Fallen Holly Leaves (Storm)

Jayfeather took the third kit, performing the same time-honored task every medicine cat did for their clan’s youth.

Holly Leaves glanced up at Jayfeather in relief once he came back with the kit, which was thankfully breathing, but she directed her attention back to Shy Fawn when the she-cat let out a yowl, this time giving birth to a small black she-kit.

(Yep! And I’m saying tiny relative to a full sized warrior.)
Jayfeather purred loudly, placing the kit he’d groomed next to its mother’s belly along with the one Holly Leaves had worked on.

(It’s not Lion’s Roar, you know that, right? Lion’s Roar is the youngest :3

Also, the kit is large)

Holly Leaves helped the young queen give birth to a black tom-kit, nipping the sac and licking its fur the wrong way to warm it up and get it breathing.

Jayfeather worked furiously on the tiny kit before him, refusing to let the young tom die.

Holly Leaves’ eyes widened innalarm. But I’ve never helped a queen kit before! Swallowing, she took Jayfeather’s place next to Shy Fawn, quietly encouraging the she-cat.

“Help her.” That was all the Time Jayfeather had for explanation, taking the firstborn kit and starting to work at getting the blockage out of his lungs.

Holly Leaves hurried closer. “Yes?”

Jayfeather nipped open the sac around the kit and pressed his ear to it, listening to see if it sounded healthy. After a second, a frown crossed his face. “Holly Leaves!” The tom huffed quickly.

Shy Fawn whined loudly with pain, her claws scraping against the rocky ground as she pushed, finally giving birth to a large, dusty-brown tom-kit.

“That’s it, here comes the first one.”  Jayfeather murmured, helping the She-cat with his paws as much as he could.

Fallen Leaves kept his back turned to the scene, his tail lashing nervously as he listened for clues as to how the kitting was progressing.

The small queen panted heavily, letting out whimpers of pain as she struggled to push.

(Lion’s Roar is the youngest and has stuff in his lungs when he’s born :3)

“Keep pushing,” Jayfeather grunted to the queen, his paws a blur as he worked to keep the she-cat as comfortable and as productive as possible. He didn’t have the bedside manner of most medicine cats, but he was an effective worker.

Holly Leaves didn’t turn away as Fallen Leaves had, having seen kittings before, but she did stay back, watching her brother work.

Fallen Leaves returned a few heartbeats later with the soaked moss. When he saw what was happening to Shy Fawn the tom suddenly felt nauseous and had to turn his back as Jayfeather got to work tending to the queen. He gave her the herbs she needed that they had and helped her to wash them down with the water Fallen Leaves had brought him.

Holly Leaves nosed through the herbs, frowning. They only had a single leaf of chervil and it wasn’t that fresh but it would have to do. She grabbed the chervil and a couple leaves of ragwort as well before hurrying back to her little brother.

“Jay’s Wing, when did you learn how to-“

Jayfeather turned around, giving Fallen Leaves an irritated glare. “Just do what I say, you moron,” snapped the tom, prompting Fallen Leaves to run into the cave Jayfeather told him about, the Cave of Pointed Stones.

Holly Leaves obeyed immediately, spinning on her paws and bolting to their collection of herbs.

Jayfeather came around the corner, knowing the sound of Shy Fawn’s yowl anywhere. “Holly Leaves, you know what herbs need. Go get whatever we have.” The tom fixed his eyes on Fallen Leaves next. “There’s a cave in the very back. I need you to peel some moss from the walls and soak it in the pools in there.”

Fallen Leaves sat there, dumbfounded. Jay’s Wing knows nothing about delivering kits!

Holly Leaves hurried after her mate, eyes wide as she looked over Shy Fawn before relaxing a little when she recognized the movements of her flanks. “She’s starting to kit.”

Fallen Leaves snapped out of the peaceful daze, leaving Holly Leaves’ side to find the source of the yowl. “Shy Fawn?” The tom mewled, not putting two and two together about the pregnant she-cat and her pained sound just yet.

The two sat there in a comfortable silence for a while before a pained yowl from Shy Fawn cut through the air.

Fallen Leaves was happy to have his mate lean on him, resting his head on top of hers as they sat together.

Holly Leaves sighed and closed her eyes.

Fallen Leaves’ mind wandered, the tom not having as much to focus on so furiously as Holly Leaves did. He wondered wether he should take Holly Leaves out that night to the spot he’d told her about, or save it for when she was actually allowed to go there.