. Hawkflight smiled. He padded over and bent down to look at Sagekit. 

              "He's so cute," whispered Hawkflight. "His fur is so white!" 

               "I know, isn't he beautiful?" Heartstorm asked fondly. 

                "He is. And Bumblekit looks exactly like you! It's like scary but so cute," Hawkflight said. Heartstorm smiled. It was great to talk to Hawkflight again. Hawkflight was almost like his son or brother. 

               "Is Silverdrop better?" asked Hawkflight. "I heard she almost... didn't make it." Heartstorm shrugged, remembering the horrible feeling of thinking Silverdrop was going to die. 

              "Yeah... but she's better now," Heartstorm said bravely. Just then Frogleap appeared. 

               "Good morning - well, it's noon, Acornheart. And hello Heartstorm and Hawkflight. Silverdrop is resting, good," Frogleap noted. 

               "Hi," said Heartstorm warily. When Frogleap was around, it meant something was wrong. 

                "Don't worry, it's nothing bad, I just came to check on Sagekit and give him this poultice I mixed. And this," Frogleap said, pushing some leaves to Heartstorm, "is for Silverdrop. To get her stronger." Heartstorm nodded. He didn't really agree with Frogleap that it wasn't anything bad. Why did Sagekit need poultice?

              "What's wrong with Sagekit?" asked Heartstorm.

             "Well, he's smaller and weaker and as he was born early, he might have trouble... surviving," Frogleap put in lightly. "Here, feed this to him." Frogleap dropped some sort of weird mix of herbs at Heartstorm's feet. He grimaced. 

              "Thanks," he said through clenched teeth while Frogleap checked Sagekit. 

              "I'll be on my way then, goodbye," Frogleap said curtly and slipped out. 

               "I hope Sagekit gets better soon. And Silverdrop," Hawkflight said earnestly. "It was good talking to you. I'll come and see the kits again tomorrow." Heartstorm nodded gratefully as Hawkflight retreated out of the den. Heartstorm stared at Sagekit, sleeping peacefully. He didn't want to disturb him but Daisykit was wailing already because of the strong smell. Acornheart turned to Heartstorm. 

              "Feed it to Sagekit. It stinks but it'll be good for him," Acornheart told Heartstorm. "Frogleap is always right." Heartstorm huffed and slowly licked Sagekit till he awoke. He brought the poultice to Sagekit's mouth. Sagekit gave a small cough and turned away. 

              "He doesn't want it," Heartstorm said, mostly to himself. 

             "Of course he doesn't!" exclaimed Acornheart. "But he must eat it." Heartstorm nodded and tried to push the poultice gently into Sagekit's mouth. Finally, Sagekit started chewing, meowing pathetically. Heartstorm felt bad. 

            "Don't worry, you don't need to feel bad," Acornheart said, as though reading in Heartstorm's thoughts. "It's good for him, even if he doesn't like it." Heartstorm nodded numbly once again. Silverdrop was slowly waking and so were Brightkit and Bumblekit. They were already starting to meow for food. 

             "Oh what's that smell?" sniffed Silverdrop, slowly getting up. 

              "Poultice. Frogleap made it for Sagekit," explained Heartstorm. Silverdrop's face fell. 

             "Oh..," she trailed off. "Is he going to be fine?" 

              "I'm sure he is," Heartstorm assured. Silverdrop sighed and Sagekit started to move towards her. Heartstorm picked him up gently and carefully placed him down next to Brightkit. 

               "Here," Heartstorm said, nudging the herbs to Silverdrop. "Frogleap said they're for you." Silverdrop eyed them.

               "I'm fine, I don't need those herbs," she shrugged. Heartstorm frowned. 

               "You have to," he said firmly. "I'll tell him if you don't eat it! It's for your own good." Silverdrop rolled her eyes. 

                "You wouldn't dare!" she said incredulously. To prove his point, Heartstorm looked out of the nursery and yelled, "Frogleap!" Silverdrop jumped. 

                 "Shut up!" Silverdrop said but sighed, gobbling up the herbs. She made a face and stuck her tongue out at Heartstorm. He didn't care, as long as he knew she was healthy. 

              "I smell crow," Silverdrop said. She spotted the half eaten crow on the ground. Heartstorm returned to it, offering some to Silverdrop. "I'm not hungry, thanks." Heartstorm finished the rest of the crow. He lay down on the soft sand, imagining being able to sleep there the whole night. 

               "Look!" cried Acornheart. "Daisykit is starting to open her eyes!" Heartstorm turned and saw Daisykit, her small eyes slowly blinking. Silverdrop smiled longingly. 

                "Her eyes are beautiful," said Silverdrop. They were, of course, blue. Heartstorm glanced at Heatherkit who was curled up next to Acornheart, sleeping. Daisykit and Heatherkit were slightly bigger than Brightkit and Bumblekit. They could scramble around, not really walking and could certainly cry out very loudly. 

                "I'm thirsty," Silverdrop said. She got up. Sagekit started to cry and Bumblekit wailed. 

                 "Hey! Sit down," Heartstorm said. "I'll fetch you some wet moss." Silverdrop slumped down once more. 

                  "Thanks," she breathed. She started to lick Sagekit clean while Heartstorm headed out to find some wet moss for his mate.