Feather Cloud gazed down at her kit, panting.  She was exhausted, though she forced herself to sit up so she could see it.  She gently nuzzled it towards her.  The kit, unfortunately was a runt.  Its front right paw was twisted slightly too.  Her eyes widened, the kit wasn't moving!  The scrawny thing hadn't made a sound yet, and she realized something was wrong.

Feather Cloud looked up and meowed urgently to Stone Teller, "The kit isn't moving!  It hasn't even made a sound yet!  Look, one of its legs is twisted, and it is runt!  What is going to happen to it?  Will it die?  Please say it won't."  A flood of panicked questions and exclamations came flowing from her.  Feather Cloud's green eyes showed her exhaustion and worry.

Stone Teller stiffened and for a brief moment her deep blue eyes showed worry too.  Though, the flicker of doubt soon disappeared and she relaxed, trying to calm Feather Cloud down.  She then replied, "Unfortunately, this kit is a runt.  Most runts have problems or difficulties though, for the most part, when they get over it they are alright.  We just have to make sure she is doing well and fed fully, even with the lack of prey.  I will do a check to make sure she is breathing, alright?"  

Feather Cloud nodded, and breathed out deeply, trying to calm herself.  Her kit would be okay, she could feel it.  

Stone Teller sat down next to the kit, and gently pushed it towards her.  She leaned down over it, and put her ear to its belly.  She waited, and her keen ears picked up a faint pulse.  Stone Teller pulled the kit closer to it, and began licking it rapidly.  The kit began to warm up, then let out a small shiver.  Then, very quietly, it started to mewl.  Stone Teller nudged the kit back towards Feather Cloud.

Feather Cloud let out a long sigh of relief and her green eyes glowed in happiness.  Her kit would be okay after all!  She nuzzled the kit even closer to her and licked its head between the ears.  To keep it warming up, she continued licking it, and drew it in even closer.  Feather Cloud surrounded her kit with her body and legs, then wrapped her tail around it.  

Stone Teller stood up.  "I'm going to get herbs for her, to speed up her pulse.  I will be right back, alright?"

Feather Cloud replied, "Alright, anything to help my kit."  Her green eyes glowed softly in happiness, though a flicker of concern still lingered in their depths.  She nuzzled her kit lightly.

(< * >)

Stone Teller padded away briskly, an air draft being left behind her in her wake.  Her tail swayed from side to side as she walked.  Stone Teller approached the entrance to her den.  Her slim body fit through the narrow opening as she padded through.  She entered into the wide cavern, stalactites hung from the ceiling and large stalagmites emerged from the floor.  Some stalactites and stalagmites joined together, forming columns giving the cavern a dramatic effect.  Holes opened from the top of the cave, letting in the light from the setting sun, casting a dim glow throughout.  Small pools of water were scattered throughout the cavern, reflecting the light coming from the openings.

Stone Teller padded past these, not taking any interest because she had seen them so many times.  Originally, she had thought she would never get over that view.  Though now, it turns out she finally had.  The cavern narrowed into yet another tunnel, this one very short.  Stone Teller padded briskly out of the dark tunnel, this one in particular had always given her the creeps.  It had little hollows wedged throughout, and she was afraid of any other dangerous animal deciding to make its nest in one.  The tunnel widened into a smaller cavern.

(~4~)

Stone Teller entered this cavern, which was her den.  It was round, like a giant hollow in a large boulder.  The walls were smooth, and there was very little light.  The source of the light in this cavern was through a small perfectly round hole at the top in the center.  During sunhigh, the light beamed right in, and reflected and bounced around the glossy walls, filling the den with light.  

Stone Teller padded into the middle of the den, her paws brushing against the cool stone floor.  She turned to the left, heading towards a hollow made into the side of the cave.  The hollow sloped upwards slightly, nearing fresh air.  She entered the tunnel, and a strong scent of herbs came to her nose.  Tiny holes were made in the ceiling and walls, letting in plenty of light and fresh air.  Stone Teller sighed for a moment, enjoying it.  Though, she quickly snapped out of it and grabbed the herbs she was needing; borage, chamomile, daisy, juniper, and honey.  

Stone Teller sighed, there were barely any remaining herbs and she had to scavenge for ones that hadn't withered or dried out yet.  Unfortunately, they weren't getting any new herbs any time soon.  She hoped that the remaining borage would be enough for Feather Cloud to feed her kit, which was a runt and had a high likelihood of getting sick or even dying.  There weren't even enough herbs for any of the sick cats to help them recover either.

Brushing aside her thoughts sharply, she made her way back into her den, through the tunnel, then the cavern, and out the last tunnel.  She headed towards Feather Cloud and her kit, which she was wondering what its name would be.  Stone Teller dropped the herbs at Feather Cloud's silvery paws that were holding onto the kit.  She then separated the herbs into two piles, one for Feather Cloud and the other for the kit.  For Feather Cloud, she gave the borage and chamomile and for the kit she gave honey, a juniper berry, and daisy.

Stone Teller's tail flicked towards Feather Cloud's pile as she meowed, "Eat these, they will help you stay strong for your kit."

Feather Cloud nodded, and Stone Teller gently nudged the kit away from Feather Cloud as she was eating.  She then broke up the herbs for the kit into small pieces.  She fed the kit a sliced up and mushed juniper berry and prodded its throat gently to get it to swallow.  Stone Teller then put the torn up daisy petals and leaves into the moss containing honey.  She held it up to the kit's mouth and scenting the sweetness, the kit began to lick it all down.  When it was done, she gently nudged it back to its mother, Feather Cloud.  The kit clung to Feather Cloud in her soft belly fur as Feather Cloud curled around it to keep it warm and gave a lick to its head.

Stone Teller mewed to Feather Cloud, "I will get Ocean's Roar for you if you wish to see him before I let the others in."

Feather Cloud meowed with a hint of concern in her voice, "Yes please.  Thank you for your offer, Stone Teller."

Stone Teller nodded in gratitude and padded towards the tunnel she sent the others up.  The light dimmed as she went in and a stronger musky scent met her nose.  Stone Teller's whiskers twitched, helping her navigate through the dark twisty tunnel that had several openings in it leading to other caverns and dens.  Her jaws opened, letting scents fill her mouth more strongly, while  sniffing at the stone floor, tracking Ocean's Roar. 

(~5~)

Stone Teller was slightly confused, Ocean's Roar had a cross scent.  He seemed to have gone up to the tunnel, back down, and up again.  She brushed it off as either him going back to lead straying cats  up the tunnel or her scent glands were just making a mistake, as it was hard to track scents in the damp muskiness of the passageway. 

(< * >)

Feather Cloud watched as Stone Teller padded away and disappeared into the tunnel. Her anxious green gaze followed her, and remained staring for a little while after Stone Teller left. She was very agitated and overthinking on the down side of what could possibly happen. What would Ocean's Roar think of her having a kit, keeping it a secret from him? Would Ocean's Roar be okay with the fact that she had a kit during the hard times in which it wasn't allowed? Would he accept the kit? Feather Cloud hoped badly that he would accept it. She forced herself to think positively. Of course he will accept the kit!

Though, Feather Cloud's panicked thoughts pushed through her positive ones, shoving them aside. Feather Cloud waited, anticipating Stone Teller's return with Ocean's Roar.  Feather Cloud waited, anticipating Stone Teller's return with Ocean's Roar. She shook slightly due to her building anxiety of what would happen next. The darkness of her negative thoughts were building and taking over the lightness of her positive ones. Feather Cloud's pale green eyes flashed nervously, and she clung to her kit, holding it close to her. She awaited the sound of footsteps, the scent of cats coming through the tunnel, and a wave of air from a draft as they entered.

(< * >)

Ocean's Roar paced impatiently in the wide cavern. A few other cats huddled there, though paid no attention to him. He growled silently to himself and muttered insults about Feather Cloud and the kitten. His eyes depicted an ocean in a storm, the very eyes he was named after. Ocean's Roar was even looking like an angry storm, with his dark blue-gray ruffled fur, and in constant motion against the grays of the cave. His tail was either held jaggedly up or lashing from side to side.

Ocean's Roar suspected he would be called in to see Feather Cloud before Stone Teller let the others back in, so he kept his ears perked for any sound echoing off of the tunnels. At the first noise, he was prepared to instantly look calm and seem to not know about Feather Cloud and her kitten. His claws were rapidly unsheathing and sheathing, how dare Feather Cloud do this! First off, she didn't tell him, her own mate. Second, she broke a rule put in place by Stone Teller not to have a kit during these hard times. Lastly, he couldn't have a kit that he could be proud of because it was a weak little runt and everyone would be ashamed of him and Feather Cloud for having it!

Ocean's Roar's ears flattened and a hiss escaped his throat. Though, they quickly perked up when he heard footsteps coming from the tunnel. He leaped over to a hollow made in the wall and sat in it. He then quickly groomed his ruffled fur and sheathed his claws. Anger left his eyes to be replaced by fake worry. He stared out at the exit, pretending to have been waiting like this the entire time. Eyes glinted in the darkness of the tunnel, casting a blue glow. Then a slim gray cat emerged from the darkness of the tunnel to the slightly brighter stone cavern. It was Stone Teller, coming to get him.

(~6~)

Stone Teller padded into the cavern, her eyes gleaming. Ocean's Roar watched her make her way to him. He then suddenly leaped to his paws and raced over, acting to be distressed. Agony filled the depths of his deep blue eyes. He held his tail stiffly and quickly dipped his head in respect.

"What is going on? Is Feather Cloud okay? I hope she is!" Ocean's Roar meowed quickly and quietly, his voice the perfect imitation of a worried cat.

Stone Teller seemed to fall for it as she quickly replied, "There is a surprise waiting for you. And yes, Feather Cloud is alright." She waved her tail to the other cats in the hollow, staring up at her, waiting for an announcement that they could go back to see what all the commotion was about. "Stay put, your time to come back will come soon. I will be back to announce when." Stone Teller meowed firmly. She then turned back to Ocean's Roar and meowed softly, her blue gaze gentle, "Follow me."

Ocean's Roar cocked his head and then nodded. He let a confused and slightly concerned look come into his eyes and expression. His tail twitched slightly, pretending to anticipate what would come next and the "surprise." He gave a sharp nod, and padded after Stone Teller leaving the dim cave to the dark tunnel.

The ground became cooler and a musky scent met his nasal cavity. The walls were cool and slightly wet, with mist and little bits of fungi growing. The tunnel arched over his head, the pathway smooth for the most part, going up and down. At some points it split leading in different directions and the entrances to other dens and caves yawned open from the passageways. His whiskers and tail twitched, brushing the walls helping him to navigate. Ocean's Roar's navy blue eyes and Stone Teller's sky blue ones illuminated the cave, the only source of light besides that seeping in from the caverns. Ocean's Roar began to prepare to confront Feather Cloud without showing his anger to her, which he would show strongly later.

Stone Teller finally stepped out of the tunnel, into the main cavern of the camp of The Tribe of Rushing Water. The familiar roar from the crashing waterfall at the mouth of the camp met Ocean's Roar's ears, and as he was used to it, his ears automatically blocked it out into a dull humming. Light filled through the cavern, coming from the opening. It was one of the brightest regions of the camp, although it was still dim. The reek of starvation and maladies was still in the cave, although the bodies of the cats that the scent belonged to were currently not there.

Ocean's Roar took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the sudden burst of brightness. He blinked a few times, and the fogginess of his vision cleared. He looked around, pretending to not even know where Feather Cloud was currently. His head swiveled to the spot that he knew she remained in and he let a soft expression fill his gaze while his tail dropped. He bounded eagerly, or faking being eager, towards Feather Cloud.

"I see you had a kit!" He exclaimed then continued, "What a lovely surprise! The little thing is so precious. May I come closer?"

When Feather Cloud nodded, he approached. As he looked close up at the kitten, a sudden wave of anger flicked through his gaze and quickly disappeared. He scrutinized the kitten while making it look like he was examining it lovingly. That little thing was what all the big fuss was about, and soon it would be what all Tribe malice would be immersed in. He looked up at Feather Cloud making sure she didn't notice his slight rigidness or loathing. Compassion almost seemed to glow from his eyes and expression, filling the cavern with that atmosphere.Feather Cloud gazed back at him, she was actually falling for all this nonsense!

Ocean's Roar meowed, "I love our precious kit. What shall we name her?"

Feather Cloud cocked her head then meowed, "Her pelt reminds me of a stream, maybe we can include that in her name?"

Ocean's Roar nodded, his lip curling slightly. To hide it, he muzzled the kit. "How about Stream Spirit? After her strong spirit for being able to survive this long with that leg, being born into a very hard Time of Frozen Water, and being a runt."

Feather Cloud nodded in agreement, though cast a worried glance down at her kitten's slightly twisted front leg and paw. It was her left foreleg. Before Ocean's Roar had mentioned it, Feather Cloud hadn't paid it much notice. Ocean's Roar saw the realization creep into her eyes and she started to fidget. On top of it all, of course that little pathetic bundle of fur had to have a splayed leg. How was it even going to contribute? It was a waste of a cat!

Ocean's Roar nuzzled Feather Cloud affectionately, attempting, without his whole heart in it, to cheer her up. Stone Teller padded out of the cave, and back up the tunnel. Most likely to fulfill her promise of sending the other cats down when Feather Cloud was ready for them. Stone Teller rambled off, taking her time, to let Feather Cloud, Stream Spirit, and Ocean's Roar have some alone time. Deep in the inside, Ocean's Roar wished Stone Teller would hurry up. Feather's Cloud let out a small comforted purr, which Ocean's Roar joined into. He bent down, and licked the kit's ear.

Ocean's Roar's ears pricked at echoing sounds coming from the tunnel. The others were finally coming. Stream Spirit and Feather Cloud would need their luck, because they were heading right into a tough time. He was going to make sure of it. Ocean's Roar watched as the cats filed into the cave, and swarmed over to where he was. His eyes blazed, and if a cat merely glanced, they would think it was out of love. Though if the cat probed the depths, they would realize it was fury.