Chapter 10
ShadowFeather woke to a stabbing pain in her stomach. She looked at SparrowStar worriedly. "SparrowStar…. I think I'm kitting." SparrowStar stood and ran to get WindTalker. When she returned, LionFlight was already crouched next to ShadowFeather. SparrowStar curled around a sleeping Sandkit as she watched WingTalker drop a mouthful of herbs in front of ShadowFeather before moving to sit by her tail. ShadowFeather gritted her teeth as a contraction passed. A moment later WindTalker placed a kit next to ShadowFeather's belly. By sun-high ShadowFeather was gently licking three healthy kits. LionFlight sat behind her and occasionally licked her ear. SparrowStar and Sandkit were sleeping in their nest and the rest of the clan was milling around in the clearing. ShadowFeather turned to look at LionFlight. "What shall we name them?" LionFlight leaned forward and gently nosed a pretty white she-cat. "I'd like to name her Snowkit." ShadowFeather nodded and gazed at the remaining two kits, another she-cat and a tom. "I'd like the black tom to be named Ravenkit and the silver tabby she-cat to be Silverkit." LionFlight smiled and nodded. "Those are very beautiful names." Just then SparrowStar woke and smiled at the two mates. "So, have you named them?" ShadowFeather smiled and nodded. "We just did. The white she-cat is Snowkit, the black tom is Ravenkit, and the silver tabby she-cat is Silverkit." SparrowStar grinned. "Those are perfect names." ShadowFeather thanked her and rested her head on her paws, closing her eyes. LionFlight licked her ear before slipping out of the den. CoalTail spotted LionFlight and lunged on him. "How many kits were born? What did you name them? What do they look like? Is ShadowFeather ok?" LionFlight laughed. "There are three kits. The white she-cat is Snowkit, the black tom is Ravenkit and the silver tabby she-cat is Silverkit. ShadowFeather is fine. She's resting right now." CoalTail smiled. "What wonderful names. Can I visit them later?' LionFlight nodded and gently pushed Coaltail off of him before curling up in his nest. DuskRose sent SunHeart out on a hunting patrol with DawnWing and PeakNose. Duskrose took a border patrol with Leafwhisker and Coaltail. SpiritSong sat outside the medicine den and helped WindTalker sort her herbs. WindTalker nodded to SpiritSong and they returned all the herbs to her den. Once done they sat by the pond talking quietly. SunHeart returned with his hunting patrol, DuskRose's patrol right behind. SunHeart and DawnWing handed out their pray and CoalTail grabbed a huge rabbit and carried it to the nursery. He laid it between SparrowStar and ShadowFeather before returning to the clearing. After they were finished with their meal, SunHeart and LionFlight padded into the nursery to visit their mates and kits. After a while the two males padded out of the nursery and curled up in their own nests as everyone else did too. Eventually everyone was fast asleep.
