Blossomfur's POV:

Blossomfur yawned as she fell into her nest, burying her muzzle in the soft, warm moss. Around her, the three tom kits snuggled around her with sleepy mews of their own.

Hollowkit, Windkit and Rainkit. Shadeheart had chosen the names after returning from a hunting patrol. Blossomfur purred as Windkit took up his position at her belly with Rainkit and Hollowkit curling together around their brother.

As the three kits closed their eyes to sleep, Blossomfur felt her own kits stir within her. She could feel them pushing at the three bundles pressed against them, as if they were curious of the newcomers. Soon you will meet them, my little ones. She promised, giving her swollen belly a lick. And you will all grow up to be strong warriors.

The sound of pawsteps made Blossomfur look up and she saw Shadeheart walk into the den. She purred and shuffled to one end of the nest to make room for him, but the dark furred tom shook his head. "Wait."

"What is it?" Blossomfur looked up at her mate, searching his face. She saw his usually bright, golden eyes were dull. Deprived of all happiness.

"I won't be sleeping here tonight. I've... Got things to do." He murmured, a grave look on his face.

"What are you doing then?" She asked, her thoughts immediately turning to Bluesnow. Was he going to stay with her instead?

After some silence, Blossomfur whimpered. "But it's cold. Why can't you stay with me?"

"You have the kits to keep you warm." Shadeheart replied, avoiding her question.

He's going to Bluesnow! Blossomfur was sure that was the case. Why else was he keeping it a secret? Jealousy raged within her, but the she cat fought to keep a calm look. "Alright, fine." She mewed, turning her head away from him. "You have fun."

A bitter snort left his jaws.

Blossomfur heard him turn around and begin to leave. She didn't spare the tom a single glance as he left the den.

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A howl echoed through camp, jolting Blossomfur from sleep. She immediately looked around the den. Everyone was safe and asleep. What had made that noise?

She was tempted to leave her nest to investigate, but Rainkit, Hollowkit and Windkit couldn't be left alone.

"What was that?" Redleaf's sleepy mumble sounded from the darkness to her left.

"I don't know." Blossomfur replied, staring at the tunnel entrance. Was something attacking them?

Suddenly, there was another yowl. It was drawn out and desperate, a call for help.

"Who's yowling?" Flamekit hissed and rolled out of her nest, only for Redleaf to scoop her back in with her tail.

"Stay." The Smallclan she cat mewed at her kits, turning back to the tunnel. "Should we check it out?"

"No." Flowerstream suddenly meowed. "We stay here and protect the kits." The grey queen glanced at Blossomfur, at her bulging belly. "Whatever is going on out there doesn't concern us enough to risk the lives of our kits."

Blossomfur shivered as another wail travelled down the nursery tunnel. It made her fur bristle.

"Doesn't that sound familiar?" Flowerstream murmured, her eyes narrowing. After another yowl, the queen muttered. "Is that Shadeheart?"

"Shadeheart?" Blossomfur immediately stood up from her nest, ignoring the squeaks of frustration from the three kits in her nest. He's the one yowling? I have to go see what's wrong!

She went to leave the den, but Flowerstream hissed. "No. Stay here."

"Why? Shadeheart is being hurt!" Blossomfur glared at Flowerstream. How dare a prisoner tell her what to do about her mate?

"It's obviously punishment for the three kits you're caring for." The grey queen murmured. "If you interfere, their lives are at stake."

Blossomfur glanced at the three little toms. They squirmed and cried for warmth, searching the nest for her. She sighed despairingly and returned to her nest, smiling sadly as the kits latched onto her and snuggled into her cream fur. "But what about Shadeheart." She mumbled. "He's alone."

So he wasn't with Bluesnow after all. He just didn't want me to worry about his punishment. Blossomfur sighed into the moss, her tail flicking against the lip of the nest.

"Shadeheart will be fine." Flowerstream promised. "Now go to sleep and you'll see him in the morning."

Blossomfur's ears drooped, but she nodded and closed her eyes. She willed herself to sleep, to ignore her mate's cries. Eventually she slipped into a deep sleep.

When she awoke, Bluesnow was sleeping in the nursery with them.

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