Chapter Three
Before any cat could say anything, a shrill wailing pierced the air from the nursery. Greentree rushed to help Frostface with her kitting.
"FireClan still refuses!" Mudstar growled. His cats yowled their approval.
"We'll show those WaterClan octopuses whose boss!" Moonclaw growled.
"Unless they show us first," Muttermouth muttered.
"Your mouth omits one too many mutters," Mudtail remarked.
"Why do you think my name is Muttermouth?" the older warriors rolled his eyes at the brown tom.
"Bramblenose," Mudstar interrupted. "I would like you to organize a hunting patrol and evening patrol. Be especially careful around Preyhill."
The she-cat nodded.
"Moonclaw! Take 2 warriors with you for the evening patrol!" the deputy ordered.
Moonclaw selected Hawkwhisker and Rippedclaw to go with her.
"Hawktail, take Lightpaw and Mossheart with you and get as much prey as you can find. Frostface has given birth now, so she needs food!"
Hawktail nodded, and the 3 cats left. The clearing was filled of busy cats.
"Frostface has 4 adorable kits," Bramblenose heard Greentree report to Mudstar. "Three females and one male. She has not yet chosen names."
"Okay, thank you." Mudstar flicked his tail at Bramblenose, and the two went to visit the nursery.
Inside, Frostface was suckling her precious kits. One was a tawny tortoiseshell, another pure white, the third was black and white, and the last was ginger.
"Have you thought of names yet?" Mudstar asked.
"When Greentree left I was thinking of calling this tawny tortoiseshell Firekit. The pure white female can be Snowkit. The black-and-white I thought should be Dotkit, and the only male can be Redkit."
Mudstar nodded his approval.
"They are beautiful kits," Bramblenose meowed gently.
"Thank you." Frostface licked each clean, then fell asleep. Leader and deputy padded back out to share the good news.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Mudstar called.
The patrols had returned. The fresh-kill pile was loaded with prey, and reported to problems. The patrol reported hints of fox around Preyhill, but it was pretty stale.
"Frostface has 4 beautiful kits," Mudstar announced. "She has decided to name them Firekit, Snowkit, Dotkit, and Redkit. Right now, the family is asleep. Don't disturb them for a while." Mudstar jumped down and headed to talk with Mosswhisker.
Muttermouth went into the nursery. Bramblenose guessed that he was the father. She grabbed a piece of fresh-kill and joined Mossheart, whom was also eating.
That night, all the cats forgot about WaterClan's visit and fell asleep peacefully.