Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ebonypaw staggered a bit as she walked deeper into the den. "Larksparrow?" Ebonypaw mewed weakly the more she thought about it the more afraid she became of what the truth may be.

"Larksparrow. I need your help, I don't feel good, I think this might be serious." Ebonypaw groaned before suddenly leaning against Swiftcloud. She felt a bit dizzy what was happening to her? She hurt, but in away she didn't what was she feeling, this couldn't be normal. Ebonypaw began to mindlessly paw at some stray moss on the floor she wanted it near her, but she couldn't figure out why.

Larksparrow lifted her head as the sound of light pawsteps reached her ears. She had been dozing in her nest after setting up herbs for Starpelt's next quiz. With Heartpool out of the den the enclosed space had lost its usual tension, and it seemed a bit, what would be a good word? Safer.

Ebonypaw's scent reached her before her eyes made out the apprentice moving like a shadow toward the welcoming dark. She and Ebonypaw were on good terms, but she hadn't expected the younger cat to seek her out anytime soon.

The white cat reached her front legs before her, digging her claws into the soft earth as she stretched. She then sat up in her nest and turned toward her visitor.

"That sounds interesting," she mewed, concerned. "How long have you felt ill?"

With every word the den grew a few degrees colder to Larksparrow. She found herself tensing up as the only possible explanation screamed at her, but she wanted so desperately to suppress it. She wanted to tear the life from the possibility in the way a warrior slew a mouse or other small piece of prey.

The problem was it wasn't a possibility anymore.

It was a reality.

What would Moonstar think?

Moonstar! Moonstar would be here with them if she knew her daughter didn't feel at her best.

As if Starclan themselves were reassuring her the den became warmer once more. This didn't have to be a tragedy. Ebonypaw was coming to her! She should be so very pleased. There were other explanations, and she knew that the chance of this choice being intentional was slimmer than a fox in leafbare, but as irrational as it sounded the thought was so delightful she couldn't push it aside. Another child of the leaders, despite being related to that irritating Darkpaw, trusted her. She savored the delicious thought. Larksparrow needed very much to help others, to do what Starclan willed, and before she had become filled with anger she had been extremely upset by Darkpaw's reaction to her.

The urgency of the present situation beckoned to her, and the medicine tried to decide the best way to break the news.

"I think you may have your own suspicions," she mewed quietly, brushing her tail across the black cat's side.

"If I may?" she asked, raising a paw to Ebonypaw's stomach.

"Hush," Larksparrow whispered soothingly, very gently running her paw over the apprentice's side. She was barely putting any pressure on the other cat, but she could still detect one if not two fairly large swellings. She had just confirmed what she already knew.

"You're going to have kits," she mewed to Ebonypaw, or rather, to Ebonypaw and Swiftcloud. She doubted Ebonypaw would have him come with her only on the basis that he was her mentor. "And soon too." It was a blunt approach, but she thought putting the news off would only cause the prospective mother with even more worry.

"I know it seems scary," she said quietly, "but you'll be alright."

She would make sure of it.

"Normally you'd be in the nursery now, but I'd rather have you here tonight and maybe even until the kits come. It might mean letting Heartpool and Starpelt in on the secret, but breaking it to them now would give you time to prepare for telling the clan later. If you're not ready we could even just tell them you ate some bad prey or something."

"I'll go get you some borage leaves to increase your milk, alright? You can speak with Swiftcloud if you'd like."

Larksparrow padded to the back of the den where the herbs were kept, fishing the last of the bright green leaves out from behind a rock. She hadn't been expecting to use them so soon after Moonstar's pregnancy, she'd have to get some more, and finding fresh ones during leafbare was going to be a challenge. She was pretty sure that she had stripped the last plant by the bend in the creek clean. She thought about adding a few poppy seeds into the mixture to hopefully calm Ebonypaw down a bit after this shock, but decided against it. Instead she pulled a large sprig of thyme out from its spot. Its scent often worked wonders on panicked cats.

She could probably use some herself. Medicine cats learned that some cats could become pregnant as young as six moons but in the forest, where warrior training curbed such thoughts, it was unheard of. Ebonypaw had been training for quite a long time now, Moonstar would have been holding her and her siblings' ceremony by the next Gathering if no opportunity for a rank change presented itself within the next few suns, and that reassured her a bit, but Larksparrow was still stunned.

HeartPool Sat at the entrance and watched the two cats for a moment before saying "Then i suggest you step outside for a moment or two... Are you feeling well EbonyPaw?" Her Icy purple eyes watched the apprentice for a moment then turned to look at SwiftCloud. "And you? Are you feeling well also?" Her tail swished as she went through the standard questions.She was by no means a stupid cat and watched slowly moving from the entrance. SHe shook her head going back to the back of the den to get the herbs she needed for the thorn in SlySteps paw and stopped when she noticed the herb LarkSparrow was getting. Two and Two clicked to make four and she frowned. "No..." Her Purple eyes were curious... but her ears flicked back. This wasnt normal...it was unsafe... SHe turned from LArksparrow hoping for once she wouldnt be totally unreasonable. HeartPool sat in her nest thinking for a moment. "Larksparrow?... How soon?" Her purple eyes were set in the distance seeing only the memory of not being able to do anything for the kits she watched so helplessly die. she cringed and looked toward the apprentice.She knew it was up to EbonyPaw to tell everyone but...Moonstar... that much stress would be bad for the kits and potentially the mother

Swiftcloud was shocked to hear this about Ebonypaw. He didn't want her to have kits yet. He loved her and this meant she was rising her life to have his kits. He tried to purr but he couldn't. He walked out of the den with Ebonypaw.

What would the others hink about this? Would they shun them or stand by them? He knew that he would protect Ebonypaw with his life but this, this was beyond his reach. He wished he could do more to help but comfort was all he could give her.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" He tried to keep his meow steady but he knew that it was shakey. He thought of all the good things that could come from her pregnancy and all the bad things. He had to stand by her and be strong. This was against the warrior code wasn't it? Ebonypaw was near the end of her training so it was somewhat good. All he wanted wa her well being.

Starpelt was shocked by the discovery of an apprentice having kits. She hoped the young she-cat was ready and she prayed to StarClan to let her live. Starpelt nodded to Larksparrow and flicked her tail indicating Heartpool to follow her. She was not used to ordering out comands but this felt neccessary.

Out of camp Starpelt spotted some borage leave and carefully she grabbed them. "Help me carry some of the leaves." Starpelt mewed to Heartpool. They would need as much as they can to help the apprentice.

Relieved that Starpelt was going about her job calmly without much instruction, the older medicine cat turned her attention back to the apprentice.

"Of course he can stay," Larksparrow mewed, giving Ebonypaw a comforting lick between the ears. "I can run out and get some more moss for you right now or you can take my nest for the time being."

"As for you, just stay near her," Larksparrow told Swiftcloud. "She's being very brave, but she'll need all the support she can get now and when the time comes for her to have those kits of yours."

(We'll have to slow this down a tad :3 I've yet to get those kit files. I'll toss a PM to Silver and Chillie about it in case she has them)