Chapter 8
Dovewing watched Lionblaze stomp away, her former mentor's bright golden pelt turning yellow in the lush sunlight. The soft scent of damp fern preached at her muzzle, and it was mingled with the scents of Clan cats.
'Is Lionblaze really not afraid?' She thought. Shaking the thought away, Dovewing murmured her goodbye's to Jayfeather, and left for the nursery, fearful thoughts piercing her mind endlessly. Suddenly, a wave of protection washed over her- protection for her kits. And Dovewing curled her tail around her stomach. As Dovewing squeezed through the milk-scented nursery, she made out the dim outline of her dark gray friend, Cinderheart. The gray queen had had kits a few moons ago, and they were as energetic as possible. And they dashed up towards Dovewing when she appeared. Dovewing purred affectionately, nuzzling the tiny kits with her muzzle. But her affectionate love for her friends kits were abruptly interrupted as the sound of footsteps flooded into her sensitive ears. Dovewing snapped her head up, startling the tiny kits under her, and she dashed off to alert Jayfeather, forcing her swollen belly to not slow her down, and started to scream as she neared the medicine cat den.
"Jayfeather! Jayfeather!" Clan cats were turning their gazes towards Dovewing, one by one, but Dovewing brushed her embarrassment away. 'I have more important things right now!' And she halted abruptly inside the medicine cat den, spraying debris all over the herbs Jayfeather had been sorting.
"My herbs!" Jayfeather snapped, turning his blind blue gaze towards her.
"We have more important things to worry about!" Dovewing retorted. And she noticed Jayfeather's ear fur twitch, and his gaze turned serious. Taking that as a signal to speak, Dovewing rushed out what she had to say, as though she had no end to her breath.
"Cats are coming, and familiar scents, and their coming to ThunderClan!" She took breaks in between her words, listening and scenting every now and then. Jayfeather stared at Dovewing, dumbfounded, and for a second, Dovewing was going to ask if he could see the danger, but she didn't. Suddenly, an unbelievably familiar scent touched her nose. Faint, but strong. And immediately fear convulsed through her body.
'Darkstripe!' Suddenly, cats streamed into the ThunderClan camp- but they were not ThunderClan. Sandstorm waddled out of the Elders Den, rasping out a loud mew.
"What's going on!" The elder screeched. Clan cats were rushing out of their dens now, like tidal waves. Their claws unsheathed and teeth bore. Dovewing approached cautiously, and realized they were WindClan. Shock pulsed through her, and she tried to ease her rising hairs.
"Attack!" Dovewing snapped her gaze towards to voice- to find Onestar. 'Why would he attack!?' She fretted silently. But she was interrupted by the wave of cats flooding in the clearing, slashing and hissing endlessly.
'Is this ThunderClan's fate?'
