Author's Note: If you read my story, thanks so much! Reviewers get a virtual cookie for commenting on this chapter. Flamers still count as reviewers, but they get a burnt muffin instead. Now, on with the story!
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
It was not those words that roused Shadekit from her deep slumber, but it was the coldness.
The icy air was suffocating her. The heavenly scent of milk was replaced by a strong, metallic stench. She writhed on the floor, squealing. Suddenly, she found herself crashing into another ball of fur. Shadekit received a paw in the face for this, and she rolled onto her back like a turtle. This was when her kitten blue eyes fluttered open.
Instead of seeing a beautiful, glowing land like she had heard of from other cats, she saw a big gray blur in front of her. Shadekit sniffed the air again, hoping to find her milk-giver and fill her growling belly. After a thorough search of this dull, gray place she was confined in, she still didn't find her milk-giver.
Shadekit tossed back her head and wailed at the top of her lungs, wanting her milk-giver to come and feed her. But no warmth came, and certainly no dinner. The other kit seemed to want food too, because she started to wail as well. After a long time, Shadekit was tired from crying. Her throat hurt like crazy.
However, it seemed that their attempts to get attention had worked. Shadekit felt herself being scooped up in a cat's jaws, and warmth surrounded her now. She purred with content even though her belly was still empty. "Don't worry, little one," her carrier rasped in her ear. "You'll be in a better place soon."
-two moons later-
Shadekit and Ivykit grew up in the WindClan medicine den since Mistysky disappeared. Shadekit didn't know what Cloudwing meant by disappeared, but she was told that Mistysky went somewhere else. Somewhere happier.
Ivykit and Shadekit got milk from Dappledfoot, who was still caring for Rabbitkit. Rainkit had died from the rare disease called blackcough. ThunderClan did not attack again like the fateful night that Mistysky left, but warriors were still dying left and right. There were only four warriors that fully recovered after two moons.
Cloudwing was crouched over Briarheart now, frowning. "Don't try to argue. You're going to lay here until your broken legs heal!" Cloudwing growled. She then turned, and Shadekit heard her mumble, "If you even heal."
Shadekit then stood up, taking shaky steps towards a brown-furred warrior. "Petalmask?" Shadekit squeaked, sitting down in front of the brown she-cat. Petalmask raised her head, smiling. "Hello, little Shady. Come and sit with your sister Petalmask."
Shadekit smiled, lying down next to Petalmask. She liked to consider Petalmask her sister, since Mistysky was related to Petalmask. "How are you today, Petally?" Shadekit mewed, pawing at Petalmask's nose. Petalmask laughed, sitting up. "I'm doing better. My shoulder isn't broken anymore, but it's still bruised badly. I'll be able to leave after a couple of days," she purred, ruffling Shadekit's gray tortoiseshell fur.
Shadekit smiled. "Sounds great. Then will you be able to play with us?" she asked. Petalmask lay her head down again, shrugging. "When I'm not doing warrior duties, maybe," she yawned. "Now I have to rest. Shoo. Go play with Ivykit."
Shadekit turned, sighing. She trotted over to her sister, prodding her. "Ivykit," she murmured. The black and white she-kit woke up from her deep sleep, grumbling. "Can't you wake me up any other time? I like to sleep all morning," Ivykit whined. Shadekit sighed. "How will you make it through apprenticeship if you're always sleeping?" she asked. Ivykit only shrugged.
"Have you eaten yet?" Ivykit asked. Shadekit shook her head, and her stomach growled. "No, actually. Let's go get some prey," she mewed, padding towards the entrance of the den. Ivykit bounced after her, squeaking a happy song.
When Shadekit stepped out of the medicine den, she found herself blinded. I'm two moons old and I still haven't adjusted to the light of camp, she thought. After a few moments her vision cleared and she was able to see where the freshkill pile was. It was rather small, and Shadekit wanted the weak to have most of what was left. She picked up a small, scrawny rabbit and dragged it over to Ivykit. "I guess we'll have this today," she meowed. Ivykit picked at it, frowning. "Fine."
Shadekit nibbled at the rabbit, leaving most of it for Ivykit. She was the smaller of the two, anyways. Though hunger gnawed at her like a fox, Ivykit needed the extra strength. She would survive as long as possible. Shadekit promised herself that she would help Ivykit to leadership. And she would keep that promise.
Hawkstar lay in his den, ears twitching. What was taking her so long?
"I'm here, Hawkstar," the familiar voice echoed. Hawkstar looked up, motioning for the silver she-cat to come in. "Hurry, Cloudwing. We have important matters to discuss," he growled. Cloudwing sat down in front of Hawkstar, wrapping her tail around her paws. "What's the problem now, Hawkstar? You've been calling me in every day since Ivykit and Shadekit were born. You haven't even bothered to li-"
Cloudwing stopped, noticing the blank look in Hawkstar's eyes. "Are you even listening to me?" she snapped. Hawkstar waved his paws. "Never mind that. We have to discuss a matter that is too serious to call the senior warriors in about."
The silver she-cat snorted, flicking her tail. "You say that every day. Half of the things you've called me in about aren't truly important. Now, don't you zone out again, and listen to my words. Don't interrupt, don't argue, and don't even speak. And if I even see that blank look start to glaze over those green eyes of yours, I will beat you silly. Got that?" Cloudwing snarled. Hawkstar actually looked frightened, and he nodded. Cloudwing stood up, pacing around her brother. "Good. Now, most of the time you only call me in about prey issues. But there are two main issues. You need your lives from StarClan, and you need to decide what you're going to do about ThunderClan. I can't assist you with everything. I'm not a warrior, and I'm certainly not as young as you. We were born in different litters, and we don't really have that bond that siblings should."
Hawkstar's nose twitched and he turned his head away. "Hurt me if you wish, Cloudwing, but this time it's truly important," he murmured. Cloudwing sighed with exasperation, sitting down again. "What could be possibly more important than what I am speaking to you about?"
Hawkstar turned back towards Cloudwing, ears pinned down against his skull. "I was visited by an unknown cat in my dreams last night. I couldn't see who they were, let alone be able to figure out whether they were a tom or a she-cat. They had an ominous voice which chilled me to the bone. The only thing they said before disappearing was…"
Cloudwing leapt to her paws, shoving her nose into Hawkstar's face. "Said what? What did they say?"
Hawkstar kneaded his paws against the ground, and he was silent for a few moments. Finally, he whispered, "The cat said, 'The deep shadows are coming for you.'"
Author's Note: R&R!
