[.not here.not now.] a m e t h y s t

[SHADE. :D]

The bundle of black fur that was Amethyststar was curled up tight in her den to disguise her bulging stomach. She had been reduced to telling Fernpelt what she wanted the clan to do, as she did not wish for her clan to know she was pregnant. That would only lead to questions and accusations; she never wanted any cat to know who the kits' father was, except perhaps Lunardance.
Amethyststar lifted her head as if something had disturbed her. It couldn't have been one of her clan; they all thought she was very ill and would not come near her. Then she felt it again. That tremor through her body. The black she-cat shut her eyes, willing StarClan not to bring life to her kits just yet, but the pain only mounted up, until Amethyststar stretched out and yowled for Lunardance.
Her kitting had begun.

[fernie. (:]

Fernpelt heard the yowl and skidded into her leader's den. 'What is is Amethyststar? Hold on, I'll run and get Lunardance.' she sprinted out of the den and across the clearing, hoping to StarClan that Lunardance was in her den. 'Lunardance!! Amethyststar needs you!' the tortoiseshell she cat yowled, scanning the dark den for the medicine cat. Fernpelt had long since guessed that her leader was pregnant, she wasn't stupid. She hadn't said anything though, for her leader- and her own sakes.

[lonelylove :D]

Moonmist skittered in front of the leader's den, panting. She heard Amethyststar yowling from inside. She crept inside. Her leader looked terriblely in pain. She went over to her and licked Amethyeststar's shoulder gentlely.

You'll be alright.

She bit her lip, trying not to think about Lonelyheart, who had died only a day before. She hoped that Amethyststar wouldn't die, too.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar heard Fernpelt calling, and shivered. She had hoped that only Lunardance would know about her pregnancy - but with a bulging stomach that wasn't exavtly easy to hide, Amethyststar realised most of EclipseClan probably already knew. She went rigid as Moonmist arrived, not from the sight of the grey warrior, but from a hort burst of agony. One kit was born, followed by a second. Both were smudgy white, their fur plastered to their skinny bodies. Amethyststar watched her kit's draw shallow breaths and hurriedly named them; "Frostedkit and Talonkit." As soon as the words left her lips the kits fell still. They were dead. Tears slid from Amethyststar's eyes.

They're our's now...

[razor]

_{Lunardance hadn't been in her den when Fernpelt called, she had been out collecting some precious herbs that mysteriously went missing from her collection. It was only when she padded into camp did she hear the out wailing yowls. Stiffening up her eyes grew large, dropping the herbs she sprinted over to the den and pelted inside. "Every one get out, now" she shrieked loudly before running over to her Leader. With her breathing becoming unsteady she let out a low wail. Staring at the two dead cream-white kittens she prodded gently at them, trying to get them to move. "I've did it again! I'm loosing kittens! Oh StarClan help me!" she cried. Pushing away the tears she licked at Ameythystar's stomach, easing the pain for the she-cat. "Fernpelt, get me some cobwebs, poppy-seeds and a clump of herbs, the herbs are in the right hand corner, get them, NOW!" she said in a hurried rush.}

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar felt comforted by Lunardance's presence as her litting went on. She wanted to tell the medicine cat it was not her fault Frostedkit and dear little Talonkit had died; it was fate. Well, cruel fate. Twisted fate. She clenched her fangs as the pain spiralled, and she felt two more kits be born. These were a small she-kit with her long dark brown and white fur plastered to her body, and a silver-grey tabby like Amethyststar's brother, Spicetalon. She could tell by these kits' laboured breathing that death was circling them like a cougar. "Rufflekit and Shadedkit," the words spilled out of her mouth, and as if on cue, the kits crumpled. Amethyststar sobbed hpelessly; was this StarClan's punishment? But her labour was not over yet..

You'll never know them, either...

[fernie. (:]

Fernpelt ran from the den as fast as her legs could carry her, and took a large leaf from the medicine cat's den to wrap all the things in. She hurriedly threw them into a bundle and grabbed it with her teeth, then sprinted back across the clearing. She dropped the bundle at Lunardance's feet and waited in the shadows for an order.

[lonelylove :D]

Moonmist stood up and backed out of the den. She remembered the dead kits vividly. They scared her. She poked her head back into the den, feelingshe needed to do something.

Should I bury the two dead kits?

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

[ooc;] -pokes Lonely- Four.
[bic;] Amethyststar sank her claws into her bedding, tearing the moss into ribbons, her tail lashing in agony. She then moaned as two more kits were born. She looked at the little kits, scared for their lives. The two were particularly small, but their sides pumped with breath powerfully. A smile curled over Amethyststar's mouth and she licked each tiny scrap of fur clean, before examining them. The first was a fluffy white she-cat; now that her fur was dry it looked warm and thick, like any other kit's. "Selenekit," she mewed. The second kit was a small, coal-bkack tom, but as Amethyststar turned in over to look for any markings, she potted two white slashes, like scars, across his chest. "Corbynkit."
The black she-cat crumpled, her head bowed on her paws and her tail withering. She was exhausted, and had lost a lot of blood.

[FIREH!!]

Spicetalon ran in and coaxed his sister. "Are you alright?" he asked. Seeing the four dead kits, his eyes welled up with tears. He held them back as he lay down next to her and began to groom Amethyststar's fur.

[lonelylove :D]

ooc; Opps, sorry, I can't count XD

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

[ooc;] xD
[bic;] Amethyststar numbly licked the two little scraps of ebony fur at her stomach, her eyes wide. She curled her legs and body protectively around the tiny kits as she felt a tongue slide over her, but relaxed when she recognized Spicetalon's voice. The smaller black she-cat leaned into her brother's chest, shaking with shock and pain from the sudden birth. She had lost four kits. Four. But who to? Where had they gone? To StarClan...? She doubted it. A deep, dark, sinister whisper in the back of her mind was trying to convince her it was somehow someone else's fault... Not her's. And she was listening to it.

[fernie. (:]

Fernpelt padded quietly out of the leader's den, not wanting to disturb Amethyststar and her kits. She went over to the fresh kill pile and wondered whether she should take some for her leader. She picked up a rabbit and walked back to the den. She left it just inside the door, then dipped her head and backed out again.

[lonelylove :D]

Though Amethyststar hadn't replyed to her question, she, one by one, dragged the kits outside the den, and into the clearing. She called over to Fernpelt.

Fernpelt, could you help me bury these kits?

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar watched her four dead kits being dragged from her den by Lonelyheart. She opened her mouth to protest, but no sound came out. She remembered being reluctant to bury her mother and father's bodies; it was as if she were losing that cat for good. But she had always been reassured that their soul would live on in StarClan. She shuddered when she reliased that for her kits, it would not be so.

[fernie. (:]

'Of course, Lonelyheart.' Fernpelt came over to the she-cat and gingerly picked up two of the dead kits by the scruffs of their cold fur. She signaled with her tail for Lonelyheart to follow her and padded out of camp.

[SHADE. :D]

Beacanpaw scampered from the medicine cat's den, limping heavily on his scarred shoulder. He trotted over to his mentor, eyes widening at the dead kits she and Moonmist carried. Little did he know they were his kin. He padded up to Fernpelt and smiled at the tortoiseshell warrior. Ever curious, he meowed; "Where are you going? Whose kits are they? Can I come?"

[fernie. (:]

'No Beacanpaw, you must stay here. The camp needs you. All will be explained when the time comes.' Fernpelt said, then picked up the dead kits again and followed Lonelyheart.

[FIREH!!]

ooc:// Moonmist o.O

bic:// Spicetalon purred gently to calm his sister. "It'll be alright," he meowed.

[SHADE. :D]

Beacanpaw looked downcast. He sat down and flicked his stubby little tail, looking sulky. "You never let me go anywhere with you!" he complained, paws kneading the dirt. "I'm supposed to be your apprentice, but we havn't trined for ages." Beacanpaw knew this was partly to do with him injuring his shoulder, but he did not mention this. Without waiting for Fernpelt's response, the little tom got to his paws and stalked back to the apprentices' den, nose in the air.
Amethyststar looked at her brother with wide, scared amber eyes. "You promise me? You promise me it'll all end now? No more death, no more betrayel, everything...?" Her voice was full of uncharacteristic desperation.

[FIREH!!]

"I promise you that I will be by your side until my last breath. the rest of our kin will protect you as well. I cannot promise you that this betrayal will end, but I promise you that I will protect you from whatever is taking away our cats." he licked his sister's head.

[fernie. (:]

Fernpelt sighed at her apprentice, and promised silently that she would train with him tomorrow.

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar looked reassured. She pulled the sleek black kits closer to her belly, anxiously licking and sniffing their dark fur. She hoped they would survive. She smiled down at Selenekit, savouring the sight of her daughter. She would give her to Atroxfire, when she was old enough to travel. She would never remember whom her mother was, or her brother. And Corbynkit would never remember his sister, or know his father. It had to be that way. Amethyststar curled her fluffy coal-coloured tail about the kits, scared they might get too cold though sunlight raged outside.

[lonelylove :D]

Moonmist gave Fernpelt a sad glance. She dropped the body she was carrying.

Maybe you should have let him come. I can't blame him, he's probably bored moping around camp all day.

She flicked her ears back, hoping she hadn't affended Fernpelt.

[/size]

[FIREH!!]

"They're beautiful," he breathed, licking each kit. "Do you still need me?" he asked, "I was going to assess Beacanpaw and Sunpaw today, if that's alright," he meowed hesitantly, not wanting to leave his sister's side.

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar lifted her head, looking more the strict leader than the distraught mother now. She flicked her ears after Fernpelt. "No, you must asses the apprentices. Take Fernpelt along too, and Spectrumpaw, Glacierpaw and Scarletpaw."

[FIREH!!]

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything. I mean Anything." he meowed.

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar flicked her ears in silent agreement, before waving her tail towards the apprentices' den. "Go now. I'll be fine."

[FIREH!!]

"Okay," he meowed hesitantly. Spicetalon left and called the apprentices. "Beacanpaw, Sunpaw, Glacierpaw, Spectrumpaw, and Scarletpaw!" He called.

[SHADE. :D]

Beacanpaw hesitated as he heard Spicetalon's voice, then prang to his paws and padded from the apprentices' den to stand in front of his kin. "Yes?"
Spectrumpaw followed Beacanpaw, stretching his jaws wide in a yawn. He walked on his scarred leg slightly gingerly, but the wounds seemed to have healed.