Lightblaze trembled as Coldstar slowly beckoned her daughters forth, "come on little ones," he purred, his voice melting with sweetness, "don't be afraid of me... I'm your new daddy," Butterflykit's eyes widened in horror, but Mistkit shoved her out of the way, and with her tail lashing she yelled at Coldstar: "how dare you?" she screeched, words ripping through the icy air of late Leaf-fall, "you are not our daddy, Pine is and always will be! So keep your big dirty paws off of us, you big, ugly pile of foxdung!"
Lightblaze's heart leaped into full out panic mode as the white toms steely golden eyes swung around to pierce, into her little daughters pelt, "what. did. you. call. me...?" he asked, his mew deadly quiet, Mistkit gulped and tried to back away, but fast as a striking snake, Coldstar grabbed her scruff in his claws and held her wriggling body out and examined her with the look a hunter may give the prey he's playing with.
"Mamma!" squealed Mistkit, paws scrabbling at thin air, blood falling in small trails from her scruff, where Coldstar's claws pierced the delicate fur and skin, "help me!" Lightblaze shot a desperate look at her silver and cream kit, but she stood motionless as the tom lifted her higher.
"Let this be an example to any she-cat who dares challenge me again!" he yowled, harsh mew filling the stunned silence, as every cat turned to look at their leader, he raised his paw, still holding Mistkit as she tried to squirm her way free, then with a sharp flick of his talons he threw her into the pile of boulders that served as his den and meeting place.
All across the clearing you could hear the sickening thud and crunch as her small body slammed into the rocks and fell limp on the ground, stiller then she had ever seen her feisty young kit, the entire clan was still for a moment, when a high pitched laugh filled the twilight, a laugh filled with joy at the pain, cruelty ringing in every tone of it.
Coldstar finished his laugh and stalked back to his den, purposefully crunching Mistkit's hind leg under his paw, as soon as he disappeared, Lightblaze ran to Mistkit, terror coursing through every hair on her pelt as she picked the still silver and cream body from the ground.
She let out a faint sigh when she felt a frail heart beat against her chest, a small furry body pushed against her legs and she gazed down on Butterflykit, who was shaking with fright, Lightblaze ran her tail soothingly over her other daughters back and turned to find Icefall.
As she searched, her gaze fell on a small ginger tom, Flamekit, she expected to see fear for his sister in his eyes, but all she saw was contempt, the little tom snorted then trotted toward his mother, "maybe you she-cats will learn to respect your betters now?" he mewed, flicking his plumy tail over Butterflykit's face.
Lightblaze was shocked to hear such cruelty from the once sweet and insecure tom she loved, what had happened? Coldstar would never be satisfied would he? One by one, he would take everything she loved, till she was a hollow shell of what she once was.
A sweet scent filled her nose and she looked up through her tears to see the pale brown tabby pelt of Birchflight, his green eyes gentle and sad, "come on Lightblaze," he mewed, "lets get Mistkit to Icefall," the creamy she-cat nodded numbly and followed him, the toms tail resting lightly on her shoulder.
She padded quietly into the den, where Icefall was sorting his herbs, his normal sarcastic expression relaxed and calm, but it changed to distress when he saw Mistkit dangling limply from Lightblaze's jaws and the small shape of Butterflykit following in her mother's shadow.
"I- Creamy, what happened?" he mewed, panic making his mew higher then usual, Lightblaze just looked at him, eyes blank and didn't reply.
Birchflight stepped forward, "Icefall, she spoke back to Coldstar, he didn't like it and threw her into the boulders, she has been still, but alive since then," he mewed, briefly, taking the kit gently from Lightblaze and laying her in an empty nest.
Icefall's silver pelt began to bristle as he examined the kit, then, without a word, he rushed to his herb store, threw a couple of things onto a large leaf and headed back to Mistkit.
He chewed up some leaves, grimacing at the bitter taste as he did and spat it out on another leaf, before mixing a few black seeds into the pulp, he then opened Mistkit's mouth and forced it down her throat, and stroked her neck gently to help her swallow.
He turned to Birchflight and said shortly: "hold her down," then as the tabby tom pressed his paws on the slim body Icefall grabbed her leg and lent on it, a crack filled the den, followed by Butterflykit's scream.
Lightblaze's eyes widened and she raced to her kit's side and shoved Icefall out of the way, "what did you do to her?!" she cried, "I had to snap the bone in her leg back into place," the tom mewed briskly, "or it would never heal," then he grabbed another pulp and smeared it all over Mistkit's outstretched leg, before resting a long straight stick against it and binding it with cobwebs and strong reeds.
With a sigh, he pushed the moss around her closer to her body and stepped back, "I have done the most I can for now," he mewed. somberly, "but, even if she ever wakes up, Mistkit won't be able to walk properly again."
Lightblaze swayed on the spot then sat down, sobs wracking her skinny body, Icefall slapped himself with his paw and fetched a few herbs from his herb stock, "eat these Lightblaze," he mewed gently, pushing a few leaves in front of her, "it's thyme and chamomile for the shock and to soothe you, give one each to Butterflykit as well."
Lightblaze nodded and ate the herbs before helping her other daughter to down the herbs as well.
Birchflight turned to her, "I'd bring you prey Lightblaze, but I got punished last time, and the next time I do it, I may be in a worse condition then Mistkit," he mewed, "but I will see if there is anything I can get you," then the tom padded out leaving Lightblaze to cry.
He returned soon, with a pitiful mouse hanging from his jaws, "I'm sorry, Lightblaze," he mewed, "it's all that was left of the she-cats meal," the creamy she-cat nodded without emotion and took the piece of prey and began to pick at it slowly, then she tore a small strip of meat off and ate it slowly, she ate another small piece then pushed it to Butterflykit.
Two small heads peeked around the entrance, Hailkit and Darkkit, "um... Lightblaze...?" called Darkkit, as he walked slowly to her side, "I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you, I know you tried to help mom..." Hailkit nodded, and the two toms pressed their noses into her pelt.
"Oi! Hailkit, Darkkit!" came a loud call, and Sparkclaw strutted into the medicine den, "keep away from my sons, she-cat," he growled at Lightblaze, "come on boys, it's high time you moved into the toms nursery, that lovely young tom, Flamekit, can't wait to meet you," then with a disgusted look at Birchflight, he carried his protesting kits out of the den.
Lightblaze closed her eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.
She woke in a starry meadow with two cats in front of her, one she recognized as Feathermoon, and the other had the same colour pelt as her, but a little paler.
"Lightblaze," purred Feathermoon, stepping forward, "please, don't worry about Mistkit, StarClan will make sure she pulls through, but... you must stop Coldstar! Before he finds the lost clan of the rain..." Lightblaze frowned as the other she-cat stepped forward, "I am Palerose, Lightblaze," she mewed, pelt sparkling with starry light, 'and I have a prophecy for you, the cold of leaf-bare creeps in slow, heading for the land of rain and snow, influence spread near and far, enemies come for the land of star, if all succeeds as planned, even love shall be banned, one of light that forever blazes, teamed with one whose wings have broken, will travel further then setting sun, to stop the war before it has begun..." Feathermoon smiled softly, then touched her tail to Lightblaze's shoulder, "be safe my friend..." she mewed, faintly as both her and Palerose faded from sight.