Within Clouds and Storms there is Life (Closed)

Tension hung in the air. It lingered over Marshstorm's shoulders like a mist, though unlike the dreaded tendrils of the dark forest this was a lighter feeling. A blessing as he waited with anxious anticipation outside of the nursery. His heart lodged in his chest as he thought about his previous kits. How so few of them had made it to become warriors... and how this was a new chance. Starclan had graced him with an opportunity he had wished for moons, his heart skipped between the sounds behind him. Sharp noises that made him want to go into the nursery, but the medicine cat needed room to work, and he was loathe to crowd them.

Still, he couldn't help twitching. His tail flicked repeatedly in the dirt as his claws made slight groves in the dry dust on the ground. He watched as warriors came and went for patrols that he had ordered earlier, but had no heart to focus on the forest. It was already making room, and swelling with joy at the thought of being a father again.

Mosspaw pushed her way out of the nursery, stopping short when she saw Marshstorm standing right outside of it. She brushed her tail against his shoulder, giving him an encouraging smile. "It will be soon. I have to go fetch some herbs, why don't you go ahead and get settled next to her. The nursery isn't very full yet, so you have some space. Besides, we might need an extra set of paws." She padded away quickly, returning not long after with a wrapped bundle of herbs. Her paws shook nervously, she had never helped deliver kits before, or even been around for a kitting... And Pricklebush was back in RiverClan. She swallowed hard, opening the herb bundle and setting a couple thyme leaves in front of Marshstorm and the rest in front of Dustcloud, adding a couple juniper berries to the thyme in front of Dustcloud. Purring softly, she encouraged both of them to eat the herbs as she wrapped the leaf bundle back up, a pawful of a collection of herbs still wrapped tightly within. Setting it of to the side, she turned her attention back to the she-cat, gently pressing her nose against Dustcloud's swollen belly. Things seemed to be going well... She hoped it stayed that way.

"Eat the herbs, Dustcloud, they'll help. You too Marshstorm, you'll be grateful for the calm they bring." Once she was sure both had eaten the herbs she presented them with, she stayed close to Dustcloud watching her expression and body closely for the tell-tale signs. It wouldn't be much longer now...

Pricklebush had been in RiverClan for a little while, helping Mistlepaw and enjoying every second, but he knew that he needed to go back to his Clan and check up on things. While Mosspaw was very capable and did know some things from Amberdawn and himself, the Clan's lack of a senior medicine cat could cause problems if he didn't visit every so often to see how things were going. Luckily, he couldn't have returned at a better time- according to the first warrior he met returning to camp, Dustcloud was kitting. That put some urgency in his movements. He raced to the nursery to see what was happening, feeling relieved and glad to see that not only was his apprentice on the case, but she was doing well. She'd gotten herbs and was watching over the queen, but he also felt a lot better now that he was there. He wouldn't have wanted Mosspaw to look after a kitting for the first time completely on her own, especially if it went wrong for the injured she-cat. "Well done, Mosspaw," he commented as his pawsteps slowed down, walking up to sit by the calico she-cat. "Everything looks great. Don't worry, Dustcloud, you're doing well too. Just listen to your instincts and everything will turn out fine. I'm here to help if you need me." It was always important to be calm while helping a delivering queen, because stress was often contagious.

If anything, Dustcloud was glad that she would be the first Queen that Mosspaw would have to assist with kitting. The mind of a pregnant Queen had its unusual ways, and rather than thinking about herself and the likelihood of her own kitting going awry, Dustcloud was worried about Mosspaw. She knew from the past that a Medicine Cat's first time helping a Queen give birth could be quite stressful, and she wanted to do everything she could to ease the experience of the young she-cat in Pricklebush's absence. When she had her first contraction, her only thought was that the poor she-cat would be doing this on her own. She had just passed her most recent contraction when Mosspaw returned with Marshstorm, and her eyes automatically softened at the sight of him. When Mosspaw placed the herbs in front of her, she leaned forward to lap them up appreciatively. The taste was far from enjoyable, but it was something she had gotten used to over time. She nodded gratefully to the young she-cat, approval and praise shining from her blue eyes.

A small sigh of relief passed through the tabby's lips as the familiar pelt of Pricklebush could be spotted through the entrance of the nursery. It wasn't that she didn't have faith in the younger medicine cat- she just wasn't entirely sure how she would handle it, and it could be very stressful for her. She was getting ready to greet her best friend's son when another wave of pain shot through her body, the ripples of pain causing her eyes to clench shut and a nearly inaudible gasp to pass from her maw. The pain was made manageable only by the presence of her dear mate by her side, and she let out a cry as she bit into her lip as a way of bearing the pain. It wasn't long before every instinct she had was screaming at her to push, to push with all her might. Before she knew it, she had three perfect bundles of fur nuzzled up against her stomach. She was out of breath and tired, the only thing on her mind the three newborn kits by her side.

Mistkit blindly wiggled, vaguely aware of another presence next to him. The only scent was Mother, and that was all. He tried to get to the best suckling spot but there was something in the way. He shoved it annoyedly, willing it to get out of the way. This was HIS mother, not theirs!

Nettlekit squirmed next to the presence she somehow instinctively knew was her mother. She shifted her body up against her mother's stomach, but felt something on her side pushing her. She shoved indignantly back with what little strength her small legs and arms held, letting on a small mew as she continued to seek out her mother's warmth.

Pinekit's world was black. He could see nothing, and as of yet he knew nothing. he felt tired, yet he tried to squirm his way to mother's scent. Vaguely, he was aware of other beings nearby. They were the ones making the noises, it seemed. Yet for now Pinekit knew little, and understood less. So he tried his best to make his way to mother's scent.

Mosspaw hardly had to urge Marshstorm, he padded in immediately. His head resting on her shoulder on the opposite side from the medicine cats. A rumbling purr eminating from his chest as he waited with baited breath for the miracle of birth. It seemed like he blinked, and it was over. Three tiny little bundles of wet fur were suddenly in the nest beside Dustcloud, and he rubbed his cheek against hers as his purrs seemed to grow. They looked strong and healthy. The next little warriors of ThunderClan. The tiny squeaks endearing him as he adjusted to wrap his tail around them. Keeping them from squirming far as it twined with Dustcloud's.

Marshstorm had padded into the den without hesitation, and she was grateful when both cats lapped up their herbs with no qualms. Pawsteps behind her made her raise her head, turning to look over her shoulder to ask the newcomer to leave, when the familiar face of Pricklebush greeted her. Her shoulders immediately relaxed, and her eyes shone with a silent welcome as she touched her nose to his shoulder, murmuring quietly. "Thanks, Pricklebush. I also have some feverfew and borage for after." She gestured towards the leaf wrap from before, the herbs tucked neatly and carefully inside despite shaking paws. The almost silent gasp followed by the cry of pain that came from the queen quickly brought her attention to the task at hand, and she watched as Pricklebush skillfully helped walk Dustcloud through her birthing process, jumping in to nip the sacks that contained each kit as they emerged into the world and began to lick their fur the wrong way to help their breath and keep them warm.

It wasn't long before all three kits were wriggling against Dustcloud's belly, and Mosspaw let out a breath of relief. What a blessing from StarClan for the two mates, their children were healthy and safe, and she looked up to smile at the two. She purred loudly as she congratulated them both. "Congratulations you two, three healthy kits, two toms and a she-cat! They're beautiful. Here, Dustcloud, eat these, they'll help with any lingering pain and with your milk coming in. You did a wonderful job." She grabbed the leaf and unwrapped it, revealing the carefully laid out herbs within and put them as close to Dustcloud as she could without getting them too close to the kits. The last thing she wanted was for those tiny, perfect paws to get a belly ache eating herbs they weren't ready for. Once Dustcloud had taken the herbs, she looked to Pricklebush for what was to come next, would they leave and come back later, or stay to observe for a little bit to make sure all was well?