"Breathe in." Owlbreeze instructed, her ear pressed against Poppysong's chest. The she-cat did as told and took a slow breath in. Owlbreeze could hear a faint rattle in her chest, and wheezing when she exhaled. "Your breathing has gotten a little worse." Owlbreeze mewed, trying to not let her anxieties show in her voice. I thought she was getting better.
"Am I okay?" Poppysong looked at Owlbreeze as she stepped backwards. The she-cat didn't look that scared, but there was uncertainty in her eyes.
"You're not in any danger." Owlbreeze replied honestly. "But the sickness is getting worse. You should stay in my den for the time being, hunting and patrolling could make it worse. You said it hurts when you breathe, right?"
"Sometimes." Poppysong responded with a nod. "Mostly after patrol or hunting like you said, and if I breathe too sharply I cough."
"I'd say you're in the beginning stages of whitecough." Owlbreeze concluded. "You'll stay in here for now where I can keep an eye on you and get you herbs as much as possible so we can try and fight it so it doesn't turn into greencough."
"How bad is greencough?" Poppysong questioned. "Is it deadly?"
"I've never dealt with it before," Owlbreeze admitted. "But I've been trained on how to treat it. It's not often deadly for strong, healthy warriors. More so for elders and kits, we're a small Clan and I have plenty of herbs so I'm not too worried." Owlbreeze had to hide her fears, she was MountainClan's sole medicine cat, she couldn't cause panic or doubt. "I'll do my best to care for you."
"I know you will." Poppysong purred happily. "Where should I stay?"
"I'll get a nest made for you, for now take some herbs." Owlbreeze picked some chickweed from her herb store and placed it front of Poppysong who ate it without complaint. Owlbreeze returned to her store, grabbing a large bundle of moss. She had several nests that she had made in her den, but they hadn't been used.
She added the moss to one of the nests towards the back, where Poppysong would be sheltered from the cold. She lined the bracken nest with the moss and made sure it was plenty comfortable for the she-cat. "Here you go." Owlbreeze motioned towards the nest.
Poppysong rose, wheezing as she did so, and settled down into the nest. "Comfy." She purred happily. "You make such good nests."
"Heh, thanks." Owlbreeze purred in return. "I'm going to go check on Riverstep," She told Poppysong. "Let me know if you need anything."
"If you see Fireclaw, please let him know that I'm okay. I know he's going to be worried."
"Of course, I think he's on patrol but I'll try and pass it on." Owlbreeze promised and left the den after dipping her head. The cold stone on her paws sent shivers up to her whiskers but she pressed on. MountainClan somehow felt colder than SunClan, she assumed it was because MountainClan camp was much higher.
She padded on towards the nursery, poking her head inside to check on the expecting queen. She expected to see Riverstep resting in her nest, but instead she was pacing around. There was an uncomfortable and slightly distressed look on her face.
"Are you alright, Riverstep?" Owlbreeze questioned, stepping into the nursery.
"I-I think so. I just feel weird, I hope nothing is wrong with the kits" Owlbreeze watched her closely, she was panting as well and her voice was chirpy. Owlbreeze felt a sudden rush of anxiety. It's time. "There's nothing wrong with the kits," I hope. "But I believe they're on their way."
"Now?" Riverstep's eyes went wide. "I-I'm not ready, it can't be time." She was panting faster, clearly starting to panic.
"It's okay, Riverstep." Owlbreeze assured her. "Everything will be okay, you need to calm down. You are ready, I promise." Her words didn't seem to have any calming effect. She's doing this without a mate, she must be terrified. Owlbreeze couldn't help but feel a sense of terror herself. The only queen who gave birth while I was in SunClan was Petalbreeze, and I got kicked out cause I was in the way. "I'm going to go get some herbs and send your sisters in here, they will keep you calm, okay?"
"Okay." Riverstep breathed out, clearly trying to calm herself but failing. She sat down in the nest and began licking her rounded belly, maybe in an attempts to ground herself. "Please hurry."
"Of course." Owlbreeze hoped that she sounded more confident than she felt as she turned away from the nursery. Her eyes scanned the camp until she found Hazelspring and Briarfall. Owlbreeze quickly trotted over to them, getting their attention. "I believe Riverstep is about to start her kitting, she's going to need you two there for support."
Alarm flashed in both their eyes and the identical she-cats jumped to their feet. "Of course." Hazelspring nodded and together the two of them ran to the nursery without hesitation. With her belly full of stones, Owlbreeze returned to her den.
She was relived to see that Poppysong had dozed off so she couldn't see the panic that was overcoming Owlbreeze's body. There is no one else to help her if I fail. Owlbreeze told herself. I have to be strong for her. I can do this. She sorted through her herbs, trying to find everything she needed. Honeyfrost and Pebblestep taught me all about helping queens kit. I can do it. She ran over everything that they had taught her, something she had ben doing in the days leading up to Riverstep's kits.
I need...chervil. She located the sweet smelling herb and placed it at her paws. Fennel for pain. Ragwort and raspberry leaves. Owlbreeze wrapped the herbs in a oak leaf, making a bundle for her to carry. She also grabbed a sturdy stick and a bundle of water soaked moss. With her jaws full, Owlbreeze made her way back to the nursery.
When she entered, Riverstep was now on her side panting heavily. "Is she going to be okay?" Briarfall asked frantically.
"Yes." Owlbreeze mewed after setting her herbs down. "Give her that stick when its time to start pushing." She instructed Hazelspring. Owlbreeze placed her paw on Riverstep's round belly, running it over her soft fur as she felt movement, the kits were stirring. They're moving fast. "Riverstep this is going to hurt, but pain is normal. I will give you herbs and I will guide you through everything. Hazelspring and Briarfall are here to help, everything will be okay." Please let me be right.
Owlbreeze recalled the horror stories she had heard about her own birth, about how Briarrose nearly bled to death while Owlbreeze and her four siblings were barely the size of mice. This is a different situation. Owlbreeze reminded herself. My siblings and I were born early. Despite telling herself this, she also couldn't help but think about Heatherflight who had lost her kits, and Owlbreeze's grandmother who had lost a total of four kits across three pregnancies. Riverstep isn't Dovetail. She's not Heatherflight and she's not Briarrose. She's a perfectly healthy warrior and there's been no issues.
Owlbreeze moved Riverstep's lashing tail so she could get a better view of when the kits would arrive. Everything will be okay, trust yourself. She told herself. I am a trained medicine cat, I can do this. She tried so desperately to believe her own words, but she was running out of time to hype herself up.
Riverstep's body was becoming more agitated, she kept her paw on the queen's belly, they were coming and they were coming quickly. "It's almost time, you can do this, Riverstep." Riverstep took the stick in her jaws at the instruction of Briarfall and despite her eyes filled with fear, there was also the raw determination of a mother burning in the blue depths. I have to stay strong, just like she is.
After a few more moments passed, Riverstep began letting out wails of pain. The first kit was on its way. "Stay strong, Riverstep." Owlbreeze told her. "The first kit is coming, start pushing." Riverstep's body responded as she attempted to push, letting out cries of pain muffled by the stick between her teeth.
"She's in pain!" Hazelspring said in a panic mew.
"That's normal, you don't give birth without pain." Owlbreeze mewed frantically, meeting Hazelspring's eyes. "I need you to keep her calm, you panicking isn't going to help anything." Hazelspring stayed silent but nodded and suddenly Owlbreeze understood how Honeyfrost got so frustrated with her during Petalbreeze's kitting.
Owlbreeze could see the tiny kit starting to come out, she readied the nest below Riverstep. "Keep going! You're doing great!" Owlbreeze cheered her on. "Briarfall come here, get ready to take this kit."
"What do I do?" Briarfall seemed very calm during this as she ran to Owlbreeze's side.
"Nip the sack open and lick the fur up the kits spine, this will get its blood flowing. You'll know it's okay when it starts moving and mewling,"
"Understood."
"Keep pushing!" Owlbreeze called out and Riverstep listened, letting out a shrill cry of pain as the tiny kit broke free and fell into the nest. Owlbreeze shifted her body slightly, allowing Briarfall space to grab the tiny kit and care for it. It didn't take any time at all for the little kit to start mewling for its mother. Good, it's strong. Owlbreeze thought hopefully, the tiny kits cries giving her the motivation to keep going.
Owlbreeze placed her paw back on Riverstep's stomach. "There's another one coming, I think you'll have at least three from what I can tell."
"How am I supposed to deliver two more!?" Riverstep demanded in a panic.
"You can do it." Hazelspring spoke up. "You've come this far, don't you wanna meet your little kits? They want to meet you."
Owlbreeze was beyond grateful that Hazelspring had listened to her, and her words seemed to inspire her sister as she kept pushing, waiting for the next kit to come. The kitting continued, with Riverstep pushing and going through pain Owlbreeze could only imagine, but after what seemed like forever, two more kits were born.
Owlbreeze worked hard, giving Riverstep the herbs to stop the bleeding. She was so incredibly grateful when the bleeding stopped very quickly. Riverstep was visibly exhausted, and went through a tremendous amount of pain, but all three kits were already crying for their mother.
Hazelspring and Briarfall set the kits at her belly and Riverstep weakly lifted her head, gazing at her kits. Owlbreeze could see all the fear and pain melt away as she looked at the three kits. "Oh they're so beautiful..." She mewed in a weak tone.
"They are." Hazelspring licked her sister's ears.
"Just like their mother." Briarfall added. There was a notable shadow of pain in Riverstep's eyes. She's wishing Antwhisker was here. Owlbreeze guessed, but she turned her attention to the three kits. His loss.
The three kits were healthy, already drinking their mother's milk without hesitation. The first born was a golden brown tom with darker stripes, the middle born was a little blue-gray she-cat who looked very similar to Riverstep and the last was another little tom who was black, with faint white markings. "You did a great job." Owlbreeze told her, dipping her head towards the new mother.
"So did you." Riverstep blinked gratefully at Owlbreeze, her genuine gratitude warmed Owlbreeze's heart. It made her so proud to be a medicine cat.
"Do you have names for them?" Briarfall asked, looking loving at her nephews and niece.
"I think I want to name the she-cat Skykit, it sounds so pretty."
"Skykit is a perfect name." Hazelspring purred. "I think the golden tom looks like a fluffy little bumble bee."
"Maybe I'll name him Beekit." Riverstep chuckled happily. "And Briarfall? Any ideas for the last one? I'd love it if both my sisters chose a name."
Briarfall seemed a bit surprised but looked at the little black tom. "What about Badgerkit? The white on his nose makes him look like a little badger."
"Skykit, Beekit and Badgerkit..." Riverstep repeated their names. "Perfect."
"I will leave you to rest." Owlbreeze mewed as she picked up the remains of her herbs. "I'll be in later to give you some herbs to help you recover and produce milk for them."
"Thank you so much again, Owlbreeze. MountainClan is lucky to have you."
Owlbreeze wasn't so certain of that, but she gave Riverstep a grateful nod. "I think MountainClan is luckier for those kits, they are the first born MountainClan kits afterall. They're special."