cw: kit death

Willowpaw's whole body ached. She was practically dragging herself back to her nest, her limbs shaking. Lionclaw had worn her out with hunting and stalking practice today. He was relentless, but claimed it was all in the name of helping her improve.

She slipped past Brackenpaw to her nest in the back of the apprentice's den. It was coldest back there, but Brightpaw said that's where the new apprentices had to sleep and no one dared to disagree with her.

Just as she was curling into her nest and closing her eyes, a pained yowl rang throughout the camp. She and Brackenpaw both leapt to their paws. Willowpaw's heart began to pound. She knew that cry.

Pushing past him, she rushed out the den and towards the nursery. She nearly stumbled over Splashkit and Frogkit, who were leaving. Sorrelcloud was following them, nudging them along.

"What's happening?" Willowpaw asked, panicked.

"Leopardnose's kits are coming," Sorrelcloud replied, watching her kits scamper off to the elder's den. "Can you fetch Rockfur?"

"Yes!" Willowpaw said, dashing off. She hurried into the stone den and called out. "Rockfur?"

He responded with a muffled mew, walking over with a mouthful of leaves. He set them down to speak.

"Leopardnose is kitting?" he asked. Willowpaw nodded. Rockfur ducked back into his stores of herbs and quickly selected a few before gesturing for Willowpaw to follow him.

They rushed across camp and Willowpaw joined Rockfur in the nursery. Leopardnose was lying on her side with Sorrelcloud beside her. The two she-cats looked up when they entered.

"Hello Leopardnose," Rockfur said calmly. He pushed a bitter-smelling herb over to her. "This will help your muscles relax," he said. Nodding, she licked it up before hissing in pain.

Willowpaw watched with both disgust and fascination as Leopardnose's stomach rippled and she cried out. Rockfur rushed to her side and stroked his tail along her flank.

"You're doing great," he said calmly. "Just take deep breaths, and when your body wants to push, push."

"Okay," Leopardnose whimpered. Sorrelcloud took over gently stroking her side.

"Do you need anything?" Willowpaw asked. "Water? More herbs?"

"A thick stick could be useful," Rockfur said. Willowpaw nodded and dashed out of the nursery.

There was a fallen tree just outside of the camp, so Willowpaw slipped through the bramble tunnel and ran over to it. She broke off a branch and then broke off a smaller piece before racing back to Leopardnose.

Back in the nursery, Leopardnose was panting harder, digging her claws into her nest and shredding the moss. Willowpaw set the stick down beside Rockfur, who offered it to the spotted queen.

"Bite down if the pain is too intense," he instructed.

Leopardnose's nod was interrupted by another pained wail. Her body tensed and then a small kitten slipped out of her. Sorrelcloud leaned forward and began to roughly lick its wet fur the wrong way.

A second kit, this one spotted like its mother, entered the world. Sorrelcloud looked at Willowpaw before gesturing with her tail. Willowpaw sprang forward, licking the kit's wet fur. It tasted slightly salty and very gross, but she pushed through.

Watching from the corner of her eye, she saw the third kit, a small gray one, tumble into the nest. Sorrecloud moved to lick them and Rockfur nestled the first kit against Leopardnose's belly. Willowpaw continued licking her kitten, but it was growing stiller and stiller…

"Rockfur," she hissed softly, eyes widening in fear. The kit's breathing was becoming dangerously infrequent. The large gray tom gently nudged her aside and took over the licking, but the spotted kit fell still. An ache spread through Willowpaw's chest.

"I'm so sorry," Sorrelcloud whispered. Leopardnose was staring at her son with sadness in her eyes.

"It's alright," she finally murmured. "It happens."

"He walks with StarClan now," Rockfur said. Willowpaw bowed her head.

"What is his name?" Sorrelcloud asked.

"Flickerkit," Leopardnose decided after a moment. "For a life that flickered out too soon." Rockfur nodded.

"Would you like to bury him?"

"I shouldn't leave these two…" Leopardnose said softly, looking at the two kits suckling at her belly.

"I can bury him," Willowpaw offered suddenly. "If you want."

"Yes, thank you," Leopardnose said. "Somewhere peaceful."

Willowpaw picked up the small kitten and followed Sorrelcloud out of the nursery. Dawnstar was sitting outside, as well as a few other cats, including Firecloud. Sorrelcloud went to speak to them while Willowpaw went through the bramble tunnel again.

She carried Flickerkit to a small cluster of pine trees near the camp. Moss grew around the base and was slowly making its way up the trunks. She dug into the soft earth, which was cold and damp from the slush and snow. Once the hole was big enough, she placed his body inside and scraped the earth back over him.

"May you play peacefully amongst the stars," she told the grave. "And remember, you are so loved."

Then she padded back to camp.

Dawnstar and Sorrelcloud met her as she walked back into the camp. Willowpaw paused, looking up at them.

"Thank you for burying him," Dawnstar said. "We will have a proper ceremony tomorrow, when Leopardnose feels stronger."

"Is she okay?" Willowpaw asked worriedly. Sorrelcloud nodded.

"Yes, and Rockfur says the other two kits are healthy and strong. Would you like to see them?"

Willowpaw could practically see the sadness radiating off of the two she-cats. But they were trying to be strong, and if they could do it, so could she.

"Yes, I'd like that," she said.

Sorrelcloud led Willowpaw to the nursery again, where Leopardnose's two kits were still suckling eagerly. Leopardnose was watching them with love in her eyes.

"Hi," Willowpaw said awkwardly. "They're both beautiful."

"They are, aren't they?" Leopardnose whispered.

"Have you named them?" Willowpaw asked. Leopardnose nodded. She brushed her tail over the gray tomkit.

"This is Flintkit." Then she touched the reddish-brown tabby with her nose. "And this is Flashkit."

"Those are good names," Willowpaw purred. Leopardnose looked up at her.

"Will you sleep here tonight?" she asked shyly. Willowpaw dipped her head.

"I'd love to."

Hi! Here is the next chapter! Sorry for the long wait - I've been having some health issues and school has been keeping me busy too. I hope you liked this chapter, and thanks again to JustToTalk for the kit ideas! I'm sorry I killed Flickerkit. And to everyone who submitted a cat; I have them written down and I will introduce them as future kits or as cats from other Clans for Willowpaw to befriend at Gatherings. And a Gathering is coming up! Anyways, please leave a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter. And thanks for reading! I appreciate you all so much.

- Stormy