Chapter 7

"What will you name him?" Littlepaw asked seeing that the first was a boy.

"Well, I was thinking about Oakkit but since he was my first kit in Clover clearing I'll name him Cloverkit," Rubystem looked lovingly down at Cloverkit, her first tom-kit, who was dark green, brown, with little stripes of light green.

Then her second kit came out, this time it was a she-kit, a bit smaller than Cloverkit, and she was pinkish-gray with a hint of maroon around her eyes.

"I'll name this one Petalkit, for the petals that I am sitting on that helped make my birth easier and her beautiful color of pink and maroon," Rubystem explained between licks.

Littlepaw had expected Petalkit to be the last kit but after a little while Rubystem started to feel sick again. Another kit had come; she was snow-white and was definitely the runt of the litter. Rubystem named her Snowkit for her fur color and blue eyes. Littlepaw checked her for disabilities because white kits with blue eyes are likely to have them and thankfully, Snowkit checked negative.

Rubystem let out a large sigh, "I'm so glad my fourth kit ever doesn't have a disability. I was so worried."

"It's normal for a mother to be worried about her kits, but you really should lick them and warm them up for the real world," Littlepaw suggested.

"Yes I will," and Rubystem began licking them and warming them up with her tail.

Then Sootfur walked over, "I have news." He had been sent by Grassblade to give the cats who were freeing the cats in the caves, this message, "They attacked the NightClan cats and there are far more cats than expected and GrassClan is losing badly, we need herbs for injuries, and we need re-enforcements!"

Goldenpaw stepped out from where he was resting, "I can go, if they need re-enforcements, then . . ."

"One cat is not going to help them, they need lots more," Sootfur mewed.

"How about all the cats here?" Spiderfoot offered, "Would that be enough?"

"No, there are probably 2 or 3 NightClan cats to a GrassClan cat; we would need double the cats we have now!"

That would only happen if Dewkit, Marshkit, and Gingerkit came back with WaterClan's warriors, Applepaw thought.

Just then Marshkit peered out of the bushes, "We're back, with WaterClan's help!"

"Oh, just in time!" Shinypelt gave a big sigh of relief.

The warriors from WaterClan followed him out.

"Where are Dewkit and Gingerkit?" Applepaw asked.

"They went to let Wovenstar know that help had come," he looked around, "Um, where is Wovenstar? And why are all these cats here?"

"Mousedung! We don't know where Wovenstar is! If he was in the warriors den then he would have taken over, not Grassblade!" Coppertail mewed.

"I bet that he's talking to Blacknight right now," Shinypelt put in helpfully, "He can take care of himself, I know him well."

"I'm sure you do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be worried about him," Spiderfoot put in.

"Well, we can find him when we go to the battle but we'd better go now or the battle will be lost," Stonestream, the deputy of WaterClan, picked his paw up and pointed at the entrance, "WaterClan is happy to help fight but not just stand around."

"Now, now, Stonestream," a dark-blue and silver cat mewed from behind him, "We're here to help, not hurt."

"Alright, we can wait until you cats are ready," Stonestream put his paw down, "Saphireheart, I don't need help with decision making."

"Sure you don't," Saphireheart mewed sarcastically.

"I agree with Stonestream, let's get going before the battle is lost," Shinypelt started to lead the warriors, to the edge of the clearing, until Goldenpaw called to her, "Wait, what about me?"

"You need to stay here and hunt for the other cats with the other warriors," Shinypelt answered.

"Okay, I'll stay," Goldenpaw concluded, then turned to Coppertail, "Should we organize a hunting patrol?"

"Yes we should, you and Applepaw should go then we'll go after," Coppertail mewed.

They hunted and brought back food for half the cats there then Coppertail and Spiderfoot went hunting and brought back food for the second half. Then Pumpkinpaw and Sootfur went hunting and made a mini-fresh-kill pile. The cats felt better and Littlepaw made Rubystem comfortable with her kits.

Then Sootfur suggested they go to the battle, "We should stay here, the elders need us," Spiderfoot answered.

"Alright then some of us should go and help out," Sootfur started.

"I'll go," Goldenpaw offered, "Bronzepaw, Applepaw and Coppertail can come with me."

"Yes, that sounds good; go right ahead," Sootfur flicked his tail towards the edge of the clearing, "Be careful . . . ."