Story Part 4 *Names*

Snowstar stretched and yawned. She was relieved that her kitting had gone very well. Her four unnamed kits snuggled by her side. "It's time we think up names for them." she commented to her mate Raincloud. "I've thought of some good ones."
"So have I." her mate replied. "Tell me yours first."
"Well," Snowstar mewed, nosing a lightly dappled gray she-kit, "I made up a name for this one. It's not the usual natural name, but I like it. Etharkit."
"Umm..." Raincloud muttered, wondering why his mate had chosen to make up a name of her own. "Sounds fine to me." he finally replied, not wanting to let his mate down. After all, she led the Clan. She must have made this choice for a good reason. "What are the other names you picked out?" he asked, changing the topic.
Snowstar motioned towards the all white tom. "I want to name him Winterkit. His pelt is white like winter's snow. That's all the names I thought of. What about you?"
"Well," Raincloud began, pointing towards the lightly rosy-colored she-kit, "I want to name her Lilykit. She looks like those lillys I see in the Twoleg gardens, by the catmint." He then pointed towards the one kit, a tom, who was awake. "I want to name him Eaglekit, because he seems to be always watching us when the other kits are asleep like an eagle."
"Those sound like good names." Snowstar agreed. "You can tell the Clan when you leave here."

Story Part 3 *Kits!*

Snowstar was lying in the nursery. She knew that the time for the kits to come was soon. Raincloud, her mate, slipped into the nursery.
"How are you doing?" he asked her.
"I'm fine now, but the kits are coming soon, I know it." she responded, looking somewhat anxious.
"That's good." he mewed.
Snowstar settled down for the night, the chirping of crickets, and calls of other night creatures filled her ears as she dozed off.
The next day...
Snowstar awoke to sharp pains. "The kits are coming!" she yowled. "Tawnyflash! Wavepaw! Help me!"
Tawnyflash and Wavepaw rushed into the nursery, with Raincloud pacing anxiously outside the entrance. Snowstar's flanks heaved, and a wet bundle slid onto the nursery floor. She panted for breath.
"Wavepaw, nip the sac open and lick the kit's fur the wrong way." Tawnyflash instructed her apprentice. "This will warm up the kit."
Wavepaw did so flawlessly. As she did, Snowstar felt another bundle slide onto the floor. Tawnyflash took care of that kit. A few minutes passed, with Snowstar heaving for breath the whole time. Then, a third bundle slid onto the floor. Wavepaw opened the sac, and licked warmth into the kit. A fourth followed soon after. "That's it." Tawnyflash announced. "Snowstar, you and Raincloud have four healthy young kits. Two toms, and two she-cats. Congratulations."
At this time, Raincloud pushed his way into the den. "Great job!" he congratulated his mate. He had been very anxious the whole time. "We can pick out names for them soon." he continued, watching the kits begin to suckle. StarClan was right. Snowstar had four kits, just like they said. I wonder if the rest of Snowstar's message will eventually turn out just as they said too. He wondered. It will. StarClan haven't failed us yet.

Story part 2 *Announcement*

Snowstar lay in the shade by the nursery. The time ticked by. She was going to have kits! It was time to announce it to the Clan.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the IceRock for a Clan meeting!" she yowled clearly, her yowl echoing off into the vast forests around the camp. "I have an important announcement to make. I am expecting kits very soon."
The Clan gasps in shock
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting it was so soon!" she mewed " I didn't notice, I was apparently carrying kits for a long time, according to the medicine cats. I only realized getting more and more tired for the smallest aerobic activities. It's time for me to rest in the nursery before the kits take much more out of me. I want them to be nice and healthy. I trust that Skypelt will lead you well, in my absence. Clan dismissed."
She slid down the rock, instead of leaping off it like she normally did.
"Take care of the Clan, Skypelt." she whispered to her best friend and deputy. "Take care of them like you would take care of my kits. They are like my kits, in a way." she admitted.
"I promise." Skypelt meowed faithfully to her friend.

Story part 1 *A dream*

Snowstar padded into camp, a  plump pheasant in her mouth, it's tail dragging in the dust of the camp tunnel. She dragged it to the fresh kill pile and dropped it on top. The whole pile fell over from the weight of the pheasant.
"UGH!!!" she screeched, fixing it.
The kits tumbling outside the nursery stopped suddenly at her screech.
"Carry on, carry on." she muttered under her breath to the kits.
"Maybe you should rest." her mate Raincloud mewed.
"Maybe, you're right." she meowed. "But I don't even feel tired." She padded towards her den anyways. Raincloud padded after her, and she didn't object.

When Snowstar opened her eyes, she was in a forest. She started to pad down one trail, when a crackling of bushes behind her made her whirl around. A cat stepped out in front of her. The cat had bracken colored fur with the stars shining on his pelt. When he began to walk toward Snowstar, sparks flew between his feet and the ground. Sparks of starlight.
"Brackenheart?" Snowstar questioned.
"Yes, I'm glad you remembered me." her father replied.

"How could I ever forget you, father?" she purred. "I've always loved you. You were a great father. You must have a message from StarClan for me."

"Actually, I do. Here is what they sent me to tell you.

'There shall be four of your kin, 

of whom two shall win 

The favor of StarClan and their friends

They will stop at naught to make an end

To trouble in the Clan'

You must heed our words, Snowstar, if you wish to have a safe life in FrostClan for you and your kits."

"Kits???" she squeeked.

"You are going to have kits. StarClan has seen this in your future."

"I am ready to accept the destiny StarClan has set for me." Snowstar replied, the dream already fading. "Goodbye, Brackenheart. Be sure to tell my mother I love her too."

"I will." His voice fading into the distance, the sounds of camp coming to Snowstar's ears.

"Snowstar?" the voice of Raicloud woke her from her trance.
"Yes?" she replied.
"You were twitching in your sleep. Are you OK?" he questioned, sounding truly concerned.
"Yes, I am OK. It's just..." her voice trailed away for a second. "I had a dream from StarClan. They told me I am to have kits. Your kits." she didn't mention the prophecy.
"And what's wrong with that?" he mewed.
"Nothing. I'm just telling you." she answered. She knew she couldn't tell him the rest of the dream. She would have four kits, but only two would 'earn the favor of StarClan and their friends.' Did that mean the other two kits would be evil? Or would her other kits... NO she would not think that way. She was not even close to having kits, as far as she knew. "I'm going to talk to the medicine cats, see what they say." she mumbled.
Stay tuned for the next part in the story!