Chapter 1

All cats look with concern at the nursery. In the center Iceclaw is kitting.

"You can do this Iceclaw" says Featherleaf "a little more!"

Iceclaw pushes ones and a little kit comes out.

Featherleaf takes it and licks it fiercely. At the same time Iceclaw pushes again and a second kit comes out.

Featherleaf puts the first kit against its mother and licks the second.

The second kit takes less time and Featherleaf can lick the third which is coming out. And then another kit again.

Iceclaw is very tired but she pushes one last time. At last a tiny kit comes out and Featherleaf hurries and licks it.

This one might not make it. But she would not give up now…

Featherleaf licks it even faster and then finally the kit lets out a soundless yowl.

Iceclaw looks down at her new born kits. One was Silver; one was almost Dawn like, a black one, a gray one and a blue-gray one.

"Good job, you have five girls!" Featherleaf says.

Iceclaw licks each of her kits affectionately. "They are lovely." She says with a sigh.

"Let's see… The silver one Silverkit, The dawn colored one Dawnkit, the black one Nightkit, the gray one Moonkit and the blue-gray one… Bluekit." Iceclaw says touching each kit on the head while naming them.

"What beautiful names!" Featherleaf told her sister. She knew that her sister met Willowpelt because she followed Iceclaw every night. She was happy for her sister and hoped to be able to have one of the kits as her apprentice.

Iceclaw look at her beautiful kits with love and whispers "You'll know who your father is."

She was eager to show them to Willowpelt.