"Vultureflight! Vultureflight, Ebonybranch is having her kits!"

Vultureflight's eyes snapped open. "Fennelpaw, grab several fernbrush leaves, and a poppy seed. Now!" He ran out of his den, a cave in the dirt strengthened by pine roots, and into the rainy camp. Mud squished under his paws as he half ran, half slipped, over to the nursery.

Ebonybranch was a pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with gray eyes. Every cat in RidgeClan still found it hard to understand why a cat like her would go after a cat like Vultureflight, let alone a medicine cat like him. But she had and what's done is done. Her yellow eyes were filled with pain as she murmured, "Vultureflight, it hurts so much."

"I know, my little sapling, but it will be over soon enough. Just think of the kits." He placed a paw on his belly. "Good news: there's only one."

Ebonybranch screeched and a bundle of calico fur slipped out. Vultureflight licked the kit until it gasped, squeaking at the sudden cold. "Ebonybranch, it's a she-cat. We have a fluffy little daughter."

She lifted her head just enough to get a glimpse of the calico. "She's so beautiful."

"Like her mother." Vultureflight licked her ear. As he pulled away, Ebonybranch went limp. "Ebonybranch?" She didn't respond. "Ebonybranch, what do you want to. . . ." He stopped talking as the truth hit him. "No! You can't leave me!"

Fennelpaw entered. "Vultureflight, is something. . . . Oh. At least the kit's still alive."

Vultureflight's eyes hardened. "I have no kit! From now on she will be known as Yewkit since she brings death to everything, just like yew berries!" With that, he stormed out of the den.

Fennelpaw sighed and sniffed the newly named Yewkit. She was squeaking, feeling around for milk that wasn't there. The apprentice picked her up and padded through the rain to where one of the other queens, Nettlewing, was with her own kits, who had been born just the day before. The white she-cat was curled around her charges. She looked up as Fennelpaw came in. "Nettlewing, could you -"

"I heard, the whole camp heard. Of course I'll take care of her."

"Thank you." Fennelpaw placed Yewkit in the curve of the white queen's belly. Satisfied she was in safe paws, she ducked back outside to talk to Sandstar.


I do accept OCs. In fact, I ask for them. Send in an even amount of male and female cats; I don't want there to be 500 she-cats and 1 tom. Talk about the Hunger Games for a mate. XD

Fun fact: The setting is a place several hours from where I live. Whoever can guess the city area will have their OC be one of the major characters (though not the main one).

Hint: One of the Clans lives near a salty lake.