The bird's nest (Bird x Toad birth litter)

OOC: I'm not including the MC in this topic so anyone else can post to help bird clean the kits and maybe give her support.

IC: Birdflight had been confied to the nursery once walking with a litter of unborn kits in her belly became difficult. She had told her mother and father that she was expecting Toadleap's kits. Then she had told her mate and the love of her life, Toadleap. The calico queen sighed as she rested her chin on her paws as she boredly stared out of the nursery entrance. She began to doze off, light green eyes beginning to close. Suddenly a pang of pain erupted from her belly. She gasped, fur standing on end. She knew exactly what this meant. The queen tried to call out for the medicine cat but only a growl of pain came out. Her body acted on instinct and began to push. Toadleap had gone out hunting so the only other person she wanted to call to was her father but the queen couldn't utter a word. Her wriggling would certainly gather the attention of some clan-mates. She really wouldn't mind the help.

Sharptooth's newest litter would be due any day now, so grudgingly the queen had retired to the nursery. Currently, the fluffy tabby was relaxing at the back of the den, basking in the dark, sleepy silence of the Nursery. This was one of her rare moments of peace and quiet- although she appreciated her Grayfur's support, he was growing rather annoying. It was nice to relax and have some time with the other queens.
The quiet wasn't going to last long. A growl sounded behind Sharptooth and the experienced queen was immediately on her feet, turning towards the entrance of the den. Birdflight was lying on her side, flanks heaving. Quickly, Sharptooth grabbed a stick that was lying a few pawsteps away and rushed to Birdflight's side. "Breathe, Birdflight." Sharptooth's voice was calming and authoritative as she nudged the stick in front of Birdflight. "And bite on this. It's not herbs, but trust me, it'll help." Where was the Medicine Cat? She could only hope that this went smoothly- there was only so much she could do despite her experience, and Orchidfeather's recent death made her fear for the young queen. "I'm going to need you to push in a moment, dear." She mewed gently, placing one paw on Birdflight's side.

Ever since he had found out that his daughter Birdflight was expecting kits, Leopardclaw had felt a tight knot of anxiety slowly begin to form in his chest as the sunrises went on, and traumatic memories wouldn't stop repeating in his mind.  Of Orchidfeather, the she-cat's littermate, dying before she was even able to name her surviving kit, of Cherrykit and Honeyspark and Mintkit and Falconpaw and Flowerpaw....oh StarClan, he couldn't loose another kit!  The golden deputy, his fur ruffled and slightly matted, rose to his paws as his keen ears picked up sounds coming from the nursery, and he ducked inside the bramble den's entrance just in time to see Birdflight going into labor.  Instantly alert, the large tom jumped forward and touched his nose gently to Birdflight's, with a soft, comforting murmur.  "It's okay little bird, you're doing so well, it will all be over soon."  His pupils narrowing to determined slits, he turned to meet the gaze of Sharptooth, his former apprentice.  "Tell me what I can do to help."  I should go fetch Toadleap back from patrol, he needs to be here for this.

Birdflight flinced and nodded as Sharptooth instructed her on what to do. She bit the stick and steadied her breathing. She felt better having her father and a trusted friend with her. She only wished Toadleap was with her but he'll get to see the kits after. She began to push and push, struggling a bit. She shuddered when she pushed out a tiny tom that looked like her. Next came a tom with Toadleap's coloring. Then after came a brown tabby tom with white splotches. Soon The queen pushed harder to bring a pretty she-kit with Toad's color into the world. Finally, a she-kit gasped for breath now that she was out. She had Birdflight's coloring. The queen was exhausted. She gathered one of the squirming bundles of life. These were her beautiful kin. Her prides and joys. She began to clean them up, purring as she did so. She let her father have a look at them as well as Sharptooth. The other queen helped her so much. She would never forget her kindness. "They're healthy." she said with a breathy voice. She nudged the calico she-kit. "This one will be named Mothkit. For her soft and faded calico colors." She then turned to the tom that looked like Toad. "He will be named Pumakit. For his size." Bird soon looked over to the tom that looked similar to herself. He seemed to wiggle around the most. "This little tom will be Waspkit. For his endless engergy." She soon turned to face the brown tabby tom-kit. "He will be named Timberkit. For his brown coloring." Finally, a little striped she-kit was left to be named. "This sweet she-kit will be named Wrenkit. Her color reminds me that of a wren's." The queen sighed softly. She was very tired.

Waspkit began to suckle and drink the delicious milk his mother provided. His wiggling and squirming continued even if he was slightly tired. Every noise or voice sounded muffled to him. His eyes were tightly closed and he was still a little wet from all the licking.

Sharptooth looked when Leopardclaw burst into the den, her green eyes narrowed. Just what a first-time queen needs- a crowd. "Giver her space, Leopardclaw, and let her do her work." She mewed sharply before turning back to Birdflight, murmuring comforting words. "Almost there, Birdflight. Give a big push..." Sharptooth got to work cleaning the first kit, a small calico tom. "Here's the first one- don't stop now." She purred, placing the small kit at Birdflight's side and turning to check the next, another tom, this time larger with dusty brown tabby fur. Sharptooth rumbled her approval as the tom squeaked his first breath, placing him beside his mother and stepping back. Birdflight could do the rest- if the first two kits were healthy, the rest would be as well. And to think she had been worried at first! The fluffy she-cat smiled as two beautiful she-kits were born, healthy and lovely. Sharptooth stayed back as Birdflight began to clean her litter, watching carefully as Leopardclaw approached them. "They're beautiful, Birdflight." Her ears twitched as she carefully grabbed the stick, which was laying nearby, and placed it outside the den. "Congratulations."

Timberkit let out a few loud mewling cries that echoed through the den before he found his way to his mother's belly and started to suckle. Every once and a while the large brown kit, just slightly smaller than his brother, would pull back and let out another loud mewl before going back to suckling.

Wrenkit lay, occasionally wriggling, but mostly intent to sleep after the exhaustion on her in entering a chilled world in opposition to the snuggling warmth she had experienced before among her siblings. She felt herself picked up at one point and pushed closer to another large body, surrounded by her active siblings. And although the gentle but firm pressure of other tongues on her body was comforting, even if it did try to awaken her from her want of slumber.

Mothkit squealed slightly as she was getting squished by her wriggling siblings. She began to drink some delicious milk while starting to doze off. Her tiny tail swished now and then when one of her active siblings pressed aginst her.

Leopardclaw heaved a great sigh of relief as Birdflight safely delivered all five of her beautiful kits, and for the first time in a long while a pure, happy smile materialized on his golden spotted face.  Giving his daughter an affectionate lick on the forehead, he purred; "They're beautiful, congratulations my little bird."  For a moment he gazed down at the kits - his grandkits - before peering out of the den entrance.  Toadleap should be here...and Lichenfang.  At the thought of his crippled mate, sorrow seemed to shadow his gaze once again, and he stayed where he was.  He sat beside his daughter's nest, gazing down at her happy blossoming family, and allowed himself to relish in the moment.  StarClan I pray...watch over these kits.  Protect them from this harsh world...so that Birdflight and Toadleap won't have to go through the pain we've gone though.

Toadleap bounded through the camp entrance with a skip in his step, carrying a hare in his jaws. He knew his mate had been swollen with their young for a while now and decided to check on her. Without looking at first, he called into the darkened den, his mouth muffled by the prey, "Honeh, I'mn buwch!" and hoped he could be understood.

Upon realizing that he smelled blood, he widened his eyes in shock and then leaped into the den as swiftly as he could, meowing loudly, although still carrying the hare, "Burdflughtuh!" Is she hurt?! Oh, StarClan, don't let it be so. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he was soon greeted by the sight of five tiny kits and their exhausted but beautiful mother, along with the medicine cat and Leopardclaw. His tense shoulders soon dropped with relief, and he dropped the prey in front of Birdflight's front paws. The brown swirled tabby exclaimed, "Oh, Birdflight, they're beautiful. I was so worried for a moment when I smelled all of that blood..." His softened green-blue eyes gazed at them with joy before nuzzling Birdflight's cheek. Settling down next to her and the kits, he murmured to the calico she-cat, "You did a great job. Have a bite to eat. You must be exhausted!"

Turning towards Leopardclaw and Sharptooth, he mewed with gratitude, "Thank you for helping her through this. I wish I had been here to see it." He thought for a moment, then burst out in a chuckle, "Or maybe not. It was a lot of blood, wasn't it? I wouldn't have known how to help her at all!"

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Pumakit, his fur still slick from the birthing, had his eyes firmly closed as he lay near his siblings and mother. Suckling greedily, he only mewled occasionally when he was pushed by his siblings, in which case, he pushed back as hard as his tiny body could muster so that he could keep his position. He was a sizeable kit, and so he was successful at least part of the time.

His tiny hind legs kicked out at some point and hit his father, who had lain next to his new family, eliciting from the young warrior a surprised laugh. The miniature version of Toadleap couldn't hear at all yet, and so didn't comprehend anything except for vaguely sensing that there was something new nearby.