Chapter 30
Just so you know a lot of time has passed in between this chapter and the last. It is now Leaf-bare.
Duskpaw stretched lazily in her nest. Sunlight stream through the entrance and lit the den. Twigshade was sleeping soundly in his nest at the back of the den. Duskpaw's ears twitched when she looked at the old tom. He was almost as old as Paletree now. He would probably retire after she got her full name.
Turning away Duskpaw rose to her paws. She trotted towards the entrance of the den. She had grown in the past moons and almost had to duck to get outside. Her eyes traveled across the clearing where her clan was laying. She wasn't the only one who had grown.
Silvertear was snoozing in the weak leaf-bare sunlight. Snowyowl slept next to her. The silver she-cat's stomach had grown and she seemed to sleep more these days. Duskpaw smiled thinking about the lives her sister was carrying.
"Look out," a voice squealed. Duskpaw glanced at the nursery. Furledkit was skating across the ice towards his brother. Bigkit raced away from him but Furledkit was too fast and barreled into him. Duskpaw purred in amusement at the two kits. They would be apprenticed soon.
Heading to the freshkill pile she grabbed a tern and settled down to eat. As she ate there was an explosion of coughing from the warriors den. Duskpaw winced at the noise. Shardclaw's cough was getting worse. Luckily he seemed to be the only one that was sick.
"Snowyowl sent me to ask you if there was any herbs I could collect today," Heronpaw mewed. The large brown tom looked at her expectantly.
"Not right now," Duskpaw answered. Heronpaw glanced at the warriors den.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Duskpaw rested her tail on his shoulders sympathetically. Shardclaw was his father.
"Shardclaw is a strong young cat and should pull through this just fine," Duskpaw comforted him.
"Seakit was young and strong," Heronpaw retorted. He had lost his brother to greencough when they were just kits.
"Seakit was too young. Now sense I don't need you to gather herbs why don't you go hunting?" Duskpaw suggested. Heronpaw hesitated. "The clan needs to keep up its strength," she pointed out. Heronpaw sighed and headed out of camp.
"Do you really think he'll be okay?" a voice asked. She whipped around to see Maplestar. The ginger leader looked very concerned.
"I don't know," Duskpaw answered. Maplestar closed her eyes.
"I'll have to leave Twigshade with him tonight," Maplestar mewed. "Shardclaw is in no condition to go to a gathering and he can't stay by himself," she explained.
"I'll stay with him," Duskpaw offered. Maplestar looked surprised. After all most young cats hated missing gatherings. "We don't want the other clans to think we're weak," she added. Maplestar nodded.
"Alright. You can stay."
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Silvertear followed Snowyowl onto the ice. Stormclan and Moonclan were already there. They looked at them as Maplestar lead them towards Frozen Falls. Greystar and Swiftstar greeted Maplestar with friendly mews when she reached them.
"Hi Frostwing," Silvertear greeted a white she-cat. She had meet her at the last gathering and they had become good friends.
"Hi Silvertear," Frostwing mewed. She was sitting with her mate, Stillcall. He dipped his head to her and wrapped his tail protectively around Frostwing's bulging stomach.
"When are they do?" Silvertear asked.
"Not for a while. You?" Frostwing asked, eyeing Silvertear's large belly. Silvertear grinned.
"Soon," Silvertear answered. Snowyowl smiled and licked her cheek. Frostwing grinned at them.
"I guess we know who the father is," she teased. Snowyowl puffed out his chest in pride.
"I want everyone to know," he mewed. Silvertear stared at him affectionately. Then there was the thunder of paw steps. Turning around Silvertear saw Belugastar leading his clan onto the ice.
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Duskpaw wrapped some feverfew leaves around some catmint. She was making a bundle for Shardclaw to eat. They had been left at camp with Foamfur, Whitefox, the kits, Paletree, and Heronpaw. Picking up her herbs she headed outside.
The full moon shone brightly and illuminated the camp. Heronpaw waved to her from where he was keeping watch. Duskpaw dipped her head to him before entering the warriors den. Shardclaw was curled up in his nest. He looked up when she entered.
"Here you go," Duskpaw dropped the herbs at his feet.
"Thanks," Shardclaw wheezed. Slowly he bent over and licked up the herbs. The grey tom seemed to have shrunk from the mighty deputy to a starving apprentice. His bones stuck out from under his leaf-bare coat and his eyes were unusually dull.
"So how are you feeling?" Duskpaw asked. Before he could answer a terrible yowling split the air.
"Heronpaw," Shardclaw gasped. Duskpaw scented the air. Fox.
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"Moonclan is thriving well. We have three new apprentices. Lightpaw, Spotpaw, and Fluffypaw," Swiftstar informed them. The clans cheered their names. "We also have two new warriors, Windfur and Whisperbreeze," he mewed. The clans cheered. Swiftstar turned to Maplestar. "We chased a fox and its mate into your territory lately so keep a look out," he finished. Maplestar nodded. Greystar was next.
"We have two new apprentices. Windypaw and Twilightpaw," Greystar mewed. The clans cheered.
"Other clans are boring," Snowyowl whispered in her ear. Silvertear giggled.
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Duskpaw ran into the clearing. Heronpaw was crouched in front of a fully grown fox. The apprentice's hair was fluffed up and he was snarling at it. Whitefox pocked her head out of the nursery. Her eyes widened at the beast.
"Stay back," she growled to her kits. She ran to help the young tom. A pale shape ran past her. It was Paletree. The elder was going to fight too.
"Let me help," Shardclaw growled. Duskpaw barred his way.
"You're too sick to fight. Get back," she ordered. He slipped past her and hurried forwards. Duskpaw followed him. Heronpaw clawed at its eyes. The fox snapped at him but Whitefox clawed at its muzzle.
Paletree leapt onto its stomach and clung on while it tried to throw her off. Heronpaw and Whitefox continued to dive in and claw it then bound away before it could catch them. Shardclaw had leapt onto its back and was pummeling it with unsheathed claws.
Duskpaw helped Whitefox and Heronpaw. Even though she had never had training she could still use her claws.
The fox began to whine in confusion. "I think it's going to give up," Shardclaw called. Suddenly another fox charged into camp and ripped him off the other one's back.
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"Oceanclan has two new apprentices, Crashpaw and Palmpaw," Belugastar called. The clan cheered out their names. "We also lost our elder Specklefish to greencough," he finished. A few cats let out sorrowful mews.
"This is going to be a short gathering," Frostwing remarked. Silvertear nodded. Maplestar stepped up next.
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Duskpaw was too stunned to move. Heronpaw and Whitefox ran forward to help the captured deputy. Shardclaw twisted and snarled but the fox didn't let go. He crunched down. There was a sickening snap and Shardclaw fell limp.
"No," Heronpaw cried, leaping on the fox. Whitefox charged after him. Shaking her head to clear it, Duskpaw continued to attack the other fox.
Suddenly a strangled cry ripped through camp. It was coming from the nursery. Duskpaw glanced over to see Furledkit racing into the clearing. His eyes were wide with fear.
"Foamfur is kitting," he yowled. Oh Starclan no, Duskpaw thought.
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"Silvertear has moved into the nursery, expecting Snowyowl's kits," Maplestar finished her report. The clans let out congratulations. "I hereby call this gathering to be over," she mewed, jumping from the waterfall.
"By Silvertear. I hope your kits turn out to be great," Frostwing purred.
"Same to you," Silvertear mewed to her friend. Snowyowl touched his tail tip to her shoulder.
"Maplestar said we could talk for a while if you want," he mewed. Silvertear smiled.
"That'd be great."
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"Go Duskpaw," Paletree ordered.
"I have to help you," she insisted. The elder dug her claws deeper into the fox. It let out a painful howl.
"I can take care of myself," she growled. She's right Duskpaw. Go, she heard Softsnow's voice whisper in her ear. Duskpaw whipped around and raced to the nursery. Furledkit followed her inside. Foamfur shuddered in her nest.
Duskpaw placed her paws on the queens stomach. She could feel her body trying to push them out. One was close to coming. "When I say so, push," she mewed. Foamfur nodded. A tremor shook her body. "Push," she ordered. Foamfur howled in pain as a tiny kit slid into the nest.
Duskpaw nipped the sack and licked it until it let out a squeal. She placed it in the nest and turned back to Foamfur. "Push," she called as another tremor shook her. A second kit slid into the nest and Duskpaw nipped the sack. When it mewed she placed it in the curve of Foamfur's stomach. Picking up the other one she placed it next to its littermate.
"Well done," Duskpaw congratulated her, thankful it had been an easy delivery. Turning around she ran back outside. Shardclaw's body lay slumped on the ground while Heronpaw, Whitefox, and Paletree fought the two foxes.
As she watched one of them darted forward and grabbed Paletree in their mouths. Slinging their heads they through her against a nearby tree.
"Mother," Snowyowl gasped. Duskpaw looked around in surprise as the clan returned from the gathering. Twigshade ran to Paletree while Maplestar lead the rest to fight. The foxes looked at them in terror and ran off.
Maplestar stopped her warriors from following them. Her eyes were on Shardclaw's body. She approached her deputy and buried her nose in his fur. Lichenheart let out a distressed wail and ran to her mate. Duskpaw watched numbly as the clan gathered around Shardclaw's body.
"She's dead," Twigshade mewed. Snowyowl closed his eyes and gripped the ground. Silvertear ran to comfort him. Twigshade dragged the elders body next to Shardclaw's. He nudged Maplestar. "We need a new deputy," he whispered.
Maplestar slowly got to her feet. Her eyes searched the clan. "I say these words before the body of Shardclaw so his sprit may hear and approve of my choice. Tundrafoot will be the new deputy of Frostclan," she finished. Lying back down she buried her nose in Shardclaw's fur.
Nobody made a move to congratulate the new deputy.
A/N:
Oh sad chapter. This almost made me cry. Poor Heronpaw and Lichenheart. Not to mention Snowyowl. His family is dead now. At least he has Silvertear. Speaking of Silvertear, she's expecting. Yay. Please review and keep reading. You know you want to.