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Chapter 11: Pure happiness
Shiningdawn cried out in pain, biting harder on the stick that lay beside her ginger head. Ashpelt and Flamestrike meowed encouragement from her tail and Whisperbreeze and Stormwhisker were trying to comfort her from their nests. Shiningdawn was sprawled across her soft nest in the nursery, shrieking as her belly rippled and another pain shot through her like lightning. Flamestrike bit his lip and closed his eyes, he found it difficult to see his mate in pain.
"One more push and the first one will be out," said Ashpelt, his new apprentice Mudpaw sat beside him. Shiningdawn gave another excruciating push and a tiny wet bundle fell onto the bracken. Flamestrike stroked her his with his tail as Mudpaw nipped open the sac and fiercely licked the tiny kit.
"A tom!" he announced, placing the sodden bundle beside his mother's belly. Shiningdawn and Flamestrike marvelled at their son.
"He's beautiful," Shiningdawn mewed weakly. Flamestrike purred, rubbing his face against hers.
"Another one is on its way," meowed Ashpelt. As he spoke another, slightly smaller, bundle popped onto the bedding.
"A she-kit!" Mudpaw announced, cleaning the fur-ball.
"She looks just like you Shiningdawn," Flamestrike commented, staring proudly at his daughter. The two kits mewled and squeaked, pummelling their tiny paws against Shiningdawn's still swollen belly.
"Get ready," Ashpelt called. Shiningdawn screeched and bit down hard on her stick. She had insisted on having one during her kitting because of the previous success. Mudpaw hurried back and positioned himself behind her and was prepared when a third sac fell onto the floor. Mudpaw took on a look of utter concentration and hope when the kit didn't move. He nudged it a few times and then finally a tiny cough escaped from its petal-like mouth.
"Another she-kit! He said, relief flooding his face. Ashpelt moved his paws gently in circular motions along Shiningdawn's belly. Several sharp pains brought shrieks and moans of pain from Shiningdawn's lips and her head fell to the edge of her nest. Flamestrike pleaded with the exhausted queen.
"Come on Shiningdawn. You can do it, please don't leave me, I love you," he begged and coaxed. A long time passed when suddenly Shiningdawn's belly rippled again and a large, sodden sac fell out. Mudpaw was straight onto the kit and nipped the bag open.
"A tom!" he cried placing the russet-coloured kit next to his siblings. Mudpaw glanced back at Ashpelt and spoke quietly to him.
"How many more?" he asked. "She's exhausted, if this goes on Flamestrike won't have a mate by morning." While they spoke anxious looks crossed the faces of the two other queens curled in their nests. Stormwhisker was trying to get Honeykit to go back to sleep and not wake her sister. Whisperbreeze shifted in her nest and her two moon old kits rolled over with her, their snores stuttering.
"Only one more," Ashpelt announced loudly. As he spoke Shiningdawn cried out again and a final kit slipped onto the bedding.
"A she-kit!" called Mudpaw. Shiningdawn flopped back onto her nest, panting.
"Well-done my love," Flamestrike whispered to her. "You can relax now, I love you so much."
"I love you too Flamestrike," Shiningdawn whispered. She sat up and licked each of her new kits in turn.
"What are you going to name them?" Ashpelt asked.
"Shiningdawn can name them," Flamestrike purred. Shiningdawn thought for a minute and then spoke.
"Well the first one, the tom that looks like Flamestrike, I thought could be Firekit," she said flicking her tail over his head. "The she-cat with golden fur, how about Goldenkit. Then the pale ginger she-kit the one who is almost white, Silverkit. The darker tom, Redkit and the ginger and white she-kit…. Mossykit. How do you like those names?"
"I think their wonderful!" Flamestrike mewed. He curled himself around his mate and laid a protective tail over his kits.