*The rain poured heavily as the gray she-cat was escorted through the darkness by a smaller tabby she-cat. Random flashes of lightning guided the two through the congested sidewalk of drenched pedestrians trying to find some shelter from the sudden squall. The cats dived through the Up-Walker's leg to avoid being crushed by their odd hard as rock paws.

"Moxie, I can't do it! We have to stop," the gray she-cat called to the tabby one who was leading her.

Moxie fell back beside the struggling cat and licked her ear affectionately, "Deefa, come one. One more block to go then we can rest."

"No!" Deefa cried, her voice sounding kit-like, "Please, I don't feel good and my paws hurt from walking so far and-"

"Sister, please! Tornado said it's the perfect place to have your kits! Or would you rather have your kits on this filthy sidewalk? Come on! Tornado is waiting!" Moxie's voice was irritated. She too was tired but not from the small walk. But from here whiny sibling.

"Fine," she grumbled. Moxie smiled to herself and began scurrying through the streets again. Skyscrapers flanked them on both sides making the two she-cats feel small and vulnerable. Moxie took a sharp turn down a dark alley. Trash can filled the small lane, making Deefa scrunch up her nose in disgust.

"This is Tornado "safe haven"?" asked Deefa, her yellow eyes criticizing the damp, mossy walls and ripped trash bags.

"I dunno," admitted Moxie, "Tornado said he'd lead the rest of the way when we got here." Moxie traveled further in, sniffing the air attentively.

"Well, I'm leaving!" Deefa announced loudly, "No way I'm having my precious kits in this hole-" But she was cut off by Moxie screech. Moxie was on the ground writhing in pain while 4 rats hung onto her fur, sinking their claws deep into her flesh.

Moxie ripped two off and swiftly killed them but the other two still hung on as Moxie clawed at them, "Help, Deefa! Please!" Moxie begged her sister who stood cowering in the corner.

"But…my kits!" The gray she-cat didn't move. Moxie stared at her sister with her big green eyes. Suddenly a mass of large, grimy rats swarmed Moxie and leaped on her, biting at anything they could find. As soon as Moxie killed one, two more jumped on until she fell, the rats overtaking her. Deefa didn't know what to do. Moxie was no longer visible because of all the rats. The rats did not notice her in the shadows, whimpering like a small kit.

Suddenly a cat sprinted past her, its paws hitting the ground hard has it sprung at the horde of rats ripping them off the poor she-cat. Dead rats lay scattered as the light gray tom snapped their neck effortlessly and flung them away. Moxie was visible again, her breathing shallow because of the intense weight the rats put her under. "Moxie, come one. Get up. It almost time, " the cat mewed harshly ignoring the plethora of deep cuts all over the feeble tabby, "Where's Deefa?"

Deefa stepped out of the shadows, "Here," she mewed, her voice trembling. The stranger's face grew soft as he turned his gray eyes on the she-cat, "Hello my love," he spoke, his voice full of love and adoration despite his cold tone towards Moxie.

"Tornado!" Deefa exclaimed and hobbled towards the tom. The two touched noses and stared into each other's eyes, "Where have you been? I've been so worried!" Deefa licked Tornado's cheek as if to see if he was really there.

"Sorry," Tornado apologized but didn't really seem that sorry "Cyclone had some stomach issues so we had to help him. Hurricane is helping him. Now come, just a little more walking and then we can settle."

Deefa nodded agreeably and quickly padded over to her sister who was slowly recovering. "Let's go Moxie. Tornado is here to lead us! Get up your not that hurt." Moxie grunted in aggravation and struggled to stand.

"A little help?" Moxie asked as she tried to get up.

"Ug, fine!" Deefa mewed like it was a hassle and gently helped the she-cat steady on her shaky legs.

Suddenly, Deefa gasped sharply and clenched her teeth and stood rigid, hair standing straight up. Deefa rolled her eyes, "Oh please it wasn't that tough!"

But Deefa shook her head as she moaned her yellow eyes wide with distress. Tornado rushed up and smacked Moxie in the tail with his tail, "You fool! Can't you see? The kits are coming! Did you not have a kit yourself?"

Moxie glared at his sister's mate with loathing, "Of course I did. No need to hit. Tsk, tsk, Tornado. Now come on, show us that great kitting place that we've heard so much about!"

Tornado ignored the sassy she-cat and touched Deefa lightly with his tail, "Deefa, please. We must go. The rats may come back. Can you walk?"

"I think," the gray she-cat choked out as she snapped her eyes shut in pain.

"Good. Now follow me. Moxie, help Deefa if she needs anything," Tornado instructed.

"There is nothing in the world I would like to do more", murmured the small tabby under her breath.

Tornado set off, the two she-cats following slowly. It was silent beside the rumble of distant thunder and Deefa's short, constant cries of pain. Tornado led them through many twist and turns until he stopped at a door with a doggy flap on the back.

"Here", Tornado mewed confidently, taking a step to the door.

"Hey, I know this place!" Moxie exclaimed excitedly and then turned to her sister "Remember, Deefa? Me, you, Corky and mom?"

Deefa looked at the strange door and smiled weakly, "Yes…"she whispered "We were born here."

Tornado nodded impatiently as the she-cat recollected their kithood, "That's nice but we need to go! This old Up-Walker nest is abandon but something or someone might have moved in." Tornado flicked his tail edgily to the door.

"Don't get your whiskers in a bunch, Tornado," Moxie hissed "It's been a long time since we've been here."

"No Moxie, Tornados right. We gotta go" Deefa mewed, the pain obvious in her voice. Suddenly she screamed in agony as a spasm passed through her, "They're coming! The kits! Hurry!!" She cried in distress.

Moxie looked at Tornado with a desperate look in her green eyes. Tornado understood. He opened the doggy door as Moxie guided the shrieking she-cat in.

Inside the large room were a few empty couches and an old mattress. There were stairs lading down to where the couch and bed mattress were and branching out to that room were other areas.

"Put that sheet that's over that couch on to that mattress", Moxie told Tornado swiftly. The tom leaped down the stairs and dragged the white sheet over to the mattress.

Moxie touched Deefa's back with her tail signaling her to follow but she stood still. "Come on, Deefa. Just down those steps. Remember? The steps me and Corky dared each other to jump off when mom was out hunting? And then you would tell on us when mom got home? Remember, Deefa?"

Reluctantly, the gray she-cat followed her sister down the steps. She didn't focus on the severe pain that was over taking her body but on the great memories that filled this abandoned apartment. Her mom scolding her brother and sister, the feeling of satisfaction when her mom disciplined Moxie and Corky but not her. Or when Corky returned after being missing for two days and being covered in Up-walker's milk, wearing the biggest smile ever.

Deefa smiled to herself as she took the last step down the stairs. She looked at the place Tornado prepared, a dingy old mattress covered with an ancient sheet. Then the pain returned ten times stronger and rawer than before. So agonizing that a tear slid down her cheek against her will. Was so much pain necessary to bring a new life into the world? She asked herself. Moxie lead her to the mat. Deefa took the small step up to it and gasped. She could almost feel the tiny kits coming like they were punching her in the stomach impatiently to get it over with.

The plushy mattress smelled of dust and Up-Walkers but Deefa didn't care right now. She carefully lay down. Tornado stood laid down beside her head, whispering in her ear to calm her down.

"Just breathe, Deefa. It's going to be over soon." Moxie meowed, hoping to comfort her sister. But Suddenly, Deefa's eyes fluttered closed and a calming sense went over her. The pain was still there but that didn't matter now. Soon she was asleep.

Moxie cocked her head, "Deefa?" She asked, bewildered. Tornado looked up at his mate's sister, fear but also disappointment, "Um…what's happening? Is she…."

Moxie shook her head "Dead? No. She still breathing. I think…she's sleeping."

Moxie prodded her sister lightly with her paw in the chest but Deefa did not stir. "Well…this is quite odd," Moxie chuckled.

Tornado looked at the she-cat "Is she going to be ok?"

Moxie shrugged, "I dunno. This has never happened before. But we'll see." She sat back and watched her sister with great concern but also amusement.

******

Deefa was dreaming. The young gray she-cat was still in the apartment, but she was much younger. A lot younger. She was the size of a six month old kit, her fur she poofy and soft. She felt alive and energetic and the apartment seemed brighter and more cheerful with her childish eyes.

"Hey, Deefa get over here!" A familiar voice called her voice from behind. Moxie, kit age was balancing on the stair rail.

"Get down from there!" a voice from the past called angrily from the door on the top. Her mother ran to the top step her white fur had a small splatter of blood on her shoulder from hunting. Isis tsked her young daughter, "Please get down from there before you hurt yourself."

Moxie shook his head, "Nuh-uh! Never!"

Isis growled, "Fine, but when you fall off and break your leg don't come crying to me! Now where's Corky?"

"Here, mother!" Mewed a tiny voice from the ceiling. Isis looked up and gasped quickly. Deefa looked up too and saw Corky leaned down from on of the beams running along the ceiling.

"What the…? Corky get down from there!" Isis screeched at her littlest kit. Deefa chuckled to herself, the family atmosphere making her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Oh how she missed these days, cooped up in their little heaven on earth.

While Isis argued with Corky, Moxie started sliding down the rail, sending her flying through the air, safely landing on a bunch of old pillows she placed there herself.

"Yes!" She exclaimed as she ran up to Deefa. "Dude, did you see that?"

Deefa chuckled "Yeah I did. Extremely dangerous and silly but…cool."

Moxie smiled at her sister's praise, "Now come on and let's eat while Momma tries to get Corky down." Moxie ran off up the stairs.

This is the life Deefa always loved. The gray she-cat just wanted to jump around and forget the life she is now living. This dream was really her dream. She looked around and tried to remember when this really happened in her child hood. Then, a look of horror replaced the happy one. For the memory she had always wanted to keep locked away and never to resurface was what she was dreaming about.

******

Deefa cried out, as she awoke from her deep slumber. Moxie and Tornado gasped simultaneously, examining the she-cat with great interest.

"Deefa, you ok?" Moxie demanded. Deefa looked up into the face of her sister, the one she had just saw, young, lively and carefree. But now it was careful, worried, and afraid. A violent spasm shuddered through her before she could answer.

"Ok, Deefa. I need you to just take deep even breaths." Moxie instructed.

"I-I-I can't!" Deefa exclaimed, the pain making her gasp for air.

"Yes you can? Do you want the pain to be over?"

Deefa moaned and groaned as a violent contraction sent through her body and then a tiny kitten appeared on the floor.

"There! One down one to go!" Moxie announced with a smile as she carefully felt her sister's stomach, "Now Tornado, make yourself useful and start licking you kit." Tornado nodded weakly, looking very scared and very confused.

That calm, sleepiness feel came over Deefa once again and she knew for sure if she fell asleep again she knew what would be waiting in her wandering mind. Moxie saw her sister trying to stay awake and flicked her on the nose desperately to try to help her stay conscious but with no avail. Deefa's eyes shut and soon she was back in her kithood.

******

It started where it left off: Moxie running to get food, Isis watching Corky as he played on the railing. Deefa knew what was next. It was all over in heartbeats. Isis was warning Corky about his footing when Deefa heard her screech. Deefa turned just in time to see the awful scene. Corky was plummeting to the ground, Isis sprinting to try to catch him but he was dropping to fast. Her little brother hit the ground with a sickening thud. Deefa just sat there, shell-shocked, her mind working slowly as if to trying to hid the pain. Isis raced over to her son who was laying in the center of the room, limbs sprawled in an odd fashion.

Deefa tried to stop this nightmare, tried to wake from this memory. Try to somehow go back and relive the good ol' days. But instead she had to watch as Moxie flew down the steps, eyes already welling up with tears. She had never saw Moxie cry before, ever not in the past of present. Isis was wailing in angst, Moxie trembling intensely. Deefa felt a tear run down her face. She felt numb, like she could be dying a very painful death right now but not feel it at all. Then her vision blurred and everything became foggy and fading. Then all she could see was black.

******

Deefa stirred slowly this time, wanting to take time to recover but unfortunately she couldn't. A paroxysm of agony convulsed through her, even more powerful than before. With all her might, Deefa pushed the last kit from her stomach and then…the pain was gone. She felt tired and weak but also accomplished. She laid her head back on the mattress and grinned.

"That was awful." Deefa mumbled.

Moxie roller her eyes, "It was even more difficult for us! Watching you pass out, wake up, give birth kit, pass out again, then give birth again! Tornado here almost died of anticipation!"

Tornado looked up from licking his kit and beamed at his mate, the joy obvious on his face, "Well I'm just happy you did it! Why did you faint?"

"I don't know, honey…something just came over me…" Deefa tried not to remember her dream and nightmare but the images just kept popping up.

"Well good thing that something got off of you!" Moxie mewed exasperatedly. She scooted the little kit she was licking to the crook of her mothers stomach. It was her first kit, a tiny little she-kit that was whiter than snow with long, fluffy fur She squeaked and whined as she kneaded at her mother's belly for milk. "She's precious," Deefa mumbled, not taking her eyes off her first born kit.

"What are you going to name her?" Tornado asked, "You get to name them since you went through it."

Deefa's mind went straight to what she experienced right after her birth and mewed, "Dream."

Moxie picked up the other kit, a tom with short pitch black fur, "And this one?" She asked as she placed it next to her sister. The tom didn't move until Moxie pushed him into his mom's stomach. Then he slowly opened his mouth as he started to suckle.

"Nightmare," Deefa replied quickly.

"Really?" Moxie questioned "That's a little dark for such a sweet kit."

"No, he will be called Nightmare." Deefa meowed, a hard tone to her voice. Tornado nodded and licked his mate on the forehead. "Well, I think those names are perfect" he complimented lovingly though his gray eyes asked the same question, Why those names?

Deefa stared deeply at her feeding kits, wondering if the things she experienced before their birth had anything to do with her two precious new born kits.