xx sunshine on a cloudy day

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Sunheart's belly was large now. She couldn't hide it any longer and Greyfalcon was out with some other warriors, hunting. The little queen stepped into Littlefox's den and let out a small meow, odd compared to her stomach. The Rex sat down wearily. "Littlefox, are you in? I need to talk to you...," she called out tiredly.

She inhaled the pungent scent of the medicine den and leaned against the entrance of the den. She smiled at the thought of her kits and raising them in EclipseClan. She hoped her best friend Petaldance would get to mentor them one day, or maybe even Fernpelt or Amethyststar. Sunheart had begun to groom herself as she pondered.</sub>

[FIREH!!]

Littlefox padded into the den with a smile on her face. "Ah, Sunheart. I've been expecting you." She purred. The she-cat motioned for the rex to lie down. She poked around her stomach before sighing. "Sunheart.. You're pregnant." She purred happily. "Congratulations."

The great-uncle padded into the clearing. "Sunheart.. I have some grave news.." He meowed, his expression sad.

A grey coloured tom trudged into the clearing, collapsing. Blood poured from his side. "Sun- sunheart.. I love- I love you..." He whispered hoarsely, before dropping into unconciousness. Littlefox raced in and began to work on his wounds, frowning.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>In an instant, her smile expired and flashed to utter horror.

"GREYFALCON!" she screamed, hobbling to his side. "No, no, please don't do this to me... I need you. Our kits need you!" Her wails exploded from her little maw. Tear-ridden, Sunheart looked up at Spicetalon. "What happened to him? Please, tell me!" The pregnant she-cat pleaded.

She turned to Littlefox. "Can you heal him? Or is he--?" She sobbed, cutting herself off.</sub>

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Spicetalon's eyes turned to pain when he locked with his great neice's. "Sunheart.. A badger came.. And.. It attacked him. I tried to help.. I really did! But it pushed me away, and I lay in a bush, unable to move. It.. It pinned him down and began slashing.. He only got free because a mysterious cat came and scared the badger away.. Then the cat left. I finally moved and brought him here." He touched noses with Sunheart. "I'm sorry.." He meowed.

Littlefox's eyes were hard as she worked. "I do not know yet. If I can save him, then he will be disabled.. His back legs are ruined.. But there is still a good chance he will die.." She meowed gravely.

Greyfalcon's eyes filled with pain when he looked to Sunheart. "Sun-Sunheart.." He meowed. I must survive.. For her... He thought.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Sunheart cringed at Spicetalon's words and she exhaled heavily. "I...I...," she said inaudibly, coming to her feet. She shuffled to Greyfalcon's side and laid there motionlessly, her tail flickering every few moments as she stared at the dull ground in the medicine den. She seemed to lose her senses."Just do what you can," she said softly, her voice seeming to echo.}

[FIREH!!]

_{Littlefox's eyes filled with determination. "}^{I'll do my best,}<sub>" She meowed. Then she set to work again, placing many cobwebs onto the tom's coat. The blood finally ceased, and the she-cat sighed.

Greyfalcon saw a light withing his closed eyelids. His form moved to it, but then it stopped. He felt a movement beside him. The light faded, and his eyes opened dully. "</sub>^{Sun-Sunheart..}<sub>" He whispered.

Spicetalon dipped his head to his great neice and the medicine cat. "</sub>^{I'll leave you now,}_{" He meowed, before stepping out and heading for the fresh-kill pile.}

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Sunheart dropped to her side as stress roared in her blood. She sniffled and curled up, suddenly doubled over in pain. "Aaaah!" she cried out, agony rippling through her muscles. Spasms shook her body and she could smell the metallic reek of faint blood.

"What is happening to me!?" she wailed, pawing desperately at the ground. Her eyes widened. Have I been pregnant longer than I thought?</sub>

[FIREH!!]

Littlefox gasped. "Sunheart, you're going into stress-induced labour." She meowed calmly. She passed her a poultice. "Here, eat this. It will help." She meowed soothingly.

Greyfalcon struggled into a sitting position. "Sunheart... Nooo.." He rasped. "Sunheart.. Do this... without.. leaving.. mee..." His breath was coming in short gasps.

[Spice..xx]

_{Petaldance was asleep in the warriors den when a yowl of pain awoke her. Sunheart! she thought to herself and leapt to hr paws. She hurried quickly to the medicine cat den and gasped when she saw Greyfalcon. "Great StarClan, what on earth happened?" she whispered, walking over to Sunheart to try and comfort her friend. She heard Littlefox's words and looked and Sunheart, shocked. "Stress-induced labour?! Sunheart you're pregnant?!" she said, sitting down with a bump at the shock of it all. She touched her nose to Sunhearts cheek and then backed away slightly, letting Littlefox do her job. She wouldnt leave Sunheart now, no matter what.}[/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>What?! How..? I didn't know I was so far along. I've been so stupid lately. Sunheart let out another pained cry and opened her eyes slowly to eat the poultice. Her orbs were glistening with tears when she saw Greyfalcon and Petaldance. She meowed at them gratefully. She narrowed her eyes and pushed hard, ignoring the waves of pain. "Greyfalcon, I'm here. I'm here," she whispered. "I won't leave..."

She smiled gently only to wince when her first kit left her body, then the second, then third and fourth. "Toweringkit," she whispered to the toms. "Maverickkit." She turned to the she-kits. "Sphinxkit and M-m-mahoganykit..."</sub>

[Spice..xx]

_{Petaldance gasped as Sunheart gave birth. She smiled at the little kittens. They were so cute! She walked forwards and licked her friends cheek. "Well done. Would you like some help licking them?"! she asked quietly, knowing that Littlefox would be busy with Greyfalcon. She smiled warmly at Sunheart and looked at all the kittens. Who knows, maybe one day she would get to mentor one of these kits. She stood by her friend, watching all the small bundles of fur. Maybe she would like kits one day...}[/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Sure... Thanks, Petaldance," Sunheart replied wearily and thankfully as the kits started to suckle by her side. The small queen nuzzled her babies and began to lick them lovingly. However, she was so exhausted that the ginger Rex soon fell asleep, the kits nursing noisily.

((ack, short post v.v ))</sub>

[Spice..xx]

_{Petaldance smiled and waited for Sunheart to lick her kits first. She stepped forwards as her friend fell asleep and pulled the kits gently towards her, one by one, licking them gently and firmly before laying them back next to their mother to return suckling. She looked at them all lovingly. Maverickkit and Mahagonykit both ginger like their mother, Sphinxkit grey like her father and Toweringkit..well, Towerngkit looked like a kind of mix of them both. She smiled as she licked Sphinxkit, the little she-cat had ears like her mother. Petaldance looked up at Greyfalcon and smiled warmly. "You're kits are beautiful Greyfalcon. Stay with us to help Sunheart look after them" she said quietly, moving back in case Greyfalcon wanted to see his kits properly.}[/color]

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Greyfalcon's eyes blazed with pride, though he was still weak. He struggled over to Sunheart's side, much to Littlefox's protests, and rested his head on her side. He began to lick her flank weakly.

As the tom moved, Littlefox noticed something funny about his legs. "Greyfalcon, both your legs are broken." She whispered.

As the tom lifted his head, she noticed pain filling his eyes. "I do not care. I live only for her and our kits." He meowed defiantly, struggling to flick his tail at his mate and her kits. He then droppedh is head gently back onto her flank. He knew he may not live, so he made every moment count. As he listened to her gentle snoring, he purrd softly to her.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>((Cue "awww" moment xDDD))

Sunheart's gentle mews rumbled from deep inside her chest, echoing like a steel drum. The ginger queen slept deepily, dreaming of wrestling around with Greyfalcon and Petaldance. She knew she could always count on them. Too bad Amethyststar is gone. She could see them... she thought.

Maverickkit let out a loud but gentle mew at Petaldance, his eyes squeezed shut as the tiny kit was interrupted from his feeding. The rebel pushed Sphinxkit out of the way, hungrily drinking his fill.</sub>

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Greyfalcon smiled weakly at his mate, licking her soft pelt.

Sphinxkit's squeezed shut eyes seemed to glare at Maverickkit. She pushed him back and returned to feeding, sticking a little tongue at him.

Greyfalcon laughed. "Stop fighting, you two.." He purred. He gently moved Maverickit to suckle beside Mahoganykit.</sub>

[kee :]]

Toweringkit, the largest and strongest one of the four was squished in the middle of Sphinxkit and Maverickkit. He had no trouble suckling because every time one of them pushed him away, he pushed them back. He let out a loud high pitched mew when he was full and nestled beside his mothers warm body.

A thin light brown tabby tom sat across camp from the new family of six. He had watched the scene unfold before his mysterious gaze. First, Sunheart going to see Littlefox and then Grayfalcon returning with two broken legs. He was decided whether to approach him then or not but decided to stay put. He became confused and shocked when Sunheart went into stress induced labor and again, he wanted to go over there. No, he would let then have a little alone time before going over there to congratulate the young couple and their new family.

Once things were a tad calmer, the tabby stood, dark green eyes eying the four new kittens as he slowly approached the cats outside the Medicine Cat's den. He stopped about a fox-length away from the couple and smile softly at them, looking at each kit before looking at Grayfalcon. "You have such beautiful kits," he murmured thinking of how much he missed his dead mate, Linza and how much he wanted kits of his own. He smiled, pushing the thought out of his head as he sat to watch the kits for a moment or two.

[/color]

[FIREH!!]

_{The light was obscured by a thin tom. Thank you, Thymepath. Greyfalcon responed. I- I don't know if I will make it through this.. If I don't, can you take care of Sunheart and our kits? There's no other tom I could trust.. He whispered, pain racking through his body.}

ooc;; How about Thyme and Grey are estranged brothers?

[kee :]]

ooc// Umm his name is Thymepath and I would take a look at his history. He is a very different cat but they could be good friends since Thymepath joined the Clan.

Thymepath stared at his friend, dark green eyes full of sympathy as well as pain for he knew that if Grayfalcon did live, his life would be full of pain and suffering. If he died he would not suffer but his friends, kits, and mate would. Thymepath nodded slightly and looked down at the kits again as he took in Grayfalcon's words and how much he believed that he couldn't make it. The brown tabby lifted his head and was about to protest, say that Grayfalcon most definitely would survive but something held him back and he let his head fall.

"Of course I will. Anything for you, Grayfalcon."

[FIREH!!]

ooc;; Sorry. I thought I saw tansy.. :S I will change xDD And alright. They can be good friends okay.
bic;; _{Thank you, my friend. He licked Sunheart's back again. I'm glad to know they will be in safe hands. Greyfalcon struggled to stand, but Littlefox wlaked over and gently laid him back down. Your legs are broken She meowed. Greyflacon looked at her. Are you serious? He asked her quietly. Then he looked at his back legs. Yes. They were sitting at a funny angle. He gaped. Will I ever be able to be a true warrior again? He asked, his eyes filling with tears. Little fox looked at him solemnly. I do not know. I put stick and wrapped them with cobwebs to place them at a proper angle, but that is all I can do. She replied honestly.}

[kee :]]

Thymepath smiled but kept his thoughts to himself. If Grayfalcon did end up passing on to StarClan, it would be his duty to watch over Sunheart and the kits as requested by Grayfalcon. He would be a shoulder to cry on, a father to play on, and give a responsible word or two to the kits, maybe even a lesson. He didn't want that. He didn't want to feel like he was taking away his best friends kits from him, even though he was told to watch over them. Stumped, he stared at the ground, listening to Littlefox and keeping a solemn face.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Sunheart faintly heard Thymepath's voice and her light-orange eyes opened wearily. She bent her head for a moment to lick her kits and then lifted it to look at the thin tom. "You won't need to worry about me. I'll be fine," she said tiredly, trying to make her voice sound as cheery as she could.

The shy she-cat turned to Littlefox. "I...think I would be a better as a queen than a warrior," she told the medicine cat. "I'm not going to go out there again. I've seen too many hardships. I prefer to take care of the queens and kits in the nursery, even after my children are warriors. I would like to see them take my place..." She truly believed she was making the right decision for herself. She loved taking care of people and since she had not become medicine cat apprentice when she was of that age, she wanted to stay a queen forever. The Rex she-cat wanted to take care of the kits who needed parents or needed someone to talk to if they weren't feeling great. She wanted to be some type of councillor.</sub>

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Littlefox looked at her thoughtfully. "You know, you could become my apprentice, if you wished." She meowed. Littlefox turned to Greyfalcon's body and shook her head. She began applying more cobwebs to him, and fixed his legs properly again.

Greyfalcon winced in pain. "Sunheart, there's a thing for you. Becoming the apprentice.." He rasped.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Sunheart shook her head. "No, I'm fine being a queen. Thanks though, Littlefox," the ginger Rex said kindly, waving her little tail. She glanced down at her kits, laughing gently. Being so small, she would never understand how she could have given birth to four kits who, put length to length, were longer than she. She turned to Greyfalcon and licked his muzzle. "Rest, my love. You do not deserve pain."}

[Spice..xx]

_{Petaldance smiled as Thymepath entered the den. She sat next to Sunheart, watching the kits. She looked up in surprise as Sunheart talked of not being a warrior again. What would she do out there by herself, without her best friend by her side? Petaldance tried not to show her anxiety and smiled at Sunheart, her lilac-brown eyes blinking gently.}[/color]

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Littlefox dipped her head to Sunheart. "I will tell Amethyststar your choice when she comes back." She meowed respectfully. When she had finished with Greyfalcon, she stepped away. "There is nothing more I can do for him. He must rest now." With that, she sat in the shadows again.

"Sunheart.. I love you.." Greyfalcon whispered, before he fell into a deep sleep. His life was perfect. Well, almost. His mate had given birth to four beautiful kits, and he knew they would be protected. He smiled in his sleep.</sub>

[kee :]]

Thymepath slowly began to back away from the scene. He looked at Littlefox as she said nothing could be done and he fought back tears, knowing that it was a poor chance that Grayfalcon would make it. He wanted to leave, run through the territory like a wild cat to get his mind off of things but decided to help in any way. The first idea that popped into his head was to tell Scrawltale of the matter. She had grandkits and her daughter's mate was injured severely. She had the right to know.

All Thymepath knew was that they were hunting and in a few seconds he was gone, out of the den, out of camp, and into EclipseClan territory, desperately trying to find Scrawltale.

[Spice..xx]

_{Petaldance smiled and blinked at Sunheart. "Would you like to go to the nursery with the kits yet Sunheart?" she asked her friend. She looked over at the fresh-kill pile, it was reasonably full for the moment. "And would you like anything to eat?" she added, looking back at Sunheart and the kits.}[/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Sunheart struggled to her paws, still a bit lethargic from kitting. "Sure, Petaldance, thanks." she said to the she-cat, lifting two of her kits up. She nearly fell over from exhaustion though. She winced at her weakness and looked up to her friend, flashing a sad glance as Thymepath left. "Can you call over Spicetalon? I'm still weak..." The small she-cat flicked her tail.}

[FIREH!!]

_{Spicetalon was about to come over to see how Greyflacon and Sunheart were. When he heard his name, he padded over. ''Do you need help?" He asked his great-niece. He picked up a kit and stood beside her, lending her his shoulder for support.}