The Pain of New Life

[Yoko]

Winnie flinched as another sharp yowl escaped the jaws of her older kin. The shaggy gray furred she-cat was laying on a bale of hay. The falling evening light shone down on her from the window above. The plump she-cat was convulsing rapidly and her noise was scaring off even the plentiful mice within the barn.

Winnie, the young kittypet that was kin to the convulsing Helen, shivered off in a corner. She had allowed her brothers to go ahead and fetch the father of the kits. She had so stupidly agreed to stay by Helen's side, convinced that she could help Helen in her time of need.

"Wa...ter..." Helen gasped.

"Yes of course!" Winnie mewed immediately, glad for any excuse to get away but she realized suddenly that she did not know where the water source was here. She looked around for other inhabitants in the loner's barn. "Does anyone know where I can find some water?"

[hedgie]

Somehow, in some way, she was still sleeping. She was on the verge of waking up, her clear-as-day dreams growing foggy as the nose finally affected her, reaching the white she-cat's ears. Slowly, Snowy raised her head from it's previous resting spot. The she-cat had taken a spot in the higher parts of the barn, so she could look down on the scene below her. Bright blue eyes focused on quite an odd sight. Well, it wasn't really odd, completely natural actually...but it was something she didn't see every day.

"Well, looks like the time's finally come, eh?" She mewed, carefully picking her way down to the pair. She brushed the tip of her tail across the top of Helen's head, silently offering comfort. "I know it hurts. I do, but you're going to be just fine, dear. Just hold on tight,." She purred, turning back as Helen's companion, a kittypet, asked for help.

"Water" She mewed, sitting down. "There's a drain, you know..a pipe-thing or whatever...something of that sort...but yes, it's almost always dripping water and I can't remember a time there hasn't been a puddle when a puddle was needed. You'll just need something to carry it with, like a ball of moss or something that could soak it up." She shrugged. "Whatever you can find. I'll stay with her if you want, or I can go get the water. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable. You're stressed, aren't you? This isn't the kind of thing any cat wants to go through alone...but you've gotta keep a level head and I'll help however I can." She nodded. Right now, all she could offer were tips, bits of wisdom, and comfort. Of course, she could also hand out words of encouragement to Helen.

"Hang in there, Helen. It can't be long now, and then it'll be over. Just keep goin.' And you...I should probably introduce myself, little Kittypet. My name's Snowy. I know this probably isn't the time for introductions, but I don't think we've met. Who might you be?"

[Yoko]

Winnie looked up at the white loner with wide eyes. She was scared, and there was no point in denying that at this point. But whoever she was, she was speaking in a rather gentle voice and she was taking care of Auntie Helen, who was apparently too pained to hiss or make mean remarks, or too scared to.

Like a frightened kit, Winnie clung to the she-cat's every word and nodded numbly. She had to do something to help. She knew she would be no help here. The pale brown and black-spotted cat was too afraid to go anywhere near the pained soon-to-be mother.

"I...I'll...go fe-fetch the water," Winnie mewed shakily. As she rose to her paws sluggishly, she tried to remember her manners. "Thank you."

And she bounded out of the barn momentarily to fetch the water and something to carry it with. Just outside the barn was a lot cooler and calmer. Relieved, Winnie easily located the dripping pipe. Now if only...

She doubted she would find any moss out there...Looking around she saw a blue thing that looked shockingly similar to a leaf. The house pet snared the cloth between her teeth and dragged it out from beneath a piece of two-leg trash. It was hard, but it didn't taste too bad and somehow Winnie could sense that...Cautiously, she approached the puddle and rather the blue thing curled and became damp. After a few moments, she pulled the cloth out of the water and it was heavy with water. Perfect!

Hurrying, Winnie carried the dripping cloth into the barn. "I have it!"

Helen rasped and licked her lips thirstily. Timidly, Winnie approached her weary and hurt Aunt and gave her the damp cloth to drink. She hoped the other she-cat was right and Helen would be okay. She looked questioningly at the other loner.

"What's your name?"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

For the past few minutes or so, he wasn't sure exactly how long it had been, October had tried to drown out the nearby sounds of a queen in pain by washing. And he had been at it for a while, gently combing his ginger and white fur with his tongue until it shined healthily. An easy life, living in the barn with its plentiful food supply had earned him a coat that seemed to shine when sunlight hit it. Finishing his grooming, and noticing the birthing queen was still yowling, the young tom got to his feet and watched as his mother Snowy went to help out.

He had never dealt with something like this before, and he wasn't particularly fond of queens or kits, so he lingered near the background as Snowy gave directions to the nervous-looking she-cat. October eyed her curiously; he hadn't seen her around much and he knew she didn't live in the barn. She looked near his age, but that was all he could tell from watching her. As she returned with water for Helen, October glanced over at his mother, quiet but willing to help if there was anything he could do. "Is there any way I could help?"

[Kitty]

Like her adoptive brother, Flowersky too had been trying to block out the sounds of the birthing queen. She groomed her pelt thoroughly, and still the yowling broke through. Her calico pelt shone, the white bright and spotless and the ginger and black just as shiny. She sat back, and still the queen yowled. It upset the young she-cat, actually, to hear the queen yowl like that and be unable to do anything. But Snowy was there to help, along with another young she-cat that Flowersky did not know very well. All she knew was that she was related in some way to the birthing queen.

At last, she couldn't stand not doing anything. October had already gone over to stand by Snowy, and Flowersky joined the duo in time to hear him ask whether or not there was anything he could do. "Me too?" she pleaded with her mother. Snowy wasn't her real mother, but she'd taken Flowersky in as a poor, lost kit, mother dead and abandoned by her father. She looked to Snowy as her true mother. "I don't like just standing here and doing nothing. Please?"

[Yoko]

Winnie had to admit that she was a bit frightened by all these loners. She had barely known her own Auntie for a few days, and she was caught in the middle of her kitting. She glanced a little desperately at the entrance. Where were Drake and Tybalt with the father?! Shouldn't they be here by now?

Realizing for the second time of the day that she was being rude, Winnie gave a slight bow to the two new cats. "My name's Winnie, and thanks for offering to help my Aunt Hel-"

Another shriek tore its way from Helen's jaws and Winnie jolted. She looked slowly and stiffly back at her heavily gasping Aunt. The soon-to-be-mother's eyes were completely shut and Winnie whined a little, fearing that her kin would die. Although, a part of her was quite curious. What must Helen be thinking now? Did she regret having a mate? Did she regret that she was having his kits?

Helen could feel the pain easing. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, but what she saw was not the golden straws of hay. Blackness, a mist drifting around her. The air thick in her lungs.

The shaggy gray she-cat was amazed that she could rise to her paws and that she was slender and agile again. But something terrible was sounding in the distance. A kit's wailing, distressed and frightened. Helen dashed forward. She was proud to be having Snaketail's kits! She wanted them to be taken care of!

But as she could make out the shape and color she gasped. It couldn't be...Her first born...a beautiful she-kit that she had hated and been ashamed of. She was dead! She had to be! And although she had never named it...Never wanted to be so attached, she called out a name that she [knew was the kit's.

"Pebblekit...."

Her eyes shot open, wide with pain. Her kits were here. And as she felt them separate from her body to their own, she struggled to hold to the memory of her first born. Something was wrong...she could feel it. And after her second kit left her she felt immensely light-headed.

"Listen...." she hissed, unsure if she was speaking the words or thinking them. "listen to me...!"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

October glanced over at Flowersky as she came over, asking if there was any way she could help as well. He then looked back at the she-cat who introduced herself as Winnie. He was about to tell her his own name but didn't get a chance, as suddenly another shriek came from the birthing queen, startling them both. "Is she okay?" he asked with a touch of concern in his voice. Even though he didn't know Helen, he was still worried that something might go wrong in the snappy queen's kitting. She was mumbling something, trying to speak. Unable to hear what she was saying, October moved closer and saw two small kits by her. Was that it or were there more kits? And why did Helen still appear to be in pain? He really didn't know anything about kitting so he wasn't sure if this was normal. So he just watched quietly.

[hedgie]

Snowy stood silent, her long plume of a tail held low. without looking, she knew that her son, and Flowersky, too..had joined her by her side. Her eyes were sad, desperate for the happy ending that wouldn't come. "There's not much we can do now but watch. I may not know plaything, but this is a battle Helen's probably not going to win. There's always a small chance she might. Sometimes, it only feels like your dying. i swore I was when I had you." She glanced back at October, a sad little smile crossing her face before she looked at Winnie. "If that darn tom these kits call a father doesn't get here soon, he's going to miss her." She scuffed the floor with an angry paw, grumbling.

"She doesn't look too god. kinda like she's...fading in and out." Helen's voice rasped out, so quiet they could barely hear, but it was there. "We're here...we're listening. Don't tire yourself out, dear. They're beautiful kits. Rest easy." She backed away, just a few steps, and looked at the kits. So small, so delicate. She hoped and prayed they would turn out to be respectable kits.

Slowly, she sunk down to the ground and wrapped her tail around her paws. She felt rather helpless right now. She hated not being able to fix this. All she'd aimed to do was help.

[Yoko]

ooc: Mild time-skip.

Helen laid on her side. She had passed out before she could say what she had meant too. All she could do was breath deep shuddering breaths. Her forehead felt hot and though the birthing had ended her lower half convulsed every so often in pain. Something was wrong, but she could not wake herself up...

Winnie was busy watching the kittens feed. She wasn't sure if that was okay in Helen's condition...But the kits were hungry and needed to eat. She pressed against Snowy's side. She hardly knew the strange loner cat, but her heart was pounding and she was overwhelmed by the birth...

Where are Tybalt and Drake?

"Is Helen alright?!"

Winnie whipped her head around, bristling. A large, furry, tabby came bursting into the barn. His eyes wide, and fur fluffed out.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

October had never been faced with anything like this, never imagined he would ever have to. The weak looking queen was drained of strength from the effort it took to her to give birth to the two kits, and from the sound of his mother's defeated words, she held little hope that Helen would be all right. That quickly, just like that, she was going to die? Why had she lost faith already? It was true Helen looked like she was barely able to lift her head to look at her own kits, and he didn't know anything about this, but it still confused him as to why Snowy was so quick to conclude Helen had little chance to live. October turned his thoughtful gaze on the apparently dying she-cat until he heard a sudden voice enter the barn. October turned and looked over at the strange tom that had entered. From the sound of his concern the younger tom guessed that this might be Helen's mate. But he was still wary of the newcomer's strange smell and sudden appearance. He waited for one of the she-cats to speak first, since he wasn't the type to welcome strangers or otherwise speak to anyone he didn't need to.

[Yoko]

Winnie gasped at the sight of the large furry tabby, hissing she shot away from Helen's side, her eyes stretched wide and un-absorbing.

"Who are you?! What do you want?!" she demanded.

"Chill, Sis!"

Winnie whipped around to see Drake and Tybalt slinking through the open barn door, their spotted pelts brushing and eyes fixed on the newcomer who was smothering Helen in frantic licks. Winnie sighed, if she had paid more attention moments ago she would have figured out that this was Helen's mate and not snapped at him. To hide her rising embarrassment, she whirled back to her brothers.

"What took you so long?!" she demanded to know.

"We got into a little trouble," Drake mewed, walking by his lighter tan sister and flicking his gray spotted tail to her nose. "It's all taken care of. Hey! Are these the kits?"

Winnie whipped around again. "Back up!" she hissed,
"Can't you see they need to be alone?!"

"Okay, okay, yeesh!" Drake explained, nearly walking into October. Winnie heard her silver brother whisper, "She been givin' ya trouble?"

She glared at both of them.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

October's eyes narrowed more with suspicion as two more toms entered along with the older, fluffy tom. It was going to get crowded in the barn soon, and he wasn't comfortable with all these cats he didn't recognize coming in. He doubted Helen would appreciate all the strangers as well if she was trying to give birth. However his guard managed to drop when he saw the stranger tend to Helen- he must be her mate or otherwise close to her- and when he heard one of the other toms call Winnie their sister. Still, there were getting to be too many cats around for his liking. October held back a wary growl when the silver-tom came rather close to knocking into him. But he replied, not wanting to be rude. "No, we've been helping her with Helen." he simply said.

[Yoko]

Snaketail was busy showering his mate in licks. She was awfully quiet and gasping rapidly. Had he known she would be so pained, he would have dragged Feathercloud out here also. He looked at the older she-cat here. Well, older than the youngsters that brought him here.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked, amber eyes wide with worry.

"My kit...Snaketail...my kit..."

Snaketail whipped around towards her. "Kits, Helen, we have two, remember?"

He was glanced at the two mewling kittens, suckling for all their worth.

"No...The other one..." Helen rasped. "There's...ARGH!"

"Don't speak!" Snaketail mewed, horrified by the expression of agony. He wrapped himself around Helen, licking her brow. "Is there anything we can do?"

"SNAKETAIL LISTEN TO ME!" Helen yowled, with all her old fury. "I have another kit! She's..."

Snaketail's eyes widened. Helen had fallen into sobs, her eyes were wet. In all their moons together...she had never. He pressed closer to her. Her body convulsed in pain.

"ARRRG...She's small! And gray! I left her in the forest...and some cats attacked us...I abandoned her...I hated her...wanted her to die...That was wrong," more tears. "I want you to tell her I'm sorry!"

"You'll tell her, Darling!" Snaketail exclaimed.

Helen was silent, shaking in agony.

"You will won't you?!"

Helen was still.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

October's attention went from the young cats that were speaking to him to Helen and the tom, and he watched quietly as they spoke together. He wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but he did hear something about another kit that was abandoned. Probably dead, he guessed, even him knowing that newborn kits could not survive without their mother. Speaking of their mother, Helen was becoming silent again and had stopped moving. Was she dead, October thought as the stranger spoke desperately to the unresponsive she-cat. His mother had been right. It was quiet for a while before October spoke up again. "We tried to help but there wasn't much we could do. My mother seemed to know that this would happen. I'm sorry," His voice was strong at first but seemed to fade out near the end. He still didn't like speaking to cats he never saw before. The ginger and white tom glanced at his mother and his sister, hoping the strangers would leave soon or that they could go out for a bit. He felt sorry about the death but he wouldn't linger on it for long; he had barely known the snappy she-cat.

[Kitty]

Flowersky watched the events unfold in interest from behind Snowy. Apparently she was not much needed because no cat instructed her to fetch water or anything else. So she just observed silently, letting out a start when three more cats ran in, one howling the birthing queen's name. The calico loner opened her mouth to challenge the intruder when she realized that the tabby tom must be Helen's mate. And although she didn't know the cross queen very well and had never even met the father of the kits before, she pitied them, because Helen looked very weak. She watched alongside October as the pair shared some last words and then the scruffy gray she-cat fell still. For a while, Flowersky didn't move, and just assumed that Helen had fallen asleep. But upon closer inspection, she could see that the queen didn't even breathe, and she approached her cautiously and nosed her fur. When she looked up, her eyes were sad. "I'm sorry..." she mewed, like a kit, to Helen's mate. But then she noticed the two little kits that she'd given birth to, and brightened a bit. "But, look! You've still got something to remember her by! She brought two kits into the world before.." Flowersky's voice trailed off, and she backed away from the body of the queen to leave her mate alone with her.