To Break The Barrier, Prolgue

The river crashed and rumbled, but the sound of a she-cat giving birth was not dampened She groaned, heaving every time she breathed. "Littlestream, bite this stick when the pain comes," mewed the medicine cat anxiously.

Littlestream grabbed the stick in her jaws then convulsed violently.

As a wet bundle rolled out onto the moss in the den, a huge wave crashed outside. "R-riverkit," the queen said, just before she convulsed again, chomping down on the stick so it almost broke, and sending out another kit as a huge strike of thunder sounded. "Thunderkit-t" she hissed painfully.

"Your doing great, Littlestream. Just two more!" "Just?" she muttered, managing sarcasam then convulsing again as a wind rattled the den. "Wi-indkit," She murmured; the medicine cat was worried she'd die before her last kit was born.

"Hang in there.."

Just as the next kit was born, a great darkness came over camp. Then it was gone. "Shadowki-it." the queen said, letting go of the stick.

"Eat the poppy seeds," The medicine cat grunted.

"Smallpoppy, your just as bad as Dawnlight." Littlestream guided the kits toward her belly so they could feed.

"I'm going to take these little bundles to the nursery," said Littlestream. "Thanks, Smallpoppy." She left the den, and Smallpoppy laid in her den.

As she drifted off to sleep, she heard a voice: The river will crash on the shore and thunder will strike, and as the shadows grow and the wind strengthens, the barrier will be broken.