Stones (Book Five) Raging Fires

Chapter Six

Ceaderstripe lays in her nest panting as Gravelstripe gathers some herbs from her den.
Once she returns Gravelstripe sets a bundle of herbs down beside her.
"Eat these," Gravelstripe nudges some jagged leaves her way, "they're Raspberry leaves, they'll help with the pain."
Ceaderstripe nods and eats the leaves in-between wails of pain.
"How did Kelpstream do this for so long!?" Ceaderstripe cries.
After another wail a orange kit with white paws is born.
"A boy," Gravelstripe reports, "I believe there's only one other."
Ceaderstripe smiles at the kit as he is set at her belly. His tail sways slowly and she spots a small spot of white on the tip. She is soon taken over by another wail.
Sharp pain shoots through her body as the second, all white kit is born.
"Another boy," Gravelstripe mews.
A wave of relief hits Ceaderstripe as she is finished with her kitting.
"Lightningkit," Ceaderstripe purrs.
"Hm?" Burntwhisker asks.
"I want to name him Lightningkit," Ceaderstripe strokes the kit with her tail once Gravelstripe sets him by her belly.
"Then the other should be Thunderkit," Burntwhisker purrs.
"I like that," Ceaderstripe smiles, "Lightningkit and Thunderkit," she looks to each kit in turn.
"You did great," Gravelstripe mews as she gathers the extra herbs she had brought.
She gathers her herbs and leaves the den.
"Can we come look at them?" Copperkit asks.
"Of course!" Ceaderstripe nods.
Honeykit, one of Rosepetals kits, sits up in their nest, "can we come look?"
"Yes! They're your den mates too," Ceaderstripe smiles.
All of the kits scramble out of their nests to come stand by Ceaderstripes nest.
"This one is Thunderkit," Ceaderstripe touches his back with her tail, "and this is Lightningkit," her tail moves to the second kit.
"They're so cute," Rowankit purrs.
"Ok, step back and see if anyone else wants a turn," Ceaderstripe instructs.
The kits stand there for one more moment before wandering back to their nests.
"Can we come look?" Blushkit asks.
"Yes!" Ceaderstripe nods, "and so may Kelpstreams kits, if they would like to."
Kelpstreams kits start shoving their way out of the nest to come see the younger kits. They take their place beside Blushkit and her siblings and they all look at the tiny kits.
"Cool," Burntkit nods.
Ceaderstripe laughs, "you're named after their father, did you know that?"
Burntkit nods his head, "yeah."
"How about," Burntwhisker steps closer to Ceaderstripe, "we give her some time to rest?"
The kits sigh and return to their nests.
"I'll come back in the morning after my patrol," Burntwhisker mews, licking her cheek afterwards.
"Goodnight," Ceaderstripe purrs.
Once Burntwhisker has left she snuggles deeper into her nest, trying not to disturb the kits, and begins to drift off to sleep.
"I want the cats responsible to be shown the consequences!" a grey she-cat snaps.
Her head is filled with the sound of laughter and she drifts back into a peaceful sleep.

Eventually, Ceaderstripes sleep is interrupted by her mate padding into the den.
I had a vision! She smiles excitedly.
"How are they?" Burntwhisker asks, peering around Ceaderstripe.
Ceaderstripe moves her tail to reveal the two small kits, "they're doing great," she purrs.
"Good," Burntwhisker smiles.
"How did the ceremony go?" Ceaderstripe asks, "did they all get their warrior names?"
Burntwhisker nods, "our new warriors are Whitewillow, Treespark, Sandfoot, Dawnbreeze, Ambertuft, Ravenspirit, Mudriver and Quailfeather."
"Thats nice," Ceaderstripe purrs, "I'm sorry I interrupted the ceremony."
"I think they'll understand, " Burntwhisker chuckles and looks to the kits, "after all, you have a good reason."
Ceaderstripe smiles, "I do."
"Can't believe they're already almost a day old," Burntwhisker smiles.
Ceaderstripe purrs, "me neither."
Burntwhisker takes another moment to look at the kits before padding out of the den silently.
"Hemlockheart," Ceaderstripe turns toward her and whispers, "I just had a vision!"