Chapter 1
Jasperclaw awoke to a slight drizzle over the Lightclan camp. He stretched and padded out into the clearing. Picking up a mouse from the fresh-kill pile, he headed to the nursery. Outside, he shook his pelt and walked inside. He lay down next to his mate, putting the mouse down in front of her. He gave her a quick lick over the ear. Ebonydream opened her eyes sleepily. She had love in her heart as she bent her head to share the soggy mouse with Jasperclaw. As they finished the mouse, Ebonydream whispered, "Thank you Jasperclaw, you're so sweet."
"I would die for you." Jasperclaw replied, his voice full of sincerity to his mate.
"As would I for you." She said softly. Jasperclaw loved her so much and wouldn't be able to bear it if she died. Without another word, he got up and walked back into the muddy clearing.
The clearing was filled with sunshine as Jasperclaw got back from the sunhigh patrol. He noticed a lot of cats crowded around the nursery. Ebonydream! He dashed to the nursery and pushed his way through the group. As he stumbled inside, he saw Hazelstar and Spiritsong talking to Ebonydream. He padded over to her and saw that she had kitted.
"Have you named them yet? They're so beautiful!" Jasperclaw gave his chest a few embarrassed licks; it wasn't like him to get so excited over anything. I forgot to even ask her if she was ok. "Are you ok?" he asked sheepishly. His mate let out a mrroww of laughter.
"Yes, I'm fine. And to your other question, I thought of some names but I wanted you to hear them first." She said, her eyes glittering with amusement and love.
"Well…"
Ebonydream wove her tail around the oldest, a tortoiseshell she-cat, "Sootkit" She suggested. Then her tail touched the middle kit, a golden-ginger tom, "Raykit" and then her tail touched the youngest, a ginger she-cat with a black tail, "Spicekit".
"Those are perfect names." Jasperclaw whispered. He gave his mate a reassuring lick then began to lick each of his kits.
A voice then rang out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" Jasperclaw gave his mate one last lick then turned and rushed into the clearing. He took a spot next to his sister, Singefoot, and gazed up to the highrock where Hazelstar stood. Once all the cats gathered, the meeting started.
"Although we have been having a problem in our numbers, we are here to celebrate the birth of Sootkit, Raykit and Spicekit." Hazelstar happily informed everyone. "Sootkit, Raykit, Spicekit! Sootkit, Raykit, Spicekit!" The clan chanted. Jasperclaw felt a surge a pride for his children. They were the first kits Lightclan had seen in a longtime. He would be the best father he could be.