Vineripple screeched, her claws digging into the mossy bedding beneath her. Above her, Heronfeather stroked her side, murmured cold but calm words that she couldn't understand. She closed her eyes, gasping for breath as the pain faded for a brief moment. "You're doing great." Was all she heard before she let out another yowl, white hot pain striking her stomach. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Honeypool pad in, a large stick in her mouth. The yellow she-cat's eyes were concerned as she set it down, whispering something to Heronfeather. He gave his usual short reply before brushing her out and moving the stick towards Vineripple. The pain faded for a moment, just enough time for Heronfeather to sternly tell her, "Bite it. It will help the pain." So, she did, praying that what Heronfeather said was true, because StarClan help her, she didn't think kits were worth this much trouble. -------------------- Thornstar paced outside, each new yowl from the Nursery sending a claw through his heart. He paused as Nightshade approached him, gently nuzzling him as he glanced nervously at the entrance. "She'll be okay." The black she-cat whispered. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the pelt of a white cat and turned to see Petal approaching. He was happy that Nightshade's sister had found the right spot in the Clan. He thought being the Medicine Cat would suit her. Plus, Heronfeather was getting really old. He needed a new apprentice. He jumped as another yowl raked across the clearing, pelt prickling. He swallowed, padding over and sticking his head inside. Vineripple lay on the ground, a small pool of blood around her. Immediately a gray pelt stepped in front of her, Heronfeather's yellow eyes glaring at him. "How many times have I told you?" The Medicine Cat snapped, referring to both Nightshade's kitting and Vineripple's. "You may /not/ come in until the kitting is /completely/ finished! And trust me when I say that I'll /tell/ you if any of that changes. Now, out!" The leader backed away sheepishly at the older cat's scolding, face red. Then, he sighed, sat down, and waited. -------------------- "One handsome tom." Heronfeather mewed, pulling the tiny mound of fur towards him to bite off the sack. Then, it came tumbling back towards it's mother to suckle. Vineripple barely had any time to look at her newborn son before another spasm overtook her. A scream ripped out of her mouth and she bit down on the stick, feeling it splinter beneath her teeth. "Heronfeather, Heronfeather stop it, please." She whimpered, knowing how cowardly and weak she sounded but not caring. "These kits will be the best thing that's ever happened to you, Vineripple." The Medicine Cat mewed, voice gentle but cold. "No, NO!" She howled as another kit fell onto the ground. Heronfeather was immediately on it, snapping open the sack and leaving her to find the source of the milk-scent. "One beautiful, healthy daughter-" "I don't want these kits!" Vineripple yelled before breaking down, tears making their way down her face. "Please, Heronfeather..." She sobbed, pain still squeezing her. "I don't want them." Heronfeather's eyes were sad and concerned. And... hesitant. Worried. Cautious. "Vineripple... why not?" "Because-Because-" She bit her tongue, tasting blood as another flash of pain hit them. "What if I'm exactly like her?" She wheezed, making Heronfeather's eyes go wide as he realized who she was talking about. "What if-What if I treat them the same way she treated me?" Her voice broke and she yowled as another wave of pain washed through her. Heronfeather crouched down in front of her, so close that Vineripple had no choice but to look into his steady, yellow eyes. "You won't." Was all he said before the last kit fell onto the ground. Heronfeather stared at her for a moment longer, telling her with his eyes that everything would be alright before turning and slitting open the last kit so that he could breath and make his way to his mother, his russet pelt gleaming. Finally, Vineripple turned to her children and the air was knocked out of her.
They were just so... tiny. Vineripple stared at them in awe, scared that even the tiniest movement could crush them beneath her. She watched in wonder as they suckled. Then, her eyes warmed and another tear slipped down her face as she nuzzled them each in turn. The gray tom was the oldest. He had a white tail tip, chest, stomach, and paws. The next one was a tiny she-kit, her brown and white fur soft as she drifted off to sleep. Then, the last was a plain russet tom, already his face frowning and his paws batting at thin air. Vineripple purred, nuzzling him as he tried-and failed-to claw at her nose. "Hello Foxkit." She murmured, just as a shadow was casted across the ground. She looked up to see a pair of green eyes staring at her, tears shining in their depths. Vineripple smiled slightly as Thornstar approached, his eyes wide with awe as he looked at his new kits. Behind him Heronfeather slipped out, but not without a last, longing, wistful look at the pair. But mostly, he looked at Vineripple, knowing that these times wouldn't last, no matter how much he wished they would. "Foxkit." Thornstar mewed, the parent's eyes glowing with love as they looked at their youngest son. Then, Thornstar turned his attention to the oldest one, the gray one. "And what should his name be?" He whispered, nuzzling the young tom. "He was the first born, he's the biggest." Vineripple murmured, her eyes shining as she stared at him. "Give him a strong name." Thornstar thought for a moment. Then, "Crush. His name will be Crushkit." Vineripple nodded before turning her attention to the smallest kit, the only she-cat. She was so tiny and yet... "Poisonkit." Vienripple purred with love, making Thornstar look up at her in surprise. "Poisonkit..? But she-she's so tiny. So fragile." He turned his attention back to the light brown and white splotched she-kit, his green eyes warm. "Well, looks can be deceiving, can't they?" Thornstar smiled, nuzzling his daughter. "Poisonkit it is." Vineripple thought her heart might break at the protective fatherly love in his eyes. Then, after a moment, he looked up at her, his eyes now sad. "Vineripple, I want to make things right between us again, I want to be a father for these kits... What-.. Do you think we can ever go back to how things used to be?" "Oh, Thornstar." Vineripple sighed, nuzzling into her true love's fur. "I still love you. I still love you so much and I would say yes, but... We just don't have enough time." "Time?" Thornstar pulled back, hurt in his eyes. "If-If you're talking about Nightshade, Vineripple I-" The tabby she-cat laughed quietly, cutting him off. "Oh no, I'm not talking about her." The leader's brow furrowed in confusion. "Well then..?" "You'll understand later, Thornstar. But, at least for now..." She looked at her kits, smiling. "At least for now we can pretend. We can pretend that things are still the same. Okay?" She looked up at him to find his eyes shining with tears as he nodded, curling up around her and closing his eyes as he realized: He would never get Vineripple back. But still, he buried his muzzle into her fur, staring at his kits from over her shoulder, his eyes warm with love. Breathing in her warm, intoxicating scent, gazing at their beautiful, perfect creations... Yes, he could definitely pretend. Written by @Stormstar1515 ;P Vineripple~ @Stormstar1515 Nightshade~ @FnafMangleTime Thornpad~ @Blacklist_Rogue Creekfrost~ @Endercat-uwu Skyfall~ @DJDoritoCO Honeypool~ @WarriorsSilverstream Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/383248637/ Next Chapter: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/411845018/
