Chapter 10

Blossomstorm watched fondly as Darkkit blinked open his eyes for the first time. His emerald green eyes slowly focused onto his mother's proud face. Amberkit was the first to see, followed by Dawnkit and Darkkit. "M-Mother?" Squeaked Darkkit.

Blossomstorm nodded, "Yes, you are Darkkit!"

Darkkit squealed with delight as Amberkit leapt on him playfully. "Sootkit, why don't you go and show these three around the camp!"

Sootkit nodded at Blossomstorm, and beckoned the kits after him. Blossomstorm sunk into her nest peacefully. "What brings you here Darkstar?"

Blossomstorm's eyes snapped open, and she pushed her way out of the nursery. Darkstar was standing in the center of the camp, Darkkit and Dawnkit prancing about his paws curiously. "Kits! Come here please!" Called Blossomstorm.

Darkstar's head snapped in the queen's direction, and his eyes glowed with pride. "Darkstar, what can I do for you?" Mistystar yowled.

The MoonClan leader dipped his head, and purred, "I am here to discuss a…mishap with you."

Mistystar's blue eyes glinted with curiosity, and she beckoned him into her den. Blossomstorm's heart began to beat. She trusted Darkstar to do the right thing, but the last thing their family needed was a war between the clans. Darkkit rolled past her with Dawnkit, and Amberkit yowled, "Hey c'mon guys that's not fair!"

Blossomstorm padded over, and sighed, "Now Darkkit, can't you and Dawnkit play nicely with your sister?"

Darkkit and Dawnkit sighed, "Yes mama."

Darkstar padded out of the leader's den, and Mistystar ordered, "If you do need back-up, send a warrior. We will be ready."

As the MoonClan leader padded off, he stopped outside the nursery. Dawnkit flew away from his brother, and landed in a heap at Darkstar's paws. The leader purred softly, and gently lifted the kit back up. "Congratulations Blossomstorm, they shall make great warriors." Darkstar nodded.

Blossomstorm dipped her head, "StarClan willing they will become the next legends of our clan."

"I know they will." The black leader blinked slowly at his mate, before bounding off in the direction of his camp.

Juniperbush trotted up as Darkstar left, and dropped a thrush at Blossomstorm's paws. "I caught this for you!" The warrior purred and licked his mate's nose.

Blossomstorm purred, "Thank you."

"Juniperbush! Look at my new battle moves!" Darkkit squeaked.

The tiny tom leapt on Amberkit, and pinned her down easily. Amberkit squeaked, "Hey! That's not funny!"

The little she-cat kicked her foot out, causing Darkkit to trip. Darkkit shrieked in surprise, and Amberkit leapt upon him. "Ha! I win!" Amberkit yowled triumphantly.

Juniperbush purred, "Well done my little warriors! You'll all be great warriors, leaders, queens, and deputies someday!"

Darkkit squirmed beneath his sister, and sneered, "I'll be the leader, Dawnkit will be the deputy, and you'll be the queen!"

Amberkit's face fell, and she pounded back to her mother. "I don't want to be a queen!" She wailed.

"You won't have to be! Not if you don't want." Blossomstorm soothed, glaring at her son furiously.

Amberkit trudged back to the nursery, and fell asleep. Blossomstorm sighed and ordered Darkkit, "When she wakes up, you are going to apologize."

The kits nodded in agreement, and continued to play. Blossomstorm purred and began to eat. As she did, Fishclaw padded up sheepishly. "Hey…did you hear about Nightcloud?"

Blossomstorm shot up, and demanded, "What?"

Fishclaw nervously mumbled, "She, uh, she's being monitored by Willowshine. She has Blackmind."

Fear and horror struck Blossomstorm deep in her heart. Apart from her kits, Nightcloud was her only kin left in the clan. Willowshine padded out of the medicine den, Ratscar at her side. "No cat is to go near Nightcloud. Do not allow her to break skin on you, or you will contract Blackmind." Willowshine explained.

Blossomstorm crouched low to the ground. Fear coursed through her, and she felt alone more than ever. Willowshine padded up, and gently asked, "Walk with me? I should explain something to you."

Blossomstorm nodded, and headed out of the camp with the medicine cat. Willowshine began, "Blackmind is a disease which corrupts the mind. It causes severe pain to the victim, and causes the victim to foam at the mouth. Now, Nightcloud is suffering. She can live out her last few moons alone, or, there's the…other option."

"What other option," Blossomstorm demanded shakily.

Willowshine sighed, and pulled a weak branch down. Attached to the branch were three, ripe, deathberries. Blossomstorm back away, "No, no! I could never…"

"Nightcloud is dying. She will only suffer more unless we stop this now!" Willowshine insisted.

Blossomstorm glanced from the deathberries to Willowshine, over and over again trying to think. Would she really murder her grandmother? Willowshine plucked the berries from the tree, and set them down at Blossomstorm's paws. "It's your choice."

Blossomstorm sat up as she heard a yowl from across the camp. "Mama, what was that?" Hissed Dawnkit nervously.

"Stay here kits." Blossomstorm murmured as she padded out.

Willowshine was collapsed in front of the elders' den, sobbing over a limp body. Nightcloud! Blossomstorm raced over, and gasped in surprise. She had decided to put Nightcloud out of her misery, and Willowshine had agreed to the task. The medicine cat was one of the strongest cats Blossomstorm had ever known, and to see her break down over a cat she could barely call a friend was strange.

"I-It's going to be okay Willowshine, you're stronger than this." Blossomstorm pointed out.

Flintfur's eyes were clouded with fear and anguish, and Mistystar demanded information from the second medicine cat. Willowshine shakily sat up, and whispered, "Nightcloud bit me…she-she gave me Blackmind…"

Blossomstorm felt her paws beginning to tremble. She had always been close to Willowshine, but now what would the medicine cat do. Blossomstorm glanced back at Nightcloud uncertainly. Foam lined the elder's jaws, and somewhat insanity still shone in her glazed amber eyes. Willowshine was struggling to stand, Mistystar demanding what should be done. "Flintfur, fetch me yew berries." Rasped Willowshine.

Flintfur flattened his ears, "N-No! Not you Willowshine…you can't…I can't…"

"Do it before the disease consumes me, and I kill you too." Willowshine hissed.

Flintfur crouched low refusing to fetch the remedy. "I'll fetch them," Offered Fishclaw uncertainly.

"They are pure red." Willowshine instructed.

The warrior slipped into the den, and then reappeared with a small bunch of berries. Deathberries. Blossomstorm gasped, "Willowshine…please don't do this!"

Willowshine blinked at her clanmates closely, and murmured, "Never lose faith in your clan Blossomstorm. I will die with the truth."

Suddenly, the medicine cat consumed three of the ripe berries. Soon after, chaos ensued. Willowshine was gagging, struggling for breath while Flintfur yowled a prayer to StarClan. Unable to go on watching, Fishclaw and Mistystar turned away. Only Blossomstorm sat, staring at the dying medicine cat. "L-Leopardstar?" Willowshine suddenly moaned before her eyes gazed and she shuddered before lying still.

Flintfur let out a small wail before burying his nose in his mentor's fur. Blossomstorm turned and padded away. This was too much, too much for her to handle. First Blossomkit, then Nightcloud, and now Willowshine. Blossomstorm sunk into her nest, and curled around her kits. "Mama, what's wrong?" Asked Amberkit.

All Blossomstorm could manage, was, "Tomorrow is another day."