Vineleaf stood with Jayfeather in the nursery. Sunheart was kitting. Daisy was watching Leafwing's kit while Leafwing went to find a stick that Sunheart could bite down on. Leafwing's kit was a black she-kit with amber eyes named Darkkit. It was nearly sun-high and Sunheart had been kitting all morning. She was getting tired. Come on, little ones! Come out and give your tired mother a break, Vineleaf begged silently.
Sunheart let out a yowl just as Leafwing came in with a stick. "Here, Sunheart. Bite down on this when the pain comes."
"Thanks Leafwing," Sunheart meowed. She suddenly bit down on the stick tightly and it cracked between her teeth.
"The first kit's coming!" Jayfeather meowed. Vineleaf watched as a small bundle of fur slid out into the nest. Jayfeather picked it up and put it down in front of Vineleaf. Vineleaf already knew what to do before he said anything more. Vineleaf licked the kit until it took its first breath of air. Vineleaf smiled. It was a brown tom like his father. Vineleaf picked it up and placed it at his mother's belly.
"It's a tom," she purred.
Sunheart looked at her first kit for a moment before another shot of pain went though her. A second kit slid out and Jayfeather licked him roughly until he let out a mew. It was a flame-colored tom. Must get that from his great-grandfather Firestar, Vineleaf thought as Jayfeather placed him beside his brother.
"Now we must leave her to rest," Jayfeather meowed as he and Vineleaf padded out of the nursery. She'd visit Sunheart later to see how she was doing.
A little while later...
Vineleaf padded into the nursery to see Sunheart staring affectionately at her kits. "Hey. How are you you doing?" Vineleaf asked as she walked up and sat down beside her. Sunheart smiled.
"I'm fine, Vineleaf," Sunheart assured her. She still sounded tired but she seemed ok. Jayfeather said queens would be tired for awhile after kitting.
"Did you name them?" Vineleaf asked.
Sunheart nodded. "The brown one is Swiftkit and the other one is Firekit after his great-grandfather." Vineleaf smiled.
"They're great names," she meowed. "He would love them."
Sunheart smiled. "I hope so."
"You just rest now and I'll check on you later," Vineleaf ordered as she padded out of the nursery. She found Lionblaze and Cinderheart standing outside. "What are you two doing here?"
"We thought we'd come and see how Sunheart and the kits were doing," Cinderheart answered.
"Alright, but she needs to rest so make sure you don't stay too long," Vineleaf advised. Cinderheart nodded and headed into the nursery. Lionblaze stopped in the entrance and looked back at Vinelead.
"Has the father come to visit his kits yet?" Lionblaze asked.
Vineleaf shook her head. "No not yet," she answered.
Lionblaze nodded. "I'm proud of you, both of you," he meowed before he padded after Cinderheart. Vineleaf smiled and was about to head to the medicine den when she stopped and looked up at the sky. The stars were just starting to come out. Vineleaf let her gaze drift to the camp entrance. She dashed out and ran toward the WindClan border. When she reached the stream she turned and headed toward the lake. He's got to be down there. That's where Sunheart said she found him before.
Sure enough Hawkfur was sitting at the water's edge watching the sky as the first stars were coming out. "Hawkfur! There you are!" Hawkfur looked at her in surprise.
"Vineleaf? What are you doing here?" the WindClan warrior asked.
"I was looking for you," Vineleaf replied.
"Why? Is something wrong?" Hawkfur asked. Alarm then crossed his face. "Is Sunheart ok?"
"She's fine, just tired right now," Vineleaf assured him. "I came to tell you that she kitted today."
"She did? Are the kits healthy?" Hawkfur asked.
"They're fine. She had two toms. A brown one like you and an orange one," Vineleaf answered.
"That's great news! I bet they're as beautiful as Sunheart is," Hawkfur purred. He was so excited he didn't realize he had crossed the border. "Oh I can't wait to see Sunheart and the kits!"
"You probably won't see any of them till well after leaf-fall and you just crossed the border," Vineleaf meowed. Hawkfur realized she was right and padded back over the border.
"Sorry! Tell Sunheart I'm really happy for her and hope to see her and the kits soon," Hawkfur meowed with a smile. "Take care of her for me, Vineleaf."
"No problem at all Hawkfur," Vineleaf assured him before they both headed back to their camps.
