The Blood of the Mother (open, Berrypaw needed)

In the early morning of a cold day, when the pink streaks that signal the sun’s rise just barely lit the sky, a she-cat lay in the medicine cat’s den with her new litter of kits curled nearby in someone else’s fur. The golden molly’s sides heaved with effort and fear. Her eyes remained shut tightly enough to ache—when she opened them, the world around her spun and made her sick to her stomach. Her throat was raw from retching and screaming. Her insides were already twisting in pain as if her kits had ripped her apart from the inside. Blood coated her flank and belly. This had not been an easy birth.

Her trials were not yet done. When Goldenfang opened her eyes again, they were wide and tear-filled. “Silverlight!” She cried out in her strained voice. He had already raced to her side when her labor began the night before, but she needed someone, something to save her. The world was going gray. Sounds of her mewling kits searching for their mother were fuzzy, as if they were buried under layers of dirt. Goldenfang’s mind was empty except for the echoing phrase StarClan, someone, anyone! The deputy’s weakened head fell back down into her mossy nest. She stared ahead. She was afraid that it would all end if she let herself close her eyes again.

Swiftspirit curled protectively around Goldenfang's kits, though her gaze remained trained on the queen's golden and bloodstained pelt with worry.

"Stay strong, Goldenfang." Foxdung, she hated seeing anyone like this. Berrypaw was trying, but Swiftspirit could do little more than clean up the kits (thankfully they seemed healthy, despite the terrible state that Goldenfang was in) and keep them warm.

Goldenfang looked so weary, her face streaked with tears as she called out for Silverlight weakly. "He's here, Goldenfang. And your kits are healthy." Words were all she had to offer, hopefully the reassurance would at least help soothe the deputy's mind. She'd been able to help a little during the birth itself based off of her own experience with her own kits, but she was no medicine cat. That unenviable task was Berrypaw's.

Berrypaw was worried as much as Goldenfur was in pain. He was trying his best to help her, but he couldn't be the best at this. This was Hentooths job! She never taught Berrypaw anything about kittings besides what herbs to use. "Goldenfur! Stop screaming and eat the herbs! Do you want to be in pain?! Swiftspirit, can you grab a mossball? There should be one in the kits den. If the kits don't let you have, ask them if they want more friends." Berrypaw was just starting to get annoyed by everything, now. The screaming of Goldenfur and her kits, ugh. "And could you wet the mossball?" The mix of herbs he offered Goldenfur to eat was a mix of chervil, dandelion, and some honey as well.

At the beginning of Goldenfang's labor, the silver-furred warrior had sprang up out of his nest and had rushed to the medicine cat's den in a hurry, nearly tumbling over his own paws on the way there. When he'd heard the news that Goldenfang was pregnant with his kits, the tom had been more than ecstatic! He actually shed quite a few tears at just thinking about his future as a father. He'd gotten quite close to the pretty she-cat over the past moons. Every time he saw her his heart would soar and whatever would have been bothering him at the time would simply vanish. She made his days brighter and more thrilling. He knew their kits would be well-loved.

Silverlight had stayed by Golden's side during the duration of her labor. He'd been soothing her as best as he could, even going out and getting a stick so she could bite down on that. Swiftspirit had joined them as soon as it had started and has been such a big help with cleaning the kits and keeping them warm as they each arrived. "I'm here Goldenfang. I've been here as soon as it started and I ain't leaving you. It'll be over soon. Swiftspirit says our kits are healthy. Just hold on for a bit longer and stay strong. I know you can do it." he murmured gently yet sternly as he pressed his body against hers. The weary tom noticed Berrypaw's growing frustration as the den was filled with crying and screaming. Poor Berrypaw. He was so young yet had to shoulder a huge burden. Hentooth... was no longer in the clan- she had disappeared not too long ago and nobody has been able to find her since. Now, the young medicine cat apprentice was tasked to care for the whole clan with the minimal experience he'd gotten mentored under Hen. He was trying his best but kitting was no easy task for any of the parties involved.

The amount of blood on Goldenfang worried him to no end and his anxiety was rising with every second that passed. He gave the distressed molly a few comforting licks before getting up onto his paws and turning to Berrypaw. "I can get the moss ball. Swiftspirit can stay here for the kits." he said before racing away without allowing anyone to object. Swift was doing a great job keeping an eye on the kits so it was time he did something more to help. He urged his paws to quickly take him to the nursery.

After some convincing and a few apologies to both the kits and their mothers, Silverlight managed to obtain two moss balls. He raced back to the den and as soon as he entered, gave them to Berrypaw. "I got two from the kits." he stated as he went back over to Golden's pained form. "How're they doing?" he asked Swiftspirit as he settled back down and began to groom the golden-furred molly's fur, eyes looking down at her with worry. He noticed her weakened demeanor as well as her eyes struggling to stay open. "Hey, hey, hey. Keep them open hun. You'll be able to rest soon." he soothed as he nudged her a bit. "Berrypaw, she'll be okay won't she? She lost a lot of blood and she isn't looking too good." he fretted, throat constricting at the thought of something having gone wrong. "If you need anything I-I can go get it. Just tell me and I'll hurry."

Goldenfang's strained yowling filled the tiny, golden-yellow kit's ears. Sounds echoing around in the cramped den made the kit want to snuggle deeper into her mother's fur. The moment the she found her voice, the kit would not stop mewling, determined to be heard.

The queen exhaled deeply. Berrypaw was right, though she wasn't in the mood for his stressed-out snark. She bit back a snarl and mustered up the strength to lift her head and shoulders enough to prop herself up on her elbows while she ate the herbs. The honey helps the taste at least a little bit, but flavor wasn't really her main concern right now. Silverlight's urging had been soothing, though he urgently left to get moss for Berrypaw. Her kits' mewling was horrible. Her innards kept twisting painfully. The swimming sensation in her head and the graying around the edges of her vision were not subsiding. Briefly, Goldenfang worried that she'd die while her mate was gone.

Another loud mewl brought the deputy out of her thoughts. Silverlight's scent was wrapped around her once more. Swiftspirit confirmed that her litter had survived the birth. "They're healthy? How many? Help me name them," She panted, leaning back into Silverlight to rest her aching body. "Something strong. And graceful." She wanted to name them, to declare that they were alive, to show the world that at least they would survive this morning. That they were the product of her and her mate's devotion and adoration of one another. That she still had a paw in WindClan, even if things ended right then.

---

With his little mouth hanging open in a silent cry, ears pressed tights against his head and eyes sealed shut, the gray-and-gold tomkit wriggled helplessly against Swiftspirit. He was hungry, but the milk-scent was not close. It mingled with pain and fear and frightened him despite his inability to truly understand. His fur was slicked close to his side from whatever blood was left along with the cleaning the she-cat had given him. It was a horrible introduction to the world.