"Well, our plan, Kestrelsong, StarClan visited both Breezepelt and I in our dreams," I told him.
"Ah," He nodded.
"...and Bluestar told us that if I did have kits, we would take one into WindClan and one into ThunderClan and try to pass them off as some other cats kits."
I heard Breezepelt hiss quietly as I said this, but I continued, "And, of course, that would be to cruel. At least," I shuddered. "It is to me." Kestrelsong looked at me sympathetically, then Breezepelt continued for me.
"So we came up with another plan. As you know, if the Clan knows about the kits, they have to stay in the mother's Clan." He mewed, and I winced in remebrance. "So, instead of seperating the kits, we decided we would pretend they belong to someone from ThunderClan."
"And who is the cat who is to be the fake father?" Kestrelsong asked.
"Well, we decided to look at cats who might have a crush on Hollyleaf..." Breezepelt mewed, disgusted by just discussing the matter.
"At first we considered Birchfall." I mewed.
Kestrelsong looked disgusted, like I suspected. Breezepelt clawed at the ground.
"...but you didn't choose Birchfall, did you?" He asked.
"Of course not. We chose Ashfur--"
"Oh, thank StarClan!" Kestrelsong muttered.
"--because our kits will most likely be a gray color. Hopefully, Ashfur will oblige..." He sighed. He, like me, didn't want anyone to be a fake father, but he had no choice in this situation.
"And this involves me, because...?" Kestrelsong asked like he was confused, though he already knew the reason.
I nodded, "So we need you to deliver my kits--our kits--outside of camp."
"I see." Kestrelsong mewed.
"So, will you...?" The look Breezepelt had on...no one could resist that.
He dipped his head, "Of course, Breezepelt."
Then, an excrutiating pain shot through me, and I couldn't help but let out a shriek of surprise and pain, "Breezepelt!" I gasped.
The two cats immediately ran to me. Kestrelsong examined me for a moment. Hurry up! I inwardly shrieked.
Then, Kestrelsong raised his head and announced, "She's having the kits!"
"Hollyleaf, it's going to be okay," Breezepelt whispered, trying to calm me down.
We had moved onto WindClan territory because there were less cats out hunting in WindClan at this time of day. I searched for Breezepelt's amber eyes. I needed to be able to see him; it would help me get through this.
"Breezepelt," I mewed. My voice sounded strange to me.
"I'm right here, Hollyleaf, I'm right here," He mewed, and I found him. His gaze was concerned. He knew he couldn't calm me, but he would try anything to help me endure this pain.
"Breezepelt, back away!" Kestrelsong hissed, pushing my mate away. I would get him back for that later, but right now, the pain was unbearable.
I let out a high pitched yowl, then Kestrelsong announced, "The first one is coming!" I let out another yowl, then a small, dark gray kit lie beside me.
I stared at the kit for a moment, then at Breezepelt. His eyes were shining as he stared at the kit. He waited, though, because he knew one more was coming.
As if right on cue, I felt that the kit was coming. I was ready this time, though, so I only let out a wail. After several minutes of pain, another kit, this time light gray, lie beside me.
Kestrelsong dropped one kit by me, then rasped his tongue over the dark gray kit, "Lick the kit, Hollyleaf." I still felt really weak after this, but who cares? I just had kits! I licked the kit dry.
"Mew," The kits let out a pitiful mewl, then nuzzled into my stomach.
"They're beautiful," Breezepelt nuzzled my cheek. "Just like you." He mewed.
"And you." I reminded him.
We stared into each others eyes, then Kestrelsong mewed, "Okay, time for names!"
I glared at him for a moment, then stared down at the kits, "How about the light gray kit be named Windkit?" I asked. Breezepelt nodded in approval.
"And the dark gray tom could be..." He pondered this for a moment. "...Sootkit."
"Sootkit and Windkit..." Kestrelsong mewed.
As I stared at the two kits in front of me, it was hard to believe they were mine. But, they were, and I would always be here to take care of them.
...Sootkit and Windkit...
