「 tonight i'm gonna love you — like there's no tomorrow 」
Kes was resting in the nursery, just like every day when a sharp pang coursed through her body. Suddenly awoken by the feeling, the queen whimpered in confusion. Was something wrong? Were her kits okay? The thought that something might not be right brought Kestrelsong to her feet fast in order to get to the medicine cat den to ask Chasingcomets and Rootlegs what it could be. Another stabbing pain hit the tabby, causing her to fall back into her nest. That was when she realized that what she was feeling was contractions. Her kits were being born. Worry flashed through her and her first thought was that she needed Ryecatcher. He was her comfort ... she needed him to be here. Her love's words echoed in her mind through the pain. It was from one of the many nights they had spent together in the nursery during her pregnancy. They had talked about what they wanted their kits' names to be. Rye had told her that he wanted to have a theme - RiverClan themed. A tribute to the home they shared and the home that their kits would grow up to know.
The pain was like nothing she had ever felt. She had a pretty uneventful life so far - she was young, only about 15 moons and had gotten pregnant not long after becoming a warrior and had been lucky enough to stay away from battles during her apprenticeship. So, not only was pain new to her, but this pain was a completely different story. Kes could feel her body trying to release the kits and she could do nothing but just go along with it. It was dawn and the other queens were in the camp with their kits. The golden tabby bit down on her tongue, not wanting to bother anyone to help her and also just wanting her privacy. Because of this, she decided to not call out for Rye, Chase, Root, or Duckpaw. Looks like she was doing this on her own.
Her instincts took over from there and she pushed and pushed until a beautiful and fluffy lilac tortoiseshell kit had been brought into the world. Her daughter. Her first baby. After doing everything to get her settled and comfortable, Kessy pushed her little kitten to her stomach, hoping she would nurse and there would be no issues. For a while, Kes stared at her, not wanting to take her eyes off of her perfect firstborn. She took note of the little pink nose and pointy ears, memorizing every curve of her new daughter. It was only when another contraction began to come on when she realized that she had to name her baby. The first thing that caught her eyes was the torie's fluffy fur that pointed in all directions, like she had been swept up by the ocean or a river and had gotten out and shaken it all up. "Wavekit," she decided. It was perfect. Just like her.
She barely had any time to prepare for the contraction and her claws dug into the ground. Kestrelsong bit her tongue again, wanting to stay quiet. She didn't want to disturb or scare her suckling kitten. Her next kitten had entered the world. Her eyes lit up as they fell upon him. She was falling in her love with her first son, instantly. He was a red tabby with white, just like her. His coloring was much like her own and the mother leaned down to nuzzle him slightly and fix him up before pushing him next to his sister. She could tell already that this was going to be her little hothead. She knew that would never matter to her - she would always love him regardless. It took her a few seconds longer to think of her son's name. Then she remembered Ryecatcher's words again and she smiled gently. He said he always wanted to name one of his kittens Sedgekit as a tribute to someone he used to know. "Sedgekit." It was just right.
Kestrelsong took a deep breath, ready for the next contraction. Her next son and her first son looked like they could have been twins. The white was just a little different. Another red tabby and white son. Her heart was already so full, she couldn't imagine that she had room to love any more. The small molly worked on getting him comfortable by his brother and sister near her stomach as she ran her tongue over the length of his body. His all white tail was just so ... precious. Her deep green eyes fell on his rippling fur, his markings seeming wave-like. "Ripplekit." She hardly even had to think about it. Her happy, smiling little Ripplekit.
Her eyes snapped shut as another contraction hit her. She was waiting for the pain to ebb away already and was beginning to wonder how many kittens StarClan was going to bless her with. That was when another daughter was born. The new mother's heart swelled with unending love as she stared down at the next beautiful and perfect kitten before her. She was a slim dilute tortoiseshell. Kes licked her fourth fluffy child clean and pushed her up to her stomach, watching her grey and peach colored body wiggle next to her siblings. It was another easy name. "Rapidkit." It was perfectly fitting for the kitten and Kessy loved her so much already.
Another? StarClan! How many are there? The queen knew she had gotten big but how many were really in there? She glanced down at her huge pulsating stomach with a look of terror and pain. Another female kit was born, this time a calico. Her eyes danced with excitement, tracing the brown, orange and white pattern with her dark green eyes, a new love forming for her new kitten. She quickly cleaned her and pushed her to her stomach, not wanting to take her eyes off of her new little babe. Number five. She couldn't help but notice that her legs were longer than her siblings' and a smirk played on Kessy's face as she named her new baby, "Frogkit." The pain was not getting easier but the love she had for every kitten born was immediate and breath-taking.
The next wave that hit her was expected and the tabby dug into the ground with her claws. She was getting weaker and it was getting more and more difficult to continue. A cream tabby and white tom was born next ... with a missing back left leg. Kestrelsong's heart broke and she wanted to cry out. Was it something she had done wrong? What had caused this deformity? She felt terrible - like it was her fault. Baby, I'm so sorry. A whimper escaped her mouth and she nuzzled into her son's fur. When she pulled her head back, though, she looked at him different. He was still perfect. This would not affect his life. She would make sure of it. You're still so handsome, my little love. She purred deeply, watching his plump sand-colored body. She noted how his body type was that of his father's. "Beachedkit." She couldn't wait to see him playing on the shore of their rivers. Her number six. Surely she had to be done, right?
Wrong. One last contraction seized her body and the dainty feline was huffing with the effort of her last kitten's birth. Another chunky little perfect baby, this time a girl. A lilac calico. Finally, the pain was releasing her from it's grip and Kestrelsong could actually focus and see clearly. It was breathtaking how beautiful her fourth daughter was - just like her three sisters. She was lost on a name for this little one and she hesitated, just watching her for a while. She was tiny ... the runt, obviously. You're just as perfect as the others. A picture popped into her mind and she couldn't shake it for some reason. StarClan obviously wanted this to be her name. "Heronkit."
The exhausted mother took a deep breath, letting her gaze sweep over all seven - seven - of her beautiful children. They were all so different and yet she loved them all the same. Her heart felt like it must have to burst soon; how could she have this much love? Kestrelsong didn't even know it was possible to feel this way, let alone about seven separate, unique and perfect little individuals. "I love you. I love you all so much. Forever." Tears brimmed her beautiful green eyes as they floated over each kitten. She couldn't take her eyes off of them. She wanted to stay here with them, just the eight of them ... forever. Keep them protected in the curve of her stomach.
She realized that she had probably had enough alone time with them. That's when the urge to have Ryecatcher here with her hit her like a ton of bricks. Kessy's heart longed for him to be in this nest with her and their babies. That would make everything perfect. She also wanted Rootlegs, Chasingcomets, or Duckpaw here too, to look over her and especially her kittens and make sure they were all healthy. So she feebly called out, "Rye! Chase! Rootlegs! Duckpaw!"
// ahh be still my heart <3
"speech"
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