The wilting Orchid blooms a Panther(open after Rainyheart posts)

Orchidfeather had been expecting kits for a little while and at first she didn't know. She had been hunting and everything as if everything was normal until she found out she was expecting which placed her right in the nursery. She knew she was going to give birth any day now. She felt a sense of pain flare throughout her body. She let a small yelp knowing the kits were coming. She had tried calling for the medicine cat panic flaring through the queen as a sense of dread passed through her thinking something was wrong.

Timeskip to after the birth

Orchidfeather couldn t see the kits her vision blurring before her eyes and the pain stop coursing through her which she found odd. She laid her head down a small whine coming from her unsure why she still hurt 4 kits laid at her side but for some reason she felt herself slipping.

A smoky spotted tabby kit squirmed between three in moving bodies trying to get her first breathe of air.

(occ: I am so so so so so sorry for taking forever to post here ':D)

There was a slight bounce in Leopardclaw's step as he trotted across the camp clearing towards the nursery, an average-sized sparrow clasped in his jaws.  The deputy's daughter, Orchidfeather, was expecting kits, and since she had been confined to the nursery he had taken it upon himself to bring her prey, and keep her company.  A mate had not stepped forward to claim the kits, to Leopardclaw's slight annoyance, but in the end it was no matter; all that needed to be worried about was the health and well-being of his daughter and grandkits.  Grandkits...StarClan, I feel so old!  With a slight chuckle, the large spotted tabby tom pushed his way into the den, breathing in the nostalgic scents of milk and moss.  This was where he had been once, nestled in the crook of Mottledwing's belly...this is where Lichenfang had given birth to their own kits all those moons ago, and now this was where his daughter was to give birth as well.  A smile adorning his muzzle, Leopardclaw mumbled around the bird; "Good morning Orchidfeather, I brought you some—"  He cut himself off, wide eyed, as he caught sight of the kits by the she-cat's side...and the pain in his beloved kit's blue eyes.  "Wha- Orchid, are you okay?!  What..what happened?  Why didn't you call for Mapleleaf?!"  Dropping the sparrow, the deputy dashed back out into the clearing for a moment, calling the medicine cat's name frantically, before crashing back into the nursery.  Crouching down, his gaze flashed between the silver spotted queen, and the four kits at her belly, three un-moving.  With a pained grimace, the deputy gently grabbed the surviving kit - a small smoky-colored she-cat - and placed her near Orchidfeather's muzzle, with a gentle but firm; "Lick, she needs you to clear her nose."

Orchidfeather was fighting to keep her eyes open when she heard father but even more so when she felt weaker and weaker. She fought for life knowing she was losing it. She knew she was losing the fight. She managed to just barely hear her father push the only surviving kit to her muzzle to lick the kit. She weakly licked the kids nose but let her tongue come back into her muzzle only for her vision to dim"i...i..im sorry dad"She said quietly a tear had come to her eyes just as she let her last breathe leave her her body falling limp.

The small smoky spotted kitten let out a loud mewl as her nose had been cleaned.

Birdflight stood outside of the nursery after hearing her sister's frantic call. She knew the kits were due any day now. Her heart thumped in her chest after seeing the three other kits, they were dead. Birdflight felt her heart break at the sight of those kits. Why did her sister have such misfortune?! She began to tear up. As she took a step towards Leopardclaw and Orchidfeather. "ORCHIDFEATHER!" she cried as she desperately shook her sister's body. She began to sob into her pelt after realizing that her dear sister had left for Starclan. She collapsed and began to lay herself next to Orchid's dead body and the kit. She wrapped her tail around the poor mewling kit and began to lick it to warm it up. She looked up at her father with teary eyes. "S-She's g-gone dad. W-We'll n-never s-see her again." the calico she-cat croaked as she nuzzled Orchidfeather's body.

For a moment, when Orchidfeather managed to gather enough strength to clean the kit's nose, a ray of hope shined through this dire situation, but almost as soon as it had appeared, a stormy cloud of despair returned to vanquish the light forever.  "N..no...NO!"  Leopardclaw watched, his world moving in slow-motion, as his daughter's blue eyes closed...forever.  "Orchidfeather...no, PLEASE!"  His eyes welling up, the spotted tom pressed his nose against the she-cat's still flank, her body already growing scarily cold.  His heart began to race, his whole body trembling with shock, and as the realization of what had happened set in...any hopeful light that remained in his eyes faded.  Everything was numb.  He barely heard Birdflight's mournful cries, they seemed far off and muffled, as if he was hearing from underwater.  All that remained was the sound of his rapid breathing, the body of his beloved daughter...and the surviving kit.

Turning his head slowly, dazed, Leopardclaw nuzzled the little she-kit that now rested against Birdflight's tail, and gave it a gentle lick.  He met Birdflight's tearful gaze, and pressed against her side, desperate for something to ground him to reality.  "I..it's...it's not f..fair..."  His voice faltered and chocked; he stared down blankly at the little she-kit, and whispered; "She didn't even...get to name her..."

The little smoky spotted she kit almost could feel the sadness in the air and she didn't understand it. The small kit cries hushed for a moment as a tail was curled around her and the kit sank into the warmth but her hunger never ebbed as the small kit tried to find the scent of milk that would Las to her being fed but couldn't find anything. She felt a nuzzle and she mewed sharp and loud pulling herself blindly towards whomever nudged her.

Newttongue ran over, hearing the cries. What now? Why? Leaving his prey, he stepped into the nursery tentatively. Looking around, his throat tightened. He felt like he shouldn't be there. He was horrible with keeping in touch with his adoptive kin and they were here mourning. Pressing his ears to his head, he looked down at the dead kits and their mother. He'd never seen so many bodies. Backing away, he scolded himself. What was he doing? This was cowardly. Padding forward, he groomed each lost cat's fur with such care as if he were trying to not wake them. This was the only thing he could do to make up for never involving himself with Orchidfeather. Pulling back from his grooming, he let out a heavy sigh. ThunderClan had taken a lot of blows lately. This one was personal. "I'm sorry.." he mumbled into her fur just quiet enough for himself to hear.

(Forgot about Lichenfang XD stupid me))

Lichenfang had heard the cries and she had been waiting outside the nursery just hanging out if her daughter needed company or anything but she heard the cries and panic set into the young elder. Every pull made her heart thump hard until she made it to the entrance and seen the scent before her. Her heart dropped deep within her possibly shattering as she seen not only her lifeless daughter's body but three stillborn kits. The stub of Lichenfang's ears twitched as if they would have laid back but they couldn't. She tried to find words to say but couldn't tears welling in her moss green eyes"o...Orchidfeather"she mewed in fear mostly because she hoped she wasn't see what she was.

Leafstorm had been pacing when he heard cries coming from the nursery. Immediately the tom rushed towards the den, grateful for a distraction.
His heart stopped.
"Starclan..." Orchidfeather had been a charming she-cat, always ready to protect her clan. "Lichenfang... Leopardclaw. I'm so sorry..." The tabby warrior didn't want to intrude- this family was in mourning, and he knew the feeling too well -but he stepped forward anyway, his paws shaking as he got a closer look at Orchidfeather and her kit. "Orchidfeather was a strong, brave warrior." The words felt empty even as he spoke, but what else could he say? His first mate had passed away giving birth moons ago, and he had lost a daughter, but try as he might he couldn't find a way to convey all the sadness, grief and understanding he felt. Even as he opened his mouth once more, he felt his throat begin to swell. Such a young life, gone so soon. "Her life will not be forgotten, and she will live on in the life of her kit."
He stood there awkwardly, cursing himself for not stepping forward and comforting the three of them. Useless, useless, useless. And another innocent Thunderclanner had been taken by Starclan. In his mind, it was the war that had caused all of this.

(OOC: WAAAAAHH I should've joined much sooner!! DX And I suppose this took place before Heatherpetal became Dawnpetal.)

Heatherpetal's eyes widened in alarm when she saw her family gathered around the nursery. She knew her adopted sister Orchidfeather was expecting kits, but... something didn't seem right. She rushed over to the den and gently nudged her way through to see what had happened, and her stomach dropped when she saw the queen's lifeless body laying in her nest. She heavily trembled, tears beading her eyes. "N-No... Orchidfeather... Oh, StarClan, please no!..."

For a moment Leopardclaw was silent, his ears barely registering the chocked voices of his family and friends as they discovered what had happened.  His kits - linked by blood or otherwise -, Leafstorm...Lichenfang.  His chest burned with the mournful cries he was holding back; he wanted to run over and bury his face in Lichenfang's sweet-scented fur, pretending that none of this was happening.  No..no...no....no.....  His eyes stared sightlessly down at the ground.  A bleak feeling of numbness began to settle in his mind, and all of a sudden he pulled the remaining she-kit closer to him, sheltering her against his chest with a forepaw.  Her tiny, steady heartbeat did nothing to calm him, but eventually he looked up and met every cat's gaze, one by one, until he met Lichenfang's.  "I...I'll name her....Pantherkit."