Chains of Leadership

Chapter I
The sky was a pale blue, with the moon still visible in the sky. The ground still wet with morning dew that the sun would have to dry away. The crickets chirping were beginning to die down, only to be replaced with sweet morning birdsong. In the marsh however, you could still hear the frogs calling out and ringing in your ears. Aside from their annoying songs, all was peaceful in Shadowclan.

It was until there was a loud screech, that is.

Quailcry jolted, the screaming ringing in his ears. It took a moment, weariness making him confused. Before his fur prickled in panic. The cries were just outside the den. Half awake, the tom sloppily scrambled up, claws unseathed. This completely ruined the moss nest under him.

But a warm place to sleep was the least of his worries. Quailcry charged out of the den, expecting to see invaing thunderclanners, or a pack of foxes. But there was nothing.

Confused, the warrior looked around slowly. The cats awake were oddly stiff. As though tense, and waiting. Then, the cry sounded again. This time from the medicine cats den, frantic and confused, Quaileye looked around for the closest warrior. ''Moonwhisper! ''

"Hey, Moonwhisper?" The black and white cat bounded over to her. "What's going on in there?" Moonwhisper cringed, waiting for another cry to pass, before opening her jaws to answer.

"Birchstar's kits are coming. It's a little harder than the poor medicine cats would like. But Lostsight said she would be fine." Quaileye suddenly felt stupid. Of course it was Birchstar's kits. What else? It wasn't like she had been carrying them for the past three moons. ''It's not like Applefang won't shut up about them or anything. Speaking of which. . .'' Quaileye almost knowingly brought his brown gaze to entrance of the medicine cat den.

Sure enough, Applefang was there, pacing around and trying to peak inside. "W-well," He sat down, beginning to groom his embarassingly messy fur. "More kits will mean more mouths to feed. Let's try and catch something before Birchstar's screaming chases it all away." He paused. "If you would like to join me, that is."

Moonwhisper had been his friend for a long time. Since late apprenticeship, anyway. They weren't as close as one would think, with him being more quiet and reserved, and her being bit of a vocal frog. "Sure-" She flinched again at a cut off wail. "I'd be more than happy to get away from. . . The miracle of life. . . Right now." The she-cat pushed past him. Speed-walking to the exit tunnel of camp.

Quaileye glanced back at the Medicine Cat's Den again, before taking no time to follow her. The cries beginning to get fainter and fainter the farther from camp they went. All until the two warriors were deep in the pines.