"Brackenfoot!" A pretty light brown she-cat called.

"Fernfrost, is that you?"

"Come over here." A pair of dark blue eyes glowed from behind the trees. "I'm expecting your kits, Brackenfoot."

"That's great news!" The golden brown tom purred.

"Yes, but we mustn't meet in secret anymore for the safety of our kits." Fernfrost mewed, sadness clouding her eyes. Brackenfoot paused.

"I-I understand," he said. 

"You know that I don't want to leave you," she said. "I will never forget you."

"I will never forget you either. Farewell, Fernfrost, and may Starclan light your path. Hopefully, nobody will know."

"They won't know. Not even our kits," She vowed. "I will tell them all in good time." Then she disappeared into the darkness.

~*~

"Berryfur! Come quick! Fernfrost is kitting!" A she-cat called.

"Coming!" A tortoiseshell she-cat hurried out of her den. "Nightbreeze, go get a stick for her to bite on." The dark gray she-cat nodded, and hurried to find one. 

"It'll be ok," Berryfur soothed the kitting queen. "Everything will be over soon."

"I never knew kitting would be so painful," the queen growled through clenched teeth.

"Yes, but you will protect you kits with you life once their born. You'll think this was all worth it, Fernfrost. Nightbreeze can tell you." Nightbreeze ran into the nursery with a stick and gave it to Fernfrost. 

"Just in time!" Berryfur said. "The kits are coming now!" Fernfrost gave a shudder, and a kit slide out. Berryfur quickly licked it, and put it next to the queen's stomach. 

"Your doing great!" Berry fur purred. "One more to go." Another kit slide out, and this time Nightbreeze licked it dry and put it next to its sister to suckle.

"Two perfect she-kits," Nightbreeze said. Brackenfoot, you're a father now, Fernfrost thought. She noticed that the she-kits looked identical, except that one had white markings around her eyes.

"I will name this one Birdkit," Fernfrost used her tail to point to the kit with the markings. "And this one Sorrelkit," she pointed to the other kit.  

"Those are beautiful names," Nightbreeze said. Brackenfoot, I wish you where here, Fernfrost thought drowsily. You have two beautiful daughters. And then she let herself fall asleep.