"So when you entered that battle... were you aware that you were one and a half moons pregnant?"

I look down. "No."

My wounds are deep, but luckily my stomach wasn't damaged at all.

Nightsky sighs in frustration. "You're sure?"

"No."

"No kicks before this?"

"No."

"Nothing at all?!"

"No."

"Volcanoheart, you deal with her. Go on, tell her just how irresponsible and atrocious her behavior is." She pushes my grandfather up against me, his old and grayed muzzle pressed up against mine.

"Well, Icestorm, why don't I tell you a story while Nightsky works that anger off a little bit, hmm?"

"Why not." I stretch myself out in the comfy den, the warm and safe place that's been my home for the last week or so.

Volcanoheart purrs, obviously content with my answer. I wonder if he misses the days when I was still the fluffy, overexcited kit who would sit here and curl up with him for hours. Maybe he misses the days when my mother would do the same.

"When I was about your age, there was a huge onslaught of kits. So big that the warriors could hardly provide for them. Cats would get sick, complain of pains because they were feeding everything to the kits. Our clan was attacked relentlessly- you see, this was only a few moons after DarkClan was formed, and as such-" he sighs, his eyes fogging over as if he was watching a great tragedy- "We lost many warriors to them, but the worst losses were from within. Heathertail. Vinestripe. No one ever had talked to Darkheart much... and then the next thing we knew, she was leading a clan. Kind of like... Cinderstar."

"Don't." I growl. "Just... don't."

He shakes his head. "Anyhow... for a long time the clan was starving, and while gathering herbs, I met a rogue who had plenty of food, right outside of DC's territory in neutral ground. We shared food, and as a habit, I met her out there, and we fell in love. She actually cared about me, wasn't angry at me, didn't yell at me... she wasn't like the others. Next thing I knew, she told me she was going to have kits- and then it sunk in what I had done. StarClan was furious. However, she died during kitting... and so I couldn't just leave her kits to die. I took them home, and named them after her favorite birds- Owlkit and Ravenkit."

"What did the clan say?" I ask, curious. Volcanoheart never told me anything like this before.

"Well, they knew for a while I was up to something, and by then all those kits had become apprentices, so there was room in the nursery. Owlkit and Ravenkit fit right in, and although Spottedstar agreed I could keep my position, out of desperation if nothing else, I still had a punishment. StarClan never talked to me again."

"What about the prophecy? Ice will freeze the storm of souls." I quote, repeating the line I had etched into my mind. Before he can answer, I feel excruciating pain sear my spine. Not now! I still had so much to ask! I yowl in pain, puffing hard.

"Stick!" Volcanoheart yells as Nightsky bounds over. Cats suddenly flood the medicine cat den, all of them worried. I recognize the newly made warriors, Lilyfrost and Hawktalon, watching from a distance. I glare at Lilyfrost, but the pain is too much to bare.

I feel one kit slide out, pain gripping me, coupled with relief. Before the pain ceases, another slides out, and now Firepool is yelling words of encouragement, telling me to keep calm. Nightsky is licking the new kits, trying to get them breathing. Finally, the third comes out, and it's all silent. I nudge the three kits towards me, allowing them to suckle vigorously. I lick them all- they're perfect. All three are breathing well and suckling hard. It's all I could've asked.

"Two she-kits and a tom." Nightsky tells them, "Now get out! Let her have some privacy. You can look at the kits later." I see some of the older kits peering at my children, and defensively I shelter them with my tail, keeping them warm.

"What will we name them?" Firepool whispers.

"Snowkit and Brightkit for the she-kits. Look how white their fur is. It's just like mine." I say happily, "And the tom looks just like you!"

He looks down at the ginger kit, who's mewling pitifully. "Rabbitkit." He says finally, "Look at those ears. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like them."

I nod. "Perfect. They'll grow up to be big and strong," I whisper, "Like you."

The deputy stands over us, watching the scene. "They're very nice kits."

"Blazefur!" I say, surprised.

"Congratulations." He nods. "Anyways, after the attacks... I'm glad they weren't harmed. Mothstar needs to see you after this, Volcanoheart. She needs to know if StarClan has said anything to you."

"The prophecy!" I say. "Ice will freeze the storm of souls." I can't look up, I'm too focused on my kits.

"My, my. I thought..." Blazefur looks confused, as if I had just told him that there was a rabbit fighting cats out near the wheatfields.

"StarClan broke my punishment for this." Volcanoheart explains. "Here, I'll come in a minute."

He looks... angry? Scared? Why isn't he happy?

I ignore him. Nothing could hurt me today- I am now the mother of three kits. I just hope nothing happens to them.