Oaksong's POV

I lay in my nest, nestled among the soft moss, when I felt Sandstorm stir beside me. She let out a soft mewl, a sound that jolted me awake. Blinking, I turned to her, concern prickling at the back of my mind. "Sandstorm, beloved, what's wrong?"

She hesitated, eyes wide, and then bolted out of the warrior den, her fur bristling. My heart raced as I exchanged worried glances with the other warriors who were now rousing from their slumber. Fireheart, always the attentive leader, flicked his tail and inquired, "What's happening?"

I shook my head, trying to make sense of the situation. "I don't know; she just... ran out." Just as I finished speaking, Sandstorm reappeared, her demeanor strikingly different—her eyes sparkling with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Sandstorm, what is it?" I asked again, feeling a sense of urgency grow within me. Before she could respond, Hareheart arrived, a soft smile gracing her features. "Oaksong, come here," she beckoned, her tone warm and inviting.

I followed Hareheart and Sandstorm, confusion swirling in my thoughts. "You're going to be a father, my son," she announced, her eyes gleaming with pride.

The world around me seemed to still for a heartbeat. The reality of her words crashed over me like a wave, filling me with a mixture of joy and disbelief. "A father?" I echoed, searching Sandstorm's face for confirmation.

"Yes," Sandstorm said, her voice steady yet laced with excitement. "We're going to have kits, Oaksong."

A rush of emotion swelled within me, and I felt my heart soar. "Kits... Our kits," I whispered, the words tasting sweet on my tongue. I glanced around at my family and friends, who seemed to share in our joy.

Fireheart approached, his expression warm and supportive. "Congratulations, Oaksong. You'll be a great father," he assured me. His words ignited a fire of determination within me. I could hardly wait to embrace this new chapter of my life, to protect and nurture our future family.

Sandstorm stepped closer, her eyes shining. "We'll figure this out together," she promised, her warmth enveloping me like a soft blanket.

I nodded, my heart swelling with love for her and the tiny lives that would soon be part of our world. "Together," I echoed, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead as a family.

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I yelped in surprise as Wolfkit swatted his tail against the ground, laughing. "Haha! I've got you now, big brother!" he shouted, leaping onto me, filled with energy and joy.

"Wolfkit!" I exclaimed, laughing as I rolled onto my side to let him play. "Where did you come from?"

"From the shadows!" he declared, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've been on an adventure!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "An adventure? What did you find?"

"A whole world of wonders!" he said dramatically, as if he had just returned from an epic quest. "And I discovered that I must fight great monsters to protect our family!"

"Great monsters, you say?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face. "What kind of monsters are we talking about?"

Wolfkit looked serious for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Just imaginary ones, of course! But I have to be prepared!"

"You're a brave warrior, Wolfkit," I said, nodding in approval. "But remember, even warriors need to rest."

"Yeah, but first I have to show you my battle techniques!" he replied, launching into another round of play. Every move he made was filled with pure enthusiasm and joy.

I watched the little tomcat playing in front of me, my heart swelling with love and pride. Soon, we would have more little ones like him, and the thought filled me with a warm sense of anticipation.

With a smile, I dove into the game, ready to join him in his imaginative world of adventure, battles, and laughter.

I watched as Wolfkit sprinted across the clearing, his tiny paws pounding against the ground with an eager enthusiasm. Just as I was about to join him, I saw him barreling toward Mousefur, who was grumbling as she made her way past. I rushed forward, reaching him just in time to stop his reckless charge.

"Whoa, Wolfkit! Hold on!" I exclaimed, catching him by the scruff before he could crash into her. Mousefur shot us a disapproving glance, her whiskers twitching in annoyance.

"Sorry, Mousefur!" I called out, letting Wolfkit down gently.

"It's not your fault," Hareheart said, lifting her head and giving me a soft smile. "But you should steer clear of the elder, Wolfkit. Go find Sandstorm instead. She's in the nursery and will appreciate some company."

"Okay!" Wolfkit replied, his eyes lighting up with excitement at the prospect. He darted toward the nursery entrance, his little tail flicking behind him.

Hareheart and I shared a glance, both of us unable to suppress our amusement at his eagerness. "He's getting faster every day," I remarked, my heart swelling with pride.

"Yes, and bolder, too," Hareheart said, her voice warm. "He's becoming quite the little warrior."

We watched him disappear into the nursery before I turned back to Hareheart. "Have you thought about what we might do today?" I asked, leaning closer.

"Maybe we could take Wolfkit and his siblings out for an adventure later," she suggested. "Show them the stream and let them catch some frogs."

I smiled, loving the idea. "That sounds perfect. They'll have a blast!"

Just then, Wolfkit's voice floated back to us from the nursery. "Sandstorm! Come play with me!" His excitement echoed through the clearing, and I felt a rush of warmth at the joy in his voice.

"Let's go see what they're up to," I said, nudging Hareheart gently. Together, we made our way toward the nursery, ready to join in the fun and laughter of our growing family.

As I stepped into the nursery, the warm scent of moss and sun-warmed fur enveloped me. Sandstorm lay nestled in her nest, Cinderpelt hovering over her, her blue eyes filled with a mix of concern and professionalism. "Your kittens are on their way; how long have you been feeling this way?" Cinderpelt asked, sniffing around Sandstorm's belly, her tone steady but gentle.

Sandstorm shook her head, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "I don't know. I just felt really queasy this morning," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. I could see the worry etched in her features, and it tugged at my heart.

Cinderpelt remained calm, tearing off a leaf and dipping it into honey. "Here, this should help settle your stomach. Just take a small lick," she instructed, her movements fluid and practiced.

I approached, settling down beside Sandstorm and resting my head against her flank, trying to comfort her. "You'll be fine," I murmured softly, though my own anxiety churned beneath the surface. I watched as she took the honeyed leaf, the sweetness contrasting with the tension in the air.

Cinderpelt glanced at me, sensing the concern in my eyes. "Every queen is different, Oaksong. Sandstorm is strong, and she has you by her side."

I nodded, grateful for her reassurance. Sandstorm sighed, the weight of her worries seemingly heavy upon her. "I just want everything to go smoothly. I want to be a good mother," she confessed, her voice thick with emotion.

"You will be," I said firmly, nudging her gently. "We'll figure it out together. You won't be alone in this."

Cinderpelt's expression softened as she added, "Remember, you have the support of your clan. Just take it one day at a time."

As I lay beside Sandstorm, I felt the warmth radiating from her. I wanted to ease her fears, to be the strength she needed. "We're in this together, Sandstorm," I promised, and for the first time that day, a spark of hope flickered in her eyes.

I opened my eyes to see Hareheart standing nearby, her warm gaze fixed on me as she smiled. "I know you're excited, Sandstorm. If you need help, I'm here for you," she reassured, her tone comforting and steady.

Just then, the nursery door burst open, and Dogkit, Wolfkit, and Bearkit tumbled in, a whirlwind of fur and energy. "We want to train your kits!" they shouted in unison, their voices ringing with youthful enthusiasm.

Sandstorm let out a soft murmur of joy, her whiskers twitching as she watched her little ones with pride. She stretched out a paw, gently swiping at them as they danced around her. "Settle down now, little ones!" she laughed, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"Come here, Bearkit!" I called, my heart swelling with warmth as the tiny she-kit bounded toward me. She crashed into my paws, all playful exuberance and innocence.

"Can we really train?" Dogkit asked, bouncing on his paws, eyes wide with excitement.

I exchanged a glance with Hareheart, who nodded encouragingly. "Of course, but first, let's make sure your mother is feeling okay," she said, her voice softening.

Wolfkit bounced over to Sandstorm, his gaze filled with determination. "We can help, right? We can be warriors like you, Mom!"

Sandstorm's expression shifted, a mix of pride and protectiveness. "You will be warriors one day, but right now, you need to learn to listen," she replied, her voice firm yet gentle.

I felt a surge of pride watching her interact with the kits, their energy filling the nursery with life and laughter. "How about we start with some practice right here? A little play fighting!" I suggested, eager to see the kits in action.

"Yeah! Play fighting!" they echoed, their voices bubbling with excitement as they took their positions, ready to pounce.

As the nursery transformed into a battlefield of fur and squeals, I couldn't help but smile. These moments, filled with laughter and love, reminded me of the strength and joy that family brought into our lives.

"Just remember, it's all about teamwork!" I called out, watching as Sandstorm joined in the playful chaos, her earlier worries seemingly forgotten in the face of her kits' exuberance.