The Rise of Deathclan

Rise of Death clan (Page 3)

Dustfall lay stretched out on the nursery floor panting. A ripple waved through her body as she bit down on the stick in her mouth.

Sunnykit had been batting at a piece of moss in the den with boredom when a sudden gasp alerted her mother sending her rushing to Dustfall's side. Sunnykit was sent scurrying to fetch Herbscent who was now crouched over Dustfall, her tortoiseshell pelt full of dust. The queen was in labor and Sunnykit watched anxiously, it was the day after the meeting and her mother hadn't allowed her to mention rogues again, Stonekit was sent out to fetch Tigerfang who was now limping back and forth outside the nursery awaiting the arrival of his kits.

Herbscent concentrated and placed a paw on the she-cat's swollen belly, Sunnykit watched with curiosity as Dustfall screwed up her face in pain as another contraction hit.

"Your doing very well." Herbscent mewed gently.

Sunnykit wasn't too convinced. The birth had been going on quite a while now, most of the clan was gathered outside to wait for news.

"Did it take this long when Stonekit and i were born?" Sunnykit asked her mother who was lying down her eyes fixed on Dustfall.

Pearlnose looked down with calm blue eyes. "It's different for every queen." She mewed softly.

"Not long now." Herbscent purred. "I feel two kits."

Sunnykit couldn't contain her excitement, new kits! Stonekit glanced at her with the same amount of excitement in his eyes.

Finally a great spasm made Dustfall's eyes glaze with pain as a small brown bundle slid into the moss. Pearlnose leaped over to lick it dry, Herbscent smiled. "It's a girl." She told the new mother. But before Dustfall could respond another contraction hit and out came a tiny brown kit.

"That one's really small." Stonekit whispered. Sunnykit nodded as Herbscent licked it dry.

"A tom." she announced. "Congratulations." She let the kits crawl over to their mother's belly to suckle. Pearlnose called her kits.

"Come say hello, but be gentle." she called. "Well done, Dustfall." Pearlnose turned to the queen.

Dustfall turned, her eyes full of love as she looked at the little bundles. Pearlnose went out to fetch Tigerfang as Sunnykit got closer, the tom-kit was very small as she sniffed them. Dustfall purred.

"What you gonna call them?" Sunnykit asked. Dustfall looked at her and Stonekit.

"I'll wait for Tigerfang and then decide." she mewed.

Suddenly Tigerfang appeared and settled beside his mate and gave her a lick before glancing at his kits. "They're beautiful." He mewed softly. "What are their names?"

"I would like to name the she-kit Fawnkit." Dustfall whispered. "You name the tom." Tigerfang's blue eyes were all for the small tom. "Hurricanekit," he decided. "A good strong name for this little guy." He nuzzled Hurricanekit. Pearlnose smiled at the new parents then stood up.

"I'll go tell Birchstar." She purred, padding away. Sunnykit and Stonekit followed.

"I can't wait to play with the new kits!" Stonekit mewed excitedly. Foxpaw and Barkpaw were walking by as he spoke.

"The kits are here?" Barkpaw mewed as Foxpaw stuck his head into the nursery, he backed out and mewed. "The brown one is tiny." He mocked.

Sunnykit bristled. "He's young!" She hissed. Foxpaw licked his ginger paw.

"He'll make a lame warrior being that small." He nudged Barkpaw, the brown apprentice didn't look like he agreed, but stayed silent.

"Sunnykit was about to reply angrily when her brother stopped her. "Come on, it's not worth wasting your breath." He led her away sensibly. The apprentices trotted over to the fresh-kill pile.

"That wasn't fair!" Sunnykit complained. "So what if he's small? Those stupid mousebrains!" she hissed. Stonekit looked calmly at his little sister, his green eyes soft. "Then i think we should make an oath to watch over Dustfall's kits." He declared.

Sunnykit looked at him. That was a great idea! "I promise not to let ANYTHING happen to them!" she swore.

"Me too," Stonekit purred as he cuffed her gently. As she leaped to play fight with him, Birchstar appeared, his green eyes shinning as he yowled. "All cats old enough to climb the High Branch gather for a clan meeting."

As cats began to spill out of dens Sunnykit turned to Stonekit. "We'd better go before we get in trouble for being at the meeting." She fretted. Stonekit nodded. "Yeah, come on." They trotted to the nursery quickly, but suddenly a black and white shape blocked their path.

"Where are you two going?" Badgerpelt smiled good-naturally. "It's your ceremony."He mewed. He purred at their shocked expressions. Sunnykit had clear forgot due to the birth of Dustfall's kits and now she was a mess. Badgerpelt padded to join Pearlnose as she smiled at her kits. Sunnykit licked her fur as best she could.

"Come on, let me help." Stonekit licked her back then sorted his own fur.

"Thanks." she purred. Both kits trotted to the middle of the clearing surrounded by the gathered cats. Tigerfang sat at the nursery entrance so he could here and keep an eye on the new kits. Herbscent padded past with a wave of herbs smelling all over her fur, Leafshade licked her sister in greeting, their coats almost identical an exception of Leafshade's black face. Birchstar began.

"Cats of TreeClan, i have some news, as most of you know by now I'm sure, Dustfall has given birth." Yowls of happiness came from the clan as many of them looked over at the nursery where Tigerfang sat gleaming with pride. "What are the names?" Birchstar asked as wind ruffled his tabby coat.

Tigerfang stood up and raised his voice. "The she-kit is Fawnkit and the tom is Hurricanekit, he is small, but strong." He announced. Birchstar nodded with agreement and some cats like Blackleaf and Cloudsnare mewed their congratulations.

"But, i have more news to announce. " Birchstar looked at the kits. Sunnykit noticed Stonekit was sitting up straight now, she tried to do the same but ended up looking less dignified.

"We have two new apprentices to be named. Sunnykit." Sunnykit wasn't focusing as the leader called her name. She looked unsure and saw her parents and brother urging her on. She felt sunhigh warmth on her back and walked towards the Old Oak, Birchstar gazed down softly. He began. "By naming apprentices, we show that Treeclan will survive and that we are strong. From this moment on until Sunnykit has earned her warrior name she'll be known as Sunnypaw." Sunnypaw's nerves vanished as she happily looked up at her leader. His gaze flickered until it rested on a black she-cat.

"Blackleaf!" He called. Her green eyes lit up in surprise and Sunnypaw felt excited. Blackleaf was a great fighter! She couldn't wait till battle training. "Blackleaf, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You'll mentor Sunnypaw. You have shown yourself to be a great warrior with the spirit of TigerClan in battle though you still understand the virtues of loyalty and respect and I'm sure you'll pass all your knowledge to this apprentice." Birchstar mewed.

Blackleaf nodded and smiled at Sunnypaw. She padded over to her mentor and touched noses. Stonekit glanced at Sunnypaw who smiled as his name was called. "Stonekit," Birchstar  meowed. "From this day on till you receive your warrior name you'll be known as Stonepaw." He looked at one cat with knowing. "Tigerfang how's that wound?" He mewed grinning, he knew Stonepaw had been longing for this mentor, his eyes gave way his excitement as Tigerfang purred with amusement. "Healed enough for an apprentice i should say." He glanced at Herbscent who gave and approved nod.

Birchstar purred humorously. "So it's settled, Tigerfang you have shown great courage and strength and i know you'll do a good job in mentoring this young tom." He declared. Stonepaw and Tigerfang touched noses, Sunnypaw caught her brother's eyes as he flicked his tail excitedly.

"Sunnypaw! Stonepaw! Sunnypaw Stonepaw!" The clan cheered their welcome and Sunnypaw felt her gold and white pelt go hot with all the attention. Her parents yowled their names with their tails entwined.