Yes, we got to 26 reviews! WOO! Thank you, guys. :D Now, down to business. I know I said I would do the Gathering in this chapter, but I changed my mind. It's in the next chapter, I promise! :) Now, I know some stories are rated T for kitting, but this one isn't bloody at all, and stuff like that. I tried to make it as smooth as possible. Not all queens' kittings are violent where she dies, you know! :P
Smurflover: Yes, of course they are! Thought I made that a tiny bit obvious, but yeah. :P
Mochikins: I fixed those, thanks! I love Bluetail too! :D
Tabbyfire: I fixed it. :) And yes, they will make a good couple! Just not yet. ;)
KodochaFan55: Yes, you finally reviewed! Don't forgot to review this one too! ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.
Chapter 10: Robinfeather's Kitting
Dawnpaw trotted into camp proudly, her first squirrel dangling from her jaws. Her mentor Honeyleaf was just a few paces behind her, carrying two mice. I got a squirrel! I got a squirrel! Dawnpaw was chanting to herself in her head. It's so big. And it's only my fourth day of training! I bet Stormpaw hasn't caught one like this yet! It's going to feed at least—Wait, where did that thought come from? Dawnpaw almost jerked to a stop in her surprise, but just managed to continue on to the fresh-kill pile. Well, I bet he hasn't, she reassured herself. And besides, it's perfectly normal to have a rivalry in another Clan. Right?
She reached the fresh-kill pile and was about to set down her squirrel when Honeyleaf's voice stopped her from behind. "Dawnpaw, why don't you take that to Robinfeather? It'd be good for her since it's almost time for her to kit. She'd be so happy to see it, especially since it's a big one."
Dawnpaw nodded, clenching the squirrel tighter in her jaws, a warm feeling in her chest because her mentor had complimented her on her squirrel. And Robinfeather would be so happy to see it! She turned and headed toward the nursery.
The nursery was mostly dark inside, and as Dawnpaw entered, a breezy draft of air soothed her burning pelt, thanks to the late newleaf sun. Both the cool air and rush of happy memories made her relax and sigh, almost dropping her squirrel. Oops!
"Dawnpaw?" a voice called out. It was Robinfeather, lying curled up in the corner. "Is that you?"
"Yepm!" Dawnpaw managed to mumble through the piece of prey. She made her way to where the pregnant queen was lying and dropped it in front of Robinfeather. "It's a squirrel. I caught it myself," she added proudly.
Robinfeather purred. "Thanks, Dawnpaw. I was just getting a little peckish, and this one looks very big. Congratulations for catching it." Dawnpaw nodded in response, but Robinfeather was already leaning down to take a bite. Her duty done, the apprentice turned and headed toward the entrance.
Suddenly, Robinfeather jerked and cried out. Dawnpaw spun on her feet, fearing that somehow the squirrel was poisoned or it was crow-food, but the squirrel was untouched. Her questioning eyes met the queen's frantic ones, and the reddish tabby she-cat whispered hoarsely, "The kits. Th-they're coming…"
Right now? Well, Robinfeather had been ready to give birth any day now, so it wasn't exactly a surprise, but she still felt extremely worried as she raced out of the nursery to fetch Sagetail. On the way, she bumped into Ashpool, who was coming to visit his mate. "Is Robinfeather—is she—" he choked out, eyes wide in surprise and fear.
Dawnpaw nodded, understanding his meaning, and the gray tom hurriedly dashed into the nursery. She quickly found Sagetail, who was casually sitting in his den and sorting herbs. "Sagetail! Robinfeather's kitting!" she told him hastily.
The orange tabby tom shot to his feet, spraying herbs into the air. He quickly gathered some borage, dandelion, and raspberry leaves, and sped out of the opening. He must have done this lots of times before, Dawnpaw thought to herself as she tried to match his quick speed, but failed.
By the time Dawnpaw shot into the nursery, out of breath from the quick pace she'd had to run with, Sagetail had already pushed Ashpool out of the den and got to work. Why does the nursery have to be across the medicine den? Dawnpaw lamented silently. It sure made things inconvenient. She also made a note to herself to ask Honeyleaf if they could work on speed training next time; she wasn't satisfied with her heaving chest from the run.
"Alright, breathe slowly," Sagetail was telling Robinfeather. "It's your second litter of kits, isn't it?" Robinfeather nodded, but she didn't look calm at all. Her flanks were contorting with every push, and she was panting.
"Breathe…breathe…" the medicine cat kept repeating, while Robinfeather nodded at every "Breathe". The other queen, Mousefoot, who had been sleeping in the corner before, now watched the event with wide eyes. Dawnpaw also observed all of this, excitedly, from the shadows of the nursery. Sagetail and Robinfeather seemed to have forgotten about her, which was good. I want to see this!
Finally, Robinfeather gave one more final push, and a small gray tabby kit came tumbling out. It was small and scrawny, and absolutely adorable. It opened its tiny pink mouth and gave a surprisingly loud yowl, despite its small lungs and having just been born. Awww, it's so cute, Dawnpaw thought.
Sagetail inspected the gray kit. "She-cat," he declared, and nosed it into the warm curve of her mother's belly. The small gray scrap immediately latched on and began suckling with all her might. "One more to go, Robinfeather," Sagetail encouraged. "You're doing fine."
The queen only moaned in response, her flanks beginning to heave again. In a couple more minutes, a second kit popped out, this one a dark orangish-brown kit. Sagetail announced it a tom and placed him beside his sister. "You're done, Robinfeather," he said. "Here, eat these." Sagetail gave her the herbs, watched the new mother eat them, and then left with a "I'll check up on you later."
Dawnpaw didn't know much about herbs, but she did know one of them was called "borage", and used to make queens give better and more milk. Sagetail's a good medicine cat, she thought.
Robinfeather had closed her eyes and looked very tired, so Dawnpaw decided to congratulate her on her successful kitting later, and walked out into the sunshine. She encountered an obstacle, however.
"Dawnpaw!" It was Ashpool, eager to know what had happened. "Sagetail wouldn't talk, because he said he had to finish organizing his herbs, but how is Robinfeather?"
"She's good," Dawnpaw replied. "A gray she-cat and a dark orangish-brown tom, but she hasn't named them yet." As Ashpool started to put a paw in the nursery, she added quickly, "I think she's falling asleep. You can probably visit her later." She was astounded about how medicine cat-like she sounded. But I'm still training to become a warrior, so I can beat that annoying Stormpaw!
The gray tom looked crestfallen for a second, and then settled himself back in his post by the nursery entrance. "Then I'll wait until she wakes up," he meowed.
Dawnpaw nodded to him and walked away to the fresh-kill pile. Willowpaw and Mistpaw were already there, just having gotten back from their training, but they had already heard about Robinfeather's kitting.
"Were you there? Was it cool?" Mistpaw asked.
"Yes, and yes," Dawnpaw replied. "There's a she-cat and tom, and they're so cute!"
"Cool," Willowpaw and Mistpaw breathed in unison.
They were picking out their prey when Smokestar suddenly shouted, "Cats of FireClan!" He leaped up onto the Firestone, Blossompetal and Sagetail at the bottom. Sagetail must have told Smokestar about the kitting, Dawnpaw thought.
She was right. The smoky gray FireClan leader soon announced that "Robinfeather has just given birth. There is a she-kit and a tom. Congratulations to Robinfeather and Ashpool!" The cats cheered. Flamelight had told Dawnpaw once that kits were the life of the Clan; the new warriors. Without them, a Clan was dead. Dawnpaw agreed with this.
When the cheering had gone down, Smokestar opened his mouth to announce something else.
Huh? What else could there be to say? Dawnpaw wondered.
"We'll be having our Gathering tomorrow night," Smokestar proclaimed. "Here are the cats that will be going. The warriors will be Nightpelt, Cherryfur, Flamelight, Rainfall, Rockfeather, and Honeyleaf…" He didn't list himself, Blossompetal, or Sagetail, as it went without saying that the leader, deputy, and medicine cat would always go.
Dawnpaw hoped desperately that she could come.
"Also, our new warriors, Scorchclaw, Graystep, Applefern, Rosepool, and Burnpelt, will come. And lastly, Dawnpaw, Mistpaw…" He went on, listing the rest of the new apprentices, but Dawnpaw wasn't listening anymore.
Yes, I get to come!
So there it is. I think I made it a bit rushed and made out Robinfeather's kitting to be a "big thing", but I think it's okay. As I told you, next chapter is the Gathering and Stormpaw and Dawnpaw will meet again! ;) Review, please! :D (Try to get to 30. ;) )
~Ponyiowa