Prologue:
A blazing fire coursed through Nettlefur's body, the pain intense. She knew that this was wrong in every way; she was breaking the warrior code in two ways: medicine cats should NEVER, under any circumstances have a mate, and secondly, she is having kits! Medicine cats are supposed to remain loyal and true to their Clan, not stab them in the back whenever they feel like it. And now she knew, that she could not return. Nettlefur gasped in agony as another spasm shook her body. Here comes the first one. She groaned and looked up at the clear blue sky as she saw the kit appear, and began to lick it fiercely, then stopped, another one was coming. She yowled, the ferocity stronger this time. Another she-cat. If only she had told her brother, the only one of her kin left alive. Surely he would have helped her! Of course he wouldn't, he had never approved of me even becoming a medicine cat and may even turn his back on me if he saw me now. She was being mouse-brained! Silvertail loved her! He was kin to her! So it took all of her strength to screech, "Silvertail!"
How much longer could this last? All this had to end sometime! But all along Nettlefur knew that the hardship of kitting was a punishment from StarClan. She looked up and saw the dry bracken rattle and Silvertail emerged, a sleek silver tom with an abnormally long, shiny silver tail. He appeared to be confused at his sister's wild call for help, until his gaze locked with Nettlefur's. Then, a pure look of horror and astonishment took over.
"How could you?" he spat in fury.
"Silvertail… it was an accident. I'm so, so sorry, please forgive me. I never meant to…" her pleas were interrupted as another that shook her body from head to tail. Her vision was fading quickly, when another kit appeared, a third she-cat. Only one more, she thought. Silvertail was sitting there silently, he couldn't figure out what to do. Then, suddenly, he rose to his paws, and glared at Nettlefur as he said, "Nettlefur, what you have done is wrong, and I'm sure you are sorry, yet I cannot forgive you. I cannot have disloyalty getting in my way." And her turned and walked away.
Nettlefur's mind was racing. What should she do? She was so lost. Silvertail had always been ambitious but she had never expected that. Of course, every cat wants to become leader, yet warriors should never turn their back on kin. Here comes the last one. The pain was excruciating, her face twisted in anguish. And almost as quickly as it had begun, it ended.
Two she-cats and two toms. Thank StarClan it's over. But the question is, where do we go? Nettlefur's body was numb with shock. She had won the battle, yet lost the closest cat to her in the world, her littermate, Silvertail. Nettlefur started to lick all of her kits, checking them over. They must be hungry, she thought, but I can't possibly provide them with milk when I'm so hungry myself! But they have to live, I don't know what I would do if they died. I couldn't possibly be welcomed back to my clan after what I did. Okay, enough pity for me, my kits need food. Nettlefur shakily stood and looked around. She gathered some leaves and covered her kits up. Then, she began to walk the familiar trail that led back to the ThunderClan camp.