"Thorntail! Acornbelly's kits!"Tallpine yowled. It had been two moons since the Gathering. Dandelionpaw had just paced around restlessly at the Moonstone, knowing her sleep would be troubled and thrashy.
"Okay!"Thorntail meowed. Though she wanted to scream, Dandelionpaw forced herself to walk calmly into the nursery where Acornbelly was kitting.
She young she-cat was shrieking into the ceiling, getting louder each time a spasm grasped her.
"Thorntail!"Acornbelly yelled.
"It's okay, Acornbelly,"Thorntail soothed, though his eyes gazed around anxiously.
"What's wrong with her?"she whispered.
"Rest, she hasn't had enough of it. The kits will probably make it though, if she gives birth before she..."Thorntail stopped.
"No!"Dandelionpaw gasped,"How do we help her? Tell me, Thorntail! How do we help her?"
But her mentor was staring at the ground.
"Since I was an apprentice, we never lost a queen to birth,"he meowed.
"We get it; you're better than me!"she shouted.
"No,"Thorntail whispered,"Listen to the prophecy,"
"What? Can't we have your ridiculous prophecies later and help this StarClan-foresaken dying queen?"she felt her rage boil over.
With Thorntail still lost in a dream and Acornbelly's cries getting more desperate, panic almost overwheled Dandelionpaw.
She began to sob. I don't want this!
All she wanted was to curl up in the nursery with Dotfur, Splotnose, Frostedkit, Breezekit and Applekit.
"Tallpine...Tallpine...Tallpine... Tallpine..."Acornbelly coughed.
Tallpine heard her,"My love!"
He unsheathed his claws as he stared at Thorntail,"Do something!"he hissed. When he didn't respond, he turned to her,"Or you!"
"I...I've never done this...s before! What d...do I do?"she wailed.
"Tall...Tallpine! Name our daughters..."Acornbelly rasped, "Softkit, Heartkit and Wheatkit...after our mothers and Wh...Wheatstalk..."
Tallpine and Dandelionpaw exchanged anxious glances; They were thinking the same thing.
She has no daughters.
Incredibly, three pieces of moss moved. Though covered in blood, three she-kits were alive.
Acornbelly smiled weakly before letting out a choking sigh.
"Acornbelly?"Tallpine begged "Raise them with me,"
"I'm sorry, Tallpine...I love you. Please look after Mothnose, Softkit, Wheatkit and Heartkit for me,"Acornbelly purred.
"No..."
"I love them,"
"Acornbelly..."
"I love you,"
"Acornbelly!" Tallpine tipped his head back in a wail of grief.

It deafened Dandelionpaw to everything but one sound. Acornbelly's voice.
"The light of day and the darkness of night will destroy this Clan unless destroyed. Darkness will spread into day, but the amber feather will win,"
                         ☆☆☆

Starflame padded up to her.
"Hi,"Dandelionpaw muttered, munching on a shrew.
"Hey,"Starflame purred. She turned her sad gaze on her. It had been seven sunrises since Acornbelly's death. Dotfur- who'd moved out a while ago- had taken care of them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mothnose taking a rabbit into the nursery. She wasn't surprised; these kits would be his half sisters.
"What's wrong?"Starflame questioned.
"It...it's nothing,"as much as she wanted to consult in Starflame about the prophecy, she knew it was medicine cat business; she had to bear it alone, without Thorntail even.
Starflame shot her a suspicious glance,"You know, you can share anything with me,"
Her friend headed over to Kiterose's hunting patrol.
I can share anything with you...but can you keep it a secret?