A massive, burning pain shot through Russetstripe's stomach as she curled over herself, several spasms running through her body. She moaned with pain, squeezing her eyes shut as she clenched her teeth shut. Another contraction cut through her body, making her tremble with agony. It hurts so much! She wanted to scream, but she was keenly aware that there were other cats in the nursery.

Starlingfern was sitting next to her, while her apprentice, Echopaw, dropped a stick next to Russetstripe's mouth. Echopaw's blue eyes were kind and soft as she nudged it closer to her. "Please, bite on this," she told her. "It'll help."

Russetstripe stared at Echopaw. She remembered so long ago, when Violetheart had ordered her to grab a stick for Spottedwing's kitting. How odd I remember that now. She nodded, her head burning as she grabbed the stick from Echopaw. She clenched down tight on it as another convulsion rippled through her body. When are they going to come?

Shellkit, Darkshadow and Rippleheart's son, was peering over his mother's body, gazing at Russetstripe. "Are they gonna come any time soon?" he complained.

Hazelkit glared at her brother, stomping on his tail with her paw. "Shush!" she growled. "Mom said to be quiet!"

"Yeah, that's surely something you're doing!" Shellkit retorted and leaped on Hazelkit as the two kits wrestled with each other. Their brother, Stormkit, stared at them with wide eyes until Darkshadow stepped between them.

"Enough, you three," she growled. "Go outside and ask Lightpaw and Dawnpaw to tell you about their training today. Or go see your father."

"Okay!" Shellkit hopped on his paws and exited the nursery, with his siblings following after him. Russetstripe gritted her teeth as Darkshadow walked over to her, sitting next to her. The dark gray she-cat ran her tail down her spine.

"It's going to be okay," Darkshadow said softly. "I know it hurts, but when you see your kits, you'll forget all about the pain. Trust me."

"Gah…" The moan of pain was the only thing Russetstripe could surmise. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a familiar ginger-and-white pelt pace back and forth. Starlingfern stepped in front of her.

"Look at me," Starlingfern ordered. "The first one is coming. Echopaw, be ready."

"Yes!" Echopaw nodded excitedly. Russetstripe let out a massive groan as she felt a small kit slip out of her and pop onto the moss beneath her. She wanted to turn her head, to look at it, but Starlingfern kept her propped upwards while Darkshadow grabbed the kit and licked it fiercely.

"Two more," Starlingfern urged the ginger she-cat. "Stay with me, Russetstripe."

"Okay." Russetstripe's breath was coming in heaves as she clenched her muscles, and she could feel another kit slide out from her. Echopaw nudged the kit towards her and began to clean it gently. Russetstripe shut her eyes, unsure if she could go on. The throbbing was so immense that her vision was starting to blacken, and she felt seconds away from passing out. A web of fire was searing through her skin, and she didn't think she could handle another second of it.

"Russetstripe." Starlingfern's voice was harsh. "There's one more. You can do this."

"Okay." Russetstripe's voice was a crack as she clenched her teeth, her muscles contracting as she gave one last final push, feeling another kit escape her body. Starlingfern's green eyes glittered with joy as she watched the final kit, and this time, the black-and-white medicine cat was the one to groom the kit.

"Congratulations, Russetstripe!" Starlingfern exclaimed. "Three healthy, beautiful kits. Two toms and one she-kit."

Darkshadow purred loudly, while Echopaw hopped up and down on her paws, excitement shining in her blue eyes. Russetstripe looked down at the three kits that were latched on her belly, and a wave of relief washed over her. The pain ebbed away in seconds, to be replaced by a warm, fierce love for the kits that suckled at her stomach. One of the tom-kits had solid ginger fur, the same shade as Russetstripe's. The other tomkit had light, pale ginger tabby fur, just like Russetstripe's mother, Sunleaf. The last kit, the she-kit, had a fluffy ginger-and-white tabby pelt, a replica of Runningflame.

"I'll let you name the kits," Starlingfern meowed. "Come, Echopaw. You too, Darkshadow." The black-and-white she-cat slipped out of the nursery, leaving Russetstripe alone. Not for long, though, because Runningflame replaced them seconds later. His broad ginger shoulders scraped the top of the brambles, and his green eyes sparkled with a world of joy as he stared down at the three kits.

"They're beautiful!" he exclaimed. "Great job, cara mia." He licked Russetstripe's head fiercely, a loud purr escaping his body, and then he laid down next to her, gazing at the kits. "What do you want to name them?"

"This one…" Russetstripe gazed at the pale ginger tom-kit. "He looks a lot like my mother, I think. How do you feel about Lionkit?"

"It's great," Runningflame purred. "Little Lionkit. I love it. This tom – the one that looks just like you, cara mia, kinda reminds me of your spirit. How about Tigerkit?"

Russetstripe weakly lifted her head to rest it against Runningflame's. "Yes. After all, you're the Tiger of RiverClan. He can be the next one."

"Maybe," Runningflame meowed, "but the spirit you carry, cara mia, is much more like a tiger than I ever will be." He gazed down at the she-kit. "Now, this little lass… I'll hurt any tom that tries to get near her."

"Hey," Russetstripe purred. "She doesn't even have a name yet. She looks just like you… and your father, too. Flamekit works for a she-cat, too, don't you think?"

Runningflame gasped. "Yeah. Yeah, it does." He touched Flamekit's head with his plumy ginger-and-white tail. "My little tesoro."

Russetstripe sighed. "It hurt so much," she whispered. "But Darkshadow was right. It's completely worth it." She gazed lovingly at her three kits. Tigerkit, Lionkit, and Flamekit. I'll keep you safe for your entire life, my kits. Just like your father will. She looked up at Runningflame. "You'll be a great father."

"Ah, cara mia, you'll raise them to be safe," Runningflame chuckled. "I can't wait to take them out for the first time!" He studied them carefully. "They're so small. I don't want to break them."

"You won't." Russetstripe let out a purr. Runningflame's tail swished back and forth in visible joy, and he got up, walking over to her and digging his head into her chest. The warmth from the ginger-and-white tom wrapped Russetstripe in a shell of safety, and she let out a content sigh, studying her kits intently. So, this is what it's like.

"Russetstripe? Runningflame?" Russetstripe recognized Shimmerstar's voice. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," Runningflame meowed. Russetstripe nodded in agreement, and Shimmerstar squeezed her way into the nursery. Her eyes softened instantly as she gazed down at the kits.

"They're gorgeous," she purred, smiling at Russetstripe with gentleness glowing in her blue eyes. Russetstripe gazed at Shimmerstar, thankful for how kind the RiverClan leader had been to her in the last two moons. She had been accepting of her the moment she had joined the Clan and had defended her against unjust accusations from her other Clanmates. She had visited her often, and Russetstripe had come to consider a friend. "What did you name them?"

Russetstripe licked the first kit, the pale ginger tom. "This is Lionkit," she meowed. She nodded to the ginger tomkit, the same exact shade of Russetstripe's pelt. "Tigerkit." She pointed with her tail to the ginger-and-white tabby she-kit. "Flamekit."

"Flamekit," Shimmerstar echoed. "Like Runningflame. And Flamestripe."

Russetstripe nodded. Runningflame grinned. "I'm sure he's rolling over in his grave right now."

"No, he'd be proud of you," Shimmerstar said. "And so would Amberstep." She sat down and studied the kits. "They're beautiful, Russetstripe. I promise, when they're apprentices, I'll give them the best mentors they can get."

"Thanks, Shimmerstar," Russetstripe meowed. She had to admit – she had thought completely wrong of Shimmerstar. She had seen her as a brutal cat, loyal to only Dapplestar's rule, but her time in RiverClan had taught her otherwise. Shimmerstar was a strong, kind cat, who was loyal to her Clan, but also to justice, nobility, and honor. Russetstripe didn't know any other cat like her, and there were whispers in the Clan saying that Shimmerstar was the cat who would put an end to the wars and unify the Clans.

"You should give one of them to me," Runningflame remarked.

"Maybe." Shimmerstar's blue eyes twinkled. "If you really want one. Or I could give one of them to Rippleheart."

Runningflame groaned. "What, so he can teach them to be safe?"

"Runningflame!" Russetstripe meowed sharply. Runningflame grinned.

"All right, all right." Runningflame chuckled.

Shimmerstar blinked. "I have to go to the island to meet with the other Clan leaders," she meowed. "Do you want me to tell Scorchstar, Russetstripe?"

"Sure," Russetstripe meowed. "Tell me if he flips out."

"I don't think he will," Shimmerstar purred.

"What do you plan to do on the island?" Runningflame asked.

"Unite the Clans." Shimmerstar's blue eyes were blazing with determination. "I will ask each of the Clan leaders to ally with me – and each other. The land will not need to be united by military might, but by peace and friendship. That is what I want. I want a peaceful realm, one where we can see the diamond dove."

"Oh, I remember you talking about that," Runningflame said.

"What's a diamond dove?" Russetstripe asked.

"It's a majestic creature that only comes to peaceful lands," Shimmerstar explained. "No cat has seen it, but I want to be the cat who brings it. If our land is peaceful, it'll come. That means I have to succeed with these negotiations. If we're allies, that means the wars will stop, and we can be united."

"If there's any cat that can unite the Clans, Shimmerstar, it's you," Russetstripe said.

Shimmerstar smiled, although there were hints of sorrow behind it. "Thank you, Russetstripe." She shook out her thick tawny fur. "I should be back by morning. Bye, both of you." She dipped her head and turned on her heel, walking away from the nursery and disappearing into the island. Runningflame watched her go.

"If this works, cara mia, you may be able to see your brother again," Runningflame said.

Russetstripe gazed at her kits, wondering if any of them would have her brother's amber eyes. "I hope so," she meowed, resting her head in the crook of Runningflame's chest. She pricked her ears when she heard rough pawsteps entering the nursery, and she recognized Rippleheart's round tabby face poking his head into the bramble bush.

"Oh!" Rippleheart exclaimed. "They're so cute!" He bounded over to them, gazing at Flamekit. "That one looks just like you, Runningflame!"

"She's Flamekit," Runningflame meowed. "That little lad is Tigerkit, and the strapping handsome one there is Lionkit. Aren't they cute?"

"They are!" Rippleheart agreed. "I just hate that they'll take after you. I can't take three more headaches after the ones you give me. Hopefully one of them will take after Russetstripe."

Russetstripe watched as Runningflame rolled his eyes. She was glad to see the two toms squabbling as they always did – she hadn't wanted Runningflame to lose his closest friend, after they had been forced to fight each other in the final battle. But over time, they had forgiven each other, and had fallen back into a mutual trust with one another. I'm so happy for him.

"No, but I really am happy for you." Rippleheart butted Runningflame affectionately. "I'll tell my kits to look after yours."

"Oh yeah, like they need Shellkit's supervision." Runningflame snorted. "I caught him putting burrs in your nest."

"What?!" Rippleheart lunged out of the nursery and raced into the warriors den. Russetstripe glanced over at Runningflame.

"Did he really?" she asked.

"Nope." Runningflame grinned mischievously. "But see how easy it is to trick him?"

"Geez." Russetstripe laughed. "It's always been like that, hasn't it?"

"Since we were kits," Runningflame meowed. "He's my best friend. Always has been, always will be. And I guess he'll be Uncle Rippleheart."

"Sure," Russetstripe meowed. "I'm fine with that." She was fine with anything, now. She had her kits, and she was with Runningflame.

For the first time, she was truly happy.