Chapter 25

Shadepelt pressed against the cool grass as he followed the scent of StreamClan. He wasn't sure what had drawn him here. But the oncoming battle between MoonClan and FireClan sent chills down his spine. His Clan was already on their way to battle thanks to the warning Russetfrost had given them.

What scared him more than anything was that he might not see his kits when the time finally arrived. Fear had wormed its way into his belly as he thought of the battle that was taking place. He needed to see Frostwing one last time before returning to his Clan.

"Frostwing?" He called the name like he had several times before. Usually there was a response, but this time only silence filled the air. Unease crawled down his spine when he stalked towards the bushes that grew around the stream. "Are you there?"

His heart nearly skipped a beat when he heard a moan of pain. Without thinking of the consequences he crossed the stream, right into StreamClan's territory. But what he saw next sent thrills of horror through him. Frostwing was struggling to move, her belly rippling with pain when Shadepelt got a good look at her.

"StarClan, what's happening?" he yelped when he reached her side.

"Shadepelt, the kits are coming!" Frostwing gasped when another wave of pain coursed through her. "It's too soon!"

"What can I do to help?" Shadepelt leaned forward, desperately praying that she would be safe and the kits would be safe.

"You're supposed to be with the rest of the Clan!" Shadepelt flinched when he recognized Bluelightning's voice. "I thought it would be a good idea to follow you."

The medicine cat was standing between the bushes and the stream, eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Shadepelt's ears flattened with annoyance when he looked between Bluelightning and Frostwing. This was a waste of time for all he cared. His mate was in pain and giving birth.

"Bluelightning, I need your help," Shadepelt meowed. "Frostwing is giving birth, but... it's going wrong!"

Bluelightning's eyes lit up with surprise when he saw Frostwing for the first time. He bounded ahead, ignoring the boundary and reached Frostwing's side.

"How long has she been here?" he asked after giving Frostwing's flank a sniff. By now her sides were shuddering with pain. Shadepelt wondered what could be going wrong when Frostwing looked at him.

"I was going to ask you if the kits could be raised in MoonClan," she rasped.

"The kits are coming," Bluelightning meowed when her sides contracted with pain.

A lump formed in Shadepelt's throat as Frostwing let out an eerie wail. He felt helpless as Bluelightning tried using soothing words to calm the queen down. This was not how he expected this day to go. If anything he'd hoped to see her about what to do when the kits did arrive.

Heartbeats seemed to drag on before the first kit finally arrived. Shadepelt's nose wrinkled when the stench of blood filled the air. He wasn't sure if it was from the battle between MoonClan or FireClan, but something told him it came from Frostwing.

"Lick the kit's fur the wrong way," Bluelightning ordered after nipping the sac open.

Shadepelt looked at the tiny kit doubtfully before doing as he was told. Heartbeats later and the kit began wriggling and mewling for it's mother. He let out a sigh of relief when he realized that the kit was alive.

Soon a second kit arrived, followed by a third. Bluelightning worked as quickly as he could throughout the process, but in the end Frostwing's breathing had become ragged. Shadepelt looked at his mate warily. Frostwing was everything to him. Losing her was like losing a piece of his heart.

"Frostwing?" he whispered the name as he nudged the three kits towards her.

"Shadepelt... take them to MoonClan," she rasped. "My heart will always belong to... you."

"Frostwing!" A wail escaped from his lungs.

She gave a last shuddering breath before her sides became still. Dread washed over Shadepelt when he realized that she was gone. He buried his nose into her fur and wished with every ounce of his being that she would come back.

"Shadepelt, she's gone," Bluelightning whispered. Shadepelt looked back at the medicine cat, anger churning in his stomach. "Her kits are alive though, we need to get them to a nursing queen," he added when he noticed the grief in Shadepelt's eyes.

The dark gray tom's shoulders heaved with effort as he finally stood up. He wasn't going to leave until Frostwing had a proper vigil and burial. She deserved that much. But Bluelightning was right, as much as he hated to admit it. Now the kits needed to come first.

"Help me carry them back to camp," he ordered after picking up a small white kit flecked with gray.

Bluelightning didn't complain. He picked up the other two kits and followed Shadepelt back to camp. The distant sounds of battle erupted around them, and panic rose in Shadepelt's chest. If his Clanmates saw the new kits they would be killed. Or Silverstar might try to steal them. He glanced back at Bluelightning, but the medicine cat simply pressed on, ignoring the sounds of battle as if they were nothing more than a nuisance.

It felt like moons had passed before they finally reached camp. Few cats were hiding in the cave, and for once Shadepelt was thankful for the silence. He followed Bluelightning into the nursery, where Willowflame and her kits would be. Sure enough Willowflame was wide awake, watching her kits as they tried to figure out what was going on.

"Bluelightning, why do you and Shadepelt have kits?" Willowflame demanded when she looked up in surprise.

Shadepelt dropped his kit before explaining what had happened. Willowflame's eyes widened in disbelief when he told her that they were his kits. He left out who the mother was for Frostwing's protection, and his kit's safety.

"Please Willowflame, they need a nursing queen to keep them healthy and strong," Shadepelt begged when her eyes narrowed after he was finished speaking.

"Do they have names?" Willowflame asked warily.

"This one will be named Icekit." Shadepelt had already decided on naming one of the kits after their mother. The white she-kit speckled with gray was a perfect choice. "The gray and white tom will be known as Fogkit, and the pale gray she-cat will be known as Cloudkit."

"Icekit, Fogkit and Cloudkit," Willowflame rasped. "I cannot abandon a kit in need, no matter who the mother is. I will take care of them."

Shadepelt let out a purr of relief when Willowflame swept the kits towards her. All three of them were so tiny compared to her kits, that it was easy to tell them apart by age. Petalkit had stopped playing with a ball of moss and gave the kits a disdainful sniff.

"Who are they mama?" she demanded in a squeak.

"They are your new Clanmates," Willowflame replied after nudging her away.

StarClan, let them grow up healthy and strong, Shadepelt begged silently. And let Frostwing watch over them.

Frostwing was gone, but her legacy would live on. Shadepelt was certain of that.

AN: I've been dying to type up this chapter since the story first started. Shadepelt's relationship with Frostwing is always ongoing. And you'll see that in the sequel. Thanks to Cookies and Cream for reviewing!