Flame

Chapter Twenty-one

“I understand Dove’s kits will arrive soon,” Bramblestar sat in his den, facing the wall. 

“Yes,” came the curt reply. “I expect if all goes well, we will leave in at least a moon.” Bramblestar shifted his weight nervously, then said, “The weight of my clan rests on its leader. If I make the wrong choice, everything that all leaders before me strived for, I could destroy. These cats don’t deserve that.” He added quietly, more to himself, “Fire at night lights the path, and the code is never wrong,”

Flame craned his neck quizzically, unaware of what the meaning behind the words meant. He bowed out of Bramblestar’s den, bumping into Squirrelflight as he did. Nodding, he jumped down from the rocks. “Ow!” he exclaimed. He looked down at his paw, he had scraped it on a loose stone on the ground. “Foxdung!” Flame said as he set his paw back in the dirt and headed towards Jayfeather’s den. He passed through the thorn tunnel, hoping the medicine cat was in a good mood. 

“Now, Spiderleg, see if you can keep that paw off the ground awhile. Ha! The cat who boasts about being the best at climbing finally falls!” Jayfeather’s blind eyes seemed to mockingly glare at Spiderleg as he left. His gaze turned to Flame. “Who has carelessly done something now? Flame, what’d you do?” Flame was amazed at Jayfeather’s abilities, but finally answered. “I cut my paw,”

Jayfeather scowled and shuffled into the crack where he kept his herbs. “I’ll need some Dock, and a bit of cobweb…” He emerged with a swab of cobweb and a few Dock leaves. “Sit,” Flame obeyed politely. Despite his harsh tongue, Jayfeather applied the poultice and cobweb with delicacy and care. “There, now keep off that, will you?” Flame nodded and thanked him.

Flame waited in earnest outside the nursery, afraid of what might happen. Berrynose padded over to him, and Flame prepared for a smart-cat remark. “I was like this when Poppyfrost had her kits, too. I pestered Jayfeather until I thought he would cut off my head.” Flame looked at him with a new respect, and said, “Thanks,”

“Keep calm, Dove. Keep working!” Jayfeather’s voice was drowned out by heavy breathing and frantic meows. He rested his paw on her chest, feeling the ripples growing fiercer. “Here comes one!” 

Flame could hear muffled cries, and Jayfeather calming his mate, but the thorn den muffled everything. Flame began to pace the entrance, angered by the wait. He tried to stop Sorreltail as she hurried out, but she just shook her head and breathlessly ran to the Medicine den. She loped back carrying three blue flowers.

“I’ve got the Borage!”

“Could’ve been faster, Sorreltail, but, good, bring them here!”

Jayfeather laid the herbs by Dove’s head and picked up a wet bundle of fur that was laid beside her. He set it in front of Daisy and she began to lick it furiously. He again laid his paw on Dove’s belly and said, “Another!” waves began to rack her body, and soon Poppyfrost was also licking a new-born kit. “Quick, Sorreltail, go get thyme, Goldenrod, and lots of cobwebs from my den. Go!” Sorreltail took of in a flash. Another, final wave began to coarse Dove’s body, this one was the longest. Sorreltail arrived just in time to see a brand-new kit. “Give me those!” Jayfeather demanded. Sorreltail handed the herbs to Jayfeather, who administered them with the greatest care. The first two kits snuggled close to their mother, and began to feed. Jayfeather peered at the last kit. The she-kit looked frail, and was very warm when Jayfeather touched her. “Poppyfrost, go get Feverfew,” The she-kit’s white-grey, tabby pelt was streaked with sweat. Dove stared at her young through wondering eyes. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered. Jayfeather spoke up, “Do you want Flame?” 

Dove nodded and wrapped her tail around the two kits who lay beside her. Daisy ducked out to get Flame.

Flame still paced the entrance, and when Poppyfrost shot out to the medicine den, he worried about his mate. As Poppyfrost went in, Daisy came out. But instead of running off, Daisy stopped Flame. “Come,” Flame hastened to obey.

Flame took it all in; The soft smell of milk, Jayfeather ministering to a white tabby kit, and -more importantly- Dove. Flame rushed to her side, “My love, are you okay?” 

She smiled, “Am now.” her tail rested atop the first kit. “I wanted these kits to be reminders of our old life. This one is first-born.” the she-kit had the marks of a tabby. “Her name is Pinekit.” Flame nodded, tears in his eyes. Dove continued, pointing this time to the second-born. “This tom is Emberkit,” Flame’s forest green eyes opened wide. This kit looked exactly like him! A white slash across his face was the only white on him, besides one foot. Dove gestured towards the frail, white kit. “I haven’t name that one, yet,”

Flame walked solemnly to Jayfeather, who was still warming the kit. The pure-white face pointed up towards Flame. “Maplekit,” he said.

“What?” Dove asked

“Maplekit. For our new life that now begins in the trees, and for the forests that were our home.”

Dove nodded and accepted the smaller kit as she started to suckle.