Lavenderpaw's Destiny

Chapter 14

Turtlefoot trudged through the snow, heading back to their makeshift den. A thin rabbit hung from her jaws and she sighed, knowing this wouldn't be enough food for the three of them. Hopefully Daisystream and Petalface would have more luck hunting, but she doubted it. It had been a moon since they'd arrived in their temporary territory, and leafbare was worse than any of them had thought it would be. The snow just kept piling up, and the queens just kept growing bigger and less capable of hunting. 

Turtlefoot's huge belly swung beneath her, and she struggled through the snow. Her heart raced at the thought of how close she was to kitting; it would be any day now. She shouldn't even be out hunting, but prey was so sparse that they needed everyone looking for food. 

She was just within view of the blackberry den when she felt a sudden, sharp pain in her stomach. Turtlefoot dropped the rabbit, yowling in pain. Her legs buckled beneath her and she fell into the snow. Panicking, she tried to get back up only for another terrible pain to rip through  her stomach. 

I can't have the kits out here! She thought to herself, struggling to drag herself through the snow towards the den. They'll freeze instantly!

Knowing she wouldn't make it back to the den in time if she didn't get help, she opened her mouth in a loud wail. "Daisystream! Petalface!" She shrieked, desperately searching for her denmates. She called for what felt like forever, but neither of the other queens showed up.They must be out hunting. Turtlefoot thought miserably, continuing to call for them. She was about to give up when she heard thrumming paw steps behind her. 

Weakly, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Spider racing towards her. His eyes were wide with fear as he skidded to a halt beside her. "Turtlefoot, what's happening?" 

"I'm kitting!" She gasped as another pain rippled through her belly. "I need help getting back to the den, quick!" 

Spider nodded and quickly nudged his shoulder beneath her, lifting her up onto her feet. Turtlefoot leaned heavily on him, her legs weak from the pain. Spider snapped up the rabbit she had caught and quickly began guiding her to the den. It seemed to take ages, but finally they reached the bush. Spider gently nudged her inside, and she collapsed in her nest, panting. 

"There are herbs in the corner," Turtlefoot gasped. "Our medicine cat gave them to us, she said we'd need Chervil during kitting. It's the leaves that kind of look like ferns". 

Spider nodded, sorting through the herbs until he found them. He quickly brought them over and Turtlefoot chewed them, in too much pain to even notice the bad taste. She desperately thought back to the kitting instructions Junipertwig had given them, and remembered the step by step process she had told them. 

"Spider, I need you to put your paws on my belly. When you feel a large ripple pass through my stomach, tell me to push. When the kit comes out, put it by me and I'll lick it until it's warm". She instructed, her teeth gritting in pain as she spoke. 

Looking terrified, Spider gently laid his paws on Turtlefoot's belly. After a few moments, a ripple passed through her stomach, and Turtlefoot glanced at Spider. "Now?" She gasped. 

"No not yet, I don't think that was it. Silver's ripples were bigger when it was time to push". Spider said, sounding uncertain. 

Turtlefoot thought about pushing anyway, but decided to listen to Spider. He knew what he was doing better than she did. What if he's wrong though? She thought tentatively. She could be risking herself and her kits based off of a random rogue's advice. 

Suddenly Turtlefoot felt a pain so severe that she let out a screech. A huge ripple passed through her belly and Spider turned towards her quickly. "Push, now!" In that moment, Turtlefoot knew she had been right to trust Spider.