The Destiny of Smokespeck

Chapter 1

 "Get it Smoke! Get it!" Rose squealed as I ran and crashed down hard on a fat squirrel.

"Yay! You got it!" She padded over to me, her fluffy brown fur glowing. 

"Have I ever told you how pretty you are Rose?"  I saw her ears twitch in amusement.

"Oh, stop." She turned to began stalking away. "We need to get back to Tulip and Lilac."  Her mew sounded softly against the wind. 

I padded after her "No really, I couldn't compare. One day you'll get a lucky tom."

Her gaze fell to mine. " If you can't say something good about yourself, then don't speak. You're special Smoke."

She picked up the sparrow she has caught earlier. "Let's go."

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"Finally, you're back! I am starving!!" Tulip exclaimed.  I just shot her a glace. Why is she so dramatic?  I sat down ans shoved my squirrel towards her. We're only seven moons old yet this sister of mine is already expecting kits, what a big mistake. I heard my mother's voice. 

"Why look at you, I do not see how you're starving when you just ate a mouse a little but ago. I f you eat much more, you'll stay that shape even after your kits are born." 

Tulip rolled her eyes before settling in on the squirrel. Her sleep coat letting her round belly show. 

"Ugh, I regret ever meeting him. Any cat that claims young love is great can face the wrath of my claws." She groaned aloud. 

I look over at Rose. She drops her sparrow and grins, hiding a smug laugh. I grit my teeth to keep from laughing as well as we all looked at Tulip clawing the ground. 

"Oh, so you two think that this is funny? Well, my big round self is coming through. I'm gonna knock you down!" 

She stood up and walking unsteadily, due to her enormous belly, wobbled after us with such a lack of concentration. Rose and I walked away very slowly laughing.

"Stop Tulip! You'll hurt the kits!" Lilac chided, then she glared at us. 

"You two stop teasing your sister!" She hissed, her light brown fur bristling with irritation. Rose shot a glance at me her irritation turning into playfulness. 

"So, Smoke. When are you gonna grow!?" She pounced at me. 

"Hey, Lilac asked us to stop teasing Tulip. That does not mean to start teasing me!" 

I felt her crash on top of me. " You're so puny, look at Tulip and I. You should probably eat a little more before we out-do you!"  I shoved her off me and growled. 

"Stop it you two!!" I heard our mother's hiss. "Eat of go to sleep. I am tired and hungry still and I am no mood to deal with you two!"

I lost my appetite and curled up to sleep. I do not need to be big to be great. I'm better than those two will ever be. I closed my eyes and began to drift off to sleep. 

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I am woken suddenly by a shriek and look over and see Rose wide awake as well. 

"What is it?" I heard Rose ask. Lilac was the one to respond.

"Tulip's kits are coming! I don't know what to do!" She cried. 

I stared at my mother in confusion and heard Rose chime in. "Then how did you have us?" 

Lilac looked at her paws. " My sister was here!... she isn't anymore." 

There was a few moments of awkward silence before it was broken by Tulip's wails. 

I look at my sister and suddenly see a starry shape over her. What... what is that?! Is that a cat? I blinked again and it was gone. Am I imagining things? I saw a little sparkle that confused me and then I stared into her eyes looking for a sign that I was not crazy. 

She... looked a little different. I watched, bewildered, as my sister walks over to Tulip and put a paw on her belly. 

"Tell me when it hurts. You can get through this, watch my tail to see when you need to push."

What is this? How is Rose so calm? My gaze shifts to Lilac, she is looking just as confused as I am. 

"Now!" Tulip wailed as another convulsion hit her body. I stared in disbelief as Rose helped Tulip deliver three kits, each mewling like crazy. There was a little grey and white tom, brown she-kit, and a grey and brown tom. 

"They're beautiful..." Tulip gazed in awe at her precious kits. Lilac and I just kept staring, then back at Rose again. She spoke again. 

" Tulip your kits came too early. The she-kit might not make it till the morning. And you need to watch that smaller tom, he may not be strong enough either." 

I watched as Tulip's delight turned to horror. " I'm sorry Tulip, things happen. I'm so sorry."

Rose walked over to Lilac and I. " Give her some space and get some rest. It's going to be a long night."

Rose settled down next to Tulip who was staring at her kits. Lilac curled up on the other side of Tulip. 

"Are you sure?" I whispered to her. Rose nods her head and motions me to sleep. I watched them until they were all asleep, all except Rose. She looked on steadily and I began to fall into an unsteady sleep.