Goldendapple padded into a forest clearing, the sky above her dark with heavy clouds. She shivered as a cold breeze blew past her, wishing that she was still asleep. Unfortunately, She thought, crossly flicking an ear, That spoiled runt is determined to put me on every single hunting patrol there is. Shaking her pelt, the young molly gave herself a few quick licks to smooth her chest fur. Maybe this is revenge for laughing at her in the medicine cat den, even though Snowberry laughed as well. Goldendapple thought, then glumly hung her head.
Snowberry. It had been two days since Goldendapple had witnessed Redjaw's death and the camp hadn't returned to normal. Many were still tiptoeing around Whiteleaf and Snowberry, trying to act normal. But many still smiled too much, spoke too brightly, and stared at Snowberry's scarred cheek. Rabbitear had told me what had happened while I went on patrol. She thought, I'm glad that I left when I did though. I would've hated having to see that.
Goldendapple sat herself down, feeling tired and heavy. Oh Starclan, she rested a paw over her belly, which had gotten larger, how can I keep this up? I'm no good at hunting when I feel as if I have rocks in my belly. Sighing, she raised her paw and licked it, drawing it over her ears. She lifted her nose to the air and scented the air. Thrush. She heard something scrabbling behind her. Turning slowly, she saw a thrush shifting through fallen leaves, looking for something to eat. Dropping into a crouch, Goldendapple paced forward, slowly. The thrush had found a worm, and it was trying to yank it out of the ground. Goldendapple shifted her haunches slightly, tucking her legs under her. The thrush pulled the worm out of the soil, and began to spread its wings. Now! Goldendapple lept, landing on the bird with an audible thump. She quickly pinned it to the ground and nipped its neck. It went limp.
Finally! Carefully, she lifted the dead bird off of the ground. Now, I can go and find Oakclaw and Oatpaw. She trotted quickly, the thrush heavy in her jaws. I hope that they haven't been waiting too long. She saw them in front of her, sitting in a small clearing. In front of them laid a decent amount of prey. Two mice and two squirrels. And all I've got is this thrush. She lifted her tail in greeting.
Oakclaw gently nodded his head in greeting. "Glad to see you made it back in one piece." He stood and stretched his back, a yawn escaping his jaws, "Alright, let's make our way back. Oatpaw, you did very well today." He grabbed two mice by their tails and walked off. Oatpaw grabbed his two skinny squirrels and trotted after him, struggling to keep his head up. Goldendapple padded quietly after them, admiring the quiet forest, with only the sounds of a few birds and the leaves under her paws.
They arrived at the slope soon, carefully walking down with their jaws aching. Goldendapple padded into camp, eager to deposit her prey. Well, at least it isn't too skinny. She dropped it onto the pile. Oatpaw dropped his squirrels on top.
"Ugh, do squirrels ever wash their pelts?" He spat on the ground, rubbing his tongue over his teeth.
Oakclaw deposited his prey. "They do. Yours are just dirty because you dragged them half of the way here." He shook his head, "After you catch your breath, go and take some prey to the elders." He padded off.
Oatpaw looked at his paws. "I didn't know that they would be so heavy." Goldendapple rested her tail on his back, "Don't worry about my dad. He's just big on respecting your prey. It's what makes him such a fast hunter." She smiled gently at him, " And when I was your age, I could hardly carry a single skinny squirrel. You're going to be a big warrior." Oatpaw smiled at her, "Thanks Goldendapple." he grabbed one of his squirrels and a mouse and walked off to the elder's den.
Oakclaw ought to ease up on him. Goldendapple sat back on her haunches and sighed as she relaxed. Finally that's all done. Maybe I can go and rest for a bit, or I could go and talk with Sunnose. Or, I could - "Ah, Goldendapple. How did you do on the patrol?" Nevermind. Turning, she sneered as Moonpatch padded towards her, the dark molly's head down low and her green eyes shining.
Goldendapple turned her back on her and lifted her nose to the air. "It went fine. Everyone caught something." Moonpatch bristled behind her. "But you only caught one thing. You were out hunted by an apprentice!" She hissed. Goldendapple whirled around and spat at the smaller cat. "We split up. I clearly went to an area with less prey. You should be glad that I caught anything at all!" Moonpatch arched her back, her sage-green eyes a cold fiery blaze. "You're on patrol later with me and Yewspots. It seems that I'll have to watch you to make sure that you aren't eating prey while you're out." Goldendapple lashed her tail and paced forward, hissing and spitting, "You rotting piece of foxdung. Who are you to question me?!" Moonpatch spat at Goldendapple's paws, clawing the ground in front of her, "I am your deputy, you fat frog!" A yowl broke the air. But it didn't belong to either of the two furious mollies in the clearing.
It came from the nursery.
Both of them stepped back from each other and watched as Bonepaw and Snowberry charged into the nursery, their jaws laden with leaves. Sunnose and Yewspots leapt forward, racing for the nursery. Marigoldtail stepped in front of them.
"You can't go in there. You'll only make her panic."Marigoldtail soothed, nudging and guiding the two cats back. Sunnose relented first, his head low. Yewspots followed, her tail lashing. Spiderstar exited her den, lifting her nose to the sky, where clouds heavy with water hung. "Kits born during a rainy evening. What a blessing! May they be delivered swiftly and be born of good health." The cats in the clearing yowled their agreements, none louder than Yewspots and Sunnose.
…
…
So much for being born quickly, Goldendapple pressed her paws over her ears, trying to block out the pained moans of Rabbitear. I guess I won't be able to rest tonight. It had been only a little bit after what was sunhigh when the kitting had started. Now, what little light there was had begun to disappear behind the barrier of clouds. Goldendapple padded out of the warriors den and trotted over to where Sunnose and Yewspots were huddled together, their tails twitching nervously. Yewspots was sheathing and unsheathing her claws, leaving marks in the dirt.
"Mind if I sit with you two?" Yewspots and Sunnose looked at her, their pelts bristling slightly as a cold wind blew past them. "Yes, of course." Yewspots shifted closer to Sunnose, making room for Goldendapple. She sat down, pressing closer to the black tortoiseshell as another stiff wind blew past them. A low moan broka from the nursery, making Sunnose and Yewspots press closer together. I better distract them. "So, what do you guys think the kits will look like?"
Yewspots stayed focused on her paws, "Well, they won't look like me, but I would have to guess that they'll be either tabbies or torties." Sunnose nodded, "I don't care what they look like, as long as they're born healthy." Goldendapple smiled, "That's a good way to see it. These kits are the blessing that Thunderclan needs." Yewspots and Sunnose nodded, purring in satisfaction. A yowl split the air, and the trio flattened their ears, Sunnose ducking his head in Yewspots chest. But, a small airy cry followed. Sunnose lifted his head and Yewspots stared at the nursery, wide-eyed. Oh stars, Goldendapple tilted her head, mystified, is that...?
Bonepaw poked his head out. "It's a tom!" he yowled, "And a big one too!" Yowls of congratulations filled the air. Sunnose and Yewspots ran to the nursery, but Bonepaw blocked them. "She's not done yet. But it should go faster now." He ducked back in. Sunnose and Yewspots stayed where they were, Yewspots pacing. "Oh stars," she hissed, "why can't those kits hurry up?!" Moonpatch trotted out of the space between the warriors den and the apprentice's den, her tail held up high as she approached Yewspots. "Congratulations. Yewspots, join me on a hunting patrol. You should try to focus that nervous energy elsewhere." Yewspots looked at the black and white molly, her eyes flashing from the deputy to the nursery. Finally, she dipped her head. "I will join you. I can do nothing but worry for her here, but I could at least go catch her a mouse." Moonpatch nodded. "Thank you."
The small molly looked over to where Goldendapple lay, her eyes narrowing upon sight of the gold and tan molly. "You too, Goldendapple" She swiftly turned and marched towards the camp entrance not waiting to see if Goldendapple was even following. Oh starclan, Goldendapple thought as she stiffly stood up from where she lay, please let me catch something so I can shove it in her face. Swiftly, Goldendapple trotted after the other mollies, just as heavy raindrops began to fall.
…
…
Goldendapple threw herself at the squirrel, but her paws slipped in the drenched earth beneath her, causing her to land heavily onto the ground, her pelt beyond soaked. Yewspots gave chase, her paws splashing with every step, keeping the smaller animal away from the trees. Moonpatch lept, landing gracefully on the prey and nipped its neck, disposing of it quickly. She threw it to the sodden ground.
"This is the first piece of prey that we have found all patrol, and you almost lost it for us." She hissed, glaring at Goldendapple. Goldendapple met her straight on.
"I slipped. In case you haven't noticed, this clearing that you lead us to is just one big puddle." She spat, her wet fur spiked. Thunder roared over them. Of course this stupid minnow-brain would make us hunt during a storm. Yewspots stepped between them.
"Your fighting does nothing. We are lucky to have found this prey at all." Moonpatch snorted. Oh yeah, that's super attractive. Goldendapple looked away, quickly giving her fawn pelt a few licks. Yewspots sighed. "I'm going to head back. You two can stay out here and bicker all you want, but Snowberry will be rather cross if you both catch colds." The dark molly grabbed the squirrel and trotted off.
As soon as the sound of Yewspots pawsteps faded, Moonpatch was hissing. "What is going on with you?! You were a great hunter only a half moon ago and now you're as graceful as a lopsided badger!" Goldendapple turned and glared at Moonpatch, summoning all the hate that she could. "At least I don't act like a badger! You've always been bad tempered, acting like you have a stick so far up your rear that even starclan couldn't remove it!" She arched her back, her tan and gold fur spiked. The two mollies moved backwards, away from the treeline and into the opening, rain drenching both of them.
Moonpatch swelled up, growling and snarling, "At least I'm not stuck up! You've always acted like a gift from starclan, gracing us with your presence!" Thunder boomed closer and lighting followed, but Goldendapple didn't care. "Oh give me a break you rotted worm-brain! You've always acted like you were above everybody! Above me, above your sister, and above the clan! You only care for yourself!" Moonpatch paced forward, the blaze in her green eyes crackling with the lighting that lit up the sky. "At least I'm not betraying my clan by sneaking out to eat kittypet food at night!" What?
Goldendapple faltered. "What are you talking about, you fox heart?" Moonpatch growled, thunder booming behind her, "I know that you left at some point during your sentry duty. I don't see you eat as often, yet you grow bigger. You tuck your tail over your belly constantly, and you've pulled yourself away from your clan!" She thinks that I'm secretly a kittypet. What an idiot. "That's not true!" Lighting cracked as Moonpatch leapt, bowling Goldendapple over, her paws pressed onto her belly. The dark molly opened her mouth to yowl something at Goldendapple, but Goldendapple had let instinct overtake her. With all her might, she pushed Moonpatch off of her, throwing her off. Moonpatch landed with a thud , knocking the wind out of her. Goldendapple leapt, snarling and screeching, clawing Moonpatch's cheek.
"Ow!" Moonpatch groaned, thunder pounding overhead. She lifted her paw to her cheek, and drew it back when she felt the warmth of the blood. She looked at Moonpatch in shock, the gold and tan molly still baring her fangs and arching her back, looking beyond feral. She had her tail tucked protectively over her belly.
"Y-you clawed me." Moonpatch stood, her eyes wide. "I didn't even nip you and you clawed me!" She hissed, her glare returning. Goldendapple scored the earth below her as lighting shone above her, thunder following right behind. "And I'll do it again if you ever threaten me or my kits." Moonpatch stopped, once more looking stupefied. "You're pregnant?"
Yewspots burst into the clearing, causing both mollies to leap in surprise. Her eyes were wide and her pelt was spiked.
"Thank all the stars that I found you two! Hurry, Shellstar is at the camp right now and he's brought almost his entire clan. It's war!"
Wow, what a chapter. It's certainly a little bit shorter than I would have wanted, but I can live with that.
Question of the chapter- What do you think the kits will look like?
