Chapter Four
The first thing Tigerkit heard as she slowly clawed her way out of the darkness that still lied heavy over her was the soft voice of the medicine cat, Poppyclaw. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, not wanting to open them. Her entire body hurt.
But then she heard the worried tones of her parents, drifting through the bracken that covered the entrance to Poppyclaw's den.
"We want to see them." Palestripe sounded panicked, her tone high and wavering.
"Please, Poppyclaw." Scorchtail spoke, sounding just as worried as his mate.
Tigerkit peeled open her eyes slowly, her vision slightly blurred around the edges. She could make out the dark form of Poppyclaw standing next to her. The medicine cat let out a heavy sigh, going to the entrance of the den.
"I'm sorry, they are still not all awake. I won't know how bad they are until they are all awake. I will make sure to get you as soon as they wake up," Poppyclaw said firmly.
"As soon as they wake up," Palestripe said stoutly.
"I promise," Poppyclaw said. Tigerkit blinked when Poppyclaw turned back around, heading back in the den.
"Oh, good. You're awake," Poppyclaw said, stepping forward. Tigerkit tried to stand up, letting out a small mew when her legs trembled with pain.
"Don't try to get up," Poppyclaw murmured. She ran a gentle tail over Tigerkit's back, settling her back into the moss. Tigerkit still shook violently, her tiny paws hooking into the moss.
"The four of you have been through quite the ordeal," Poppyclaw said. Tigerkit shifted her head just a bit. Her other three littermates were lying next to her in similar moss nests. Marshkit and Goldenkit were both awake, their eyes dull. Applekit was still curled into her nest, looking smaller than ever, her light tabby fur limp.
"How are you feeling?" Poppyclaw asked softly, settling next to Tigerkit.
"My body hurts," Tigerkit said, her voice shaking.
"Can you breathe alright?"
Tigerkit took as deep as a breath that she could. Her nose was just a little stuffed. She nodded.
Poppyclaw let out a slow breath. "Thank StarClan." Her amber eyes then flicked over to Applekit, worry flashing through them.
"What's wrong with me?" Tigerkit said weakly.
"You'll be okay," Poppyclaw assured the worried kit. "You four were out in the cold for a while. I think you have just a touch of whitecough, but that is easily treatable."
"Whitecough?" Marshkit said from his nest.
"Yes. It's nothing to worry about," Poppyclaw said. She turned around, rifling through some of the dips in the floor that held her herbs. She drew out a couple leaves, taking one and chewing it thoroughly before pushing it toward Tigerkit. Tigerkit bunched her nose at the sharp smelling leaves.
"I don't want that," she said quietly.
"It'll help you feel better," Poppyclaw said. She moved on to Goldenkit and Marshkit, giving them each a bit of the leaf. Tigerkit stretched out her nose carefully, licking up the herb. She winced at the sharp taste, swallowing quickly. She settled back into her nest, seeing Applekit still unmoving.
"Is Applekit going to be okay?" Tigerkit asked. Poppyclaw looked up from Goldenkit, her expression was carefully guarded.
"You just worry about yourself," Poppyclaw said. But Tigerkit couldn't help but worry for her sister who still looked frozen among the fluffy moss nest.
"Now, I'll be right back," Poppyclaw said. "Don't move." She whisked out of the den, her black tail tip brushing through the bracken. Tigerkit waited in a tense silence for the medicine cat to return. She could hear faint sniffles coming from her littermates behind her.
"Kits!"
Tigerkit looked up to see Palestripe bursting through the den entrance, sliding to a halt on the sandy floor next to her kits. Tigerkit winced as Palestripe began to lick the top of her head vigorously.
"I was so worried," Palestripe said breathlessly. She turned to Marshkit, giving him a thorough look over. Scorchtail entered after a couple heartbeats, his tail swishing anxiously.
"Thank StarClan," he said, stepping forward.
"Be careful," Poppyclaw said, walking into the den. "They are still very tired."
"Of course," Palestripe said, taking a couple steps back. Her eyes flashed with worry when she saw Applekit still fast asleep.
"Is Applekit okay?" she asked sharply.
"She was colder than the others, but I am sure she is going to make a full recovery," Poppyclaw said. She shooed the frantic parents away from the kits, stepping forward with a couple more leaves. "It might help to give Applekit some warmth," Poppyclaw suggested.
Scorchtail immediately curled around Applekit's small body, licking her fur in the wrong direction to try and help warm her up. After what seemed like an eternity, Applekit gave a small cough and her eyes fluttered open. They were dull and hazy, but she was awake. Scorchtail scooted back to allow Poppyclaw to examine the sick kit.
"She's going to be just fine," Poppyclaw whispered reassuringly to Palestripe. Palestripe heaved a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry," Marshkit said sleepily after Poppyclaw had given all the kits some herbs, this time to help them sleep.
Palestripe gave him a quick lick. "I'm just glad you're all okay. But please, do not wander off like that ever again."
"We won't," Goldenkit promised. Tigerkit agreed silently. She had learned her lesson.
As Tigerkit was drifting off, she could see Palestripe and Scorchtail talking with Poppyclaw nearer to the entrance of the den.
"I'm worried about this freezing of the forest," Poppyclaw murmured. She looked back at the kits as if she were afraid they could hear. Tigerkit shifted deeper into her nest, just poking her ears over the top.
"It's supposed to be newleaf, but there is still snow falling. I'm afraid this leafbare won't be over just yet." The black medicine cat curled her claws into the sand. Scorchtail gave her a small tap from his nose. Tigerkit faintly remembered them being littermates.
"You'll be able to take care of us," Scorchtail said. "You always have."
Palestripe nodded in agreement. Poppyclaw sighed before turning back around. Tigerkit quickly pretended to be asleep, closing her eyes tightly. She soon forgot what the three cats were even talking about, drifting off into a deep sleep.
But the moment she dropped off, she suddenly appeared in the middle of a moor. Tigerkit was rooted to the ground no matter how much she tried to move. She felt fear shoot through her body, making the blood rush in her ears. The rough stalks of grass moved against her legs as a cutting wind blew them.
"Palestripe?" she mewed weakly. "Scorchtail? Marshkit?" She looked around her desperately, but she could see no one.
"Hello Tigerkit."
Tigerkit's eyes snapped back around at the sound of a deep voice. A large ginger tom stood in front of her with soft green eyes. A blue-gray she-cat stood beside him, along with a ragged gray she-cat with sharp yellow eyes.
"I-Is this StarClan?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes," the ginger tom answered.
"Am I dead?" Tigerkit squealed, her eyes widening.
"No, no. You are just visiting," the blue-gray she-cat said. "My name is Bluestar. This is Firestar and Yellowfang." She gestured with her tail to the other two cats.
Tigerkit frowned. "Firestar like in the stories?"
Firestar dipped his head. "Yes. But we are not here to talk about me. We're here to talk about you."
"Me?" Tigerkit's young mind scrambled to make sense of the conversation unfolding in front of her.
"Do you remember the prophecy we whispered to you just two moons ago?" Bluestar said softly. Tigerkit shook her head, then paused to think. This moor did look rather familiar…
And with a shock she remembered the dream she had of that dark gray tabby who told her the words of a prophecy she couldn't understand. She looked around, but the gray tabby was nowhere to be seen.
"Yes."
"Well," Bluestar began slowly, "You see-"
"This is taking too long." Yellowfang rolled her eyes, stepping forward. "You've been chosen. This prophecy has not been given to you lightly."
"Chosen?" Tigerkit squeaked.
"Yellowfang!" Bluestar shouldered in front of the gray she-cat, her blue eyes flashing.
"She is four moons old, she is old enough to understand," Yellowfang said shortly. "I was when I was a kit."
Firestar glanced at the two she-cats for a moment before stepping forward.
"Tigerkit, you've been chosen by StarClan for a very important job. We are here to help prepare you."
"What am I supposed to do? Do I have to be a medicine cat, because the herbs make me sneeze," Tigerkit said quickly.
Firestar purred with amusement, then sobered. "No. You don't have to do anything just yet. Get older, train hard. But beware of the choices you make. We would not tell such a young kit this unless we had to." Firestar's eyes grew softer when he saw the terrified look Tigerkit gave him.
"You won't be alone," he said. "For now, be the best warrior you can be. We will always be looking out for you."
Yellowfang and Bluestar, who had been watching the exchange closely, nodded.
Tigerkit took a deep breath. "Okay." The cats before her started to fade, the grass and blue sky showing behind them.
"Wait! Will Applekit be okay?" Tigerkit mewed.
Bluestar dipped her head. "Just wake up and see for yourself."
Tigerkit jerked awake suddenly, shooting up from her nest. Marshkit and Goldenkit, who were also awake, gave her a strange look. And, right behind them, was Applekit blinking with clear blue eyes. Though a small cough shook her body, she looked much better than she had before Tigerkit fell asleep.
Tigerkit started to purr, but when she tried to stand up, she found her body still rather weak. In StarClan, she hadn't felt sick anymore.
In StarClan. Tigerkit could hardly believe the dream she had just had. She struggled to retain every bit of it, holding on the hazy scraps left over. She remembered seeing the old ThunderClan leader, Firestar, along with the old grouchy Yellowfang and noble Bluestar. And the strange prophecy she had gotten two moons ago now echoed in her head clearly.
Beware the night brought on by the swiftness of eagle's wings.
As Poppyclaw started to fuss over the sick kits again, Tigerkit pushed away the prophecy. No sense in worrying about it now. She bent her head to lick up the herbs that Poppyclaw had set in front of her, wincing at the bitter taste. All she had to do now was get better. She had to become an apprentice!