Warriors: The Rising River Book #1: An Untold Secret

Prologue

The forest was quiet as the sun set in the horizon. A soft, cool breeze blew through the trees as the light of day faded away.

In a den, yowls of pain could be heard as a she cat writhed around in her nest. Her cries could be heard through out the entire camp, alerting the other cats to what was happening to her. Soon, many cats were crowding around outside the den, eager to see what was going on.

A gray tom pushed his way through the mass of cats, herbs clamped firmly in his jaws. He shooed all the cats that were inside the den out, except for the writhing queen who was about ready to burst with kits. He placed a stick in front of her, instructing her to bite down on it when the pain came again. He placed a paw on her stomach, feeling around for the kits. When it came time, he told her to push. She pushed, yowling out a "STARCLAN, THIS HURTS!!!"

After a while, the queen lay in her nest, very tired but very happy. Four kits suckled at her belly as she relaxed.

"Congratulations Streamfur! You have four healthy, beautiful kits. A tom and three she kits", the tom meowed.

"Thank you Hailberry", the queen replied, nudging her kits closer to her, wrapping her tail protectively around them.

"Have you thought of names for them yet?" the tom asked.

"Yes, I have." The queen removed her tail from around her kits, then pointed it at the largest kit, a pale gray tom. "This will be Mistykit."

Then she pointed to a silver she kit with white paws. "This will be Riverkit."

Then she pointed to another she kit, this time, a silver tabby. "This will be Silverkit."

Then she finally pointed to the last she kit, the smallest in the litter. She was white all over, except for a black spot just below her left ear and on her tail tip. "And this will be Icekit."

"Those are beautiful names", the tom furred, turning around to head outside. "I'll get you some herbs to help with your milk." He disappeared out the entrance, the other queens and kits coming back in immediately after he left.

Streamfur curled her self protectively around her kits, keeping them warm.

"I love you little ones, and I'm sure your father would too. You will meet him someday, I just know you will", she whispered, before laying her head on her paws and closing her eyes. She drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.