Owlflight's Kits (Book One)

Chapter Seven

Owlflight stared at the five bundles of fur by his feet. The kits mewed a squirmed, all eager to get some of Firepelt's milk. "I've thought of names for them all." Firepelt said. "I'll tell you the she-kits first. This little one here," She touched one of the white kits, "Is Echokit, named after our lost friend."

"She's beautiful." Owlflight whispered, gently touching the squirming kit with his nose.

"This is Cloudkit." Firepelt pointed to the other white kit. "And Songkit." She whispered, nuzzling a ginger and grey she-kit.

"Who are the boys?" Owlflight asked, his gaze falling on the two grey kits.

"Stonekit. He was our firstborn." She was talking about a mostly grey kit, with a bit of brown and white around his paws. "And Robinkit, the runt."

Owlflight leaned down to look at the tiny grey kit with white forepaws. "I like this little tom." He said, poking Robinkit with his nose. Robinkit mewed in reply, wiggling in closer to get more milk.

"They're all so wonderful. I believe that they all hold the future of our clan.." Stripedstar murmured from where she sat beside Spiderpaw.

"I like the ginger and grey one. She looks just like Firepelt!" Flamefur put in. Owlflight nodded.

"They are all great kits.. Now go, Firepelt needs her rest! Only Owlflight may stay." Said Brownfur, the medicine cat. Every cat reluctantly pushed their way out of the nursery, leaving the three cats alone with their kits.

"They look like healthy kits. We'll see if they make it through leaf-bare, but I'm afraid they aren't strong enough.." Brownfur sighed. "This is the wrong time to have kits."

"They will make it. I know they will.." Firepelt licked Cloudkit on the head.

"I'm not sure, Firepelt.." Brownfur sighed. "Owlflight, please leave us in peace for a while."

"Yes, Brownfur," Owlflight dipped his head respectfully and left the nursery quickly, bounding over to Spiderpaw, who was eating a fish near the entrance to the camp.

"Hey, Spiderpaw." He said, sitting and curling his tail around his paws.

"Why aren't you with your mate?" There seemed to be a hurtful tone in her voice.

"Brownfur sent me out." He explained.

"Hey, Owlflight!" A call from Moonbeam cut their conversation off. "If you aren't too busy with Firepelt, care to join me on a border patrol?"

"Sure!" Owlflight felt happy to leave camp. Brownfur's doubts about his kits had made him anxious.

"Okay. Spiderpaw, you coming too?" Moonbeam said. "Silverpaw is!"

"Fine." Spiderpaw stood up, shaking mist from her coat. "Let's go!"

The for cats set off for the river, the only border with GreenClan. They would patrol that first, then the sides of the island to check for rogues or lost kittypets. "Why do we even have to check for GreenClan? Hawkstar is so friendly, I think we'd get more trouble from a kittypet." Spiderpaw growled.

"Prey is scarce at times like this, Spiderpaw. Even in the forests. They may steal prey from the river, even if it means starting a battle." Moonbeam replied.

"That's mouse-brained." Silverpaw said.

"Hey, Owlflight!" A voice called from the other side of the river. It was his mother, Skywing.

Owlflight faltered. "H-Hey, Skywing." He stuttered.

"How are the kits? I heard that they were born! How many?"

"Five."

"Congrats! I can't wait to meet them when they're old enough. Are you coming to the gathering tonight?" She purred.

"Err.." Owlflight looked at Moonbeam, who nodded. "Yeah!"

"Awesome! I'll see you there, then?"

"Yes, sure." Owlflight ran to catch up with Spiderpaw and Silverpaw, who had walked ahead.

*

Owlflight was reluctant to leave Firepelt and go to the gathering. She was sleeping peacefully, all five kits sleeping with warm bellies, but Owlflight felt that something wasn't right.

He went to the gathering anyway, brushing the feeling off as remembering Brownfur's concerns. He felt happier once he saw that Rainpaw had attended the gathering, something moon cats did every so often.

"Hey, Owlfight. I heard about the kits!" He purred. "Five, right?"

Who had told every cat on the island about his kits? "Yes! Three she-cats and two toms."

"What are their names?"

"Songkit, Robinkit, Stonekit, uh.. Cloudkit, and.." Owlflight sighed. "Echokit."

"You named your kit after Echopaw?" Rainpaw guessed. "That's so cute!"

Owlflight shifted uncomfortably. "You know what happened to Echopaw, don't you?"

"Of course.." Rainpaw shook his head. "I visit her in StarClan all the time. She's watching over you, Owlflight."

Owlflight purred at the thought, just as a yowl came from the gathering tree. He turned to see that the two leaders had leaped into the tree, meaning that the leaders' speaking had begun.

Stripedstar went first. She gave the news of Firepelt and Owlflight's kits, how scarce prey was, and said that Redshade had spotted two ginger and white kittypets in their territory. Then Hawkstar spoke, explaining that two of their apprentices had become warriors, and the third had been killed by a rogue.

"Did you see what the rogue looked like?" Stripedstar asked. Hawkstar shook his head sadly.

"Eaglepaw will always be remembered in our clan." He said simply. "Windcloud and Vinestripe will grieve for their death. Windcloud has brought three new kits into our clan. They will be apprentices by greenleaf."

Owlflight felt somewhat relieved to hear that Firepelt wasn't the only she-cat on the island who had kits in the dead of Leaf-bare. As the cats began to head home, Owlflight found himself dreading going back to camp. When he arrived, he realized why.

Firepelt greeted him frantically. "I-I don't know what happened, Owlflight!"

"What?" Owlflight asked.

"I-I.. Songkit.. I woke up.... I- She was so cold.." She shook her head sadly, and Owlflight realised what had happened.

Songkit was dead.