Warrior cats: Rainstar's Choice

Prologue

"Ratstar! Ratstar! Come quick!"

A black Tom, who had been soundly sleeping on his bed of soft moss, jerked awake at the panicked yelling.

"Frogear?" He mewed as he watched his deputy scurry in through the opening of his den. "What are you screeching about at this hour?"

The gray and white Tom flicked his tail, his breathing labored. Ratstar frowned, climbing to his feet. Something must be terribly wrong for Frogear to be so upset, after all, he's usually the one keeping me calm! He mused, swallowing thickly. Luckily for the leader, Frogear didn't wait long to clue him in.

"Lavafur!" He croaked, gazing at the other feline with broken eyes. "The kits are coming... only, somethings wrong!"

Ratstar didn't even bother to answer, shoving past his friend and leaping down the rocks that led up to his cave den. What does he mean somethings wrong! What could possibly be wrong? She was fine just a little while ago!

Ratstar raced across the clearing of Forestclan camp, paying little mind to his onlooking clanmates. His pace not letting up until at last he made his way into the nursery, a small hollow in an old oak tree. Bounding inside, he paused as the scent of blood slammed into him like a rock to the face. Oh Lavafur, please no!

As his night-vision set in, making it possible to see in the dark shelter. Ratstar let out a noise of grief in the back of his throat. For, on her side in a nest of moss, surrounded by a pool of her own blood, Lay the love of his life.

"Ratstar," the voice was so quiet the leader almost didn't hear it, "I'm so sorry, there's nothing more I can do."

The black cat jerked his one good green eye up so that he was face to face with the speaker. A silk white she-cat with blue eyes.

"Why didn't you call me sooner, Skipleaf!" He hissed, his hackles rising. "Why wait until she's in this condition!"

The medicine-cat flinched back, opening her mouth to respond. Before she could, however, a weak meow sounded through the tree hollow.

"Because I told her to dog-brain!" Lavafur rasped, her blue eyes meeting his green. "Didn't want you in here fussing."

Ratstar let out a strangled wail, brushing past Skipleaf and coming to crouch at his mates' side.

It was only then that he noticed the two balls of fluff at her flank. One black and white, and the other brown, with a light tan muzzle and paws, just like his mother.

"There, beautiful," he breathed, though his mewl was heavy with grief.

Lavafur smiled, a small trickle of red flowing from the corner of her mouth as she did so.

"W-What, should we call them?" She coughed, Ratstar flicked an ear.

"What about Snakekit for the brown Tom? Looks like he'll be cunning as a snake, when he's bigger." He whispered, and Lavafur purred.

"Yes... and what about Rainkit for the black and white Tom?"

Ratstar just nodded, not trusting himself to speak. She's talking to me ok, perhaps she'll be alright? Please let her be alright! He prayed.

But then, as quickly as a flame flickers out in the breeze, the light vanished from the she-cat's eyes. Her head dropped to the ground, and the sound of her shallow breathing became no longer hearable.

"Lavafur?" Her mate whispered, tears beginning to trickle from the corner of his eyes. "Please don't leave me." An answer came to his begging, but it wasn't from the cat he wanted.