Prolouge

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Deep in the frost-bitten forest, four cats were running through the brittle undergrowth, towards the sounds of screaming.
Dawnclaw felt his light ginger paws thud the ground harshly, and winced as the rough turf dug into his pads. However, that didn't faze him for long, as Dawnclaw launched himself through a clump of thick bushes, a She-cats cry's of pain still wringing in his soft ears.
This was not the way he planned to spend his warriors vigil.
"Dawnclaw!" A feminine voice sounded from behind him, "Let me lead!" She called. Dawnclaw slowed, and allowed Clearstar to overtake him, her gray fur nothing more than a blur against the moonlight trees.
Dawnclaw started back up again, this time keeping check of his pace.
From behind, Dawnclaw could hear the gasping that came from a newly apprenticed Featherpaw, who had most likely never run before. Beside her, Brambleleaf was there. Urging the young cat to move, her mouth full with various herbs.
"We're almost there!" Clearstar called, priking her ears, "I can hear her!"
"Huf- huf- hokay-" Featherpaw slurred, her breath coming out in ragged gasps.
Dawnclaw sped up his pace, until he was neck-in-neck with Clearstar.
But Dawnclaw wasn't here for long, as he soon faltered, the sickly stench of blood and fear overwhelming him, Featherpaw to, looked perturbed, and wrinkled her nose.
Suddenly, Clearstar let out a gasp of horror, and stopped in her tracks, her long fur spiky. Dawnclaw trotted up to where Clearstar was, and immediately wished he hadn't.
There was a she-cat, lying in a dark puddle of blood, her eyes were clouded over with pain, as her sides heaved. Next to her, a dark Tom was brushing his paw up her sides, his eyes wild and terrified.
Dawnclaw felt his stomach turn, wether it was is disgust or fear was beyond him at this point.
"Leave her alone!" The unfamiliar toms voice snarled menacingly, "She'll be FINE."
But the Tom didn't believe that, Dawnclaw knew he didn't. The black toms fur was standing on end, and his eyes were wide with fear. The sent of dread cling to him like moss to a tree.
"Don't worry." Clearstar meowed, regaining her composure, "We have a very skilled medicine cat, who wi-"
"NO!" The tom snarled, "DONT TOUCH HER."
Brambleleaf pushed her way infront of her clan-mates, Featherpaw trailing close behind.
The dark Tom stepped forward menacingly, but his companion let out another ear-shattering wail of pain. The dark Tom paused, his eyes only showed concern.
Brambleleaf pushed pass the Ton, and set down her supplies. Next to her, Featherpaw was shivering, and had wrapped her tail around her paws.
"Featherpaw." Brambleleaf meowed, " Feel her belly, can you feel a knot?"
Featherpaw hesitated, but reached forward, and glided her paw across the pregnant cats stomach, stopping very near her hind-quarters.
"Good." Brambleleaf meowed, "That lump feels weird because that's a stuck kitten. Brambleleaf shook her head, her gaze determined. "When I say go, slowly apply pressure to the top of the lump, try to move them out."
Featherpaw stared and Brambleleaf for a second, shock and anxiety radiated off of her pelt, but her only other acknowledgement was a dip of the head.
Dawnclaw itched to go and help them, but before he could ask, Clearstar stopped him, "Just let her do what she needs to Dawnclaw." Clearstar sighed, "We won't be of any help at the moment."
The She-cat in labour moaned in pain, her eyes glazed with the struggle. From three tail-lengths away, Dawnclaw could see her body shiver violently.
"Get ready Featherpaw." Brambleleaf warned, "A contractions coming."
Featherpaw nodded, her eyes wide as she waited for what could be the final contraction.
Soon, The she-cat wailed in pain, and dug her paws into the sodden ground. Her stomach violently began to move.
"Now." Brambleleaf meowed calmly to her apprentice, Featherpaw shivered, and began to press her paw along the She-cats side, where the kittens were most likely stuck.
Dawnclaw flattened his ears as the unknown cat screeched, her claws grabbing the soil again. Brambleleaf Bowed her head down, and grabbed what seemed to be a slick sack of fluff. Brambleleaf made eye contact with Clearstar, who moved suddenly, picking up what Dawnclaw realized a little late was a kit, in her maw.
Clearstar set the kitten down, and began to drag her tongue over its fur. Beside her, Brambleleaf picked up another kit, and motioned for Dawnclaw to come over.
Hesitantly, he came over to the now quieter body of the She-cat, taking a little black kitten from Brambleleaf. Dawnclaw set the kitten down, a little ways away from the Medicine cat, and began to groom the baby. Wincing as the texture of wet fur coated his tounge.
"Three kits." Brambleleaf meowed happily, "three healthy kittens. Congratulations-"
"Ink," The Tom meowed softly, making Dawnclaw blink in surprise, he had forgotten that Ink was there. Dawnclaw turned his head, expecting a happy father, but Inks eyes were focused on his mates fur.
"Marigold?" He mewed, inching closer to the still she-cats side.
"Marigold? "

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