Chapter 23

The first snowfall had arrived just days after her kits were born. Willowcloud wasn't sure how her kits would survive during the coldest season. They were already getting big with each passing day, but the air grew colder and colder. She knew that it would only get worse with each passing day. Leopard had to dig through the cave's entrance so that she could leave when she needed to make dirt. He'd promised that he would keep an eye on the kits.

Willowcloud's worry had decreased when Leopard found a nest of baby mice nearby. She hated eating children, especially when she herself had kits to feed. But Leopard had reassured her that the mice would be enough to keep her well-fed. Willowcloud had accepted the baby mice eagerly after that. The meal had filled her belly for a while. Embertail had given her borage and herbs that would keep her milk supply strong, but she had been worried that lack of prey would soon become obvious.

She shook her head as the tiny kits suckled. For days now she'd wondered which kits would show the signs of becoming powerful warriors like her former Clanmates. Badgerkit was already showing signs that he was much like his father. He had powerful front paws that made her wince every time he pushed forward, shoving Mousekit aside. She had scolded him only once, and that seemed to work.

"You three will all become good warriors," she said out loud.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the sound of approaching pawsteps. Motherly instinct quickly took over when she saw the cat wasn't Embertail or Leopard. The fur along her neck began to stand on end as she hissed furiously.

"Willowcloud." The sudden word made Willowcloud's ears prick forward almost instantly. She wrapped her tail protectively around her kits, feeling them squirm as they tried to escape from her grasp.

"Sparrowfur?" Willowcloud said the name slowly and loud so that the intruder could hear.

The dark gray she-cat suddenly peered through the cave's entrance, yellow eyes stretched wide in awe when she saw the kits at Willowcloud's belly. Confusion coursed through Willowcloud when she saw something move between Sparrowfur's legs. She looked up at her sister and narrowed her eyes. Anxiety suddenly began to seep through Willowcloud as she wondered if something had happened to the Clan. Sparrowfur's expression grew serious when she revealed what she had been hiding.

A tiny silver tabby kit was flicking her claws across Sparrowfur's legs, causing the medicine cat to cringe with each swipe. Willowcloud stared at the tiny kit in shock.

"I managed to save her before her mother was killed," Sparrowfur explained after noticing the confusion. "Please, Willowcloud, she needs a mother, one who won't abandon her."

"Why should I take a kit in when I have my own to feed?" Almost immediately Willowcloud had thought of the little kit that had been stillborn. He would have survived if she had not been so determined to show that she was not useless. Sparrowfur's eyes darkened for a moment as a brief flicker of sorrow gleamed within them. "What happened to the Clans?" She decided to change the subject by asking that question. She was eager to find out what had happened during the past few days.

"Ghost…Ghoststar took over the Clans," Sparrowfur murmured. "He killed Thornstar…then he killed Ruststripe." Her voice dropped to a whimper as she mentioned her mentor's name. Willowcloud felt her heart clench in pain as she imagined the old medicine cat's green eyes. "I couldn't stop him! I tried everything in my powers, but I feel so…." She broke off and glared at her paws. The kit had stopped moving and was staring at her in alarm. "I managed to save Mistkit though. Her mother was to be executed in front of the Clans…. I couldn't allow her only surviving kit to watch."

"You know you will likely be punished for this?" Willowcloud found herself pitying the tiny kit. She knew what it was like to lose everything. She could understand why Sparrowfur would go to such lengths just to save the last survivor of PebbleClan.

"He can't afford to lose his medicine cat," Sparrowfur growled. "Not after everything I have done for him."

Willowcloud allowed Mistkit to reach over with a paw. A low purr sounded in her throat when the kit's eyes grew wide in wonder. This kit had never known what living in a cave was like. Now she would know. When Willowcloud looked up, she saw that Sparrowfur's head was bowed.

"I'm sorry, for everything that happened to you," she murmured. "I wish I could do more to help but…Mistkit is the only offer I have for now. Hopefully StarClan will know what to do about Ghoststar."

StarClan asked me to stop him…and I refused, Willowcloud thought.

"Thank you, for everything," she whispered. "You're a wonderful sister." She gave Sparrowfur's forehead a comforting lick, though the movement was a bit difficult with four kits at her belly.

Guilt made Sparrowfur take a step back. Willowcloud blinked in confusion, but Sparrowfur turned around and left before she could say anything else.

. . .

Her paws felt like they were made of stones as they carried her back towards Clan territory. She wasn't even sure what to call the new Clan that Ghoststar had formed. All three Clans had been combined into one super Clan. Rainstar's death had marked the end of an era, one that would leave a scar in the history of the forest Clans. The warriors themselves had been shocked by Ghoststar's announcement. Several had retaliated, but they were pushed back by Ghoststar's followers.

She shook her head in frustration. Why had StarClan allowed him to get away with this? The Clans had always been three. Nothing had ever changed it, and nothing ever would have if Ghoststar had not been born. Every day she prayed that things would go back to normal. Every day she opened her eyes she found herself fixing wounds or gathering herbs with Winterpaw.

Even Winterpaw will replace me, she thought sadly. Her knowledge of herbs has gotten better with each passing day.

Ghoststar had already threatened to replace her with a younger cat if she was not careful. She had refused to tell Willowcloud this. Her sister would only worry about her the longer she was away from the gorge. She couldn't put that kind of stress on Willowcloud, not after everything she had already done to her.

"Sparrowfur!" The dark gray medicine cat flinched when her name was shouted. She fought back a sigh as a group of cats approached her. Spiderfur was leading the patrol, behind him were Mothfire, Suntalon and Robintail. All four cats looked annoyed when they saw their medicine cat standing out in the open. "What are you doing out here on your own? Don't you know that Ghoststar wants an escort with you at all times?" Spiderfur was circling her now, his tail lashing from side to side in annoyance as he spoke.

"I had to make dirt," Sparrowfur explained. "I didn't want to bother anyone since they were all preparing for the…execution." She looked down at her paws when Mothfire gave a shrill snort of laughter.

"I bet she couldn't even kill a fly!" Suntalon sneered.

"Silence!" Spiderfur swung around and swatted a paw across Suntalon's face. The ginger tom stared at Spiderfur in disbelief as blood began to stream out of an old wound. "Now, where were we?" Spiderfur's eyes narrowed coldly as he glared at Sparrowfur.

"I say we keep our fresh-kill from her," Robintail declared. "That'll teach her to keep her mouth shut."

"Yes, lack of prey would make you more…persuasive. Very well, no fresh-kill for three days will do."

Horror crept through Sparrowfur as she was surrounded by the four cats. The blood on Suntalon's face had not cleared. She would have to clean that up as well, on top of all of that, she would face further punishment from Ghoststar.

The place that was considered camp was silent by the time they returned. Sparrowfur kept her eyes on her paws, trying to avoid looking at Hazelwind as she was slain in front of the Clan. A scream sounded in the air, signaling that the job had been finished by one of the apprentices.

This is worse than the stories of evil cats from the past, Sparrowfur thought with a shudder.

"Hazelwind has betrayed the Clan by having kits with Breezewind, a deputy who followed StarClan like a lost kit!" Yowls of agreement followed Ghoststar's words. Sparrowfur closed her eyes as she padded into her den. She didn't want to hear anything else.

"Sparrowfur?" Her whiskers twitched slightly when a younger cat said her name. "I'm scared. I keep seeing…blood." She opened her eyes to see that Winterpaw was trembling in front of her.

"It's okay Winterpaw." Sparrowfur took a step forward and pressed her nose comfortingly on Winterpaw's forehead. The young apprentice continued trembling until Sparrowfur breathed deeply. "You have suffered too much in your young life…." She cut herself off when she realized she was talking about herself.

"But…Ghoststar will stop it won't he? He promised that there would be peace after this," Winterpaw whimpered.

"I'm not sure," Sparrowfur murmured.

"He said that the Clan would need to be purified…and that StarClan no longer exists." Winterpaw stared up at Sparrowfur with wide amber eyes.

So innocent, Sparrowfur thought. She knows nothing but Ghoststar and his ways now.

"What are you doing with my daughter!" Sparrowfur's pelt stood on end when she heard Icefeather's yowl. She whirled around to see the white she-cat bounding forward, fangs bared in a snarl. "Stay away from her, traitor!"

"How am I a traitor?" Sparrowfur tilted her head to one side in confusion. Fear and hurt wormed it's way into her stomach as she wondered what other lies Ghoststar had told the Clan.

"You follow StarClan. I'm surprised Ghoststar hasn't killed you yet!" Icefeather's green eyes were narrowed in disgust. "Stay away from Winterpaw!"

"But I have to train her," she protested. "Who else will know how to use herbs or…." She closed her eyes as she realized what she was about to say.

"Winterpaw will have someone else to train her." Sparrowfur felt her blood run cold when she heard an all-too-familiar voice. Stonefang had been lurking in the gathered crowds over the past few days. His faith in StarClan was not strong like other medicine cats. He had once been a warrior, which meant that he was safe to do what he pleased. "I will carry out your training." Stonefang looked down at Winterpaw, who seemed to appear smaller than ever.

"But…." Sparrowfur looked down at her paws. No protest could save her now. Stonefang had knowledge that even she didn't when it came to herbs. "Very well."

She turned away from the den she had once slept in, feeling remorse creep over her. She knew that she had been replaced. Sooner or later her own death would come. She only hoped that she lived long enough to see Willowcloud one more time.

A/N: So…another long chapter! Anyways, this is the first time I've written in Sparrowfur's point of view, and she was quite the interesting character. Her personality just shows what I feel most of the time XP But in other news, next chapter should come out in Friday. Thanks to ImXDragon and String of Pearly for reviewing!