Chapter Four

Duskkit's ears twitched in surprise when she heard a low moan come from the nest beside her. Raising her head, she heard the panting and groans of the queen. Briarthorn was in the nursery, and she had come in about two moons ago, expecting Russetclaw's kits. "Briarthorn? Are you alright?" Duskkit mewed softly, rising to her paws.

"No! I feel terrible, as if my stomach is going to burst! Would you mind getting Mistleberry for me?" Briarthorn rasped, her voice shaky. Duskkit dipped her head, before bounding out of the nursery. The warm greenleaf breeze hit Duskkit, and she continued towards the medicine cats' den, the tangy odor of herbs already hitting her nose. Duskkit reached a paw forward, and felt the smooth surface of the cave, and headed inside.

"Mistleberry? I think Briarthorn is kitting, and she needs you," Duskkit whispered. She heard a long sigh, and she could hear the padding of paws closer to her.

"Alright, I'll be there. Could you go get the raspberry leaf? It's soft to the touch with jagged edges, and should be across from the catmint, you can't miss it," Mistleberry replied. Without waiting for a reply, Mistleberry hastily left the den, grabbing moss on the way out. Duskkit stared after Mistleberry, before sighing and heading towards the back of the den. Duskkit felt the ferns brush the top of her head, and she knew that this was the herb storage. She raised her jaws, and could smell the distinct and delicious smell of the catmint, and she reached forward, and felt the leaves of the catmint. Turning around, she felt her way towards the other side of the wall, and reached forward into the darkness. She could feel a leaf that was soft on one side, and she gently picked at the edges, and felt that they were jagged. Heaving a sigh of relief, she grabbed a couple leaves and turned back around, heading out of the den. She headed straight forward, praying she wouldn't run into anything, and she felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders when the warm breeze tickled her whiskers once more. Duskkit surged forward, and eventually could hear the moans clearly, and stopped, pausing to feel the brambles of the nursery.

"Duskkit! Snowblossom's inside, helping with the kitting. Mistleberry wants you to help as well," Featherkit mewed. Duskkit stared at her sister, her eyes widened.

"She wants a kit to help with kitting?" Duskkit mewed, still unbelieving. She could feel the stare of Russetclaw, Lionkit, and Featherkit upon her back.

"Yes, Duskkit," Featherkit sighed, her voice getting annoyed. Duskkit flicked her tail in agreement, before quickly ducking into the nursery. She quickly sniffed out the scent of blood and wet moss, and headed towards it.

"I'm here, Mistleberry. I think this is raspberry leaf," Duskkit mewed, dropping her herbs and nudging them towards Briarthorn. Mistleberry turned towards the kit, glanced at the herbs, and quickly shoved them to Briarthorn, who pushed them away in pain.

"Snowblossom, can you go fetch some more moss and a stick? Duskkit, chew up the raspberry leaf to a pulp. Briarthorn's to weak to eat them herself," Mistleberry meowed. Duskkit bent down to the leaves, letting the softness of the leaf brush against her nose. She chewed it up, almost gagging at the bitter taste of them, and spit them out beside Briarthorn. Mistleberry had mewed her approval, before moving to the other side to retrieve the new arrivals.

"Briarthorn, you have to eat the leaves, or else you'll be to weak to give birth to these kits," Duskkit mewed softly, nudging the leaves forward. Briarthorn gasped, before bending down to chew on the pulp, her eyes getting brighter with strength. Duskkit nodded in encouragement, before continuing to make the leaves into pulp and placing them beside the pained queen.

Snowblossom burst into the nursery, with a wad of dripping wet moss and a brown stick. Duskkit dipped her head, and took the moss, setting it down beside the leaves. Briarthorn lapped thirstily at the moss, and quickly set her jaws around the stick.

"Briarthorn, one's coming! Push!" Mistleberry shouted. Briarthorn grunted, and she pushed, her eyes widening with pain. "One more time!" Briarthorn shrieked once more, but pushed, her eyes clouding with pain. A bundle of dark red fur slipped out, and Mistleberry shoved it towards Duskkit, who quickly began to lick and nip at its protective sack. Duskkit licked more, and felt its pelt warm up, and she purred as it started mewling. She placed it beside its mother, who stretched to look at her kit.

"Is it okay?" Briarthorn mewed, before gasping with pain once more. Duskkit nodded just in case, before pushing the moss once more towards her mouth. Briarthorn lapped at it, before growling in pain.

"Just one more kit, Briarthorn! Give it one big push and you'll be done!" Briarthorn gave on massive push, before yowling in pain. The stench of blood was filling Duskkit's nose, and she resisted the urge to puke. Instead, she turned towards where her mother sat, right by the entrance.

"Can you go get some more moss? I think Briarthorn will need more water after loosing a lot of blood," Duskkit mewed. Snowblossom dipped her head, disappearing from the den. Briarthorn shrieked once more, and finally, the last kit slipped out. Mistleberry took care of this one, and she licked its fur expertly, placing it by it's mother.

"Good job, Briarthorn. One she-kit and one tom," Mistleberry purred softly, glancing at the kits with longing eyes.

"Oh, they're beautiful. Duskkit, can you get Russetclaw for me?" Briarthorn purred, glancing at her kits with loving eyes. Duskkit nodded, turning around and leaving the nursery. She could hear her littermates playing mossball by the apprentices' den.

"Russetclaw?" Duskkit mewed, trying to sniff out the smell of the red tom. Instead, she could hear the heavy pawsteps of the tom, and heavy breathing.

"Yes? Is she okay? Are the kits okay? Does she need me?" Russetclaw asked, his eyes wild with fear. Duskkit sighed, and instead of answering the questions, she beckoned him with her tail. She padded into the nursery, and stepped back, allowing the tom to look at his mate. "Briarthorn, you're okay, right? Our kits! They're so beautiful and perfect!" Duskkit purred in delight, and turned towards the queen.

"What should we name them? I like the name Birchkit for the brown tabby tom," Briarthorn mewed, her eyes starting to droop now.

"That is a beautiful name, Briarthorn. What about this one? She looks just like me," Russetclaw purred in response, nudging the she-kit.

"Duskkit, would you like to name this one? Without you, I don't think I could've eaten the raspberry leaf," Briarthorn offered, her whiskers twitching with warmth. Duskkit gasped in surprise, before turning towards Russetclaw for permission. He purred in agreement, turning towards his mate. "She's a dark red tabby she-kit with white dapples here and there. She's a true beauty."

"How about Robinkit? She was born on the dawn of a beautiful greenleaf day," Duskkit purred. Russetclaw glanced at his kit, before nodding his approval. Briarthorn dipped her head, nuzzling each of her tiny kits.

"That's a perfect name. Birchkit and Robinkit, welcome to ThunderClan," Briarthorn mewed, curling her tail around her kits.

"Thank you, Duskkit, for keeping Briarthorn healthy during the kitting," Russetclaw mewed, dipping his head and leaving. Mistleberry was watching the mates with warm eyes, and she looked at Duskkit with happiness.

"You did well, Duskkit. You'd make an excellent apprentice, with your memory and patience," Mistleberry purred, touching her tail against Duskkit's pelt. Mistleberry left the nursery, her tail waving in happiness. Snowblossom nudged her kit towards her nest, where Featherkit and Lionkit had already returned to, tired.

"I couldn't be more proud of you, Duskkit. You'll be a perfect medicine cat," Snowblossom purred, covering her kit with licks.