DAY 368 - CHAPTER 30
LEADER: LONESTAR (Golden she-cat with brown speckles)
DEPUTY APPRENTICE: LIGHTMOUSE (Albino tomcat with a thick coat and long legs)
MEDICINE CAT: EVENINGCLAW (Blue she-cat with dark eyes and a muscular build)
Eveningclaw begins spending more time with Lonestar. Lightmouse is curious, and he asks Lonestar about this.
"I thought you taught me warriors weren't supposed to be with medicine cats," meows Lightmouse.
"What are you talking about?"
"You and Eveningclaw." the white tom grins widely.
"We're not mates, I simply enjoy her company," says Lonestar. I don't see why you need to make it your business who is mates with who."
"I mean... it's your choice," meows Lightmouse. "It's kind of hard to ignore when the clan only has the three of us."
But to Lonestar's surprise, Lightmouse turns out to be right; Eveningclaw asks Lonestar to walk with her one night.
"I need to share word from Starclan with you. Alone." Eveningclaw gestures Lonestar with her tail, and Lonestar leaves camp with her.
"What word do you have?" Lonestar asks.
Eveningclaw hesitates, and then smiles apologetically at the leader. "I don't have word, Lonestar." she smiles.
"Then what do you want to speak about?" Lonestar flattens his ears. "I was concerned."
"Well, Lonestar.." Eveningclaw smiles. "I'm not supposed to tell you this. But I want to be your mate. I find you smart, and brave, and you took me in as your medicine cat when I was sorely inexperienced. I'm in love with you, Lonestar."
Lonestar thinks about this. Eveningclaw is beautiful; but should he take the offer of being mates with a medicine cat?"
"...We can't tell Lightmouse," says Lonestar. "But I accept." He smiles at her.
Two moons pass, and the clan holds a small gathering.
"I want to find more warriors," orders Lonestar. "We're going to have to recruit more cats, even if it means recruiting rogues or kittypets. Nearly a year passes, and Eveningclaw nervously approaches Lonestar one day.
"Lonestar..." she whispers quietly. "I.... I'm expecting kits." She places a paw on her belly nervously. The reddish-brown tom flattens his ears.
"Eveningclaw..."
"What are we supposed to tell Lightmouse?" she whispers.
Lonestar paces back and forth next to his mate. "We...." he sighs. "We tell him the truth."
Lightmouse reacts well to the news, but smiles smugly at Lonestar when Eveningclaw walks away. "I knew it."
Lonestar rolls his eyes.
"But I'll never tell anyone." he smiles. "If any other cat asks besides the three of us, we'll say she was born from an old mate of yours who died. Raise her to stick to the warrior code."
Eveningclaw has her kit- the kit is born sickly. She worries that her daughter won't survive, and she prays to Starclan that she'll survive, trying to birth her kit by herself. But her kit luckily survives, and she names her Troutkit.
Lonestar dotes on his daughter from the moment she is born and bonds with her.