Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 26

          Lilymist paced back and forth in the clearing. She circled around Sunfrost for most likely the millionth time. She flinched as she heard Owlheart's pained yowl. Sunfrost tried running into Grassheart. The deputy was guarding the nursery entrance so no one could disturb Owlheart. The silver she cat had started kitting at dawn. The moon was starting to rise when she finished and Sunfrost raced into the nursery. Lilymist pushed past Grassheart and ran in after Sunfrost. She watched as Owlheart and Sunfrost licked and nuzzled their three kits. Lilymist felt her heart twist at the sight of the new parents.
"What do you want to name them?" Sunfrost asked. Owlheart paused for a second.
"The brown she cat should be Lichenkit." Owlheart licked her daughter's head. The kit was a golden brown tabby she cat. Sunfrost nodded and pointed to the silver kit with his tail.
"Moonkit. What do you think?" Owlheart softly purred.
"It's beautiful. We should name the tom Tigerkit. He needs all the strength he can get." Sunfrost gazed fondly at his son. The tom kit was tiny and it looked like he struggled to even drink milk. Owlheart winced in pain and whimpered. Sunfrost instantly checked her over.
"Don't worry. I have hope. I'll live." Owlheart wheezed. Sunfrost sat next to her and curled his tail around hers. Lilymist turned and exited the nursery. She walked to the centre of camp and lay down, facing the nursery. She wanted to watch for any news of Owlheart. She closed her eyes for a second or two.

"Owlheart! Echomist! She won't wake up! Tigerkit!" Sunfrost's grief stricken yowl echoed around camp. Lilymist jumped up and ran to the nursery. Swanshine was sitting there, her head bowed and her tail on Sunfrost's shoulder. Lilymist sat beside the grieving tom and watched as Echomist came in with Pixiepaw and took Owlheart's body out of the nursery. Pixiepaw dragged Tigerkit into the clearing and set him down beside his mother's body. Lichenkit and Moonkit squirmed and mewled in protest until Brightcloud put them in her nest. Lilymist stared blankly at the two remaining kits. She felt a surge of protectiveness towards her nieces. Lilymist stepped forward and nudged the kits. Brightcloud pushed them into Owlheart's nest and sat with her kits. Lilymist sat down beside Owlheart's kits and curled her tail around them. She sat there until sunhigh protecting her sister's kits. Lichenkit and Moonkit got hungry so she passed them over to Brightcloud. Lilymist stood up and stretched. She yawned and walked outside towards Owlheart's limp body. The first snow of the season was starting to fall. It melted on the ground, but where it fell on Owlheart and Tigerkit it stayed. Grassheart sat beside Owlheart, his head bowed in grief. Sunfrost was sitting in front of the medicine den sleeping. She sat down beside Grassheart and bent to lick Tigerkit.
"I'm sorry Owlheart. If I had been faster you would be sleeping with your kits and Sunfrost. I'm sorry." Grassheart mumbled. The deputy stood up and dipped his head to the body of his daughter. He then lay back down, but kept his hind legs still in standing position. Lilymist gasped. That was a very old posture of respect, honour and submission. It was only used when a leader lost their final life or a medicine cat died or retired. It was never used to mourn. Grassheart stood up with grief clouding his eyes.
"May your journey to StarClan be quick and peaceful." Grassheart choked out then turned and walked to his den with his tail dragging in the lightly falling snow. Lilymist looked back at her sister. The snow was slowly starting to cover her fur. For some reason that angered Lilymist and she sat with her body curled around Owlheart and Tigerkit. She lay there regretful and full of grief until she fell into a dreamless sleep.