Chapter 11: Beautiful

Twistedpaw bit down on the large stick that Cypressbrook had given her. Leafflash was by her side, comforting her as contractions came, one after the other. Twistedpaw yowled with pain. She felt a tug on her belly and a tiny kit slid out, then three more.

"Congratulations!" Leafflash meowed. "Two toms and two she-kits!" Twistedpaw looked at her new kits.

Pikeheart came bursting into the den.

"They're beautiful!" He meowed lovingly. Twistedpaw's heart twisted into knots as he looked the kits over. Leafflash and Cypressbrook left the den. "This one looks just like you!" He exclaimed. Twistedpaw looked at the kit he pointed to with his tail. It was a black tom with orange eyes.

"I'll name him Bearkit." Twistedpaw meowed. Pikeheart nodded.

"And this one-." He started. His happy expression faded away. "Looks like that tom you were hanging out with during your first gathering." Twistedpaw looked at the tom he was pointing to. He was right, it looked just like Tornpelt.

"These aren't my kits, are they?" Pikeheart asked her. "And you never loved me." Twistedpaw didn't speek. Pikeheart lashed out at her. His claws were unsheathed and he cut her cheek.

"That's something to remember me by." Pikeheart meowed and left the den. Twistedpaw called Cypressbrook into the den.

"What happened?" He asked when he saw Twistedpaw's cheek.

"Pikeheart."

"Why would he do that?"

"These aren't his kits." Twistedpaw admitted.

"Whose are they?" Cypressbrook asked her.

"Tornpelt." Twistedpaw whispered. Cypressbrook knew all the cat's names in the clans. His eyes widened.

"So, you not only had kits as an apprentice, but the father is from a different clan?" Cypressbrook growled. Twistedpaw nodded. "I'll go and speak with Flamestar about this." Cypressbrook left the den.

Twistedpaw sobbed quietly to herself. What if they threw her out of the clan?

"I guess I should name the rest of you." Twistedpaw meowed. She looked at a silver she-cat with black tabby markings and light blue eyes. "I'll name you Frostkit. And you-" She stopped as she saw the kit's eyes. One was bright blue, and the other was orange. Just like her eyes. "I'll name you Bellakit. And you look exactly like your father. You will be Tornkit."

Bella means beautiful