Millie had been circling her den restlessly since sunhigh, and, though her pains had not started properly, Leafpool had warned her the kittens might come anytime. The rest of the camp was asleep, except for Graystripe, who kept his own vigil outside the nursery. Jaypaw tried not to let the fear drifting from the gray warrior taint his own thoughts.

Millie will be fine.

The nursery brambles shivered, and paws pattered over the clearing.

“The kits are coming!” Daisy called, keeping her voice low.

Leafpool darted out of her den. “Follow me,” she hissed to Jaypaw.

Jaypaw hurried after her, his heart racing as Leafpool and Daisy squeezed into the nursery.

“Look after Millie.” Graystripe’s anxious growl made him jump. The warrior was so close their pelts touched. “If you have to choose which life to save, save hers.”

Before Jaypaw could answer, he was swept into Graystripe’s memory. A silver tabby she-cat lay in a pool of blood at the bottom of a ravine. Grief wrenched Jaypaw’s heart, and he fought to escape the vision, relieved when he blinked and found the world black once more.

“Leafpool won’t let anything bad happen,” he promised as he scrabbled inside the nursery. He was scared of sensing any more of Graystripe’s pain. He must have loved the silver she-cat very much.

Millie was panting hard. She yowled low and long as Jaypaw slid in beside his mentor. “Is she okay?” he whispered. He had missed the birth of Daisy’s kits and was excited to be witnessing Millie bringing new life into the Clan.

“She’s doing fine,” Leafpool soothed.

“If this is what fine feels like,” Millie croaked, “StarClan save me from—” Another spasm silenced her.

Rosekit and Toadkit were wriggling in the corner of the den, their paws scrabbling on the moss.

“Stay back!” Daisy mewed sternly, her fur brushing theirs as she held them.

“I want to see the kits!” Rosekit complained.

“Is there any blood?” Toadkit squeaked.

“Shh!” Leafpool hissed.

Millie was panting again, hard.

“You’re doing well,” Leafpool assured her.

“Where’s Graystripe?” Millie begged.

“He’s just outside,” Jaypaw told her.

“Good.” Millie sighed as the spasm left her. “Don’t let him come in, not yet.”

Leafpool wrapped her tail over Jaypaw, drawing him closer. “Here,” she mewed, grasping his paw gently between her jaws and resting it on Millie’s swollen flank. “Another spasm is coming. They come like waves lapping the shore, one after another, growing faster and stronger.” Jaypaw felt a thrill of anticipation as Millie’s flank tensed and rolled beneath his paw.

“Her muscles are working to push the kits out,” Leafpool explained. “In a moment she’s going to have to help by pushing too.”

“Now?” Millie asked.