The Clan's Omen

Chapter 2

Suddenly, the three kits started mewing for milk again. They had been nursing before, but they stopped.

"I think MarigoldPetal ran out of milk to give to those kits." BayPaw mewed.

"But we're out of borage!" WaspFur mewed.

"Let the kits die. Kits die all the time in Leaf-Bare." WaterStreak mewed.

DarkSky snarled. "You're insisting we let my kits die, WaterStreak?"

The ginger she-cat nodded.

"It's part of life, DarkSky. It's for the better to let them die then try to save them." RavenBelly mewed.

Two of the kits stopped wriggling. It was clear they starved to death. Only slight movements came from the third kit.

Then, the other queen, DustDawn spoke up. "I'll nurse her. It's for the best she at least has a fighting chance. SandyKit won't mind."

"Thank you, DustDawn. I will remember your kindness." DarkSky mewed, passing the last spotted kit over to her.

The small kit immediately began nursing at the scent of milk. SandyKit, DustDawn's kit, didn't even seemed to notice the kit nursing beside him.

"But, she still needs a name, like the other two kits." MarigoldPetal mewed.

DarkSky nodded, staring back at the small, unactive bodies. 

"PetalKit, for the almost fully black kit, and ChirpKit, for the small ginger kit." DarkSky suggested.

MarigoldPetal nodded. "Those are wonderful names, DarkSky. But what about the other kit?"  She asked.

"LeafKit, to remind you of your mistake of having kits in the middle of Leaf-Bare." RavenBelly hissed.

"L-LeafKit's a beautiful name.. Even if it comes from you." Mewed MarigoldPetal.

"I hope StarClan will let us watch her grow into a fine warrior." Said DarkSky, staring out at the snowy landscape of the camp.

"I bet she'll become a great warrior!" BayPaw exclaimed. "I'll make sure of it, promise!"

MarigoldPetal nodded her head as thanks to BayPaw. She and DarkSky watched as he and WaspFur left the den.

"I'd better be off, MarigoldPetal. ToadPaw will bite my tail off if I don't train him." DarkSky mewed, licking her on the cheek.

"Okay, DarkSky. Take care." MarigoldPetal mewed.

DarkSky nodded, leaving MarigoldPetal alone with the other queens.

"DustDawn?" MarigoldPetal called.

"Yes, MarigoldPetal?" She responded.

"Thank you so much, for nursing LeafKit. For everything." MarigoldPetal mewed.

"No problem. If it wasn't for you, me and SandyKit would've died this Leaf-Bare. As rouges where nobody even cares, I honestly think it was worse then the leaf-bares in a camp with cats that care for you." DustDawn mewed, giving the tiny cream furball a lick on the head.

"Me and DarkSky were planning to leave to ShadowClan. But then, when we found out I was expecting, we couldn't leave. We can't bring LeafKit along, either. She'd die." MarigoldPetal said.

"Well, I say you and DarkSky leave. I'll raise LeafKit. I'll tell her that her parents had to leave the clan for safety." DustDawn mewed.

"No, DustDawn, you don't need to-" MarigoldPetal was cut off by DustDawn.

"No, I owe you so much. So, consider us even." DustDawn mewed.

"I- Thank you, DustDawn." MarigoldPetal said.

"You're truly welcome, MarigoldPetal." DustDawn meowed.

"Goodbye, DustDawn." She whispered. "And goodbye, LeafKit." She licked her now sleeping kit on the forehead.