"There's a dog loose in the woods!" 

Duckface's warm amber eyes snapped upwards at the source of the panic-stricken wail. 

Burnetpaw stood in the center of the CreekClan camp, his reddish pelt standing on end. At the warning shriek the recent apprentice gave, warriors began to shuffle and murmur. Worried glances were exchanged and a few anxious meows followed suit.

"Dog?"

"Oh StarClan! We're doomed!"

"I can't believe there's a dog! Our apprentices aren't strong enough to handle that! And what about that litter in the nursery."

A smoky gray she-cat stepped forward after him, swatting him over his ears with her paws, claws sheated.

"Mousebrain!" Sootheart spat, tail lashing vigorously, "You've gone and caused a panic!" Swallowing thickly, Burnetpaw dipped his head at his mentor and muttered a soft apology. Sootheart rolled her amber eyes, letting out an annoyed scoff at her apprentice. The smoky gray feline then rested her tail on Burnetpaw's shoulders in a soothing manner, "It's fine. Don't do it again." She scolded lightly. Duckface's eyes followed behind the pair as his mate stepped in; Junipertail's eyes were troubled and his blue-gray pelt was standing on end.

Emerging from his den in quick bounds, Russetstar approached his deputy and her apprentice. 

"A dog? Sootheart, tell me what happened?" The ginger tabby instructed before the loyal she-cat turned to retell the events. 

Their voices became drowned out in Duckface's ears as his mate approached. The brown and white tom shifted to his paws and pressed his muzzle to Junipertail's in an affectionate manner.

"Junip?" Duckface began, his voice laced with worry. In response to his question, the sleek blue-gray tom flicked his ear and opened his mouth to speak.

"We saw a dog wandering around in the woods. How are the kits?" The tom replied, a tone of anxiety lacing his last question. Duckface nodded and lead Junipertail back into the nursery, where their adopted litter was soundly passed out. 

"Tired themselves out, eh?" Junipertail purred warmly as he approached the sleeping bundles. Duckface chuckled and moved forward, curling around the kits and pressing against his mate.

"Yeah." Duckface mused softly, his tail curling around the smaller kits. The brown and white tom drew in a nervous breath, "About that dog in the woods..."

Junipertail shook his head and touched his nose to Duckface's muzzle, "Don't worry Ducky. Nothing bad will happen to our babies. Russetstar won't let that happen, Sootheart won't let that happen, I won't let that happen and StarClan knows you'll pull through all fuckin' obstacles before anything gets to our kits." Junipertail murmured in comfort, earning a nod from his smaller mate. 

Amber eyes watched Badgerkit twitch from nest to her adoptive father's flank; her black and white pelt rippled as she shivered with a shaky breath.

Duckface gave a simple sigh, "I'll never let anything take apart our family. That dog will see flames before it harms you or the teeny ones."

Junipertail's expression grew as he returned Duckface's comment with a warm smile; his blue gray tail curled around Duckface's own brown and white one before he nestled his face into his mate's neck.