Calm After the Storm (Birthing Thread)

[Ambrose]

CINDERSTEP

OF WHISPERCLAN

It was just before dawn when Cinderstep went into labour. Nestled in her cozy bed which she had made very carefully, a splitting pain tore through her belly, and it was unmistakable that it was her first contraction. She stumbled out into the clearing, her belly almost brushing the ground. "Thrushleap... help! Thrushleap, quick, come here!" she shrieked, unable to hold back her pain.

64 words

Lionhearted

The birthing part will certainly be longer. 

ulla

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap heard his mate's cry and perked his ears. Racing as fast as he could to the nursery, he skidded to a stop next to Cinderstep, his paws churning up dirt. "What's wrong?" he said worriedly, sniffing her over. "Are you about to...?" gulping, he tried to get nearer, but decided to give her space. Or did she want comfort instead? What was he supposed to do? "Is there anything I can do?" he asked. "Water!" he suddenly cried, "you need water! Buzzardpaw, get some wet moss!"

The apprentice returned in a flash, looking mildly confused but interested, and Thrushleap received the moss, dismissing the younger tom. "Here. What do we do?"

[Ambrose]

CINDERSTEP

OF WHISPERCLAN

Cinderstep breathed heavily as she settled back into her nest. She splayed her legs out behind her, trying to find comfort in this time of great pain. Her swollen abdomen did no good to help her. She looked at Thrushleap, her eyes sparkling with pain; tears, but she tried to hold them back. "Yes.. our kits have decided it's time." she said as clearly as she could. 
"Water! You need water! Buzzardpaw, get some wet moss." Thrushleap figured out, ordering an apprentice to fetch it for him. Cinderstep felt a pang of pity for the young tom being dragged into this, but this was interrupted by an overpowering contraction. "Oh... thanks for the moss." she moaned, lapping up its cool moisture. She felt a bit better. Cinderstep smiled at her mate as he asked what to do. "Just lie down beside me for now." she said coolly, though pain could be heard in her voice. Her hips felt like they were breaking. 
And suddenly, the contractions came quicker and quicker until she delivered her first kit. With a strong push, out plopped a sac, containing a kit. Instictively, Cinderstep rushed to nip the sac and release the kit. Amniotic fluid burst out of the sac, revealing Cinderstep and Thrushleap's first kit; a long-furred white and pale ginger shecat, her colouring like her dad, her pelt length like her mum. "She's beautiful!" Cinderstep cried, guiding the kit to suckle on her belly. With this, morning came, dawn erupting into view, a magnificent dawn with seemingly everlasting glory. "I think we should call her Morningkit; the dawn just exploded as she came into this world." she mewed as another contraction hit her. "There's another one coming." she said softly.

287 words

Lionhearted

next post will include nomstar Mintkit and Heron Thunderkit!

ulla

[Lionhearted]

"Hang on," Thrushleap said, trying to soothe her, as he lay behind his mate. Licking her cheek in comfort, he sniffed the new kit. He produced a stick from behind him, and dropped it in front of her. "Bite into this when the pain comes, I hear it helps." He thought of their future kits, and a wave of joy washed over him. This was actually happening!

[Ambrose]

CINDERSTEP

OF WHISPERCLAN

Only her perfect tom could soothe her just by lying down beside her, and Cinderstep was so glad to have found him. She shifted her position to feel more comfortable and to lean into him. "I just want to tell you before you have to do your duties again and leave me here, that I love you so much, Thrushleap. We'll do our best for these kits." she rasped, her breathing unsteady. 

The next kit, number two, was certainly coming now, and Cinderstep smiled as best as she could when Thrushleap gave her a stick to bite into. Her muscles contracted and relaxed rapidly until she delivered the next sticky bundle. She undid the sac, revealing their next kit; another girl! She looked just like her mother; a short, mottled silver pelt. "She's another girl! Oh, she looks just like me..!" Cinderstep gushed. Eyeing the newborn shecat, she said, "You will be Mintkit; I hope you will grow to be as nourishing as your namesake." Taking care that Mintkit was suckling, she felt more contractions coming. "There's another one coming, for sure." she rasped thirstily, taking a drink of her moss. 
Before she knew it, it was time to push again, and Cinderstep found this kit easier than the others. With a great long push, their next kit, their first boy, was born. She was getting used to the routine of nipping the sac and revealing the kit.
but this kit was without his left hind leg. "Oh, honey.. poor you." Cinderstep mewed, very worried for the kit. "I know he'll be okay, though. He's as beautiful as the rest; he looks like you, too!" she mewed, nuzzling Thrushleap. "I think Thunderkit is a perfect name for this one; he will be strong and learn to cope with this.
Thunderkit, roar like the thunder, and show strength wherever you go." she whispered to the kit, hoping the kit wasn't ill as well as disabled. She pushed this thought away with her graciousness for her kits and the next contraction. "Yup, another kit."

342  words

Lionhearted, nomstar, Heron

next post: Thrushkit (Lion) and Sandkit Isilme

ulla

[Lionhearted]

"I love you too, Cinderstep," he purred. "I'll lick the kits while you er... keep doing your thing." Thrushleap felt extremely worried for Cinderstep, but awkward and saddened at the same time: what in the name of StarClan could he do? How was he supposed to help? He couldn't take some of her pain for her; she had to feel it all by herself.

And he could only sit and watch.

He licked Mintkit's fur, and switched momentarily to Thunderkit, alternating between his daughter and son. Pride swelled into his heart as he watched them.

[Ambrose]

CINDERSTEP

OF WHISPERCLAN

The grueling task of birthing was really starting to kill Cinderstep's energy; she lay her head down on her paws drowsily as sleep teased her. but she knew she'd never get it, and put her focus back to the task at hand. 
She was in the process birthing her fourth kit now, the delivery becoming both easier as she learned better movement, and harder as her body started to take the battering of kits. Before she knew it, it was time to push again.
Another image of Thrushleap came into the world, a boy. "You, my dear, will be Thrushkit, in honour of your father; may you grow to be just like him." The genders were even now, but they would not be for long...

Her final kit birthed, a boy who she had named Sandkit, Cinderstep stretched out, allowing her kits to suckle. "Finally, our beautiful kits are here."

150 words

Lionhearted, Isilme

notes

ulla

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap nuzzled his mate affectionately for a moment, gazing down at their final kits. "Thanks for the name thing," he said rather sheepishly after a short pause. He felt honored as he looked at Thrushkit, as lively as the others. "He'll be a fine warrior." It's Thunderkit I'm slightly worried about. I'll look after him more. "You must be tired. I'll watch them for now, you rest and go to sleep." Well, this is it. I'm a father now!