Poppyfrost was running through the forest. Trees flashed by as she speed through and around them. She ran, and ran, and then her belly hurt. She glanced down, but saw nothing, and kept running. Her belly hurt again. This time, she halted and looked again. She saw nothing and started to run again, but it hurt too much, and she woke up from her dream with a gasp in her nest in the nursery, panting. Her belly started to hurt again, and she tried to get up and get Cloudfall. She would know what to do.     

Poppyfrost managed to get up, but walking was another story entirely. She staggered a few steps, but fell in a heap. She wished there was someone else in the nursery, but there was no one else. She yowled in pain as her belly clenched, then heaved. Cloudfall came running. "Are you okay?" She asked, rushing in. "No!" Poppyfrost yowled, teeth clenched in pain.

"Your kits are coming!" Cloudfall exclaimed, just as a little tiny wet bundle slid out. Cloudfall grabbed the kit and started licking it."It's a tom!" She exclaimed. Parrotpaw rushed in, saw what was happening, and rushed  back out, shouting back over her shoulder, "I'll get some borage and a stick!". Poppyfrost barly had time to wonder what the stick was for, when her belly clenched again, and another kit slid out.

Cloudfall pushed the first kit to Poppyfrost's belly, and grabbed the second one and started to lick it, saying as she did,"Another tom.". Parrotpaw came in, dropping the borage at her mentor's feet, then pushing the stick into Poppyfrost's mouth, saying,"This will help when the pain comes.". At almost the same time, Cloudfall announced, "Only one more." Poppyfrost was about to respond, but her stomach clenched, and she clamped her jaws down on the stick as the last kit came out. "A she-kit!" Cloudfall announced, as Poppyfrost swallowed the borage that Parrotpaw had given her.

Parrotpaw stuck her head out of the nursery and said, "You can come in now.".  Hawkstar slid into the nursery, and purred at the sight of his mate. Poppyfrost purred too, and asked, "What should we name them?". Hawkstar thought for a moment, then pointed to the first-born tom and said, "How about Shadowkit for this one?". The small, dark grey tom mewed and batted at his father's paw. Poppyfrost nodded and said, "And how about Cherrykit for the red she-cat?". Hawkstar nodded in agreement and said, "Spiderkit for the thin brown tom?". Poppyfrost nodded and started to fall asleep. The last thing she heard before she drifted off was Hawkstar saying, "Our kits will be leaders someday.".