Bitter Beginnings [Closed for now]

Jetflower was resting peacefully on her nest, her belly full with the unborn kits she already loved so dearly, purring softly as she daydreamed of the times in the future with them. How many would there be? How would they look like? Would any of them grow up to become the leader?

Oh, so many hopes, so many dreams!

Her head only lifted when a very well-known scent reached her nose, way before the sound of paw steps could be heard as Birchfrost entered in the nursery, carrying the largest, plumper mouse he could find in the freshkill pile. Only the best prey of the season for the best she-cat in the territories. That was his way of thinking.

The two cats needed no sound to greet each other, their eyes said more than they could ever put into simple words. With a deep purring that filled the nursery, the tom placed the mouse down and the queen immediately started to dig in. Carrying kits made her oh so hungry…

The day seemed to be another normal one as they shared tongues with each other, the wide smiles on their muzzles never fading…until….

“Oh! They are kicking!” Jetflower chuckled softly as she licked her belly “Those active little rasca-ow!” She twitched a bit upon feeling the little stinging sensation in her belly.

“They will be fighters, just like their mother” Birchfrost joked, causing the two of them to chuckle before the queen winced again.

“They are more active th- OW!” This time is wasn’t just a little sting, but a bolt of pain that shocked the queen without warning “W-wha-” Next thing she knew, she was yowling.

“J-Jetflower?! What is going on what is wrong?!” The queen didn’t answer, instead, she scratched the nest with her claws and yowled with eyes closed, until she felt it…

Her water broke…

“Th-This can’t be! They aren’t meant to arrive for at least anot-” The jolt of pain didn’t allow her to finish the sentence yet again “The Medicine cat! Bring the Medicine Cat!” She was gasping for air as her body started the contractions. She had heard that this could be panful, but this…this was ridiculous!

Birchfrost bolted out of the nursery in a panic, storming into Aspenheart’s den, too worried to bother thinking about manners “Aspenheart! Quick! Jetflower- She- T-THE KITS ARE COMING!”.

The greencough that blazed through WindClan's camp took up a larger space in Aspenheart's cognition than anything else. The fighting with his apprentice, a queen near-kitting, and the end of a bitter Leaf-Bare were all far from his mind when the strongest of WindClan's warriors were quite near hacking up their lungs. He didn't have the energy himself to haul his hind to Twolegplace for more catmint, either. All he had was hope, which lately ran drier than the creekbed when beavers dammed it up.

Hope came in the form of kits, which was the subject of the commotion when Birchfrost crashed recklessly into his den. Aspenheart was usually prepared for the task, and when a queen was near her kits he would set up a package of herbs with a stick to bite on so he could make way to the nursery with suitable haste. This, however was unexpected, which generally meant that something was awry. The realization passed from Birchfrost to Aspenheart in a matter of seconds, and the medicine cat instinctively dove for the herbs. He nodded to the tom with a professional air, snatched up a collection of objects for the kitting, and mewed for Softpaw to follow closely behind. He hobbled to the nursery in time to hear Jetflower yowl in pain and set himself up beside her. He pushed her a few leaves of herbs and a stick. "If it's too bad, bite the stick. Just trust me on this one, Jetflower," he promised, patting her side soothingly. He gestured for Softpaw to take up her post at Jetflower's back half. "I would have liked for your first experience with birth to be usual, but I guess we don't get what we want in life!"

When Aspenheart pressed his paws to Jetflower's belly, he began to feel a little sick to his stomach. Something was wrong, but he couldn't make any assumptions, nor warn the other cats to the potential danger at hand. There would be chaos. He had to think quickly. "We need raspberry leaves, right now!"

At the sound of urgency, Softpaw jumped to her paws and dashed after Aspenheart, "Don't worry, Birchfrost!" She called to the tom, as she rushed to the nursery. When they arrived, they were greeted by a Jetflower yowling in agony. When Aspenheart gestured for her to take position on her back half, she did just that. Softpaw could hear the underlining worry in her mentor's mew as he ordered for Aspenheart. Downpaw came rushing towards the nursery at the sound of panic, and Softpaw wasted no time in ordering him around. "Raspberry leaves! We need raspberry leaves! They are soft and jagged leaves. Don't just stand there, Downpaw! Go get raspberry leaves"

Bewildered, the ginger tom changed direction and sprinted towards the medicine den, looking for raspberry leaves. He searched for a heartbeat before he spotted them. Grabbing a mouthful of the jagged yet soft leaves, he dashed back to the nursery and deposited them beside Aspenheart. "I'll, uh- I'll just.. Uh.. I'll be, um, outside, yeah.." Downpaw mewed awkwardly, padding backwards out of the den. As Downpaw left, Softpaw hurried to soothe the queen. "You'll be fine, Jetflower, everything will be fine. You're a strong cat, you can do this." She mewed gentle words of encouragement.

(OOC: I'm so sorry for the late reply! ;;)

Jetflower was in a kind of pain-induced daze by the time the medicine cats rushed in, so she only noticed their presence when the mix of their voice and touch made her snap out from it, albeit partially.

She had trouble processing their words in her current state, but something in her guided her in a near mindless, feral level to know what to do and how she was supposed to react when her rational side was struggling to work properly at all with the waves of pain assaulting her. Without any real thoughts, she downed whatever herb they put before her before taking a tight hold of the stick.

Her body acted without her mind’s control as the herbs started to act, forcing the pain to back away just enough for her clouded eyes to regain focus as she regained some level of awareness of what was happening around her. She could feel the involuntary contractions already taking place, her sharp claws digging into the moss of her bedding. Her body felt unbearably hot, yes freezing cold at the same time, it was a strange feeling to describe.

Birchfrost stood by the entrance, trying to keep himself calm, yet pacing constantly. Having their mate kitting would be enough to make any tom nervous, or so he had heard, but this kitting just felt…wrong…wrong in ways that it was impossible to put into words and even he couldn’t fully understand.

Aspenheart swallowed hard as Jetflower struggled to birth her kittens. There was a level of anguish he had not yet seen in a kitting queen, though the pain of birth seemed to be in the same vein as losing a foot. Jetflower's cries were above any sounds Aspenheart had ever witnessed... his heart became to sink, as if there was quicksand in his chest. He became noticeably frantic, hustling around the queen's body, looking for any kind of sign.

He could not begin to imagine what was causing it. It should have been easier, since they were coming so early. It could only mean something was wrong within. As soon as the idea entered his mind, he shooed it away. Cobwebs could not be placed on the lining of a cat's stomach. Lost limbs could not be regrown. Hearts could not be restarted, and internal bleeding could not usually be stopped. Medicine cats' knowledge was vast, but it was also very limited. All he had left was hope that he was wrong. Aspenheart was not often wrong.

"Birchfrost, come stay by your mate's side," Aspenheart invited. "And Softpaw... watch Jetflower carefully. I'll take her kits." The first of the kittens was ready to arrive by the time the crippled cat could scoot to the other side of the queen's body. It came bloody and small, but most horrifyingly of all, it came completely still. Aspenheart prodded the little scrap with his nose, just in case. Jetflower and Birchfrost's first kit was entirely dead.

As soon as the kit was born, Softpaw knew. It was dead. The scent the kit carried was unmistakable. Softpaw knew the scent of death well; it was not one a cat could easily forget. The first kit had been born, and the first kit had died. Death strengthened her resolve, and she was determined not to lose Jetflower, too. "Hang in there, Jetflower. Everything will be fine, just hold on a bit longer. Medicine cat's honor, just hang on!" She mewed urgently, nudging her cheek ever so gently.

Suddenly she remembered Downpaw. He'd said he would be right outside the nursery if she needed anything. "Downpaw! Raspberry leaves! We need more raspberry leaves!" She yowled, and heard scampering paws outside the den, rushing away towards the medicine den. A heartbeat or two later, her ginger-furred brother rushed in, anxiously sliding the soft leaves to her. "We... We don't, uh... We don't have anymore.. Anymore raspberry leaves.. Uh, sorry, Softy.." He mewed apologetically, regretfully looking back at his sister as he padded out of the nursery.

Anxiously she gave three of the six leaves to Jetflower, gently urging her to chew them. A tiny, singular wail pierced the air, and Softpaw ecstatically turned to see the kit. Her excitement turned to dread as she saw the kit give one feeble wiggle then go utterly still and silent. The second kit had lived for a heartbeat before it had died. "C-chew the raspberry leaves, Jetflower..." She whispered, turning back to the queen.