Last Dance (open, medicine cats needed)

Grasswhisker was in the middle of the clearing when the pain hit her. She stopped instantly, feeling it stab at her stomach. Something was wrong. The she-cat had been expecting kits for a while now. But she had decided to keep it a secret and surprise Blazestrike. This time, she assumed there would be less than before. It wasn't as prevalent as before, despite her being well along. The long grey and white strands of fur on her pelt also help to hide her enlarged stomach.It hadn't really interrupted her hunting skills and she was still able to keep up with patrols. If she got too tired, she would just excuse herself. A brief smile washed over her features and she remembered how excited she was to surprise Blazestrike with another litter, but it was cut short with another sharp pain.

She crumpled to the ground with a hiss as she his the frozen floor awkwardly. Her head swam, consumed with the agony. The warrior tried to sit up, but failed. However, she caught a glimpse of blood staining the ground.

"Someone get the medicine cats," Grasswhisker yowled feebly, "And Blazestrike..." Then she waited, eyes half closed, for someone to come and ease the pain.

Leopardpaw was walking in through the camp entrance when he saw Grasswhisker. He prepared to wave a friendly greeting with his tail, but was cut off by her wail of agony. Eye widening, he dashed over to her side and frantically asked "Grasswhisker! W..what's happening? What's wrong?!" Seeing the pool of blood begin to form on the ground under his sent his heart racing, and he yowled out as loud as he could "Dreamleaf! Sparkpaw! Anyone! Come quick!"

Emberheart whipped her head around as she heard the familiar yowl of Leopardpaw, bolting over to the soon-to-be-queen's side, her tail lashing anxiously behind her. This isn't how a birth is supposed to go.

With horror, she noted the blood splattering the ground and her heart rate heightened. She'd known Grasswhisker since she was a kit, and fear bubbled up her throat now that everything was going wrong. "Leopardpaw," she ordered, turning around for a heartbeat. "Go get Sparkpaw or Dreamleaf. I don't care—" her voice cracked for a split second, but when she was speaking again, she acted as though nothing had happened. "Just get one of them." She knew how close Leopardpaw and Grasswhisker were, and prayed to Starclan the tom would go get the medicine cats as fast as possible.

"It's alright, Grasswhisker," she rasped her tongue over the younger she-cat's cheek, "You're doing great. The kits will be beautiful. Let's move to the nursery," she added gently. The place wasn't that far off, and they had to get out of the middle of camp—whatever was going wrong, it would be worse with every cat watching.

Grasswhisker's eyes opened halfway to register her apprentice's presence. Before she could speak, another spasm hit her and cut her off. Her sides labored with the effort of breathing. The she-cat could barely register the fact that Emberheart was there, but she was conscious enough to noticed Leopardpaw being sent away. A protest build up in her throat and she held it back. If something were to happen to me... Pushing away the thought, she made a note to talk to Leopardpaw later everything was going to be fine.

She felt herself nod in response to Emberheart's words and tried to push herself up on her feet. But it wasn't possible. Grasswhisker crumpled back down to the ground, hissing at the pain as she awkwardly struck the frozen earth.

"I can't..." Her voice cracked, barely a whisper. For the first time in her life, Grasswhisker was truly afraid. And where was Blazestrike?

OOC: Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!

IC: Blazestrike raced over hearing his mates yowls. "Grasswhisker!! What's wrong!!" The gray and white tom meowed frantically.

Dreamleaf hurried our of her den when she heard the distressed yowl. She had been growing older and older now, but she knew she couldn't retire quite yet. The old Medicine Cat dropped her herbs once she was at Grasswhisker's side.
Dreamleaf then noticed the blood. Her heart hammered in her chest and she grimaced. This wasn't good. She didn't have the right herbs for this. Dreamleaf let out a deep breath and calmed herself. She had to remain calm during this.
"This will be rough... please understand that I will do my best, but I promise I'll get your kits into this world safely," Dreamleaf hissed and she started preparing her herbs. She was running low on her stock Dreamleaf then laid a paw over the warrior's belly and waited for the convulsion. Dreamleaf couldn't risk failing.
"Push."

Faintly, Grasswhisker heard her mate and best friend's yowl, filled with deep concern. She wanted so desperately, but her teeth gritted as another ripple of pain shot through her. Her head nodded weakly as Dreamleaf ordered to push. With all of her might, she heaved pushing and felt the first kit slide out. A ragged sigh of relief broke from her throat as the first round was over. But she didn't see yet that he had been still born. The tiny, pure grey bundle never took a breath. Grasswhisker didn't have the time to grieve yet, nor the knowledge she had to.

The convulsions kept coming, this wasn't over. As the wave hit, one more she pushed with all her might. It hurt. Her yowl of agony rang throughout the clearing. Blood didn't stop pooling around her and every inch of the once cheerful warrior just wished for it to be over. Through the midst of it all, the second kit was born. This one's marking matched that of her mother and looked almost like a tiny copy. And this one was alive.

Leopardpaw had not been able to leave Grasswhisker's side before Dreamleaf ran up with her bundle of herbs. Looking down fearfully at his mentor, he scuffled his paws in the loose soil nervously. He had never witnessed a birth before, but he expected from everyone's concerned faces this was not how they usually went.

Stepping aside a paw step to let the she-cat's mate stand at her side, he gazed down at the gray and white she-cat helplessly. "Keep...keep going Grasswhisker! It's going to be okay!" Though he tried to make his voice sound hopeful, it came off fearful.

A brief glimmer of hope struck his heart when he saw the small kit drop onto the ground, but that disappeared when he noticed how still the kit was; it had no breath. Heartbroken, he continued to comfort Grasswhisker as another kit slipped out, but he left Dreamleaf the job of cleaning it. He was afraid to do something wrong.

Dreamleaf turned her head to the first kit and her breath hitched. A still-born. Dreamleaf gently picked up the lifeless kit and move it a bit away from Grasswhisker as the next kitten came out, this one very much alive. Dreamleaf quickly began to lick at it desperately trying to get it to breath, and finally the kit opened it's mouth and started breathing. Dreamleaf pushed it towards Grasswhisker. The blood that was coming from Grasswhisker was becoming even more alarming for the Medicine Cat. She cursed and started shuffling through her herbs, trying to find something, if anything, to help the warrior.

As the little kit slid out the little copy of Grasswhisker after she was cleaned up mewled squirming a bit. She started to try and nurse as she had been pushed towards her mother

The ripples stopped and Grasswhisker knew the birth was over, even if the pain had still not yet subsided. She pulled the sole kit towards her, purring weakly. It crossed her mind to ask for the first, but with so many cats around, she assumed it would have already been there if still alive. Sadness crossed her features, but she pushed it away for later and half-opened her eyes to look at the kit.

"She's... beautiful.." Grasswhisker breathed, glancing at Blazestrike. Her mind worked for a second to find a name. If it was the last thing she did, Grasswhisker wanted to name their daughter, "Cinderkit." She nodded, satisfied and laid her head down to rest from the effort. Whatever happened now was in Starclan's paws.

Blazestrike had a pang of sadness as he realized the first kit was stillborn the second kit, Cinderkit, was an exact copy of Grasswhisker. "Shes just like you.. Stay awake Grasswhisker, you can't sleep now.." It was as if the gray and white tom knew his mate would die. There was to much blood and he knew that something was wrong. "Welcome to the world my little Cinderkit." He cooed to the kit.

Sandpaw padded over with Stonepaw and Cloudpaw. Cloudpaw gasped and ran to the queens side. "Grasswhisker!!" Although they were around the same age Cloudpaw still felt like a little kit when she was around Grasswhisker or Blazestrike as they acted like parents to them.

Forcing a cheerful purr, Leopardpaw bent down to look into Grasswhisker's exhausted eyes. "You did it Grasswhisker!" Hesitantly, he bent his head down to sniff the small kit that still lived. She looked like a tiny copy of her mother, and the golden spotted apprentice couldn't help but purr. "Cinderkit, that's a perfect name!"

She's going to be just fine! See, she gave birth! The bleeding and her pain will stop soon, I know it will! A helpless bout of optimism swept over the young tom, and he smiled worriedly. She has to be okay....Mottledwing is gone now, she's all I have left! Turning to look at Dreamleaf, he saw the alarmed look in her eyes, and was once again struck by worry. Looking up at the sky, he prayed; Oh StarClan, please don't take her yet!

Grasswhisker caught a glimpse of Dreamleaf's expression and instantly knew what was about to happen. Oh, Cinderkit, I hope you grow up knowing you're loved. Blazestrike will be an amazing father again, She thought to herself, gently licking the tiny she-kit's head and ears. Her eyes quickly scanned over the cat's assembled and she decided to talk to her apprentice first. If for any reason she didn't make it long enough to speak to her mate, she knew her best friend would still know how much she had loved him. Tail beckoning Leopardpaw over, she pulled together what strength she had left to speak.

"I won't ever leave you. Don't worry. And remember all of Thunderclan is your family, you're not alone," She hissed fervently into his ear, too low for anyone else to hear. This conversation was just for them. No one else could understand the bond her and her apprentice had. Grasswhisker was terrified to leave him alone, but knew he would be okay. The clan was here for him.

Her conscious started to slip and she nodded for Blazestrike to come forward, before she left. The words were low and filled with emotion. The young she-cat had grown up with Blazestrike as her best friend, since she was a kit. Now, it would be their last time together and she knew it, "You'll be an amazing father to Cinderkit. I know it. Thunderclan will help you raise her. As well I would have. You've given me a good life, Blazestrike." She raised her head slightly to nuzzle the tom's cheek lovingly.

"Thank you, Thunderclan..." Her voice drifted off and her labored breathing stilled peacefully.

His heart pounding in his chest, he obeyed Grasswhisker and leaned down closer to her. His eyes widened at her breathless words; "I won't ever leave you. Don't worry. And remember all of Thunderclan is your family, you're not alone." Not knowing what to say, the spotted apprentice dipped his head in understanding, and pulled away.

After speaking to her mate, the gray and white she-cat's head fell to the ground, and her chest lay utterly still.

"No....no no no no NO!" Leopardpaw's golden eyes were stretched wide, the whites visible, and his heart plummeted in his chest. Backing away, a pitiful whimper rose in his throat, and his head slowly shook in denial. "No, this isn't happening! This can't be happening!"