[[new life stirring;]]

[SHADE. :D]

The red-brown shape of Cherrysmoke hobbled into the nursery, her large belly swinging bebeath her. It was annoying, she thought, having such a fat stomach. She decided she would never let herself get fat intentionally. The she-cat lay on her bed of feathers and moss which the apprntices had gathered for her, abd let out a long breath. Not long go, she would've been doing that for the queens. Now she was a queen. A smile of pure joy broke upon her lips. She would soon give life to Crescentgaze's kits! She began to lick the base of her tail, blue-green eyes glowing.
Suddenly a strong spasm racked the length of her body. She shook it off, used to this now having been pregnant for a while. Then another spasm came, and another. Knowing this was not right, she lay down and began to lick her belly, frantically hoping it would soothe the tiny life forms in her stomach. But the spasms continued, growing more painful with each one. Eventually she rolled over into the birthing position, and yowled for her mate. he knew it was time. Her pupils diluted with pain and her face screwed up.
Her kits were coming!

[lonelylove :D]

Jasmineflower quietly slipped out of the warriors den, yawning. The early morning sun shone down on camp, making it look a-lit. Just as she was stretching, she heard a yowl come from the nursery. She padded over fast. She saw Cherrysmoke in birthing position. Jasmineflower gasped.

Cherrysmoke, are you all right?

She knew she wouldn't get an answer, so called out.

Someone! Help! Get Littlesong!

ooc; You don't mind my kitty helping, do you?

[/size]

[brook]

<sup>Crescentgaze had been getting a piece of fresh-kill for Cherrysmoke when he heard her calls. He dropped the prey and ran toward the Medicine Cat's den. "Littlesong?"he called as he entered the den.

Littlesong had been sorting his herbs when he also heard the call. He grabbed some poppy and rushed out of the den just as Crescentgaze called him. He rushed for the nursery and entered the den. He set his tail on Cherrysmoke's shoulder and whispered,"Shh, you will be okay." He set the poppy seeds down and he waited.

Crescentgaze followed Littlesong into the den and set himself beside Cherrysmoke. He comfortted her with loving licks and purring. He was nervous but he didn't want her to know that.</sup>

[lonelylove :D]

Jasmineflower sighed as Crescentgaze and Littlesong entered the nursery. She watched them take over. She hoped Cherrysmoke would be alright.

Please take care of her....

She breathed into Littlesong's ear.

[/size]

[brook]

^{Littlesong looked up at Jasmineflower and smiled. "Don't worry,"he meowed softly,"I've done this many times." He had been a Medicine Cat for many seasons. He helped Crescentgaze's mother give birth to him and Crescentgaze was a warrior. He wasn't worried but if one little thing went wrong everything could go wrong.}

[lonelylove :D]

Jasmineflower smiled back at Littlesong.

I know. I have all my faith in you, but still......

Her voice faltered. She shrugged.

Everything.....could go....

She didn't bother to finish the sentence because she was afraid of what would come out.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke looked up at Jasmineflower with fear and pain in her eyes. She smelt and saw Littlesong enter, and felt desperation race within her. She needed Crescentgaze! Then she saw ther cherised silver-grey body of her mate and fell against him as he approached, her breathing was fast and shallow, and fear thrilled through hr as she heard Jasmineflower's unfinished words. She knew what she meant. The wueen moaned in agony, worry making her frantic. It was all wrong, she thought, her kits were going to die, she was going to die... Then the pain increased to an unnatural burst; her eyes squeezed shut and she screamed. Surely it should be over by now? She felt weaker by the moment as her blood spread across the earth. Her leant all her weight on her mate, terror in her eyes as she struggled.

[brook]

<sup>Littlesong looked at the fear and pain in Cherrysmoke's eyes but looked away from and at the blood that was covering the nursery floor. He prayed to StarClan that she wouldn't lose too much blood. "Just breathe, Cherrysmoke,"he meowed comforting.

Crescentgaze's eyes were filled with worry and fear for his mate. He licked her head and whispered,"Shh, everything will be alright." He closed his eyes and prayed to StarClan as well that she would be alright.</sup>

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke looked up at Littlesong as she faintly heard him speak. She looked at her mate, her agony and fear reflected in her blue-green eyes. She flinched as a burst of psin thrilled through her. Then she saw a tiny kit appear, and relaxed a little. As more bursts of pain erupted, she watched three more kits be born. Afterwards, she gasped as the pain continued. Her blood continued to flow, though her kits livd...

[brook]

<sup>Littlesong let out a sigh, almost in relief as he saw the three cats appear. He started to lick the first one and motioned for Jasmineflower and Crescentgaze to help. As he licked the kit, he motioned for Cherrysmoke to eat the poppy seeds that he had put nearby her head.

Crescentgaze let out a purr of happiness when all the kits were born and to see that he love had made it through this far. He licked her ear before padding over to a white she-kit. He started to lick her cold body.</sup>

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

A small kit opened his mouth wide in a silent wail, being a bit. He was the only kit that was a tom.

[reflect]

^{Hearing faint cries of dispair from afar, a red pelt twitched repeatedly. What could be happening? Many thoughts raced through the mind of the young apprentice, fo she hadn't experienced many horrible situations. She has heard tales from elders of large birds swooping down from the skies above and carrying helpless kits - and maybe even younger apprentices like herself - away from their families and friends. Having a long delayed reaction to the sounds, she bounded across camp, and the sound led her to the nursery. This couldn't be that bad, after all, the worst it could be is a strong pain with the mother to the kits. Rarely did kits die, especially around the beginning of new-leaf. It always begins to get much warmer around this time, and so Scarletpaw, not meaning to interrupt anything, burst in. She just watched a few tail-lengths away, staying close to the entrence.
Anything I can do?}

[brook]

^{Littlesong looked up from cleaning one of the young kits. Seeing Scarletpaw near the entrance, he flicked his tail for her to come in a clean the gray tabby kit that seemed to be the most lively from the bunch.}

[reflect]

^{Noticing immediately the gesture from Littlesong, she rushed over, ready to help. A hard breeze blew, just reminding SerenityClan leaf-bare was not over yet. Hopefully, by licking the young kits it would keep them warmer than the air around them. She viciously rasped her tongue across the small kit's body, little gray fur sticking to her lips. Although being quite young to be even thinking about this, she desired for a mate in her own Clan, where she could share her love with him, and some day have kits of her own. Just seeing these little wonders squirming around made her so anxious, but her heart sank in cold water when she had a strong sensation no tom in her Clan would even consider her as more than a friend. She was close friends with almost all the toms, and probably half of them didn't like her like that or they thought it might ruin their friendship. How could she ever be happy?}

[lonelylove :D]

Jasmineflower could only stare as the first kit came out, and was handled by Scarletpaw, who had just entered. She felt trapped, almost. She closed her eyes, and slowly, her breathing came back to normal. She then opened her eyes and staggered forward, toward Littlesong and Scarletpaw.

Is....is there anything I can do to help?

[/size]

[brook]

^{Littlesong pushed the other kit towards her. "Clean this kit,"he meowed and kept cleaning the other one until she was slick and set her at her mother's belly}.

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke noticed SCarletpaw enter and hissed as she licked the grey tabby kit, hinking the apprentice was licking a little too hard. After all, like all mothers, she was protective over her young. She licked up the poppy seeds, and after a few moments, the steady flow of blood slowed then stopped. But she felt weak and frail, and her head fell back. Her legs felt weak as if they were made from paper, not hard bone and sinew.

[brook]

<sup>Soon, all the kits were clean and Littlesong made sure they were next their mother's belly and nursing. He smiled and looked up at Cherrysmoke. "Congrats,"he whispered and looked up at Crescentgaze. "Keep an eye on her,"he mewed more jokingly and back out of the den. Flicking his tail for the other cats to leave, he headed for his den. His head was high and his eyes were full of pride.

Crescentgaze smiled and thanked Littlesong before laying beside Cherrysmoke and wrapping his tail around her. He licked her ear and mewed, softly,"I love you more than anything."</sup>

[lonelylove :D]

Jasmineflower gave the kit a quick cleaning. Then, she gently pushed it toward Crescentgaze. She smiled at the mother.

Congratulations.

Then she gave Littlesong a smile, and left the nursery.

[/size]

[reflect]

^{Blue eyes were filled with happiness and sorrow at once as she stared down at the kits, creating a strange mixed up emotion. She longed for kits of her own, but it would rarely happen, atleast anytime soon it wouldn't. She smiled sweetly at Cherrysmoke, although she had a hunch she didn't like her very much. After that whole incident with the non-verbal fight over Crescentgaze... She'd rather not relive the moment. Her tail dragged in the dust as she left the secured nursery.}

[SHADE. :D]

After recovering slightly, Cherrysmoke dipped her head in thanks to the hree cats who had helped her deliver her kits. "Thankyou," she breathed shakily, dipping her head to Littlesong, Jasmineflower and Scarletpaw all in turn. When her gaze reached Scarletpaw she flicked her tail and the corners of her mouth jerked upwards breifly; a sign the ginger apprentice was forgiven.
She stared down at her litter of four with soft, tender eyes. She smiled as one riggled and opened its tiny pink mouth in a mew. She nudged the kit closer, then proceded to name them. She brushed her nose over each as she gave them their names: "Pansykit," she named the little ginger-tabby-and-white she-kit. "Petalkit," she named the pure white she-kit. "Moonkit," she named the tiny silver tabby, the only tomkit of her litter. "Daisykit," she named the last little she-kit, a honey-coloured tabby.

[FIREH!!]

The lithe figure of Snowflake filled the entrance. "What have we here?" she meowed.

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke hissed and protectively wrapped her body arond her kits. Her narrowed eyes made out the body of Snowflake, and she relaxed. She felt faintly annoyed, though. One kit let out a high-pitched mew, and Cherrysmoke instinctively hushed him. She halted, surprised; where were those motherly instincts coming from? As a youngster she had never harboured any desire to be a mother, yet now she felt so tenderly for her son and daughters. "I think you can see," Cherrysmoke told Snowflake.

[FIREH!!]

"They're adorable," she whispered. "Congratulations.". An emotion hit Snowflake. Jealousy?

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke dipped her head in thanks. She saw emotion flash in her eyes and stiffened. She frowned; why did every cat want to be like her? Scarletpaw, Snowflake... She hissed angrily, curling up around her kits, turning away from the white warrior to show that she had offended her.

[FIREH!!]

Snowflake's eyes warmed for once. Usually they were ice-cold, but now, they were warm. "I'm sorry. They are so beautiful." she purred.

[brook]

^{Crescentgaze's eyes rested on Scarletpaw as she left the den. He felt horrible for the many days before this day when she almost killed herself. He had help save her but he knew that she liked him. He looked down at his kits and his gaze of sorrow went away. The little kits that nestled by their mother made his heart leap with happiness. He licked each one's head and looked up at Cherrysmoke. "They are wonderful names,"he mewed softly and stared into her eyes but when Snowflake came and started to speak to Cherrysmoke, he stood and looked at her. "Cherrysmoke needs to rest. She has just given birth,"his voice was just a tad annoyed but his face was stirn.}

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke smiled breifly at Snowflake before nodding a little at her mate's comment. She busied herself licking a speck of dirt off of one of Moonkit's silvery-backed ears.

[FIREH!!]

Snowflake nodded and backed out of the den.

[brook]

^{Crescentgaze smiled as the other warrior left the den. Now it was just Cherrysmoke, him, and their kits. He quickly padded back to his mate and curled up next to her. He licked her ear and whispered,"They will be the best kits in the forest." He nuzzled her reddish fur and settled his head on his paws.}