Fawnstep shifted and worked uncertainty, running her paws over her screaming sister's stomach. Buzzardtail licked her neck and jumped with every spasm. Fawnstep had only delivered kits once, and even then, she had Twigtail's help.
Fernpelt yowled so loudly Fawnstep thought she didn't have any voice left to use, and suddenly, a little gray bundle tumbled out from her tail. Fawnstep jumped, grabbing her kitten and licking it backwards. It let out a squeak and wriggled its way to Fernpelt's belly.
Two kits and one delivery of leaves from Weaselwhisker later, there were three kits at Fernpelt's belly. Fernpelt let out a breath and let her head fall onto her mates paws. Buzzardtail purred, looking down at the three.
"What do you want to name them, love?" Buzzardtail asked softly.
"Oh, I don't know. I need a sleep, first, that was awful."
Fawnstep shrunk back a bit. That was her fault, after Weaselwhisker gave her those leaves she wasn't nearly as loud. She dipped her head to the cats and backed out. The moon was already behind the trees and on the other side of the sky, Fawnstep could see the pink claws of dawn rising.
Weaselwhisker stepped from the warriors den and ran his head over each of Fawnstep's cheeks in turn.
"StarClan, I wonder if ShadowClan heard her," he said with a light laugh. He tapped his tail to her shoulder, "Raspberry leaves."
Fawnstep nodded but didn't really hear. She turned away from the tom and headed into her den, not caring to fluff up her moss before laying down. She closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.
What felt like only a few seconds later Fawnstep felt a prod at her shoulder and slowly fluttered her eyes open. In front of her sat bright white paws. She looked up slightly and was met by a black-and-tan calico face.
"...Sparrowstar?" she yawned, "What is it?"
Sparrowstar stood and flicked her tail for Fawnstep to follow. She did, looking back to see her still-sleeping body. Sparrowstar stepped into the nursery and placed a paw over each of the kits.
"There will be three," she whispered, "With the power of the stars in their paws."
Fawnstep nodded and, suddenly, her dream was overrun by the nightmare. Cats were running in that marshy gray space, cats were dying and the leaders on the Great Rock were laughing.
She blinked rapidly and looked back down at the kittens and Sparrowstar. She nodded before Fawnstep could speak.
Sparrowstar placed a paw on each of the kits. First on one of the gray one's patches, then on a blunt stripe on the cream one, then on the white spot on the brown one's back. All the spots glowed for a moment and Fawnstep could swear they had flashed in the shape of stars.
"They will save the clan," she mewed, stepping out of the nursery and leading Fawnstep back to her den. She settled back into her body but wondered how she could sleep after that.
There will be three, with the power of the stars in their paws….