Lilystar's Destiny

Swanfeather panted hard, laying on her side. Belly swollen to large for her to walk, she had been stuck in the nursery for the past quarter moon. She let out soft growls as pain coursed through her stomach. She lifted her head, craning her neck to nose her belly fur. She let her had fall again when she felt that her stomach was as hard as a rock. "Hey Swanfeather I.." Reedwhisker, Swanfeather's mate, walked into the den carrying a fish. He dropped it when he noticed her position and the heavy breathing. "Swanfeather, are you?..Um Is it?" Being a tom, this was awkward for him, so Swanfeather answered for him. "Yes, dear its time. Would you.." She paused, closing her eyes tight as a spasm of pain swept over her. "Fetch Mintfur." She muttered through clenched teeth. The dusky brown tom nodded breifly, "Don't worry, be back in a flash!" Forgetting about the fish, Reedwhisker dashed out of the den his white tail tip vanishing lastly. Oh please hurry... Swanfeather unsheathe her claws, tearing up the moss around her as the cramps grew to much to bare. She let out a quiet hiss, and closed her blue eyes again. That moment Mintfur's soft paw steps rustled the bracken. "Swanfeather? You've got to stay calm dear." The blue gray she-cat's mew sounded in the Queens ears. "It..Hurts." She muttered painfully. Mintfur nodded briskly, "Yes, I'm sure it does. This will all be over soon." The Medicine Cat reassured the white she-cat. Reedwhisker's nose poked in the den as he was about to enter, but Mintfur stopped him. "This is something you wont want to see Reedwhisker." He opened his mouth to protest, but one glance at Swanfeather told him to go.

It seemed like forever before the kits came. Swanfeather gasped and panted as the pain grew, then faded with each kit. The first one was a skinny black and white she-cat. Her eyes and ears closed tight, the tiny bundle squirmed its way to Swanfeather. She gently licked it toward one of her suckles, then fell back as more pain coursed through her. Pain. A long wait. Then finally the second one came. Swanfeather let out a sigh of relief as the pain ebbed away. "That was the last one. Nice job. Two she-kits and healthy ones too." Mintfur mewed happily. The white Queen leaned forward to lick her second kit, beaming proudly. It was a pale calico, and very strong. Swanfeather lead it to her belly with gentle pushes, but her sister kicked and squawked in anger. "You have to share the milk, my dear." She murmured softly to the black and white kit, who with reluctance obliged. The two tiny she-kits suckled hungrily, their tiny hearts pulsing in Swanfeather's ears. "I'll fetch Reedwhisker. He's been pacing outside the den the whole time." Mintfur mewed, slightly irritated. As the blue gray she-cat vanished, Reedwhisker dashed in. "Are you okay? How many? What gender?" He questioned between licks as he greeted his mate. "I'm fine, they're fine. Two she-kits." She purred, her ears pricked happily. "What should we name them? I always wanted a daughter named Lilykit." Swanfeather smiled at her mate, "Okay, the calico will be Lilykit. The black and white.." She paused thinking. The way the small kit wriggled reminded her of a fish. "Fishkit." Reedwhisker's purr was so loud, he couldn't speak any more. "Lilykit, Fishkit my dears. You'll make fine Warriors." Swanfeather whispered touching each kit gently. Yes great Warriors. Rainclan will respect you and look up to you for advice. I just know it. 










"Oof!!" Lilykit fell with a thud as her sister, Fishkit, pinned her to the ground belly down. "Get off o' me! Fishkit your too rough!" Fishkit beamed proudly, "You have to make me get off." She said pointedly. Lilykit let out a impatient sigh, thinking hard about how to escape her sister's weight. A plan fixed its way into her mind like a puzzle, and she grinned. "Fishkit! Reedwhisker is coming!" Fishkit's head swung around suspiciously, but she jumped off of her sister.  "Heh, you wont get me in trouble." The black and white kit mewed mischievously. Lilykit got to her paws, "Your right I wont. He's not even coming mouse-brain." She purred amused. Fishkit scowled in anger, "Hey! That's not fair, it isn't my fault you can't fight!" Lilykit flattened her ears, "Your to rough on me!"

"Alright what's going on?" Swanfeather's gentle mew sounded as she entered the mossy den. "I go out to get a bit of prey and you two are fighting already? I think that's a new record." Fishkit bound over to their mother, her tail high. "Its Lilykit! I was just trying to help her learn how to fight, and she was gonna be a tattle tail!" Lilykit raced after her sister, glaring defiantly. "I was not! Fishkit's just angry I tricked her." Swanfeather smiled at her kits, leaning down to talk to them. "Its not good to be a bully." She mewed to Fishkit. "But its also not good to trick others." Lilykit looked at her paws, but Fishkit didn't seem to listen to their mother's words. "Can we go out today!?" Lilykit brightened, "Yeah, can we!?" Swanfeather purred, "I guess a bit of time outside wont hurt. Maybe you'll tire yourselves out for bed time." Fishkit snorted, "As if!" She raced out of the den, her white tail disappearing through the entrance. "Wait for me!" Lilykit called after her happily, and dashed outside. The world around her was big, and the pebbles beneath her paws prickly. She stepped lightly, jumping when her sister yowled. "What!? What is it?" Lilykit raced over, but she slowed  as she saw what had startled Fishkit. Roaring through the middle of camp like a snake, was a  fast black river. "Whoa..Its better than Swanfeather explained!" Fishkit exclaimed. "Yeah, bet you couldn't swim across!"

"Bet I could!" Her sister spat back and took a step toward the water. "I don't think so." A deep voice mewed kindly. Fishkit spun around, realizing she was caught, and raced back to Lilykit. "I wasn't really gonna do it.." Fishkit mewed guiltily. "Believe her! She's to much of a chicken." Lilykit took the opportunity to say. "So your finally out, huh? And your already getting into trouble. Do you know who I am?" Fishkit stopped glaring at Lilykit and looked up at the big gray tabby tom. "No." He smiled politely and leaned down to the two kits. "I am Wildstar. Leader of this clan, your clan, Rainclan." Lilykit's eyes widened to the size of moons, her tail quivering. "Y-your leader!" She squeaked. "Yes, and you are Reedwhisker's kits yes?" Fishkit answered first, "Yes, yes!" Wildstar's gray eyes brightened and he whisked his tail over the kits' heads. "He's my Deputy. Its tradition for the Leader to mentor one of the Deputy's kits." When Lilykit cocked her head in confusion, he explained. "That means one of you two will be my Apprentice."

It seemed like a dream to Lilykit as his words tumbled into her ears. She blinked up at him, his gaze meeting hers. "Oh! Pick me! Pick me!" Fishkit's squeal broke their gaze. Wildstar laughed, his deep voice ringing in the kits ears. "You still have many moons before you become Apprentices. I have lots of time to choose. Maybe one of you will stand out?" He licked both kits between the ears before walking away to a big white tom. "Its gonna be me. I saw it in his eyes, I'm stronger than you." Fishkit boasted her fur fluffed up except where Wildstar's tongue had smoothed it down. Lilykit glared at her sister indignantly. "Will not! He said there's lots of time to choose. It could be either of us." With a snort, Lilykit's sister walked away to explore more of the camp and in that moment the small calico kit knew things had changed. Fishkit and her sister were no longer just sisters. They were competitors, something that Lilykit didn't like. I don't want to show off, I just want to play with Fishkit. Why did he have to tell us that? Even though she knew her relationship with Fishkit had changed, she still felt excitement tingling at her paws. I could be Wildstar's Apprentice. The leader of Rainclan, training me! It made her chest swell with exhilaration and she found herself trotting after Fishkit. I'll be just as strong as my sister. I'll make sure Wildstar knows I'm just as good as her. In the end whoever wins, Fishkit is still my sister. And I still will love her, whoever he chooses. Filled with new determination, Lilykit smiled at her clanmates. Learning their names and scents. She was glad Swanfeather had let them outside today. This was the beginning of Lilykit's long journey ahead. The beginning of her destiny.