Ch 3

What do I do! Saberfur's heart froze with fear, what would happen if she died! Saberfur yelled,

"Everyone get up! Junipercloud is being frozen to death! Hurry and we can save her!"

"What's going on!!" Foxleap snarled,

"Hurry come dig through the snow!" Saberfur gasped he was already tired from the travel yesterday.

"SunClan get up! Come dig up the queens den," Spottedstar howled. At this, more cats started getting to their paws to help Saberfur. Soon they broke through the ice,

"Junipercloud!" Saberfur saw his mate curled into a tight ball whimpering from the cold. "Come on I'll get you warm," Saberfur ushered her out into the clearing and into the Finchheart's den. "Don't give up! Just breathe deeply," Junipercloud started to whimper again.

"Finchheart what do we do?" Saberfur questioned, but deep in a corner Finchheart crouched over a ball of creamy brown fur. Saberfur looked at his mate than back at Finchheart, and then ran quickly over to where Finchheart crouched. There in front of him was his little mischievous daughter Pinekit lay limp and cold.

"There's no pulse, we will have a proper burial at sunhigh." He gave a nod and went over to check on Junipercloud. Spottedstar strutted in moments later.

"I only see three kits here, where is Pinekit?" She glanced up at Finchheart, his eyes where pools of sorrow, yet again.

"W...Well, where is she?" Spottedstar gasped and ran to the back of the den. Oh no my poor brother! She thought and stuffed her nose in Saberfur's fur. But this can't be, the prophecy it must not be the kits! Or, no it can't be the clan's who is the prophecy referring to! Spottedstar's mind was buzzing with questions.

"Why don't you sleep with your mate tonight? That'll make all of you more comfortable." Spottedstar suggested,

"What's the point?!" Saberfur snarled to his leader, "You said everything was going to be fine! Does this look fine to you?" He lashed his tail across her face and rampaged out of the den.

"Well fine! Be that way! Leave your mate to die!"

"Spottedstar," Junipercloud started,

"Keep your mouth shut!" Then she stormed out of the den.

"No, no, no what have I done." Junipercloud stared at Pinekit in the back of the den then fell asleep.

What's going on! My body felt like it was being crushed by mounds and mounds of sand and dirt. It drew all the air from my lungs; it filled my eyes so I couldn't see. NO! Saberfur woke up in his nest at moonhigh, shivering with cold. Then he thought of something, that dream… whenever I dream of something actually happening to me, it is actually happening to someone else…, he pondered it for a moment. Junipercloud! He raced over to the queens den but everything was fine. She was cuddled up with her kits sleeping soundly. Wait a minute, 1, 2, 3, 4 kits! Pinekit was breathing normally did Junipercloud know this??

"Junipercloud," he whispered and prodded her side. "Junipercloud!" Saberfur spoke louder; startled with the abrupt awakening she spoke in a harsh tone,

"What could you possibly want?"

"Look," he pointed his tail to Pinekit,

"Pinekit!" she whispered and started licking her. "You're alive!" Pinekit stared up at Junipercloud with huge eyes.

"Ya," she squeaked, and then curled up again.

As Leaf-bare began to progress, the days became a bit warmer and more soothing then the freezing weather. Junipercloud was at peace with the world, the robin she ate this morning was plump and delicious, and her kits where healthy and playful as always. But everything would change in a matter of moments…