WARRIORS // Uprooted

Chapter 26

"Come on, dear, you've got this."

Dipperwhisker was by Leechblossom's side as she struggled to deliver her kits. This was horrible. Every part of this was horrible! She couldn't imagine how Brindle had gotten through it all. How Flowerstride had gotten through it all...

Am I going to die like Flowerstride?

"Calm down," Dipperwhisker said softly, grooming her ear. "You're going to be alright. Everything is going to be alright."

"It hurts," Leechblossom whined, spasming a little.

"I know, dear, I know. But it'll be so worth it. You worked so hard for these babies."

Leechblossom let her head flop on the ground. "I can't do this," she whimpered.

"You can," Dipperwhisker said. "I did it for my kits, and your aunt Cootpelt did it for hers, and your mother did it for you. You can do it," she said softly. "You can do it. You can."

Leechblossom suddenly felt like she was being ripped apart, like she had a fire in her gut that roiled and hissed and threatened to break her open. She let out a loud wail and thrashed, tears pooling in her eyes.

And then it was gone.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and fell slack, gasping. Something nudged into her side.

"Your firstborn has arrived," Dipperwhisker purred.

"Huh?" Leechblossom picked up her head and looked down. And there, wriggling at her belly, was her kit. A tiny tortoiseshell like her, with little white paws. She was so tiny, and so squirmy, and so fragile. Her fur was slicked to her skin, and she trembled with the cold despite the summer heat. She immediately curled around her newborn, a daughter, and purred so hard her throat might've given out.

The love she felt for this itty-bitty new life, and she nudged her little head, helping her find and latch onto a teat. Instantly the kitten fell still, save for the kneading of her tiny little pink paws. They reminded her of Dipperwhisker's kits when they were so very small.

And the pain was back.

"Another one!" Leechblossom yelped, uncurling herself and digging her claws into the ground. Despite all the agonizing pain, between awful contractions she had to wonder if this was the first litter of kits to be born into this den since PineClan died.

The thought invigorated her with new strength. Her back toes curled in and she yowled endlessly, lashing her tail and gasping for breath. 

"She's bleeding a lot," Gulljump mewed quietly. She'd been helping clear out the mossbeds when they got soiled. "Is that alright?"

"Birth-" Leechblossom cringed- "Birth is a messy process."

"Ah, you remembered," Dipperwhisker chuckled, turning her head. "Alright, push!"

Leechblossom bore down for everything she was worth, and the pain suddenly was gone again. She fell still, panting hard, sucking in every breath as if she'd been drowning. "Is- is it out?"

"Yes," Dipperwhisker purred. "A little tom."

Leechblossom gathered the strength to look as Dipperwhisker set the second kit against her belly. He was pitch-black, save for a little white diamond on his chest like Snailfall had. A small shiver spilled down her spine as she remembered the father of these kits, how awful he turned out to be.

What did I ever see in him? she wondered. Maybe I was just lonely... or maybe he just was really good at faking his kindness when. Or maybe he truly did love me - or the thought of me, perhaps..

"I think that's the crowd," Dipperwhisker said, licking the dripping blood off her paws. "There'll be a pouch that comes out, between now and tomorrow. You'll have to eat that."

"Eat it?" Leechblossom asked. "Why?"

"It was the part of your belly that kept your kits safe, but it took a lot for your body to make it, and it has a lot of good stuff. It tastes like freshkill, don't worry."

"Mm." Leechblossom had eaten worse things for sustinence. "Thank you, Dipperwhisker."

As Dipperwhisker departed to announce the newborns, Leopardstar came in and took her place. "Hey, sis. How are they?"

"They're wonderful," Leechblossom mewed softly. "I could never have imagined a love stronger than this."

"Have you named them yet?" Leopardstar asked, curling her tail.

"I think the tortoiseshell will be Flowerkit," she said. 

"After Flowerstride?" Leopardstar asked. 

"Yes," Leechblossom said. "And the black will be Birchkit, after BirchClan."

"I like those names," Leopardstar purred. "I wish Fox had been here to meet her new kin."

"Me, too. But she chose her path," Leechblossom said, "Tragic though it is."

Leopardstar nodded. "Are they a RootClan cat's? Your kits?"

"Yes, they are," Leechblossom sighed.

"Well," Leopardstar said, "I'm glad they don't have to meet that side of their family."

Leechblossom nodded, looking at her now-sleeping newborns. She thought back to the Stone Ceremony, and thanked StarClan that her kittens never had to go through such a thing. They would have full ears forever... Unless something they were fighting took them off. Worry hung in her heart and she curled around her kits.

A sudden yowl rang across the forest - Juniperclaw's voice - but it was cut off by a dark gurgle.

"Oh, no," Leopardstar gasped, turning and racing out into the clearing.

Leechblossom followed her, peering out into the main part of Camp with her ears flattened. Her blood ran cold as her worst nightmare was realized:

RootClan was in their camp.