Chapter Six
Birth
Medicine Cat's Den
Lightheart and Lightwing lay Blackstone in the empty nest and then leave the den as instructed. Tigerheart puts cobwebs on Blackstone's open wound to stop the bleeding and then gives him two poppy seeds for sleep.
Nursery
Nightstar is in the Nursery trying to sort things out. "Nightstar, my Kits are ready to become Apprentices. What's taking so long?" asked Sydvicious.
"I'm ready to fight anything!" chirped Jaykit.
"Me too!" said Lionkit.
"So am I!" added in Hollykit. The three Kits begin play fighting in front of Sydvicious' nest. Nightstar moves her forepaws out of danger.
"Sydvicious, why don't you give Pollen your nest?" Nightstar suggested.
"Sure. Here, Pollen, make yourself comfortable." Sydvicious stands up and gets out of the nest. Hollykit, Jaykit, and Lionkit leave the Nursery. Pollen licks her chest fur briskly.
"Thank you, Sydvicious," said the black and white she-cat as she looks at Nightstar. "Can you send Tigerheart to my nest my Kits are coming." Pollen lies in Sydvicious' old nest. Sydvicious runs to Tigerheart's den.
"Tigerheart! Pollen's Kits are coming and she needs your help!" Tigerheart, eyes wide, follows Sydvicious to the Nursery.
"Nightstar, Sydvicious, please wait outside." Nightstar and Sydvicious stand outside the den. "Crystalheart, Shorttail, and Lightningblaze, I need you to help me."
"What do you need us to do?" asked the bluish-white Queen.
"Crystalheart, you can gently lick Pollen to keep her calm." Crystalheart gently licks Pollen's left ear to keep her calm. "Lightningblaze and Shorttail, you will lick the Kits when they come out." Shorttail and Lightningblaze dip their heads in reply. Nightstar and Sydvicious are watching from the den entrance. "Now, Pollen, push!" Pollen pushes until there are three scraps of fur in the fold of her belly. Tigerheart, Shorttail, and Lightningblaze gently lick the mewling Kits until they stop squirming and settle into Pollen's belly to suckle. "Crystalheart, Shorttail, and Lightningblaze, you can go back to your nests now, and thank you for helping me." The three Queens return to their nests.
"Are my Kits healthy?" Pollen asked.
"Yes, you have two toms and a she-cat."
"I'm going to name them Sun, Bounce, and Milk."
"Just add "-Kit" to the end of their names and they will be great."
"So their names would be Sunkit, Bouncekit, and Milkkit then?"
"Yes."
"I love the sound of the names!" Nightstar pads into the den.
"Those are wonderful names. Do you want me to change your name to that of a Warrior?"
"Yes, please."
"Tomorrow morning I will hold the Ceremony." Tigerheart licks his chest fur.
"Nightstar, don't you have a few Ceremonies to hold?"
"That's right! I do!"
"Hold them tonight that way the new Warriors can sit Vigil and watch the Clan." Tigerheart leaves the den followed by Nightstar. Sydvicious makes her way to the Apprentices' den to get Stonepaw, Shiningpaw, and Sandpaw.