Shadowflame:
The black she-cat padded alongside her sister and two toms, her brilliant green eyes shining. "Well?" she asked her sister. "What happened?"
"Same as you," Sunshade returned, her eyes gleaming as she spoke to Shadowflame, nodding to Cloudpatch. "I'm expecting Cloudpatch's kits!" she mewed, her ginger fur shining against the darkening sunset sky.
"Well, Poppyfoot said I'll give birth any day now," Shadowflame mewed, nudging Sunshade affectionately.
"What?" Ashfire snapped. "Then go to the nursery!"
Shadowflame rolled her eyes. "No, way! I'm not leaving this hunt if hedgehogs start flying!" she declared, with a glare at her mate, who sighed at her reluctance.
Padding over to the base of an oak, she dug a shallow hole and dropped the squirrel she was holding, before covering it up again. "He only worries for you," Sunshade murmured in Shadowflame's ear. I know, but I don't want to stop patrols! That would be mouse-brained!
"When are yours coming?" Cloudpatch asked, his eyes bright.
Sunshade shrugged. "Pretty soon. I'm worried, Cloudpatch. I don't know if I'll do it right." Shadowflame watched as Cloudpatch licked her sister's cheek and murmured something in her ear, to which she replied with a nod. Shadowflame sniffed the air. Mouse! She soon pinpointed the creature at the base of a birch, turned away from her. Thank StarClan we're downwind! She dropped into a crouch and stalked forward, her pawsteps light. No way in StarClan am I losing this catch.
Shadowflame let out a yowl of triumph as she pounced, which soon enough became a yowl of pain. Ashfire was instantly at her side. "What's wrong?"
Shadowflame gritted her teeth and moaned, as she felt pain shoot through her. "The kits are coming! Get Poppyfoot!" Out of the corner of her green eyes, she saw Sunshade turn and dash off, back to camp, to fetch the medicine cat. She gasped as her whole body convulsed in a spasm, and let out a cry of pain. Great StarClan help me!
Ashfire crouched beside her. "Shadowflame? Shadowflame! Don't leave me!"
Shadowflame was unable to reply. I will, don't worry. I won't join StarClan yet. Cloudpatch let out a yowl. "They're back!" Sure enough, Poppyfoot dropped the bundle of herbs in her jaws at her feet and knelt beside her. Shadowflame winced as she placed a paw on her belly. She groaned as she was wracked by another contraction.
Blackstream, help me! Shadowflame gasped in shock as her mother's scent wreathed around her.
Not much longer, daughter. You're doing well.
"Here comes the first one!" Poppyfoot mewed, her calmness sounding irritating to Shadowflame. "You'll do fine, Shadowflame." She turned to Ashfire. "When it comes, nip the kitting sac with your teeth. Sorry, Daisyfoot's collecting herbs, so she couldn't come."
"Is she okay?" Sunshade's anxious mew sounded in her ear.
"A tom!" Poppyfoot mewed, as Shadowflame's body convulsed in pain. She let out a shriek, and Ashfire cast her a worried look before doing as Poppyfoot had instructed him to do earlier.
"Is he okay?" Shadowflame grunted, trying to lift her head, which suddenly felt heavy.
"He's beautiful," Ashfire whispered.
"Lick his fur the wrong way!" Poppyfoot directed. She picked up the kit and placed him beside Shadowflame's belly. She placed her paw on her belly again. "I think there's just one more." Her voice was still calm, and Shadowflame closed her eyes as another wave of pain overtook her.
"It's a she-kit!" Ashfire mewed, nipping the kitting sac and licking the kit's fur.
Shadowflame breathed in the scent of her kits, feeling warmed to the heart as she sniffed her two kits. "Is that it?"
"I think so." Poppyfoot nodded as she spoke. "What are you going to name them?"
Shadowflame sat up with effort, and stared in wonder at the two small bodies beside her. "They're perfect," she whispered, casting her gaze over a ginger she-kit with amber eyes, and a white tom with green eyes. "I'd like to name the ginger one Flamekit."
"Then the white tom is Snowkit," Ashfire murmured.
Poppyfoot spoke. "Shadowflame, do you think you can make it back to camp on your own?"
Shadowflame rolled her eyes. "I'm not completely helpless, you know." She sighed, picking up Snowkit in her jaws. They're beautiful. When the others stared at her, she got to her paws. "Of course! I can!" Sunshade pressed against her to support her, and she didn't pull away as she saw Ashfire pick up Flamekit.
Poppyfoot purred. "You always were determined, Shadowflame."
I was? Shadowflame shrugged. "Is that a refusal? That you won't let me go back to camp on my own? Because if it is-"
Poppyfoot cut her off. "No, Shadowflame. I'm just telling you..."
"Be careful, Shadowflame," Ashfire murmured, his breath stirring her ear.
"Oh, I will." Shadowflame nodded to him. I'm not a kit! I can look after myself, you know!
Blackstream's whisper sounded next to her. Well done, Shadowflame. As soon as Shadowflame felt her breath and caught her scent, all traces of her vanished, and Shadowflame was left padding beside Sunshade, Cloudpatch, Ashfire, and Poppyfoot, with Snowkit in her jaws.
"Once we're back to camp," Ashfire was saying. "You need to rest, and-"
"There's no need to be overprotective," Shadowflame growled. "I'll be fine, you know."
Ashfire sighed. "I only want to help."
"Actually, Shadowflame, Ashfire's right," Poppyfoot mewed. "You need to go to the nursery and rest."
Shadowflame rolled her eyes. "All right."
"Why would you listen to her and not me?" Ashfire complained in mock anger.
Shadowflame shot him a smirk. "Because it's you."