Hiya, everyone! How are you guys? …um, anyways, I am gonna keep trying to update every other day(: Well, if homework allows…

It's like: Homework. Wat r u doing? Homework. STAHP. Like that meme that keeps popping up around Facebook.

-sigh- so you guys know what to do- read and review!

Enjoy!~

Chapter 22

Larkblossom

Cold. Anger. Fear. Overwhelming sorrow.

Flashes of her clanmates flitted around her as she seemed to be swimming around her own thoughts. A shape of what might have been Jayfrost or maybe Kindlestrike; colors blurred together with no sense whatsoever.

Then the world dimmed, turned dark, and then there was no color at all. It simply was.

Jayfrost

Jayfrost found Larkblossom still standing near Rowanstar's body. She just sat there. Kindlestrike and Fawntail padded up to him.

"Jayfrost...there's something wrong with her. It's as if she's…" Fawntail trailed off, trying to find words for it and looked to Kindlestrike for help. The tom shook his head.

"It's as if she had died too." He mewed quietly. His eyes darkened and narrowed to slits.

"Witherstar will pay." He growled. Jayfrost nodded at his friend's words. He turned away from them and started over to his friend. Briarpath came over to him.

"Take care of her; I have to return to my Clan. Redheart will be staying here with you and the rest of the Clan." Jayfrost said nothing and looked into the younger warrior's eyes. He knew from the light and painful glow that he had loved Larkblossom. It was never meant to be, no matter how much either wants it to.

The red warrior leaned in and whispered in Larkblossom's ear then gave her a last longing look. He said nothing as he turned to FireClan territory.

"He's basically walking to his death." Jayfrost jumped. Redheart sat right beside him. Her eyes betrayed no emotion.

"Witherstar knows of what he has done. He will have him killed; or tortured. Death would be kinder, but I know Witherstar is not of the sort." Jayfrost shuddered at the thought.

"Let's get this one home now; I don't want my hind to freeze to the ground." Redheart got up from her spot and nudged Larkblossom as Thorntalon began to call the Clan together to return home.

Larkblossom (a few days later)

Larkblossom drifted in and out of a sea of pitch black, nothing she could grasp with any kind of understanding surrounded her in her unconscious state.

Then it became clear. It was dark, warm, and nothing could harm her here.

She was free, here in her mind.

But then something moved. Things moved. They moved inside of her.

This was strange and a new concept in this dark world. It didn't make sense. What could move here, in this darkness?

"Larkblossom!" A sharp cry shattered the dark and dragged the unwilling she-cat into the light. The warrior blinked her eyes at the form whom had called her back into painful reality.

Redheart.

"Great StartClan! You've been out for a while! Oh, Brownfeather wanted to speak to you." The red she-cat rambled, her whiskers nervously twitching. Barely awake and aware of herself, Larkblossom croaked before able to form a word, let alone a sentence. But she could tell there was something obviously wrong or different.

"Nevermind, I'll fetch her myself." The she-cat hurried away from Larkblossom. She was left alone in the sharp smelling medicine cat den.

There were several holes in the walls of the trunk that held the herbs. Across from her there were four other nests, but she was the only occupant. Brownfeather's nest was on the far back of the den near a side entrance to some other part of the camp.

"Larkblossom, I'm glad you're awake." The medicine cat meowed softly and padded into the den. Redheart soon trailed after her. Larkblossom nodded.

"You took…you know, the news very hard. But I have good news for you now." Larkblossom tilted her head to the side.

She looked to Redheart. The warrior had a knowing glint in her eyes. "What is it?" Larkblossom questioned.

"You are expecting kits!" Brownfeather exclaimed happily. Larkblossom blinked.

"Kits?" She echoed. It didn't seem right.

"They'll be wonderful darling." Redheart congratulated her. From the tone of voice and look in her eyes, Larkblossom knew exactly who the kit's father was. Larkblossom looked down at her paws. She knew she should have been happy, but something felt very wrong.

"Brownfeather, leave us for a moment." Redheart commanded. The medicine cat gave them both a confused look but obeyed.

"I'm taking it that Thorntalon accepted you into the Clan." Larkblossom said after she left. Redheart grunted.

"Yes. Now, will Jayfrost think that they are his kits?" She asked, getting straight to the point. Larkblossom sighed, wishing for the black oblivion that she had relished earlier to return.

"No, nor do I want him to. It wouldn't be fair to either of us." She mewed.

Redheart growled. "Thorntalon wouldn't be as understanding as your father! He would exile you for breaking the Code!" She hissed in fear. Larkblossom flattened her ears.

"I know, but why do that to him? I don't love him, I love Briarpath!" She protested. Redheart closed her eyes.

"Briarpath may not even be alive anymore, Larkblossom. Witherstar might have had him killed by now because he tried to defend your father."

Larkblossom shook her head. "I don't want these kits here then." Redheart stared at the young warrior.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked, fur bristling.

"These kits don't need all of this, I want them to grow up happy and not have to fear death at every moment of their lives Redheart." Larkblossom explained. "In fact, I need to make sure that will happen."

Redheart frowned. "Where will they achieve that?" Larkblossom looked back down at her paws.

"I know someone who may help me. But I'm going to find them alone and stay until I know my kits will be safe from all the harm that they could meet here."