Chapter 25
"Four Little Lives."
8/18/16
Stoatfrost! I'm gonna kill you! Stealthfire could hardly stand the pain any more. Her labor started early morning in late January, and it feels like being ripped apart from the inside.
Jaystripe, Seabreeze and Thrushwing, the experienced queens, were comforting Stealthfire throughout the whole thing.
Yellowflower was with her too, and Palewhisker decided to let her deliver the kits by herself for the first time.
Meanwhile, everyone was waiting anxiously for Stealthfire and Stoatfrost's kits to arrive. Speaking of which, the white tom was pacing nervously outside and trying to get Palewhisker, who was standing guard outside, to let him in.
"Can't I just stay with her?"
"The queens are supporting her, all you need to do is wait until Yellowflower says so."
Stealthfire grits her teeth when she feels a contraction go off.
"Keep going, I see something." Yellowflower told her.
Stealthfire lifts her head up and pushed, until she feels the pain go away and heard Yellowflower's voice.
"We have a tom."
Yellowflower places a jet black tom near Thrushwing's paws.
"Lick it."
Thrushwing began licking the tom's fur backwards as Yellowflower encourages Stealthfire to keep going.
The kits were kept outside with Sweetflower and Duckheart.
"I wanna see the kits!" Gingerkit said.
"You'll see them when they come," Duckheart told her. "Everyone is busy at the moment."
Tigerkit heard Stealthfire yowl and cringed.
"Is she gonna die?"
Unfortunately Stoatfrost heard him, and looks at Palewhisker in horror.
"Die?!"
Palewhisker shooed him away, and Sweetflower said,
"She won't die, Yellowflower won't let that happen."
Stealthfire couldn't believe how much pain this was causing. She trembled with fright as Thrushwing placed the tom kit near her stomach.
Your not afraid of your own kits, are you?
Stealthfire sees a ginger and white she cat sitting next to Jaystripe.
It was Pounceclaw!
The next kit is coming up, when you feel it coming - push!
Stealthfire bunched her muscles, but Yellowflower said,
"Don't tense yourself yet…" A few heartbeats passed and Stealthfire feels the pain return.
Now, push!
Stealthfire growled as she pushed the second kit out, and feels the third come out heard tiny wails.
"Two more toms."
You're doing good. Here comes the last one, push!
Stealthfire used all her strength to push out the last kit, and almost passed out from exhaustion.
"A she cat."
Jaystripe and Seabreeze placed the two toms near Stealthfire's belly as Yellowflower stared at her last kit.
"Wait… She's not breathing."
Stealthfire jerked her head up and saw Yellowflower with a small, dark grey almost black kit. The kit remained still as Yellowflower licked it.
"Is she dead…?" Thrushwing whispered. Stealthfire's fur stood on end as she stared at her daughter intensely.
Don't die… Please, I know you're not dead.
The nursery became quite, except for the cries of Stealthfire's sons. And just when Yellowflower was about to give up, the she cat opened her mouth to a silent yawn.
Stealthfire sighed with relief.
Congratulations, little one.
Stealthfire looks at Pounceclaw to find her gone. She turns her attention to Yellowflower as she carries the she cat to her brothers.
"Three toms and one she cat, all healthy." She reported.
Stealthfire gazed at her children in curiousity.
The firstborn was jet black with no hints of lighter colors. The second was bright ginger, gold like her, with many white tabby stripes on his back and a single stripe going down his tail.
The third tom was white and fluffy with very pale grey ears that were barely visible.
The she cat was almost as black as her brother, but Stealthfire could barely see tabby stripes hidden in her dark coat.
"They're beautiful, Stealthfire." Seabreeze whispered proudly. Yellowflower left the den for a moment, and Stoatfrost immediately came in and saw his kits.
Stoatfrost smiled and lowered his head to them.
"Hey guys." He whispered. Stoatfrost licked Stealthfire's ears.
"You were awesome, dear."
Stealthfire nods.
"What should we name them?"
"How about you name one first, then I'll do the next."
Stealthfire stared at her oldest son.
"How about Darkkit?"
The nursery fell quite at the mention of the name.
"Uh, Stealthfire." Jaystripe said. "Cats only knew one cat by that name. And he's in the Dark Forest."
Stealthfire didn't know that, but she flicked her tail and smiled.
"Well, I guess Darkkit can make something good out his name."
Stoatfrost nudged the ginger tom.
"Then you, little tom, will be known as Lightkit."
Stealthfire rolled her eyes.
"Very original."
Stoatfrost huffed playfully.
"Well then miss thing, what names do you have for the others?"
Stealthfire gazed at the fluffy white tom.
"He'll be Cloudkit, after Cloudheart." She didn't forget the RiverClan deputy saving her in the fight with LionClan.
Stoatfrost nods in understanding. Stealthfire stared at her only daughter.
She has been opening her mouth to cry...but no sounds came out.
I wonder if kits do that at first.
"... Whisperkit." She said finally.
Stoatfrost grinned.
"Yeah, I like it."
Thornstar visited the nursery soon after Palewhisker convinced (or dragged) Stoatfrost out for Stealthfire to rest. The ThunderClan leader gazed at his Clan proudly.
"We have four kits. Darkkit, Lightkit, Cloudkit and Whisperkit!"
The cats purred with happiness for the new arrivals. But Flameclaw was shocked. He was happy for Stealthfire and Stoatfrost, but why would they name one of their kits Darkkit?
Duckheart nudged his shoulder.
"I'm sure Stealthfire sees past the name."
"I suppose so… I keep forgetting how that brain of hers works."
Duckheart stared at Flameclaw, and he noticed his mate's worried gaze.
"What? What's wrong?"
"... I saw Palewhisker yesterday, and you remember how sick I was a few days ago?"
Flameclaw nods. Duckheart nods knowingly, and Flameclaw stared at her for a few heartbeats until he realized, and his jaw dropped.
"You're expecting kits?!"
Duckheart nodded.
"Holy-! Great StarClan!" Flameclaw nuzzled Duckheart's muzzle.
"You need to go to the nursery! I'll pick out your nest! Do you need anything? Are you feeling dizzy-?"
Duckheart placed her paw on his mouth to quiet him.
"I'm fine, you muscle bound brute. I can still continue my duties for a while."
"Yeah but still-!"
Flameclaw continued to fuss over Duckheart, she rolled her eyes and smiled.
Several days passed since Stealthfire's kits, affectionately known as "The Four", were born. They were beginning to open their eyes and their parents found immediate differences between them.
Darkkit's eyes were what Stealthfire calls "odd color eyes".
His left eye was blue while his right eye was amber.
Lightkit's eyes were a stunning yellow with golden hues.
Cloudkit's were sapphire blue, just like his father. And Whisperkit's eyes were bright, emerald green, which Stoatfrost guessed she inherited from his mother, Icefoot, who had green eyes as well.
Birdwish's three kits became warriors. Dawnleaf, Troutstream, and Sneezeclaw.
Leopardstrike's kits, Timberkit, Petalkit and Tigerkit and Goldkit were excited to have denmates who were mobile, and decided to play outside the nursery in the snow.
"Stealthfire! Look at me!" The golden she cat sees Lightkit trying to pin Goldkit, but ended up being overpowered by the kit a moon older than him.
"Goldkit, play nice!" Thrushwing called from the fresh kill pile.
Goldkit huffed and left Lightkit. Lightkit suddenly calls her attention and pads over.
"What's that?" He nods to the tall rock.
"That's High Rock." She replied. "Thornstar makes his announcements on there and addresses the Clan."
Lightkit's eyes grew wide.
"Can I be a leader one day?"
Stealthfire thought about. Even if Lightkit became a warrior, Thornstar might still be alive as well as Eaglecry, as she heard that Eaglecry became an apprentice when Thornstar became deputy.
"Who knows?" She replied. "Life brings surprises, and if you work hard you might get there."
Lightkit puffed his chest out.
"I will, mom! Just you wait and see!" Lightkit scampered off to the elder's den.
Stealthfire couldn't help but laugh at Lightkit's serious nature, of someone so young.
She suddenly heard a snarl and saw Goldkit running to Thrushwing.
"Mom! Darkkit bit my ear!"
Stealthfire's blood ran cold when she saw the anger on Thrushwing's face. She saw Darkkit glaring daggers at Goldkit as she pads over.
"Stealthfire," Thrushwing growled. "Why did Darkkit do that?"
"I-I wasn't watching, I was talking to Lightkit." Stealthfire felt small under Thrushwing's furious stare and looks at Darkkit.
"Did you start the fight?"
"No!" He spat. "Stupid Goldkit did it to himself when I didn't wanna play with him."
"He's lying mommy!" Goldkit wailed desperately. Stealthfire looks at Thrushwing and Darkkit, feeling cornered. The former WindClan queen gave Stealthfire a hard stare.
"Stealthfire, you need to teach discipline to your kits. I know it's hard being a mother for the first time, but Darkkit needs boundaries."
Thrushwing nudged Goldkit to the nursery, but Stealthfire saw the smug look on his face when he sneered at Darkkit.
He set Darkkit up!
Stealthfire waited until Thrushwing disappeared from sight to approach Darkkit.
The jet black tom curled his lip.
"Oh great! You're gonna punish me, right?!"
Stealthfire shook her head.
"I saw Goldkit shooting looks at you. I believe you didn't start it…"
Stealthfire leans towards Darkkit's ear.
"But I think you should avoid Goldkit and Thrushwing for a while."
"You think I haven't done that?" Darkkit hissed. "No matter where I am, Goldkit always finds me and gets me in trouble!"
Stealthfire nuzzles his tiny head.
"I know, honey. But you two are going to be Clanmates who fight beside each other, so you can't have animosity towards each other."
Darkkit narrowed his eyes.
"Even though Goldkit is a jerk? How fair is that?"
Darkkit stormed away from Stealthfire to the corner. She noticed that cats were eyeing him in suspicion.
He's just a kit! Why are people assuming the worst, just because a Dark Forest cat shares his name?
Stealthfire shook her head and decided to look for Cloudkit or Whisperkit. Luckily she didn't have to look far to find Cloudkit. He was looking at a pile of herbs laid out by Yellowflower.
"Okay," she held up an herb Stealthfire doesn't know. "What is this, and what's it used for?"
"A borage leaf." Cloudkit replied. "It helps queens with their milk and brings down fevers."
Yellowflower puts the borage leaf down and shows him small, green leaves.
Cloudkit sniffed it and said, "Catmint. It gives cats energy and helps fight whitecough."
Stealthfire coughed, catching Yellowflower's attention.
"Oh! I didn't see you there."
"Is he bothering you?"
Yellowflower shook her head.
"Not at all. Cloudkit's been helping me put herbs away, he's been such a good helper."
Stealthfire nods. "Well, I need to speak with him. Cloudkit?"
The white kit pads to Stealthfire and lowers his head.
"Am I in trouble, mom?"
"No. I just wanna ask you something. Do you want to be a warrior?"
Cloudkit flattened his ears.
"I… No, I don't think I can hurt cats…"
"Do you want to continue being Yellowflower's helper?"
"Yes! I love the smell, and she said that I can help heal cats and make them feel better."
Stealthfire licks his forehead.
"Then that's what you should do. That's if Palewhisker retires."
Or dies. She added silently.
Cloudkit looked ready to burst as he nuzzles Stealthfire's front leg.
"Thank you, thank you! I gotta tell Yellowflower!" Cloudkit ran inside the medicine cat den.
Stealthfire turned around and saw Darkkit glaring at her, and pads away from her.
A kit shouldn't be so resentful, not unless he's been picked on so much.
Stealthfire spots Whisperkit hiding behind the corner of the elder's den, watching Redkit and Tigerkit play fighting with each other. She nudged Whisperkit.
"Hey-."
Whisperkit jumped back and trips over herself. All eyes fell on her as she gets up, her fur ruffled and covered in dust.
"Whisperkit you freak! I told you to get lost!" Redkit spat.
Whisperkit bowed her head and quickly ran away. Stealthfire glared at Redkit.
"That was completely rude! I'm going to have to talk to Leopardstrike about your attitude."
Redkit snorted and turned her back on Stealthfire. She fought the urge to cuff her ears as she tries to find Whisperkit.
"Stealthfire." She sees Leopardstrike approach her. "I just found Whisperkit crying in the warriors den. She's probably looking for Stoatfrost, but what is she upset about?"
"Redkit called her a freak and told her to get lost."
Leopardstrike narrowed his eyes.
"That she cat… Trust me, she'll be punished for it."
Leopardstrike left as Stealthfire entered the warriors den. She found Whisperkit curled up in her and Stoatfrost's nest. Stealthfire nudged Whisperkit.
"Redkit is being foolish." She told her. "You're not a freak."
Whisperkit glared at her, but no sound came out of her mouth, even though it was open and wanting to scream. Whisperkit turned her back and refused to look at her.
Stealthfire carried Whisperkit in her jaws and took her to the nursery, where Thrushwing and Goldkit were sleeping.
Leopardstrike's kits were almost six moons old like Timberkit. Tigerkit and Goldkit were two moons old, and Seabreeze's litter and Sweetflower's daughter were less than a moon like her own.
Plus Duckheart's expecting… The smell is obvious.
Before the sun reached the highest point, Stealthfire introduces The Four to their father, Stoatfrost.
"You look nothing like us." Darkkit growled. Cloudkit whipped around and glared at him.
"He looks like me!"
Stoatfrost held his smile despite Darkkit's harsh words.
"You got that right. My former mentor told me that my father had dark grey fur, so that's why most of you are black and grey. But I got this white beauty," he gestures his tail to his pelt. "From my mother, Icefoot."
Lightkit was staring at Stoatfrost in awe until Cloudkit spoke up.
"How did you meet mom?"
Stoatfrost crouched down to the kits.
"Last year, Stealthfire grew up with a family of rogues, but…" He looked at her.
"They weren't very nice to her. So she ran away and ended up being attacked by a fox."
"What's a fox?" Lightkit asked.
"A fox is a russet colored thing who look and walk like us, but they're vicious animals that eats anything half its size."
Darkkit spat. "I can take down a fox!"
"Of course you could." Stoatfrost said. "Anyway, Duckheart, Flameclaw and Sweetflower were apprentices at the time when they fought the fox and saved Stealthfire. Thornstar allowed her to join ThunderClan and become an apprentice to Seabreeze."
Stealthfire listened to the story, but kept her eyes on Whisperkit. She was slowly looking away and gazing at the camp in curiousity.
First she can't talk, she doesn't like being touched, and she's more interested in the scenery.
Could she be…? No, I don't think so…
Still, Stealthfire decided to keep a close eye on Whisperkit.
"Cats old enough to hunt, meet me at High Rock for a Clan meeting!"
Before sunset, Stealthfire looks at the nursery as Spottedkit, Gingerkit and Redkit padded out with Jaystripe and Timberkit. Leopardstrike was gazing at his three daughters with pride.
"What's going on?" Lightkit was right next to her with Whisperkit and Darkkit behind him.
Wait. Where's Cloudkit?!
Stealthfire sees Cloudkit sitting with Yellowflower and Palewhisker. She calms herself as Thornstar made his announcement.
"We are witnessing four lucky kits prepared to become apprentices. It has been a tough road last moon, and I couldn't think of anything better than to reward fresh, young lives with the chance to become warriors."
Stealthfire watches each of the kits get a mentor: Gingerpaw had Volefang, Redpaw had Skystorm, Timberpaw gets Badgerleap, and Spottedpaw gets Brightpool.
"What?!" Spottedpaw exclaimed. "I thought I was getting Stealthfire!"
The remark was met with a snort by Brightpool.
Stealthfire woke up when the early dawn light arrives, and to her surprise so was Whisperkit. The dark grey she cat was curled up...with a mouse.
"Whisperkit. Shouldn't you eat that?'
Whisperkit looked genuinely upset about it, and she pulls the mouse close to her.
She was fixated on the mouse for a while, and it was giving her unwanted attention.
"Redpaw's right, she is a freak." Goldkit whispered. Thrushwing cuffed his ears.
Stealthfire knew better. Whisperkit was treating the mouse with affection and interest, while she doesn't like physical affection from her or any other cat at all.
All in all, Stealthfire finally figured out what was going with Whisperkit.
Whisperkit has Autism.
I've been waiting for the kits to come! I've gotten a bit of their personalities down pat.
Lightkit is a bit of an A list cat, even if it's not as obvious.
Darkkit is the black sheep of the nursery kits, and Goldkit's favorite target.
Cloudkit is a kind hearted tom who wants to please everyone, hence why he looked for Stealthfire's approval to be a medicine cat.
And Whisperkit has very odd characteristics, and doesn't fit in with kits her age, especially with cats like Redpaw, and it's because she has Autism like her mother.
Although, study says it's rare for a baby girl to develop Autism, and boys are more common to be Autistic, I wanted to keep some of the original plot from my first run of the story.
I hope you one of The Four becomes your favorite, 'cause I already call Darkkit as my favorite ~!
Reviews and constructive criticism are accepted. But flames will be doused by Hydro Pump from my Milotic, Breezie. ~ Kyubi
