We've finally reached a little five-chapter milestone (If you count the allegiances and small chapter)! Hopefully as I slowly get back into writing this will actually get updated more than once a blue moon.
We have also gotten over five hundred views on this story already, despite it being only a few thousand words so far. So two two mini milestones :D
And, I have been unable to think of a decent little cover for this, so for now the story will have to go without a cover. Though it's coming! Someday.
Final thing, I have set a schedule for this and the other story I'm working on. PitW will get updated on hopefully a Monday, Thursday and Sunday, the DotC one being done on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
As this is a little more popular (views-per-chapter wise) this will be updated a little more than the other.
Happy AN over and onto the chapter.
Chapter Four
Imminent Doom
"Yellowtail! Yellowtail! Yellowtail!" The clan yowled towards the darkening skies. Ceremonies typically happened around sunrise and sunset, 'Due to the milder temperature' Echostar had said. Petalkit just thought that their leader secretly liked the pretty views. Not that she would say that to him.
Several moons had passed since the rather weird dream, and the voice had gone. Vanishing as soon as she woke up.
Of course, she didn't miss it, but it was strange playing games with the others without being forced into anything. Despite the fact that she hadn't 'assaulted', as her siblings called it, another for a few moons, Brackenkit still treated her with an unsure wariness, Ivykit as blunt and fake as always.
Still, only four moons or so until their apprentice. The older kits, Sweetkit and Shykit, had only a moon to go. The she-kit being a tad too irritating, and the tom keeping whatever excitement he felt to himself. As usual.
"Brackenkit, Petalkit." Ivykit was slipping out of the cluster of cats towards a deserted area, calling their names in a hushed tone.
What does she want? Petalkit wondered to herself, instinctively following their mini-leader. It wasn't often that she was being called to join a game.
"Bluemoon said that we have to stay through the entire ceremony. You heard her say that." Petalkit winced as her words came out a little bossier than they were meant to. She wasn't trying to act like a boring, perfect kit, but she definitely sounded like one.
"I have a way to congratulate Yellowpaw on her-"
"Yellowtail." Petalkit interrupted Ivykit, wondering if she had even been listening to the ceremony.
"What?" Ivykit looked genuinely confused, though it quickly gave way to irritation at being interrupted whilst explaining her 'master plan'.
"Yellowtail," The sandy she-kit repeated, "Her warrior name."
"Whatever. Anyway, I know the perfect way to congratulate Yellowtail." Ivykit finished, emphasising the warrior's prefix, deliberately.
"What?" Brackenkit finally spoke, hazel eyes betraying his interest in whatever this idea was.
"We stick thorns in her nest!" Ivykit's eyes shone as she finally said what she had been dying to share.
The tom-kit looked horrified at her declaration, "We can't do that!"
Petalkit feigned a yawn, "If you want to prank Yellowtail, at least think of a decent idea."
Obviously offended at having her idea shot down, Ivykit glared at Petalkit, "Well, what's your idea?" She spat, still managing to keep her voice lowered.
Secretly, she had no idea, disagreeing with Ivykit on impulse. "Come with me and I'll show you." She began heading off, hoping to get inspired by something.
Ivykit huffed but began trailing behind after ensuring that they weren't being watched by the other kits. Sweetkit was known for being a tell-tale at times.
They headed away from the camp towards a more grassy part of the desert, Petalkit enjoying reigning over the others for a few sweet moments.
"How about..cactus spines!" Petalkit's gaze landed on a rather large cactus, covered in a prickly exterior. It would be a pain, quite literally, to remove the spines but they were far more prickly than a thorny bush. Many cats had small scars from trying to get some of the water from inside and slipping, or treading on a spine. The she-kit winced at the thought, but refused to backtrack.
Ivykit seemed reluctant, either due to disliking her sibling, or the risk of removing the spines, to respond. Though, her reply was worth the short wait, "Fine."
Brackenkit froze, gaze staring towards the thick grass. Petalkit shouldered past her brother, "Come on, scaredy-kit." She teased him, unable to see anything where he was looking.
He seemed more than happy to get away, joining Ivykit in tugging out the spines.
What had unnerved the young kit? Petalkit found herself drawn to the 'site of imminent doom', unable to shake off a feeling of being observed.
Get away!
A shrill yowl made her jump, and she turned sharply to see if the others had heard the warning. It was a surprise to see them both, even Brackenkit, oblivious to the cry. It seemed that her strange voices had returned. Brilliant.
She opened her jaws to call and warn the others. If there really was something there, then they had to run.
Leave them and go!
Petalkit flattened her ears, torn between disobeying whoever was warning her, and getting her siblings to safety. She may have disliked them both, Ivykit especially, but she didn't want them to die!
She had dithered for a moment too long. With a blood-curdling, and rather high-pitched, howl, a gingery canine emerged from the bushes, running straight for the kits, another following behind.
Brackenkit was quickly off, pelting towards the direction of the camp. He wasn't good at many things, the cowardly tom, but he really could run.
One followed quickly after the departing kit, both coyotes communicating in a series of barks and howls. The other turned towards Ivykit, who quickly began moving away from the cactus towards Petalkit, her tail almost doubling in size.
It all came in slow motion. The coyote lunged, crashing onto Ivykit, seizing the terrified she-kit in its jaws, shaking her like a ragdoll. Ivykit began struggling, giving a deafening screech that suddenly became ominously silent as the snarling coyote dropped the limp frame. Her beautiful pelt was impossible to distinguish. Everything was red. Far too red.
Petalkit was unable to move, trembling as she observed the horror in front of her, eyes wide.
Leave her!
The voice came again, sounding more exasperated than anything.
"My kit!" Relief coursed through the young kit as Briarfoot raced towards the scene, following Hawktalon and Sorrelrunner.
Seeming to not notice her shaking frame hidden in the grass, he joined the others in fighting off the coyote, who was in no mood to leave.
Hawktalon, who appeared to be leading the attack, leapt towards the coyote's face, clinging as blood welled up, inevitably blinding the aggressive canine. It gave a yelp, rapidly shaking its head and stepping backwards, trying to get rid of the attacker who brought on this pain.
Briarfoot grabbed Ivykit, scanning around briefly before finally noticing the hidden kit and quickly heading over. He gave a flick of his tail, silently signalling for the traumatised she-kit to follow behind.
Petalkit daren't ask if she was dead until they got back. Both were placed in the medicine cat den, even though she had not been harmed.
"Is she.." Her voice faded to silence, unable to say aloud her fears. Really, she expected her to be dead, but optimism, however little, kept her hoping that despite the odds, Ivykit was alive. Sure, her sibling had many, many flaws, but she would never wish harm on even her worst enemy.
"Yes."
It was such a simple word, but Petalkit was unable to hold back a small, delighted purr that quickly petered out as Nightbreeze's serious expression didn't change.
"What's wrong with her?" Petalkit was openly pleading. "Surely whatever's wrong isn't worse than death itself."
"That's true." The medicine-cat gave a slight smile, "If you really want to know. Your sister has a high chance of suffering long term affects from the attack, such as disability and breathing problems. And that's if she manages to survive." It was known that Nightbreeze was perhaps a little too honest with the younger members of the clan when it came to explaining things, but Petalkit didn't care. She didn't want to be kept in the dark about this.
"And..And is Brackenkit okay?"
"We don't know." Was Nightbreeze's response, her gaze revealing worry and concern for the tom.
"What does that mean?" Petalkit didn't understand. Either he was okay, like herself, or he wasn't, like Ivykit.
"Petalkit, your brother hasn't come back."