A tom shivered as he listened to his leader's pained cries echoing from the nursery. It was strange hearing someone so strong in so much pain.

Soon, the agonized cries stopped and a gold tabby she-cat with green eyes slipped out of the nursery. She was instantly bombarded with questions.

Holding up her tail for silence she said, "First of all, Cedarstar is fine. In fact, she has been blessed with three beautiful kits. Second of all, her mate has decided not to claim his kits, so I better not catch anyone pestering her about it."

The tom watched as the respected medicine cat made her way over to the medicine den. Quickly glancing around, the tom peered into the nursery. All he wanted was a peek.

There were three kits like Beechfern said. Two of them were she-kits, while one of them was a tom. Giving a small, happy sigh the tom turned and padded towards the warrior's den, wondering why anyone wouldn't want to claim their own kits.

*************
The tom's eyes fluttered open, someone was prodding him awake. "My kit, my kit is gone!" Cedarstar's wail pierced the night.

Racing out of the den he found the clan in a panic. "Cedarstar, calm down." Beechfern soothed. "We'll find him."

The tom shook his head on disbelief. Their leader had only been a queen for two sunrises and already a kit was missing.

Focusing on finding the kit, the tom turned and slipped out of camp, but he wouldn't find the kit, even though it was never that far from LeopardClan.