"Is Grey'pelt going to be okay?" Frost'kit asked Blue'whisker.
"She'll be fine, don't worry, young one" she assured her. "Now I would stay out the nursery for a bit while this is happening, okay?"
"Okay!! I'll go play moss ball with Leaf'kit." With her tail sticking up she ran outside into the clearing and Blue'whisker let out a sigh as she turned her attention back to Grey'pelt.
She was breathing heavily as contraptions rippled through her. Blue'whisker placed a paw on her stomach, feeling for the kits. She felt relieved as she felt them squirming about and the right way round.
"They'll be coming soon." She warned Grey'pelt
"Good I can't take this much longe-" she broke off as another contraption took hold of her.
"You're doing well. You have nothing to worry about" Blue'whisker soothed her.
She turned her head and motioned for an apprentice to come over.
"Go and take Bat'paw to get a strong stick and some moss soaked in water for Grey'Pelt."
The apprentice nodded and speeded off collecting a small black tom on the way."
She heard a cry from Grey'pelt and felt her stomach again.
"Okay when I say 'push' you push with all your might. Got it?" Gray'pelt looked up wearily and nodded slightly. Blue'whisker felt around.
"Push!" Grey'pelt's body tensed up as she pushed and Blue'whisker could see a head poking out.
"You've almost done it. Another big push….push!!" Blue'whisker said. And the first kit slithered out onto the ground. It was covered in a membrane and Blue'whisker quickly cut it open and started licking the kit to warm it up.
Two cats pushed into the nursery carrying a stick and some wet moss. Blue whisker thanked them as they left and gave Grey'pelt the water filled moss which she lapped up thirstily and finally she then gave her the stick, advising her how to use it.
"Bite down on it. The last kit is bigger so it might be more painful." Grey'pelt groaned but took the stick. The first kit was trying to get to its mothers milk but Blue'whisker carefully redirected its path towards some moss.
"I'm sorry little one but your mother needs to concentrate."
Grey'pelt cried out in pain and Blue'whisker knew she had to get the kit out of her now.
"Just keep pushing now. Don't stop." Grey'Pelt gave no indication she heard her but after a few seconds started pushing.
Blue'whisker could feel it coming out and as Grey'pelt let out another cry of pain she saw it's head pop out,
"It's coming!!" She exclaimed. Grey'pelt pushed even harder and the kit slid out and fell on the ground. She started licking her too before eventually giving her to Grey'pelt along with the other kit.
"Two beautiful she-kits! You must be proud."Blue'whisker said, warmly.
"Oh yes. It was worth it in the end." Grey'pelt answered, love in her eyes as she gazed at her kits who had now started suckling.
"Have you got any names for them?"
Grey'pelt shook her head,
"No, not yet. I was going to name them this morning after I rest a little." She explained.
"I'll let you get some then. But before I do I need to get you some borage."
Blue'whisker left the nursery just to almost be tripped up by some kits play fighting.
"Sorry!" A golden brown kit squeaked.
"Can we go in yet?" A grey and ginger kit, called Leaf'kit , asked.
"No, not yet. Wait till your mother tells you it's ok." She answered and then she rushed towards the medicine den.
Blue'whisker was quickly rummaging through her supplies before she found what she wanted. A few medium sized green leaves. Borage. She grabbed the leaves and left the medicine den but paused.
Was that Eagle'star leaving the nursery? She saw him stalk away towards his den. Weird She thought as she went over to Grey'pelt and gave her the leaves.
"So have you thought of any names yet?" She asked, deciding to question Eagle'star later.
"Oh yes this one" she pointed at the bigger one of the two, which had a golden ginger pelt,
"Will be called Sun'kit." She said
"And this one," she turned the little kit to show Blue'whisker. She gasped. It's pelt! She thought.
"Will be named Star'kit. Because of its star on its chest." The kit had a blue grey fur with stripes and white spots on her pelt and on her chest was a star. Blue'whisker stared at her.
"You- You know she can never become leader now right?" She warned.
"Oh I know. But I have reasons to have called her that." She said, defensively, and Blue'whisker decided not to push for answers.
"Remember to eat the leaves. They'll make sure you have enough milk for the kits." She murmured, nodding at the pile of borage.
"I will, don't worry." Grey'pelt replied.
Blue'whisker left the nursery in a hurry, making a beeline towards Eagle'star's den. She burst through the ivy curtains and saw Eagle'star sitting at the back of the den, watching her.
"I see you've heard." He said.
"Yes, yes I have. Did you tell Grey'pelt to name her kit 'Star'kit'?!" She questioned, loudly.
"I did"
"Why? She'll never be able to become leader."
Eagle'star went silent for a moment
"Because of the prophecy?" Blue'whisker probed for more information.
"…yes"
"You know that we don't know what it means! It could mean a leader, not a kit with an unusual marking on her chest!" She exclaimed. "Why would you do this to her?!"
"Because I thought it was the right thing to do!" Eagle'star suddenly stood up to his full height towering over her with fury in his eyes. "Now am I clan leader or are you?" Blue'whisker dropped her head, knowing that she won't me able to convince him.
"As your medicine cat I would follow your decisions to the end but I don't think you're doing the right thing," she murmured softly.
"Get out." He ordered quietly
"But I-"
"Get out!"