Silvermoon wobbled as she walked for camp, barely keeping her balance. Cloudtuft rushed to her side, pressing his face into her neck. "Careful." He breathed. "I know.." She purred. Silvermoon was close to kitting. In order to feel useful, she'd been helping Branchstalk with chores, picking ticks off elders, and changing nests. One the rare times Cloudtuft did let her out of camp, it was to collect moss or to watch the apprentices. Sweetpaw and Whitepaw were kind and listened to Silvermoon, but Dawnpaw liked to cause trouble. The ginger she-cat reminded her of Shinefire in her youth. Cricketpaw was a bit more cool headed but than again he had young Bearface as a mentor. Riverpaw, Brightpaw, and Leafpaw were just as Dawnpaw. Silvermoon carefully brought her moss into the nursery and greeted Pebbleheart. "We'll be den-mates soon." She purred. Pebbleheart nodded. "Windkit and Mousekit are almost apprentices.. I'm so nervous.. but I'm so happy for them.." Pebbleheart spoke softly. "When I left AlderClan, I felt so free.. I didn't have to worry about snot-nosed apprentices, or cocky warriors or stinky herbs.. I was finally a warrior. I fell in love.." She murmured. Silvermoon gave her a loving, sympathetic look.
She had gotten close to her kin. Pebbleheart was very kind. But, she felt bad for her. All she wanted was to be a warrior, until Darkeye had forced her to become a medicine cat. Than she left and joined StoneClan's ranks before leaving with Sunwing and the two lived as loners. Silvermoon settled her big belly besides Pebbleheart. "I'm so glad Smalleye is doing well training Riverpaw." Mosscloud purred. Mosscloud had decided to stay a queen and help out with new kits and queens. Silvermoon nodded with a purr. She'd tried her best to ignore Redsnow after what he named her dutiful apprentice.
"Silvermoon you look like you could burst with kits!" Teased her mother. Silvermoon laughed. "I feel like it too! Branchstalk said any day now!" She mewed. "I hope Lilacpaw will do good for her first kitting!" Rosefoot meowed. Most of the old queens doted on her now. "How's Leafpaw?" Silvermoon asked her mother. "Crazy!" Hollyeyes replied. "But she reminds me of you. So I know how to handle her!" She purred. Silvermoon was about to flash her mother a playful look, when she saw Blackfeather, Redsnow, Tigerpaw, and Mossheart leave camp.. Perhaps it was a patrol. "You surely can't leave camp anymore." Mosscloud meowed, licking her paws. "Any major movement could cause your kitting! I remember mine.. I'd love to have another litter! The minute I suggested it to Redsnow? He laughed!" She went on. Hollyeyes snickered, and Rosefoot purred in amusement. "Webbedfoot and I are good on kits. I can't wait to enjoy a nice retirement with him." She gently mewed. Silvermoon was still suspicious of the group but turned her head. "This is my only litter! No matter how cute the kits are!" She chimed in. The group of queens laughed.
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Night fell onto the Clan quickly. Silvermoon curled up in her nest in the nursery, her tail covering her nose. Her belly was aching, constant pains. But she hadn't been completely bothered by it. It had hurt like this the entire time she was expecting. But a sudden sharp pain completely filled her whole belly, and the gray queen shot her head up and gasped in pain. "Silvermoon? Are you alright?" Mosscloud asked. "Should I get Branchstalk? Are the kits coming?" The fellow queen asked excitedly. Silvermoon nodded, clenching her teeth and digging her claws into the cave flooring underneath her.
"Lilacpaw, get me a stick, Shinefire bring over the raspberry leaves." Her brother barked as he stood over her. He felt belly. "Feels like.. there's about four.." Branchstalk mewed. Four! That would take forever! "Here Branchstalk.." Lilacpaw yawned with a stick in her mouth. He took the stick and gave it to Silvermoon. She bit onto it and prepared herself. Silvermoon could fight it battles, she could fight to have kits! Branchstalk asked Mosscloud and Cloudtuft to leave, leaving only her, Shinefire, Lilacpaw, and Branchstalk of course.
It had been going well.. So far, Silvermoon had a two toms. A gray one much like Silvermoon, and a silver one with white freckles. She was doing well.. that's what Branchstalk kept telling her. Shinefire was coaching her through it, and even though Silvermoon didn't exactly like her anymore, she respected Shinefire for going through this. "Branchstalk, we have a problem," Gasped Blazefur. "What? I'm kinda busy!" Her brother replied. Silvermoon widened her eyes in panic. Shinefire tried to quickly calm her by whispering about the kits. "Redsnow and Blackfeather lead dogs into camp..! You need to get Silvermoon out of here." The ginger tom meowed. "If I move her, it could hurt her and her kits!" Branchstalk replied with a cry. "We'll try to keep them away from the nursery. But make sure there's as little blood as possible. Dogs crave that like elders crave gossip." Blazefur replied, dipping his head. "Lilacpaw, I need you to leave the den through the emergency exit and sneak into the medicine cat den. Get our herbs ready, make sure we have enough. Our Clan's lives depend on it!" He ordered quickly. Lilacpaw nodded, dashing out. "Alright Silvermoon," Her brother murmured. "We're going to have to speed this up.." Silvermoon stretched her eyes in pure panic. Oh StarClan.. Have mercy!
YOU ARE READING
Firestorm (Book Three; Series One)
Fantasía"The dry season is coming. The Firestorm will start in the heart, and spread out until it's too late. The destructive union will take rein, and destroy us all." Branchstalk must handle the green-leaf rush of new kits and apprentices, whilst also f...
