This story may not be very long, or maybe it will. I haven't decided yet. In this chapter, a lot of time goes by very fast. I may skip ahead a few moons. Just to let you all know.
Chapter 5-A New Era
It had been three moons since Graystripe had his run-in with Bloodclan and Midnight. He and Autumn were sitting under a tree in their backyard together. In this time Autumn had become a fairly skilled warrior. Graystripe's teachings help her and helped him not forget how to hunt or fight.
One day Hannah and Lisa took Autumn to the vet. Graystripe noticed she had been acting very strangely. Graystripe gave her a quick lick on her ear before she left.
"I love you Autumn." Graystripe said as she left.
"I love you too, Graystripe." She replied with a lick on his cheek in return.
Kyle was going to take Graystripe to get shots but he remembered the way he resisted when he was first captured so he decided that the papers of ownership were enough. Graystripe sat by the kitchen all the while they were gone. He thought that Autumn was sick and would have to be put to sleep forever. Graystripe remembered that horrific morning with Silverstream and when she lay dead on the beach, not even in her own territory. She died in pain. Graystripe thought that might happen to Autumn as well. When Kyle tried to do something to cheer Graystripe up, Graystripe hissed at him.
"Man Winter. Sometimes you're as harsh as the winter wind. Hissing and whipping at me. Good think you're cute or you would be out of here, but Hannah does love you. On the hand Autumn is as sweet as autumn itself. Those two seasons are so unlike, yet winter comes right after autumn," Kyle started to walk away when he muttered, "You'd think Autumn and Winter would hate each other. Yet they like each other as much as those two season clash."
Graystripe's ears perked up as Silverstream's prophecy rung in his head. Two seasons will clash and a new era shall be created. Graystripe had been with Twolegs long enough to know that they call leaf-fall, autumn, and leaf-bare, winter. Lisa was saying how much she loved the snow and jumping in leaves. Graystripe's head spun as he tried to put the pieces of the prophecy together. Two seasons...Autumn and Winter. Will clash...not sure yet. And a new era...new generation. Shall be created...will be born. What Graystripe had so far was, he and Autumn were to make a new generation. But how?
Graystripe sat there and thought for many minuets, until the door opened and Hannah and Lisa stepped in. Autumn was in Lisa's arms. Graystripe was relieved that Autumn had come home safely. When she let Autumn go, the she-cat ran towards Graystripe. The two nuzzled each other.
"Graystripe, I have to tell you something!" piped Autumn.
"What Autumn?"
"Follow me!" Autumn pelted around the corner and Graystripe followed. When they were alone in the living room, at least that's what the Twolegs called it, Autumn said, "I've going to have kits!"
"What?"
"Kits!"
"Whoa! But how?"
"You!"
"Me?"
"Yes, you're 'the one' for me Graystripe. And you said yourself, that you though there could be more' ones' for you!"
"Yeah. Great Starclan!"
"It's wonderful. The vet said that there were five kits there."
"Wow! Five?"
"Yeah!"
"Awesome!"
"Graystripe..." she said seriously, "...even though my...I mean our kits will be named by Lisa, Hannah, and Kyle, but I want to name our kits, like your clan does. They could have two names like you! One for the Palepelts and one for us. Hannah and Kyle agreed to keep all the kits that survive the birth!"
"What do you mean, 'survive the birth?'"
"Well...sometimes for a first-time mother, all her kits don't survive."
"Well don't worry. They have me in them and that means that they have the chance of everyone surviving since that is what usually happens in the clans."
"Thanks."
"No problem." Graystripe licked her ears happily, "Oh and by the way, in Thunderclan, we call she-cats preparing or nursing kits, queens."
Over the next nine weeks (I just found out that's how long cats are pregnant for) Autumn didn't do much of anything. Sometimes she was tired and other times she wanted to do something but Hannah wouldn't let here. Graystripe wanted to do what he did with queens in Thunderclan. Whenever he could, he snuck out of the house and caught some prey. He secretly brought it in the nest for Autumn. She told him she loved the rabbits and the birds that were stupid enough to fly in.
One night, around moon high, Graystripe awoke to Autumn moaning loudly, "Autumn, what's wrong? Is it the kits?"
Autumn nodded her head, but Graystripe could tell that it caused her pain, "Where's Hannah?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Sleeping upstairs."
"Get them. If they're not here then they can't here me. GO!"
"I'm going!" Graystripe sprinted up the stairs, past Lisa's room, and to Hannah and Kyle's room. Graystripe jumped on the bed and pounced on Hannah until she woke up.
"Winter, what's wrong?"
Jumped off the bed and ran downstairs. He could hear Hannah shouting, "Kyle! Autumn's kittens are coming! Get up!" As he was getting up, Hannah ran down the stairs with Graystripe and she turned on the light to find Autumn, covered in blood.
Graystripe's mind flashed back to Silverstream's death. The kits were coming and she too was covered in blood, "I won't let it happen again," he vowed. He ran over to Autumn and started to lick the blood from her pelt. Autumn's tabby fur suddenly turned silver and fluffy pelt became sleek and slim. Autumn was turning into Silverstream. Graystripe figured it was in his mind because Hannah kept working.
"Silverstream," he whispered.
"Graystripe. I told you I am never far away. My death was avenged. When Autumn was born, my spirit became hers"
"Then how did I see you with Starclan."
"It's complicated. Her soul can live without me until she dies, but I gave up that power when I fused my soul with hers. I can only survive outside her body for a few minuets, enough to give you a dream. I still have that power. I came to you now to say that I am going back to Starclan for good. My father misses me. I can never come back down. Now when I am in your dreams, it will only be a dream. It won't be me. These kits don't belong to me. It would be cruel. These kits belong to you and Autumn. The part of Autumn that you fell in love with. Her soul. Remember Graystripe...I will always love you."
Silverstream turned back into Autumn and Graystripe saw her spirit lift out of Autumn's body and ascend to Starclan. Graystripe shook his head and continued to lick. He licked and licked all night.
Finally in the morning, Autumn gave birth to her first kit. It was a gold she-kit. Graystripe started to think of a name. Different names reeled through his mind until he came up with Cheetahkit. Autumn was mewing in pain as the second kit came out. This kit was a gray tom, but he stopped breathing soon after he was born. Kyle took the gray kit and fiercely tried to revive it. Graystripe turned his attention back to Autumn. A third kit came out. It was another she-kit. She was a golden tabby like her mother. Graystripe thought that Yellowkit was a nice name, like Yellowfang, the medicine cat who had helped him so many times. Kyle came back and shouted, "The kit's alive! The gray kit made it!" Graystripe was overjoyed. He decided on Stonekit for that one, in honor of the warrior who died protecting his other kits. The next kit was a tom as well...but he was white. This surprised Graystripe. He then remembered Cloudtail was Autumn brother so he could see the connection. In his head Graystripe named the white tom Snowkit. The fifth kit came out and it was another tom. This was another gray kit. Graystripe decided on Mosskit. The kits were brought over to Autumn.
"Oh Graystripe...they're beautiful. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Thanks. I've already thought of names for them," Pointing to each one he said, "Cheetahkit, Yellowkit, Stonekit, Snowkit, and Mosskit."
"Those are wonderful names. I think that those will do very well and...ugh!" Autumn moaned in pain.
Hannah rushed back to find a sixth kit coming, "Kyle! There's another one coming!"
"What? I thought there was only five!"
"It doesn't matter, just help me."
Autumn pushed and pushed until a ginger kit came out. This one was a she-kit. Everyone was surprised. There were no ginger cats in the family. Graystripe was puzzled until he remembered his mother...Rosetail! She was ginger.
"Graystripe, where did the red come from?"
"My mother, Rosetail."
"Oh. Graystripe?"
"Yes?"
"Can I name this one?"
"Of course.
"I would like her to be named Flowerkit."
"Perfect. Three she-kits and three toms. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Yes. Cheetahkit, Stonekit, Yellowkit, Snowkit, Mosskit, and Flowerkit."