Ravenpaw padded into camp with two mice clamped firmly in her jaws. Snowpaw followed with a sparrow and a vole. Ravenpaw glanced around camp.
A cool breeze blew in, rustling the leaves on the trees. Kits tumbled around in the clearing, elders sunned themselves, apprentices played, and warriors bustled to and fro. She had never felt more content. Everywhere held the promise that tomorrow would be better. Who would want to disturb this?
Mosskit came scampering up, Graykit and Poppykit in tow.
"Ravenpaw, will you show us the hunter crouch?" Mosskit asked beseechingly, blue eyes wide and innocent. Ravenpaw purred, looking at the kits. They were just so dang cute!
"All right. Ready?" Ravenpaw crouched down, fixing her gaze on a leaf. Without a sound, she crept forward, eyes never leaving their target. Then, without hesitation, she pounced, pinning the leaf under her paws. She glanced back at the kits, whose eyes were wide with awe. She gave a gentle laugh.
"Now you try!" Ravenpaw watched as they each wiggled and squirmed, pouncing on random objects. Suddenly, a chill swept over her. Graykit had tumbled into Shadowfur, who growled and batted the kit away. Ravenpaw barely kept back a snarl as she stalked up to the dark warrior.
"He was just playing. Cut him some slack, Shadowfur," she mewed, keeping her tone light and calm. Mosskit and Poppykit hid behind her, while Graykit picked himself up. Shadowfur sneered at her.
"Maybe you should have watched him better," he snapped, eyes flaring. Ravenpaw's temper almost snapped.
"Maybe you should watch where your going," she nearly growled, anger flashing in her eyes. Shadowfur raised his paw, and before she knew what was happening, he struck her across the face. Ravenpaw bit back a yowl, growling instead.
"Shadowfur!" Stonepelt's angry and shocked voice echoed across the clearing. To Ravenpaw, no sound had ever been more beautiful. He stalked up to them, amber eyes flashing. The kits scampered to their mother, who was watching Shadowfur with narrowed eyes. Ravenpaw held a slender black up to the three scratches, which were bleeding lightly.
"You, of all cats, should know we never strike a clan mate!" Stonepelt growled, just barely keeping his anger in check. Shadowfur rounded on the deputy.
"I will not tolerate impudence from a lowly apprentice, one who isn't even clan born!" he snapped back, tail lashing. By this time, a crowd was gathering. Fernstep's eyes flashed with fury when she saw Ravenpaw's face, and Lionpaw hissed at Shadowfur. Ravenpaw spat at him.
"I was not being impudent! I was defending Graykit!" she meowed, furious. She wanted nothing more than to rake her claws down his face. I'll show you clan born!
"I do not need to be told anything by a stupid apprentice!" Shadowfur yowled, fur fluffed up. Stonepelt hissed.
"You will keep your anger in check, Shadowfur, and stop acting like a kit. And you will not call my apprentice stupid," he growled, his voice a low rumble. Shadowfur opened his mouth to say something, then closed it as Stonepelt continued.
"You will be back on apprentice duties for a week, or until I see fit," he meowed coldly. Shadowfur's mouth fell open.
"What?" he spluttered, eyes wide in disbelief.
"You heard me," Stonepelt replied calmly. Shadowfur growled, then whipped his head towards Ravenpaw.
"Don't cross paths with me, loner. I'll teach you how a real warrior fights," he spat, disgust in his fiery blue gaze. Ravenpaw raised her head, green eyes flashing.
"Anytime, Shadowfur," she sneered, taunting him with her sassy tone. He whipped around and disappeared into the gorse tunnel. Ravenpaw let out a sigh of relief.
Fernstep came padding up, gold eyes still smoldering with anger. "I'll take you to Barktail, I will hear no complaints," she said sharply. Ravenpaw allowed herself to be led to the medicine cat den. Barktail took one look at her face, and disappeared into his storage. Ravenpaw was surprised to see Jaypelt walk in.
"I wanted to thank you, for defending Graykit. I saw Shadowfur hit him. Thank you for saying something. I'm just sorry you got hurt because of it," she purred, light blue eyes shining. Ravenpaw dipped her head in gratitude, surprised. Jaypelt flicked her blue tail against her flank before walking out again. Fernstep purred.
"Seems like you've made a friend," she mewed.
Screeches split the silent night. Ravenpaw streaked out of the apprentice den before she knew she was awake. Once outside, she looked around, half expecting to see the clearing swarming with cats. Nothing. Had she been dreaming?
Another scream split the air, and Ravenpaw watched as Barktail came rushing out of the medicine cat den, herbs in his mouth. Her fur lay flat. Icefur must be having her kits, she realized with relief. Curious, she padded into the nursery.
"Push, Icefur!" Barktail meowed, voice calm and steady. Ravenpaw padded up to Jaypelt, who had bundled her kits into a corner of the nursery.
"Can I help?" she murmured. Jaypelt nodded, nudging her towards Barktail. Barktail thrust a wet, warm bundle at her.
"Lick," he commanded before turning back towards Icefur's rippling form. Ravenpaw was nearly gagging at the scent of blood, but turned herself towards the little kit. She watched as Jaypelt licked the other one's fur the wrong way, and she copied her movements, purring into the little creature's ears.
At long last, the contractions stopped, and Icefur soon had three little bundles suckling at her belly. Stormclaw pushed his way in, relief shining in his eyes when he saw Icefur. Rushing over, he covered her face in licks, purring like he would never stop.
"We have three beautiful, healthy kits," she purred to him, ice blue eyes shining with exhaustion and delight. Stormclaw gazed at his family lovingly. Ravenpaw purred. It was a beautiful sight.
"What shall we name them?" he asked. Ravenpaw examined the kits more closely. One, the biggest, was a miniature copy of its father, with dark gray fur. The next had cream fur with dark brown paws and ears. And the last…Ravenpaw held her breath. The last kit had a beautiful red coat, the color of a robin's feathers. Robin. Tears welled in her eyes, and she brushed them back impatiently.
"Two toms and a she-kit," Barktail announced, pride gleaming in his dark eyes. Ravenpaw couldn't tear her eyes away from that red kit. The only she-kit.
"The gray one shall be Rainkit," Stormclaw decided, eyes shining. Icefur purred her acceptance.
"The cream and brown one shall be Branchkit," she mewed gently, licking its little head. She glanced at Ravenpaw, who had finally remembered to breath.
"Ravenpaw, why don't you name the last one?" the white queen asked. Ravenpaw gaped at her.
"Ar-are you sure?" she stammered, not believing she would let her do something so personal. Stormclaw nodded.
"We owe you, for helping with the kitting. Come and name her," he meowed warmly. Ravenpaw padded forward, feeling, for once in her life, like part of a…family. She gazed at the little red kit.
"Robinkit." The word was out before she could stop herself, and she blinked. Icefur purred and Stormclaw nodded.
"What a beautiful name. Rainkit, Branchkit, and Robinkit, welcome to ThunderClan," Barktail mewed before padding out of the nursery. Ravenpaw purred and bent her head to the little bundles, drinking in their warm, milky scent. Welcome home, little ones.
"Stonepelt, Fernstep, Blackfur, Oakshadow, Crowpelt, Snowpaw, and Echopaw, you will attend the gathering," Leafstar meowed before jumping down from Highrock. Ravenpaw dropped her head in disappointment. Gatherings sounded like such fun! She couldn't wait till her first one! She watched them all leave, before turning around and snatching up a mouse for Icefur.
Since the kits had been born a couple of weeks ago, and opened their eyes just a few days ago, she had rarely spent a day apart from them. Rainkit and Branchkit's eyes were both blue like their parents. Robinkit's eyes, however, were a dark green. Ravenpaw remembered when she first saw them, how her breath had caught.
Robin. Ravenpaw shook her head, ridding herself of those thoughts. Quietly, she padded into the nursery and dropped the mouse by Icefur, who purred her thanks. Her kits slept peacefully. Ravenpaw bent her head and licked each on the head. She loved them more than anything else right now. Turning, she exited the den.
She had a whole night to herself. Stretching herself out, she began to groom herself. She watched through narrowed eyes as Lionpaw approached.
"Mind if I join you?" he purred, eyes twinkling. Ravenpaw purred back, and Lionpaw settled down beside her, gently cleaning her ears.
Ravenpaw swept her gaze around the clearing. Shadowfur was nowhere to be seen, and Darkpaw lay napping under the Highrock. Uneasily, she looked for Stormclaw, finding him at the entrance, ears pricked. The only other warrior in camp was Whitefoot, who lay by the warrior den. Ravenpaw flicked her tail, feeling uneasy.
While she knew it was unlikely they would be attacked, something felt wrong. The forest was too quiet, and there were only two warriors in camp, if you didn't count Jaypelt and Icefur. The feeling of unease grew, and she flicked her ears forward, alert. Something was wrong, she was sure of it. Lionpaw sensed her stiffen, and he looked at her in concern.
"Ravenpaw?" he murmured. Ravenpaw stood, all senses strained forward. She padded up next to Stormclaw.
"Stormclaw?" she asked uneasily. His eyes were troubled also, flicking back and forth.
"I feel it too," he murmured. "Go make sure the queens are safe, and get the elders into the nursery. We will take no chances," he muttered, beckoning Lionpaw forward.
"Lionpaw, you keep watch with me," he meowed, pricking his ears. Lionpaw nodded. Ravenpaw pressed her nose into his fur before padding towards the elder's den.
"Mousewhisker, Lilyfur," she hissed, waking them up from their peaceful slumber.
"Ravenpaw? What would you want at this unholy hour?" Lilyfur mewed, confused. Ravenpaw nudged her to her feet, then pressed herself against Mousewhisker.
"Stormclaw wants you two in the nursery. Something is going on," she whispered, her tone urgent. Lilyfur nodded, and she padded to the nursery quickly, Ravenpaw following closely behind. Once she had tugged the entrance closed, she padded over to Darkpaw, prodding him with her paw.
"Darkpaw," she hissed. His eyes flashed open, and he jumped up, tail lashing.
"What's happening?" he asked, disoriented. Ravenpaw brushed her tail along his flank soothingly, calming him down.
"Nothing yet. Stormclaw is just being cautious," she murmured gently. Darkpaw nodded, sitting back down and licking his rumpled fur. Ravenpaw sat down beside him, watching the entrance.
Suddenly, she saw Stormclaw stand and call out, and Lionpaw tense. An unfamiliar scent wafted from the forest. Before she had time to wonder what it was, the clearing exploded. Six cats burst into the clearing, eyes blazing. Their pelts were ragged and stank of trash. Stormclaw wrestled with the biggest, while Whitefoot charged forward, yowling a challenge. Lionpaw leaped onto one's back, snarling.
Before Ravenpaw could move to help her friend, she was bowled over by a skinny she-cat with blazing amber eyes. The she-cat spat in her face, and Ravenpaw raked her claws down her face. Growling, she kicked the tortoiseshell cat off of her and jumped on her, raking her claws down her belly. Before she could deliver a warning bite, she was slammed into by another cat.
Great StarClan, were going to get our butts whooped! She gave a frantic yowl as she struggled under the tabby's weight. The tortoiseshell pinned her hindquarters down, and the tabby raised its paw, claws gleaming in the moonlight, for the final blow. Ravenpaw snarled at him, refusing to back down. I'll die fighting!
Casting a frantic glance around, the realized the others weren't much better off. Stormclaw faced two identical black toms, defiance flashing in his eyes. Whitefoot wrestled with a massive white tom, and Darkpaw lashed out at a slender tabby she-cat.
Snapping back to her two cats, she waited for the claw to fall. She growled at the tabby, who only laughed mirthlessly.
"What a pretty little she-cat. Too bad she has to die. Such fire too," he purred silkily, eyes gleaming with sick delight. Ravenpaw snapped at his leg with her teeth, missing by a millimeter. She watched with fascinated horror as the claw fell towards her neck. Suddenly, a dark flash slammed into her attacker.
Ravenpaw watched, horrified, as Lionpaw wrestled with the tabby, screeching.
"Lay one paw on her and I swear, I'll kill you!" he yowled, fury flashing in his dark eyes. Ravenpaw slammed herself into the tortoiseshell, pinning her down and biting her neck viciously. The she-cat yowled, squirming from her grasp. She leaped onto the black apprentice's back digging her claws in.
"You just don't give up, do you?" she spat, rolling on her back. The she-cat spat at her, raking her chest with thorn-sharp claws.
"I'm on a mission. You must die!" she screeched, before leaping towards Ravenpaw. Ravenpaw met her in mid-air, their bodies crashing to the ground gracelessly.
Ravenpaw squirmed, scratched, and bit, realizing how tired she was becoming. I can't keep this up much longer, she thought desperately. Suddenly, a yowl rang through the clearing, and Ravenpaw let her shoulder be scratched as she looked at the entrance, hope flaring in her eyes.
Stonepelt, Leafstar, Snowpaw, Oakshadow, everyone came pouring into the clearing, tails lashing and eyes alight with fury. Stonepelt leaped onto one of the gray toms cornering Stormclaw, Snowpaw leaped down beside Darkpaw, the two of them fighting side by side. Leafstar weaved through the crowd, bowling Ravenpaw's tortoiseshell over with one mighty swipe.
Ravenpaw watched her leader fight, awe-struck. She had heard of Leafstar's prowess in battle, but she had never imagined this.
Leafstar, in one fluid motion, had the scrawny she-cat pinned down. Snarling, she placed one silver paw on her chest raked her belly with the other. Leaning down, she picked the she-cat up by the scruff and tossed her across the clearing. Ravenpaw watched the rogues flee, and blinked when she saw the devastation.
There were holes in the bramble shield. Fur and blood lay splattered everywhere. Stormclaw was an unmoving bundle of dark fur and blood. Whitefoot's light ginger pelt was torn and he was panting heavily. Barktail rushed around, herbs in his mouth.
Ravenpaw looked desperately for Lionpaw. Finally, she found him staggering to his paws towards the prey pile. A purr caught in her throat, she streaked towards him, pushing her nose in his fur.
"You saved my life, Lionpaw. Thank you," she rasped, tears welling in her eyes. Lionpaw let out an unsteady purr, swaying on his paws. Supporting him, she led him towards Barktail. After she had made sure he was okay, she searched for Stonepelt.
"How are you?" she asked her mentor, worried. He had a cut on his cheek, and his ears drooped. He looked at her, faintly amused.
"You look much worse than me," he meowed tiredly. Ravenpaw leaned over and licked the cut on his cheek, cleaning it.
"I feel fine. No way I'm letting a stinking rogue beat me," she chirped cheerfully, though her wounds ached. She had a long gash on her flank, scratches on her belly, a bite on her shoulder, another scratch on her cheek. Oh, and a torn ear. Stonepelt purred, pride glowing in his eyes.
"You fought well. I'm very proud of you," he murmured, giving her a lick on top of her head. She purred loudly, happiness flooding her. Getting up, she waved her tail.
"Well, I better go check on the queens and elders. No doubt their wondering what in the name of StarClan is happening," she mewed before padding to the nursery. Poking her head in, Jaypelt gave out a vicious hiss before realizing it was her.
"Ravenpaw! Thank StarClan it's you! Is everyone all right?" she asked in a rush. Icefur raised her head, fear gleaming in her eyes.
"Stormclaw looks pretty bad," she murmured, bowing her head. With a wail, Icefur rushed past her to her mate, who hadn't moved. Barktail hovered over him, worry clouding his wise eyes.
"And what about you dearie?" Lilyfur asked, padding up to her.
"Just some cuts and bruises," Ravenpaw mewed cheerfully, ignoring the stinging pain. Other cats needed treatment more than her. Withdrawing, she padded over to Icefur and Stormclaw. She paused by Barktail.
"Will he be okay?" she asked him. He glanced at her, looking exhausted.
"I don't know. I just don't know. It's in the paws of StarClan now," he murmured shutting his eyes. Ravenpaw felt her heart drop. Padding over to him, she bent her head, willing him to live.
"Please Stormclaw, please live. Your kits need you," she whispered, pain eating at her heart. She and Icefur sat there for what seemed like eternity. Suddenly, Stormclaw raised his head, and gave his mate a gentle lick on the cheek.
"I love you Icefur. Take care of them, and let them know I loved them more than anything," he rasped, before letting his head fall. Giving one shuddering breath, Stormclaw closed his eyes for the last time. Ravenpaw watched in despair as he stopped breathing and lay still. Icefur let out a bone-chilling wail.
No. Stormclaw. Ravenpaw shut her eyes. The memories were all so clear. Him and Icefur, laughing. Hunting with him. Stormclaw looking at her warmly on the night of his kit's birth. Stormclaw playing with his kits, looking happier and prouder than any dad on earth. Stormclaw…Tears fells from her eyes like rain, soaking her chest and paws. Icefur buried her nose into her mate's still fur.
Barktail stepped forward and pronounced him dead. Leafstar bowed her head.
"Stormclaw was a noble warrior, with many seasons of service and happiness ahead of him," she meowed, her voice ringing clearly throughout the clearing. Fernstep padded up to her brother and licked his ear before stretching out before him. In just one short moon, she had lost her mother, and a brother. Leafstar continued. "We will mourn him for many moons," she finished before padding forward to share tongues with her clan mate.
Ravenpaw jumped as Lionpaw's pawsteps sounded from behind her.
"He didn't deserve to die," he murmured, eyes gleaming with sorrow. Ravenpaw leaned against him, burying her head in his shoulder fur, wishing she could escape all this. After a few moments, she lifted her head, gazing at Lionpaw with clear green eyes.
"I will mourn him tonight, for he was my friend. He was like my older brother, and I'll miss him all the more for that," she whispered, before padding up to her dead friend. She licked his cooling fur gently, sadly. Her tears wet his flank.
"Thank you for accepting me. I will watch over your kits with my life, I promise you that," she whispered before settling down beside Icefur. She groomed the queen's white fur gently, preparing herself for a long, cold vigil.
Barktail padded up and silently began treating her wounds. Ravenpaw endured it silently as well, numb with shock. She pressed herself up against Icefur, sharing her warmth with the grieving queen. She cried silently. Fernstep's eyes were empty as she looked at her brother. Ravenpaw gazed at what once was a brave, intelligent warrior.
Why did you have to die?