Mice scattered for cover as lightning cracked the jet black sky with a clash of thunder echoing in the distance. The forest below drowned in an ocean of shadows as ash gray clouds covered the moon and stars, offering no support to the dark striped tabby trying to navigate his way through Thunderclan territory. As his paw broke the surface of a muddy puddle, another clash of thunder boomed in his ears, causing the spotted chestnut bundle of fur in his jaws to cry out in terror. Thorns of nearby bushes tore through her long fur and she whimpered in pain. The tabby spared her a concerned glance but didn't stop running. He has to get her to camp.
His chest heaved as he panted heavily around the kit in his jaws, pushing himself to run faster as the rain hammered through his skin like sharp stones. The water plastered his brown fur to his body, exposing rippling muscles and a large frame. Up ahead, a tunnel appeared, indicating Thunderclan's camp was just in reach if he pushed himself harder. He exhaled a sigh of relief through his nose then pushed past the ferns blocking sight of his clanmates. His ears stood straight as urgent murmurs welcomed him home, cats sitting in the clearing as cries erupted from the nursery. Goldenflower! The tabby's amber eyes widened in alarm as the sound of his mate in pain caught his attention. How could he forget she was giving birth?
Before the tabby could proceed further into camp, a white tom appeared before him. "Tigerclaw!" he exclaimed, his shoulders loosening in relief. "I'm so glad you're back. Goldenflower's-" he broke off when he saw the kit in Tigerclaw's jaws. "...What is this?"
Tigerclaw placed the kit down gently between his massive paws. "Is she alright?" The white tom didn't answer. Tigerclaw dug his claws into the dirt as his fangs bared. "Whitestorm, is Goldenflower alright?" he repeated, more impatient and hostile. Whitestorm looked from him, to the kit, then back again.
"Spottedleaf is with her now," he finally responded. Tigerclaw picked up the kit then padded to the nursery where the yowls were coming from. "Tigerclaw!" The large tabby flattened his ears in rage as he snapped his head back to glare at Whitestorm.
"What?"
"Where did you find it?" Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes as Whitestorm's gaze fell on the kit.
"I found her outside. She was in a bush mewling for help and I couldn't find her mother, so I took her," he growled, carefully thinking of the best solution for this situation. Whitestorm stared at the kit, not believing a word Tigerclaw's saying and Tigerclaw knew he really needed to convince Whitestorm to keep quiet. If not… he'll just have more blood on his paws. "I really need to check on my mate."
Before Whitestorm could question him any further, Tigerclaw hurried into the nursery. As he entered, a golden pale she-cat was sprawled out in a nest made of moss. Howls of agony erupted from her as ripples passed through her stomach. A tortoiseshell she-cat ran her paw lightly over the birthing mother's belly with a tender gaze.
"Two kits, Goldenflower. You can do it," she murmured encouragingly. Tigerclaw hurried over to the medicine cat and placed the kit down beside Goldenflower.
"How is she, Spottedleaf?"
"She's fine." Spottedleaf pricked her ears in alert as a massive ripple passed through Goldenflower's stomach. "It's coming!" Tigerclaw's fur bristled and he settled down beside his mate to murmur soothing words into her ear. Goldenflower howled in agony as a wet bundle of dark fur slipped out onto the moss. Spottedleaf nipped at the newborn kit then licked it roughly to get air flowing through its lungs. "One more, Goldenflower. You can do it," Spottedleaf encouraged between licks. Last but not least, a tawny bundle of fur slipped out alongside its sibling. Goldenflower performed the same procedure as Spottedleaf, her eyes overcome with affection for her kits. Tigerclaw gazed at his kits with pride and although he would never admit it, he purred in happiness as they mewled for their mother. "A tom and she-cat," Spottedleaf announced. The other queens' purrs toned in harmony with the new parents. Goldenflower relaxed as she leaned into Tigerclaw.
"They're beautiful," she murmured. Tigerclaw licked her ear with a purr rumbling in his throat. The two kits pawed their way to their mother's belly with the help of their mother along the way. With the warmth and scent of milk flooding the nursery with an overwhelming sense of home, the leopard kit's nose twitched and she decided she waited long enough to be fed and settled in. She followed the other kits and stumbled over Goldenflower's hind leg as she followed the scent of milk to her belly. The mother's purrs faltered as she furrowed her brows in confusion and gave the kit a puzzled look over. "How did you get here, little one?" Tigerclaw froze as she bent to sniff the kit and her fur bristled against him.
"Goldenflower, I-" Goldenflower didn't give him the chance to explain as she leaned back to whisper in his ear while the other queens and Spottedleaf stared at the strange kit in confusion.
"Tigerclaw, why does she smell of Shadowclan?" Goldenflower husked, her sharp gaze warning him not to lie or there'll be Hell to pay. Tigerclaw knows that look all too well.
"I'll tell you later, but I didn't steal her," he murmured. "You're… you're not going to like what I have to tell you." Goldenflower's once affectionate eyes dimmed to a hollow gaze as she realized what the situation was.
"When were you going to tell me?"
"Goldenflower, please. Not now." The golden queen lowered her gaze and turned back to her kits, her eyes raking over the leopard kit with a flash of anger before falling back into her emotionless stare.
"What are you going to name them?" another queen asked, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.
"I think this one should be Bramblekit," Goldenflower mewed, pointing her tail at the dark striped tom, "and this one is Tawnykit." She beckoned her tail to the tawny she-cat then stared at the leopard kit with her lips shut tight. Tigerclaw took that as his cue and pressed his chin to Goldenflower's shoulder, not missing the way she tensed and bristled at his contact. He struggled to ignore the pang of hurt in his chest as he gazed at his daughter.
"We should name this one… Leopardkit." The newly named kit huddled with the other kits as they dozed off, pressing to Goldenflower's belly for warmth. "Welcome to Thunderclan, my kits."