Sunset Cliffs stood from her nest in the nursery, catching Tumbling Beams, Speckled Pelt, and Snow Strike's attention.
"Speckled Pelt?" she mewed softly.
"Yes, Sunset Cliffs?"
"Will you… watch Starry Sky for a bit? I need to speak with Tumbling Beams."
The she-cat nodded and Snow Strike gently grabbed the black kit from Tumbling Beams' belly. The black-and-white cat quickly stood and helped Sunset Cliffs out of the nursery and out of the den. In the dusk light, Sunset Cliffs let the black-and-white cat to a ledge before settling herself.
"Is it time?" Tumbling Beams asked softly. Sunset Cliffs nodded. "Oh, Glare of Stars Above…"
Sunset Cliffs dipped her head. "You helped me give birth to Flaming Dawn, I trust you with my life, Tumbling Beams."
"I know," she sighed, "It's nerve-wracking. Say, isn't this the same spot you had Flaming Dawn?"
"Yes," Sunset Cliffs groaned, closing her eyes tight, "Pl-please help, Beams…"
Tumbling Beams huffed and laid down beside her. It wasn't a short or easy birth, not whatsoever, but eventually, a little kit mewled at Sunset Cliffs' belly. Sunset Cliffs slowly cracked open her eyes and looked at the sky. The moon was red.
"Glare of Stars Above," she mewed, "Th-that battle. It was…" she gulped, "It was so awful even the sky is bleeding."
Tumbling Beams hummed, so Sunset Cliffs turned to her kitten. It was black all over, save for a tail as red as blood. Sunset Cliffs closed her eyes.
"Crimson Night."
"...I'm sorry?"
"It's name is Crimson Night. The Glare will come out looking for us and they will see the sky red with the blood of the cats we lost, and Crimson Night will life as a reminder that we don't need to kill," she cast an angry gaze at Tumbling Beams. "We fought that battle over a newt, Beams."
"I know."
"We lost ten cats over a lizard, Beams."
"...I know."
"...their name is Crimson Night."
Suddenly, the skidding of paws on stone and falling pebbles sounded behind them. There stood a small ginger-and-white tom, who dipped his head. Sunset Cliffs faked a smile.
"Flaming Dawn, come meet your little sibling."
The tom stopped forward and loafed, looking at the small black bundle. He purred.
"I love them," he pressed his nose into the still-wet pelt. "Do they have a name?"
Sunset Cliffs purred. "They do. It's Crimson Night," she cuffed her son over his ear, "Flaming Dawn is the best name I could think of. I wanted to keep the theme."
Flaming Dawn purred happily and pressed his nose to his mother's, tail sweeping along the rock.
"Come on, let's get back inside," Tumbling Beams mewed, "We don't need a hawk taking them," she shot Sunset Cliffs a glance, "We're in need of more hunters."
Sunset Cliffs nodded, motioning for Flaming Dawn to pick the kitten up by the scruff. She stayed close to the tom and her kit, making sure they didn't all off the mountainside. Back inside the nursery, Snow Strike was kneading Sunset Cliffs bed, tags gingling. Once he noticed the group, he stopped and bounded back around his mate.
Sunset Cliffs made herself comfortable and Flaming Dawn set Crimson Night down to feed. Starry Sky wriggled her way back to Tumbling Beams' belly to start her own meal. The she-cat looked to the tortoiseshell and spoke quietly.
"Will you tell Flaming Dawn the truth behind their name? You know he hates battles as much as you do."
Sunset Cliffs shifted and laid her head on her paws, "I'll tell him when Crimson Night learns it means them."