Dovewing growled and pushed as hard as she could, a fierce pain throbbed all over her body, from every fur tip, to the tips of her claws. A final kit slid out onto the nest and let out a shrill squeal and thrashed its two front paws in a tiny panik attack. Dovewing gasped in relief as she relaxed a bit. Four kits lie at her belly. One was pure grey tom, with her blue eyes. Another she-kit was white with light grey splotches and dark grey tabby stripes. She had beautiful amber eyes. A third she-kit had snow white fur with grey paws, tail tip, ear tips, and chest. She had sky blue eyes. The fourth one was a grey tom with jet black stripes, and had amber eyes.

"Dovewing!" Bumblestripe, her mate, burst into the den, purring with extreme relief as he saw the four kits and Dovewing, all okay.

"They're beautiful... Just like you." Bumblestripe purred and licked her face all over. Dovewing let out a weak purr and twined her tail with Bumblestripe's, her eyes dull with exhaustion.

"Want to name them now, or later?" She mewed, her eyes staring down at the kits, as if she were watching them like a hawk.

"If you're too tired, we can name them later." He mewed, his eyes flashing with worry.

"I'm fine.. lets name them now, I'll name two, and you name two." She smiles weakly and Bumblestripe purred loudly.

"Okay.. The grey and white tabby, can be... Greykit..? No.. How about.. Dawnkit." Bumblestripe smiled at the tiny she-kit, she was squirming around at Dovewings belly.

"You next." He meowed, his gaze traveling to the solid grey kit.

"Jaykit!" Dovewing squealed excitedly. Bumblestripe nodded in approval and his gaze swiveled to the white kit with grey markings.

"Skykit." He mewed glancing at the pale dawn-lit sky.

"I think the last one... Should be..." He thought for a long moment, staring at Dovewing, for some suggestions.

"Blackkit? Jetkit?" She sounded bewildered.

"Blackkit!" Bumblestripe purred. Suddenly, Dovewing stiffened, her gaze suddenly hardening.

"This is the Moon of Sacrifice, isn't it?" She whispered, making Bumblestripe tense.

"It is, yo-you're not thinking Bramblestar is going to sacrifice two of them?" Bumblestripe growled.

"Breezestar won't let us keep more than two. And if we don't give them up.." Dovewing trailed off and Bumblestripe shook his head.

"Dovewing.. its for the clan.. We must choose two of our kits.." He muttered, sadness edging his voice.

"I pick... Blackkit.. He looks strong enough to survive DarkClan.." She whimpered, licking Blackkit's head.

"Skykit." Bumblestripe decided evenly. Bumblestripe looked up, his eyes flashing in anger.

"Lets go tell Bramblestar."

Bramblestar POV

Bramblestar stretched, he was more tense than usual. Moon of Sacrifice was the moon Darkclan came and took two kits from every clan. Bramblestar shuddered and thought of Darkclan's past.

The dark warriors were all bloodthirsty cats... But..

They were rogues as well as loners, also cats who sided with Dark Forest during the Great Battle, back then. The first time they demanded kits... Things did not end well. Bramblestar growled at the thought of the raid.

Greystripe, Sandstorm, and Brightheart had been killed. And, he forgot, Purdy had been killed. Easy to say, if you didn't give up two kits, your clan would be raided and cats will be killed, no questions asked. Thank Starclan, Bumblestripe and Dovewing had kits.. and had Chosen two kits, Blackkit and Skykit, to be sacrificed for the good of the clan.

Anyways, this was the moon. The claw scratch moon, also known as..

Moon of Sacrifice.

Skykit POV

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting!" Bramblestar stood next to a black-as-night tom. His amber gaze was shadowed. There was no glitter or brightness is his dark gaze. This scared the one moon old Skykit. She looked around and realized there was another tom, but he was dark grey with icy blue eyes. But his was also shadowed like the night. Skykit looked at Hollykit, her Mother's friend's kit. Beside Hollykit was her brother, Adderkit.

"What's going on?" Skykit whispered to Hollykit and she shrugged.

"Beats me." Suddenly, teeth cuffed her ear gently and Dovewing whispered,

"Be quiet Skykit..." Her voice cracked with grief and Skykit wondered what was wrong with the clan. All their gazes were sad as they all looked at her and her brother, Blackkit.

"Skykit and Blackkit.. Please step forward." Bramblestar announced and her eyes widened.

She was getting her apprentice name! Already!

He continued, and Skykit frowned, these were not the right words.

"Skykit, Blackkit, Thunderclan has honoured your excitement and eagerness to become a Thunderclan warrior.. But sadly.." Skykit's eyes widened and she cut him off.

"What are you talking about? We are becoming Thunderclan warriors!"

"Yea!" Blackkit joined in. Skykit looked to the black tom that was beside Bramblestar, his shadowed face had a dark smile that made Skykit shudder.

Bramblestar just ignored them and continued.

"But sadly, Dovewing and Bumblestripe have chosen them to.." Skykit glanced at her mother and father, her mother's face was buried in Bumblestripe's shoulder fur.

"Go with Breezestar and Littlelight to DarkClan." Suddenly Skykit leapt to her tiny paws.

"What?!" She yowled and Blackkit bristled. Breezestar leap from the rock and cats parted into a so a small path lead Breezestar to Skykit. Breezestar picked her up and she struggled wildly.

"Let my sister go!" Blackkit yolwed and swiped at Breezestar, who just purred and turned away. Suddenly, as Skykit turned her head, she saw Blackkit being carried by the warrior named... Uhm... Littlelight was it? She thought to herself.

"Mommy! Daddy! Help us!" She shrieked and thrashed more. Her mother and father did nothing.

All they did was watch.

Skykit felt betrayal as she watched her parents disappear into the thorn barrier. Skykit felt numb. Nothing was left. Skykit, before they even reached the border, she was limp in Breezestar's jaws. Skykit looked up from the ground and realized they were in a shadowy forest, with tall, thick trees that blocked out all moonlight and sunlight. It was dark. Skykit trembled and Breezestar mumbled through a mouthful of grey and white fur,

"Youll get used to it, I promise."

Breezestar didn't seem that mean.

Maybe this won't be as bad as Skykit thought!