Revelations
Squirrelflight's eyes slid open, and she gazed at the bright light above her. She stayed still for a moment, and then struggled to get to her paws.
A familiar voice from somewhere inside the den exclaimed, "She's awake!" At once, Leafpool was practically holding her down.
"Don't move, you'll reopen one of the wounds." Squirrelflight grunted in protest, but eventually gave up. "What happened?"
"You, along with most of the Clan, were fighting off ShadowClan. Don't you remember?"
Squirrelflight slowly shook her head. "ShadowClan?" she mumbled, but she realized they were always doing something to fight.
"Did we win?" Leafpool sadly shook her head. "No, and we lost many great warriors today."
"Who?!" came the urgent reply.
"We lost Brackenfur, Thornclaw, Dustpelt… and Brambleclaw." The medicine cat stumbled over the deputy's name.
"Ashfur was also wounded badly. He… wants to see you." Leafpool sounded sad, like she'd given up on him.
"Why me?" Squirrelflight asked, still a bit dizzy. "Why does he want to talk to me?"
Leafpool barely stifled a gasp. "He's your mate!" A long silence endured after this, until Squirrelflight spoke up. "I-I don't remember. Anything. I can't…"
Leafpool stood there, with an agonized expression plastered on her face. "You don't remember Ashfur's your mate… Do you remember your kits?"
Squirrelflight nodded. "Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, Lionblaze." She hesitated though, after another glance at her sister, who was shaking her head.
"No. Cedarkit, Frostkit, and Flamekit." Squirrelflight gasped. "N-No prophecy? No kits with the power of the stars in their paws?"
This earned her a strange look from her sister. "Oh, there's a prophecy. But not about stars. There will be one, more powerful than fire itself, who will terrorize the lake and destroy every Clan in the forest."
"Who's it about?" Squirrelflight inquired. "Flamekit. As soon as you named her, we knew. Careful guard must be kept over your daughter." Leafpool warned.
My daughter's evil? Or will be?
Squirrelflight's thoughts were interrupted by a feeble, decidedly male voice coming from a corner of the den.
That was when Squirrelflight realized that the mound of dark red and gray fur lying limply was… her mate. "Squirrel…flight. I love you." Came another weak mew.
"Be quiet, Ashfur. Save your breath." Leafpool whispered to him urgently, and Squirrelflight suspected she was telling him he didn't remember 'them.'
Ashfur's eyes went wide, but he nodded gravely. "I understand," came with a curious glance at Squirrelflight's torn flank.
Squirrelflight just stared. If my kits are… kits, why aren't they in here?. "They need to be taken care of."
"My kits," she meowed once she had time to think again. "Who's taking care of them?"
Damn mothering instinct.