A/N- Hey, so this is my first real chapter. I hope everyone liked the epilogue, and thanks for the reviews! And yes SilvaWolf121, the friend was you…lol. And to answer everyone's question, she IS a queen. That's sorta why I put the character list in there as well…haha. So read, hopefully like it, and review! (P.S: in the last chapter, I said "Rainwhisker". Well, it is supposed to be Rainwhisper, with a p. so just ignore those typos and remember this.) =}D
(Pineshadow's P.O.V)
My mind is filled with a swampy haze, never clearing of its foggy thoughts. Thoughts of death and sorrow, of life and happiness. I won't let it happen, I won't let her die. I pick up the pace and run faster than I ever have in my life. The only thing I am concentrated on is getting to the camp and finding help.
I am in a group of three cats, including myself. We figured that it would be faster with a small group, but necessary to have backup incase they weren't so friendly. To my right is Flashpelt, the fastest male in the clan next to me. He looks sideways in my direction, and brushes my pelt for comfort. He is my best friend, and I am glad to have him in this with me. To my left is Willowheart, my sister. We both got our father's gift of speed. We are probably the fastest patrol there is in the forest, tail and tail with Windclan.
Looking up, I see the Windclan camp directly in front of us by a few tail lengths. 'Please lighten their hearts so that they will help her. She is my everything.' I silently pray to Starclan. Hopefully they will show mercy on me. We slow as we near the camp, not wanting them to think our small group is trying to invade it.
The camp is nothing like Thunderclan's, the entrance just a bush with an empty center so you could walk through. No thorn bush for enemies. The dens are wide open, just nests that are hollowed out ground with soft looking grass on top. We pad in a little hesitantly, but we hold our heads high to show that we are not afraid. I hear gasps and hisses all around me, "What are they doing here?" "What do they want?" Is all any cat could say. But I just look forward, determined to talk to Breezestar and no one else. He is sitting by a pretty black and white she cat, eating a rabbit. As he sees us, he jumps in surprise.
"Why has Thunderclan come inside my camp?" he asks cautiously. I dip my head in respect for the old leader, not wanting to upset him by blunt introduction. "Breezestar, I have come to ask help from your clan…" I started to say, but was interrupted by scoffs from a cat in the crowd. "The great Thunderclan is asking for help? I always knew they were weak. How pitiful." An older warrior steps out, ears twitching with agitating amusement. Who does he think he is?
I turn back to Breezestar with a questioning look, asking for permission to speak again. He nods his approval, looking frustrated with his clanmate. I always liked Breezestar; he likes things to be fair. "My mate, Brightflower, is having kits, but we lost all our herbs to the flood. Something has gone wrong, and Thunderclan is asking for your help." I say to him with an even yet almost pleading tone. He gazes at me with sympathetic eyes. "If it is to help a queen and her kits, we will help." He meows. I almost purr with happiness, but catch myself.
"Thank you Breezestar. We will have to hurry; she is not doing well, and getting worse. Could you ask Hazelleaf to gather some herbs and meet us outside the camp?" I ask gratefully. He nods and rushes away. I look at my companions with a relieved expression on my face, not able to hide my joy. We trot out of camp, trying to keep our heads high. I feel something soft touching my shoulder, and look over to see Willowheart lightly laying her tail on it.
"She is going to be okay, Pineshadow, her and the kits. Everything will be fine." She reassures me. I nod as Hazelleaf pads outside the camp to meat us, a bundle of herbs stuffed in her mouth. I nod my appreciation to her, and she looks back at me sympathetically. "Shle wuh goh?" she mumbles. I looked at her confused, asking her to repeat that. She lays down the herbs carefully and says "Shall we go?" I gaze at her, now amused, I need something to take my mind off of Brightflower, "Of course, let's head off." I meow. I start to walk off, not too fast so Hazelleaf can pick up her herbs and follow. When I know she is caught up, I speed to a full on sprint, just hoping Hazelleaf can keep up, because I know what will happen if I don't get there soon.
We arrive at the makeshift camp in no time at all. 'Thank Starclan'. Every cat in view is pacing worriedly. I can see the terror so clearly in their eyes, and I know mine show the same. I run over to my father, who is also pacing, and skid to a halt. "Silverstar, I found help." I say, pointing with my tail over to Hazelleaf, "She has offered to share some of her clan's herbs to help with Brightflower." I meow all in a rush. He nods and pads over to her. "Hello Hazelleaf, we are so grateful for you to come here. Thunderclan is now in your debt." He bows his head to the medicine cat, and she bows in respect to him.
He walks with her, leading her to the bush Brightflower lies behind, and I follow. As we draw nearer to the bush, I start to hear whimpers of pain. Each cry strikes me in the heart like a thorn, making me wonder if she will make it. I run behind the bush, but stop with fear, as I stand like a stone. I gaze, frozen with fear, at the shivering bundle of fur that once was my mate. I crumble to the ground at her side, crying out with grief. 'How could this happen? What have I done to deserve this? What has she done to deserve this?' Hazelleaf is now at our side, looking down with sorrow in her dark brown eyes.
Padding around us, she examines Brightflower's shaky white and brown body. "Do you have a thought about what has happened, Rainwhisper?" she asks, not looking up. He looks up with worry in his eyes. "She is having kits, but other than that, I have nothing to lead me to any idea. That's mostly why I asked for your presence, Hazelleaf." He says grumpily, but I see in his eyes that he isn't mad, but worried. She nods as though his tone doesn't mean anything to her. Leaning down, she sniffs Brightflower's body.
"Pineshadow, I am going to need you to leave…" I try to interject, but she continues, "I know you're her mate, but that doesn't mean you have to be here the whole time." She says. I grunt my disapproval and storm out from behind the bush. Looking around, I spot Flashpelt and dart over to him. "Flashpelt, she won't let me stay with Brightflower! I need to know that she is ok." I say to him, completely distressed. He looks at me surprised, "What do you mean she won't let you stay? You are her mate after all." He says confused, but then just shrugs.
"What am I going to do?" I ask. He sits there, just thinking, until he looks up with mischief in his eyes. "I know what we can do! Let's go hunt…" he says excitedly. I look at him bewildered. "But we can't! Most of the Thunderclan territory is flooded, and we can't hunt on Windclan territory. Especially since they are helping us with Brightflower!" I whisper to him scolding. Looking fake innocent, he says, "I am only going to get a little bite…of rabbit. You know I am fast enough to catch one." I look at him mockingly, "And you know I am fast enough to catch you. Don't do it Flashpelt, I am warning you. Besides, how can you be thinking of fresh kill at a time like this!" I meow harshly.
I stalk away from him, just wanting to be alone in my somber mood. If he hunts, I won't talk to him for a moon. I pace back and forth in front of, what I have now named, the "Miracle Bush" because I am hoping for one. 'What will I do if she doesn't make it?' I think to myself. 'No, I can't think like that. I must think of only the positive. She will make it…she will make it…they all will make it.'
It seems like moons until Hazelleaf steps out from behind the bush. "Hazelleaf! Is she alright? What about the kits? Are they alright too?" I ask in a span of about two seconds. She holds up her tail to silence me, and continues, "Why don't you come back and look?" she says neutrally. I can't tell if it's good or bad, but I am anxious to find out. I streak behind the bush over to where Brightflower lay in the grass. She lies there, breathing rapidly, not moving a muscle. "Brightflower? Are you alright?" I ask slowly and quietly. I do not want to frighten her; she just looks so fragile.
She stirs a little, and that's when I notice two little pelts snuggled close to her belly. They move closer to her as she looks up at me, her eyes blurry. "Pineshadow? I am so glad you are here. Would you like to meet your kits?" she whispers softly. I gaze at her, eyes wide and jaw hanging. "This is Whitekit, he's a tom…" She says while motioning with her tail to a snow-white kit with its eyes closed. It is the most handsome kit I have ever seen. Or at least that's what I thought until I saw the she-kit. "And this is Hazelkit, named after the Medicine cat that came from another clan to help me." She meows proudly.
My ability to speak has suddenly vanished as I look down at these two kits. They made it, they all did. 'Thank you Starclan. You have my gratitude.' I think to myself happily. "They are amazing." I croak my voice still unable to connect with my head. I lean down and brush my fur withers, purring happily, until I notice something. Her pelt is unnaturally hot, it is so that it is scolding. M head shoots straight up in shock. "H-Hazelleaf! Why is she burning up? She is burning up!" I shout. She looks at me somberly, "Pineshadow, she is sick. I don't think she is going to make it. It is incredible that I was even able to get the kits out in time." She meows gloomily.
I look at her with hatred in my eyes, shaking my head in denial. "She is supposed to be ok, why didn't you make her ok?" I yell. I don't know how I feel right now; sad, angry, happy that my kits are ok, confused? All these emotions combined. Brightflower touches my shoulder with her tail, pleading with me to look at her. "Pineshadow, it's going to be alright. It isn't going to be so bad to join Starclan…as long as my kits are taken care of. Can you do that for me, Pineshadow? Can you take care of my kits for me?" she asks me hopefully.
I gaze at her wistfully, knowing I would give in. "Yes, I will take care of our kits. If they are the only thing I will have left of you, then of course I will raise them. Why wouldn't I?" I mumble the last part. She looks at me lovingly, but I can also see a bit of sadness in her eyes. "Because I know you too well, Pineshadow. You tend to run away from things that remind you of your problems. Just promise me that you will, Pineshadow, promise me…" her voice is getting weaker, like she is exhausted from talking alone.
My voice is getting more and more grief stricken. "I promise. I promise I won't run away. Not anymore." I only manage a whisper, but I know she hears me. She strokes my cheek with her tail, and I hold in a mournful cry. "I love you Pineshadow, remember your promise." She tells me as her tail slowly drops to the ground with lifelessness. Choking back a sob, I lay down, facing her, encasing the kits between us. "I will remember my promise, Brightflower. I will." I vow, and I will never break it for as long as I am alive.
Hazelleaf takes one more glance at us as she pads out from behind the bush with long, sorrowful steps. She is going to inform the clan that Brightflower is dead, and that her work here is finished. I will only get a few more moments with her, so I better spend them the best that I can. "Whitekit, Hazelkit, I promise to love you both equally and to take care of you with every ounce of my being. I promise. "I whisper to them, as if trying not to wake Brightflower from her peaceful sleep.
We burry her when the water goes down, in her favorite spot to lie in the sun. It is by a giant willow, her favorite hunting spot for the most squirrels. I know that this is where she would want to be. Right where she was the most happy.
A/N- ok so this chapter was a bit of a downer, but it will get better and happier! I promise! Ok, so I hope you liked it, and please review!