Raindrops sharp as thorns pounded the moorland while white blazes of lightning ripped across the near black sky. The wind howled causing the stubby moorland grass to sway to and fro violently. A pale ginger queen ear flicked back against her head at the complete madness, yet she refused to leave her shallow shelter.
Her attention turned to the small kits nestled up against her belly. One of them, a reddish brown tom mewled in protest as a raindrop smacked down on his forehead. The queen brimmed with worry and stood up, nudging the kits closer in to the shallow rock face before curling around them once more.
Now they all had their mouths open in protest, mewling as they tried to keep warm against their mother's belly. She shushed them quietly, willing them to go back to sleep, and as if by the will of Starclan they did. They stopped mewling and nuzzled in close, dozing.
The queen rested her head over them, trying to get them sheltered as possible. She closed her weary eyes as more worry furled in her chest. "I'm sorry young ones" she murmured "but I'll protect you, Littlewater will always be here for you."
Starclan please help us, if not me, at least let them live. The last thing to hit the queen's ears was a loud clap of Thunder before she slipped into the inky black of sleep.
"Littlewater, Littlewater!" Littlewater's ears flicked as she heard her name being called. She sat up suddenly looking out across the more. The rain had eased off greatly and slowly poured drown in a small drizzle. The clouds were light gray now, and no lightning broke its surface.
The queen rose and slid from the shelter. Her heart started pounding as she spotted her clanmate Blacknettle on the slope of the moor not far away. "Here!" Littlewater called "We're here!"
Blacknettle started racing toward her and Littlewater poked her head back into the shelter and retrieving one of the kits. As she backed out she was surprised that Blacknettle wasn't the only one waiting, but her mate Plushwhisker was there as well. She dropped the kit at his paws and retrieved the other two, giving one to Blacknettle The cats started to race back to the camp.
Plushwhisker was giving Littlewater a hard stare as she settled back into her nest in the nursery. "What in Starclan were you thinking!" he growled lashing his tail from side to side angrily.
The queen pinned her ears back against her skull, her own anger rising. "I was stuck in this den a Moon and a half early all because you were so overprotective." She hissed, her claws digging into the bedding of her nest lightly.
Her mate opened his mouth to retaliate but she kept going. "I didn't scent the storm, let alone see the storm until it was too late!" Her tail started twitching "I asked time and time again for you to walk with me to the stream, yet even that's too dangerous!"
This time Plushwhisker's ears flattened. "I know I was over protective." He meowed, sitting down by her side. "But that was purely mouse-brained to go out that close to kitting"
Guilt started to prick Littlewater's mind, and she sighed. "I'm sorry." She murmured. Her nose suddenly started twitching and she started on a small rapid sneezing chain.
"Are you alright?" panic edged Plushwhisker's mew, but before Littlewater replied he dashed toward the Nursery exit. "I'm getting Lightbelly, stay put." He threw over his shoulder before disappearing.
"Toms" the queen murmured. The kits had been snuggled against her belly suckling for a while and now began to stir, wandering around the nest. She nabbed a dark red she-kit from the stumbling bunch and pulled her between her paws.
Littlewater started washing the protesting kit when the gorse at the entrance started rustling. She expected the medicine cat and her mate to appear, so she kept washing the kit. She glanced up startled when a soft mew sounded instead.
Mistpool had entered with a bundle of moss. She crossed over to the other side of the den set the moss down and turned to face Littlewater, who had now grabbed her third kit a tom with a black pelt and brown patches and was washing his fur.
"I'm having Lostfang's kits" the small she-cat meowed, her head bowed slightly but her eyes gleamed.
Littlewater rose from washing her kit and the tom stumbled away quickly, bowling into his brother and starting to tussle with him. She stared at Mistpool with surprise before noticing that the queen's belly had grown larger.
"I thought you were just growing into your fur" Littlewater teased. In all truth, it was what she had thought for the last few moons. The white and gray speckled queen looked away in embarrassment. She opened her mouth to say more but the gorse rustled once more and Lightbelly entered his mouth full of herbs.
"How are you feeling?" The black cat meowed settling by her nest and dropping the herbs.
Littlewater's ears twitched. "Fine, I just had a sneezing bit. Nothing serious" she meowed, a hint of annoyance tread the vocals.
The tom glared at her slightly before unfolding the herbs and pushing some towards her. "After the stunt you pulled, we have to be cautious." He looked over the herbs once more "Catmint, Borage, and chamomile." He muttered before nodding.
Her look turned dubious, but she lapped up the herbs quickly and curled around her kits, soothing them into sleep. "Those kits are my kin too, I'll be worrying" Lightbelly flicked his tail over her ears before turning to Mistpool.
"What about you? Are you feeling any pain?" he meowed. Littlewater could tell the small cat was just shaking her head in response. "Good. I'll be back in my den but I'll come back after dark to check on you both"
Littlewater sighed as the medicine cat left the den. Peace and quiet was all she wanted and needed at the moment. Her bones ached from sleeping on cold wet stone and her ears were still ringing from the noise. Another nap would probably ease those aches and pains.
Before sleep fully gripped her a bough rattled in her chest and left a little tickle, there, causing the cough to continue. Finally she slipped into the blackness she had so long awaited.
Lostfang paced outside the elder's den nervously. Ever since Littlewater and her kits had gotten greencough a moon earlier Mistpool had moved to the Elder's den to prevent any further spreading of the sickness.
As the wails of agony continued Lostfang's worry rose "What if there's too much blood? What if a kits too big to fit? Or what if-"
"Stay calm, she's small but she's a strong warrior." A deep mew caused Lostfang to turn around quickly. Yellowstar sat there, his light gray pelt shining in the setting sun. "Queens have been kiting for ages, and this is the way it always is."
Lostfang nodded, there wasn't any reason for him to have bees in his brain. He was the clan deputy, if he freaked out at every little thing like this he might as well return to the nursery then become leader. Yet he was entitled to some worry, wasn't he? That queen was his mate for Starclan's sake!
He had been so enveloped in his thoughts that he didn't notice Lightbelly had left the den until the tom gave him a gentle nudge on the shoulder. Lostfang jumped the side a bit, his fur bristling but it laid back down quickly as he saw the amusement in the medicine cat's eyes.
"Two healthy kits, both female." He meowed before trotting off to his den.
Lostfang entered the den slowly, a wave of warmth and the scent of milk flooded his senses and he slowly, almost warily. A pale orange she-cat turned to stare at him from her nest, she let out an amused purr at his expression. "Come on over, the kits won't bite." Redgorse meowed, her mew was rough but it held a good tone.
Twitching his ears, he made his way over to Mistpool who looked up at him with weary eyes. "Two kits, my love." She purred her tail twitching for him to lean closer. In the nest curled against her side were the two kits, one a pale gray, the other a dull brown with black tipped ears and tail.
Lostfang's emotion's melted. "Their perfect." He murmured nuzzling Mistpool's neck before leaning forward and giving the gray kit a lick. The she-kit detached from her mother and let out a mewl before swiping at her father's nose.
He winced and drew back, letting out a nervous purr. "She'll be a wondrous fighter."
"I'll believe that when their back in their own nest." Rabbitear growled from his nest at the other end of the den.
Redgorse snorted. "You know you're glad to hear new life" she meowed flicking a dry piece of bedding at him. He lowered his head back down and grumbled.
"What are their names?" the elder asked turning back to the Mistpool and the kits.
Lostfang looked thoughtful. "We can call this one Silverkit" He flicked his tail at the pale gray kit. "And this one..."
The brown kit had started pummeling her mother's side with her forepaws while her back paws moved as if she were running. "Quickkit." Mistpool meowed, wincing a bit at the kits harsh movements.
The deputy held his head up and purred louder. "Silverkit and Quickkit, Beautiful names for our beautiful daughters."
After a few more moments of bliss, Lostfang stood, promising to be back with a piece of fresh-kill. As he exited the den he heard hushed whispers throughout the camp. His eyes narrowed as he approached the fresh-kill pile.
"What's going on?" He asked Leafstep who was looking through the pile quietly. She glanced at him with her amber eyes and sighed.
"Plushwhisker just got back from patrol, and Littlewater and a few kits got worse in the night. He hasn't seen them yet but I suspect-" She broke off as an agonized yowl split the air.
Lostfang turned quickly and bolted to the nursery, he quickly slipped between the gorse and the stench of sickness hit him. He halted his heart sinking as he watched Plushwhisker bowed over Littlewater's still form. Lightbelly stood next to him nosing a small black kit that was letting out feeble breaths every few heartbeats.
The deputy made his way over at Lightbelly's flick of the tail. "I'll take Echokit, Blacknettle and Plushwhisker will take Littlewater. But, could you take the last two kits to Mistpool?"
He seemed to hesitate at the last words, but Lostfang nodded in understanding. "Are they well enough?" he asked bending down to pick up Willowkit.
The medicine cats ear twitched. "They're still ill, but they weren't as bad as the others two. The cough shouldn't spread to your kits."
With Mousekit on his back and Willowkit clasped between his jaws Lostfang made his way back to the elders den. He quickly noticed Mistpool and the kits had fallen asleep. Gently he set the two kits by the curve of her belly and nuzzled one with his nose.
"I'm sorry little ones." He murmured.
"Go out and sit vigil, I'll tell her when she wakes up." Redgorse mewed. She had been sitting near Rabbitear who was grumpily waking from his short nap. "Leave me alone! Darn she-cats." He was murmuring.
Redgorse hissed and cuffed him over the ear. "Your daughter's dead! Least you could do is sit vigil for her."
Lostfang nearly winced. Rabbitear had fallen for a Shadowclan cat Splashclaw, she bore his kits and raised them in Shadowclan, yet when Rabbitear wanted to take them back for Windclan war nearly broke out. Shadowclan kept the kits until they were made apprentices, and Littlepaw had crossed the border of her own will and refused to return despite the threats from her home clan. A battle broke loose and in the end Splashclaw ended up losing her life. Grief stricken, Rabbitear refused to do anything more with his daughter.
The old tom was still a moment before he rose to his paws and left the den. Redgorse went back to her nest and Lostfang sighed before following Rabbitear. Much of the clan had gathered around Littlewater's body.
The deputy never realized that through her impulsive and reckless behavior she had brought so many cats closer to her. Plushwhisker had his nose buried in-between his mate and kits fur, Grayslate smoothed Littlewater's fur down while Mintwallow laid there her paws tucked under her stomach.
As the clearing sake into a dull sadness, Silverpelt started to shine brightly over them. Lostfang had settled by Littlewater and was now staring up at his ancestors. "Such young kits." He thought, "I hope they'll be alright without you."
"Mrow?" Plushwhisker mumbled as a paw pushed into his side. He had slipped from a point of sleep and staying awake all night and when he turned to look at the figure at his side it was nothing but a blurry form.
"It's time for the elder's to bury them." He recognized Cloudfeather's voice and he shook his head a few times to see the white tom properly.
Plushwhisker rose to his paws and stretched, his feelings of grief sinking in to the muscles of his body. He had to face it, his mate and kit were dead. He pressed his muzzle into Littlewater's cold neck fur and inhaled her scent one last time. "I'll miss you, so much."
He stood back as Redgorse and Rabbitear grabbed Littlewater by the scruff. Lightbelly followed them, his tail hanging. After a few moments they had gone, and the clearing started into a silent laps of the daily routine.
Twitching his whiskers Plushwhisker made his way over to Lostfang who was arranging the patrols.
"Cloudfeather, take Grayslate, Leafstep, and Badgerpaw and hunt down towards the lake. I sent the border patrol to the Riverclan border, there have been signs of trespassing and we don't want a bigger fight then possibly needed to break out." He was meowing.
Cloudfeather flicked his tail, but before they could leave Plushwhisker quickly padded up. "May I join them?" he meowed. "I'd like something to take my mind off things."
Lostfang shook his head, "Neither of us had good sleep last night. Yellowstar has instructed us to get some rest." His mew dragged toward the end and he made his way to the warriors den.
Plushwhisker huffed. He wouldn't defy his leader, but he wanted to see his kits first. They probably didn't know half of what was going on, Lightbelly said they were well enough not to spread the cough, yet they didn't have much memory besides warmth and milk.
He made his way into the elder's den slowly, trying not to wake any of the sleeping cats, but Mistpool opened her eyes from where she had laid her head. Plushwhisker could see the sympathy in their gray depths.
"I'm sorry this had to happen to you, to them." She mewed looking at the kits breathing softly at her side. "I'll happily keep taking care of them."
"Thank you for this." He said stepping closer he saw his two remaining kits curled against Mistpool's as if they were all siblings. His heart sank further that the sickness wouldn't allow them to remember their mother's soft fur and caring nature.
As his mind rolled he looked at Mistpool seriously, it broke his heart to suggest such a thing, but he had to do it. "Lightbelly said the kits won't remember anything of the last moon." He murmured.
Surprise entered Mistpool's eyes as he continued. "I don't want them to grow up without their mother, and as much as it would pain me to lose them I want them to be happy."
The queen instantly "I'd be happy to go along with being their mother." she shook her head. "But I'd have to ask Lostfang."
Plushwhisker bowed his head "Thank you again. I'm sure he'll agree... But I have to ask, what made you accept my request so quickly?" he had to ask about the queens eagerness to help.
She looked away from him for a few heartbeats before answering him. "Early in my time I had gone out with Mintwallow for a small walk. But over by the Thunderclan border I started to feel heavy pains. Leafstep thought the kits were coming far too early and that was true."
Pain clouded Mistpool's eyes and her mew became more chocked "The pain way even greater than giving birth to my two kits here. I could see Leafstep was quite disturbed when it was over. I still had kits in my belly but the pain had stopped. When I turned to look the two kits my heart sank. They were in a white cloudy mess, and they were deformed, not nearly close to being full healthy kits. Leafstep helped me burry them and decided no one were to know. "
Plushwhisker shuddered he hadn't expected her story to be this much. He now saw why his kits were accepted, to fill the void of the ones she had lost. Almost asking why she trusted him with her story, he flicked his ears as a soft mew sound from behind them.
Whirling around he came to face with Yellowstar. The leader's tail was twitching. He had heard everything, Plushwhisker realized that, but was he mad at them both?
Yellowstar must've seen the shock in his eyes for he shook his head "I support your decision Plushwhisker, but Mistpool, why would you keep this from your clan? There were lives to be mourned over and yet you let it be?"
Mistpool's ears flew back against her skull. "I had no reason, but it was after Leaf-bare at the time, I didn't want to distract anyone…" her mew faded off as she bowed her head.
"Well talk about this later. Plushwhisker, do what I asked of you and get some rest please." He flicked his tail at the entrance and Plushwhisker bowed his head. "I just want a last good-bye." He mewed before turning to the small bundles of fur.
They were starting to stir now and latch onto Mistpool's body to feed. He bent forward and nuzzles the reddish fur of Willowkit. All at once the den seemed to swirl, Screeches and wails pounded Plushwhisker's ears and he gasped.
Willowkit was suddenly standing before him, her fur was drenched in blood and under her paw she held another kit. It was struggling fiercely but with a flick of Willowkit's claws its life had ended.
Plushwhisker stood terrified as blood seemed to start sweeping up from the ground and started engulfing him. A soft voice tickled his ears "A tree who loves her home, and her lover, Will cause chaos to her home, and her lover."
The ground came crashing to him as the vision faded. He stood there above his kit shuddering. What just happened? The thoughts reeled in his head as he took a step back. He saw Mistpool's quizzical look but he turned away from her, not wanting to answer, unsure of how to explain this.
He quickly padded to where the warriors slept and curled up in his soft nest. She sun was pulling higher into the sky yet he felt utterly weary. He changed his mind about going hunting. He would have been too clumsy to catch anything.
He had tried to push that vision from his mind but it came flooding back every time. His kits bloodstained fur, the innocent beneath her paws struggling to free from the pain. He shuddered and looked at a passing cloud. Starclan, please don't let this decision have been a mistake.