A Brilliant Dawn

When Sunnyskip had found out she was expecting kits, she had been shocked. Nightwind didn't seem all that surprised by the news, and had been supportive. He brought her prey and cared for her, and for that she was grateful. Was this what love was? Was this how it was supposed to be? At times she had stared up at the stars and wondered if this was what her mother had missed out on with the agreement she made to Fawnstep. She was grateful that her kits would have a father that was involved. She had woken at moon high, the crescent moon far overhead, panting from pain. As the night progressed, so too did her kitting, and just as the sun peeked over the horizon three beautiful, healthy kits lay at her belly. She could scent Nightwind nearby, along with his anxiety. This must be his first litter too, she thought. It was finally over now though, and she called out softly to him. "Nightwind? They're here. Come meet our kits." When she met his eyes, she smiled and pointed to each kit. Two handsome toms and a single beautiful she-cat. Her eyes sparkled with tears as she looked up to him. "Would you like to name any of them?" She purred, giving him the chance. She would name them if he declined, but she wanted to offer him the opportunity if he desired it. The cry of a hawk somewhere overhead caused her to instinctively curl tighter around her kits. She was in no shape to fight, but already she was protective over them. Hopefully the predatory bird would know better than to try it's luck.

The first thing the newly born kit realized upon entering the world was that she was cold, hungry, and she didn't know where her mother or siblings were. This caused a great deal of initial wriggling and mewling, causing her to go around in a semi-circle before she could finally get her bearings, her mostly gray face up as high as it could go, trying to find her way. When she did finally understand where to go, she set about the task of scooting into position as fast as possible, snuggling up against her mother to leech her warmth for her own. It felt nice, and it felt safe.

Soon, she could identify another scent, another cat. It was a weird scent that made her tiny pink nose wrinkle up a bit as she smelled it. While her new eyes could still not quite see, her head turned towards the new scent out of innate curiosity, and a small curious mewl erupted from her jaws. While she was turned, she felt herself being swept farther back into her mother, being held tighter. She felt even safer now, new scent or not.

He hadn't been surprised in the slightest when Sunnyskip had found out the news and told him. He'd had two litters before this one, but he smiled pleasantly at her and congratulated her, even playing the role of the caring, loving mate throughout his new mate's pregnancy. He'd bring her whatever odd fresh-kill she told him she wanted, no matter the time of day. Even he was impressed with his performance, not feeling aggravated at all the entire time. Windclan had changed him a bit it seemed. Being accepted had done wonders for his typically short fuse and violent outbursts. Still... he was far from cured. Windclan accepted Nightwind, not Dawnhawk.

Once he heard her kitting, he hesitated to come in. Last time he entered a nursery to check on his litter, four of them had been stillborn and his mate had been devastated. So had he. He could hear the squeals of kits before long, and that was when he enetered the nursery. Three kits, all alive and healthy, lie at Sunnyskip's belly. He was surprised to see that he actually had two sons. Pleasantly surprised. His family had a long history of producing almost exclusively she-cats.

"They're beautiful Sunnyskip." He gently bumped heads with her. "So are you." Even despite her being tired, clearly, he at least meant what he said. When she asked him to name one, his eyes immediately went to the she-cat. He didn't have to think long, as one name popped into his head quickly. He pointed to her with a toe.

"Ashkit. Is that alright with you?" He asked, though he didn't see why not. As far as he knew, Windclan didn't have any issues with fires in awhile, so it shouldn't bring up bad memories. Especially not for a mother as young as Sunnyskip. I'll name you after the one sister I have that still loves me and never gave up on me. The idea warmed his heart more than he expected it to, but it was fitting.

Mere hours into his short life, the tiny tom-kit squealed in protest at the warm wiggling around him. Too much, too much! He tried in vain to burrow his head into his mother's belly, swatting the fur and pudge on either side of him, growing more and more irritated at his failed ventures by the moment. Suddenly, he was kicked squarely in the nose; that was the final straw. The golden-colored kit began to back up from the warmth and into the strange, unruly unknown... mere whiskers from his mother's paw, of course. He twisted around until he could no longer feel the heat of the queen and her litter, and at that moment, his grand escape began. He scooted along the floor of the den, practically swimming across the dusty turf, squeaking his solemn goodbye.

And suddenly, he bumped against something foreign. A blockage! How terrible! He felt around and understood it was a very large paw. Whose paw was this? How large was his mother?!

Oh, that's not what mother smells like. Another cat, then. Perhaps this large cat could aid him in his running away. He mewled louder than he ever had before, calling out to the large creature for assistance.

Nightwind approached and bumped his head to hers, and she purred weakly. "Thank you, Nightwind." Her mate's eyes travelled to the she-cat, and after a short moment he pointed to her and named her Ashkit. Sunnyskip looked at her daughter and smiled, nodding. "Ashkit is a beautiful name for her. As for the toms, how about...." Sunnyskip paused, looking between her sons a few times before focusing on one. "Duskkit, for this one, and Ryekit, for the little one trying to escape already." Sunnyskip pointed her nose to the little tomkit that had bumped into his father's paw, mewling loudly. She smiled at the sight before looking up to meet Nightwind's blue eyes with her pale brown. "Would you mind nudging him back this way? He'll have plenty of time to run the moors with us later."

Duskkit... he had to smile at that one. A combination of both of their names... well, his alias anyway. Ryekit was quick to try to venture off and Nightwind just watched him scoot closer. This one he'd have to keep an eye on, if this was any indication as to how he would be in the future. At Sunnyskip's request, he nudged the ball of fuzz with his toes in an attempt to just roll him back the other way. On second thought, he didn't know exactly how fragile new kits were, so he picked him up in his mouth instead and gently set him back near Sunnyskip's belly.

"You don't have the teeth or leg strength to go outside yet, little guy." He said with some amusement. Ryekit and Duskkit were fine with him. "I like the names you picked out. Ryekit and Duskkit it is."

Nightwind gently picked up their son and placed him back at her belly, and Sunnyskip purred at his comment. "It will be soon, little one, don't you fret." Smiling, she nodded as her mate agreed to her choice in names. "I'm glad you like them! I hope they will grow to be as strong and smart as you." She mewed, just finishing her sentence before she yawned and winced. She had been up most of the night kitting, and now that it was over.... She just wanted to sleep. "I'm not sure... If you want to stay, please feel free! I'm very tired though..." Her eyes blinked slowly as she fought to stay awake, curling tighter around her newborn kits as her eyes closed. "Thank you, Nightwind. I love you."