Lavenderpaw's Destiny

Chapter 17

Turtlefoot stood up stiffly as the sun rose above the horizon. The vigil for Birchkit and Chasmkit was over, and Spider gently picked up the two tiny bodies and padded off into the forest to bury them. Daisystream moaned mournfully as she watched her kits being carried off, then hung her head and padded back into the den. 

Turtlefoot followed her closely, the warm milky scent of kits flowing over her as she entered. The smell was comforting, but she still couldn't get used to nursing kits. It was uncomfortable how much they depended on her, and she couldn't wait until Daisystream could take them off of her paws. 

Petalface looked up as they entered, sympathy in her green gaze. She had stayed in the den to look after the kits during the vigil. Now, Daisystream gently moved her kits back to her nest and curled around them, licking their heads gently. The white and black she-kit, Thawkit, mewled hungrily, and Daisystream nudged her close to her belly to suckle. The black tom kit, Treekit, followed his sister and began eating. 

Turtlefoot retrieved her kits as well, settling in beside them. She was shocked when Mothkit blinked up at her with brilliant green eyes, and she gasped allowed. "He's opened his eyes!" 

"Already?" Petalface mewed in amazement. "But he's only four days old!" 

"He must just be an advanced kit". Daisystream purred, some of her usual happiness restored. 

Glancing down at Silverkit, she realized that the other tom had not opened his eyes. Daisystream must be right, Mothkit is advanced. She paused, wondering if that was a sign that he was going to be an important cat someday. Shaking her head, she realized she was being silly. Still, staring into those piercing green eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something. 

Exhausted after the vigil, Turtlefoot curled around the kits and closed her eyes. Their tiny squeaks and small paws prodding her in the side made it hard to fall asleep, and she huffed in frustration. Being a queen is a pain in the tail. Finally, she felt herself slipping into sleep, and darkness enveloped her. 

Turtlefoot stretched in the weak sunlight as she watched Mothkit and Silverkit tumble around in the snow. It had been a moon since they were born, and already they were strong and feisty toms. Daisystream yawned beside her, flicking snow off of her paws. Thawkit and Treekit chased after the two toms, stumbling in the snow as they tried to keep up. Even though they were only three days younger than the toms, they were still quite a bit smaller because they had been kitted early. 

Turtlefoot glanced around, searching for Echokit and Fernkit. She spotted the two she-kits huddling in the entrance to the den, looking disdainfully at the other kits playing. "It's much too cold to be playing outside". Fernkit squeaked indignantly. 

Turtlefoot purred in amusement, but Daisystream nodded in agreement. "Very true, Fernkit. Come on kits, if we stay out in this snow any longer we'll all catch whitecough".

"But mother," Mothkit complained. "I'm not even cold". 

"Yeah, why can't we stay out longer?" Thawkit squeaked, her tiny voice shrill. 

"Come now, I don't want you getting sick. No more arguing, just go back in the den". Daisystream mewed firmly. 

The kits grumbled complaints, but none of them protested further, and they all bundled into the blackberry bushes. Daisystream followed them, shaking her head in amusement. Turtlefoot watched them go, relief washing over her. The kits had all taken to Daisystream and had never questioned whether or not she was really their mother. Even though Turtlefoot and Petalface fed their own kits, they had always believed that they all came from Daisystream's litter.