Poolpelt followed Briarfang, Blackpaw, and Braveheart through the snowy trees  as they headed back to camp after an early border patrol.

Soft greenleaf sunshine dappled her pelt, and a bee buzzed closer to her ear as it looped its way through a clump of frozen ferns.
Greenleaf was the time for where more herbs grew, and more prey flourished.

"It would be a perfect day to be lying on Icerocks," Blackpaw mewed wistfully.
Briarfang snorted. "I can't believe Silverstar hasn't done anything to take them back from those DawnClan sun-faces."
"She should have launched an attack the moment they moved the border markers." Blackpaw batted the air in a mock lunge. "Instead we have to watch those sun-faces loll about on our territory."

"We don't need the prey from Icerocks," Braveheart pointed out. "There's enough in the rest of the forest."

"That's not the point!" Briarfang snapped. "She's made us look weak. SmokeClan will be helping itself to Snakerocks next."
Poolpelt flicked her tail. "SmokeClan can have Snakerocks. It attracts more adders and foxes than it does prey."
A low growl rumbled in Briarfang's throat.

"Shedding blood over Icerocks is pointless," Braveheart argued. "From what the elders say, it's happened enough times in the Clan's history already. It's easier just to let them have it. We have enough prey."
"In greenleaf!" Blackpaw snapped. "But what about during leaf-bare, when we need every whisker of territory?"

Poolpelt narrowed her eyes. "If it becomes worth fighting over, then I'm sure Silverstar will fight." She wished she could shake away the doubt, from where Silverstar has looked more tireder and tireder and not to mentioned her blood-shot eyes, but she wouldn't stand for her Clanmates insulting the IceClan's leader.
Blackpaw curled his lip. "Has our leader been confiding in you?"
Poolpelt shrugged, as they reached the top of the ravine. She didn't want to start a fight with this apprentice, especially Feathershine's lover. Also, she actually admired Blackpaw's courage. "She doesn't need to, it just makes sense."
She shouldered past Blackpaw and bounded down the rocks.

Duskwing was basking outside the nursery. Her belly was so swollen with kits, she looked as round as a badger.
"Warm enough?" Poolpelt asked as she passed.
Duskwing lifted her head. "It can't be too warm for me," she purred.

Poolpelt headed for the fresh-kill pile.
"There's plenty of prey to choose from." Thornpaw was lying beside the tree stump with Amberpaw. "I caught a thrush and a vole myself."
Amberpaw flicked her tail across his ears. "Stop showing off!"
Thornwing lapped his paw. "I was just being honest."
Poolpelt's whiskers twitched. "Following the warrior code, I suppose," she teased.

She stepped out of the way as Icefrost came hurrying towards the apprentices's den.
"Hey, Thornpaw! Have you seen Silverstar?"
Thornpaw looked up. "I thought she went out with a hunting patrol."
Icefrost narrowed her eyes. "I thought so, too, but the hunting patrol's just came back and Silverstar's not with them."

Poolpelt tipped her head to one side. Had the rest of the border patrol noticed her sniffing for Silverstar's scent as they passed the Twolegplace border?
She couldn't forget seeing her hunting in Twolegplace, and since their trip to the Moonstone a moon ago, and her blood-shot eyes, the feeling that something was wrong with the IceClan leader had never entirely gone away.
Was she in Twolegplace right now, hunting mice?

Thornpaw gave up on his paw and padded over to the icy-colored tabby warrior. "Would you like me to look for her?" she offered.
Icefrost shook her head. "I want you to come with me on a patrol to check the border along the river," she explained. "DawnClan may have taken Sunningrocks from us, but they're not allowed to set one paw on this side of them. The dawn patrol picked up some scents as far as in the trees, so I think we should patrol there more often in case those sun-faces have any ideas about invading us. Poolpelt, you can come, too."

Poolpelt glanced at the tetering pile of prey. "Have I got time for a mouse?"
"Make it quick." Icefrost turned. "I'll round up Bluefeather and Snowheart."
Poolpelt gulped down a mouse as Thornpaw jumped to his paws.

"Are you coming?" She asked Amberpaw.
Amberpaw shook her head. "Rainpelt's teaching me some battle moves for my next assessment."

Thornpaw glanced at Poolpelt. "I guess it's up to us to scare off those mangy DawnClan cats." His fur bristled along his back. "Why can't they stick to their own territory? They don't even like voles."

Poolpelt flattened her ears, surprised by his fierceness. He'd been a little more than a kit last time they fought'd DawnClan; now he was ready to claw their ears off. She suspected he was secretly hoping they had crossed the border, which would give IceClan a reason to attack.
Blackpaw wasn't the only cat in IceClan who felt uncomfortable losing Sunningrocks without a fight. But still, she believed Silverstar had been right.

"A battle's no fun," she warned Thornpaw.
"At least you've had the chance to find out!" he complained. "I only ever get to meet the other Clans at Gatherings!"
Did he really prefer fighting to talking?
Poolpelt narrowed her eyes, then remembered Sunpaw. At least in battle you knew where you stood and whom you could trust.
She cuffed Thornpaw softly over the ear. "Come on."

He stopped arching his back and bristling as though he were already fighting, and followed Poolpelt as she joined Icefrost, Snowheart and Bluefeather.

As soon as they reached the new DawnClan border, Poolpelt guessed the dawn patrol had been mistaken. Though thr markers were fresh, the only DawnClan scents on the far side were so weak they could have drifted across on the breeze.
And yet at the sight of DawnClan warriors lounging on the cold rocks beyond made Poolpelt bristle.
She may have defended Silverstar's decision to let them take the rocks, but to see them using what had been IceClan territory made her claws itch.

Icefrost growled beside her, and Bluefeather plucked at the ground. "Silverstar's going to have to take them back eventually," she spat. "They insult us every time they set paws on those rocks."

"Cowards!" Thornpaw yowled across the boulder.
Bluefeather quickly tugged him back by his tail. "A smart warrior only starts battles he might win!" she hissed.
Poolpelt flicked her tail. "I'll be right back," she murmured. She needed to see which sun-faces smudged their rotten scent on her icerocks!

She jumped down the snowy ledge and hid into the frozen bushes nearby.

The DawnClan cats were basically grooming themselves.
Poolpelt recognized Sunpaw. Was she a friend or a an enemy now? Was she supposed to think of her as she does at Gatherings or in battle?

She growled under her breath. She couldn't see much in the bushes, she crawled out of them and leaped towards flat boulders where the group of DawnClan cats wouldn't see her.

A golden tabby pelt slid off the rocks and onto the soft snow and padded towards Poolpelt.
Goldenfur.
Trust the arrogant DawnClan warrior to push his luck.

"Well, hello Poolpelt!" He smiled at her.
Poolpelt hissed, flattening her ears. Even though a DawnClan cat, Goldenfur's eyes gleamed brighter when he saw her, and she found herself drawn into his gaze. "What do you want? I'm busy!"
Goldenfur purred and rolled onto his back as if he wasn't face-to-face with an enemy warrior. "Of course, of course! I actually admire you, Poolpelt."
Poolpelt raised an eyebrow. "Admire me? Why?"
Goldenfur gave a cheeky grin and sat up. "You're fierce, you're not afraid to speak your mind, you're talented, independent... beautiful."
Poolpelt was taken aback by the last one. Does.. does he really think I'm beautiful...? GAH! Why do I care!? And why is my heart beating so fast?

"Poolpelt!" Icefrost's sharp mew sounded behind her, but she couldn't break his gaze from his gaze.
She hissed once more, "DawnClan furball!" she spat.
Goldenfur's whiskers twitched amusingly and then turned and slowly padded away up the rocks.
Poolpelt shivered and jerked away.

"Don't let them get to you," Bluefeather advised.
Poolpelt nodded, wondering why secretly in her heart she wanted to see Goldenfur again.
She snorted frustratingly as she followed her Clanmates away through the snowy trees.

Silverstar was back when they reached the camp, sitting back in the frozen nettle patch with Bladewing. "Icefrost." She nodded in greeting to her deputy as they reached the clearing. "Is all quiet on the borders?"
"Yes," Icefrost replied. "Did prey run well for you?"
Silverstar nodded. "StarClan was good to me."
Nervousness swept through Poolpelt as she gazed past the IceClan leader and saw a plump starling lying in the fresh-kill pile.
Even though Silverstar had made a good catch, how could Poolpelt know for sure it wasn't caught in Twolegplace?

The nursery had stone scraping. Flowertail slid out, her eyes bright with worry.
"Duskwing's kits are coming!"

"So early?" Swiftfur whipped her head around. "They're not due for half a moon." Her eyes shimmered with worry for her daughter.
Bladewing got to his paws and hurried from the frozen nettle patch. "Is she okay?"

Flowertail didn't answer. Instead she called to the kits's father. "Darkcloud! Will you stay with her while I get supplies?"
Darkcloud backed away, looking startled.
Has he forgotten Duskwing is having his kits? Poolpelt thought with anger.
"I think it's best if I leave it to you and Owlpaw." Darkcloud sounded awkward. Was he just being squeamish?
Swiftfur snorted and squeezed into the nursery. "I'll watch her!"

Swiftwing padded out of the Elders's den with Stormclaw beside her. "New kits!" she rasped, eyes shining.

Flowertail hurried toward the medicine den and nearly ran into Owlpaw, who was wandering out of the tunnel. "Watch where you're going!" Owlpaw snapped. Then she froze. "Sorry!"
"Duskwing's kitting!" Flowertail yowled as she dove inside the medicine cat den

Feathershine slid out of the warriors's den and climbed down. "Did I hear that Duskwing's kits are coming?"

Owlpaw's face went pale. "What do I do?"
Flowertail yowled as she came racing back from the medicine den with a leaf wrap tight in her jaws. "Get medicine supplies!" She scrambled back into the nursery.
Owlpaw did as told, went inside the medicine den, came out with herbs and went inside with Flowertail.

"It's been so long since there've been kits," Swiftwing sighed.
Springleaf picked up a squirrel and carried it to the shade below Highrock. "We might as well eat," she told Swiftwing. "These things take time."

Poolpelt began to pace until her black paws ached. As the Clan cats began to return from patrols and hunting parties; they gathered in the clearing, eyes flicking more anxiously toward the nursery as time passed with no word from Flowertail.

"Shouldn't you be with her?" Springleaf called pointedly to Darkcloud, who was crouched by the frozen nettle patch.
"What could I do?" Darkcloud answered. "I'm no medicine cat."
Springleaf began to mutter something in Bladewing's ear and turned her gaze back to the nursery.

Ravenbird and Snowheart sat at the edge of the clearing.
"There'll be more warriors for IceClan by nightfall," Ravenbird meowed.
Snowheart flinched as a agonized wail sounded from the nursery. "May StarClan light their path," she murmured.

The sun began to sink low over the snow-filled trees when Rainpelt and Amberpaw padded into the snowy camp.
"How was training?" Poolpelt called to her old denmate.
"Rainpelt says I should be fine for my assessment." Amberpaw trotted over and nodded toward the nursery. "What's going on?"

"Duskwing's kitting," Poolpelt told her.
Rainpelt's tail flicked. "Already?" Her eyes clouded with worry. "How long has she been at it?"
"Most of the afternoon."

The nursery stone scraped as Owlpaw squeezed out. Her eyes were glittered with tension, and her pelt was sticking up along her flanks.
Poolpelt hurried to meet her. "Is she okay?"
Owlpaw ignored her. She trotted towards the medicine cat den and went inside. She came back out with prickled leaves and went back inside the nursery.

Pelts were bristling around the clearing as the Clan realized that all was not going well.
The entire Clan was uneasy.

Bladewing, Icefrost, Briarfang, Hawkflame, and Rainpelt paced the clearing, their pelts pricking as though frustrated that they could not fight this battle with Duskwing.
Snowheart pressed against Bluefeather while Swiftufr and Braveheart circled them, glancing every now and then at the darkening sky.

Darkcloud gotten to his paws and was padding along his Clanmates. "We must eat," he meowed. "Starving ourselves won't make these kits come any quicker."
Poolpelt scowled at him. These kits?! They were his kits! Didn't he care?!

Icefrost nodded and took a frozen pigeon from the fresh-kill pile.
Thornpaw picked up a squirrel and carried it awkwardly to the tree stump.
Blackpaw was already eating with Feathershine beside the frozen nettle patch.

Icepaw looked up and caught Poolpelt's eye. "Join us," she called. She was sharing a mouse with Amberpaw.
Poolpelt padded gratefully toward the two apprentices. She wasn't hungry but needed the comfort of sharing food with Clanmates.
Her thoughts wandered towards to Goldenfur earlier the day...

Why did his sun-like eyes make my heart skip a beat?

Why did his golden, handsome fur make me want to keep smiling at him?

Why do I want to seem him again?

As she took a bite of the mouse, she glanced to the nursery.

While the Clan shared tongues after the meal, Silverpelt began to glitter overhead.
Icefrost yawned and got to her paws. "There will be duties tomorrow...whatever happens tonight." She glanced at the nursery and padded away to her den. Nodding and sighing, the rest of the Clan cats began to melt away to their nests.

Braveheart padded past Poolpelt. "You have to sleep, too," he meowed.
"I will...soon," Poolpelt promised, knowing it would be impossible. How could she sleep, knowing Duskwing was suffering?

As Braveheart padded away, a tiny wail sounded from the nursery. Poolpelt jumped to her black paws. A kit?
Flowertail stepped out of the nursery. "The first kit has been born!" she called. "A she-cat!"

Heads poked from the dens, and murmurs of joy and relief rippled around the snowy camp.
Poolpelt rushed past Flowertail and pushed her way into the nursery. "Is Duskwing okay?" she demanded.
Swiftfur was lapping Duskwing's ears; she looked up, her eyes glowing with hope.

Poolpelt looked down and saw a small, gray she-cat with dark grey paws and pale blue eyes.

Owlpaw was busy crouched over the young queen, and Poolpelt held her breath as another kit plopped onto the cold moss. Flowertail came in and lapped it and, grasping it by its scruff, dropped it beside its littermate at Duskwing's belly.

"One more to go," she mewed.
Duskwing shuddered as the last kit fell into the nest.
"A tom!" Flowertail mewed happily. She lapped it and placed it beside the other two.

Swiftfur purred as Duskwing strained to lap at her three kits. Relief and joy flooded Poolpelt, and she backed out of the nursery.

The Clan had gathered around Darkcloud in the clearing.
"Congratulations!" Briarfang meowed.
"Another battle fought and won," Icefrost purred.

Ravenbird raced up to Poolpelt. "Have you seen them?"
She nodded. "Two she-cats and a tom."
"Did you hear that?" Ravenbird turned over to Snowheart. "Two she-cats and a tom."
The news whispered like wind through the Clan, and purrs rose from the clearing.

Flowertail stepped away from the nursery and padded across the clearing. "Don't celebrate too soon. Those kits may not survive." Shoulders hunched, she disappeared into the shadows of the stone tunnel.

Her words echoed behind her, sending shivers through the Clan.