Author's Note: The dark clouds is the cats' word for tornadoes. Just to clarify. Oh yeah, and Brightclaw is very smart. Why she knows so much, no one knows.
The next day, Leopardstar woke up in the camp. Her deputy, Brightclaw, was beginning to have a greying muzzle. Bramblefur had slightly more white fur than when she was younger.
Was that dark cloud last night real?
Leopardstar saw the field of broken twoleg nests. There was nothing left.
No, it was real.
"Morning, Leopardstar." Foxberry said, "How many kits does Bramblefur say you're going to have now?"
"First she said I would have one kit. When she was eighty four moons old, Bramblefur said there would be two. At ninety six moons, the number was three. Now she says it will be five..."
"Well, maybe one day the medicine elder will make up her mind." Foxberry joked.
"How long has it been since Bramblefur said you were expecting kits?" Brightclaw said, butting into the conversation.
"Nine moons."
"You should have had your kits by now." Foxberry said, "Are you sure you're expecting kits?"
"I'm sure. Those kits are pawing at me inside every waking hour! They want out, but it seems they're trapped in there..."
"You should be in the nursery." Bramblefur said, "Your five kits would find it best."
Pain suddenly hit Leopardstar's stomach.
"Kits are coming. Now!" Leopardstar said.
"Don't panic, Leopardstar." Brightclaw said, "Just breathe."
"Someone get Foxberry for me." Leopardstar said.
"I'm right here, Leopard." Foxberry said, "I'm sitting here. Right next to you."
The world is spinning round and round...Why won't it stop?
It was too painful for Leopardstar to lift her head.
"Here is the first kit. It's a white she-kit with black paws and black ears. She's got an orange tail with a white tail tip."
"Her name will be Snowkit. In honor of Snowfur, from long ago."
"It's a great name, Leopardstar." Bramblefur said.
"I know. But I wonder now...was I meant to have these kits?"
"Of course, you were." Foxberry said. He licked Leopardstar's muzzle.
Leopardstar looked at her stomach and froze.
"Oh my StarClan, I'm going to bleed to death like Sliverstream!"
"I'm coming!" Sliverpaw said, "I brought cobwebs!"
"And I brought some sticks, Leopardstar." Fuzzyheart said. "Chew on these."
"Okay." Leopardstar said, "But the world is spinning..."
Leopardstar closed her eyes. She heard the sound of her heartbeat and Snowkit mewling about.
Just breathe...I'll be fine...
"It's over, Leopardstar." Foxberry said, "You're okay."
Foxberry's voice faded away.
I'll be fine. Just fine...
Leopardstar opened her eyes. She looked beside her and her reflection, pelt colors visible.
"I'm not going to StarClan, am I?"
"No, Leopardstar." Blackstar said, "Not yet. Though I wish we could be together, we must still remain apart, both with paws in different worlds."
"Is Snowkit okay?"
"She is fine." Sliverstar said, "Just relax for a moment."
Suddenly, Angelfur ran toward Leopardstar.
"Leopardstar. Be careful. Though your fourth life is over, your fifth life is only beginning..."
Leopardstar opened her eyes. She saw a white she-kit pawing at her.
"Were there any other kits?" Leopardstar asked.
"Yes." Foxberry said. He pointed his tail at a pale ginger and white tom with black paws, a black tail tip, and blue eyes. He had a tiger-like pattern on her tail, like Leopardstar.
"His name will be Sandkit." Foxberry said.
"One she-kit and a tom. They are both wonderful." Leopardstar said.
She began to lick the kits clean.
"You can help, too, Bramblefur."
Bramblefur nodded, and began to lick Sandkit clean.
A red squirrel with a small light blue collar was looking out the window.
"My housefolk might be mad for having me leave the house. They say there's so many dangers outside. But the outdoors is my home!"
He jumped down, and ran to the cat door. It was still there from the cats that used to live there.
"It's time to go an adventure."
He pushed the cat door, but was interrupted by a brown and white mouse.
"Cinnamon? What are you doing?"
"I want to come with you!"
"Okay. Let's go, then."
The kits were now licked clean. Sandkit and Snowkit getting milk from their mother, Leopardstar.
Bramblefur sniffed. She smelled a squirrel and a rat, and they were coming this way.
"Leopardstar. There are some rodents coming this way, but they are wearing collars."
"Rodents, owned by twolegs? Well, twolegs are weird like that. I'll investigate. Can Roseleaf nurse my kits while I'm gone?"
"Of course." Roseleaf replied. She picked up the kits and brought them to where her single kit, Rosekit was sitting.
Leopardstar stood up, and walked toward the rodents.
"Please don't hurt us!" The squirrel said, "We were only exploring the outdoors."
"You must speak cat or something. I can understand you." Leopardstar said, "What are your names?"
"My name is Acorn, and this mouse here is my friend, Cinnamon."
"Hello." Cinnamon said.
This is too unnatural. Cats talking to prey!
"So, what are you doing here?" Leopardstar asked.
"Just exploring, cat."
"My name is Leopardstar, for future reference. I am the leader of CatnipClan."
"We're just cared for by housefolk." Acorn said, "I get to go on lots of walks and hang out in the park, look out the window and wonder, 'What if I left this pampered life? What if I just ran out the door now and never came back?' Those questions never left my mind. And now, I dare place my paws here in your camp."
"You can't become a warrior." Leopardstar said, "It would be too unnatural."
"I know. I'm just looking for someone. She said she'd escape. Perhaps they locked her inside..."
A grey squirrel with a small pink collar ran over to Acorn.
"There you are, Sliver." Acorn said.
"I had to wait until they left the house."
"We'll be in this tree." Acorn said, "Perhaps you should go inside, Cinnamon."
Cinnamon nodded, and walked toward the cat door.
"It was nice talking with you, Leopardstar. A normal cat would've chased and killed us. Thank you for not hunting us."
Leopardstar nodded, and Cinnamon went inside the twoleg nest.
"That was the weirdest conversation I ever had." Leopardstar said.
