"Another bad mouse?" Dryrose commented as she wriggled out of the dirtplace tunnel in time to see Aspenleaf vomiting.

She shook her head to clear the fuzziness that had been settling over it. "You'll be pleased to know that I'm going off mice altogether at the moment."

Dryrose gave a nod. "Well I'm glad to hear it, though you should probably speak to Poppydust. This is the fourth time in as many sunrises."

Aspenleaf's tail tip flicked. "Maybe I should just stop eating. It's clearly going to waste on me."

"Yes, and it's not like it's almost leaf-bare and we need all the fresh-kill we can get." Dryrose teased, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her concern. "Really, I'm worried about you." She said stepping closer. "It's not just your being ill. You need to rest, not be gallivanting about at all times of the night."

Aspenleaf stiffened and looked up at her. "You know about that?"

"I wake up every time the two of you creep out." She whispered.

Aspenleaf ducked her head a little guiltily. She and Shadowstep had been sneaking away to the old Shadowclan camp every night for nearly half a moon. They were always back before the dawn patrol, so she had thought that they had been slipping under the radar with it. "I'm sorry." She said quietly. "We tried to be quiet."

"You have been. I'm just a light sleeper." Dryrose shrugged. "I've not told anyone. Not even Icemask, though Starclan knows I should... but it's not my business. I don't know where you're going, but I'm worried about you... if nothing else, please go and see Poppydust for your sickness."

She gave a sigh of defeat. "Alright." She said at last. "Alright, if you think it's something serious..."

"I do." Said Dryrose firmly. Aspenleaf looked at her a little surprised. Dryrose seldom took on such a solemn tone. It was only as she looked at her friend that she realised just how worried she was.

She moved forward and pressed her cheek against hers. "Thank you for being concerned." She said softly. "What would I do without you?"

Dryrose gave a purr of begrudging amusement. "Don't try to get around me like that."

Aspenleaf nodded towards the tunnel. "Come on, let's get back inside. Maybe there's a patrol we'll be needed on."

Dryrose gently bumped her flank against Aspenleaf's. "So, what's the deal with you two now? Are you mates or..." Aspenleaf looked away and Dryrose's eyes widened. "I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"I knew you two were going to be mates sooner or later. Robinblaze owes me a rabbit."

"You guys were making bets on it?"

"It was only a matter of time, let's be honest." Dryrose said with a slight laugh. "The mousebrain's loved you from the moment he met you."

Aspenleaf shook out her pelt a little awkwardly. "Yes. Looking back it was somewhat painfully obvious."

"Probably not what you expected when Shadow came to the forest." Dryrose shrugged.

Aspenleaf paused, her words resonating something within her. Suddenly Alderheart's prophecy came back to her. Her eyes widened as she thought of Cygnetwhisker's vision that the shadows were already within the clans. "Great Starclan!" she whispered.

Dryrose looked at her, frowning. "What is it?"

"The shadows will return to the forest..." she said slowly. "Those that join them will make them stronger than before." She looked at Dryrose seriously. "Alderheart's prophecy. What if it's about..."

She frowned for a moment before her eyes widened. "It's him!" she said softly. "He's the shadows..."

"And he joined the clans which made him a warrior and made him stronger..." said Aspenleaf quietly.

"That's what Cygnetwhisker must have meant!" Dryrose whisked the stump of her tail. "When he said the shadows were already within the clans!"

Aspenleaf nodded. "We need to talk to Poppydust about this!"

"Well as we're going there anyway, we might as well catch two birds with one swipe." mewed Dryrose leading her towards the medicine den. She pushed the bracken curtain aside and held it to let Aspenleaf walk through.

The medicine cat was inspecting some herbs laid out in the den in front of her. She glanced up as the two she-cats entered. "Good morning." she mewed a little absently. "What can I do for you today?"

Aspenleaf swallowed. "Well..." She wasn't sure how to start. "I've been sick the last few mornings, and I just want to be sure it's nothing serious."

Poppydust looked up, before getting to her paws. "Come lay down on your side over here." she mewed. Aspenleaf did as she asked, glancing at Dryrose clearly a little confused. Poppydust pressed a paw into her belly. "Any pain?" she asked.

She shook her head. "No. But I find I can't keep anything down in the morning."

"How about the rest of the day?"

"It's a little better but not much."

"And how are you sleeping?"

"I've been tired a lot."

Poppydust nodded a little, as though confirming a suspicion. "One moment, I have a herb you can take." she mewed. "Don't worry though, it's normal."

Aspenleaf rolled back to a sitting position. She looked at Dryrose with a smile. "That's good." she mewed. "While we're here Poppydust, I was wondering if I could have a quick word with you about Shadowstep."

"Yes, I'm sure he'll be thrilled about it." mewed Poppydust rooting around in her herb store. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to set some thyme aside for him for the shock."

Aspenleaf blinked, not fully understanding. Did Poppydust already know? Was he the shadows of the prophecy? "What do you mean?"

Poppydust paused, staring at her, then she looked at Dryrose, taking in their blank expressions. "You mean you don't know?"

"We had suspicions." shrugged Dryrose. "But we thought we better confirm them."

"Well. You were right." Poppydust said with a smile, looking back at Aspenleaf. "You're expecting kits. Congratulations."

"Kits..." croaked Dryrose as they sat outside the medicine den. "... kits..."

Aspenleaf stared blankly around the camp. She didn't know what she was meant to do. The news had rocked her to her very core, but now that she knew, it was as though she could feel the tiny lives in her belly wriggling about, making themselves comfortable and reassuring her. She looked at her paws, her mind on Shadowstep. "What will I tell him?" she whispered.

"... kits..." Dryrose repeated, still sounding stunned.

"I mean he needs to know doesn't he, I can't not tell him..."

"... kits..."

"Dryrose!" she said firmly, trying to snap her friend out of her stupor. She flinched and looked up. "Please try to focus... I'm shocked too..."

"I'm sorry it's just..." Dryrose shook her head. "This is insane."

She nodded. "It is." she agreed. "But I need to tell Shadowstep.

Dryrose looked thoughtful for a moment. "Why don't you ask Shellclaw if you guys can go as extras on a patrol? That'll get you out of the camp and away from other cats. Then you guys can hang back and tell him then."

She gave a nod. "Yeah. Yeah I'll do that." she mewed before getting to her paws and heading off to find the deputy.

He was sitting outside the warriors' den, running a paw over his whiskers. He looked up as she approached. "Aspenleaf." he mewed. "Good morning."

She gave a nod. "Good morning Shellclaw." she mewed. "I was wondering if I might be able to ask a favour of you?"

"Certainly." he mewed, his brow furrowing in concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Definitely." she mewed and found that she meant it. In fact, she found that there was a warm bubble of hope beginning to swell in her. "Everything's marvellous... I... I need to speak to Shadowstep away from other cats. I was wondering if you would add us to a patrol where I can hang back and speak to him."

He frowned at her for a long moment, before his eyes widened in understanding and a purr broke from him. "Of course!" he mewed, looking pleased. "Of course, of course. No problem at all. I'm about to take out a hunting patrol. Why don't I ask Silverstar to come, then you can talk to her too while we're out?"

She chuckled at the old tom's enthusiasm. It was no secret that he had adored his kits when they had been born. "I do need to tell her." she agreed. "Alright, that might be a good idea."

"Wonderful." he mewed. "Alright, I'll round up a few cats and we'll head out."

He padded away, glancing back at her and grinning. Aspenleaf found herself chuckling at him again. Dryrose padded over.

"Well, I guess that solves that." she mewed.

A short time later, a patrol was formed of Dryrose, Robinblaze, Shellclaw, Creekshadow, Silverstar, Shadowstep and Aspenleaf. Silverstar looked a little surprised at Shellclaw asking her to come out on a patrol but had not argued the point too much. She looked at Aspenleaf for a moment before looking back at Shellclaw. "I think the green-leaf twoleg place might be a good place to start." she mewed stepping forward to him to take joint lead of the patrol.

He gave a nod. "I think that's a good idea." he mewed before looking around. "Let's split up the patrol. Robinblaze, you come with me. Creekshadow, you go with Dryrose and Silverstar, and Shadowstep go with Aspenleaf. We'll spread out to collect as much prey as possible and meet by the ferns along the clearing."

Silverstar nodded. "Alright let's move out." she mewed bounding out of the camp.

Shellclaw dashed after her, Robinblaze at her heels. Creekshadow turned and looked at Dryrose for a long moment. Dryrose shrunk from her, and Aspenleaf remembered how Dryrose had always been a little afraid of her mentor's sister. Creekshadow's eyes narrowed before she turned and padded out of the camp, Dryrose hurrying after her.

Shadowstep looked at Aspenleaf, his eyes creasing in a smile. "Seems like a very big patrol doesn't it." he murmured.

She nodded making a vague noise of agreement. "At least it should bring in a good amount of fresh-kill. We need to make the most of it before leaf-bare... right?"

"Right." he agreed. After a few moments, he looked at her seriously. "I know you've not been well the last few days. How are you now?"

"Good." she mewed. "I'm good. Really good."

"Good." he nodded, glancing away.

She ducked her head. Why was this so awkward? Shadowstep was awkward and she was quiet at the best of times but this... this was odd.

"So, uh..." she hesitated as he turned his bright yellow eyes to her. "I uh... I wanted to talk to you about something..."

"Oh?" he looked at her curiously, almost a little nervously. "Well I'm all ears... which as odd saying. Imagine if we were literally all ears, just a ball of ears rolling around the forest. Would we be able to move if we were all ears?"

"Shadowstep, you're babbling."

He winced as though a little embarrassed. "Sorry. What is it?"

"Well... well I..." Why was this so hard to say? "Shadowstep I..."

A terrible bang echoed through the forest. Birds took off from the trees around them letting out cries of alarm. Aspenleaf looked up, her ears pricking. Shadowstep's fur was standing on end.

"What was that?"

"I don't know. Come on, we need to find out!" He mewed jumping towards the sound.

"Wait!" she cried following him. "It could be dangerous."

"That's why we have to go!" he hissed putting on a spurt. She tried desperately to catch up with him.

Dryrose suddenly burst from the undergrowth, running into him. "Shadowstep!" she yelped, the saw Aspenleaf. "Thank goodness!"

"What was that?" Aspenleaf asked as she caught up with them.

"I... I don't know. I was with Creekshadow and Silverstar and then..."

As though on cue, Creekshadow and Silverstar burst from behind her. "It came from the green-leaf twolegplace." mewed Creekshadow, sprinting past them, her ears flattened to her head.

Dryrose's eyes widened. "That's where Robinblaze and Shellclaw went!" she cried taking off running after Creekshadow, Silverstar close on her heels. Aspenleaf and Shadowstep exchanged a horrified look before beginning to run after them.

Aspenleaf could hear her heart hammering in her ears. "Starclan, let them be alright." she whispered, more to herself than anything.

Up ahead of her, Dryrose and Creekshadow had frozen on the edge of the green-leaf twolegplace. Silverstar was staring out, looking heartbroken. She glanced at Shadowstep again. Together they crept forward and peered out, as a twoleg gleefully picked up the dead pheasant before giving the limp body of Shellclaw a slight nudge with a booted foot. The deputy didn't move.

Aspenleaf felt her jaw drop. What in Starclan had happened? There was a horrible smell in the air, like something was burning. It seemed to be coming from the silver branch the twoleg was holding in its paws.

A little closer to them, a dark shape was lying stretched out, twitching. Creekshadow stiffened. "Robinblaze!" she whispered before darting out to him. Dryrose was at her heels. 

The twoleg looked surprised and raised the silver branch again. Creekshadow suddenly turned and ran at the twoleg, zigzagging so that it couldn't aim at her for more than a moment. Dryrose grabbed Robinblaze by the scruff and began dragging him towards the undergrowth, tugging him under a fern.

Creekshadow turned and sprinted back towards them. The twoleg raised the silver branch and aimed it towards her. Another terrible bang rang through the air. Creekshadow shot under a bush and there was a strange noise. A tree near them shivered as though it had taken whatever wound had been intended for Creekshadow.

Aspenleaf ducked into the fern where Dryrose had Robinblaze. He was trembling and gasping for air as though he could not get air down into his lungs. Dryrose was frantically examining him for any wounds, but there was no scent of blood on him.

Creekshadow's head poked in from the bush. "Robinblaze, is it your breathing?" He gave a weak nod. "Foxdung..." she murmured. "I'll be right back." She withdrew, her head disappearing back into the bush. She emerged a few moments later, sniffing around the roots of the trees.

Shadowstep was watching her. "What are you looking for?"

"Coltsfoot." she muttered. "It's the only thing that helps him when he's like this."

Aspenleaf stared at her, then back at Robinblaze. What was going on? Was he sick? Why couldn't he breathe?

"You're going to be fine." Dryrose mewed looking at him. "You'll be fine, like I'm fine." She mewed gently as she crouched in front of him

He looked up at her, still struggling to draw breath. "Shell... claw..."

"The two legs are by him." She mewed glaring in the direction of the twoleg who was still standing by the deputy. "Just focus on your breathing. Deep breaths."

"He's... dead... right?"

Aspenleaf looked at her for a moment, wondering what she would say to him? Would she give him hope, like one would to a kit, or tell him straight?

"Breathe." She mewed placing her paw near his. "Just breathe. For me? Please." She was taking shaky breaths herself. He kept his eyes on her, his expression unreadable as he fought for breath. She gently pressed her muzzle against his, trying to comfort him.

He closed his eyes for a moment before the ferns parted and Creekshadow appeared and dropped a herb before him. "What happened? You haven't been this bad for a while..." she glanced at the others, seeming to note their confusion. "He's had episodes like this since the fire." she murmured.

Robinblaze began chewing at the herb, not speaking. Dryrose began to gently rub at his chest, instinctively knowing what to do. Aspenleaf felt a brief glow of admiration for her clanmate.

Creekshadow glanced over her shoulder. "We need to get Shellclaw away from the twolegs." she mewed retreating from the fern.

Shadowstep moved forward. "I'll do it." he mewed. "If Dryrose is busy, I'm the fastest one here."

Aspenleaf looked up sharply. "No, no you can't!" she mewed fervently, padding to him. "You can't risk your life."

Silverstar was looking at Shadowstep approvingly. "That's very brave of you."

"No!" pleaded Aspenleaf. "Shadowstep, please you can't!"

He stared at her. "This is what we do! It's my duty."

"But you have a duty to me too!" she cried, her fur fluffing out.

His eyes narrowed. "You're being ridiculous. Why is my life suddenly more important than my clanmates?"

"Because I'm expecting your kits!"

The words burst from her before she realised what she was saying. She froze. The world around them seemed to freeze too. Her mother and Creekshadow were staring at them. The only sound was Robinblaze's rasping breath.

Shadowstep just stared at her. "Kits..." he repeated. "What, I... I don't..."

Creekshadow looked between them for a moment before turning and sprinting out into the open towards the deputy's body. The twoleg had moved away a little, pheasant in its huge paw. She grabbed the deputy's scruff and dragged him back into the undergrowth. There was a small wound in his shoulder which didn't seem to be bleeding very much, but one look at him and it was obvious he was dead.

Silverstar moved forward, lowering her muzzle to Shellclaw's. She seemed to inspect him for a moment before looking at Creekshadow. "We need to get him back to the camp..." she said softly. She looked at Aspenleaf and Shadowstep. "Come back when you are ready." she mewed, her eyes strangely compassionate. "Same to you and Robinblaze, Dryrose." She lowered her head and grasped the deputy's scruff. Creekshadow grabbed the fur of his back and together they began to carry the deputy back in the direction of the camp.

Dryrose emerged from the fern, Robinblaze padding weakly behind her.

"How did I not know you had these?" She asked shaking her head. "I feel horrible because I had no idea."

"Creekshadow... helped me... keep them quiet." he wheezed.

Her eyes flicked for a moment to the scar on his back. She'd heard about the fire, but never asked for details. "How many times has this happened since the fire?" she asked, concern filling her voice.

He shrugged. "I don't know... a lot..."

They padded away into the overgrowth, still talking quietly. Around them the forest seemed to shiver as Shadowstep and Aspenleaf looked at one another.

"This... is not the way I wanted you to find out..." she said quietly, ducking her head a little.

He continued to stare at her. "Kits..." he repeated. She felt fear rise up inside her. What was he going to say? Was he going to reject her? To say he wanted nothing to do with her or them? Her heart cracked a little even at the thought. She wanted to reach out to him, to ask him not to turn her away when he moved forward, walking alongside her until he was level with her belly. He lowered his head and pressed it against her side, purring as though he could feel them there. "Kits..." he murmured, his voice quivering. "... my kits..."

She blinked. "Then... then you're not mad?"

He raised his head to look at her. His eyes were soft, brimming with emotion, purring so loudly, he could barely get the words out. "My kits... my kits with you." he murmured. "Why would I be mad? This is all I ever wanted!" He moved back to her, pressing his forehead against hers. "My beautiful Aspen... our precious kits..."

She purred with him, closing her eyes, engulfed for a brief moment in this perfect happiness.

Dryrose, CTA NizumiFangs

---

Creekshadow belongs to Hannah Rowe

Dryrose belongs to Meadow Leon Flower

I had the WORST writers block around the middle of this chapter which is why it's been a little while coming.

Gonna be another while before I can get you guys another chapter. Finals coming up. Ahhh.

Happy new-leaf x