[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonyheart,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

It was time.

"I'm taking Icefang out for a walk, she needs to stretch her legs before being completely isolated to the nursery."

No cat dared to argue with a Medicine Cat, even if she was leaving camp with a heavy and presumably pregnant queen.

Sagepaw was left in her nest, a healer to stay behind while her mentor was out. 

The two cats on guard duty that early morning simply nodded their heads in silent agreement before returning to their task at paw - waiting in the cold morning air for their replacements to relieve them. The young healer led her gray and white companion through a relatively easy path so as not to seem suspicious. 

Though, once they were out of sight of their fellow Gorgeclanners, Ebonyheart shifted her paws and slowly made her way towards where the Hidden Thicket was located inside the newer territory of Gorgeclan's vast home. She figured it would be the best place to go, a safe and quiet place that was out of sight and scent from those who didn't need to be nosey or pry. 

Her breath was growing heavier, her sides heaving ever so slightly the closer the two she-cats grew to the hidden thicket. Despite the chill in the air, and the sprinkling of melting snowflakes, the inky black healer was hot as rolling cramps rippled through her body. Logically, Ebonyheart knew she was growing closer by the second to birthing the kits within her hidden, swollen abdomen but that didn't stop the annoyance she had with each contraction.

She had to stop a few times, her fluffy form leaning against Icefang as she took heavy breaths. Small clouds billowed before her dark muzzle each time she huffed out, her nub tail lashing invisibly behind her. Granted, the expecting molly was more than grateful for her companion's presence and her ever constant reassurance and love. 

Those these future warriors of Gorgeclan bore the blood of Birdstar, it would be the two she-cats trekking through the cold morning that would be raising them with his memory. 

The dead grass crunched below wide paws as Ebonyheart finally made it into the security of the thicket, though dead the thickness of the trees provided cover and warmth from both outside eyes and the biting of nature's frosted wind. Though the sudden stillness within the thicket caused a small shiver to run down the large she-cat's spine, being under the cover of trees was an oddity for a cat who grew up in a barren landscape. 

Another sharp contraction brought a hiss from the ebony maw of the expecting healer, her claws appearing slightly as she dug them into the cold, hard ground below her. Though she'd be glad to get these kits out from within her swollen belly, she knew that her life would not change as Icefang would be raising them as her own. 

A secret hidden behind lies and the cruelty of Starclan's harsh rules. 

--

Birthing was not easy, Ebonyheart had aided countless queens bring in new lives for the clans many times - not all of them ended in happy moments but each one was fairly similar to the last. While she never thought she'd be on the other side of it, the inky black queen managed to coach Icefang through the procedure and how to aid the birthing healer. 

There were only a couple of hiccups here and there, her first kit was turned around so he took some maneuvering from the gray and white molly to pull him free - meanwhile Ebonyheart sat in labor the longest with the last kit to finally slide free. Her body was sore and tired by the time she was finished, and the soft noises of kits suckling kept her ears twitching as she listened for any potiental problems. 

All three of the new kits were laying, curled against Icefang's flank as the she-cat nursed them with her own warm milk. Even with borage, Ebonyheart didn't produce any of the lifeblood each mewling ball of fur needed to survive. Perhaps yet another punishment from Starclan, proving that she was unfit to be a mother after taking her stance as a Medicine Cat many moons ago. 

The first kit, a tom, that arrived though in his own unique style, was one that stung at both the hearts of the two hidden Gorgeclan she-cats. He was a chunky little thing with a round face, fluffy gray fur and a natural nub for a tail - practically the perfect mix of Ebonyheart and his late father: Birdstar. 

She named him Puffinkit.

A tiny molly was next, a beautiful cream colored she-cat that seemed to take on the same Somali type fur and softness as many in Ebonyheart's family tree. In fact, she looked hauntingly similar to that of the once beautiful Bunnytail - who hadn't lived to see the quake or the merging of the new clans. Something inside the dark molly stirred as she eyed the cream kit, being reminded on the love that Birdstar had for his deceased sister Redpaw. 

She named her Cardinalkit.

The last kit, the one who took the longest and was by far the smallest of the three little ones was a black and white tom. In size, he was most definitely dwarfed by his brother and sister but he seemed to have a fairly common coat coloring that ran in both Ebonyheart's linage but also Birdstar and Icefang's. His tiny squeaks went absolutely noticeable each time he slipped off of one of Icefang's teats. 

She named him Jaykit.

Watch over them Birdstar... Ebonyheart's chest tightened around the organ beating so hard within it's confines. She already loved her kits so dearly, and this was truly the only time she could love them as their mother... because once they returned to Gorgeclan they would fall under the guise of being Icefang's kits...

The lost lineage of Birdstar.  

39 Moons GorgeClan Medicine Cat 

KARAZHAL Amber   Fawn || Made by Fawn || 984 Words

[Amber]

Icefang

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He had never returned. And with StoneClan no more, there was a good chance he wouldn't ever return. For some, the earthquake was starting to become a distant memory, but for her, it was still raw, like a wound that had never gotten a chance to heal. Her newfound friendship with the ebony healer had helped a little, but there was no cure for the pain in her heart. Her best friend, her first and only love, was gone, presumed dead by most, and she felt that pain as bitterly as if they'd been mated. And even now, as if to add insult to injury, there was a litter of kittens on the way. Her new friend, Birdstar's other love, was building the last pieces of their missing leader within her. But even worse, it was Icefang's belly that was swollen, it was her beginning to produce milk, it was her body preparing to bring kittens into the world even though nothing lay within her. Ebonyheart had called it a "false pregnancy". At the very least, it would make raising the healer's litter easier. Even before her false pregnancy had started, as soon as Ebonyheart had confided the secret she held within her belly, Icefang had volunteered to raise the kits as her own. Together, they had come up with a plan. Before Ebonyheart gave birth, they would disappear from the camp. Ebonyheart would give birth out of camp, and the two she-cats would return later with a "found" litter that Icefang would raise as her own. With the addition of Icefang's false pregnancy, they could tell the Clan the litter was her own and the story would become far more believable. They would still have to leave the camp to give birth, but going for a walk and suddenly going into labor was a lot more believable than stumbling upon a newborn litter. There was also the benefit of being able to feed the kittens herself, rather than relying on a surrogate for feedings. She and Ebonyheart had not yet decided on whether the kits would know who their father was or what they would tell the Clan. Icefang had been guarded about it whenever it came up in conversation with Clanmates, so no one currently knew anything other than that she was pregnant and due relatively soon.

She had recently moved into the nursery, to keep up the appearance of her pregnancy, even though she would prefer to remain closer to Ebonyheart. She'd been hesitant to leave the healer's side ever since the quake, but now that they were back to a semblance of normalcy, she didn't have enough good reasons to cling without the risk of drawing suspicion. Icefang had to trust that Ebonyheart would notice the signs of labor with enough time to get them both out. Time wouldn't be on their side, and the closer the day loomed, the more stressed the senior warrior became. There was so much that could go wrong, there was so much at stake. If anything went wrong, Ebonyheart would lose the last thing that gave her purpose, her position as the Clan's medicine cat.

The appearance of the dark healer broke her thoughts, and Icefang wasted no time in rising to her paws. She followed in silence as Ebonyheart led the way, pausing only once at the camp entrance for Ebonyheart to speak to the posted guards. "I'm taking Icefang out for a walk, she needs to stretch her legs before being completely isolated to the nursery." The two guards merely nodded and allowed them to pass unquestioned, and Icefang stuck close to Ebonyheart's side, putting on a show until they were out of sight. As their path shifted, their pace slowed slightly, and Icefang pressed even closer, their pelts brushing more often than not. The further they walked, the closer Ebonyheart got, and the more they had to stop so Ebonyheart could rest on her shoulder. Icefang offered quiet words of encouragement and gentle licks at every pause, letting the healer know she didn't have to face this alone.

After what felt like ages, they finally reached the shelter of the Hidden Thicket. This is where Birdstar's legacy would be born. Icefang helped her companion settle into the grass below, internally cursing the fact that they couldn't have a nest for this. Ebonyheart coached her as best she could, and Icefang followed every instruction without question. It was exhausting for the healer, and Icefang's heart broke at the pain evident in her face and her body. Of course, it couldn't go perfectly smoothly. Icefang fought the urge to curse StarClan for not allowing them just one break, and focused on making sure everyone made it out alive. The first kit was born backwards, as though he wasn't quite ready to leave Ebonyheart, and took quite a bit of maneuvering and coaxing before he finally arrived. The second kit came normally, relatively simply, but by the third kit, Ebonyheart was exhausted. Icefang continued her gentle encouragement and physical support, and finally, the third kit was born. Ebonyheart was thoroughly exhausted, and Icefang made quick work of cleaning up and making sure all three kittens were alive and well.

Once it was all over, Icefang settled on the ground, as close to Ebonyheart as she could, and gently guided the kittens to her belly. Ebonyheart lacked the milk to support them, and Icefang gently rasped her tongue over the healer's head. She could imagine the she-cat's pain, and only prayed Ebonyheart wouldn't let the guilt consume her. Icefang's attention shifted between the healer and the kittens, doing her best to make sure everyone was being taken care of. She had suggested that Ebonyheart name them, as they were truly hers, and felt that it would connect them in some way, even if they were forced to grow up believing they were Icefang's blood.

Puffinkit, Cardinalkit, and Jaykit.

They were perfect, a lovely mix of Birdstar and Ebonyheart, but also somehow, miraculously, colors also found in her own family lineage. It would be easier to pass them off as her own, thankfully. These kits were so much more special and important than they would ever know. It hurt to know they would never know their father, or the truth of their lineage. She decided then that the three kittens would know who their father was, even if they would never meet him. They deserved that much, at least. StarClan had already taken so much from them. Their father, their mother, their futures. Ebonyheart had told her of StarClan's decree, that none of the kits would ever be able to hold a position of power, all for the sins of their parents. It angered her that StarClan would punish not only Ebonyheart, but innocent kits as well. It didn't help that Icefang had to fight her own insecurities stepping up as a replacement mother. She would never want to replace Ebonyheart, but her paws were tied, and she just hoped that she would be good enough. She needed to be good enough, to honor Birdstar's legacy.

"Icefang! I need you to protect Ebonyheart!"

Birdstar's last words to her. They rang constantly in her head, and as she hid out with Ebonyheart and Birdstar's kittens tucked against her belly, tears stung her eyes. 'I will always protect them, Birdstar. All of them. I promise.'

GorgeClan Queen

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