LeafXCrow-Second Chance part1

Jayfeather stood on the misty hunting grounds of StarClan. In front of him were Yellowfang and Firestar.

"Do you have a message for me?"Jayfeather asked.

Yellowfang exchanged a long look with Firestar before she finally mewed. "Somewhat..."

"Jayfeather, two kits will soon be born. To Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight, a litter of four. There will be one light brown tabby she-cat in their litter. She must be called Leafkit."Firestar explained. "Dustpelt and Ferncloud will have three kits. One of them will be a dark gray kitten. He must be called Crowkit."

"Why do they have to be named that?"Jayfeather questioned.

"That is for StarClan to know, Jayfeather."Firestar answered.

What if they're part of a bigger prophecy than Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and I?Jayfeather thought.

As if she had read his thoughts, Yellowfang rasped. "They will not hold any power over the Clans like that you and your littermates have. But they are rather the reward for loyalty and selflessness."

The medicine cat was still confused, but just nodded his head.

"Go back, Jayfeather."Firestar's green eyes held a hidden knowledge. "We'll meet again soon." With that, Firestar and Yellowfang dissapeared and Jayfeather was blind once more.

                                                     *****

"You're doing great, Squirrelflight!"Jayfeather encouraged. "Keep pushing!"The medicine cat was in the nursery, helping the cat he had thought of as his mother to give birth.

"It hurts!"Squirrelflight yelped.

"I'm right here, Squirrelflight."Bramblestar licked his mate's ears over and over again.

After several more yelps, Squirrelflight lay panting in her nest. Jayfeather felt gently around her belly and, just like he had been told, there were four kits. "Eat these."He intructed, showing Squirrelflight borage leaves. She took them and began to chew them.

"Those really are my kits!"Bramblestar purred. "What shall they be called?"

Jayfeather's ears pricked up as he said this. "Wait. Tell me their colouring as you name them. Pelt colour and gender."

"A-alright."Squirrelflight mewed. "A dark brown tabby tom, Falconkit, a sandy ginger she-cat, Lightkit, a bright orange tom, Blazekit, and a light brown tabby she-kit, Willowkit."

"No!"Jayfeather exclaimed. He scowled at how stupid he sounded, telling cats what to name their kits. "Why not Leafkit instead?"

"That sounds good."Brambleclaw agreed.

"Leafkit it is."Squirrelflight sighed, closing her eyes.

                                                   ****
"How's she doing, Dustpelt?"Jayfeather mewed through the herbs he carried in his jaws.

"I-I don't know, Jayfeather. This is her fourth litter..."Dustpelt's voice was thick with worry.

"I'll be fine-"Ferncloud gritted her teeth in pain.

Dustpelt layed down beside his mate, grooming her speckled fur.

"Okay, ready, Ferncloud?"Jayfeather asked, feeling the she-cat's belly.

"Y-yes..."Ferncloud breathed.

"Push!"Jayfeather instructed. He heard a gasp of pain as the queen pushed. Jayfeather heard a tiny squek, but Ferncloud continued pushing. So far, two kits were out. Then, the gray tom's blood went cold.

"She's bleeding alot, Jayfeather!"Dustpelt yowled.

Jayfeather took some cobwebs, ready to place them on Ferncloud's lower belly, when he felt the ears of a tiny creature. "Quick, Dustpelt, is half of the third kit out?"

"Yes!"Dustpelt's mew was shaky.

"Ferncloud, I'm going to ask you to push again!"Jayfeather commanded.

"But she'll die from loss of blood!"Her mate protested.

"I can't treat her until the kit is out!"The medicine cat yelled back. He heard Ferncloud gasping again before a tiny, weak mew was heard again. From the feel of his fur, he was soaked in blood.

"P-please s-stop t-the p-pain!"Ferncloud cried.

Jayfeather immediantly placed the cobwebs. He felt Ferncloud's forehead. She had a fever. "Eat these."He ordered, placing a bunch of Feverfew in her jaws. To his relief, Ferncloud's breathing was becoming more even and the bleeding had stopped. Jayfeather gave her some thyme, before sitting down.

"Will she be alright?"Dustpelt asked.

Jayfeather nodded. "Yes. She'll be able to care for this litter and get back to warrior duties afterwards. But I'm afraid that this should be her last litter. If she has another one, it could kill her."

Ferncloud was busily licking her kits. "What shall we name them, Dustpelt?"Her voice was sweet and light as if nothing had happened.

"Let's name the gray she-kit Speckledkit."The brown tom suggested.

"Yes, and what about Mudkit for this brown tom?"Ferncloud purred.

"Is the third one a dark gray kit?"Jayfeather asked, trying to make it sound casual.

"Why, yes."The mother answered. "Almost black, actually."

"Nightkit."Dustpelt mewed.

Great StarClan, let this be the last time I barge into the naming of a kit! "No, I think he should be named Crowkit."

"Jayfeather, you saved both our lives. Naming our last kit is the least I could offer you." Ferncloud's mew was full of gratitude.

The medicine cat gave a weak purr before backing out of the den. His job was done. Leafkit and Crowkit had been named properly. He just wondered why they had to have those names...

                                                       ****

"Can't catch me, Falconkit!"The light brown tabby kit squeked, running circles around her older brother.

"Can so!"Falconkit insisted, leaping onto his sister and pinning her down.

"Lightkit, Blazekit! Help me!"Leafkit called for her littermates.

"Get off her, Falconkit!"Lightkit barged into the dark brown tom.

"We shouldn't be messing around!"Blazekit hissed. "Squirrelflight is trying to sleep!"

"Lighten up, Blazekit!"Lightkit mewed, batting at her brother's ears.

"Yeah, stop trying to act like Clan leader!"Falconkit purred.

Blazekit turned away from his siblings and layed down in his nest again.

"Maybe we should listen to him?"Lightkit murmured, getting off her brother.

"Yeah. Squirrelflight did seem tired."Falconkit agreed. Him and Lightkit then joined Blazekit on the nest.

"Hey! I wanna play!"Leafkit whimpered after her siblings.

"Well,they don't."A voice pointed out.

Leafkit rolled her eyes. "Why don't you go stuff your mouth with fresh-kill, Crowkit?

"Because I'm not hungry!"Crowkit stuck out his tongue.

"Then leave me alone!"Leafkit hissed. "If you're so popular, where are Speckledkit and Mudkit?"

Crowkit shuffled his paws. "They're sleeping..."

"Ha!"Leafkit snickered.

Crowkit launched himself at Leafkit, batting at her ears with tiny unsheated claws.

"Get off me, you piece of fox-dung!"Leafkit screamed.

"Fight me!"Crowkit challenged.

"Fine!"Leafkit raked Crowkit's belly.

"Ouch!"he protested as he was thrown to the ground.

"Take this!"Leafkit growled, biting his ears. Suddenly, she felt herself being picked up by the scruff.

"Leafkit!"Squirrelflight scolded through the she-kit's fur. "Stop trying to pick a fight!

Crowkit had a smug expression until he, too, was picked up by his mother. "You know how impolite it is to attack a she-cat for no reason! I'm sorry, Squirrelflight. Is Leafkit alright?"

"She's fine, Ferncloud. Is Crowkit hurt?"Squirrelflight asked.

"No, but he will not be allowed to play with other kits for a couple of days now!"Ferncloud was clearly angered.

"Leafkit won't be allowed either."Squirrelflight promised.

"But-"Leafkit was cut off from her protest.

"No buts!"Her mother mewed sternly.Both kits were put on the ground and led to their own nests by their mother. Scowling, their gazes fixed on each other, they bared their teeth. Suddenly, each jumped back. Why were those eyes so familiar...?