Lost Leaf(Winter)
"Today, Ashpaw, Leafpaw, Junepaw, Rosepaw, Moonpaw, AND Nightpaw will all be becoming warriors/Medicine Cats" Skystar announced, and looked down.
"All of you, please step forward" he said, and the six apprentices all step forward.
"Do you five agree to the responsibilities of being a warrior, including risking your life for the sake of your clan?" Skystar asked, and the five said proudly in unison.
"We do"
"Then from this day forth, Ashpaw will be Ashbreeze, Leafpaw, Leaftail, Junepaw, Junefeather, Rosepaw, Rosepelt, and Moonpaw, Moonheart" He said, and the five apprentices dipped their heads.
"And Nightpaw, you shall be know as Nightleaf" He said finally, and Nightpaw dipped his head quietly.
"ASHBREEZE! LEAFTAIL! JUNEFEATHER! ROSEPELT! MOONHEART! NIGHTLEAF!" They all yowled, and Skystar purred, jumping from high rock.
"Clan dismissed!" he meowed, walking off to her den.
"So, - just as Ashbreeze was about to speak, Mossclaw yowled loudly.
"Their coming!" She said, and Skystar immediately dashed off to the med den. Mossclaw was lying in the far corner, her sides rising and falling quickly.
"Calm down, Mossclaw" Nightleaf mewled, sitting next to her. "You are going to stress the kits"
Her eyes narrowed, and she calmed down as much as she could. Mudflower sat outside, listening to what she could hear.
"Alright, there's only one or two more." Nightleaf said, before purring. "Alright! There are three kits" He said, noticing she had lowered her head.
"Mossclaw?" He pressed his paw to her fur, and his eyes grew wide.
"She's ice cold, she's not breathing!" he hissed, walking over to grab the herbs he could, but he was to late.
Skystar stood over his mother, shocked. Her sides fell, the last of her breathe brushing past his paws. He cried softly, digging his claws deeply into the ground.
"NOO" He yowled loudly, and Mudflower came rushing in.
An eerie silence filled the den as Skystar lowered his head, and Mudflower sat next to him. He pressed his head into her neck, and his tears soaked into her fur.
She looked down, silently pulling the kits to her, she lay down and let each of the three begin nursing.
Skystar sniffled, looking down upon his three smaller siblings.
One girl was grey with white mittens and one green eye, one blue, one girl was completely black with bright green eyes, and the only boy had Skystar's eyes and pelt.
"They are awfully adorable kits" Mudflower purred, looking up at Skystar.
"Yes, indeed they are. How about you name the girls?" he offered, cleaning her neck fur.
"Alright, this little white one will be Snowkit, and this little black one will be Crowkit" she suggested, and Skystar nodded.
"And the boy shall be Lightkit" he announced, and Lightkit mewled quietly.
"I guess he likes it" Mudflower giggled, and Skystar chuckled.
"I guess so"
Mudflower purred, pulling herself up she walked outside. Skystar walked after her, trotting up onto the high rock.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please meet under the high rock." Skystar announced, and a small mewl brought all attention to the nursery. Crowkit came crawling from the den, and Mudflower giggled.
"I got her" she purred, trotting over she grabbed Crowkit by the scruff and carried her into the nursery.
"As I was saying, we have terrible, terrible news." Skystar fell quiet for one second, straining to regain himself.
"Mossclaw was unsuccessful of living through her second litter, yet she has three beautiful kits. Crowkit, Lightkit, and Snowkit" he announced, and many murmurs rose from the gathered cats.
"So, I will need Ashbreeze and Moonheart to bury Cloudpelt and Mossclaw's body's." Skystar choked quietly, and both Ashbreeze and Moonheart nodded.
Skystar quietly trotted off the high rock, his tail dragging as he called. "Clan dismissed" he sighed, his long tail flying around the corner.
"Skystar... wait" Mudflower jumped after him, leaving the clan confused.
Mudflower trotted into his den, squinting to adjust to the dark.
"Skystar..." Mudflower whispered, sitting next to him, she leaned into his warm fur, listening as his heart beat inside his chest.
Skystar sighed, leaning against Mudflower.
"I don't understand... am I doing something wrong? Or does Starclan just not accept me..." Skystar meowed quietly, as more tears dripped down his fur.
"Neither. Their just testing your ability as leader. Do you think Clawstar had it easy when she first became leader? She told me that Starclan sent a tornado to ruin the clan, but she managed to rescue the entire clan, only loosing one elder" Mudflower said, remembering exactly how Clawstar had explained the story.
"Well..." Skystar thought for a moment, before nodding.
"I guess your right. I just need to be stronger, huh?"
"Exactly! And don't worry, anything you go through, I'm here for you" Mudflower purred, pressing herself closer to him.
"Thanks, Mudflower. I wouldn't have gotten through this without you" Skystar purred.
The two walked out of their den together, tails intertwined. They purred quietly as small murmurs filled the camp, and they both trotted into the nursery to check on the kits.
"Mudflower, I suggest you stay with the kits. I will have Leaftail take on your duty while your gone" Skystar said, and Mudflower nodded as she lay down.
"Leaftail! Come to the nursery please!" Mudflower called, and Leaftail came quietly trotting in.
"Yes mother?" she said politely, sitting down infront of her.
"Will you take on my duty's as deputy while I mother these kits?" Mudflower questioned.
"Of course I will!" Leaftail purred, her eyes immediately lighting up.
"Alright. You will stay with your father in the Leader den until I can fight again." Mudflower informed her, and she calmed down again.
"Alright." she said simply, and Skystar purred.
"Leaftail, would you like to inform the clan of this information?" Skystar offered, and Leaftail was completely calm as she answered.
"Sure, Skystar" she said, walking out of the den.
"Alright, sweetheart. I will come and visit when I can" Skystar purred, grooming Mudflower's ruffled fur.
"Okay. Remember what I told you" Mudflower smiled, and Skystar turned to walk out.
Mudflower gave a large yawn, turning to Nightleaf, who was busy putting away herbs.
"Hey Nightleaf" She purred, and he turned to her, walking over.
"Yes?" he said softly.
"If the kits start to annoy you, just wake me" she giggled, giving another large yawn.
"Will do" he smiled, returning to his herb sorting.
Mudflower lay down her head, just as the kits began to nurse again, and she drifted to sleep.
Mudflower was awoken by a long yowl. She snapped awake, raising herself softly. Her eyes adjusted to her dark surroundings, and she checked next to her. All the kits were there. She quietly walked out into camp. The smell of fresh fire caused her to tense up. She looked around her, just as a tree snapped. As she looked up, a large crack caused her to jump out of the way, back to the nursery, She awoke the kits, each of them quietly yawning. She picked up each one, racing out of the nursery. She easily flew over the tree trunk, placing each kit right outside the camp entrance. She raced over to the leader den, to find it was completely empty. Her heart began to race. Where's Skystar? She thought, racing out just as the dens leaves caught flame. She picked up the kits, and continued racing through the forest. But her gut instinct told her to go back. She immediately twisted around, racing back towards camp. Then it came to her. She still hadn't checked the other den's. She went through each one, starting with the elders. Empty. Apprentices, and Med/Nursery were all empty. But as she came up on the Warrior den, a white cat appeared inside. She stopped, meowing over the crackles of burning wood.
"COME ON! WE MUST LEAVE!" She yowled, but the white cat came up to her, and she realized who it was.
"Cloudpelt.." She gasped, and realized something... This must be a dream. She looked directly into his eyes, and suddenly, he disappeared.
Mudflower... Echoed through the air. But from where, Mudflower didn't know. It was all around her.
MUDFLOWER... It yelled, and she hissed.
MUDFLOWER!
Suddenly, Mudflower was snapped awake. Infront of her, Nightleaf was panicked. She stood up, to meet his gaze.
"What is the matter?" She asked, and he pointed outside.
When she peered outside. Ashbreeze and Rosepelt were neck to neck, each were bleeding terribly, and they hissed at each other, so quiet no one could understand what either were saying.
"EXCUSE ME!" Mudflower hissed, causing the two's attention to snap to her. They untumbled from each other, and stood to look at her.
"What is going on here? I can understand from Ashbreeze, but Rosepelt?! Im ashamed!" She snapped, and Rosepelt lowered her head.
"I-I'm sorry mother... I don't know what happen to me... I wasn't thinking right..." she explained, but Mudflower interrupted her.
"I don't want to hear it. Have excuses? Explain them to you father" she spat coldly, turning she stalked off to the Nursery. Rosepelt winced softly, whipping around she raced out of camp. Everyone else returned to their daily duties, except Nightleaf.
"Excuse me Mudflower, I will be right back. I'm going out to look for... cobwebs" He murmured, and Mudflower nodded.
"Go on ahead. I will survive a little while." She chuckled, and Nightleaf raced off, not after Cobwebs, no. He was racing after Rosepelt...
As Nightleaf slowed, he spotted Rosepelt, sitting alone next to the river. A few teardrops would fall into the river, causing a ripple effect. Nightleaf came up next to her, looking over at her. Rosepelt raised her head, tears continued to streak down her delicate cheeks. Nightleaf came closer, cleaning the tears from her cheeks.
"Its alright. Everyone gets yelled at once or twice in their life" Nightleaf purred, pressing his fur against hers.
Finally, she pressed her crimson fur against his neck, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Why cant everyone be as understanding as you" she sighed, and began crying softly again.
"But Mudflower... she h-ha... hates me" Rosepelt cried quietly, and Nightleaf gasped.
"No she doesn't! She's just stressed. You would too if you had to deal with loosing two of the biggest parts of your life, taking care of yourself, your mate, AND your mates mother's kits!" Nightleaf giggled, and Rosepelt purred with amusement.
"I guess your right, Nightleaf. I shouldn't have taken her so seriously" Rosepelt smiled, and suddenly, Nightleaf kissed her muzzle. The two dashed back to camp, collecting Cobwebs along the way.
"Alright, Mudflower, I'm back-" Nightleaf started, but Mudflower yowled.
"NIGHTLEAF?! DID YOU SEE ROSEPELT? NO-ONE CAN FIND HER! She must think I hate her!" Mudflower cried loudly, and Rosepelt came running into the nursery.
"Mom! Mom! I'm right here! I'm fine!" Rosepelt purred, placing herself next to Mudflower.
"OH, Rosepelt!" Mudflower cried, lying her head on Rosepelt's shoulder.
"I thought you ran away" She whispered, and Rosepelt cleaned her mothers ruffled and tear stained fur.
"Mom, I would never. I just needed some time to think about what I did" Rosepelt said reassuringly.
Rosepelt walked over to Nightleaf, touching her muzzle to his for a quick second, he whispered in her ear.
"I love you" he said, and she giggled.
"Love you too" She purred quietly, trotting out of the med den.