Another fic from my DA. The birth of Lion, Holly & Jay. Once again taking place between Sunset and The Sight :) Enjoy!
Squirrelflight's Kits
The ginger she-cat looked with uncertain eyes at the three squirming bundles of fur kneading at her sister's belly. The biggest one, a golden tomcat, looked up at her as he rolled in the snow and let out a tiny squeak. She gave him a small lick with her tongue. She studied them carefully. She wasn't sure exactly if this was what she wanted, but she had to do it, for the sake of the Clans.
"Have you given them names yet?" she asked the brown tabby she-cat that was her sister.
"I was hoping you could help, since you're their... adoptive mother. But I think the pale gray one should be called Jaykit. Look at his eyes!"
"Yes, but Leafpool..." she paused. "I think there may be something wrong with him."
Leafpool's neck fur began to bristle. "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with my kit, Squirrelflight!"
"Look at his eyes!" The ginger cat replied. "And the way he behaves. I think he may be blind. But you're the medicine cat." There was a hidden barb behind Squirrelflight's words, one that struck Leafpool like a blow to the face.
"I know what you're implying, Squirrelflight. I had kits. But the entire Clan will think they're yours."
"Not if I don't do this for you!"
There was a pause. Leafpool's small whimper broke it.
"You wouldn't do that, would you?"
The ginger she-cat softened. No, she could never do that. She would do anything to protect her littermate.
"No, Leafpool. I promise I will care for them just as lovingly as you would."
"Thank you. Now, we must name them and get them back to the hollow before they freeze to death!"
"I still want you to check out Jaykit."
Shuffling out of the make-shift nest, the brown tabby examined her son. Letting out a gusty sigh, she nodded.
"You were right. He's blind."
"I thought so."
"Let's decide names for the remaining kits, please," Leafpool said sadly. "I like Goldenkit for the gold one. You could tell Brambleclaw you were naming it after his mother, Goldenflower."
"I'm not sure. I kind of like the name Lionkit. I mean, he's your kit..."
Leafpool looked up, her eyes dark pools of sadness. "No, Squirrelflight," she murmured, "they're really yours."
"So... Lionkit?"
"Of course. Now what about the she-kit? She looks just like her father..." Suddenly, the medicine cat leaped to her paws. "No! Get away from those!" Leafpool dashed over to the only remaining unnamed kit, who was about to eat a holly berry from a nearby bush. "Those are poison!"
Returning, the kit looked confused, unsure why her mother was yelling. Hopefully she wouldn't remember that this cat was her mother in the next few sunrises.
"How about Hollykit for this one?" Squirrelflight meowed, lifting up her one white paw to clean.
"Hollykit. The name suits her."
Guiding the three kits with their tails, they slowly but surely walked to the ThunderClan camp through the freezing snow. Leafpool carried Jaykit, her heart welling up in regret she would never get to mother these kits. Her sister followed, carrying Hollykit, leaving the strongest kit to follow in behind.
"What in the name of StarClan?" That was Brackenfur on watch. The whole Clan would know in a matter of seconds that Squirrelflight had "kitted".
She just hoped she could keep her sister's secret.