Spottedrose pulled her paws further underneath her chest. She had woken early with pains in her stomach. When she went to visit Dewdrop, the medicine cat was still in a deep sleep.

After she had woke up, she quickly inspected Spottedrose. "Have you eaten anything bad?" Dewdrop asked as she sniffed her calico pelt.

"No, just normal fresh kill." She promised. She wasn't aware of eating anything out of the ordinary.

Dewdrop sniffed all along the she-cats pelt. After a moment, she had her lie down so she could inspect her flank. It looked bloated, and felt a little hard to the touch.

"Have you had any pain or discomfort before today?" The medicine cat asked slowly. Spottedrose had to think hard, she was pretty sure this was the first time her stomach had hurt this way.

"No this is the first time." She meowed. The ache in her stomach was slowly subsiding. Even though it wasn't severe, it was still constantly there.

After a deep breath and then a long, drawn out sigh, Dewdrop sat down to look at her. "I think you may be pregnant," Dewdrop observed, "maybe about a moon or a moon and a half."

Spottedrose stared at the white and silver medicine cat in a sort of happy astonishment. She couldn't be expecting kits! That would mean there was only one possible cat that was the father.

She felt her pelt warm all over at the thought of bearing these kits. Her tail thudded happily on the floor of the den while she lay, Dewdrop still inspecting her.

"You seem pleased," Dewdrop meowed, "so you know the father then?"

A purr was rising in Spottedrose's chest, louder than claws scraping across rock. "Oh yes!" She mewed happily.

It was as if her depression over the countless lonely nights was finally ebbing. If Blizzardstar really was dead like her clanmates said, she would have his kits and bring his noble blood back to the forest.

Dewdrop was looking at her expectantly, clearly wanting to know who her mate was. Spottedrose was not paying attention, she was just positively overjoyed with the news.

She rolled back over and stood to leave. Then she finally noticed Dewdrop looking at her. "Oh, well..." she meowed softly, "it doesn't really matter who the father is. He's dead anyways." Her voice choked a little on the last words, clearly still not over that grim fact.

"Your mate has died?" Dewdrop asked curiously. She only knew of one cat who had died recently. "Was it Rockclaw?" She asked seriously.

"No... not Rockclaw." She purred. Dewdrop shuffled her paws, becoming very nervous.

"Was it.. Blizzardstar?" She whispered, her voice rising with disbelief. Spottedrose's pelt prickled at Dewdrop's tone. Obviously the medicine cat was not at all pleased with this news.

"You may go to the nursery and make yourself a nest," Dewdrop suddenly dismissed her, "you should not be leaving camp for any warrior duties for now on. Only light exercise."

"Okay, Dewdrop." Spottedrose murmured. She lowered her gaze as she dipped her head and quickly left the medicine den. Dewdrop's reaction had left her heart thudding in her chest.

I wonder if she is going to go tell Oakstar, she thought worriedly. Atleast she knew that IceClan would take her in if she was banished once more. But with the death of Blizzardstar, she wasn't sure if they would treat her the same.

As she ducked inside the nursery, she had to stop and let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the den. It was empty, but there was still a tiny bit of fluffy moss in the corner to make her nest. As she started to nestle herself into her tiny bed, she could hear pawsteps approaching quickly.

"Spottedrose, are you in there?" An angry growl sounded right outside the den entrance. Her paws felt cold when she instantly recognized the voice. It was Oakstar.

"Yes, I'm in here." She meowed softly. She curled her tail around her slightly enlarged belly. When he slid into the tiny space of the nursery, he turned his head to look at her.

"Dewdrop has come to tell me you're expecting kits." He meowed curtly. Spottedrose could tell he was holding back a very strong emotion. But if it was anger or joy, she could not tell. He just looked like he might explode, or suddenly start yelling at her.

"Are you upset with me?" She whispered. She stared down at her paws, not wanting to see the disapproval in his gaze.

"I should be." He meowed simply. She felt his tail tip touch her side, and she looked up at her father. She thought he almost looked sad.

"I just want you to be safe." He meowed. Spottedrose felt an argument bubbling on her tongue from that statement. She knew if he just accepted peace like Blizzardstar, they would all truly be safe. But now was not the time for arguements.

"I want my kits to be safe, too." She meowed sternly. If Oakstar knew who her mate was at all, she must be sure that her kits would never be harmed.

"Yes, I will always be sure to protect my kin." He purred as he scooted a little closer to Spottedrose's side. It almost sounded forced but she wasn't going to reject this unusual affection from her father.

"I think I'd like to try and rest now." She meowed, a little embarrassed to have to ask him to leave. He jumped up and nodded, "yes, I'll leave now. Just remember that Dewdrop said no warrior duties."

He glanced back at her one more time before leaving the den. Spottedrose could see he was fighting with mixed emotions about all of this. She wasn't even so sure herself yet.

She had only just been told that she was having kits. But who would help her raise them? Would they want to be warriors here, or would they want to be in IceClan. Then an intensely upsetting thought occurred to her; would she even ever tell them who their father was?

She wasn't sure. Oh Blizzardstar, I wish you were here to help me with this. She looked up at the roof of the den, hoping to see through the branches to the pre dawn sky. But she was closed in, and she felt a million miles away from ever seeing Blizzardstar again.