What Tigerstar had said still sent shivers down Jaypaw's spine, although he knew he should be over that already. Flowerpetal had moved to the nursery because apparently she had been expecting Littlespeck's kits for quite some moons, and leaf-fall isn't too far away. Jaypaw and Iceleap padded into camp, Jaypaw carrying a starling while Iceleap was carrying two mice. "Alright, Jaypaw. Have some freshkill and go get some sleep. You've had a long day today." Iceleap meowed, his tail drooping.

"Okay!" Jaypaw exclaimed, dropping his catch but picking it back up instantly, and dashed to the freshkill pile. He set down the starling and picked out a vole, and padded to the apprentices den to eat it. There'll be more apprentices soon. He thought with relief. He bent down and bit a large clump out of the vole. I wonder when I'll be checking for any ticks on Whitefoot... I've heard it's treacherous. He swallowed, and took another bite of the vole. He finished eating after a couple of minutes, and padded into his den, his mouth stretching wide as he yawned. He curled up in his mossy nest, and drifted off into the depths of sleep.

***

Jaypaw felt a paw prodding his side. He blinked open his eyes and saw Iceleap gazing down at him. "Whaizit?" He moaned, his mind still clouded with sleep.

"It's nearly sunhigh." Iceleap growled. Jaypaw leapt to his paws.

"Nearly sunhigh!" He exclaimed. "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"

"You should've been more responsible." Iceleap sniffed.

"Well, I still think you should've woke me up sooner." The gray tabby tom grumbled as the warrior stomped out of the den. He lashed his tail and padded out after him, and before long he heard mewling coming from the nursery. He pricked his ears, and slipped towards the bramble screen and poked his head through the small entrance. "Flowerpetal?" He meowed. The reddish-brown she-cat was was lying down on her side, her white-furred belly exposed to the air--three beautiful kits were suckling, purrs rumbling in their throats.

"You kitted?!" Jaypaw cried. "When?"

"Last night." Flowerpetal purred, licking one of the kit's forehead. "This one is Willowkit," she nuzzled the reddish she-kit with white specks. "Fernkit... She's named after Fernleaf..." She nuzzled the kit that resembled her dead sister. "And this one is Bramblekit." She gently licked the dark red tabby tom-kit's forehead.

"Flowerpetal...." Jaypaw breathed. "They're.... They're beautiful...."

Flowerpetal gazed up at him. "Thank you, Jaypaw."

Jaypaw smiled, and left the den. "Hurry up, Jaypaw! We're going on a border patrol! We can't wait all day."

"Coming!" Jaypaw called, flicking his tail.