Chapter 11

A Cold Darkness

I walked back to the camp, feeling stiff from training with Crowfrost and Owlclaw. A quarter moon had passed since I had the dream with Hawkfrost, and I had been training with him in that strange clearing in the darkened woods in my dreams while also keeping on top of my apprentice chores. Applefur wasn't with me as she had already needed to leave for the moonhigh patrol. Morning light was barely peeking over the treetops when I watched the gray and black figure of Shrewfoot approach us.

Owlclaw tilted his head at the she-cat. "What's up?"

"Applefur's patrol found a ThunderClan apprentice was brought in just last night!" She reported to the brown warrior with widened yellow eyes, jerking her head in the direction of a newly made makeshift den next to the warrior's den. I stood on my tiptoes to look over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of silver fur shimmering in between the bracken.

"I think her name is Ivypaw," Olivenose spoke as the tortoiseshell approached us with a flicked red ear and looked between each of us. "Want to see her?"

If it was a ThunderClan cat, then I was certainly curious. I glanced at the fresh-kill pile and gave a shrug. "Sure, I just got back from training, I wouldn't mind talking with her for a bit."

I slipped my way past Olivenose and Owlclaw to make my way over to the fresh-kill pile. It was measly to say the least, only a few scrawny squirrels, a newt, and two mice. I crinkled my nose at the slim pickings, wondering what a ThunderClan cat would even like. After a minute of deliberation, I plucked a shriveled mouse from the top of the pile and padded my way toward where Starlingpaw was standing in front of the makeshift bracken den where the prisoner was being kept.

Inside, Ivypaw was crouched and barely cast a glance at me. I eyed her, noticing that she already had a multitude of scars and wounds littering her body. For an apprentice, I found it odd that she was already covered in so many battle scars despite being so young. I nodded to Starlingpaw who stepped aside as I placed the mouse down in front of the ThunderClan cat's paws. "Eat this," I instructed.

Ivypaw sniffed and barely looked at the prey offered to her. "Thanks." She mumbled.

Does she not like it? Are ThunderClanners really that picky?

"I don't know why you're giving her food," Starlingpaw scowled in Ivypaw's direction. "She was trying to steal ours."

Ivypaw's ears folded back at the remark. "I crossed the border by mistake."

Starlingpaw scoffed, causing a chortle out from me. "Yeah, right." The tom mewed with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

I sat myself down next to the ginger apprentice, curling my tail over my paws. "Has she been giving you much trouble?"

Starlingpaw shook his head. "Just being a burr in my fur, that's it."

I chuckled once again until I heard Ivypaw speak from behind us with annoyance seeping into her tone, "What exactly do you think I'm going to do? Attack the warriors' den and take over the camp?"

Starlingpaw and I exchanged a glance before he looked over his shoulder to her. "Who knows what you're planning? ThunderClan cats are known for being sneaky."

"ThunderClan? Sneaky?" I heard a scoff come from her, but she didn't speak any more. I watched as she settled onto her belly and began eating the mouse. I pricked my ears up when I heard he sounds of the camp beginning to stir. It was dawn, after all. It wouldn't be long before I'd have to go take my rest and Rowanclaw would begin assigning patrols.

I watched as two kits tumbled out of a small hole in the bramble wall. "Come on, Dewkit!" A brown tabby tom kit named Sparrowkit emerged from the den, tumbling in front of his mother and sisters.

"What?" His littermate—a gray she-kit named Dewkit—stared at him.

The tabby dashed across the clearing. "Race you to the dirtplace!"

"That's cheating!" Dewkit pelted after him.

A third kit fell out of the brambles. "Wait for me!" She landed and stared after them, eyes wide. My heart wrenched for the tiny Mistkit, she was so tiny compared to her siblings.

"Don't worry," The dark gray tabby form of Kinkfur slid out from the nursery after Mistkit. The queen moved down to gently lap at the top of her daughter's head. "We'll catch up to them together." She headed after them, Mistkit trotting at her side. The kit's pale gray pelt was as spiky as a pinecone, much like her mother's fur. When they reached the far end of the clearing, they ducked into a tunnel and disappeared from view.

I felt my heart swell with emotion as I watched the camp slowly come to life. Snowbird and Olivenose shared a vole while Cederheart and Tallpoppy quietly commented on the snowy weather. Soon, I watched as Rowanclaw emerged Blackstar's den with the leader standing at his side. Rowanclaw lifted his chin and called to the Clan, "Let all those ready to hunt gather for patrol."

Pelts swarmed around him. I decided to stay rooted to where I was, since I was still tired after returning from moonhigh training. "Not wanting to hunt?" Starlingpaw asked me quietly.

I shook my head. "No, I just got back from training. I need to rest before I do much more. I just came by because I wanted to say hi and see how you were doing."

"Ratscar, Scorchfur, Snowbird, and Applefur." Rowanclaw nodded to each one. "You will lead the hunting patrols today. Redwillow, you take the border patrol. Tigerheart, Shrewfoot, and Crowfrost"—he flicked his tail—"you'll be coming with me."

Tawnypelt flicked her tail. "The snow has drifted over the training ground," she reported. "We need to find a more sheltered clearing, or else train in camp."

Rowanclaw nodded. "If anyone finds a suitable training area, let me know. Until then, battle training will take place here."

I twisted my attention to the dirtplace tunnel when I watched Sparrowkit and his siblings burst from it with Kinkfur trailing behind. "Is that strange cat still here?" Sparrowkit squeaked. "The one Tigerheart brought back last night?"

I saw several of the warriors turn their attention to where Sparrowkit was watching us. I blinked in surprise but I stepped aside to allow them to see the silver ThunderClanner standing tall and proud in the bramble den.

It was silent until Rowanclaw decidedly spoke, moving to the center of the clearing. "Tigerheart found a ThunderClan apprentice inside our scent line last night," he announced.

Pelts bristled behind him.

"Was she alone?" Ratscar demanded.

"The patrol didn't find any other cats," Rowanclaw answered. "No warrior scent has been found."

"Are you sure?" Olivenose flattened her ears. "They could be trying to take more of our territory!"

"We're not!" Ivypaw called out from behind me and Starlingpaw.

Starlingpaw turned on her, bristling. "Be quiet!"

Tawnypelt moved away from the other cats to stand near the den entrance. She flicked her tail and turned around to face her Clanmates. "She's just an apprentice." She pointed out.

Rowanclaw sat down and wrapped his tail over his paws. "We're holding her for now," he meowed. "No doubt ThunderClan will look for her soon. Until then, she's no threat."

I could hear Starlingpaw grunt in objection and hang his head. "Yeah, no threat."

Rowanclaw flexed his claws. "The patrols must leave," he ordered. "We can't waste hunting time."

Ratscar, Scorchfur, Snowbird, and Applefur began to weave among their Clanmates, assembling their patrols. Within moments they were thundering through the brambles, out into the pine forest. I turned to look at Starlingpaw as I dipped my head, standing up. "I'm going to see if Flametail needs anything before I head to sleep."

"You've been spending a lot of time with him, are you feeling okay?"

I nodded. "I'm fine, he's just been really busy I've noticed. Littlecloud's still sick, so I've been helping him all that I can."

Starlingpaw's face twisted into concern. "Just be careful not to burn yourself out." He warned gently.

I flicked some snow that remained on my tail. "Don't fret, I'm going to be fine." I turned to walk away from the bramble den just as I began hearing the excited squeals of Kinkfur's kits visiting Ivypaw. I let the tiredness in my paws carry me to the medicine den. I poked my head through the brambles and saw Littlecloud sorting herbs. "Feeling better?" I asked.

He perked his head up to face me before he nodded. "My fever's gone down, and my cough's not as frequent. Be sure to not disturb Flametail, though. He gathered borage with Pinepaw and then stayed awake all night tending to Cederheart's cough."

I looked across the array of herbs in front of him. "Understood, I'll leave him be. Anything I can help with?"

Littlecloud inspected me before he pointed to a bundle of stalks and leaves. "Yes, you can start by plucking off the dead leaves on the coltsfoot. That would be a big help to us."

I looked to the plant and padded my way to the bundle. I separated the stalks with my paws and picked apart any of the dying, brown and withered leaves from the yellow flowers. The two of us worked in silence, not speaking to one another as I let my mind get lost in thought. What if Littlecloud wasn't getting better? What if we couldn't get that catmint we needed for him? What if he dies?

My heart fell low at the thought. If he died, that would leave Flametail as the sole medicine cat. The overworked tom would surely die from exhaustion! On top of that, he already has multitudes of prophecies and omens to concern himself over. I've seen the dull glint of weariness reflecting in his eyes when he talked to me. Every day, he grew weaker. He couldn't keep doing this to himself.

I was about to voice my concerns for Flametail's health to Littlecloud until a terrified shriek shook the air. My fur spiked up from terror as I dropped the coltsfoot and looked to the direction of Flametail's nest past the curtains of ferns and moss. Flametail was standing in his nest, eyes widened and his pelt sticking out in all directions. He hobbled to his paws and bolted past the two of us. Without hesitation, I chased after him into the camp. Flametail's tail was shuddering from terror as he was panting for breath, trying to catch some air.

"What is it?" Tawnypelt asked as the tortoiseshell raced to her son in concern.

"Darkness!" Flametail gasped as I tried to approach him. "A cold, sucking darkness."

His gaze was glazed over and black with utter terror, I could barely even recognize him. The scent of fear rolled off of him in waves. My chest lurched as I stepped closer to him, swallowing hard.

Blackstar thundered toward the medicine cat, just having emerged from his den. His eyes were wide and concerned. "What's the matter?"

Flametail's gaze fixed on his leader. "There is a great darkness coming," he hissed. "I've felt it, all around me. It will engulf ShadowClan like an endless wave and suck us down to our doom."

Blackstar thrust his face closer. "What can we do?"

His voice was wavering, nearly unrecognizable. "We must prepare to fight. StarClan was right. We are alone, and we must fight for our lives!"

My paws were shaking. I didn't recognize him, this wasn't the Flametail I had grown close to. Not only as a confidant, but as someone I was destined to protect. "Who? Who must we fight?" I found myself asking as I tried to swallow the rising lump in my throat.

Flametail shook his head. "I couldn't see."

"It must be the other Clans," Blackstar snarled. "If StarClan says we fight alone, it must be them that we fight!"

Flametail straightened up, calmness flooding his mew. "The greatest battle in the history of the Clans is coming, and we must prepare to meet it."

I looked at him, the medicine cat and I locked gazes. Our destinies were twisted into one thing, whether or not we liked it. A hollow feeling took over my body. Why would StarClan want us separated? The more he spoke, the more distant I began to feel from him. He believed so firmly that we must stand alone, but I knew that couldn't be the answer, not when I was given the chance to try and unite the Clans.

The warmth I once felt from standing next to him was quickly fading away.