The fragrant scent of herbs tickled Birdpaw's nostrils as she picked a patch of coltsfoot, tugging the stems in her claws as she released it from its bush. She knew she would have to nip off as many stems as she could—it was leaf-fall, and she and Stormbrook would have to stock up on as many herbs as they could before leaf-bare hit. Coltsfoot is good for coughs, she reminded herself. It also doesn't dry out as quickly as catmint does. Hopefully, we have enough to last us for leaf-bare. Stormbrook said he'd collect that, but maybe I better keep an eye out for it.
Once she had plenty of coltsfoot while not retaining any damage to the growth from the plant, she picked up the bundle in her jaws. The scent of coltsfoot blocked her nose from being able to scent any other herb. She would just have to rely on her eyes, then. As she searched the undergrowth in the pine forest for any sign of useful herbs that would do well to have in the store during leaf-bare, she felt a hard body collide in her haunch and sent her flying, her herbs falling out of her mouth. She landed with a hard thud on the forest floor. Fur bristling with anger, she scrambled to her paws and stared at the cat who had attacked her. Her fury died down when she recognized Leafpaw, who gazed at her in horror.
"I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, racing over to pick up the herbs that had fallen out of Birdpaw's mouth. "I thought you were a ThunderClan warrior!"
Birdpaw picked out the pine needles that had stuck to her long gray-and-white fur. "That'd certainly be one way to stun a ThunderClan cat," she commented dryly. But when she realized just how crestfallen Leafpaw looked, she brushed her tail across his spine. "Don't worry about it. Neither of us got hurt, so no harm done."
"But your herbs…" Leafpaw stared at the fallen coltsfoot leaves, scattered all across the forest floor. "Are they any use?"
The ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice sighed as she realized how crushed they were. "I'm better off just collecting more," she said, resigned.
"Let me help you," Leafpaw offered.
Birdpaw glanced at the dark ginger-and-brown tom. She gave him a nod, knowing that he wouldn't shut up if Birdpaw didn't take him up on his offer. The two cats fell into step together, their pelts brushing side-by-side as Birdpaw took the path through the pine forest towards the coltsfoot bush where she had been picking the leaves before. Much to her relief, there were still plenty of flowers to be picked. Although it pricked her heart bitterly that she had lost such a good clump, it was impossible to be mad at Leafpaw forever.
"Coltsfoot?" Leafpaw asked.
Birdpaw nodded. "An entire bush of it, just waiting for us to pick it," she joked.
Leafpaw flicked his tail, excitement blazing in his green eyes. For picking leaves. How interesting. He bounded over to the bush, and Birdpaw was on his heels. There was silence between the two cats as they pulled flowers from their stems. Birdpaw lifted her head and met Leafpaw's gaze.
"How do you feel about Shrewfur becoming a warrior?" Birdpaw asked carefully.
Leafpaw shrugged. "I'm proud of him," he meowed. "He took a huge risk when he took on those dogs. He could've run and gotten for help, but he chose to face them with Talonclaw. If any cat deserves to be made a warrior, it's my brother."
"Are you upset that you weren't made one?" Birdpaw inquired.
"A little bit," the ShadowClan apprentice replied, fixing his attention on trimming the flowers from the plant with neat swipes from his trained, strong paw. "But I'll be a warrior soon, I'm sure." He looked up and gazed at Birdpaw. "You'll still be doing your training for quite some time, won't you?"
Birdpaw dipped her head to confirm Leafpaw's suspicions. "Until Stormbrook is dead," she replied, feeling a twinge of pain in her heart. She didn't want Stormbrook to die, but she also didn't want to train forever. She had been training as long as Talonclaw had, and he had his warrior name. How long would it be until Birdpaw got her full medicine cat name?
"But you'll get your name before that, won't you?" Leafpaw asked.
"Hopefully," Birdpaw replied, swishing her tail on the ground as she gazed into Leafpaw's deep green eyes, the color of pine trees themselves. If I wasn't a medicine cat, then… She felt her heart race in her chest, pounding louder with every beat as she took in Leafpaw's stout face and broad muzzle. When I become a full medicine cat, will I forget you? I don't want to forget you.
Her friend let out a slow nod. "A shame," he meowed quietly, gazing at the coltsfoot heh had gathered where they laid in a pile beneath his paws.
Birdpaw narrowed her eyes in confusion. Leafpaw's demeanor had changed so suddenly. "What do you mean, a shame?" she asked. "Are you not happy for me?"
"Oh, I am," Leafpaw meowed, looking up to meet Birdpaw's gaze, "if that's what you truly want to do. But if you weren't a medicine cat apprentice, things would be a lot easier for us." He sighed as the words jabbed in Birdpaw's heart—an exact reflection of what she was thinking, except that Leafpaw was brave enough to say it aloud. "But I would never want you to be something you're not."
The wind billowed against Birdpaw's silky gray-and-white fur as she studied the tom in front of her. Sparks kindled inside of her belly and burst through her body while her heart beat a song deep in her chest. A flame burned deep inside of her as she absorbed the words of her friend. She swallowed the lump that had developed in her throat, unsure of what to say.
Leafpaw tilted his head. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I should've kept it to myself."
"No…" Birdpaw trailed off. "No, you shouldn't have." She lifted her chin, hoping Leafpaw could see the sincerity that smoldered in her gaze. "Because…" The medicine cat apprentice's voice trembled as the next few words came out of her. I'm sorry, Stormbrook. I know you warned me against this, but I can't help it. Please, forgive me. "I feel the same way, too."
Leafpaw's eyes shot up. "You do?" he asked, his eyes glittering. "Oh, thank StarClan. Ever since you saved me in the battle against ThunderClan, and we spent so much time in the medicine den tomorrow… I saw how hard you worked, even though being a medicine cat wasn't on your list of priorities. Still you persevered and treated your Clanmates with kindness and gentleness. You're strong, and I admire that about you. And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you."
Birdpaw shut her eyes, thinking back to the first time she had found out about Ashenhawk's and Stormbrook's ill-fated, star-crossed relationship. The pain and anguish that swam from the both of them whenever they saw each other, the respect Stormbrook had lost in his Clan when they find out, the previous Clan leader's death being because of their forbidden relationship… Memories from the day she saw Raggedstar at her first Moonpool meeting flashed through her mind.
"Raggedstar, does Stormbrook have some sort of… connection with ThunderClan?"
"He has learned his lesson. There will no longer be any soft-hearted connections with ThunderClan! Stormbrook cannot be trusted with news from ThunderClan."
"Is it Ashenhawk? Did he fall in love with her?"
"He did, yes. We allowed him to remain as a medicine cat in ShadowClan because of his skills, but he allowed love to blind him and accidentally destroyed ShadowClan by appeasing to ThunderClan's moves, just to make Ashenhawk happy. That was why he was so firm with you the other day. He doesn't want you making the mistake that he did. His mistake nearly resulted in the downfall of his Clan, and he still lives with that every day."
But Ashenhawk was a medicine cat from another Clan, Birdpaw thought, although she knew how foolish that argument was. Medicine cats weren't supposed to fall in love. That was the medicine cat rule. Stormbrook had made her well aware of that.
"No, Birdpaw. This is the part you must understand. You cannot allow yourself to fall in love. As a medicine cat, love is your worst enemy. It clouds you of your focus, robs you of your thoughts. You cannot treat your Clanmates if you are focusing on a single cat. Lives may be lost."
I'll keep to my duties, Birdpaw thought. I won't let Stormbrook know, and I won't let this blind me from my duties as ShadowClan's medicine cat. I can't deny what feels so right. Breathing in the scent of Leafpaw, all ShadowClan with traces of pines and ferns, alongside the overarching scent of coltsfoot, Birdpaw shut her eyes and made the decision that she was sure StarClan—and Stormbrook—would curse her for.
"I love you, Leafpaw," Birdpaw whispered to the brown-and-golden tom. She knew just how wrong this was, and yet she didn't think she could stop herself from confessing what she really felt. If she hid it inside of her, it would eat her alive. "I have always loved you." I can't let him go, even if I wanted to. A loud purr rumbled from her body as Leafpaw wreathed his pelt around hers.
"This can be our little secret," Leafpaw murmured. "No one has to find out. It can be just us." His green eyes glimmered with excitement as he gazed steadily at Birdpaw.
Birdpaw nodded in agreement. I can love you, and I can still be a good medicine cat to ShadowClan. I just have to learn from Stormbrook's mistakes, that's all. "I can keep a secret."
A little later, when the sun started to set in the sky, Birdpaw was back in camp with Stormbrook at her side. She was bouncing up and down on her paws, unable to push her confession to Leafpaw out of her mind. Stormbrook arched an eye whisker, staring at her curiously as they made their trek outside the camp towards the Moonpool for the half-moon meeting. I don't want to go to the Moonpool, Birdpaw thought miserably. What if I see Raggedstar? He'll just yell at me! And Littlecloud will be so disappointed in me! StarClan, please let the world cave in on me!
"Something wrong, Birdpaw?" Stormbrook asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
"No." Birdpaw shook her head and tried to steady her shaking. Determined not to let Stormbrook see that anything had changed with her, she charged in front of him. Stormbrook's amber eyes narrowed into slits and he kept up the pace with her.
"Really? Because you're as jumpy as a fox in a fit." Stormbrook didn't look convinced at Birdpaw's reply. "Ever since you came back with more coltsfoot than I could carry myself, you've been unable to stay still."
Birdpaw flattened her ears. "But I've been doing my duties, haven't I? I organized the entire herb store, brought poultices for Shiningheart's aching joints, and went to check on Redfeather after he ate that sickly old frog!"
"I'm not denying that, but—" Stormbrook's reply was cut shortly off by a panicked yowl, and the two medicine cats turned around to see Snakenose racing towards them. His amber eyes were wide as two full moons when he a skidded to a halt in front of the medicine cats, on their way to the Moonpool.
"Snakenose!" Birdpaw gasped. "What's wrong?"
"Bluefeather is giving birth!" Snakenose exclaimed, barely catching his breath as his shoulders rose up and down with the strength of his staggering.
Stormbrook's jaw dropped. "Right now? She's not due for a few more days!"
"I'll help!" Birdpaw yelped, for two reasons—one, it would get her out of having to meet with StarClan tonight, and two, she had delivered kits with Stormbrook when Blossomflower had been giving birth, and she wanted to do it again.
"Maybe I should come, too," Stormbrook meowed, his amber eyes shadowed.
Birdpaw shook her head. "One of us has to meet with StarClan tonight, and to show our fellow medicine cats that everything is all right. StarClan won't miss me as much as they'll miss you, Stormbrook. I can take care of this." Her voice was smooth and steady, wavering with confidence as she straightened her shoulders and stared her mentor straight in the eye. "I can do this."
Stormbrook looked at Snakenose, as if asking him if he was all right with Birdpaw taking his place. Snakenose lashed his tail. "I don't care if you have a medicine cat apprentice or a queen from RiverClan," he growled. "I just want someone who's done it before, to keep Bluefeather safe."
"Very well." Stormbrook nodded. "Do you remembers the herbs, Birdpaw?"
"Raspberry leaf for the pain, sorrel if she has any pain in her joints, a stick to bite on when the kits come, borage to make her milk come…" Birdpaw listed all the remedies, counting them on her paws, and Stormbrook dipped his head in approval.
"Go," Stormbrook ordered. "I'll let you know if StarClan tells me anything of importance." Although his amber eyes were shadowed with worry, Birdpaw touched her nose to his shoulder before turning on her heel and following Snakenose through the forest. Snakenose was running faster than a WindClan cat, and Birdpaw found it hard to keep up with the well-muscled, trained, soon-to-be father.
The brown tabby tom plunged into the ShadowClan camp with ease while Birdpaw scrambled down the walls, slightly envious that the bigger cats were able to make the jump so easier while smaller cats like her had to pick their way down. Birdpaw headed towards the medicine den, while Snakenose skidded to a halt and stared at her with his yellow eyes wide and the whiskers on his white muzzle twitching in irritation.
"What are you doing?" Snakenose demanded.
"Getting the herbs I need!" Birdpaw exclaimed.
"I'll get them!" Snakenose lunged into the medicine den before skidding to a halt. "…What am I getting?"
"Do you know what raspberry leaves look like?" Birdpaw asked.
There was a grunt, which Birdpaw could only take as a 'yes.' "Okay, then get me some of those. And a stick if you would, please. I'll be in the medicine den with Bluefeather." She turned on her heel and bounded towards the bramble thicket that made the nursery. It seemed like so long ago that she was in this den, scuffling with her brother as their mother watched with loving eyes. But things are different now, she thought wryly, feeling an ache at her heart as she realized that she had broken the medicine cat code this morning. Enough! I've got to help Bluefeather.
Birdpaw slipped into the nursery where she saw the blue gray she-cat in her nest, breathing heavily, contractions wracking her body as her blue eyes widened in shock. Blossomflower watched her, her green gaze shadowed with fear, while Tigerkit and Lizardkit whimpered as they witnessed Bluefeather's suffering.
"Take them out to play," Birdpaw ordered Blossomflower. "They don't need to see this, and I need space to work."
Blossomflower nodded and picked Lizardkit up by the scruff, the brown tabby she-kit wriggling in her mother's grip. Tigerkit followed his mother, casting a worried glance at Bluefeather as the three cats disappeared outside of camp. Birdpaw tilted her ears, hearing worried mews outside of the nursery. She cleared the noisiness from camp and focused on complete silence. StarClan, help me. When she had prayed and her mind was clear, she padded over to Bluefeather.
"You're going to be all right," she soothed the pale queen. "Snakenose is going to be here with my herbs any second. For now, let's just feel how many kits are coming." Stormbrook taught her how to do this when Blossomflower's kits had come. Birdpaw ran her paw down Bluefeather's stomach, and she flinched in surprise. She could feel four squirming bodies as ripples of pain passed through her stomach. So many! she thought. I hope I can do this…
Her doubts were solidified further when she heard a hiss of disapproval outside the nursery. "Birdpaw is there helping Bluefeather give birth? We need Stormbrook, not some half-trained medicine cat apprentice!"
Oh, look, it's Featherheart, Birdpaw thought, lashing her tail. I think his favorite term is '-half-trained medicine cat.'
"Leave her alone!" It was Talonclaw's deep voice that reverberated through the camp. "My sister is a great medicine cat! And one of them had to go to the Moonpool. It was brave for Birdpaw to come back here on her own and deliver the kits!"
"Plus, Birdpaw has also helped deliver Blossomflower's kits," added another cat, who Birdpaw recognized as Shrewfur. Birdpaw thanked them silently for their defense and turned to Bluefeather. She couldn't do anything until Snakenose came back with the stick and the raspberry leaves, so she stroked her paw down Bluefeather's stomach to calm the queen down.
"Queens have been kitting since the dawn of the Clans," Birdpaw told Bluefeather. "It's the most natural thing in the world."
"If it is, why does it hurt so much?" Bluefeather hissed through gritted teeth, her claws tearing through her mossy nest. Birdpaw sighed in relief as Snakenose entered the den, holding a massive stick in his jaws and raspberry leaves on his back. He dropped the stick at Bluefeather's mouth and bounded over to Birdpaw, allowing the medicine cat apprentice to peel the leaves off his back.
Snakenose raced over to Bluefeather and brushed his muzzle against hers. "Are you all right?" he asked her.
"Do I look all right?" Bluefeather's voice was tinged with pain.
"She needs water," Birdpaw told Snakenose. "Can you go get her some?" Something told her it was best to keep the big tabby tom away from the nursery. Snakenose nodded, casting a worried glance at his mate. He rasped her tongue over her head before disappearing. Birdpaw pushed the raspberry leaves towards Bluefeather, beckoning to them with her paw. Bluefeather shot the medicine cat apprentice a confused gaze but shrugged.
"I'll do anything to take away the pain," Bluefeather murmured, bending down and licking up the leaves. Her face contorted in disgust as she chewed the herbs, and she was eventually able to down them. Birdpaw nodded in approval.
"Now lie back down, and when I say so, push like all of the gods!" Birdpaw told her. Another powerful ripple passed through Bluefeather's stomach, and when Birdpaw placed her paw on her belly, she realized that the next contraction would be it. Just as another ripple stormed through the queen, Birdpaw meowed, "Push!"
Bluefeather grabbed the stick with her jaws, biting down so tightly that the bark splintered in her grip as she pushed, straining and heaving. Birdpaw watched as her belly convulsed and a small kit slipped out of her, onto the torn moss.
"Great job!" Birdpaw exclaimed, racing over to the kit to start licking its fur. She realized that she would need more cats to help her warm up the kits—she couldn't do this on her own. Remembering how Talonclaw and Shrewfur spoke up for her, she popped her head out of the nursery. "Talonclaw? Shrewfur?"
Talonclaw and Shrewfur were right outside the nursery, racing as she called their names. Birdpaw didn't have much time to order them around—Bluefeather was still kitting. The rest of the camp focused their eyes on her, and Birdpaw almost shrank in her pelt as she stared at the two warriors.
"Bluefeather is having her kits, but there are going to be more of them, and I'm just one cat," Birdpaw told them. "I think there will be four, and only one is born. I'm going to need you two to lick the kits when they come, to warm them up and get them moving. Can you do that for me?"
The two cats nodded firmly. Birdpaw led the way back into the nursery where Shrewfur bounded over to the born kit and fiercely licked it the other way to keep its fur warm. Birdpaw watched him in approval while Talonclaw sat next to the mossy nest, piercing his gaze on the kit. As Bluefeather let out another moan, her sides heaved and convulsed, and another kit slipped out of her and landed on the moss.
"Talonclaw!" Birdpaw called out, but Talonclaw didn't seem to need it. He walked over to the kit and started to lick it just as roughly as Shrewfur was. Birdpaw raced over to the kit and her heart stopped beating. Why isn't it breathing?
"It's not breathing," Shrewfur whispered.
Talonclaw continued to lick the small kit fiercely until it started to move in protest. "It is now," the dark tabby growled.
Birdpaw let out a sigh of approval. "Good job," she told her brother before turning to assess Bluefeather again. With another groan, she pushed, and the third kit arrived. Since Talonclaw and Shrewfur were busy with their own respective kits, Birdpaw took the kit in her paws and licked its fur the wrong way to get the blood going and to warm its body. She looked up to see that even though Bluefeather was still in obvious pain, no more kits were being born. What? I know she's having four. Birdpaw nudged the kit she was licking to Talonclaw, and her brother took over for her.
Bluefeather looked at Birdpaw with her blue eyes wide. "Why isn't it coming?" she whispered. Birdpaw placed her paw on Bluefeather's belly. There was definitely a kit left, but it wasn't coming out. There was only one way this could be possible.
"It must be stuck," Birdpaw said.
"You can help it though, can't you?" Shrewfur asked, his amber eyes round.
Birdpaw gazed steadily at Bluefeather, who was asking the same question with her eyes. "I will not let your kit die." She had an idea—but she wasn't sure Bluefeather would take to it very well. "Listen, Bluefeather, I think I know how to get the kit out, but it's going to hurt. Do you trust me?"
Bluefeather was silent for a few moments. But when she spoke, despite her trembling voice, her words were true. "I do."
"Thank you." Birdpaw looked down to see if she could spot the kit. There! The kit's tail was visible, and Birdpaw realized the kit was being born the wrong way. She wondered if Bluefeather would be able to give birth anyway, but Bluefeather's incessant pushing did nothing to sway the small kit, who was stubbornly staying where it was. Birdpaw sighed. Sorry, Bluefeather, but if you and I want this kit born, I really don't have another choice.
With all her strength, Birdpaw pressed down on the top of Bluefeather's underbelly, as if she were an enemy warrior trying to knock her unconscious. Bluefeather let out a furious hiss and a pained howl. Talonclaw and Shrewfur watched with horrified amber eyes. Birdpaw pressed again, earning her another snarl from Bluefeather. She knew that if Bluefeather had the strength necessary, she would've shredded her to pieces. Here's hoping it worked. Birdpaw looked down over to where she had originally seen the kit, and to her joy much more of the body was visible. The only thing she couldn't see was its head.
"I'm so sorry, Bluefeather," Birdpaw murmured, "but I'm going to have to do it one more time. I see most of your kit, but not the head. This is the only way that will get him out. Please, forgive me."
Bluefeather's eyes were swollen with tears. "If you must kill me to save my kit, so be it."
I'm not going to kill you! Birdpaw clenched her teeth as she pushed down on Bluefeather's belly again. There was a howl—but it wasn't from Bluefeather. No… it was from Talonclaw! And it was a triumphant howl, not anything indicating he was in pain. Birdpaw turned around to see the kit that had been so stubbornly stuck in Bluefeather was now in the nest, being licked furiously by Talonclaw to rise the kit and get it breathing.
Birdpaw raced over to the kit, looking it over to make sure it was all right. Surely it was a strong kit if it managed to get out after being stuck! The kit was breathing, and its silver fur was damp and sticking out thanks to Talonclaw's rough licking. Thank you, StarClan, Birdpaw whispered.
She glanced over at Bluefeather. "You and Snakenose have four healthy kits," she said. Shrewfur picked up one of the kits he had been licking and rested it next to Bluefeather's belly. Talonclaw did the same with the kit that had been stuck. Birdpaw picked up the third kit in her jaws and encouraged the last kit to stumble towards Bluefeather. Birdpaw rested the kit that dangled from her on Bluefeather's stomach, and all four kits started to suckle from their mother.
"Thank you, Talonclaw and Shrewfur," Bluefeather whispered to the big toms. They both nodded and glanced questioningly at Birdpaw. Birdpaw dipped her head, dismissing them, and the two brown toms slipped out of the nursery. When they were gone, Bluefeather lifted her head to gaze at Birdpaw. "But it is you who I owe my thanks to, Birdpaw. You saved my kit."
Birdpaw shifted her paws self-consciously. "Stormbrook could've done it too," she meowed.
"But you did." Bluefeather's blue eyes wavered with gratitude, and then they drifted towards her kits, suckling at her belly. Birdpaw now had a good time to look at them. There was four of them, and now that their coats were drying out, she was able to distinguish what color they were. The first kit that was born, the biggest of them, was a silver tabby. His brother was a dark brown tabby, the splitting image of his father, Snakenose. The other two kits were she-kits. One of them was pure white with orange speckles, and the last kit, the one that had been stuck, was a beautiful silver she-kit. Birdpaw felt her heart soften as she gazed at the kits.
They're beautiful, she thought to herself. I may never approve of taking live but giving life… that's something I will always enjoy. And maybe it's what makes being a medicine cat worth it. She tilted her head, deep in thought. Is this something I could abandon Leafpaw for? The joy I get? Or could I give this up to be with him? The thought was soul-crushing to her as it hung over her. She tried to shake it away, but between the silence in the den and the kits that she was staring at, it was hard to forget about it entirely.
The entrance to the bramble thicket rustled, and Birdpaw could make out Snakenose's stout outline. His shoulders blocked the moonlight's rays from spilling in the den, and when his eyes focused on the four kits nestled near their mother's body, his yellow eyes lit up in wonder and joy and he dropped the soaked moss, heading towards his kits. Birdpaw picked up the dropped moss and placed it next to Bluefeather.
"They're beautiful!" Snakenose purred, a sound foreign to the usually fierce warrior. He pressed his nose against Bluefeather's cheeks, his yellow eyes full of love. "You did a great job, Bluefeather."
"What should we name them?" Bluefeather asked. She pointed her tail towards the silver she-kit. "I was thinking for her, she could be Lilykit."
"We can name her whatever you want," Snakenose breathed. "For the tabby kit, how about Eveningkit?"
Bluefeather nodded. "It's a beautiful name. What do you think for the white she-kit?"
Snakenose studied the white she-kit intently, his chest puffed out. "She's got orange mottles. How about Mottlekit?"
"And for the kit that looks like you, I think he should be named Brackenkit," Bluefeather meowed, drifting her tail across the brown tabby kit that was nestled in the curve of her stomach.
"Those are all incredible names," Snakenose murmured. "Lilykit, Mottlekit, Eveningkit, and Brackenkit. Welcome to ShadowClan, my dear children. Here you will always be protected."
Birdpaw got to her paws, feeling as if she was intruding on their private moment. She gave them both a deep nod. "I'll be back in the morning, Bluefeather," she meowed towards the queen. "It's probably best if you don't eat any poppy seeds, but if you still have pains, I'll give you some more raspberry. And you'll need borage if you're going to feed four big, healthy kits. For now though, I want you to rest. You've had a hard night."
Bluefeather dipped her head to Birdpaw. Snakenose's amber eyes glowed, and Birdpaw could see his gratitude towards her that he could never relay honestly in words in his gaze. Giving the queen and her kits one more visual assessment, Birdpaw left, satisfied at what she saw. She'd have a quick few hours of sleep and be back first thing in the morning. And I don't have to see StarClan, she thought with a flash of relief. Raggedstar would have a field day with me if he were watching Leafpaw and I.
When Birdpaw exited the nursery, she came face-to-face with Lionstar. The golden tabby tom stared at her, his green eyes narrowed. "Is Bluefeather okay?" he demanded. Next to him was Robinwing, his mate, who looked more worried than Lionstar did. It had completely slipped her mind that Lionstar and Robinwing were Bluefeather's parents. How odd, since they look nothing alike. One of their kin must have blue-gray fur.
"She's fine," Birdpaw replied. "She and Snakenose have two toms and two she-kits. Their names are Brackenkit, Eveningkit, Mottlekit, and Lilykit."
Robinwing purred loudly. "That's excellent news!" she exclaimed. Lionstar brushed his pelt against Robinwing's.
"Can we see them?" Lionstar asked.
"I wouldn't," Birdpaw said, choosing her words carefully since she knew who she was talking to. Although her outburst at him about ThunderClan had gotten her message across, she knew that she had to be more tactful and respectful in speaking to the ShadowClan leader. "She had a hard birth, and she's tired. I'd wait until tomorrow."
"Very well." Lionstar accepted Birdpaw's reasoning without a sliver of hesitation. "Well done, Birdpaw. I admit, I had my doubts about you, but hearing that my daughter has four healthy kits with your help brings me more happiness than I can ever imagine."
What…? Birdpaw watched with round eyes as Lionstar gave her a small nod and went back to his den with Robinwing in tow. Robinwing pressed her nose to Lionstar's shoulder, and Lionstar licked her forehead before the two cats disappeared into the shadows. Birdpaw watched them go, shocked that Lionstar had praised her when they had usually just butted heads. Birdpaw slipped into the medicine den, rolling her eyes when she saw the state of it. Snakenose clearly had barged in here with no concern that the medicine cats had a system for their herb store.
Herbs were littered all over the floor, some scraps even getting on the roof of the den. Berries were tossed around carelessly, and the cobwebs she had kept meticulously stacked draped the rocks in the den. Oh, come on… But she realized there was no real anger in her heart as she started to sort the herbs back to how they were. She grabbed the cobwebs with her claws and stacked them on top of each other, eventually conceding that she would need to go back and collect more. She discarded the berries that were smashed by Snakenose's big paws and sorted the leaves that he had thrown in his desperate attempt to find raspberry leaves. Maybe we shouldn't put the raspberry leaves in the back of the store next time.
It was not long until Birdpaw had the entire store to how it was originally. The rest of the den was another matter. But her paws were so heavy and she didn't think her eyes would stay open for another second. She was wavering on top of her paws when she tried to sweep away the scattered remains of herbs near her nest. There were heavy pawsteps behind her and a familiar scent, and she looked behind her shoulder.
"Hey." Stormbrook's voice was soft and his blurry black-and-gray face was stark against the shadows of the medicine den. "Lie down, Birdpaw. I've got this."
"Snakenose was in here…" Birdpaw muttered deliriously.
"I can tell." Stormbrook's whiskers twitched. "He really did a number on the place, didn't he?" He sank his teeth into Birdpaw's scruff, and Birdpaw wanted to flail in protest, but the black-and-gray tom held onto the small cat tightly and dropped her into her nest. He sat down, tucking his paws underneath his chest. Birdpaw could see the reflection of stars in his amber gaze, and the scent of the other medicine cats, alongside the crystal waters of the Moonpool, hung to his thick pelt. "How did it go?"
Birdpaw curled up into a ball in her soft nest, breathing a sigh. "One of Bluefeather's kits got stuck," she told him the hardest part.
"Stuck?" Stormbrook's eyes rounded with worry. "Is it alive?"
Birdpaw nodded. "Yes. It was coming out the wrong way and then it got stuck. I pressed on Bluefeather's chest until the pressure forced it to come out."
"Well done!" Stormbrook's voice was warm with affection. "How many kits does she have?"
"Four," Birdpaw replied. "They're named Eveningkit, Brackenkit, Mottlekit, and Lilykit. I was going to give her herbs in a little bit…"
"No, you're not." Stormbrook shook his head. "I'll bring her to them. You, little one, have some sleep to catch up on." His voice was soft against her ears as he murmured, "Sleep well, Birdpaw. You did a good job today. ShadowClan is lucky to have you as their medicine cat."
Stormbrook's words faded out of Birdpaw's ears as the world of sleep hugged her and took her into its deep grasp.
