I woke up in the nursery, trying to figure out what woke me up in the middle of the night. I looked down at my slightly swollen belly, and realized – it was throbbing in pain.

Leafpool was in the nursery in a heartbeat. She mewed softly to me, but I couldn’t hear her words. I struggled to fight the pain building up, but I found that I couldn’t. So I let it wash over me; let myself drown in it…

***

I padded outside the nursery. Father was pacing, his eyes frightened. “I need her more than I need the kits,” he had told Leafpool when she dashed into the nursery for the kitting. Ambergaze and I had given up trying to calm Father; he shook us off every time. I myself was getting scared, although I didn’t want to admit it. What would happen to us if she didn’t make it?

***

I took a deep breath of air. Finally the kitting was over. I sat up, settling my kit into the curve of my belly, letting it suckle. It struck me then that I didn’t even know if it was a tom or a she-cat. But it didn’t matter yet. I loved it all the same. I heard Graystripe mewing excitedly outside. Leafpool was still inside, helping me settle my kit. “Is it a tom or a she-cat?” I asked. The medicine cat blinked at me gently. “A she-cat.”

“This is our daughter.” I meowed proudly to my mate as he came in. The gray warrior nuzzled her, his eyes warm at the sight of her white and ginger pelt. His purr echoed through the nursery, and I caught sight of Millie glaring after me. I didn’t care. “What should we name her?” Graystripe mewed.
  “What about… Dawnkit?” I answered. Graystripe nodded. “Dawnkit is perfect.”