Two moons had passed since Ravenflight tottered on the edge of insanity and death, but now, you'd never guess them to be the same cat.
Shadowfur stood on a outcrop of rock with his chest puffed out. Looking over the whole territory, he felt safe and content. Nothing would ever be able to harm his dear Ravenflight with him around.
Suddenly there was an emptiness beneath him, and soon he began to plummet throught the air. He tried to let out a screech, but a blackness has began to constrict him and had overcome his muzzle. His eyes darted down to see the ground approaching wildly. What startled him most was two twin pairs of emerald eyes that shone in sadness and betrayal.
Finally, he hit the ground.
Fur on end, Shadowfur launched into the air and let out a yowl, causing some other cats to do the same.
"Shadowfur! Great Starclan how can any cat sleep with you around!" Leafclaw gasped. "What happened!?"
Shadowfur shifted awkwardly when he realized that of everyone who had woken, everyone's gaze directed towards him. A few cats stood wide awake, while some merely lifted their heads, and most still lay fast asleep.
"I... er... Just had a bad dream, that's all." He mumbled.
"Ok everyone go back to sleep. I don't want anyone to be to tired for any work tomorrow." Leafclaw cast one more curious glance at Shadowfur.
Slowly, everyone settled back into their nests, and before long gentle snoring filled the warriors den. And before long, Shadowfur fell into a dreamless deep sleep.
When he had finally woke, the sun was near its peak in the sky. Cats had busied themselves with reinforcing the thick undergrowth that surrounded and protected the small Ivyclan camp. Others hurried off towards patrols, mentors fetched apprentices, and the leftover cats pawed through the prey pile, which lay at the base of Ivyrock, where Splashstar make announcements.
Shadowfur glanced around in hope of finding Ravenflight. He felt happiness wash over him when he spotted her sleek black pelt sliding from out of the nursery. He padded over to her to find her eyes alight with joy.
"Why so happy?" Shadowfur met her beautiful eyes.
"Sandsky just had her kits! Go in, there beautiful." Shadowfur shrugged and began to stuff himself through the narrow entrance.
Once inside, he his eyes adjusted to the darkness to see three tiny forms curled into the curve of Sandsky's stomach. Her head lay on her paws as she stared blankly at the bramble wall.
"Is something bothering you?" Shadowfur looked at the seemingly defeated she cat.
"It's just the kits father should be here." Her gaze then traveled to the narrow entrance, where Shadowfur rolled it to find it laying on the back of Barkpelt, who shared a rabbit with Brindletail beneath a pine.
"I wouldn't sweat it. He's probably just worried about his sister health more than... uhh... not like that..'' Shadow fur trailed of, realizing where he was heading.
Sandsky lifted her head and looked at Shadowfur. "It's ok, and I agree, but since you're here would you like to help me name them?" Shadowfur nodded, excited to help name the future of his clan.
Sandsky gestured towards a small brown tabby tom. "Maybe... Twigkit?" Shadowfur offered, and soon saw Sandsky's gaze fall one the same cat outside. "Hey, come on now," Shadowfur shifted in front of the entrance. "Onto the next one." He tapped his tail tip lightly on a she cat copy of her mother. "What about this one? She's real cute."
Sandsky looked at her daughter, and when she realized what Shadowfur had said, he saw a grin spread across her muzzle. "How about Lionkit? She may be small, but soon will be fierce."
That just left a small, dark brown almost black tom that had wandered to the edge of the nest and stretched out a tiny paw to connect with Shadowfur's. He let out a purr, he loved kits so much, they lived in a world of innocence, and always seemed to have the purest of souls.
"Shadekit." Sandstone let out a purr. "He's like you. And you deserve this, maybe he'll even be your first apprentice?" Shadowfur gaped. He loved naming kits, but one who almost shared a name with him, well that was, awesome! To him at least, he always loved the little things in life.
"Thank you so much for letting me help you name the kits, it's a huge honor, and I appreciate it." Sandsky just rose to her paws, avoiding tiny tails and paws, and touched noses with Shadowfur.
"Swiftmoon raised you right. Thank you. You visiting me made my day. Go along now dear friend, Ravenflight must be missing you by now." Shadowfur dipped his head before slipping through the entrance, leaving the queen to settle in with her kits.
Outside, Ravenflight sat with her head bowed. Upon closer inspection, he realized she had dozed off. "Ravenflight, wake up." Shadowfur nudged her gently.
"Oh what,"
Shadowfur nudged her again, and she lifted her head blinking her eyes and sighing as she did so.
"Shadowfur, can we go out in the forest for a walk?" For just a heartbeat, uncertainty flickered in her eyes.
"Sounds great." Shadowfur eyed her questionably, but nodded anyway.
Heading out towards a river that ran through there territory, Shadowfur felt himself wander into his thoughts.
A gasp from Ravenflight caused him to jerk his head towards her, she looked up at him through narrowed eyes, "Its ok, I just have a nasty stomach ache." Shadowfur nodded, then gently touched his tail tip to her shoulders.
When the river finally came into view, the sun had reached its highest point in the sky. Ravenflight gestured towards its sandy shores, "Want to lay down?"he
"I'd love to." Shadowfur sprawled out next to his mate, soaking in the warm sunlight. He looked over to see her dabbing a fluffy paw into the swift flowing river. Letting his eyes lazily follow a bug that landed on the short grass that surrounded the little sand trail that lined the river.
Shadowfur lifted his muzzle to a foreign scent, when it got stronger, he rose to his feet, feeling his fur fluff outwards. He bared his teeth and let out a hiss, " Ravenflight, get out of here." When he saw the undergrowth just fox lengths away tremble, he let out a fierce hiss. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ravenflight spring to her feet and face the ferns.
A pure white rogue flung itself at Shadowfur, he let out a fierce battle cry that was cut off as he and the rogue tumbled out into the rivers treacherous water.
Shadowfur fought hard to keep his head above water, but with the Rogue tugging him under, the last thing he heard was Ravenflight wail as his head plunged beneath the chilling water.
A serene silence surrounded Shadowfur as his eyes slowly closed. He had been attempting to fight his way to the surface, but the weight of the water pulled at his limbs and soon, he went limp with exhaustion and defeat.
Water filled his lungs as bubbles rose around him, very faintly, he felt his back brush against the rocky bottom. If he could, he would have laughed, before, he felt he had finally had everything. A great mate, family, friends, and a good place in the clan, but now, he had literally hit rock bottom.
Everything had happened so quickly. Ravenflight watched it all as time blew past her. She stood on the shore, letting out a wail as her love's head went beneath the water. And now, she was crouched on the shore, mewing like a kit who lost her mother.
As soon as Shadowfur's head disappeared beneath water, Dewleaf leapt from the bushes, streaked over towards the river, and took a flying leap over Ravenflights broken form, then dove right into the river after his dying brother.
Ravenflight began to race along the shore, trying to track the flashes of gray, and white fur tumbling in the water. Her finally saw Dewleaf's head rise to the surface, with a soggy and unconscious Shadowfur in his jaws. He began to swim to the shore, where Ravenflight was leg deep in the water. She reached out, taking ahold of Shadowfur, and dragging him onto shore. Not knowing what else to do, she jumped in the air landing right on Shadowfur. Her tactic proved successful as he spewed up water, and turned onto his back.
"Shadowfur, oh please, wake up, don't go, please please..." Her response was his eyes quickly losing their light. "Oh Shadowfur, why did I have to ask you on the walk, all I want is for you to be okay, I want you to walk back to camp with me." Now she was wailing, and Shadowfur had dropped to taking ragged breaths. "Shadowfur, please be here, for your first apprentice, for your kits!"
At this Shadowfur let out an inaudible murmur, and turned onto his side, vomiting water before falling unconscious.
A hiss made Ravenflight turn to see the rogue pull her claws down Dewleaf back as the tom tried feebly to claw at the rogue. Ravenflight flew forward in a flurry of claws and bites, she wasn't the best at fighting, but the already battered rogue was more than ready to retreat. Once the white she cat turned and ran, Ravenflight went back to a gasping, collapsed Dewleaf who lay on his side.
"Dewleaf? What happened, where did you come from, how did you know?" It was a lot of questions, but a pregnant queen in distress isn't a good combination.
In response, Dewleaf raised his head and wheezed "Ravenflight, I'm sorry for what I had said, I came here to apologize, but when I saw Shadowfur drowning, they told me to save him.." He trailed off as his head dropped.
"Wait here, I'll go get Snowflower!" Ravenflight was growing increasingly desperate as time passed by.
"She'll be here. Just stay." Dewleaf's eyes were beginning to cloud as he felt the darkness creep out. Slowly, he lifted his head and tenderly touched his nose to Ravenflights. "I had to, at least once.." He let out a sigh as he began his last breath. In, the world around him cleared as he saw a starry figure walk in front of him. Out, a dizzying darkness slammed over him, the last thing he heard was a mournful cry from Ravenflight.
Ravenflight stood dumbfounded as the brother of her mate admitted his love to her and died. Strangely she felt a prick of sadness as she gently closed his eyes.
A mew of alarm sounded from behind her as she remembered Shadowfur.
Oh what have I done? Sorry for the awful cliff hanger. What's gonna happen? Who is the rogue? What do you think? Tell me!