A brown tabby she-cat bent her head to lick the head of one of her newborn kits, her fur plastered to her sides from the rain. Thunder clapped overhead right after lightning struck, and her second kit, the smaller she-cat, squealed in terror. The mother then licked the ears of that kit gently as she thought to herself, My poor kit...
Beside the mother was a golden dappled she-cat, her apface screwed up in disgust as rain roared down outside of a rocky outcrop. "I can't believe Lion isn't here,"
"Hush, Leopard," The mother meowed, "he will come."
Leopard snorted in exasperation. "Since when was that fleabag ever there for you?" Without waiting for an answer, she let out a low sigh and lay down with her paws under her chest. "Buzzard, I realize he's your mate and all, but don't you think he's been neglecting you? Just a little?"
Buzzard's brown fur stuck up on her neck defensively. "Don't you think you're being unfair to your brother? He's helped you through a lot, you know."
"When we were kits," Leopard hissed, her growls evident. "Ever since he found out about how to fight to gain what you have, he's done nothing but that." She closed her eyes as another clap of thunder battered the area, almost deafening her. "Have you named the kits yet?"
Glad to change the subject, the queen dipped her head. "No, I'm terrible with names," She couldn't hold back a purr as she watched the bigger tom fluff out his fur in spikes, trying to stay warm from the cold rain pounding outside.
"Well, then, I'll name the tom and you can name the she-kit." Leopard suggested, her gaze fixed on the golden furred kit.
"Sounds even enough." Buzzard looked carefully at the pale brown she-cat, and watched as another thunderous roar made the kit squeal in terror while her brother did not react. "I'll name her Thunder. She might find the courage to overcome her fear someday."
"Then I'll name the tom Lightning. He could defend his sister always, like my brother never did for me." She purred softly as the tom mewled and rolled onto his back, purring himself to sleep.
Then a drenched feline entered the shadows of the rock, his muscles showing from his rain plastered fur. He stared at the kits, then at Buzzard. "You had the kits already?" For a second, his amber eyes flashed with surprise and anger.
"Yes, I did, Lion." Hearing a growl, Buzzard knew it was from Leopard and she waved her tail across the hot-headed she-cat's mouth. "And their names are Lightning and Thunder." She nosed them in turn, a purr overcoming her.
"And I suppose this mange-pelt helped you deliver my kits?" Lion growled, baring his fangs at Leopard.
"She was only trying to—" Buzzard broke off as Leopard leaped at Lion with a snarl, her jaws clamping around his neck. Lion shook the smaller she-cat off with ease, and he pinned her to the earthy floor of the outcrop.
"Attacking me, are we?" Lion growled lowly, putting his muzzle close to his sister's. "You'll never win."
Leopard still did not speak. Instead, she gathered her back legs under Lion's belly and shoved him off with great force. As the winded tom skidded out into the rain, the golden dappled she-cat tackled him and rolled over and over with the tom in the mud. She slashed at his flanks, belly, and neck, while he returned each blow with greater force. He managed to grab his sister by the scruff and dragged her back to the walls of the overhanging rock, pinning her up against it.
"Lion, don't!" Buzzard cried, desperately trying to save her friend. "That's your sister! She's your kin, remember? You can't kill kin!" She wrapped her tail tightly around her kits, causing Lightning to awake. He mewled loudly once before settling back down. More thunder cracked, and Lion slowly looked back at his mate. His eyes traveled down to his kits, sleeping soundly at her belly. For the longest time, he just stared at them, his amber eyes revealing nothing. He kept his large paw firmly pressed on Leopard to keep her up on the wall, and, with a sigh, he let her drop.
"I'm stopping for the kits." He didn't look at Buzzard again before leaving, his bloody paws making prints on the dirt.
Leopard growled at Lion as he left, then she limped back to Buzzard's side. "He still won't stop at nothing until he finds that Clan, you know."
Buzzard sighed, laying her chin on her paws. "I know, Leopard. Trust me."