WARRIORS The Moons of the New Great Battles

Chapter 1

"Fetch the stick, juniper berries, and raspberry leaves! A kitting!" Alderheart called. 

Dreamcloud lay on the ground, writhing. Her eyes were glazed with pain. She let out a gasp as she felt another sharp jab at her belly.

"You'll be fine," Starstream soothed, her green eyes full of warmth.

"It'll be over soon," Rosebreeze promised.

Just then, an agonized wail rang over the noise.

"Morningkit!" Dreamcloud croaked, struggling to her paws, only to be gently pushed down by Starstream.

"Morningkit's in danger!" Dreamcloud snapped, a fiery protection surging up inside her, "Let me go!"

"Stay, Dreamcloud!" Starstream ordered, "Butterflyshade can go check on Morningkit, and if she actually is in danger, I will bring her to see you."

Dreamcloud nodded reluctantly, laying down again.

Butterflyshade padded out of the medicine cat den. She returned soon after, padding over to Dreamcloud.

"Well?" Dreamcloud demanded, her eyes flying out of the medicine cats'den and fixing on a small shape all huddled up. Morningkit's tortoiseshell fur was sticking up in clumps, and Dreamcloud couldn't push down the anxiety that was clawing at her fiercely.

"Only a nightmare," Butterflyshade reassured Dreamcloud gently, "I'll go get some thyme for her for the shock."

Dreamcloud blinked gratefully at Butterflyshade and dipped her head. Dreamcloud's fear scent faded quickly, leaving only her usual ThunderClan smell.

Dreamcloud winced as she felt another kick. She flinched as she felt a jab. Dreamcloud squirmed like a helpless kit, her eyes wide and full of pleading.

"Let this stop!" Dreamcloud prayed, "Please StarClan, I would rather join you than suffer this! Death is nothing compared to this!"

"Eat." Starstream commanded, nudging a few juniper berries to Dreamcloud.

Dreamcloud gulped the berries down obediently, still gasping in pain. 

"A kit is coming!" Rosebreeze exclaimed, fetching a stick.

"Bite on it." Alderheart urged.

Dreamcloud felt a kit push out and she felt unbearable pain wash over her. She bit on the stick so hard that it splintered, wood flying in all directions. She blocked the screech of pain that would have came tumbling out of her mouth if not for her stick. 

A wet bundle slid out of Dreamcloud's belly.

Starstream immediately licked it backwards and got the kit breathing.

Butterflyshade fetched another stick and placed it beside Dreamcloud. Then she placed some raspberry leaves on Dreamcloud's belly, which was stained blood-red, and blood still pooled out.

Dreamcloud didn't have to be told to bite the stick this time. Wood filled Dreamcloud's jaws and she spat them out after another kit slid out.

Alderheart licked the kit until it too, started to breathe. 

Starstream prodded Dreamcloud's belly with a paw. 

"No more!" Butterflyshade mewed. "Well done! Two toms and Morningkit!"

Dreamcloud gazed feebly at Starstream, wheezing, "Am I done?"

"Yes," Starstream replied.

Just then, a flame-colored tom padded into the medicine cat den.

"Hi Flamestar," Dreamcloud rasped, touching noses with her mate.

"Our kits are awesome!" Flamestar purred, "I'm so proud of you!"

Sweetcloud blinked at Dreamcloud happily, meowing, "My kits are coming tomorrow!"

Dreamcloud smiled at her newborn kits.

"How about Alderkit for the reddish brown tom?" Dreamcloud murmured.

"And Barkkit for the brown tom?" added Flamestar.

Dreamcloud nodded. What wonderful kits StarClan has sent her!