AN/ This is my new story! I'm planning to have it finished at 30,000 words by the thirty first. It's much more original than Not Wasting This, no cannon characters. . It is scheduled to have about 32 chapters with one or two updates a day. I'll be posting the next chapter about an hour after this one. Enjoy!
"Push, Dawnpelt! The kit needs to get out now if its going to survive." The brown medicine cat commanded the laboring queen with a sense of urgency.
"I.. I can't. Too tired." The pale grey and cream cat panted and whimpered in pain.
"You must, Dawnpelt. We can't do this for you." Shadeglow, a usualy sweet queen, was harsh now. Dawnpelt gave another feeble push.
It was hot in the nursery. Dawnpelt had begun kitting at moon high and now, well into the next day, all she had to show for her many hours of labor were three dead kits.
Brownfur was at a loss. The kits had come late, and they had not come easily. He had given her juniper berries for strength, and even gave her a poppy seed in between the second and third kit. Nothing seemed to help, and it seemed unlikely any healthy kits would come.
With a terrible moan, the last kit fell into the nest. All tension left Dawnpelt's body, and Shadeglow attended to her while Brownfur turned to the kit.
It was weak and silent. Its tiny paws churning the air were the only signs it that it was alive.
He was about to put it with its mother when something strange happened.
The kit opened its eyes.
A kits eyes are not completely developed when they are born and take at least a few days to adjust. A kit should not open its eyes immediately after birth, He thought frantically.
This kit's eyes were cloudy, it's pupils almost non-existent.
He knew immediately that the kit would be blind, at least to some degree, but he was reluctant to say anything. Any disabilities would have the kit Sent as soon as it could be weaned.
Pushing that thought to the back of his mind, he checked the rest of the kit over.
Besides being small, there was nothing wrong with it. He let it suckle and examined Dawnpelt.
She was exhausted and dehydrated. Plenty of water and rest would fix her up.
He turned to shoo Shadeglow away so Dawnpelt could have time with her mate and kit, and he could bury the dead ones, but instead came muzzle-to-muzzle with Hawkstar.
"Come talk in my den"
He started away, and with a look at Shadeglow, Brownfur hurried to follow.
Worry and caution churned in his belly, the sun over head seemed too hot, the sand under his paws too loose and shifting. He had done this before.
Up in the cave that was Hawkstar's den, Brownfur stood awkwardly at the edge.
"What is wrong with the kit?" Hawkstar was emotionless. He was truly indifferent to the kit's fate.
"What are you talking about?" he sputtered.
"You know what I' talking about. I know very well that there's something wrong with the kit. Don't lie to your leader."
He sighed, defeated. "It is blind. It is very small and weak, and will not be able to be a warrior.."
Hawkstar nodded. "It must be Sent. How soon can it be weaned?"
He feigned thought. He would want the kit to be with its mother as long as possible, if it was up to him it would never leave. But Hawkstar would want it gone as soon as possible.
"At four moons, maybe three and a half if I can give it herbs daily."
"Whichever is best. I must go tell Dawnpelt and Redsun."
They departed the den, and Brownfur laid down in his cool, quiet cave across the camp.
He cold hear Hawkstar's gruff mew, followed by Dawnpelt's and Redsun's sad sighs and whimpers. They loved their kit, but they new that if a cat could not serve the clan it could never be a true part of it. They knew that the tiny grey ball of fur curled in the nest should soon live in a dark cave with the old cats too cowardly to die on their own terms.
He knew what would happen next. Shadeglow would comfort Dawnpelt and say it would be okay, but she would secretly pray the kits in her belly turned out better. Dawnpelt would care for the kit, but she would resent it. She could never have kits again since this litter was a failure. Redsun would do his best to love his mate, but they would probably fall apart from the stress. It always happened that way.
And in three and a half moons the kit would be taken down a tunnel into a dark cave and given to Snow and Dew, the two Others now in the clan. And the clan would carry on as if nothing had ever happened.
So, this is my new story. Not Wasting This will be on the back burner for as long as this one takes. I'm hoping this one will turn out better.
Reviews are appreciated!