Yay! Kitties! They're coming in this chapter. So yeah. Please please please review! Enjoy!
Chapter Sixteen
Ivypool examined Cinderheart. She didn't seem to have any cuts or visible injuries, so what could be wrong? The answer hit her like a large ShadowClan tom. The kits! Cinderheart seemed to notice everyone staring at her and straightened up a bit.
"I'm...fine...really!" she tried to sound convincing, but nobody looked fooled. Seedpaw let out a shrill wail.
"This is all because of me! If I hadn't been so stupid, she never would've had to rescue me!" then she paused, "What's wrong anyway?" she added the question like it was an afterthought, and Ivypool realized nobody else knew what was going on. She stepped forward.
"I'm no medicine cat, but I'm pretty sure her kits are coming. Now." Dovewing and Lionblaze gasped in unison.
"Now?" sputtered Lionblaze. When Ivypool nodded mutely, he leapt to his paws.
"I'll go fetch Jayfeather." He yowled, bounding up the rocks and out of the tunnels. Dovewing sighed.
"Typical tom, refuses to stay and help." She muttered. Foxleap looked offended.
"Hey, I'm still here." Ivypool tapped him with her tail.
"I think we're forgetting about the real issue." Foxleap's eyes widened as he remembered and he quickly turned back to Cinderheart.
"So what do I do?" he asked, looking lost.
"How am I supposed to know?" Seedpaw exclaimed. "This is all my fault." She muttered again. Cinderheart shook her head.
"It's not...your fault!" she told her between gasps. Ivypool glanced around.
"Since there are no places for her to lie down in here, I suggest we get her outside, as fast as we can." Dovewing nodded determinedly and helped Cinderheart to her feet. She tried to shake her off, but Ivypool was glad to see that her sister didn't move away. Cherrysky moved to help her. Foxleap padded nearby, unsure of what to do. Seedpaw trailed behind, looking miserable.
"We have to get her back to camp! Does anyone know where we are?" Seedpaw perked up, glad to be able to help.
"We're near Sky Oak!" Ivypool nodded.
"Okay, so we should head that way!" she pointed with her tail, and they started walking that way. Suddenly, Jayfeather burst out from a bush.
"Stop! He cried.
"What are you doing? You never move a queen once she's started giving birth!" They scuffled their paws in embarrassment.
"Sorry Jayfeather." Mewed Dovewing. "We thought we were doing the right thing. By the way, where's Lionblaze?" at the mention of his brother's name, Jayfeather huffed indignantly.
"He claimed he had to go talk to Bramblestar with Cloudtail, as if this isn't more important. That's just like him." Cherrysky perked up.
"Does that mean the other patrol is back?" she asked hopefully. Jayfeather nodded.
"They just got back to camp." Ivypool let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew. Now everyone's good." Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"Everyone except for Cinderheart whom I came to help." Ivypool gasped and licked her chest fur embarrassedly.
"Oh, right." Jayfeather shook his head and bent over Cinderheart. He placed a paw on her stomach.
"Guys," he mewed. Everyone looked up at him. "I'll need some wet moss and a branch." Cherrysky and Toadstep scampered off to get the materials he needed. Cinderheart let out a low moan. Dovewing pressed her muzzle into Cinderheart's side.
"You're doing great." She encouraged. Jayfeather swatted her away with his tail.
"Give me space." He hissed. Ivypool and Dovewing jumped back. He nosed her swollen flank.
"The first one's coming soon." Toadstep came back, dragging a heavy stick. Jayfeather pushed it towards Cinderheart.
"Here, bite this when the pain comes." Cinderheart bit down on the branch immediately. Cherrysky dropped a bundle of dripping moss beside her head.
"Drink that if you get thirsty." He commanded. Cinderheart's round belly clenched with a contraction. "The first one's coming." He announced. Dovewing held her breath, and Foxleap winced. Cinderheart bit deep into a stick, and a golden kit tumbled out. Cinderheart let out a sigh of relief.
"It's not over yet," Jayfeather warned as he licked the newborn kit. He pushed it over to Foxleap.
"Watch this one. If it stops breathing, let me know." Foxleap looked horrified at the prospect, but took the tiny kit. Cinderheart dropped the stick and shrieked in pain.
"Second one's coming." Jayfeather bent over Cinderheart and licked her flank. He nodded. A ripple passed through her swollen belly, and another golden kit was born. This one had spiky fur. Jayfeather placed his paws on her stomach and felt it.
"Alright." He mewed. "Two left I think." Cinderheart screeched again and bit down on the stick. He passed off the kit he was licking to Ivypool. Jayfeather crouched next to Cinderheart.
"Push!" he commanded. Cinderheart pushed as hard as she could, until a fluffy gray kit slid out. "Good job." Jayfeather told her as he passed the kit to Seedpaw.
"Thank goodness we have so many cats here." He muttered. A powerful ripple passed through her swollen stomach. Jayfeather stood by nervously. He'd never helped deliver such a large litter before. He snatched up the golden bundle and passed it to Dovewing. He breathed a sigh.
"I think we're done." He meowed. "Come on, let's go back to camp." He helped Cinderheart to her paws, but she crouched, hissing in pain. Jayfeather's sightless eyes stretched wide as he realized what was happening.
"Another kit!" he exclaimed. He pressed Cinderheart into a lying down position. "Mousebrain." He muttered to himself. Cinderheart gritted her teeth and braced herself. Jayfeather picked up the kit and licked it vigorously.
"Now," he mewed, "we can go back to camp."
"So you've found another entrance to the tunnels?" Bramblestar sounded surprised. Lionblaze nodded. "And what about the badgers? Did you beat them?" Lionblaze nodded again.
"They all ran off, but it might have been because of the storm." Cloudtail flicked his ear in agreement.
"Well, either way, they're gone. Berrynose and I got stuck in the set, luckily, the badgers were nowhere to be found." Cloudtail reported. Bramblestar stood.
"Have any of you seen Toadstep, Seedpaw, Dovewing, Ivypool, Cherrysky, Cinderheart and Jayfeather?" Lionblaze stood as well.
"Yes. I was just with them. Cinderheart started kitting, so I sent Jayfeather to help." Bramblestar's amber eyes widened in surprise.
"And you didn't stay to help?" he purred teasingly. Lionblaze shrugged. Bramblestar cocked his head as he heard footsteps approaching the camp.
"Well, we better go down and help now. You'll want to name your kits." Lionblaze bounded down from high ledge after Bramblestar. The patrol came into camp carrying the kits. Jayfeather led Cinderheart directly into the nursery. As soon as they were settled, Lionblaze hurried in. Cinderheart glanced up at him, looking exhausted.
"Hey," she mewed tiredly. "We've got five kits. Four she-cats and one tom." Wow. He thought five kits is a lot. Millie glanced over sympathetically.
"It'll be tough for you two. The most I've raised was three." Cinderheart nodded and yawned.
"Let's name these kits before I fall asleep." She purred and pointed at the larger golden she-cat with her tail.
"This one looks just like you." Cinderheart announced. How about... Leopardkit? Because she's golden like a leopard." Lionblaze shook his head.
"She doesn't have any spots. What about Goldenkit?" he suggested. Cinderheart purred.
"I like that. Thistlekit for the tom?" Cinderheart asked. Lionblaze nodded.
"Sounds good. What should we name the other three?" Cinderheart sighed.
"I feel like I'm dreaming. I never thought I'd have a mate, much less five healthy kits!" Lionblaze thought for a moment.
"Let's name the gray she-cat Dreamkit then. She looks like you." Cinderheart touched the she-cat lightly.
"Dreamkit, I like it. Would you mind if I named the other golden she-cat Honeykit? After my sister?" She meowed. Lionblaze nodded.
"Not at all. But only if you let me name the tortoiseshell Hollykit, after mine." Cinderheart licked the tortoiseshell.
"It's a deal." She purred.
Aw! Goldenkit, Thistlekit, Dreamkit, Honeykit and Hollykit! Please review!