A Birth!

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

((I really liked your post, Frosty. ^^ So beautiful. And I like how she came up with their names.))

Earthfoot felt relief beyond what he could have imagined when Poppyfrost opened her eyes again. Not only that she was safe and unharmed, but that he wouldn't have to tell all of ShadowClan that she died under his paws. He wouldn't be able to deal with that grief if that had happened. For everyone's sake, and the kits', it was good that Poppyfrost was okay.

"...Those are very nice names." He said after a little while of silence. He glanced at each of the kits, marveling at how well their names fit. The name Frostkit reminded him of Frostwind in his own Clan. With any luck she wouldn't turn out as lazy as Frostwind. Earthfoot suppressed a quick pang of homesickness and wondered when he would go back to his own Clan. He didn't want to stay any longer than one night but he didn't know if Poppyfrost or Brindlepelt would be alright without him. Where in StarClan's name was Littlebird?

Brushing aside his wondering, he turned to the two she-cats. "Thanks for your help, both of you. I'm sure Poppyfrost and the kits are grateful. Darkflower, you can take Fogkit out to the clearing and announce the news to your Clan. That five kits were born but one was not alive. Lightfeather, would you stay here for a little? I'll go to Littlebird's den to get some borage leaves for her."

[froststream]

((Why thank you. I don't know if it was clear enough, but as long as you liked it, awesome. )

Poppyfrost percked her ears. She raised her head from the soft pile of mewling kitten fur to gaze at all the cats. "Thank you," she said, honestly. "I probably wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for you. And neither would the kits."

She shifted slightly to allow the kits who hadn't been fed to eat. A strong, steady purr came from Spiderkit as he shouldered his way into his spot. She could see how all the kits already had distinct personalities. Though she couldn't see their eyes, and they couldn't hear or see, they each had a sense of individuality. The Spiderkit, strong and charming, Finchkit, beautiful and proud, Frostkit, calm and independant, and Breezekit, bright and clever.

She felt slightly distraught that the cats were filtering in and out now, but also relieved. She didn't need to be cared for like a kit. She was the one TO care for teh kits! But she didn't argue when Earthfoot offered to get some Borage leaves. Through her bliss she still sensed pain.

[:c a i:]

"Whnpgh?" Darkflower's snort of surprise and slight horror came out as a muffled and indistinguishable sound. "I mean, what? Me? Why me?" She stared at the little, stillborn Fogkit with round eyes full of reluctance. She didn't want to be the one who brought news of the death to the rest of the Clan! She shot a panicked look at Poppyfrost, then at Lightfeather. But then, it was probably best that she did it rather than Lightfeather. She's already all mushy over the whole thing. She grumbled inwardly. She looked at poor, tiny Fogkit and approached her gingerly.

"Well. Good luck." She meowed rather uncomfortably to Poppyfrost as she gently grasped the dead kit and lifted her, ever so carefully. She turned and headed out of the nursery, into the open air. The cool breeze outside felt good, for the overcharged emotion inside was becoming suffocating. Trying not to jolt the sad, limp kit she was clasping in her jaws, she slowly made her way into the clearing and laid her down on the earth. May StarClan light your path. She gazed down at the kit, wondering what she was supposed to say or do now. She had to tell the rest of the Clan, but most of them were out at the Gathering. What happened now? Darkflower stared around, unsure, staying worriedly silent.

[Ki]

((Just jumping in...))

Like all kits, Duskkit hadn't been permitted to go to the Gathering. Since she wasn't old enough, Duskkit had tried to entertain herself outside of the Nursery. Of course her mother stayed near by. Then a little excitement happened. Poppyfrost was kitting! Of course, this brought on numerous questions about kitting and kits in general. Duskkit's poor mother answered them the best she could. ((Though the kit could never get her mother to say how kits got into a queen's belly.)) Finally, as Duskkit was falling asleep, Darkflower emerged from the Nursery with a kit in her jaws.

Duskkit was awake in moments. She scurried over to where Darkflower had set the kit down. It was tiny and unmoving. Duskkit watched it for a long while. When it didn't move, Duskkit looked up at Darkflower. "What's wrong?" This stillness wasn't right. The she-kit knew this much, at very least. Her mother sauntered up behind her and drew her away from the kit with a murmur of dismay. What was going on?

[froststream]

Tawnykit watched silently. She had been sleeping, and had awoken at the very beggining of the ordeal. She crept out of the nursery to avoid the stench of afterbirth and the squealing little kits. She padded up behind Duskkit and playfully swatted her ears. "Silly," she said seriously, but gently. "This kit was born dead. See how her flanks aren't moving? That means she isn't breathing. Sometimes taht happens, but they can still live." She took a deep breath before blurting, "Kits with di...di...dilated pupils are often suffering from complications." Tawnykit paused and took a breath. She had learned all of this from listening and observing the queens and medicine cat.Those were te exact words she had heard. Tawnykit herself wanted to be a medicine cat, too.

"Darkflower," Tawnykit mewled quietly, approaching the warrior, "They did all they could, didn't they?" Her eyes looked as though she was going to cry. "To save the kit, I mean."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poppyfrost felt pangs in her heart as she watched the full kits curl into fuzzy little balls and slip into slumber. Some of the pangs were of pride and love, and the others were for Fogkit. She knew taht in the future she would visit teh grave, and eventually take the kits there. She hoped they would love their dead sibling as much as they loved each other.

"Shh...." she cooed to the kits as they settled down. She began to purr steadily and sweetly, licking each kit as they fell asleep.

[:c a i:]

((Mmm... Be careful not to make her know too much, Frosty, because even if she's good, she won't be so good that it's like she's already been trained. She won't have been present at very many births. I'm going to make a new thread for everyone to say bye-bye to Fogkit, so I'll reply to this there. ^^))

[froststream]

Yeah, I made her sound like such a know it all. I'll fix that.

[:c a i:]

((That's cool. ^.^ She can still be a little brainbox, but just don't overdo it!))