Chapter 3
Tragedy Strikes

A loud yowl woke Sabblestorm from his sleep. He shot to his feet and ran out of his den, totally expecting to see Duskclan cats pouring into the camp, but the clearing was empty. Another pain filled yowl echoed through the camp. Suddenly, he knew that yowl. It was Rippleshine.

He tore across the clearing as if his life depended on it, his heart racing madly. He barely slowed down in time to make it into the den without falling. Once inside, he was quickly at the young queens side. She was curled up on herself, clearly in pain. "Rippleshine!" he meowed. She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with pain and fear. "What do I do?"

"Go get Heatherwhisker, furball!" A cat called from behind him. He turned to see Hazelleaf moving towards them. "Well, don't just stand there looking like a mousebrain, go!" He blinked, coming out of his panicked stupor, and raced back out of the den.

He headed to the tree next to the warrior's den and climbed under it. "Heatherwhisker!" he meowed desperately into the darkness.

"I'm coming," came the muffled reply. Out came the dark copper tabby, a bundle of herbs clutched in her jaw. He flipped around, ran across the clearing again, and dove back into the nursery. Heatherwhisker was following so close, he could feel the she-cat's breath on his back.

He ran to Rippleshine's side. Her whole body was shaking, and she had stopped meowing, though her body was being racked by painful spasms. She was quickly becoming exhausted. Hazelleaf was standing behind her, liking her side vigorously. When Heatherwhisker showed up, she backed up and then turned to him. She nosed him in the side, and said, "Give the pour thing some room to breath."

"But..." he started, but the stern look on her face forced him to move.

She walked over to her nest where her two kits lay curled up together, obviously scared. "It's alright, everything is going to be okay," she cooed softly as she gently licked each of them on the head with the gentleness only a mother could muster. "Come on, let's go outside, shall we?" she then wrapped her tail around them both and corralled them outside. Sabblestorm followed.

By now, the clan had started to gather, awaken by Rippleshine's yowls. Hazelleaf quickly moved her kits away from the nursery and sat down. They huddled close to her, quickly pestering her with questions. Sabblestorm plopped down outside the nursery, sighing. He was scared beyond belief for his mate, but had no way to help her. He felt useless, and most of all, like he had failed Rippleshine in some way.

It seemed like moons before Heatherwhisker finally reappeared. She looked exhausted. He was quickly at her side, trying to push past her to get to his mate. "Don't," she meowed softly, and his heart sunk.

"What happened?" he demanded, feeling his world collapse.

"She needs to rest, if she is to make it," Heatherwhisker replied.

"So she's okay?" he asked.

"Mostly..." The medicine cat looked almost defeated. "There were... complications. I'm sorry, Sabblestorm, but... I don't know if any of them are going to make it. One of the kits died immediately; the poor thing didn't stand a chance. The other four are weak at best... and Rippleshine... there's no saying what cost this had on her body."

"But will she live?" he pressed.

The medicine cat bowed her head, and Sabblestorm feared the worse. "All I can say is pray Starclan is watching over her." she then plopped down, guarding her patient. He sat next to her. Slowly, the clan dispersed, except for one. Gingerclaw padded forward to sit next to Sabblestorm. The two tom's gazes met, and Sabblestorm knew Gingerclaw understood. He pressed close to his friend, thankful for his comfort. Heatherwhisker went back into the den several times, and sometimes took herbs in with her, but most of the time, she just stayed near the entrance, making sure no cat disturbed the queen inside.

At one point Rowanstar came by and asked how Rippleshine was doing. when Heatherwhisker replied that nothing was certain yet, she turned to her deputy. He saw his pain reflected in her eyes, and once again realized how great of a leader she was. "Don't worry about anything today, I'll make sure patrols go out and everything. Your job is to keep me updated on how fast Rippleshine is recovering, okay?" Her voice was full of hope, despite the underlying sorrow, and he could tell she was being overly optimistic for his sake. He nodded, feeling somewhat grateful, but he was too lost in his sorrow to really acknowledge it.

It was after highsun when Heatherwhisker came out looking a little more hopeful. "One of the kits is going to make it, for sure. He's a strong little fur ball," she informed him.

Joy surged through Sabblestorm before fear replaced it. "What about Rippleshine and the other two?" he asked carefully.

"Rippleshine hasn't gotten worse... but she hasn't gotten better, either. The other two have improved, but I'm not sure yet. They probably will survive," she replied. He sighed, worry for his mate and kits surging through him, mixed with happiness for the one healthy son, and sorrow from the death of his other kit.

Heatherwhisker walked back into the den, and did not leave until sunset. Gingerclaw did not leave his side except for once, and he brought back prey for the both of them. Sabblestorm picked at his, until his friend urged him to eat it. "You need to save your strength, for your son," he told him, "eat." He then ate the rest, but he didn't taste a single bite of it.

Heatherwhisker finally stepped out of the den. She sighed. "The kits are doing well, and Rippleshine is going to make it. She's awake, but very tired. If you want to see her, make it quick. Sabblestorm was already in the den by the time she said 'quick'.

He padded carefully towards Rippleshine, almost as if he might brake her if he was too loud or moved too quickly. She opened her eyes when he approached, but didn't try and lift her head. She just stared at him, her blue eyes a bit dazed, but relieved. "Sabblestorm?" She whispered so softly he could barely hear her.

"I'm here, love. It's all right now," he meowed soothingly. She sighed, and let her eyes droop shut. He sat next to her, and gently licked her ears, purring softly.

She then opened her eyes again and looked up to him. "Are... my kits okay?" she meowed, sounding worried.

"Yes, they are all fine," he lied. He wouldn't tell her about the other kit. There were only three cats alive that knew, and he would tell them not to tell her.

"One isn't. I knew he was dead," she meowed, her voice even softer than before.

So she knows... he thought, and then meowed, "Besides that one, they're fine."

She nodded slightly, and her eyelids drooped shut again. He was about to leave to let her rest when she looked up again. "Sabblestorm? Stay with me, please. I don't want to be alone." He nodded and laid down behind her. He gently began grooming her fur. She quickly fell into a deep sleep. Once her eyelids closed, he couldn't move his nose away from her side to make sure she didn't stop breathing. Once he did look up, to glance at the small bundles at her side. Pride swelled through his emotionally racked self at the site of them. They would be okay. He mourned over the death of one of his kits, but he had four other healthy kits, and a beautiful mate, and a wonderful clan to call home. He would be okay.

It didn't take long for Rippleshine to recover. Though both her and Sabblestorm knew she would never quite be the same, Heatherwhisker said she had returned to full health. They had named them slowly, as their personalities progressed. The first one, a small ginger colored tom they named Gingerkit, after Sabblestorm's close friend, Gingerclaw. The youngest one and the runt of the group was a small lilac tortoiseshell she-cat. They had named her Gentlepaw. Their was also a siamese and a blue point. The Siamese was a she-cat, and looked just like the kit's mother. They named her Sandkit, because of her sand colored fur. The blue point tom they named Silverkit.

The kits began moving around, slowly growing and becoming stronger. One day, Sabblestorm sat outside the nursery, Rippleshine at his side, while his four kits explored the world for the first time. They had just opened their eyes, and Rippleshine had decided to take them outside. Hazelleaf's kits were also outside, showing their newfound friends around. "Owlkit?" Sandkit squeaked as she padded up to the older kit. "Where are we?"

"We're in Dawnclan, our home. I told you that, Sandkit," he meowed. His tone was surprisingly gentle.

"Oh..." the kit looked totally lost. "You did?"

"Yup," Owlkit meowed with a slight smile.

"Oh..." the kit muttered again. She then shrugged over dramatically, and then turned and crouched in front of Owlkit. "Wet's pway!" she meowed. Sabblestorm grinned at how she had mispronounced 'let's play'. Kit's are so cute, he thought.

"Oh, alright, we can play," Owlkit resented. He acted as if he was above playing like a kit, but Sabblestorm could see the excited gleam in his eyes. The kits gathered their siblings, and then they started playing some sort of game Sabblestorm couldn't follow.

Suddenly Shadepaw padded up. The dark coated tom had a mischievous grin on his face, which made Sabblestorm frown in concern. "Can we play too?" he meowed, his tone a bit too friendly.

"Uh..." Owlkit meowed, sounding a bit nervous. "Aren't you a little big?"

"To play? Are you kidding me?" Shadepaw meowed. "I even came up with a new game we can play."

"Reawy?" Sandkit meowed, padding up next to Owlkit.

"Uh huh. Even little furballs like you can play," Shadepaw replied.

"Okay! I wanna pway!" Sandkit exclaimed. She then looked confused again. Leaning closer to Owlkit, she meowed in a loud whisper, "Wait, what's a furbawl?

"Uh, I'll tell you later," he told the young she-cat. She pouted a little, but he had turned away, looking to Shadepaw. "How do you play?"

Shadepaw began explaining his game. Sabblestorm's kits quickly gathered around Owlkit and the apprentice. Sabblestorm quickly noticed that the longer he explained, the more complicated it became. The younger kits were quickly confused, but Owlkit frowned, looking irritated. When Gentlekit said she was confused, Shadepaw started to laugh. "Aw... the pour wittle kitty's too stupid to understand?" this only confused Gentlekit more, but Owlkit seemed to realize what had happened.

"You did that on purpose!" Owlkit meowed, now mad.

"Yeah, so?" Shadepaw meowed.

"Why would you do that? You know their too young to understand. Why do you take advantage of them like that?" Owlkit demanded.

"Um, maybe because I'm bored, and their stupid confused little faces are hilarious?" Shadepaw replied with a smirk.

"They are not stupid! You used to be a kit too, you know. You weren't always the brightest one in the bunch!: Owlkit meowed, now furious.

"I'm not the stupid one who gets confused over the simplest things," Shadepaw meowed, the smirk still present, her voice annoyingly calm. His tone grated on Sabblestorm's nerves too, but he decided to wait and see how Owlkit handled things.

"No, your the stupid one to make fun of kits!" Owlkit snapped. For some reason, this angered Shadepaw. Sabblestorm could see it in his dark eyes. He didn't expect his next move though. If he had, Sabblestorm would have stopped him.

Shadepaw slashed out at Owlkit with one paw, claws extended. Owlkit flinched back, but their was no avoiding the blow. Sabblestorm ran forward, but he knew he wouldn't get there in time to prevent the kit from being hurt. Luckily, he hadn't been the only cat that was watching the fight; he hadn't noticed it, but Hazelflare had moved closer as the two argued. She became a flash of fur and action as she pushed her kit away, taking the blow for him. Her thicker fur saved her from most of it, but blood still sprung from the wound. She didn't even flinch as she turned to face the younger cat, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you strike out at a kit!" she growled. "Get out of here! I will not have you around my kits again- or any kits, for that matter." Shadepaw scrambled backwards, clearly surprised. He then stopped, flicked his tail in disgust, and padded off.

Sabblestorm approached the queen and asked if she was okay. "I'm fine," she huffed. She glared over her shoulder at the retreating tom, and then turned to Owlkit. Sunkit had padded up next to her brother. Hazelleaf gently pushed both towards the nursery, deciding play time was over. Rippleshine followed suit, sense her kits no longer seemed in the mood to explore. Sabblestorm was left in the middle of the camp, staring at the apprentice den in confusion. Why did Shadepaw act that way? he wondered. Shaking his head, he turned away.

A week later, Sabblestorm was awoken by another yowl. Many dreams had haunted him of Rippleshine in pain for quite some time now, so he was about to dismiss the yowl as another dream, when he noticed other cats around him were awake, and Gingerclaw was missing. Sabblestorm stood and left the warrior den. He padded outside and looked around, wondering who had yowled. What he found made his blood run cold. Over to one side of the camp lay three, bloodstained heaps of fur. Standing over them, his claws covered in blood, was a stunned looking Shadepaw. Sabblestorm ran to his side and meowed, "What happened here?"

"I... I don't know," Shadepaw meowed. Sabblestorm stared at the cats at the apprentice's feet. To his horror, he found Hazelleaf and her two kits before him. He moved to the queen and sniffed her pelt. She was still breathing, but she was barely breathing.

As he turned to the kits, other cats gathered. "Get Heatherwhisker, quickly!" he meowed urgently. He then turned to the two kits. To his dismay, he discovered Sunkit was dead already, and Owlkit wasn't much better off. Who could have done this? He then thought of Shadepaw. He had been standing over the three, his claws soaked in blood. He turned to him. He hadn't moved. "What happened?" he meowed again, more sternly.

"I... I don't know, Sabblestorm, honest. I found them like this," Shadepaw meowed, his voice very quiet.

"Why are your paws soaked in blood?" Sabblestorm demanded. He couldn't help but be suspicious. He looked down at them, as if discovering them for the first time, and then looked back up to Sablestorm. Fear had filled his dark blue eyes. Why is he only now afraid?

He suddenly started shifting from paw to paw, and then started to dig his claws into the ground. "I don't know! Some cat killed them. It wasn't me!" he yowled.

"Nobody accused you of anything, Shadepaw. Why would you be worried we thought you killed them?" Rowanstar meowed, padding up behind them.

Shadepaw turned to her, and then stared at the ground. "I didn't mean it that way..." he muttered.

Rowanstar frowned. "Stop trying to wipe the blood off your paws, Shadepaw, it won't help you any," she suddenly ordered. Does she think he did it? Sabblestorm thought in surprise. Rowanstar was staring at the apprentice's paws. "Tell me, Shadepaw, why is there golden fur between your claws?" she snapped, suddenly angry.

"I..." he muttered, but came up with no viable excuse.

Sabblestorm's eyes widened in horror. Suddenly he put two and two together. Shadepaw had gotten into an argument earlier with the very cats that were now at the brink of death in front of him. He had their blood and Hazelleaf's fur on his claws. Would he really kill for such a small argument? Apparently. All the evidence pointed towards him, there was no avoiding that fact.

Heatherwhisker showed up, carrying herbs again. "Oh dear... what happened?" she muttered, but she didn't wait for an answer. She started to bandage the cat's wounds with cobweb, applying herbs as she went. "Here, Sabblestorm, help me get them back to my den," she meowed. He walked forward, and grabbed on to the Hazelleaf's scruff. Heatherwhisker crouched and he pulled the queen onto her back. He then slipped under her two, and together they carried their unconscious clan-mate away from the pool of blood in the center of the camp. Owlkit was brought in a few moments after, by his father, Gingerclaw. He laid the kit in the nest next to his mother. When Sabblestorm sat next to him, the ginger warrior buried his face in Sabblestorm's fur. Sabblestorm bowed his head, morning with his friend.

Suddenly Heatherwhisker cried out in sorrow. "I lost her... oh no... Hazelleaf, come back! Oh..." the medicine cat bowed her head, and then moved away from the limp queen to her remaining patient. Gingerclaw moaned and moved towards the body of his mate, looking heartbroken. Sabblestorm moved with him, keeping close, silently letting him know that he was here for his friend. He knew what it was like to loose a kit, and he had almost lost his mate too. Pour Gingerclaw.

After a few moments, Rowanstar poked her head in. "Sabblestorm, I need to talk to you," he nodded, and then turned to his friend. He gently pressed his nose to the ginger's tom's shoulder, feeling bad for leaving him.

"I'll watch over him," Heatherwhisker meowed as he padded up.

"What about Owlkit?" He asked.

"I can watch them both," she meowed. She then pushed some seeds towards Gingerclaw. "Here, Gingerclaw, their poppyseeds. They'll make you feel better."

Sabblestorm stood and padded out, looking for his leader. She stood in the center of camp, in front of Braveheart and Silverwing. Shadepaw, with his head bowed, sat in between the two warriors. Sabblestorm padded up to Rowanstar and meowed, "What do you need, Rowanstar?"

"I need to know what exactly you saw. Did you see any evidence of another cat involved?" Rowanstar meowed, her tone completely business, none of her usual kindness present.

"No. The only cats I saw were the injured ones, and Shadepaw," he answered, his voice taking on the same tone.

"Did you actually see Shadepaw hurt them?" she asked.

"No." He replied simply.

She sighed. "Even though we didn't see him actually hurt them, the fur that clings to his claws has to be Hazelleaf. I can't ignore that. Shadepaw, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

The dark apprentice bowed his head lower, as if trying to hide from the leader's piercing gaze. "I was mad at Owlkit, I will admit that, but I wouldn't kill. Ever. Honest."

"Then how do you explain the fur and blood on your paws?" she meowed.

"I... can't." Shadepaw whispered.

Rowanstar sighed again, looking almost hurt. She then meowed for a gathering. Slowly the rest of the clan gathered. Gingerclaw came and sat next to Sabblestorm. "I thought you would be asleep, did you not take the poppyseeds?" Sabblestorm asked.

When Gingerclaw turned to meet his gaze, hate burned in his eyes. "I had to find out what happened to the murderer of my mate and daughter," he meowed curtly. Sabblestorm nodded.

The two turned towards Rowanstar as she began to speak. "Shadepaw, I call you here, because you have been marked a suspect for the murder of Hazelleaf and Sunkit. Is there anyone with evidence of a differing killer?" The crowd remained silent. She continued. "I have no definite proof you killed them, but I can't deny the evidence that does point towards you. I cannot have a murderer living in my clan. From now on, Shadepaw, you are no longer welcome in Dawnclan's territory. Leave now. If any of my warriors catch you on our territory, the will kill you. Is that clear?" Shadepaw nodded curtly. "Go, then." He stood, his head held defiantly, and padded out of the camp. Sabblestorm watched him go. Rowanstar turned to him. "Make sure he leaves." He nodded, and then followed Shadepaw out.

He followed the apprentice through their territory. At first, he paused, seeming unsure where to go. He then turned away, heading towards Duskclan territory. Is he going to join them? Sabblestorm wondered. He followed the apprentice to the border, and then waited a few moments. When he was certain Shadepaw was deep in Duskclan territory, he returned to camp.

He then padded towards Rowanstar. "What do we do about Owlkit?" he meowed.

"If he lives, he will become an apprentice. He will be six moons in a couple of days. I would like you to be his mentor, if you will," she requested. He nodded. "His sister would have made a fine apprentice as well, and their mother should be here to see them," she added, her tone full of sadness. She then shook her head, and padded back towards her den.

It took Owlkit three days to heal well enough to sleep outside the medicine den, but he never left. Without his mother and sister, he didn't bother trying to move back into the nursery- it would be too painful for him. Another couple of days past, and Heatherwhisker said he was ready to become an apprentice. Rowanstar called the meeting at sunhigh. "We gather here today to name a new apprentice. Come here, Owlkit." The young brown tom stepped forward. Sabblestorm could see how the death of his mother and sister had swept away the remainder of his kithood. He now looked serious, if not brooding, as he padded up to Rowanstar. Sabblestorm's heart ached for him. No cat should have to experience something so young. Rowanstar continued, drawing Sabblestorm from his dark thoughts. "From this moment on, until he earns his warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as Owlpaw."

Rowanstar then turned her golden eyes on Sabblestorm. "Sabblestorm, you are my deputy, and a great warrior. I know you will train this apprentice well." He stood and touched noses with his new apprentice, and then returned to the crowd. Rowanstar dismissed the meeting, and Sabblestorm turned to Owlpaw.

Before he could say anything, Owlpaw meowed, "I really don't feel like training today, Sabblestorm. Could we start tomorrow? I promise I'll be ready then."

"Alright, Owlpaw. You can talk to me, if you need to, you know," Sabblestorm informed him gently.

He nodded. Suddenly, his calm demeanor broke, and the sorrow he felt broke through. His pale blue turned to him, and he softly meowed, "They should be here. I shouldn't have been the only apprentice named today. Sunkit..." his voice broke at the end, turning into a sorrow filled moan. He bowed his head, his small frame shaking with pain.

"I'm sorry, Owlpaw. I miss them too. Your mother was a good friend of mine," he meowed softly.

Suddenly Owlpaw looked up, hate making his blue eyes cold. He looked twice as old, and a bit terrifying. "I'm going to find him. He'll pay for this," he growled, and then he turned and padded towards the apprentice den. Sabblestorm watched him go, not sure if he should cheer him on, or scold him that revenge wasn't the right thing to do. At that moment, as he beheld his friend and his apprentice's sorrow, he felt like ripping Shadepaw's throat out too.

ALLIANCES

Dawnclan

Leader

Rowanstar- Brown tabby she-cat with white markings and golden eyes.

Deputy

Sablestorm - Tortoiseshell tom with golden eyes. Apprentice, Owlpaw

Medicine Cat

Heatherwhisker - Dark copper tabby she-cat with white markings.

Warriors

Sandstone - Sand colored tom. Apprentice, Wolfpaw.

Gingerclaw - Ginger colored tom.

Braveheart - Once timid black she-cat. Apprentice, Lightningpaw.

Silverwing - Pretty silver she-cat with a small scar above her eye. Apprentice, Squirrelpaw

Apprentices

Wolfpaw - Dark gray and black tortoiseshell tom with blue-gray eyes.

Lightningpaw - pale golden tabby tom.

Squirrelpaw - squirrel colored she-cat.

Owlpaw - Tan tom with a white belly, chest, and chin. He has blue pale eyes.

Queens

Rippleshine - Siamese she-cat.(mate- Sablestorm Kits- Gingerkit, Silverkit, Gentlekit, Sandkit)

Elders

Cloudedeyes - old gray she-cat. Blind.

Duskclan

Leader

Cinderstar - Broad shouldered dark gray tabby tom.

Deputy

Willowhisp - Blue and white tabby she-cat with emerald eyes.

Medicine Cat

Moonsoul - Dark blue point she-cat with pale blue eyes.

Warriors

Whispspirit - Blue and white tabby she-cat with gray eyes.

Thornmouth - Older, battle scarred brown tom with a very short temper. Apprentice, Clovepaw

Apprentices

Clovepaw- Dark brown tabby tom.

Chanceclan

Leader

Fallstar- Completely black she-cat with golden eyes and a long, jagged scar along her left side.

Deputy

Oakfur- Dark brown tabby tom with yellow-green eyes and a scar across his chest.

Medicine Cat

Aquasky - Long haired blue she-cat with yellow eyes.

Warriors

Mystictail - dark blue, almost black she-cat. She looks black with a blue sheen. Senior warrior. Apprentice, Poppypaw

Wolfclaw - Brown and gray tom with long, abnormal sized claws. Senior warrior. Apprentice, Quickpaw

Brakenclaw - Bracken colored tortoiseshell tom. Senior warrior.

Darksong - Black she-cat and sister of Fallstar. Senior warrior. Apprentice, Reefpaw

Maplefur -Red tabby she-cat with aqua eyes. She's blind in one eye, and a scar crosses that side of her face.

Shadowleap - Black and gray tom. Fallstar's brother.

Singinglark - beautiful golden tabby she-cat with a white chest, belly and paws, and piercing, icy blue eyes.

Firestripe - brown tom with white and orange calico-like markings and green eyes.

Echocliff - gray tom with dark blue eyes.

Shadedmoon - Shadedmoon is a long-haired light silver she-cat with darker patches. Her voice was damaged in the fire that killed her in her previous life, and so it's very raspy, and sometimes when her throat is dry, she can't talk at all.

Apprentices

Poppypaw - Dark orange she-cat with black patches and yellow eyes.

Quickpaw - black and white tom.

Reefpaw - pale cream colored she-cat.

Queens

Whitebird - white she-cat with pale brown speckles. (mate- Echocliff. Kits- Lightningkit and Juniperkit)