Warriors: An Enemy's Victory #1, Fanfiction

Chapter 16

"Hurry, before it begins to snow anymore." Thistlestar shivered, dragging the snow hare he caught. The cave was in sight, and soon they would all be together warm and full.

Ashfur held it by the tail between his jaws, speeding up the walk back. As he pulled himself into the moss covered cave, he felt warmed immediately. Daisy and Coralflower sat in the back, cozily sharing tongues with Hawkpaw and Windkit curled in between them for warmth.

"We caught a hare!" Ashfur yowled through muffled fur. They purred with joy as it was pulled close, Brightheart sniffing the herbs she had in a small den fit for one.

"Graystripe isn't with you?" She mewed, seperating Borage leaves and strands of moss.

"He went to get wet moss for us. He'll be back soon enough--" A gasp cut his words off. Turning around, he saw Coralflower lying on her side, her face twisted with pain.

"Coralflower!" He screeched, pushing past Fireheart.

"Is she having her kits?" The ginger tom meowed, his fur ruffled.

"Yes, there coming." Brightheart mewed briskly, bursting to her side. "Hawkpaw, take Windkit to Daisy's other side. Fireheart, Ashfur, please try to find me a stick. A thick one, please." Thistlestar stared in shock as he watched his mate spasm in pain.

It felt like moons until her belly rippled. Blood poured into a puddle around her hind legs.

"Something's wrong. The kits can't come out, Its like somethings blocking them." He stared into his mate's eyes, brought back to the first time she told him she was expecting his kits. They were in the mountains during the storm, stuck in the cave home of the Tribe of Rushing Water.

"What's going on? Who is she?" Hawkpaw growled. He turned slowly, following his son's gaze to a Dark grey tom slick with muddy fur and snowflakes and a old muddy brown she-cat.

"Stormfur?" He mewed, and heard a sigh of relief from the grey tom.

"Whats happening? Was she injured?" He meowed, but the brown she-cat nosed her way past them both.

"She's kitting. Something's wrong though, she is bleeding heavily." Brightheart whimpered. Her eyes sparkled with unease, and her paws kneaded the ground.

"One of the kits is backwords. It will take much longer and it will be very dangerous. She needs to push very hard." She grunted as she felt Coralflower's belly. His stomach churned as he watched the snow fall heavier. He couldnt bare to watch the pain ripple across his mate's face, not like what he did for Morningflower after the incident.

"Thats a she-kit!" They mewed, while Coralflower groaned in agony. It felt like moons of waiting before she screeched again finally.

He winced, spinning to face his mate. two kits had slithered out, and now there were three all in total, a ginger tortoiseshell, a dark grey she-kit, and a golden tom.

I've seen those two before... He mewed silently. The golden one let out shrill squeals and kicking his hind paws as he pushed himself forward towards her belly. He stared down at the dark grey she-kit who had been born first, but her chest never rose or fell. The ginger tortoiseshell she-kit panted heavily, but slowly her breath grew shallow and slow. He felt relieved, but for only a heartbeat.

To his horror her breath slowed more, until finally, it stopped. He licked his kit repeatedly, hoping to stimulate her heart again, but she still lied limp, her fur still warm and damp.

Taken aback, he yowled his grief to the roof of the cave. His mate sobbed quietly, touching noses with her kits while the golden one suckled at her belly. He was reliving his vision all over again.