Hey everyone it's been a while hasn't it? Lol the end of the year is very hectic for me…so many tests! Ugh…well at least its over soon! 4 more days for me!!!

Chapter 9

Silentwater trotted away from the clearing, away from Blackheart. Today he had brought good news; he was now the deputy of FireClan! Every time she saw him, she felt as if her heart was breaking. She wanted Blackheart, to be near him and to love him, but in her heart she knew that she couldn't. But she did.

The white she-cat entered the camp, making her way over to the nursery. She crawled in and drank in the warm, milky scent. Palmheart looked up from where she was laying on her side, nursing Rabbitkit.

"Hello." she mewed. She looked tired, but her eyes looked happy and full of life. Silentwater purred as she touched her friend's nose, then Rabbitkit's flank.

"I'm so happy for you." she mewed, sitting down.

"Thank you." mewed Palmheart, adjusting her position so she was more comfortable. "I think you caught me at one of the rare times Skywing isn't here." Silentwater purred.

"He really loves you." she mewed. Palmheart looked up, her eyes soft.

"I know." she purred. "I know it must be terrible to love someone when you aren't aloud to." she added in a whisper.

"It is." replied Silentwater quietly. "I still don't know what to do when the kits are born."

"You'll figure out something." mewed Palmheart. "You always do."

"One kit shall carry you're soul with it…It shall be the dawn of ice."

Silentwater woke with a start and sat up. It was dark outside. She suddenly felt very dizzy and sick, and immediately vomited to her side. Cold sweat crept over her body, making her feel feverish and cold. But the worst of all was the lurching of her belly, the first sign of labor.

Silentwater groaned and struggled to get up, suddenly feeling as if she were 100 pounds heavier then usual. Her vision blurred as she lumbered clumsily out of camp. Her mind spun with all the possibilities. What if she couldn't find Blackheart in time?

The pain felt increasingly awful as she stumbled on through the night. She felt her water break, trickling down her legs, increasing the awful feeling that had come over her whole body. She neared FireClan territory, and collapsed, pain making her legs give in. A contraction shook her body; she screamed in pain. Through all the bloody battles, this was the worst pain she had ever felt. She screamed again and went limp, her breathing becoming heavy and labored.

Oh Blackheart…Blackheart hurry! Please tell me you heard my scream!

And Blackheart came, bounding through the bracken, his eyes wide with fear.

"Blackheart! The kits!" Silentwater yowled, struggling to get up, but falling back in the process. Blackheart rushed over, looking nervous. Silentwater could tell he didn't know what to do.

Blackheart rubbed Silentwater's cheek.

"It's going to be okay." he reassured her, though his eyes looked fearful. Silentwater suddenly screamed as the pain became too much to bear. She felt a tiny bit of relief, as if she had just had a drink of water on a hot day.

"A kit!" mewed Blackheart, nosing the gray lump of fur that now lay at Silentwater's flank. He pressed his cheek to its chest, and his expression fell.

"Its dead." he mewed, his expression bleak. Silentwater touched the scrap with her nose, breathing in its scent, a mix of hers and Blackheart's. It was still and cold. Blackheart dug a small hole, and nosed the kit into it, his eyes clouded with grief.

Silentwater shifted as another wave of pain came over her.

"Blackheart!" she yowled. "Another kit is coming!" Again she felt a small bit of relief as another kit left her body.

"It's a tom!" mewed Blackheart. He nosed the little kit to Silentwater's body. Silentwater touched the little kit.

"Smokekit." she mewed, taking the kit to her belly. But to her dismay, the kit did not begin to suckle. She began licking him vigorously, making sure that he was okay. Smokekit took in another breath, then his breathing ceased.

"No!" mewed Silentwater, nosing the kit. "Blackheart, he's dead!" Blackheart touched his nose to Silentwater's flank, feeling more kits inside her.

"We still need to try." he mewed. "There's more coming."

"Please…" Silentwater mewed weakly. "We need help." Blackheart seemed to be struggling for words.

"Alright." he said finally. "I'll be right back." He touched his cheek to Silentwater's muzzle, and then bounded into the bracken. All they could do now was hope for the best.

Oh my golly golly gosh! Poor little Smokekit! Next chapter shall be the last.

Review!

Jadeclaw