Chapter 10:
Tigercloud staggered over to the warriors' den after staying up all night guarding the clan while sitting vigil. She was exhausted and couldn't wait to fall into her new nest. The day before her naming ceremony, she and Willowmist had picked a nest for her to sleep in. Tigercloud was so thankful that Foxfur had agreed not to put her on a morning patrol so she could sleep. Tigercloud laid down in her new nest and closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to come. She felt herself slowly drift downwards into dream land.
She looked around the dark and gloomy camp. Tigercloud recognized it as the ShoalClan camp. She had been there once before to try to talk to Leopardpaw, but she hadn't seen her. The camp was vacant and had an erie glow around everything she saw. In the middle of the camp, there was a queen. She was heavily pregnant and looked like she was in labor. Tigercloud padded over to her. She recognized her sister, Leopardpaw. But she's only an apprentice! Tigercloud thought.
The cat pushed out two tiny bundles of wet fur. Then, she lay lifeless, staring at the sky, her eyes full of dull pain. The two kits squirmed at the curve of her limp belly, struggling to find milk that wasn't there. Tigercloud tried to pad over to the tiny kits, but her paws were stuck. She couldn't move, and watched the kits fall down a deep, dark pit.
Tigercloud woke up, her heart racing. The dream had seemed so, real. Tigercloud tried to shake that feeling as she padded out of the warriors' den to a bright, new day.
