The Lichen that grows in numbers(Open but let Sparkflower and the kits post first)

Lichenfang had ended up staying in the nursery belly swollen with kits. She often would just nap or enjoy the sunlight. Though going much anywhere was hard as Leopardclaw her mate was very protective. She couldn't really blame him either but it was nerve racking. She laid outside of the nursery quietly enjoying a small patch of sunlight on her swollen belly. She was dozed off slightly until she felt a strong kick and she blinked. She felt another and gasped in pain before she figures out what it might be"LEOPARDCLAW...."she broke off gasping in pain."Sparkflower"she called for her mate and the medicine cat

Leopardclaw, who was returning to camp after a hard afternoon of hunting, was walking in through the gorse-lined tunnel with he heard Lichenfang's panicked screech. His hazel eyes widening, the spotted tabby tom dropped the prey that he held in his jaws and dashed over to where she lay outside the nursery. Heart racing, Leopardclaw's eyes shifted in his head as he gazed down at his mate, trying to decide what to do. Realizing that he was letting panic overtake him, the young tom managed to take a deep, calming breath. Calm down Leopardclaw, she's going to be fine. Bending down, the golden tom nudged her shoulder gently and meowed "You need to get to your nest....lean on me! Don't worry it's only a few steps, you can do it!" Preparing to support her weight, Leopardclaw felt a sudden flare of excitement; in a short time he and Lichenfang were going to be parents!

Lichenfang blinked pain filled moss green eyes as Properties suggested she move to her best. With much effort the dilute calico got to her paws and leaned against her mate. Pain spread throughout her body and she tried to push through it getting to her best in the nursery with Leopardclaws help.

Leopardclaw grunted slightly when Lichenfang leaned on him with all of her weight, but he managed to guide her at a hobbling pace back to her feather-lined nest and gently let her lay down. Bending down, the spotted tabby licked his mate's cheek comfortingly and whispered "You're doing great, I'll go get Sparkflower." Dashing out of the nursery, thorns scraping the large tom's back, he poked his head through the fern tunnel to where Sparkflower lived and worked. His voice breathless and worried, he meowed; "Lichenfang's giving birth, come quickly!"

Sparkflower fumbled to her feet at the call, quickly grabbing the herbs she'd need. "Hang on!"
It felt no different to the first time she'd ever helped a queen give birth - though she was more experienced, the anxiety always hung around, fueled by determination that only came out in scenarios like this. She dashed over to Lichenfang, stumbling a little over her own feet. "Alright,
alright, calm down, here. Chew these poppy seeds, quickly, and push. Push as hard as you can and stay calm."

When Sparkflower came in the laboring queen tried to force herself to calm down. Upong her order she managed it just barely the pain seemed almost to much as if it were worse then the day she received her scars. Quietly she lapped up the poppy seeds as ordered and then pushed. She pushed with all she could and the first kitten arrived.(Cherrykit)

Leopardclaw followed Sparkflower back across the clearing, but hesitated before entering the nursery. He didn't want to crowd the medicine cat while she did her work, or stress out his mate. Opting to pace restlessly outside of the bramble den, he tried to take deep breathes to calm himself. In his mind raced memories of Grasswhisker bleeding out onto the ground as she gave birth, and his heart began to pound even harder. Not being able to take it anymore, the golden tom poked his head in and asked worriedly "Is everything going okay?"

The tiny kitten lay beside her mother, trying feebly to raise her little head. Though at the moment her fur was wet and darker because of it, pale calico colours spread across her small frame. With an attempted wave of a paw, she squealed out a pitiful little mew.

Lichenfanh wished she were done putting but she wasn't just yet. She had leaned forward to clean the she kit and winced slightly before she managed to finish just barely. She couldn't manage a response to her mate as he called into the den worriedly. She felt another strong pain go throughout her body and she pushed. Soon enough two more tkits were brought into the world. Not too sure if she was done she leaned forward and started to clean this two taking notice they both looked exactly the same.

The small tom meowed when he felt the warm of her twin near to him. The golden wet and blind cat touched her sister with one of his paws and then felt the tongue of her mother cleaning his fur.
He padded closer to the queen and stayed near to her belly, trying to warm up his fragile body.

Lichenfang could tell she was done and relaxed gasping her tongue of all three of her kittens. She purred quietly before she mewed "Leopardclaw"her voice soft and hoarse hoping that he heard her.

The she kit crawled beside her brother,twin, she gave a small soft mewl as she crawled beside her twin to the warmth of her mother's belly. The golden kitten detemined to get warm.

The little calico kit wriggled next to her new siblings, pressing herself against her mother's belly with another mew. The noise was high pitched, but it was quiet in the dim of the nursery.

When his mate didn't reply to his worried call, anxiety quickly began to set in. Eyes widening, for a moment Leopardclaw hesitated to go inside, worried that he would see something he couldn't bare, but suddenly the mewl of a newborn kit drifted out of the den, and the spotted tabby tom felt his heart soften. Hazel eyes glowing, the large tom pushed his way inside the den just in time to witness Lichenfang cleaning off all three of their kittens. A relieved smile on his face, Leopardclaw let out a soft purr and stepped forward to look at his new family.

Bending down, the golden tom licked Lichenfang's cheek lovingly and purred; "Great job, my love." Switching his gaze over to the three kits that squirmed at her belly, Leopardclaw felt a wave peace and happiness sweep over him unlike anything he'd ever felt before. Gently, he touched his nose to sniff and nuzzle first the pale calico, that was the spitting image of Lichenfang, and then the twins, who's pale spotted fur mirrored his own. For a while he was quiet, just taking in the amazing beauty of the moment.

She blinked before she smiled some purring softly"I haven't named them just yet would you like to name them with me?"she asked her mate with a soft voice her eyes just briefly looking to him before she looked to their three kits.