Chapter 7: The Circle of Life
The sun was just starting to set on the LakeClan camp, when an earsplitting screech could be heard from the nursery. PebbleNose bounded over, herbs ready in her mouth. This had been going on and off for weeks, and each time it had been false labour. CoalNose had passed away due to lung failure, even with his strong recovery, the tom was much too old to continue. MarbledStep and FoxPaw- now FoxStep, had separated ways, although she too, was pregnant with kits. She looked over to her sister SwanFlight, who was hissing in pain. FoxStep was a week behind SwanFlight, but soon she too would be experiencing this. SwanFlight only had her sister left of her kin. Although this new generation would save that. TroutLeap and SilverCloud ducked in, worried for their brothers' mate.
"Do you think it's time..?" SwanFlight panted heavily, condensation trapped under her layered coat. "It's difficult to say, but you definitely won't be alone." PebbleNose nodded certain. SiltPaw- Now SiltWhisker, padded in too, checking on FoxStep. They had both forgave each other, and he was willing to father MarbledSteps' kits. Another contraction caused SwanFlight to hiss, but she let PebbleNose feel along her belly. "They're closer to your abdomen than they were before, this might be the real thing." She mewed. "TroutLeap, go get some wet moss, for her to drink. SilverCloud grab a stick, not too long but not too thin." She barked. SiltWhiskered curled around FoxStep, watching SwanFlight anxiously. "A-And me?" SwanFlight panted. "Just keep breathing slowly, you're doing fine." PebbleNose purred, licking the future queens' head in comfort. "I wish.. -She paused to witness another contraction- I wish HeronSwoop were here..!" She mewed. "If only you knew.." PebbleNose looked at the starry figures of her kin standing around her, HeronSwoop bending down to nuzzle her head. TroutLeap and SilverCloud returned with what PebbleNose asked, and she gave the stick to SwanFlight who immediately started to bite. 'This is it..' SwanFlight thought in fear.
PebbleNose stared watching OwlWing, SwanFlights' mother, enter SwanFlights' mind. "SwanFlight, I wish so badly I could've been a lovely grandmother to your kits.. just keep in mind, love always wins.. I give you strength so you can mother your kits until the day they too experience what it's like to parent." She murmured softly, touching her nose onto her daughters' head. Next, CoalNose stepped up. "Let this give your kits the wisdom they need to think quickly in battle or tough situations." He too touched his nose to her head. HeronSwoop curled his ghostly figure around her. "I promised I'd never leave. I'm committing to that promise." He murmured. All the figures disappeared. SwanFlight felt the first kit coming. She hissed, clawing at the brim of her nest, and biting down hard on the stick. She pushed, and felt PebbleNose slowly dragging her paw against her belly. A small sac slithered out into the nest, PebbleNose nipped the sac, and handed the small writhing kit to SilverCloud. She instantly licked it the wrong way to warm it up. "It's a tom!" She purred. SwanFlight sighed in relief, but it was cut off by another contraction. It seemed to go on the whole night, but by the time all the kits had been delivered there were 4 kits at her belly. She felt a little tired, but it was worth it. Even though they were just born, she could distinctly memorize every marking on the pelt of the cat they resembled. She had given birth to two toms, and two she's. The eldest tom, named GooseKit, looked exactly like SwanFlight. The second-oldest; a she, had the markings of her father HeronSwoop. In honour of him, she named her first daughter HeronKit. Her second-youngest daughter who was the only kit who looked like MarbledStep, was named IvyKit. And lastly, her youngest son which looked like his grandparents- CoalNose and OwlWing-combined into one tiny kit, she decided to name all mewled happily at her belly.
SwanFlight refused to even let FoxStep look at them, let alone touch them. She hated that BeaverStar 'Saw through to what she had on the inside' and let her re-join the camp. She killed her mate! If it wasn't for her sister, HeronSwoop would be here to parent her slept soundly, her back turned to FoxStep. She was lucky she had a broad-fanned tail, that way she could hide them when they were suckling or sleeping if other cats were in the nursery. After a week passed, her kits' still couldn't open their eyes, but they recognized SwanFlight if the smelt her. She could already she her kits' personalities. GooseKit, was just like his name, loud and feisty when he wanted to be. HeronKit, was a little shy, but when she thought something deserved to be her way, she wasn't afraid to let the world know. IvyKit, was the boldest out of all 3, doing 'daring' stunts off the side of the nest, and careening into SwanFlight as a giant mattress. CometKit was the only quiet one, he was observant, and hardly ever mewled. All her kits were made up of all the cats she knew. And their chapter, was just beginning.
SwanFlight woke up to her caterwauling sister, her kits sleeping soundly in the curve of her belly. She glared over, noticing that she was having her kits. She gently nudged all her kits into the nest, off her her paws. She slipped out padding to PebbleNoses' den. She wasn't there. "Rats! She's at the MoonPool!" She hissed. She looked around, finding moss and a stick, remembering that from her own labour. She padded back, giving it to her sister. "Here." She practically dropped it in the nest, going over to her own nest and settling down. SwanFlight let out a sigh of annoyance. "Y-You're not going to help me?!" FoxStep spat. "Why should I? You have a mate." She mewed cooly. "Well then at least get him." She glared. SwanFlight groaned, getting up again, her kits fumbling softly at the rapid change of temperature. She prodded the tom in the warriors' den. "FoxStep needs you." She mewed. Both of them padded back, SiltWhiskers' strides were a lot quicker and shorter than SwanFlights'. He reached the entrance first slipping in. She huffed again, settling back down again. From across the nursery, she heard the rushed whispers of SiltWhisker and FoxStep. "I don't know what to do!" He protested quietly. "What?! She's not going to help me so improvise!" FoxStep hissed back at him. He sighed, awkwardly placing his paws on her flank. "They're almost here..." He mewed. "I think..." He added unsure. FoxStep hissed again in pain. "Look SwanFlight, I'm sorry about what I did to HeronSwoop, but come on! I need you!" For the first time in SwanFlights' life, she saw fear in her sisters' eyes. "I-I don't want them to die.." She choked, tears welling up. SwanFlight nodded softly, padding to her sisters' side. She bent down to nuzzle her sisters' head softly.
SwanFlight worked all night, trying to remember what PebbleNose had done to her, SiltWhisker kept her calm during the non-contraction half of it. While SwanFlight worked on getting the kits out. By dawn, FoxStep had 3 beautiful she-kits. Two resembled her, which she named LeafKit and MapleKit. The youngest, who resembled MarbledStep, was named HopeKit. SwanFlight smiled softly, padding back to her nest. All 4 of her two-moon old kits were bouncing around her shoulders, and purring happily. She rested her head on her paws, smiling happily as her kits played about, toppling over her. Occasionally if she heard a whimper, she'd dart her head back up but realizing the kit was fine she'd settle back down again. "Mom would've been happy.." FoxStep mewed softly breaking the silence. "Yeah.." SwanFlight crooned.
The End.
(If you guys want me to make a story based on their kits lives', let me know! :D)