#lightclan!kits

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: kit death, stillbirth. Viewer discretion is advised. !!

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Sitting and sorting through the recently-collected herbs, Stormflower remained silent and focused on her work as always. Pepperfrost watched, wondering idly how a cat could be so focused on a single task... but, overall, she was grateful.

"...I'm sorry for getting cocky," She mewed finally, ears flattened. "You were right. Leaf-bare isn't a safe time to have kits, and... you were just trying to warn me. You were right."

The spotted healer's tail twitched for a moment, and she turned her head to look over her shoulder.

"It's alright. You're young." Stormflower shrugged, returning to her work. "I only wish I could have gotten back in time for your kitting. I'm sorry for your loss.

"N-No, I should be... I should be thanking you!" Pepperfrost's voice was practically a squeak compared to Stormflower's calm, contemplative tone. "You risked your safety to save my sister's life, and she's still here because of it!"

"I only did what any reliable healer would do."

"It's still amazing. Besides... what happened to Berrykit wasn't your fault. It... It wasn't anyone's fault. It just happened. And, like, of course part of me is going to hurt forever, knowing she might've been a great warrior one day, but..."

Adjusting her position from her nest, Pepperfrost took a moment to stare down and admire the three remaining kits huddled at her belly.

"...I still have three left. And they'll shine even brighter. For her."

"That's a wonderful sentiment, Pepperfrost," The healer mused with a quiet hum. "Thank you. I promise you that Berrykit will be well cared for among the stars."

"That's reassuring!" Pepperfrost let out a quiet, awkward laugh. "I'm still not sure about all the Star Cat business, but Lilacdream has been trying to teach me."

"That's good. A warrior should understand the significance of the clan's ancestors."

Pepperfrost decided not to point out that she, as well of most of the clan at the moment, didn't have clan ancestors. It was only Lightrunner and Stormflower now.

The healer seemed to sense the awkward tension, because she quickly changed the subjects.

"So... you've already named them all, then?"

"I have," Pepperfrost purred, excited to share about her new litter. "There's Berrykit, of course, and then..."

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While the herb patrol is on their expedition, Pepperfrost gives birth to four kits.

Kitten 1 is female and a stillborn. Pepperfrost is grieving.

Kitten 1 receives the name Berrykit after joining the ranks of StarClan.

Kitten 2 is male. He is Skittish and Quiet.

Kitten 2 receives the name Elmkit, in honor of the elm forest that the clan calls home (and his father, Elmer).

Kitten 3 is female and born sickly. She is Non-Destructive and Proud.

Kitten 3 receives the name Sleetkit, in honor of the icy leaf-bare in which the litter was born.

Kitten 4 is female. She is Quiet and a Hunter.

Kitten 4 receives the name Flowerkit, in honor of Stormflower, who saved Lilacdream's life shortly after the kits were born.

With the fresh herbs from the greenhouse gardens, Stormflower treats Lilacdream's Sickness. Lilacdream will make a full recovery.

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"Wow! I've never seen so much nature before!" Pepper exclaimed aloud, staring out at the forest Lightrunner and Briarclaw had led them to. "And I live on a farm, so that's something!"

"Well, you live here now, I guess!" Lightrunner purred in response. "We're nearing the camp now. It's not a whole lot, but it's home."

Lyla kept up the rear, quiet and visibly exhausted as Briarclaw finished helping her across the thunderpath. It was still nighttime when the group departed, and the small molly hadn't gotten but a quick nap in before they did so. Now it was dawn, and the group was finally in LightClan territory.

But something was different in the scent of their camp by the time they had returned. Briarclaw seemed to have noticed it as well, but Lightrunner was the first to recognize what was different.

"Is that... milk?"

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Under the watchful eye (leaves?) of the Forest Spirit, Honeypurr gives birth to three healthy kits.

Kitten 1 is male. He is Playful and Adventurous.

Kitten 1 receives the name Antkit, in honor of the Honeypot Ant that his mother ate while she was expecting.

Kitten 2 is female and slightly bigger than her littermates. She is Playful and a Hunter.

Kitten 2 receives the name Birchkit, in honor of her light fur and black markings, as well as her sturdy body.

Kitten 3 is female and slightly smaller than her littermates. She is Playful and Clueless.

Kitten 3 receives the name Mousekit, in honor of her small body, big ears, and slim tail.

The group returns home with both Pepper and Lyla.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: birth complications & mentions of kit death/stillbirth. Viewer discretion is advised. !!

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"Mom? Is everything okay..?"

Pepperfrost perks up somewhat at the sound of her kit's voice. Elmpaw was perhaps the most perceptive of her brood, and she wasn't surprised that he approached her. She must have seemed awfully upset.

"I'm alright," She sighed finally. "I'm just... relieved that Birchshine's litter wound up alright, after all of this. I couldn't help worrying."

Elmpaw visibly hesitated. Pepperfrost could see the thoughts churn in his head- 'how am I supposed to respond to this?' She almost wanted to take the words back. She'd said way too much, as per usual.

"...This is about Berrykit, isn't it?"

Ah. Pepperfrost couldn't help wincing. She was supposed to be the adult in this situation. How could she let her son read her so easily? But his eyes were so kind, as kind as they always were; they were his father's eyes, through and through, and it was times like this that she longed for her mate's presence.

"I'll be alright," She responded again, more sure of herself this time. "I just needed a few minutes to myself, that's all."

Silence followed. Though her son was quiet as always, some things didn't need to be said out loud. He was here for her, just as her other two remaining kits were.

"...Do you need a hug?"

"...That sounds great right about now."

Elmpaw only slightly hesitated before nuzzling his face into Pepperfrost's fur, keeping her warm against the last remnants of leaf-bare that still hung in the air.

She would always long for what could've been. Maybe she'd never stop staring at new mothers with healthy litters with such jealousy and longing. But for now, she could only support the clan, as a good warrior... no, as a good deputy should.

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Under the watchful eye of the Forest Spirit, Birchshine gives birth to four kits.

Kitten 1 is male and born healthy. He is Non-Destructive and Clueless.

Kitten 1 receives the name Horizonkit in the hopes of a new era for LightClan.

Kitten 2 is female and born frail. She is Playful and Adventurous.

Kitten 2 receives the name Hopekit in the hopes of a long, happy life.

Kitten 3 is male and born frail. He is Neat and Proud.

Kitten 3 receives the name Sunkit for a bright future.

Kitten 4 is female and born sickly. She is Adventurous and a Hunter.

Kitten 4 receives the name Dawnkit for a bright future.

Pepperfrost is feeling a bit jealous of Birchshine's litter, resulting in her acting a bit more distant.

Hyper

Adventurous

Loud

Current Role: Kit

Bearkit- formerly known as Mips- is a roaring, wrecking machine! She's always on the run, always up to something- and always getting distracted by her newest fascinations. Right now, that fascination is Magicpaw, her current hero and idol. She wants to grow up to be just like him!

Shy

Aggressive

Proud

Current Role: Kit

Magickit used to be a kittypet belonging to a single twoleg, but he was abandoned on the side of the road and brought into the clan with the Forest Spirit's blessing. He's not sure what all this wild-cat business is, but he's rather fond of the Spirit of the Forest already. If she's around, maybe this place won't be so bad?