Chapter 37
Snowyowl yawned tiredly. He was sitting by the entrance tunnel, waiting for Silvertear to come back. He pricked his ears at the sound of paw steps. He expected Silvertear to come back but to his surprise it was Duskfeather. She shot into camp faster that lightning.
"Silvertear's kitting," she yowled. The clan froze and stared at her.
"Where is she?" Snowyowl demanded.
"Follow my scent to her," Duskfeather mewed before she took off towards the medicine cat den to get herbs. Snowyowl whipped around and plunged into the woods. He raced along Duskfeather's scent trail until he found Silvertear's body.
She was laying a small grove of trees. Snowyowl rushed to her side. "Silvertear," he panted. She glanced at him with pain filled blue eyes.
"Snowyowl," she gasped. Suddenly a tremor shook her body. A terrible wail sounded from her. It echoed through the woods, sounding like 100 cats screaming, not just one. Snowyowl bent down and licked the top of her head.
"Breath Silvertear," he ordered. "You'll be fine. Duskfeather is on the way now," he comforted her. Silvertear was struggling for air. Her mouth was gaped open in a soundless wail as she struggled to breath. Her eyes widened as another tremor shook her body.
"I-I can't do it," she panted. Snowyowl pressed himself against her.
"Yes you can," he urged her. Her paws were trembling as she struggled to push the kits out. Snowyowl could tell she was almost out of energy. Her looked up into the woods, where was Duskfeather? Suddenly Silvertear screamed. This scream was louder than the rest. Her eyes glazed as a tiny kit slid onto the ground. Snowyowl felt instinct take over and he nipped the birth sack. He licked the fur the wrong way until it let out a squeal.
"Is it okay?" Silvertear asked. Before Snowyowl could answer her body convulsed as another kit entered the world. Snowyowl repeated the process on the other kit.
"Keep going Silvertear, you're doing great," he soothed her. Silvertear stared ahead as she struggled to push another kit out. Her claws gripped the ground.
"Silvertear," Duskfeather gasped. The young medicine cat rushed forward. She dropped the bundle of herbs she was carrying in front of her sister. "Eat these," she ordered. Silvertear could barely lift her head to lick up the herbs. Duskfeather glanced at the two kits before putting her paws on Silvertear's stomach.
"There's two more," she mewed. Silvertear groaned. Snowyowl rushed to her side as she screamed in pain.
"Do something," he growled to Duskfeather. The silver she-cat looked around before charging into the woods.
"I have to get more herbs," she yelled over her shoulder. Snowyowl dropped by his mate's head.
"Duskfeather will be back soon, then everything will be okay," he coaxed. Silvertear didn't say anything. Her jaws were clenched together to keep from wailing. Just then another kit slid onto the ground. Silvertear gasped in relief. Snowyowl repeated the process on the other kit.
"One more to go," he mewed as he placed the third kit with its littermates. So far there were two fluffy white she-kits and one dark grey tom. Snowyowl licked Silvertear's cheek comfortingly. "You can do it Silvertear," he mewed.
Silvertear let out a horrible screech then grew quiet. The last tiny kit slid onto the ground. Snowyowl cleaned it then put it and its littermates at Silvertear's stomach.
"Well done Silvertear," he purred. "We have three lovely daughters and one handsome tom," he mewed. Silvertear smiled weakly. Tiredly she looked at her kits.
"Their beautiful," she smiled. Then her eyes glazed in pain and she closed them. Snowyowl glanced at her worriedly.
"What is it Silvertear?" he asked. She opened her eyes.
"Nothing," she sighed. Turning back to her kits she purred, "Can we name this one Moonkit?" she asked. Her tail stroked one of the fluffy she-kits. Snowyowl nodded. "And this one Featherkit, after Duskfeather?" she asked.
"Sure," he purred. "Can this be Clawkit, for Shardclaw?" he flicked his ears at the grey tom. Silvertear nodded. Snowyowl glanced at the last kit. It looked exactly like Silvertear. The only difference was the white tear mark Silvertear had on her head. "What about this one?" he asked. Silvertear didn't answer.
Snowyowl glanced at her. Her eyes were closed peacefully, like she was sleeping. She very well could have been sleeping, if only her flanks were moving. Instead they were perfectly still, she wasn't breathing. Snowyowl pressed his ear to her chest, there was no heart beat, everything was silent. He glanced at the last kit.
"Silentkit," he whispered.
The End
A/N:
Yes sadly this was the last chapter. I couldn't wait any longer to put it up. Silvertear died giving birth to her kits. They are named Moonkit for Moonclan, Featherkit for Duskfeather, Clawkit for Shardclaw (thanks BF5Dblover for being the 100th review and giving me that kit) and Silentkit for Silvertear's death. I have included the epilogue in this because this chapter was so short. Enjoy.
Epilogue
Tundrafoot followed Duskfeather to the Star Tree. It shone like the stars in the night sky ahead of them. Duskfeather walked confidently towards the tree. Tundrafoot followed slowly. His eyes stretched open in awe as it glittered and glowed. The Star Tree was sacred and only medicine cats and leaders were allowed to go to it. This was Tundrafoot's first time.
Maplestar had lost her last life in a battle against Moonclan and now Tundrafoot would be taking her place. He glanced at Duskfeather when they reached the tree. She nodded. "Touch your nose to the bark," she instructed. Tundrafoot took a deep breath before obeying her. Instantly he fell asleep.
He awoke to find himself laying next to the Frozen Falls. Tundrafoot leapt to his feet and looked around n confusion. Where were the Starclan cats? Weren't they going to give him nine lives? He glanced up at the sky. The stars were swirling. He gasped as they approached the ground. Suddenly they turned into cats.
Hundreds of cats, all of them circled him. He recognized Blackice, Paletree, Thornfur, who had been an elder when he was a kit. They cat stared at him with bright eyes. Then one of them walked forward. It was Blackice. The big black tom touched his nose to his head.
"I give you the life of tireless energy. Use it to serve your clan," he mewed. Tundrafoot clenched the ground with his claws as a powerful serge swept through his body. It left him feeling colder than ice yet, warmer than the sun. Blackice dipped his head to him before walking back to his spot next to Paletree. He was replaced by a burly black and white tom.
"Orcafin," Tundrafoot greeted the tom. Orcafin smiled at him. He touched his nose to his head as his father had.
"I give you the life of strength," he mewed. Tundrafoot didn't have time to brace himself for the pain as it raked through him. It reached from the tips of his ears to the tips of his claws. Orcafin smiled at him before walking back to the starry cats.
The next cat to step forward was a creamy she-cat. Tundrafoot recognized Creamfoot. The mother of Duskfeather. She touched her nose to his head.
"I give you the life of silence, you will know when to use it," she purred. This time Tundrafoot braced himself against the pain. Creamfoot was replaced by Shardclaw. He had been the deputy before Tundrafoot. He touched his nose to his head.
"I give you the life of just," he mewed. This life left him feeling right, like he could right any wrong. The next cat to walk forward made Tundrafoot's heart skip a beat. It was a golden tabby with striking amber eyes.
"Flowerfrost," he breathed the name of his former mate. She licked his cheek. Tundrafoot smiled at the warmth it left behind.
"I give you the life of kindness, use it for all those weaker than you," she mewed, touching her nose to his head. This life was sweet and warm. Tundrafoot purred as it flowed through him.
"I love you," he whispered as the feeling flowed away. Flowerfrost smiled.
"I love you too," she mewed before walking away. A graceful silver tabby took her place. Silvertear, Tundrafoot thought. The beautiful she-cat had died giving birth to Snowyowl's four kits. She touched her nose to his head.
"I give you the life of sacrifice, use it to protect your clan," she mewed. This life was painful at first, causing him to clench his jaws to stop from yowling. As the pain faded away it was replaced by joy. Tundrafoot realized that was how Silvertear felt when she died to give her kits life.
"Is there anything you want me to tell Snowyowl or your kits?" he asked before she could walk away.
"Tell them I love them," she mewed quietly. Tundrafoot nodded as a white she-cat took her place.
"My name is Softsnow. I was the medicine cat before Twigshade. I give you the life of faith, never lose faith in your ancestors," she mewed as she touched her nose to his head. This life was much like the life of kindness. It was sweet and warm. The next cat to walk forward was Stormstep.
"Brother," Stormstep greeted him. "I give you the life of loyalty," Stormstep touched his nose to Tundrafoot's head. Tundrafoot gasped at the feeling. It felt like he had been dropped in a river and it was tugging at him but it couldn't move him. He was glued to the ground. Stormstep smiled at him as it faded away. Maplestar was next.
"Tundrafoot," she purred. "My loyal deputy. I'm here to give you your last life. It is the life of endurance. Endure the battles, the death, the sickness, the hunger, and the danger of a warrior life. The rewards are great," she smiled. This life was much like his first. Painful , yet powerful.
"Now you shall be known as Tundrastar, the new leader of Frostclan," she cried. Lifting her muzzle to the sky she yelled out his new name. "Tundrastar, Tundrastar."
"Prepare your clan for the dark tides," a voice mewed. It sounded as one clear voice yet seemed to belong to every cat that had gathered to witness his nine lives. Tundrastar blinked in confusion.
"What does that mean?" he asked. But they were already fading.
A/N:
Be on look out for the sequel, Dark Tides. Now I'd like to take this time to thank all of you for sticking with it till the end. It means so much to me. This was my first fic and I got 100 reviews. Thanks so much for your loyalty and devotion to the story. I love you guys.