I've seen a lot in my lifetime, outlived two leaders and saved many lives during mine. I Swiftlife, medicine cat of Mistclan have my story to tell.
The time was early morning, birds sang throughout the thick forest. A layer of mist covered the camp on a comforting shroud; a regular occurrence for the clan. Splashes of light rose from the wall of trees that surrounded the camp like a fortress, thorn bushes providing a comfort of protection as the sun broke through the spaces that were not overgrown.
A white tom; whose pelt was dappled with the grey colour of the sky, basked in the morning peace, upon a stone that rose from the earth with the strength of a mountain. Lazy blue eyes scanned the circular camp, to the entrance which lead to the damp forest and then to the wall of rock that lead high into the trees. His ear twitched at the sound of the small stream that trickled through the middle of camp.
A rustle comes from the alcove within the stone and he looks at the tabby cat who emerged; her hazel eyes flecked with green and her tail shorter than normal.
"Miststar." Her mew to the tom is soft, hushed to fit with the morning silence. "Riverstone's kits came in the night.." She paused, "three; two toms and a shecat."
Miststar looked prideful, expression soft at the news. "Take me to them Moonstone?"
The tabby nodded and padded towards a cave of rock that led up into the trees, the entrance shielded by hanging moss. The pale coloured leader followed her in, whiskers brushing against the vegetation.
The warm scent of the queens inside greeted them and so did the welcoming mews of the two shecats who hadn't had their kits yet. Miststar nodded in greeting but went further in to seek Riverstone. He purred when he laid eyes on the fluffy, pale blue shecat who curled around three small kits. Two of them identical silver ghost tabbies while the other had soft red tabby markings.
Riverstone raised her head and smiled at the two cats in front of her, "greetings Miststar, and again to you Moonstone" she purred brightly at the MistClan medicine cat.
"Have you thought of names for them yet?" Moonstone mewed, sitting in front of the nursing queen.
Riverstone nodded, "Quickkit-" she nosed the red tom "Swiftkit-" she put her nose to the silver tom "and Lifekit." She nuzzled the silver shecat.
Moonstone smiled "beautiful names for beautiful kits" the purr was heard in her voice. The blue queen beamed with pride at the medicine cat's words. Riverstone lays her head back down; a slight sadness in the action, wishing for her mate Redspring to come see them.
"Has their father came yet?" Miststar mews and Riverstone shakes her head in disappointment. The white tom sighs and his tail touches hers, "He will in time... Come Moonstone, let's leave her to rest." He catches Riverstone's green eyes once more and follows the medicine cat out of the den.
"She's a strong shecat... She'll be able to handle it if he doesn't show up." Moonstone mewed her rounded ear flicking.
"I hope you're right." Miststar dips his head before looking back at the den, "do you think there is an apprentice for you out of the three of them?"
Moonstone seems to ponder it, "I haven't felt a connection yet, but I hope so."
"As do I. Your wisdom needs to be passed on" He flicks his tail in goodbye. Padding back to the mountainous rock, he leaps back up onto the sunning stone, feeling that dark times were to come.