A screech woke Oliveleaf in the middle of the night. Once she cleared the sleep-induced haziness from her eyes, Wolfclaw was already pelting out of the den. "Poisonflower is having kits!" he yowled.

She scrambled to her paws and skidded out of the den, half-crashing into the nursery. Poisonflower writhed on the ground, her stomach convulsing as the kits tried to get out.

Oliveleaf flexed her claws as the queen wriggled around. What do we do? Why isn't Wolfclaw doing anything?

Wolfclaw's gray form hovered over the late queen, pressing a paw to her stomach. "Quick, Oliveleaf, go get a stick. Sturdy, but not too tough," he warned as she turned tail and sprinted out of the den.

Oliveleaf rushed into the store, paws having to trip over every crack and needle on the ground, and bit into one of the sticks Wolfclaw collected for this situation. She hurried back by his side and dropped it, and observed as Poisonflower writhed around, oddly fascinated.

"That's it, Poisonflower, you're doing well," her mentor commented as he pressed a paw to her stomach. "They're coming out soon. Here, Oliveleaf brought you a stick to help."

Her green eyes flicked up to her, and Oliveleaf shrank back at the pain in them. "Thank you," she rasped, but caterwauled as a bundle slid out onto the moss.

Wolfclaw bent down, nipped the sack, and started washing. "One more to go," he told the birthing queen.

"Why do you sound so content? You try birthing kits, mouse-brain, and see how you feel!" Poisonflower growled. Oliveleaf's tail quivered at her tone. Technically, it was her decision to have kits, and she had to deal with the consequences.

Another deafening yowl echoed in the nursery as the last kit plopped on the moss. Wolfclaw repeated the process he did earlier and pushed the little cat towards its mother. "Two toms," he breathed. "They're beautiful, Poisonflower. What will you name them?"

The queen gazed fondly at the kits who pawed and suckled at her belly. "Can someone please get Mudstripe? We can both name one."

Wolfclaw glanced at her. "Oliveleaf--" But she already turned tail and whisked out of the nursery.

A crowd had gathered outside, most cats blinking the sleep out of their eyes. Birchstar was meowing to Mudstripe in the front, who was pacing and kneading the ground with crazed eyes.

"I'm sure she's fine, Mudstripe. You shouldn't waste your energy by pacing back and forth. After all, Frogleap wanted you on dawn patrol," she reasoned. She spotted Oliveleaf and pointed with her tail. "Look, Oliveleaf's here now!"

Every cat in the Clan whipped their attention to her, stares searing her pelt. She shrank under the gazes, and squeaked as Mudstripe bounded up to her and almost stepped on her paws. "How is she? How many kits?" he screeched.

"S-she's fine, and there's two toms," she stammered. Her heart pumped frantically inside her chest at his restlessness.

The dark-brown tom nodded and padded inside the nursery, and left Oliveleaf gasping in relief. Birchstar approached her and murmured, "Well done."

Oliveleaf nodded and stretched her mouth in a huge yawn. A sense of wrongness squirmed inside of her, but what could she do about it? She even received a prophecy, so didn't that mean she was meant to be a true medicine cat? "All in a day's work," she mumbled, and went inside the nursery to check up on her patient.

Poisonflower and Mudstripe were staring at their kits lovingly, while Wolfclaw was rolling up the dirty bedding. "Oh, Oliveleaf, you came just in time to see us name them!" the queen mowed, her green eyes shining with happiness.

"The one with the light-brown pelt will be called Oakkit," Mudstripe declared, and touched his nose to his son's head.

Poisonflower purred as she stroked the tortoiseshell kit with her tail. "This one will be Leafkit."

"Worthy names," Birchstar mewed as she ducked inside. "Welcome to ShadowClan, little ones. You will grow up to be fearsome warriors."

The kits took no notice, keeping themselves busy with suckling.

"Okay, okay, enough is enough!" Wolfclaw interrupted, and butted his shoulder to Mudstripe's. "Everybody out! Even you, Oliveleaf. I'll watch over Poisonflower while you get some sleep."

She didn't protest as she padded out after her leader. She really didn't want to examine Poisonflower anyway. She got enough of that during the day.

Oh, StarClan. I try to follow the path you set out for me, but it just isn't working. Please, give me some advice in my dreams, she prayed as she settled down to rest.

A warrior struggling in a medicine cat's body. What was she to do?

Oliveleaf sniffled and tucked her tail over her nose. ThunderClan made me this way.

Payback. I need to give them payback for what they did to me.

Hi everyone! Sorry for the extremely late chapter. I was busy with other books I've been writing, and, you know, school.

Sorry it's short, as well, but there's a reason for it. I won't tell, because I don't want to spoil anything. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!

Have a great day!