The group pads quietly across the field, still following the river.
They approach an odd smelling patch with brown lumps surrounding them. The lumps seem to be rotten plants.
Cocoapaw pokes one with his paw, it mushes at the touch.
"Let's hurry up," Burntwhisker mews, his nose scrunched up, "I want to get away from this smell."
The cats walk faster through the patch. It takes many fox lengths, but they eventually pass the patch.

"We should rest," Froststar suggests.
"If only you'd had that attitude 8 days ago when you were hurt," Burntwhisker laughs.
Froststar rolls his eyes.
"I see a small cave up ahead," Hazelstripe mews, looking through the trees.
"That would work for the night," Pinestripe nods.
They walk toward the cave. It seems to be empty, home to only a few cobwebs and spiders.
"Let's gather moss," Ceaderstripe suggests. She looks to her sisters swollen belly, "we'll need quite a bit."
Cocoapaw and Brightpaw head off to find moss as the forest around them gets darker as the sun starts to set.
"I'll start cleaning the cobwebs out," Ceaderstripe mews.
"I'll help you," Burntwhisker offers.
Shrewtail stands beside Hemlockheart, fussing that she should sit, rest, go to sleep.
"Cocoapaw and Brightpaw aren't back with the moss yet!" Hemlockheart objects, "I can wait!"
Ceaderstripe places a ball of cobwebs in the corner. Burntwhisker places his cobwebs beside hers.
Cocoapaw and Brightpaw return, their mouths full of moss. They place it in the back corner of the cave.
"We'll need more," Heatherfur mews.
"I'll come with you," Hazelstripe pads over to Cocoapaw and Brightpaw.
Pinestripe joins them, "I will too."

Eventually the entire cave floor is covered in thick moss and everyone settles down for the night. Burntwhisker wraps himself around Ceaderstripe in her nest. She closes her eyes and drifts into a calm sleep.

Ceaderstripe wakes to a scream. She jumps up.
"What's going on!?" She asks in a panic.
She looks around and sees Hemlockheart, her face scrunched up, holding back another scream.
"The kits!" Hemlockheart crys, "they're coming!"
Burntwhisker rushes to her side, "breath like this," he demonstrates a breathing pattern.
Hemlockheart copy's him the best she can, still scrunching up her face in pain.
"Cocoapaw!" Burntwhisker commands, "get some wet moss! Brightpaw! Get a sturdy stick!"
The two apprentices stumble out of the den and rush off to do as they were told, the moon high in the sky lighting their paths.
Ceaderstripe rushes to her sisters side, "you'll be alright. Falen and her kits were all ok."
Heatherfur stands at Hemlockheart's head, "your kits will be alright."
Hemlockheart screams again.
Brightpaw returns with a firm stick, placing it beside Burntwhisker.
Cocoapaw soon comes back with a bundle of wet moss.
"Put some of the moss on her forehead and let her drink from a bit," Burntwhisker mews.
Cocoapaw sets a bit of moss onto Hemlockhearts forehead and slowly tilts some to her mouth.
"Now put the stick in her mouth," Burntwhisker motions to Brightpaw.
They do as they are told and Hemlockheart bites into the stick.
"Push!" Burntwhisker orders.
Hemlockheart pushes with all her strength and soon there is a orange tabby tom laying at her paws.
The kitting continues and she gives birth to three more kits; a reddish tom with white paws, a gray tabby she-kit, and a calico she-kit.
Hemlockheart sighs in relief, "its over."
"What shall we name them?" Shrewtail purrs before licking the calico she-kits head.
"Flamekit, for the orange tom," Hemlockheart mews, "Rainkit, for the gray tabby."
"What about Birdkit, for the Calico," Shrewtail suggests, "and Copperkit for the reddish tom."
"Good names," Ceaderstripe looks to her new neices and nephews with joy.
Burntwhisker nods, "and they all seem to be healthy. We'll have to postpone our journey for a few days."
"Again!?" Froststar objects.
"Yes," Burntwhisker mews, "again."