"Dawnsky, wake up! It's almost sunhigh!" Called Bear's voice from outside the cave.

She groaned and reluctantly pulled herself into a sitting position. More than two moons had passed and Dawnsky's belly was swollen with kits, just as Oakfoot had promised her. She sighed and heaved herself onto her feet and slowly padded outside.

"Good morning, sleepy head." Bear purred, smiling, "How are the kits doing?"

"They are doing fine, but their mother could really go for a squirrel..." she meowed.

Bear laughed, "Okay, whatever you say!" He looked at her with his amber gaze, "Shall we head to camp?"

"I'll try..." she sighed, wincing a little as she felt one of the kits kicking inside of her.

Bear noticed that she was in pain, "How about I go get the squirrel for you? You can just lay down here."

"No, I'm fine. Besides, I need to get some fresh air anyways." She tottered unsteadily across the clearing, and Bear was constantly at her side, making sure she didn't fall.

With great difficulty, they finally reached camp. Dawnsky stopped, out of breath. She hadn't been out in what seemed like moons, and she could feel that her kits were coming any day now. Bear sat patiently by her, waiting for her to get up again, "So why, exactly, did you want to come down here? You look exhausted!"

"Well, because in just a few days, I will be stuck in the cave for at least a moon and so I wanted to get out a little before then." She explained, still breathing heavily.

Bear shook his head and walked inside, grabbing her a squirrel, "Here. You can eat it out here if you want." He dropped it at her feet.

"I could've gotten it myself," she panted, secretly grateful, "but thanks."

She could see Cricket coming in with a mouthful of prey in her jaws. The second she saw Dawnsky at the entrance, she growled and bounded past her. Cricket hadn't talked to her at all since she moved in to camp. I bet she is jealous.... she decided to herself.

Storm walked by Dawnsky and Bear and quickly stopped, "Hey Dawnsky! How are the kits doing?"

"The kits are very active this morning." She admitted, exhaustion showing in her icy blue eyes.

"Wow thanks a lot for asking how we were doing." Bear grumbled sarcastically, "But in case you were wondering, Dawnsky and I are just fine."

"You're welcome!" Storm laughed, "But seriously, how are you, Dawnsky?"

"Eh, I could be better..." she sighed, "and you?"

"I'm excited about those kits, that's for sure!" He purred, "Could I help name them?"

"No!" Bear said quickly, and softened his tone when he saw that Dawnsky was giving him a look, "I mean, I think Dawnsky and I would like to name our first litter. Maybe you can help with the second litter, or not."

Storm shook his head in amusement at Bear, "I was just joking, but I'd be glad to help you name your second litter, if you have one. Well, see ya later! I got to go hunt with Blossom. This is her first time." He walked off before they could reply.

Dawnsky sighed and gave Bear another look.

"What?" He asked.

She shook her head, "Never mind...." She made herself get up again and padded slowly into camp. Bear followed behind her.

She bit into her squirrel, "Want to share?" She said through a mouthful.

Bear smiled, "Sure." He sat next to her and took small bites of the squirrel to make sure that Dawnsky had her fill.

She felt Cricket's eyes burning into her pelt, still, and the fur on her neck rose a little. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Cricket was planning something against her. She shuddered a little.

"You cold?" Bear asked her.

"No... I'm fine..." she sighed, laying down on her side after finishing the fresh kill. It's going to be a long walk back to the cave.... she thought reluctantly.

***

The sun had set over the horizon, and Dawnsky was dozing in the same spot, feeling too lazy to get back up. Bear was speaking with some cats in their dens, and she could see that he looked pretty uncomfortable. She couldn't see where Cricket was, but she still felt worried about what she might do to her.

She groomed her ruffled pelt as far as she could get to, and then she rested her head back down on her paws. Bear was coming towards her with a tired look in his eyes, "You ready to go?" He asked, his tail swishing back and forth.

She nodded, "Hold on, let me get up." She shakily pulled herself to her feet and sighed heavily. I wonder if Speckledpath and Nightpelt will ever have kits.... she thought with a pang of guilt and sadness.

She trudged outside the camp with Bear taking the lead, when all of a sudden she heard something rustle in the bushes. She shrugged, It's probably just a mouse..... she kept walking.

Suddenly, she heard it again, but this time a little louder, "Dawnsky!" A voice whispered from the bushes. She jumped and whipped her head around.

Bear, who was ahead of her, turned around, "You okay, Dawnsky?"

She nodded, "I... I'm fine. You know what? Why don't you go ahead to the cave? I'm fine from here... I-I just want to take a... rest!"

Bear turned his head to the side, "I can stay with--"

"No! No, it's fine!" She interrupted, "Just go on ahead, I'll be there soon."

He shrugged, "Okay whatever. I'll see you there, I guess."

She nodded, and when he left she crept towards the sound that she had heard in the bushes. Suddenly, she felt something grab her scruff and drag her into the undergrowth. She gasped, but before she could say anything, a tail whipped over her mouth.

"Shhhhh!" Hissed the mysterious cat.

Dawnsky nodded, and slowly sat up, "Who are you?"

The cat stepped into the light. Cricket! She stiffened, stepping back.

"What.... what do you want from me?" She trembled.

Cricket growled, "Nothing. I just came here to help you."

"Help me?!" She scoffed, "All you have wanted to do since I came here was hurt me! Admit it!"

Cricket paused for a second, her eyes narrowing, "Yes, that's true. But please, hear me out. I'm telling you the truth."

Dawnsky didn't say anything, she lashed her tail in annoyance.

"I've come to warn you." She mewed.

"Warn me? About what?"

"Let me finish! She snapped, "I do not like to be interrupted. Anyways, I have come to warn you about Bear."

Dawnsky opened her mouth, but remembered what she said and stayed silent.

"Dawnsky, there is something wrong with Bear. He has had it since birth. I think it is some sort of mental disorder, but I can't be sure. But whatever it is, it can be very dangerous. It is like something turns off in him and he becomes some sort of killing machine. The pupils in his eyes go into little slits and there is no stopping him until he is back to normal again, but it is usually too late after that....." she paused, giving Dawnsky a moment to reflect.

"Wh-what are yoh talking about?" She stuttered in disbelief, "Killing machine? He... he has never really acted like that in front of me before...." she thought for a moment, and then remembered the night when he almost killed Nightpelt for interrupting them.

"I know, it's hard to take in." She meowed, "And Bear tries as hard as he can not to show that side of him in front of you. In fact, you're the one thing that has kept him from going totally insane."

"But why are you telling me this?"

"Because you and your kits are in grave danger. You need to get out. Go back to that clan of yours or something, just don't stay here. Because when Bear goes into one of his psychotic rages, there is no stopping him. Believe me... I know...." she sighed, her eyes glazed over with pain.

"I.... I don't know what to say..." she mewed, baffled by what was happening. Is this the reason everyone has been warning me about him?

"You need to go... before it's too late."

"No!" She said suddenly, "I... I can't just leave him! I can't just go right when I'm about to have kits. It's almost impossible! And how do I know you're not lying to me just because you want Bear for yourself?"

Cricket looked taken aback, "Okay, fine. Maybe I am jealous of you! Maybe I wanted Bear to love me and not some mouse-brained clan cat!" She unsheathed her claws and said in an icy tone, "But I am not lying to you. Believe whatever you want to, but I am only looking out for your kits. If it's not fit for you to leave now, then leave when the kits get a little older."

Dawnsky stood, staring out her with her mouth open, "I... I...."

"There, I've warned you. Now it's your choice whether you believe me or not, but don't blame it on me when Bear gets into a rage! Don't blame me when all of your loved ones are gone. It will be your fault, not mine." She quickly turned around and fled, leaving Dawnsky standing there, stunned.

"Dawnsky?" It was Bear's voice, "Dawnsky, where are you?"

"Right here," she mewed, appearing out of the bushes. Her blue eyes were clouded with confusion and fear.

"Oh there you are!" He purred, relieved, "I was worried about you! Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Uh huh...." she shakily moved towards him, feeling unsure about herself.

"Come on, let's go back to the cave." He meowed softly to her.

Dawnsky thought about what Cricket had said as she walked towards the cave, many questions filling her mind. Could this be true? Could Bear really be that bad? Was Shadowstripe right after all?

Dawnsky curled up next to Bear and she watched him doze off. She stayed wide awake and stared off into the distance. If I have to return to my clan, will they even take me back? She finally rested her head down and fell into a deep and troubled sleep.