Prologue
Dusk was falling over WindClan territory, and Darkstripe was on his way back from collecting herbs when he heard Mosspaw calling.
"The kits are coming, the kits are coming!"
He dropped his herbs and rushed down to the nursery. He heard movement as he went through the back entrance. Hollyleaf was lying on her side groaning, so Darkstripe padded up and felt her side.
"You're having four kits." he told her.
He felt moving and told Hollyleaf to be ready.
"Your first kit is coming," he said "push when I tell you to."
He waited a moment. "Ok, push!" and out slipped the first kit.
They repeated the process three more times until she had four kits.
"Oh, they're beautiful!" Hollyleaf murmured.
Darkstripe whispered to an apprentice waiting by the entrance, and she ran off in the direction of the camp.
"What have you named them, Hollyleaf?" Darkstripe asked her.
"Hmm… I think I'll wait to name them until Whitestar comes." Hollyleaf answered. She glanced around, and spotted her best friend Tawnypelt nurturing her four kits.
"Oh, they are very adorable kits, Tawnypelt!" Hollyleaf said. "Are you waiting for Redtail to come before you name them?"
"Yes, I am, just as I expect you are. Isn't this great?"
"Yes it is. Actually, I think I hear someone coming now!" Hollyleaf said.
Soon enough, Redtail and Whitestar appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. Whitestar padded up to Hollyleaf and looked at the kits in admiration.
"Let's name the golden tabby Whirlkit, and the tortoiseshell Mintkit." Whitestar said.
"They're wonderful names!" Hollyleaf said "Why don't we call that gray one Smallkit because he's the smallest, and the other gray one Darkkit?"
Whitestar nodded in approval and said "Hello Whirlkit, Mintkit, Smallkit and Darkkit! Welcome to the Survivor's world."
Smallkit meowed and stumbled over to Hollyleaf for some milk, with the others soon following.
Hollyleaf turned to Tawnypelt and asked "What have you named your kits?"
"Well the light gray one is called Kestrelkit, the ginger tabby is called Milliekit, the ginger tom is Longkit because of that mark on his stomach, and the white one is called Swiftkit."
"Wow!" exclaimed Hollyleaf "You've thought of great names for your kits."
"Thanks," said Tawnypelt. "I heard your names, and they're nice ones too."
"Well, hello, Tawnypelt! It looks as though these kits are going to be good friends!" Whitestar said, padding over to the two she-cats. They watched the kits stumble over each other as they made their way over to the other nests, meowing loudly.
"I can't wait for the kits' Apprentice Ceremonies in 6 moons time," Tawnypelt said sleepily. "I think they're already growing too big for the nest!"
Hollyleaf smiled at the joke. "I think it will be a while before they have enough sense to even stay in the nursery!" she exclaimed as Redtail ran over to the tunnel to pick up Kestrelkit, and return her to the nest.
"You have a bit of an adventurous mind, Kestrelkit." Redtail said, amused. "You know, even though our kits are only a moon old, they are acting just like they're five moons!"
The two nursing Queens listened to the chat of their mates, and lazed in their mossy nest as they waited for night to come.