Author's Note:
Erin Hunteress: Hey peoples! This is my first add-on story, as an accompaniment to The Wild Side! I hope you liek it :D
Silver-chan: I edited it! :3 Like a bau5.
Erin: Shhhshshshhh. Nobody needs to know.
Silver-chan: I think we had to agree to cut out some silliness, yes?
Erin: I live for silliness. And i only let you because you're in my house. Now get off my couch!
Silver-chan: But... but... oh whatever. Pass me that Nutella. Stuff is like chocolate gold, right?
Erin: *Holds empty Nutella jar* Sorry, what did you say?
Silver-chan: Enjoy this while I smack Erin for eating the Nutella. D:
Erin: Never! :3 Enjoy viewers, don't forget to R&R!
Written by: Erin Hunteress
Edited by: Silver-chan
Prologue
Many cats swarmed around the nursery entrance as they fought to see what was happening. "Move aside! Give me some room!" called a muffled voice. The cats all turned to see a brown she-cat crawling her way through towards the nursery with a bundle of herbs in her mouth. Most of them moved to give her a passage way. Finally she reached the entrance and made her way in. Her legs trailed behind her as she slipped inside.
When she entered the nursery, she spotted a ginger she-cat in a nest of moss. The she-cat was yowling with pain. "Briarlight, is that you?" asked the ginger she-cat with a tired and strained voice; only stopping her moaning for a moment of breath. "Yes, Orangeflower, it's me." replied Briarlight calmly through a mouthful of herbs. Orangeflower had a look of a relief. But that was soon replaced with more pain. The she-cat seemed to gasp for air.
Briarlight hurried and crawled up next to her. After setting down the herbs, she turned to Orangeflower and put her paw up to her belly. "You will be alright. Everything will be fine." said Briarlight; trying to reassure the she-cat. Orangeflower seemed to not hear her over her pain stricken yowls. Briarlight had not seen a birth this painful for a long time, and the old she-cat started to worry. Trying to push away her fears, she turned back to the herbs. I must not worry. That will only make things worse,thought Briarlight, as she gave some herbs to the ginger she-cat. Orangeflower's condition didn't seem to improve. Quickly, Briarlight turned toward the entrance. "Some cats get me some moss soaked in water! And make it quick!" she ordered.
"I will!" called a voice from outside. As soon as she heard the words, Briarlight turned back toward the she-cat giving birth. Even after all her moons of training, Briarlight had not seen so much blood loss. Oh Jayfeather, if only you were here. You would know what to do, thought Briarlight. The elderly brown she-cat shook her head. Jayfeather had been dead for moons now. Only she and the elders personally knew him. Briarlight was getting old, but she still remembered the blind gray tabby tom. He was a stubborn medicine cat, but a good one at that. He taught her everything she knew. Now, she felt useful to the clan. Even with broken back legs, she still had a duty to her clan-mates.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a cat rushing in. She turned to the cat that was holding dripping wet moss in its jaws. Briarlight nodded her thanks and the cat left after putting the moss down. "Drink this." demanded Briarlight, pushing the wet moss toward the ginger she-cat. Orangeflower made no move to drink the water soaked moss. Instead, she flung back her head and yowled in pain once more. Briarlight's confusion and frustration grew. Shaking her head, she moved back toward the she-cat's belly. No time to lose, thought Briarlight. As soon as she put her paw up to Orangeflower's belly, she felt a contraction, and cringed.
"It's worse than I thought!" breathed Briarlight. Luckily, Orangeflower had not heard her. This birth is too early, thought Briarlight. Then, the unexpected happened. Orangeflower gave a big push and out slipped a wet bundle of golden fur. Swiftly, Briarlight picked up the kit and set it down next to its mother. After she did this, she started to lick it repeatedly.
Finally, the kit took in its first breath of air. Orangeflower had even stopped her wailing of distress for a brief moment to eye her new kit. As the kit started to suckle, Briarlight put her paw back on Orangeflower's belly. "Keep going, Orangeflower."
Sooner or later, another kit, a brown and white one, was born. Briarlight was tired and drained of energy as she stared at the new mother and her kits. Orangeflower was still in shock, but was alive. Briarlight had done her job. Before leaving, Briarlight gave Orangeflower some poppy seeds and checked over the kits. "You have a she-kit and a tom." said Briarlight in a soft voice. Orangeflower looked at her kits with pride. Then, the ginger she-cat looked back up at Briarlight. "Will you help me name them?" she asked, looking up at Briarlight and waiting for her reply patiently.
Briarlight was a little shocked, but the feeling soon passed. The brown she-cat shook her head. "They are your kits. You name them." Orangeflower seemed a bit upset, but did not argue. "This one will be Goldenkit." whispered Orangeflower, looking at the first born, a small ginger she-kit that seemed to be a copy of her mother. "And this one will be Badgerkit." Said the new mother, gazing at the dark brown and white tom.
Briarlight almost asked if the father would have a say in the names, but she bit her tongue. Orangeflower's mate, Nettlepelt, had died not too long ago. Briarlight still remembered the brown tom. He would have been a great father, thought Briarlight, letting out a sigh. The kits mewling brought Briarlight back to reality. They should have some time alone. She turned to leave the nursery, but before she could start to crawl her way out, she heard Orangeflower's meow. "Thank you."
Briarlight turned to the she-cat, but before she could say anything, the new mother continued. "I would have died if it weren't for you." Briarlight shook her head as she replied, "It's my job. I don't need thanks." The old brown she-cat heaved herself out of the cozy den, but just before she had fully made her way out of the nursery, she could have sworn she heard a cat say "I will repay you one day, Briarlight."
