CHAPTER 6

"We need to stop this, before it's too late," Fallowstar insisted from his perch in the Gathering tree. His words were directed mainly at Seedshine's leader: Amberstar.

The ShadowClan leader may have been young, but by no means was she stupid, and Seedshine had gained a lot of respect for her after the pragmatism and warmth she'd been shown after discovering her pregnancy as an apprentice. Amberstar had acted very motherly then, even though the beautiful, tortoiseshell she-cat had never had kits of her own, or even really showed interest in taking a mate. The compassion and wisdom she'd demonstrated were proof that she was well-suited for leadership.

Furthermore, Amberstar hadn't spoken a word about Seedshine's miscarriage at the Gathering, and for that, the grieving queen was immensely grateful. Of course, Seedshine knew that her even being invited to the Gathering was probably just another way to try to distract her from the loss she'd suffered. Nonetheless, it now just seemed characteristic of Amberstar's good judgment. As Seedshine watched her leader, she could almost see the chain of thoughts running through the prudent she-cat's head.

Sure, it was true that every clan was suffering, but ShadowClan were probably in the best shape of all of them. The other clans were clearly hungry; the ThunderClan cats were mostly skin and bones, WindClan were unhealthfully lean, and if the river still hadn't shown signs of returning to its former glory then RiverClan would be in even more trouble, especially with Whitecough in their camp. Even though ShadowClan had a bit more strength, two warriors out travelling would be more than enough for the pine forest clan to be overwhelmed should the other clans start a coup for territory. It would only take two of the other clans allying together and they would immediately have a huge advantage with their numbers, despite how much they all were currently struggling. Amberstar was being cautious, that much was very apparent. She was searching out Fallowstar's true intentions. Seedshine had seen her do this with a couple of ShadowClan toms when they had inevitably started mooning after the beautiful tortie.

After so much time spent in the medicine den, a lot of it spent watching the medicine cats go about their work, Seedshine found herself accustomed to observation, discovering that there was an art to it. She caught herself copying Amberstar, analyzing Fallowstar's expression, seeking out any sign of dishonesty in the RiverClan tom's expression. From the little Seedshine could remember, her clanmates had always portrayed RiverClan's current leader as reasonable and sincere, with a bit of an obvious soft spot for kits and apprentices. She couldn't recall a time when ShadowClan had scorned Fallowstar for any serious misgiving. If there was ever any quarrel between the neighbor clans, it was usually over prey theft, and, though Seedshine was loathe to admit it, usually the fault of one from her own clan. She had never thought very deeply about it before, but in that brief moment of silence as Amberstar and Fallowstar stared each other down, her mind drifted over the social and political aspects of ShadowClan. There had not been any significant wars, tragedies, or major shift in allegiances between the four clans for many moons now. After the legendary battle with the Dark Forest, and a mighty flood, the clans eventually sidled into a long period of peace. Great and noble leaders headed their respective clans for countless years. Though there were still disputes, the worst of the dangers seemed over, and the clans generally shared a mutual respect for one another, often coming through to offer support in times when it was needed. However, most ShadowClanners saw this as the clans going soft.

Of the four clans, ShadowClan had done its best to maintain its signature darkness and hostility. The cats of the marshy pine forest were still as proud as ever, and they clung desperately to the olden times. Some even went as far to suggest that the ShadowClan of the past was far better than it was now, even though they were fully aware of some of the atrocities ShadowClan cats had committed. They knew of Brokenstar, the kit killer, Redwillow, who fought his own clanmates as an ally of the Dark Forest, and worst of all, Tigerstar, a former ThunderClan cat who took over ShadowClan in a time of struggle and tried to usurp power over all the clans while also slaughtering any cats with mixed heritage. He was one of the most powerful leaders in the Dark Forest's attack on the living clans. How any cat could think that was the true meaning of glory was beyond Seedshine's imagination. That was why she had been so terrified to announce her young pregnancy to her clanmates. Many of them were intent to live like the old ShadowClan, and no matter how much they claimed it was for the sake of the Warrior Code, Seedshine knew that was only what they wanted to believe. When had ShadowClan ever held the Code in such high regard, at least in comparison to the other clans? It was about holding onto what they were used to and trying to live up to all her clanmates believed had made them the most feared cats in the forest.

I guess, ShadowClan will always have its pride, Seedshine thought. Not that she, herself, wasn't proud of her clan. She loved ShadowClan fiercely as she could, and she would always protect her clanmates…and my kits…

Familiar sadness welled up in her chest, but just before it could drown her, a sharp hiss of resignation from Amberstar dragged her attention back to the leaders.

"Fine, you've twisted my tail Fallowstar," the ShadowClan leader growled in clear distaste, "Two warriors from each clan, no more and no less. They will meet at the border between ShadowClan and ThunderClan, at the river, sun-high tomorrow. Your warriors may pass through ShadowClan territory per the usual rules, staying within three tail-lengths of the shore."

Here, Amberstar paused, gazing over to where the majority of her cats sat watching her intently. She flicked her tail into the crowd, "From my clan, Thornscar and Slicktail will go."

Neither of these decisions shocked Seedshine terribly. What with the other leaders seemingly agreeing to Fallowstar's request, Amberstar would be showing how much she feared for ShadowClan's strength if she too did not acquiesce. Thornscar and Slicktail were reasonable choices as well. Thornscar was clever, having become adept at battle strategy after being nearly killed by a fox during his youth, not to mention he'd overcome the disadvantage of having a snow-white pelt. Slicktail was tough and aggressive, one of those cats who claimed to cling onto ShadowClan's past. However, there were very few cats who actually willfully offered him company. He had the tendency to be brutish, loud, and cruel, and he behaved so childishly one would most certainly not suspect the brilliant, conniving mind he kept somewhere in his thick skull. By sending him on the journey, it would give ShadowClan a bit of respite from his vulgarity, and it meant that, at the very least, if they could endure his presence, the questing cats would have his impressive skill in battle at their disposal. Besides, Seedshine knew Thornscar well enough to know that the older warrior would keep her other clanmate in check, for even though the white-furred tom was just, he wouldn't tolerate any nonsense from Slicktail.

The rest of ShadowClan seemed to agree with Amberstar's choice, as nobody interjected. The only exchanges amongst Seedshine's clanmates were a nauseating look of pride from Slicktail and a solemn nod from Thornscar.

"What about you, Maplestar?" Amberstar grunted, clearly wanting to divert everyone's attention away from herself now, "You haven't said anything about this yet! You've just sat there looking agreeable. What do you have to say?"

The skinny ThunderClan leader rose from perch on the Gathering tree. Seedshine could have counted the ribs on the brown tabby tom if she had wanted to. From the two other Gatherings she had attended, she certainly didn't remember him ever looking this pathetic. Nevertheless, he stood with an air of nobility—an attempt to appear sturdy and leaderlike. Though Seedshine had heard tell from the older ShadowClan warriors that Maplestar often acted entitled and stridently gallant, she respected his front of strength in order to bolster the confidence of his clearly suffering clan.

"I have no qualms with this small journey Amberstar. I trust Fallowstar has the best interest of all four clans in his heart. In all the years I've known him, I've not witnessed him act in a needlessly selfish manner. From ThunderClan, Shrewtuft and Browndapple will accompany your cats," the caramel-colored tom announced, his voice seeping with what sounded like heavily practiced grace.

Seedshine noted her leader's sharp glare at the ThunderClan tom. She thinks he's patronizing her because he's older…I honestly can't tell. Not only that, but he made his choices rapidly. I'm not sure if he's just desperate for a possible solution to his clan's poor state or if he's scheming something and the two cats he's chosen are a strategic choice. Out of all the leaders, Maplestar is by far the dodgiest. From what I know of him, I think he's being sincere, but I still have my doubts about him.

Scanning the crowd of cats, Seedshine picked out the two who were most likely the chosen ThunderClan candidates. An older she-cat with a dark brown and ginger tortoiseshell pelt she knew to be Browndapple. The tortie looked more indifferent about her leader's choice than anything, mostly very tired. The other cat, Shrewtuft, was easy to guess at from his long fur and tufted ears. A ginger apprentice was gazing up at him with awe, but the earth-colored tom didn't acknowledge the younger cat, his green eyes narrowed in an unreadable expression.

A soft rustle of fur drew Seedshine's attention back to the leaders. Hickorystar, the massive, ancient leader of WindClan hadn't even bothered to stagger to his feet, he'd just shifted a fraction where he sat.

"I cannot deny Fallowstar's comment on the condition of my clan," the old tom rasped, "It is true that Leaf-bare has taken its toll on all of us, and WindClan is not excluded, though do not think we are too weak to defend ourselves, that would be a foolish assumption. That said, I see the wisdom in Fallowstar's proposal and I agree to send two of my clanmates along with to investigate. Knowledge of the river's well-being can only benefit all of us. From my clan, Sycamorefur and Columbineleaf will join the others. I know they will make WindClan proud."

The cats in question were a large black tom, his size surprising for a WindClan cat, and a silver tabby, respectively. Both were given licks and nuzzles of encouragement from their clanmates. WindClan really seems more like a family than the rest of us, Seedshine thought. As with Maplestar, she didn't know much about Hickorystar either besides the fact that he was one of the oldest cats amongst all four of the clans. He had to be either on, or close to, the last of his nine lives. He was rumored to have once been a magnificent cat: mighty, yet simple-minded and compassionate. Hickorystar didn't seem like one to question the depth of things, only to appreciate them. He had served his clan well for many years and was greatly respected for everything he had done to better the cats of the moorlands.

Finally, the spotlight was back on RiverClan's leader. Fallowstar's eyes gleamed with gratitude and Seedshine knew then that this plea was truly pure of intention. The dark gray tabby tom was surprisingly easy to read, despite generally being more stoic.

Naturally, Fallowstar began his statement graciously, "I cannot thank you all enough. I appreciate your support more than I can put into words. I swear by StarClan that I only desire to preserve the clans, and I hope more than anything that this short quest yields some valuable information, so that all of us may live more comfortably. The RiverClan cats that will go on the quest are Hemlocktail and Birdbelly. They have my complete faith; I know they will prove valuable and do their best for the sake of every clan."

There was a sudden, faint hiss from one of the gathered cats. Seedshine couldn't pick out who it was right away, as she had barely heard it, but she was quick to discover it was the gray tabby RiverClan tom that Fallowstar had congratulated earlier. That's Piketail—Fallowstar's son. Why is he upset?

Truly, the newly named RiverClan warrior was boiling with rage too—his claws scraped into the ground with agitation and his copper eyes flashed with unbridled fury. On Seedshine's other side, she heard a familiar, distinctive sneering chuckle. Slicktail was eyeing the young RiverClan tom with scornful amusement.

Oh, that's right. I kind of remember something from a while ago…about Slicktail goading a younger RiverClan cat at the border and almost getting attacked. I mean, I know my frog-dung excuse for a clanmate can be an absolute horror, but I can't say that the son of RiverClan's leader behaves with much maturity either I guess. I'll give him a bit of credit though considering he's much younger than Slicktail and StarClan knows that Slicktail has a heart of ice. I think…I think this all happened around the time when I had my…her thought trailed away into a sob that hitched itself silently in her throat. Right…

Seedshine tried to shove the fresh wave of pain back down into her stomach so she could catch her breath, but it stayed put. Quickly, she flooded her mind with all the possibilities for the anger of the strange RiverClan tom, Piketail.

It seemed obvious that he had wanted to be a part of this journey, but she wondered what had been the root cause of the gray tabby's upset. Did he feel cheated by his father that he had not been given the opportunity to represent his clan in favor of other cats? Or had he actually been the one Slicktail had mocked at the border and now he desperately wanted a chance at revenge? Maybe he was just really enthusiastic about travel and was frustrated that he was being excluded. Piketail's face was turned away from her now and he seemed to have been calmed by a lanky brown tabby sitting next to him. Seedshine could no longer search the RiverClanner's expression for clues as to his mild outburst.

Though the overwhelming grief of her stillborn kits still nestled in the back of her mind, she found focusing on her surroundings to be a somewhat interesting distraction.

If Fallowstar had noticed his son's quiet fit of temper—and he had, for Seedshine noticed the brief flicker of anxiety leap through the RiverClan leader's eyes—he made no stir about it. Instead, he graciously thanked the clans for their offer of help and passed along his turn to speak to Hickorystar.

Seedshine wasn't really listening to what the elderly tabby leader announced, though. Inside her head, never-ending questions about the cats around her sparked in and out of existence. She was most curious about the family dynamic of the RiverClan leader and his newly named warrior son. They seemed…different, to say the very least. Of course, she had nothing to compare the RiverClan cats to as her own father had died before her mother had even given birth to her and her siblings.

Naturally, Seedshine had no memory of her father, and had needed to piece together a picture of him based solely upon the words of her fellow ShadowClanners. According to her clan mates, his name had been Fogbelly, and whilst her mother, named Raydapple, had been about middle-aged at the time she discovered her pregnancy, Fogbelly had been a senior warrior in comparison. He was rumored to have had fur as white as snow, much like Thornscar, who would be leaving tomorrow for the quest upriver. Unlike Thornscar though, Fogbelly was said to have been short and thickset. Apparently, he was somehow related to Furledleaf and Amberstar, which meant that Seedshine, also, was related to the ShadowClan leader and her mother, though she was uncertain in what way precisely. Of course, the generations of clan cats interwove with one another until every cat shared the blood of their clan mates in some way, unless of course they were descended from cats outside of the clans.

The death of Fogbelly had been one of great intrigue for the whole of ShadowClan. His body had been found washed up on the lake shore one day, not even a week after his mate had revealed herself to be carrying his kits. Wolfeye had declared the tom's cause of death as drowning, though it was ambiguous as to whether Fogbelly had suffered some sort of accident or had been forcibly held underwater until water filled his lungs and he suffocated. Seeing as he had been found closer to the RiverClan border, for a short time there was a rumor spread around the ShadowClan camp that Seedshine's father had been seeing a RiverClan she-cat in secret and had killed himself out of guilt at his own disloyalty. However, Seedshine's clan mates had reassured her a bit saying this seemed unlikely as Fogbelly was a notoriously wise and well-respected ShadowClanner, and loyal beyond a shadow of a doubt. His death, then, could have only ever been a murder, or simply a tragic accident. When RiverClan was questioned, they seemed to know nothing about it, and Fallowstar had offered his deepest condolences, sending the party of ShadowClan cats home with some prey and a few herbs as a show of respect for the lost warrior. After that though, ShadowClan seemed mostly to forget that the stocky white warrior had ever existed.

Raydapple, Seedshine's mother, hadn't forgotten though. Once a cheery-faced, eager warrior, most of her optimism had been sapped by the death of her mate, and so soon after finding out she was to bear his kits. Nevertheless, she did her best, remaining perceptive and affectionate of her kits. Her pelt had been as fiery golden as the sun's rays—hence her name—and laced with darker umber colored stripes. Though Raydapple had been killed by a fox when Seedshine and her sisters were only three moons old, Seedshine still had at least two clear memories of her mother; the first was that of looking up to see Raydapple's coat the hue of scorching flames. The she-cat had been dazzling to look at. The second was of her mother's voice, vibrant and strong; the queen had frequently expressed her love of her kits and of their father, saying he would be so very enamored with them if he were still alive.

Of Seedshine and her sisters, Redfire most resembled their mother, and Whitestream most resembled their father, but both of her siblings had Fogbelly's yellow eyes—Seedshine was the only one who possessed Raydapple's eyes of liquid amber.

After their mother's death, another queen, Chervilheart, had helped to look after the trio of three-moon-old kits, alongside her own kits which hadn't quite been born yet. Though Seedshine was grateful to the older tortoiseshell queen, she had always felt much closer to her siblings than to her new adoptive guardian. Chervilheart had never really felt like a motherly figure to her, and that was alright. The tortie she-cat was still very compassionate and kind to Seedshine and her sisters.

When the three orphaned she-cats finally became apprentices, a rift in their tightknit relationship started to form. They still stuck together of course, and they were more closely bonded to one another than to any of their ShadowClan clanmates, but being trained by different cats and running on different schedules gave them less time to spend with each other and more time to develop their own thoughts and attitudes.

Redfire had been apprenticed to Amberpool, who, only a week into the apprenticeship of the three sisters, received her nine lives and became Amberstar. Seedshine's ginger tabby sibling was quick to get lost in her strenuous training. Amberstar was meticulous and strict, and Redfire was well-suited for becoming an equally as impressive fighter. This also meant, however, that Redfire didn't have much time to get caught up in apprentice drama and romantic affairs. In fact, Redfire spent most of her days now helping the other apprentices with their training alongside her own apprentice, Hawkpaw. She was a talented warrior and a brilliant mentor; Seedshine had always admired her fiery determination and her devotion to helping her clanmates grow stronger.

On the other paw, there was Whitestream. Seedshine's other sister was short, stocky, and obsessed with toms. As an apprentice, Whitestream had always been the one mooning over one cat for a week before crushing on someone entirely different the next. She didn't take her training as seriously as either of her sisters, and it was blatantly obvious she was more interested in raising kits than actually being a warrior. Seedshine could respect this, as kits were always an important contribution to the clan, and she herself arguably wanted some of her own—if she didn't, she assumed her grief over her lost kittens would not cut into her as deeply as it did—as it continued to do.

Out of every cat in ShadowClan, Whitestream had been the most abhorred by the announcement of Seedshine's pregnancy. It had confused Seedshine at first, but when Whitestream was quick to enter the nursery shortly after their warrior ceremony, her reason for being so upset made sense. The small ivory colored queen was jealous. She'd dreamt of settling in with one of the ShadowClan toms and raising many litters of kittens and Seedshine had seemingly beat her to that. She hurriedly gave herself up to the first tom that showed promise as a mate and father, even though Seedshine knew Volestripe wasn't a cat of particular interest to her sister. The brown tabby tom was rather oblivious and dense when it came to she-cats, and thus had been enamored with Whitestream's advances. He held more traditional clan values, and had also scorned Seedshine's early pregnancy, which may have helped push him and Whitestream closer. Though, Seedshine noted internally, Whitestream had just barely received her warrior name before moving to the nursery. The disparity over her pregnancy was less based on her age, and more on Clan social norms and hierarchy; apprentices weren't supposed to get pregnant.

Despite the majority of ShadowClan being rather icy about Seedshine's pregnancy, there were a few who still showed her love and support. Fernberry, Snaketooth, and Wolfeye, of course, were all very kindhearted. Patchbelly, Seedshine's former mentor, was also incredibly considerate and open-minded. He was a middle-aged warrior, and one of ShadowClan's finest hunters, known for being very mild-mannered. He'd mentored a few apprentices, and Seedshine had found him to be well-suited to teaching. She imagined that, perhaps someday, Patchbelly could make a fine deputy.

Other warriors that, at the very least, hadn't exhibited derision at Seedshine's circumstances, included: Amberstar, Chervilheart, Screewhisker, Mudtalon, Batfang, and Falconfall. Fennelpaw, one of the apprentices Seedshine had trained beside, also continued to be friendly, for which the cream tabby queen was immensely appreciative.

When Seedshine thought about the cats who had showed her devotion when she broke unspoken clan ideals, she couldn't help but feel a tiny blossom of warmth in her chest. The four clans had clung to their way of life for countless moons, and that often made them averse to even the tiniest chink in their social norms. To still have the care of half of ShadowClan, well, Seedshine couldn't say her place in the clan was much different than it had been prior to her pregnancy. The only things she really missed were her sisters, and—she grimaced at the all-too-familiar pang of grief—the lost lives of her kits.

Before she could really realize it, the Gathering was over, and she was following her clanmates back to the ShadowClan camp. Just outside the entrance to the clearing, she was greeted by Snaketooth, who was apparently still wide awake despite it being very early morning. He touched his nose to her shoulder as she approached, pulling her to the side and muttering something about hunting to Screewhisker as the older warrior padded past. Once every cat was back in camp, and Seedshine and Snaketooth were alone, the tabby tom broke the silence.

"Let's go hunting," he whispered, "And then…well, I just want to spend some time with you."

Seedshine, her nose pressed into her mate's chest, could feel his heart rate speed up slightly. He was so shy and affectionate; she was reminded of how much she really adored Snaketooth. She reached up to lick the underside of his jaw as a sign that she was agreeing to this romantic time alone.

Together, they wandered through the darkness of the low-growing pines, the crisp blanket of rusty-colored needles was smooth beneath their paws. Hunting didn't last particularly long, as both of them were anxiously aware of the prey shortage in all the clans. Nevertheless, Snaketooth managed to find and catch a mouse, and Seedshine killed a few lonely crickets—they weren't much, but the kits and apprentices liked to crunch on them. Before they knew it, the sun was starting to creep up on the edges of the horizon. They found a spot near the lakeshore where they could watch it rising behind WindClan's territory across the ever-dwindling stretch of water.

Prey forgotten, Seedshine rested her muzzle across her mate's back contentedly. She could feel the light brown tabby's purr rumbling through his body, from his ears to the tip of his tail. This felt right.

That was until she caught the faint whiff of Snaketooth's fear scent: something was troubling him.

She raised her head from between his shoulder blades, "What's wrong?"

Snaketooth's purr cut short at her words, and when he glanced back at her, his honey-colored eyes were wide and tense. He was silent for a long moment, and then, "We need to talk…erm, I need to talk to you."

Seedshine felt a mingling of apprehension and curiosity. She tilted her head.

"Nothing, uh, bad!" Snaketooth quickly amended, his ears flattening abashedly, "It's just…serious, is all."

"What is it?" Seedshine pressed, her fretfulness starting to overwhelm inquisitiveness.

Again, Snaketooth was quiet for a few heartbeats, though this time it was clear he was trying to collect his thoughts and word them meticulously.

"This, is probably going to be a difficult subject for you, my love," he finally sighed out, "I know how much the loss of the kits kills you inside. Believe me, I feel it too."

Seedshine felt her throat begin to close, and she tried to breathe more deeply, but oxygen failed to enter her lungs properly. Suddenly she was standing back at that musty, desolate shore—the one she saw in her recurring nightmares. Whatever fluid filled the ebony expanse before her could not be water; it was pitch black and thick like sludge. Out of it trudged a tiny figure, and then another, and then another, each covered in the tarry filth. The oily liquid caked their slim forms, completely obscuring their fur…if they even had fur beneath the reeking offal. Seedshine thought they had to have fur, because the pitiful bodies creeping towards her were kit-shaped. She couldn't make out anything more of them than their general outline—not even their eyes, which were concealed by the foul slime. She could only hear their cries: whimpers of pain and utter fear, pleas for her warmth and comfort.

She wanted so badly to run to them and clutch them to her, clean their soiled pelts, take their hurts away, but she was frozen in place. Horror at the grotesque, corpse-like traipse of the kits was overwhelming; her paws refused to move.

Every time she had the dream they'd wander up the sand of the shore until they were only a fox-length away from her, and then something far more frightening would happen. The kit in the lead would stagger all of a sudden. Its movement lost the calculated lurch it had once had, becoming far more alive and kit-like. It took another weak step towards her, it's mewls becoming fainter and more desperate, until it collapsed onto the rank dredges of sand and vanished in a whirl of black smoke. Then, there came a sound of rushing from somewhere behind Seedshine, and still the cream-colored queen was horror-struck. The ground shook as the roaring of whatever monstrous thing grew quickly closer. A beam of light hit the second kit square in the chest, and it too forgot its lifeless, threatening gait. It stood upright at once, its ears flattening and tail bushing out beneath the mire. The light shining upon it expanded and brightened until it was as blinding as the whir of the beast approaching was deafening. Seedshine was flattened to the ground by a surge of stinking wind, and she only just had time to blink that out of her eyes in order to see the second kit's silhouette shatter and disappear as well.

Now there was only one figure still trudging mindlessly towards her. It seemed this one might actually reach her, until the waves of raven-colored mucus began to churn around its paws. As with the other two, it seemed to gain some semblance of consciousness, as its feet began to work harder and fight against the tug of the liquid. What was only seconds, felt to Seedshine like hours of watching the final kit struggle towards her while she crouched, completely immobilized. Then a massive tidal wave—tall enough to block out the sun, or moon, or whatever celestial being dimly illuminated this lake of dread—came crashing down over the kit and it, too, was gone. Seedshine was left to slash away at the thick, heavy waves dragging her down. The rancid fluid filled her ears and nose and muzzle, and smeared over her eyes until she was robbed of all senses but the feeling of being simultaneously pushed and pulled apart. Finally, she would feel her mouth break the surface, and that was when she would scream as loud as she could.

Only this time, Seedshine didn't scream, she just added her silence to the gentle curl of waves against the lakeshore of ShadowClan's pine forest territory. She listened, but did not speak.

"I think we should try for kits again," Snaketooth's words were as viscous as the tar-like substance that drowned her and the final kit in her nightmares.

In that moment it felt as though every last ounce of her body solidified into ice, yet the coldness was so extreme that it continued to sear through her veins. The wave of frost hurtled down her spine, fractals dissipating as soon as they appeared, only to be replaced with a wash of hot fury. How dare he suggest such a thing?

Her formerly dilated eyes were suddenly slits as thin as whiskers as the darkness of the night closed in tighter around her. Without realizing it, she had pulled away from her mate, her hackles raised and back arched in a wild assortment of terror and rage. Barely able to see beneath the murky light of oncoming dawn, she slowly lifted a paw, claws unsheathed and mouth drawn back in a feral hiss. She could somewhat make out Snaketooth's equally as frightened expression in front of her, but his words had torn such a wound in her heart that reality seemed to slip away as it had done so many times when she had been living in the medicine den.

"Seedshine," Snaketooth's voice seemed both familiar and distant, but at the very least, it shook Seedshine enough that she sheathed her claws. The tom in front of her seemed to relax a bit, until she cuffed him as hard as she could across his head with her sheathed paws. He recoiled in pain and trepidation.

Feeling her body untangling itself from the grip of mania, she stood up and turned away, glaring at him from behind her shoulder and lashing tail.

"It hasn't even been a moon!" she half spat, half choked out, "You think because I never got to see them for myself that they meant nothing to me?! That I can just try again and forget that I ever went through all the pain of carrying them beneath the clan's disgusted stares and then giving birth to their dead bodies?!"

"No, I—!"

"Don't talk to me! Please. I can't…I…I just can't."

That was all Seedshine could muster out before she turned tail and pelted away back into the pine forest, leaving Snaketooth alone on the lake shore to think about everything that had just happened.

Fun Fact #1: The events of this story take place long after Bramblestar's Storm, but don't include any of the events during and after the A Vision of Shadows arc. That being said, the clans have adopted a far more peaceable approach to life around the lake, despite battles still happening on occasion. Seedshine mentions earlier in this chapter that ShadowClan tries harder than any of the clans to uphold its former reputation, but in general, whenever the clans try to live up to clan-specific stereotypes, such as ShadowClan being wily and aggressive, it ends up feeling somewhat feigned.

Fun Fact #2: Snaketooth's brother is Falconfall, and their biological father is Screewhisker. Screewhisker's original mate (mother to Snaketooth and Falconfall), passed away, and now Chervilheart is Screewhisker's mate and the adoptive mother of the two toms. Hawkpaw, Larchpaw, and Fennelpaw are Snaketooth and Falconfall's half-siblings.