"I'm fine!" Treepaw hissed at their mother as she came in to check on him.
"Fox's are rabid animals." She sighed, turning out of the apprentices den. Kestrelpaw studied his brother. It had been a moon since the vicious fox attack and his brother was ready to train again.
"A moon off training!" Treepaw groaned. "Let me guess, you're going to be a warrior a moon before me?"
"I would never do that to you!" Kestrelpaw protested. "Besides, you've already had five moons of training! We'll be warriors come half-moon!"
"I hope." His brother sighed, rolling over. "Why a moon to recover?"
"Treepaw. The fox almost tore all your flesh off!" He yowled.
"I suppose."
"You suppose?" Kestrelpaw grunted and left the den, spotting his father on highledge. Ever since Nettlefern revealed to the clan that she saw him drown Cherrystar to become leader, he couldn't even look at him.
"Hawkstar!" Echospot screeched. "It's Ashlight! She's kitting!" Yarrowfern rushed out of the medicine den to find Ashlight limping into cap, wailing. Kestrelpaw turned back to the den to fetch his brother and sat calmly at the edge of the clearing.
"It's too much pain!" Ashlight screeched, Yarrowfern was rubbing her belly rhythmically to to lure the kits out of the young she-cat. A tiny bundle of fur fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Ashlight wailed and Echospot started licking the small black kit vigorously.
"Here's the second." Yarrowfern mewed as another kit fell to the ground. "Two more, come on Ashlight!" She encouraged the queen. Soon, the two other kittens were laying with their mother, suckling blindly. Ashlight began to slow her panting and built up the strength to twist her bast just enough to look at her kits.
"Two toms and two she-cats." Echospot purred. "There's a pure white she-kit with blue eyes, a light gray tom with green eyes, a black tom with green eyes and another gray tabby she-kit." Ashlight studied her four kittens.
"Are they healthy?" She fretted.
"It seems as so." Yarrowfern mewed proudly. "Congratulations!"
"Frostkit." She decided, flicking her tail to the pure white she-kit. "Goosekit." pointing at the black tom. "Snowkit and Featherkit"
"Kestrelpaw, Snowfall, Echospot and Mistlefang pick up a kit each and bring them to the nursery." Yarrowfern ordered. "Ashlight, can you travel?"
"I'm not old!" She hissed, getting to her paws, limping heavily. "I don't feel good..." She admitted.
"Bellyache?" Yarrowfern prompted.
"No- I don't know.. I feel dizzy." Ashlight mewed, eyes closing into slits, paws shaking.
"Lean on me." Yarrowfern offered. Before Ashlight could respond, she fell limp. "No!" Yarrowfern desperately listened for a heartbeat, but guessing by the look on her face she couldn't find one.
"Mother!" Mosspelt squealed, running to the she-cats side. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know..." Yarrowfern murmured. "I can't sense a heartbeat."
"I suppose she was getting to old to kit, especially four kits..." Hawkstar murmured, padding closer. How dare he say that so soon?!
"She was young!" Mosspelt snarled.
"I understand your grief, but we must move on."
"Move on? We're not even sure if she's dead!" Treepaw screeched, fur bristling.
"I-" Hawkstar began.
"No! You don't anything! You're a terrible leader and father!" Treepaw spat. Hawkstar turned and padded back into his den.
"He's a murderer." Kestrelpaw muttered to his brother. Treepaw flicked his tail and left camp, leaving Kestrelpaw alone. The elders were dragging Ashlights body out of camp , eyes full of grief. Her four kits were safely in their nests, mewling.
"I can foster them." Mosspelt mewed, eyes clouded. "They're my sisters and brothers."
"Very well." Snowfall nodded her head to the young warrior. Kestrelpaw turned to the warriors den to see Starlingfur.
"It's tragic, isn't it?" She sighed, sitting with Kestrelpaw.
"Yeah..." Kestrelpaw sat with his tail wrapped neatly around his paws. "Four new kits though..."
"It's a miracle, yet an omen." Starlingfur sighed.