A/N: (Make A Wish)
Jeez, is this it? Is this the end? What will happen? What will become of Leopardstar and her kits? What is her final wish to Tigerstar? I never thought the end of this Fic would be so... hurtful, so painful to write.
Atra esternĂ ono thelduin, Fricaya. May good fortune rule over you, Friends.
Leopardstar purred, happiness rumbling in her chest. She would soon have a reason to be in the Nursery. Her kits were due within a half-moon, and she would soon see them. She now understood why Mosspelt had wanted to leave the Nursery for a border patrol. This place, she couldn't do anything. She flicked her tail, her eyes glowing, arching across the den, focusing on tiny details. She sighed, rolling onto her back.
'It's funny how much being trapped can change some-cat,' she thought, glancing to the exit, where light filtered into the Nursery. Leopardstar padded towards the light, dropping into a crouch. A silhouette flickered against the wall, she scuttled backwards, flopping back into her nest, wincing in pain as she landed. 'Don't do that again!'
"Not trying to get out, are we?" Mudfur meowed as he entered.
"No, Mudfur," she lied with a convincing sigh. "But why can't I go out? I am your leader, you know I hate to force you into doing something, but..."
Mudfur's eyes glowed happily. "Leopardstar, I am your Medicine Cat, I know what's best for you. Rest."
"But Mudfur-" she started whining, cut off my the deadpanning look in the Medicine Cat's eyes. "Fine," she grumbled.
Mudfur placed a few herbs at her side. "Eat these," he ordered.
She shoot him a sidelong look, her eyes narrowing. "And what if I say no?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Your kits die," he said simply. Leopardstar ate the herbs.
"Now what? Are you sure there will be more than one? I'm not very round am I? Or am I?" Leopardstar started firing off random questions, not knowing where that came from. "Do you think the kits will die? You said they'd die, are you sure? Am I going to be a good mother? What about Ti-" she cut herself off, and started again, "What about their father? Will the Clan suspect? Do you or anyone else doubt my loyalty? Should I resign? Where's Mistyfoot? What-"
"Leopardstar!" Mudfur barked harshly. "Don't start talking like that, not now! C'mon, let's go."
"Go? I thought I wasn't-"
"Stop asking questions!"
Shrugging, she followed the tomcat away from the Nursery.
...
She settled outside the leader's den, glad to see no-cat had sat there while she's been... unable to do so. It was slightly less comfortable than usual, but more comfortable than the Nursery.
"Leopardstar! It's good to see you out! How is it going?" Mosspelt padded towards her, positive voice slightly... forced?
"I'm good thanks, you? And the kits? I haven't seen much of them."
"Well, they're too busy doing their apprentice duties to slow down and speak to me," she said, a wistful note in her tone.
'Apprentice duties? Oh, yeah. Why did I not remember that?' Leopardstar shrugged away the thought. "How's the Clan, I feel like I haven't... like I'm removed from Clan life."
"Don't worry, Mistyfoot has everything under wraps, we're all fine. Don't stress about feeling removed, ask every former queen in the Clan, we've all been there."
"Thanks, Mosspelt. It... It really helps," Leopardstar murmured, flicking her glance to see Mistyfoot sitting by the Elders, talking softly. "Excuse me," she meowed, not looking at the warrior queen in front of her. She padded towards Mistyfoot. Mistyfoot didn't spare her a glance as she bounced off, heading towards the exit. "I should go back inside," she meowed to herself. She got back to the Nursery, suddenly realising how weird the conversation with Mosspelt had been. 'So... suspicious. I wonder if they...' Leopardstar shook her head. 'No, you're mistaken. They trust you.'
...
Leopardstar screamed.
Mudfur hissed something in her ear, but to her it sounded like, gibberish. He barked an order at Mistyfoot, whose silver-grey-blue pelt stuck out against the hazy field of her vision. She darted away, eyes wide.
Leopardstar screamed again. This time, quieter, like she had burnt out her energy on the first scream. Sweat beaded on her fur, making her feel like she was swimming. Swimming. Leopardstar remembered the first time she took a swimming lesson. Mudfur's voice dimmed slightly, and the sound of the river lapping at the banks of the shore grew louder.
"Leopardpaw! Stop that! We have a job to do!" She'd looked at her mentor. 'Job? What job?' she thought. Whitefang took a guess at what she was thinking. "We're here to learn to swim," he said simply.
"I know how to swim!" she exclaimed loudly! "I don't need any lessons!"
"Okay then, go for it. Swim."
Leopardpaw glanced at him. "Okay, I'll do it." She padded towards the water, her amber eyes glowing. She waded into the river, the water soaked her chest fur, swirling around her. The pebbles beneath her feet have way, forcing her away from her perch of safety. She panicked, kicking frantically against the tide, not strong enough to save herself. A sharp tug at the back of her neck, and she was pulled ashore.
"I thought so," Whitefang meowed, eyes wide with concern despite his statement.
Leopardstar smiled grimly. She blinked as another red haze of pain veiled her vision. "Mudfur," she croaked, "why is it so painful?"
"It's almost over, you're doing very well," he voice was strong and reassuring. Leopardstar trusted him, more than anyone in the forest. Apart from Tigerstar.
'Tigerstar...' she thought. 'Keep me safe, please.' The whole over RiverClan winced at Leopardstar's final scream, which was by far the loudest.
"It's done! It's over. Well done, Leopardstar." He was obviously elated, but there was something hidden in his two.
Too tired to move, Leopardstar asked, gasping, "How many?"
"Two... but..."
Leopardstar sighed, tears springing into her eyes as she heard his next words. "The tom-kit... Well, he's weak... He might not survive the night."
"I'll need to name him then." She shuffled so she could see her kits. One was a fluffy golden tabby with black stripes and the other was night black and sleek-furred. "The tom-kit," she meowed, half to herself, pointing at the gold kit, "will be named Dawnkit."
Dawnkit squirmed. 'Tigerstar, I wish you could see us now. I wish...'
"Wishkit, her name is Wishkit."
