I am working very hard to publish some chapters and I will try to make another chapter every week or so. This chapter is told about Swirlpelt but the next one will be from Leopardkits POV. Well for now just enjoy Chapter 1! :D
"Get Runningnose, NOW!" A figure screams in the pitch black night. A cat bolts out into the faded light of the moon.
"AHH! It hurts!" screeches a she-cat.
Finally a small grey and white figure steps into the den and sets down a bundle of leaves and seeds.
"Calm down, Swirlpelt. It's going to hurt but there's not much I can do for you now, accept let nature take its course." Says the grey and white tom in a bored tone like nothing was happening at all.
"I didn't know that it would hurt this badly! You're a medicine cat, Runningnose, isn't it your job to make the pain stop!" Swirlpelt meows in a tense voice as she clenches her teeth together.
"Swirlpelt, she-cats have been giving birth since the beginning of time, it's a very natural thing to happen. But if you insist on treatment then the best tip I have is to bite onto a branch." Swirlpelt leans over, grabs the branch in her jaws, and bites into it as hard as she can.
Runningnose places his paws on her belly and massages around. "It looks like you're going to have 4 kits" he purrs.
"I think the first ones coming!" Swirlpelt screeches in pain.
"Yes, now just relax and push" He says softly as he massages her stomach. The first kit slithers out into a wet bundle on the floor of the nursery.
"Tallpoppy, get over here and break the sack, then you need to lick the kit until it starts mewling. Okay?" Runningnose says with sudden urgency. Tallpoppy nods in response and then gets dutifully to work on her given task.
"Here comes another one!" growls Swirlpelt as she bites down onto the stick and splinters it. Just then another bundle slithers onto the ground. Swirlpelt moans in pain.
"It's okay, Swirlpelt, your almost done." Runningnose says soothingly.
Swirlpelt just moans in response. Runningnose looks down at the two squirming kits on the ground and checks them over carefully.
Another kit comes squirming out and wriggles around on the ground. "How...how many more are…left" Swirlpelt gasps.
"You're doing great, Swirlpelt, just one more to go." Runningnose meows. The final kit comes out and lies on the ground, still. Runningnose looks at Tallpoppy with an uncertain look.
"Uh, Tallpoppy take this one to Swirlpelt please." Tallpoppy gives him a pointed look, but still brings it to Swirlpelt, setting it down softly in the nest beside her.
Swirlpelt looks down at the still form and nudges it with her nose. She starts to lick its leopard print pelt franticly and nudge it with her paws. "Please, oh please, Starclan no, how can you take my kit from me! Oh, please wake up, please!" Swirlpelt starts to sob into her paws.
"I think you should let me take it out now." Runningnose says carefully.
"Was…was it a…a tom or she-kit?" Swirlpelt says between sobs. "A she-kit" He replies solemnly. "I'm so sorry that this happened" Runningnose says sadly. Running nose picks up the tiny figure in his jaws and carries it out into the brightening dawn air. Outside the den a ginger tom sits, his tail flicking nervously. When the tom spots Runningnose his eyes light up until he sees the limp body that he is carrying in his mouth.
"Is it…dead?" The tom asks sadly, looking away.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Foxfire, but I know that you'll be a great father to your remaining kits." Runningnose meows.
"Can I just hold her for a second first?" Foxfire says, fighting off tears.
"Yes, I suppose so" he replies sadly as he drops the leopard print kit in its fathers paws and returns to the nursery. Foxfire gently curls around the young kits body and strokes her fur with his tongue. Foxfire gently cleans the fragile body but then he feels a slight movement, so small that he could have imagined it. The kit's tiny chest was slightly moving up and down in a wheezing motion. Foxfire puts his ear to her chest and hears a quiet rattling noise. He jumps up and bolts into the nursery.
"Runningnose," he says, trying to contain his excitement ", the kit is alive! Her chest is moving! Come out and help her!" Runningnose stares in shock at the words Foxfire just spoke, before running out and putting his ear to the newborns chest and hearing the faint beat of her heart.
"I-I can't believe it, Starclan sent her back to us!" Runningnose says in shock, his eyes widening.
The cool dawn air is warming as more cats gather around to see the newborn kit. Finally Runningnose gets control and tells them to wait outside the nursery so that the kit was not surrounded.
"Well, it's time to name the kits" Swirlpelt purrs affectionately to Foxfire. Foxfire purrs in agreement. A large tom kit lets out a large yawn and curls up beside Swirlpelt.
"I think this one," Swirlpelt points to the large tom kit ", should be called Russetkit." Foxfire nods in agreement.
"And this one should be called Whitekit." Foxfire meows, pointing at a small pure white she-kit.
"And this last tom should be Moonkit." Swirlpelt purrs at the lithe white tom kit.
"Now all that's left is to name her." Foxfire purrs nudging the tiny leopard print kit.
"But what name would suit a kit that's been blessed by Starclan?" Swirlpelt purrs affectionately.
"I've got it, when I was a kit my mother told me stories about Leopardclan, a clan of leopards that were brave, selfless, and blessed by Starclan, so we should name her Leopardkit, after the first clan to be blessed by Starclan!" Foxfire meows enthusiastically.
Yeah, I think I like that name. Leopardkit thinks.
Yeah! I hope you liked it! I worked so hard on it! I'll make some more chapters soon! :D