Swiftclaw was still squirming in pain. It seemed this was no stomachache after all. Her kits were coming! The stick in her mouth still was in one piece and moving quickly, Larkpaw slid beside her. He began to knead her stomach, remembering the times when he was a hungry kit, except now he had to help these kits. It seemed like many moons before Bumblestrike appeared in the den.
"Larkpaw, move aside. You have done enough for now. I'll take over." Larkpaw could barely nod he was so tired. None of the kits were coming but Swiftclaw still had the pain. Bumblestrike took his place and began to knead as well. She spoke softly to Streammist who was beside the queen's head. Larkpaw slinked out of the medicine den into the lowering sun's light. Much to his surprise, he bumped into a muscular brown tom that he knew very well. It was his uncle, Oakbee.
"Is she alright? Are the kits here? Why are you out here?" Larkpaw only stared blankly upwards. "You can't go in Oakbee. There are too many cats in there. Plus, Bumblestrike is handling it." The tom scrunched his face, sneering downwards. "Handling it? I could hear her cries from the forest! I'm going in." Larkpaw didn't move to stop Oakbee. He was far too tired and he knew that there was no way he could stop a full-grown warrior.
The apprentice was surprised once more when he didn't hear yowls of anger. Instead soft mews and purrs tumbled out of the medicine den. Striding his way forward, Larkpaw saw his uncle and Hornetclaw laying beside three small black kittens.
"Thank you Bumblestrike. But, Larkpaw really helped me a lot… Oh! Larkpaw. Come closer. Meet your kin." Swiftclaw's voice was light and joyous, a very different experience than the cries from just moments ago. Larkpaw awkwardly walked inside, trying to avoid pushing any cat. But, when he got to the kits, his breath was taken away. Three small balls of fluff, barely bigger than a mouse, lay before him. Dark stripes covered two of their backs, while one toke after Swiftclaw.
"What are their names?"
"We can't name them quite yet. It's… better to name them later in cause something happens." Larkpaw's mentor nodded and got to her paws. "I'll ask an apprentice to bring in some fresh moss. Oakbee, will you help me move Swiftclaw and your kits?"
The tom nodded and picked up two of the kits by the scruff. Bumblestrike picked up the smallest one, a solid black tom, and prodded Swiftclaw upwards. The queen stumbled before gaining her footing. Her mate moved to support her and the trio left the medicine den, leaving Larkpaw and Streammist.
"I'm proud of you Larkpaw. You did well." His mother strode out of the den, tail swaying behind her. Larkpaw, however, could barely take the compliment in. He quickly collapsed onto his nest, glad that Hornetclaw finally left. Maybe he could get some rest.
The air was cool as the plum-colored sand twirled and floated in the evening breeze. Duckpaw stood as close as he dared on the beach of the acidic lake, and watched the blue sun turn red as it crept down the horizon. Watching night fall behind him, he could slowly see the faint glow of the rocks as stood up.
"You know, I wonder how much life is going to take from me before it decides it's had enough."
Turning his head, the ginger tom spotted a dark brown cat, young and proud, standing besides him. Studying the warrior, Duckpaw recognized the cat as his grandfather, Buzzardleap. But... how? Why?
"Do not fear me, Duckpaw. You have a very nice dreamscape, you know. I never would have thought you were a seer, with your size and all." What was he talking about? Mousepaw was a seer, albeit an apprentice. Duckpaw was training to be a warrior!
"I am going to die soon. I can feel it. My waking self may not, but I know it will happen. I can only pray I will not meet her once I leave. I can only pray she will not try to influence you." Okay, Duckpaw must have eaten a bad mouse. What was going on? Opening his mouth, the apprentice found no sounds could escape him.
"I do not have much time here. I must give you something. A blessing of sorts." The warrior, or rather, the elder Duckpaw knew, knelt down and placed something behind his ear.
"This will protect you somewhat. Do not take it out. When Dawntail and Rosethorn come, they will understand. For now, you must wake up. Please."
Duckpaw couldn't understand what was going on. The seers? They were coming? How did Buzzardleap know this? What was-
Duckpaw awoke with a fright. Panting heavily, the tom found himself in his nest besides Goosepaw and Beepaw. It was a dream. But, feeling something foreign behind his ear, Duckpaw knew that wasn't quite true. Stumbling to his feet, the apprentice slugged himself out of the den and into the camp's clearing. No one else seemed to be awake, save for a familiar tom he had just spoke to.
"Buzzardleap-"
"Duckpaw? Why are you being so loud? Go back to sleep, it's too early for you to be up. And don't bother me!" Shocked, the ginger tom stepped back. Did Buzzardleap not remember their shared dream? Staring up at the apprentice, Buzzardleap glared behind him. "Don't put feathers in your eyes, mouse brain. You'll scare off any prey." As the elder reached for the object, Duckpaw reeled back.
"No. You gave it to me."
"No? I would never give anyone a feather-"
"Hello, Buzzardleap." A raspy voice echoed throughout the cold air. Turning, Duckpaw saw a gaunt she-cat with a long tail. Behind her was a pinkish grey she-cat who seemed to be annoyed at the camp's existence.
"Dawntail. Rosethorn. I didn't see you. Sorry, Duckpaw here was playing with feathers and I told him at his age he should-"
"Do be quiet, you old codger. Like you didn't place feathers behind your ears." Rosethorn's voice was sharp and harsh, quite a contrast to the other seer's. Her fur was patchy and spiky. Duckpaw could understand her namesake at the sorry state of her appearance.
"Rosethorn, please. We are here to see Antstar."
"Wait!" Duckpaw blocked the old cats' paths. Getting a closer look allowed him to see some type of herbs behind their own ears, much like his own or Bumblestrike's.
"You are seers, right? Do you ever have weird dreams?"
"We do not have time for this kit-"
"I dreamt that Buzzardleap gave me these feathers! And I once dreamed that Swiftclaw tore up some mice and once-"
"Calm down. You said Buzzardleap gave you these feathers?"
"Yes." Glancing towards the she-cats, Duckpaw felt nervous. "I'm not lying!"
"Of course not. Duckpaw was it? Come with us. We have things to discuss with Antstar. It will help if you are there."
Nodding, the tom followed behind the seers, leaving Buzzardleap to gawk at the trio.
