Eclipse—8/9:
The old forest was smoking and sizzling in the rain, when the sun disappeared. Nettlewing rested his head against Sunpetal's, wondering how it could have gone so wrong.
"Has StarClan cursed us?" whispered his daughter Snailwhisker, looking very small with her pelt sodden against her.
One of his sons, Oakpaw, gazed worriedly at the dark sky. "Snowberry never said anything about this happening before," he said, brow furrowing. "I don't—I don't know what it means." He lapsed into silence, and Nettlewing fought to keep his anxiety at bay.
"I'm sure it can't last forever," Sparkfoot insisted, with a confidence Nettlewing was sure his son didn't truly feel.
Even Plumpaw, his spirited daughter, was looking troubled. "I hope not."
Nettlewing tilted his head up at the sky. It had been sunhigh when the lightning had struck the forest, but now the sun was gone. The sky was dark.
He swallowed.