A Litters Arrival -o-

[†Missy†]

Two moons have come and gone. Thunderclan had moved back into there camp and allot of work had bean done. The old nursery had bean cleaned up. It had bean needed since Alusia had become heavy with his kits. He was so proud. He was constantly checking up on her. At one moon he had made her move into the nursery. He had bean afraid something might happen to her and there kits. Dusk padded back and forth outside the nursery. Jayfeather was in there with Cherrypaw. Cherrypaw had learned allot since she found him. She no longer did training with Snowfeather. He had heard three squeaks as three healthy kits where born. But the last one was taken forever. Jayfeather had said there was a forth one. Hearing Cherrypaw gasp he poked his head in. "What's going on has the forth one come yet?"

Cherrypaw blocked Dusk's view. "Go get your mate some moss soaked in water." She told him. She was than began licking the forth kit vigorously trying to get it to start breathing. Finally just as she was about to give up she heard a faint mew come from it. A sigh of relief escaped her and she nudged the tiny kit next to the other three. "You should be proud Alusia two toms and two shecats."

[Stern]

Alusia strained and heaved until at last, she was finished. She blacked out for a second, only to be awoken by Cherrypaw's words, "Are they all okay?" She was worried that they would have problems, that something would be wrong, but her fears were probably stupid and pointless. She always worried about things she couldn't change, but she couldn't stop now. She craned her neck to look at the four small limp bundles, huddled in the curve of her stomach. She noticed that Dusk wasn't pacing around outside anymore and looked for him. He wasn't in the camp. She looked at Cherrypaw, "Do you know where Dusk is? I want him to see his sons and daughters." She nuzzled the kit closest to her, a little black and white tom. They were so cute, little fur less bundles, mewling and scrambling over each other in their work to get to her stomach. She couldn't help but think of her mother and her siblings, left behind on a small island somewhere in the middle of the river. She didn't know if any of them were still alive, or even if any of her siblings had survived the flood. She thought of her kits' future, here in the clan. They would be safe, and someone would always be willing to help her feed them. They were the only kits in the clan, and she doubted that they would want for attention. Especially not from Cherrypaw, the young medicine cat apprentice. She had always wanted a few kits to play with. Her ears twitched at the sound of footsteps, but she was to exhausted to ask who was coming, or even what they were doing. Instead, she put her head back down on the soft moss and fell asleep.

[†Missy†]

Cherrypaw was worried about that last kit. There was something wrong with it. She was so tiny and week. She wasn't sure what to do for it. "Jayfeather is there anything we can do for this little one," she whispered softly. Turning to Alusia she smiled. "You have three strong healthy kits." Her eyes froze on the last one. It was barely mewing or moving. "Alusia that last one is very small and week. It may not make it through the night. But I promise me and Jayfeather will do all we can for her." Cherrypaw looked up at him. "We will won't we?" Hearing the footsteps she knew it would be Dusk returning. "It's probably Dusk I sent him to get some water for you."


Dusk looked at Alusia not wanting to leave her. But slowly he turned and ran to the medicine cat's den and grabbed a large chunk of moss. He than padded out of camp. It was a long walk to the stream but running as fast as he was it wouldn't take as much time. Dusk finally reached the stream. Quickly dunking it into the stream soaking up the water. As he lifted it it was much heavier to carry. He would have to go slow on his way back so as not to spill any of the water out. Dusk than quickly turned and headed back to the camp winding through the bushes and tree roots. The way back seemed to take forever. But finally he reached the entrance. He lowered the bundle so as not to lose any in the thorns. Once he reached the camp he ran to the nursery and pushed his way through the entrance. He set the water soaked moss down and looked around. "How are they is Alusia ok? Is there anything else I can do?"

Dovefeather padded over to the nursery and padded in. "Dusk can you wait outside for a moment?" Turning to look at the kits she could tell something was wrong with the forth kit. "Jayfeather is there anything that can be done for her?"

[Stern]

Alusia noticed the number of kits that Cherrypaw said and felt a sense of foreboding. Cherrypaw's mew just made her suspisicion correct, "How bad is it?" She knew that the two would do all they could, but she couldn't understand how they could fix anything about it, "Is it a tom or a she-cat?" She raised her head again and started looking at all of her kits. She heard Dusk outside, returning with water, and nodded to Cherrypaw, "Thanks for thinking of that." She just realized how thirsty she was. Funny, she hadn't noticed before. She looked over the kits, noticing that one, a blue grey one, did look sickly. It was thinner than the rest of the kits, that was for sure.

Jayfeather dipped his head, "We will do all we can for her, I promise, Alusia." The strange name sounded different on his tongue. He rasped his barbed tongue over the kit's fur, feeling just how thin it really was. He looked to Cherrypaw and lowered his voice, "She just needs nourishment, and if she gets sick, we will treat her. Go get some borage for Alusia, it will increase her milk. We will just have to make sure the kit gets its share."

He padded outside the den and then spoke, scenting at least one other cat, "Four kits, two toms and two she-cats."

[†Missy†]

Cherrypaw nodded they would do everything for the little one. She picked it up and set it closer to her mother and watched it suckle. It was week and quite but it would grow stronger. "May starclan watch over you," she whispered. "Would you like something to eat Alusia? I can go grab you something."

Dusk heard the news and purred softly. Picking up the water soaked ball of moss he padded into the den and set the ball of moss down beside Alusia. He than sniffed each kit. Seeing the weaker one he grew worried. "Have you though of any names for them yet?" He licked the tiniest kit hoping to give her some of his strength. "Your a strong little kit I know you can make it little one." He purred softly.

[Stern]

Alusia nodded thankfully. "I could eat a two-leg!" she purred in amusement. She hadn't noticed that either. Maybe she had been too worried about the kit to worry about herself. As Dusk walked in, she smiled and nodded, "Yes, I actually have. She started pointing to each kit in turn with her nose, "Stonekit, I thought for him, for the black kit, Tigerkit, then for the tortoiseshell one, Spottedkit, and for the blue grey one you are right in front of, Fogkit." She looked at him anxiously, "What do you think? I just thought of the, if you don't like them, we can change them."

Jayfeather stood out in the sunlight, joying the warmth on his pelt.

[†Missy†]

Cherrypaw nodded and padded out of the nursery leaving the two alone for a bit with there kits. She walked over to the freshkill pile, and dug through it. Finally she found a nice plump rabbit and carried it back to the nursery. She waited a little while wanting to give them some more time together.

Dusk purred, "there names fit them perfectly. I wouldn't change them if I wanted to. Which I do not." He licked Alusia between the ears. He was so proud of her. "You did a good job. Are kits will grow up to be great warriors for this clan. Thunderclan is on it's way to recovery."

Dovefeather padded into the nursery again and looked at the kits. "I heard the names you gave them. They are perfect names for a clan cat. Have you considered your own names? You have become great hunters and fighters. But do you understand the warrior code?"

[Stern]

Alusia smiled widely, "I'm glad you like them." She nodded in agreement, "They will do well in the clan world. I hope they will like fish, though." She purred and twitched her whiskers, trying to make Dusk smile. Just then, Dovefeather happened to walk in. Alusia considered what she had said, "I don't know what I want to do." Her name was a part of her, just as much her pelt. She didn't know what she would do with another name. She knew the warrior code, inside and out. She had made sure to know what it meant. "Yes, I do understand it."

[†Missy†]

Dovefeather nodded, "you do not need to change your names. Back when Firestar was leader of thunderclan we had a few cats that chose to keep there names when they joined the clan. So no need to worry. You may move into the warriors den Dusk, and you to Alusia once the kits are apprentices of course."

Dusk thought about the offer to change the name. He wanted to become more of a clan cat. And Dusk could easily be turned into a clan name. "I would be honored to to receive my warrior name.

Cherrypaw padded into the den and set the rabbit down. "Here you go it's freshly caught still warm."

[Stern]

Alsuia nodded her head, "Thank you." She was glad that Dovefeaher understood what she wanted and that she could stay a clan cat and still keep her name. They needed cats so badly, they don't want anyone to leave once they have been trained, she guessed. She looked at her kits, then back at Dovefeather and elaborated, "For understanding." She might take a clan name later on, but right now, she just wanted to be Alusia. As Cherrypaw brought her a rabbit, she purred, "That's great! Thank you, Cherrypaw." She bent down and started eating, savoring the warm juices. It wasn't a fish, but it would do.

[†Missy†]

Dovefeather tilted her head. So Dusk decided to have a warrior name. She purred softly. "Very well. We will have a ceremony soon. For now I must go. There are not enough cats in the clan yet so even I must go on border patrols." With that she turned and padded out.

Dusk laid down beside Alusia. "Get some rest I will watch over the kits. You deserve some sleep Alusia." It was true he was surprised she hadn't already falling asleep. He began to lick her ears trying to sooth her. "You do not need to worry about Fogkit she may be small but she is strong."

Cherrypaw padded into the medicine cats den and laid down in her nest. She was to wound up to sleep but she would rest and relax for a little bit at least before she checked up on the kits.

[Stern]

Alusia smiled, "Well, you can see if you can find any more cats that don't scent for borders. Then you won't have to do border patrols anymore." She grinned, remembering the way she had joined the clan. She looked at her kits, "Later,I'll do more of them for you." She smiled at Dusk as the leader padded away, "Imagine that! A warrior name of your very own."Her name didn't fit into Clan ways well as Dusk's did. He would probably keep his name,with something added to the end of it. She nodded at Dusk's words and then slowly drifted into sleep.

[†Missy†]

-Morning-

Dusk had stayed up all night watching the kits. Fogkit very week. He had nudged her several times to make sure she ate. She would need Alusia's milk if she where to grow strong and survive. "My little ones one day you will train and learn the warrior code, and all about Starclan who watched over us all." Dusk wasn't sure if he believed it but he would pretend to for his kits sake.

Stonekit wiggled away from his mother and blinked his eyes open. He looked up at his father and tilted his head. "Who are you?" He looked behind him at his mom and litter mates.

-in warriors the kits had there eyes open and talking the next day. I'm gonna go by the books.-

[Stern]

Alusia woke up as Dusk started talking to the kits. She had slept lightly at best, but when she had woken in the night, she had forced herself to go back to sleep, knowing that Dusk would take care of them. Now she couldn't sleep anymore, there was sunlight coming in through the gaps in the den, and she wasn't the least tired either. She yawned, stretching her yaws and revealing her sharp, white teeth. Then she looked at Dusk, craning her neck into an awkward position. Just then, Stonekit started talking, and Alusia licked his head, "He is your father, sweet one. He won't hurt you." She glanced at Dusk and twitched her whiskers, trying to lighten the mood, "You had better not, at least."

Spottedkit woke up to notice her parents and brother talking. She blinked her amber eyes, then looked up at the big black cat that she now knew was her father.

{Okay}

[†Missy†]

Fogkit cried softly her eyes where still closed tight and she began suckling again.

Stonekit looked up at the dark cat. "Oh ok," He padded over to Fogkit and he to started suckling. He was so hungry. "What's your names?" He asked looking at his mother than father,

Dusk purred, "I would never hurt you. And I'm Dusk and this is Alusia Stonekit." He purred softly at his four kits. He was still worried about Fogkit she was still so weak. "How do you feel Alusia? Do you mind if I go and get some rest before I have to go out on patrol? Will you be ok?"

-sorry no muse-