Chapter Twenty-Three
Shadowheart awoke to the sound of coughing. Silverleaf flanks heaved as he sat up in his nest. Cold early morning light filtered through the den's entrance. Shadowheart frowned at the young tom. A half a moon had passed, and the harsh leaf bare winds brought greencough to the Clan. Only a few days ago, Amberfur had lost the battle with the deadly disease; and Firelight had spent most of her days grieving for the only mother she knew. Silverleaf was just the newest victim of greencough's grip. Frosttail, Sparrowsong, Larkflight, Dawnrise, Hollycloud, and Redfur had all developed greencough as well, and were sleeping in a makeshift den near the medicine cat's den.
"Silverleaf, go see Pinefrost," grumbled Timberfall, his voice sharp with irritation.
Shadowheart frowned, knowing the older tom cat was not usually sharp with his tone. However since losing his mate to greencough only a few days ago, he had been sick with grief. Silverleaf hacked a reply, staggering outside the den. Glancing back at Firelight, who was pressed close to his side, Shadowheart tried to go back to sleep as to not disturb her. When sleep didn't come, he carefully slipped away and out the den.
A thin layer of snow dusted the clearing, and nearby Shadowheart heard the mewls of the kits in the nursery. Deciding to pay his new kin a visit, he made his way over to the noisy nursery. Inside, he could see Minkkit tumbling around unsteadily on his legs as he clambered over Sandpool. Daykit sat and stared at her mother, mewing pitifully. Nearby, Ivyfrost was busy trying to keep her two daughters from running outside.
"Why can't we go out?" the pretty tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit, Dapplekit, complained.
Her littermate, Bluekit—a blue-gray she-kit—watched them both with round silver eyes. "It's because all the big cats are sick."
Ivyfrost gently pulled them both close with her tail. "Exactly. Too many warriors are sick right now, and we can't risk any sickness getting into the nursery than it already has."
Shadowheart thought of Redfur, heavily pregnant now, sick with greencough in the medicine cat den. Would her kits be okay? Shadowheart shook the dark thoughts away and glanced back over at Sandpool.
"Oh, Shadowheart," the pale ginger tabby purred. "Come to see the kits?"
Shadowheart slid into the den, sitting in front of them. "How are they? They haven't caught any of the sickness have they?"
Sandpool rolled her eyes playfully. "Honestly, you and Blackflame are such worriers! The kits are both fine, see?" she gently nudged Minkkit off her flank. "Kits, say hi to Shadowheart. He's come to see you."
Daykit turned her wide silver eyes up at him. Shadowheart purred and touched his nose to her tiny head. Minkkit tumbled over to them, swiping at Shadowheart with his wide paws.
"They are sure a pawful," Sandpool huffed, gently drawing Minkkit back and licking his head. "Soon enough they'll be big enough to go outside and see the camp for the first time."
Shadowheart purred at the thought of his brother's kits running through camp causing mischief. "I'm sure Blackflame will love chasing them around."
Eyes gleaming playfully, Sandpool gave a laugh. "Oh he better," she mewed teasingly. "I'll enjoy my breaks while he amuses them for once."
"He's a big kit himself," Shadowheart joked. "Is he out on patrol? I didn't see him in the warriors' den."
Sandpool settled herself as the kits started to nurse. "He was here not too long before you dropped by," she yawned sleepily. "I believe he was on his way to join the dawn patrol."
Dipping his head to Sandpool, he backed up out of the nursery. The camp was empty, most of the other cats either sick or sleeping. Seeing the empty fresh-kill pile, he gave a tiny sigh, his stomach rumbling. The past half moon hadn't been any better for prey, and the fresh-kill pile remained mostly empty. Any prey caught went instantly to the queens and elders.
He peered into the warriors' den, hissing Firelight's name until she woke. She blinked at him drearily. "Wha-?"
"Come on, let's go hunting," Shadowheart whispered.
Normally Firelight would complain about being woken up, however she simply just slowly got to her paws and padded out of the den without a single complaint. Shadowheart frowned at her, wondering if his friend was getting sick or just grieving. The two cats strolled out of the camp, and made their way into the forest. As they made their way through the snow, Shadowheart glanced up at the sound of a loud creak.
"Shadowheart, look out!" Firelight yowled.
Before he could react, a huge lump of snow came crashing down from the branches and onto his head. Landing on his belly with an oomph, he sat up and starting to shake the snow off his body. Firelight sat not far off, her eyes bright with amusement. He could tell by her whiskers trembling that she was trying hard not to laugh. Funny is it? Shadowheart rolled some snow under his paw. Take this! He chucked the snow at her, hitting her square in the face.
As the snow slid off, Firelight jumped at him, and the two rolled around in the snow. Shadowheart shook her off and ran ahead, being pelted with snowballs as Firelight flung them at him. He leaped behind a fallen log, and hid, peering over the top.
"Ha! Can't get me from here!" he taunted.
Firelight charged towards the log, her eyes burning with determination. "We'll see about that!"
He quickly scrabbled over the other side of the log as she leaped over it, avoiding her pounce. Sliding on the snow, he crashed over his forepaws and suddenly felt weight on his back. Firelight held him down, his muzzle in the snow.
"Give in?" she jeered.
Unable to break free, Shadowheart lay still. "I give in!" he said through muffled mews.
Letting him up, he quickly turned and pounced on her. "You fell for the oldest trick!"
"Ah!" she yelped, falling back. He held her down, his nose to hers.
"I win this time," he told her.
"Never!" Firelight yowled, kicking him with her hind paws.
As Shadowheart flew back, she tackled him and the two wrestled around the snow until they both grew too tired to fight anymore. Collapsing on the ground, he felt Firelight flop tiredly on his back. The two of them stayed like this for several moments before finally regaining the strength to stand back up.
"We should be hunting," Shadowheart reminded her, panting.
Firelight shook her fur out. "Well not here anyways. Let's go near the foggy ravine."
At the foggy ravine, Shadowheart sniffed around carefully for any signs of prey. Firelight was on the opposite end, poking through some bracken. Suddenly, a squirrel leaped down from a nearby tree and Shadowheart quickly charged after it. Chasing it towards the foggy ravine, he could barely slow down before nearly slipping off the edge. Not willing to give up the squirrel, he clasped his claws together to hold it while dangling halfway.
"Shadowheart!" Firelight ran towards him, yanking him by his tail until he was safely on the ground again.
Heart beating fast, Shadowheart glanced at the squirrel, hanging limply from his claws; scarlet drops dripping down his paws. Sitting up and dropping the squirrel at his paws, he gazed up at Firelight sheepishly.
"Are you stupid?" Firelight snarled, her eyes wide with horror, despite the anger in her voice. "You almost slid off the edge!"
"S-Sorry," Shadowheart apologized, pushing the squirrel forward. "But I did manage to catch some prey at least."
Firelight gave an exasperated hiss. "Who cares about that?" she snapped. "You could have died! Do you have any idea how-" she looked away sharply, turning her back to him.
Shadowheart stepped forward. "I'm okay, see?" he tried to reassure her. "I'm sorry I scared you, Firelight."
"I can't bear to lose another cat I care about," Firelight mewed hoarsely, head bowed. "Not so soon after...after Amberfur's death."
Coming to stand before her, he gently laid his chin on her head. Firelight closed her eyes, and the two of them stayed there for a moment. Firelight moved away, kicking the squirrel with her paw.
"I'm sorry I snapped," she said, flustered. "I just don't know what I'd do if you just suddenly vanished before my eyes. Let's take your stupid squirrel and head back."
Shadowheart purred, amused. Firelight wasn't one to get flustered over anything, though Shadowheart understood why. She nearly saw me plummet to my death, Shadowheart figured that would upset any cat. Grabbing the squirrel, the two headed back to camp.
When they approached camp, the clearing had more cats outside. Dropping the squirrel on the empty fresh-kill pile, Shadowheart sat Foxstar approaching him. Despite the lack of food, he couldn't help but notice how plump the LeafClan leader had gotten in the past moon. Firelight seemed to notice too, but her gaze was lit with surprise, and something knowing that Shadowheart didn't quite understand.
"Is that all the prey there was?" Foxstar rasped, her eyes wide.
Shadowheart dipped his head. "Yes, I'm sorry Foxstar. This was all we could find."
"The Clan will all starve at this rate," she growled under her breath. "Firelight, do you mind speaking with Pinefrost about our sick warriors? We need those who are able to go hunting."
"Sure thing, Foxstar," dipping her head respectively, she turned and bounded off the medicine cat den.
"Shadowheart," Foxstar murmured. "Come with me to my den."
Blinking, he followed the LeafClan leader. What could Foxstar possibly want to speak with him in private about? Deciding not to ponder it, he just followed her until they were sitting in her den. Foxstar seemed to settle uncomfortably in her nest, her plump belly heaving side to side.
"What is it you wanted, Foxstar?" Shadowheart asked.
Foxstar's eyes narrowed. "I'm expecting kits," she told him. "And I'm not certain how to tell the Clan."
"Kits?" Shadowheart exclaimed, shocked. "Whose kits are they?"
Closing her eyes, Foxstar looked down. "Lionclaw's."
"Can a leader have kits and still lead?" Shadowheart asked, still unable to fathom Foxstar being a mother.
Foxstar looked at him. "Of course! But," she looked at her belly. "With Hawk on the loose, this is bad timing."
"So what do we do?" Shadowheart meowed, wondering what he had to do with this.
Foxstar flicked an ear. "I was hoping one of the queen's would nurse them. I can't be a mother to these kits, not now."
"I'm certain they would, but," he got to his paws. "What does this have to do with me?"
"I want you to go to the Cavern of Stars in my place," she mewed. "Speak with StarClan. Silversky if possible. I can't make the journey like this."
Shadowheart stared at her. "But why me?"
Foxstar lashed her tail. "Because Silversky will speak to you!" she snapped. "I need guidance, and she's your mother. Go to the Moonpuddle on my behalf and speak with her. Ask her what I should do."
Feeling the weight of Foxstar's burden heavily on his shoulders, Shadowheart simply nodded. "When...When should I go?"
"Soon," she told him. "Get traveling herbs from Pinefrost and go today. You should read the Cavern of Stars before moonhigh. Bring a cat with you, since it's too dangerous to travel alone."
"I understand Foxstar," he got up and left the den.
Gazing around the camp, he caught Blackflame leaving the nursery. "Blackflame!"
His brother looked up, and pranced over to him. "Hey, Shadowheart! Sandpool told me you saw the kits today, aren't they great?" he puffed out his chest proudly.
"Yes," Shadowheart replied, quickly changing the subject. "I need to go to the Moonpuddle. Will you come with me?"
Blackflame stared at him like he sprouted two heads. "Now? In this weather and with Hawk roaming around? Why?"
"Foxstar needs me to go and try to contact Silversky," he explained. "She can't go herself for, er, reasons. So she asked me to go in her place."
"I guess so," Blackflame frowned, tilting his head. "I'd hate to leave Sandpool and the kits, but if it's that important than I guess I have too, don't I? Besides, I don't want my only brother going out and getting himself ambushed either."
Shadowheart dipped his head gratefully. "Thank you, Blackflame. I'll meet you by the hollow log."
As he made his way to the medicine den, Shadowheart could feel a darkness lingering in the shadows. Despite his best attempts to shake it off, he knew that something was due to happen soon. Whatever that was, he wasn't sure he was prepared to handle it.