Chapter Three
Older now at three moons, Silverkit and Fiercekit are twined around each other, curled into the crook of their mother's belly.
Stirring, the older of the two by seconds, raises his small silver head.
He yawns sleepily, uncurling and stretching.
Glancing around, he notices everyone is still sleeping so he quietly pads out of the nursing den. The nights guard, Poppyfeather is guarding the entrance, her cream pelt glowing eerily in the night. Ducking down and pressing to the side of the nursing den, he slowly creeps closer to the entrance, the tip of his tail twitching. Just reaching the medicine den, he jumps in fear, letting out a tiny squeak as a sharp claw pinches his tail. Whirling around, he glares at Fiercekit, whose silver eyes are gleaming with amusement.
Silverkit's heart is thundering in his chest and his fear scent rises off of him.
Raising a paw to her mouth, his mischievous littermate darts past him, moving closer to the entrance. She knows what he was planning on doing and is already in on it. He sighs, rolling his amber eyes but his heart settles some, knowing his littermate will be with him.
He catches up to her and excitement stirs in them as they slowly get closer to their target.
Poppyfeather turns and they freeze, shoving against each other and tumbling to the side just as her green gaze sweeps over where they were standing. Eyes wide, they look around and triumph flares as they realize they are in the dirt-place tunnel. Wrinkling their lips at the smell, they slowly make their way through. When they reach the end, they peer out, silver and amber eyes wide under their hair.
Nudging her brother, Fiercekit slowly sets a paw out on the forest floor.
She slowly slinks out of the tunnel, her silver eyes wide and peering through the scruff of hair that flops over her face. The trees loom over her and create long shadows that scare her a little but excite her at the same time. The air is full of scents that are new to her as she looks around, her silver-tipped paws slowly moving farther into the forest.
Looking after her, Silverkit slowly creeps out too.
His eyes widen as he stares around in amazement. Whirling around, Fiercekit's eyes gleam with excitement and a silent challenge. Leaping to her side, they start trotting through StormClan territory. It seems like it goes on forever as they slip through the forest. Silverkit lets out a yowl and Fiercekit whirls around, just in time to see him disappear with a terrified look on his face.
"Silverkit!" She wails loudly, leaping after her littermate. Peering over the edge, her silver eyes widen with fear as she sees him laying limply on the ground below. Scrambling down, she trots over to him and presses her nose to his fur.
"Got you!" He cries, laughing and lunging at her. Squeaking with shock, she falls back as he pounces on her. The shock leaving, she tugs his ear with her fang, causing him to laugh and squirm away. Rolling onto her belly, Fiercekit laughs and rises to her feet, shaking her flop of hair at her littermate. Laughing at her, he trots ahead, his tail held high.
A musky scent suddenly catches her attention and Fiercekit perks up her ears, opening her mouth to draw the scent in. Wrinkling her nose, her eyes widen as she sees a bushy ginger white tipped tail. Scrambling up, Fiercekit stares at it but it vanishes a second later. Silverkit peers back at her, so she turns her attention to him.
"Come on!" He meows impatiently and Fiercekit shakes her head. Rolling her eyes and grumbling, Fiercekit trots after him.
"Race you!" She yowls and then takes off, running happily through the forest. Stretching out her muscles, they work smoothly, bunching and releasing as they race through the undergrowth; scaring away the prey. Laughing, they leap over sticks and small bushes as they shove and race faster.
Suddenly, they break free of the treeline.
A few tail-lengths from where they stop is a small ravine that a 'paw or full grown warrior could leap easily over. Peering over the edge, Fiercekit and Silverkit's eyes widen as they see how far down it goes. Raising their heads, they look over at the forest on the other side.
The trees are similar to their forest but the trunks are slimmer and are a silvery-white. Small bushes dot the ground and the air is silent over there. No noises or anything. Eyes wide, the two kits slowly glance at each other. The air holds a sense of mystery over there. The dark green leaves rustle and they jump, returning their attention to the other side.
"I think that is MoonClan." Fiercekit whispers to her brother, crouched low in an unconsciously submissive pose. MoonClan is one of the oldest Clans in the Clan's territories. MoonClan is a clan of ancient warriors that are held apart from the rest of the clans. Their sole purpose is protecting the other four clans from outside danger. MoonClan chooses their warriors from the four clans: StormClan, BreezeClan, BrookClan, and NightClan. It is an honor to be chosen as a warrior. They only ever take two apprentices from each clan.
They pick after the apprentices have finished their 6 months of warrior training. If the cats they look at are worthy, they are chosen to become MoonClan. Not much is known after that but the Clans do know that the chosen cats are trained to be the best of the best.
The elites.
Awe rushes through the two kittens as visions of becoming warriors dances through their minds.
"Let's go over there." Fiercekit whispers and her littermate looks at her with shock. A silent challenge gleams in her eyes. He hesitates, sensing something in the air. A sense of distant danger. A sense that after today, nothing will ever be the same. She nudges his silver shoulder. "We can cross over there." She flicks her tail in the direction of where the ravine narrows enough that two determined kits could cross if they chose to.
Slowly, excitement kindles in the young kit as he pushes his fears aside. Nodding at her, he trots over to it and backs a few steps before flinging himself over the gap. He lands clumsily on the other side, wincing as he lands on his tail. Whisking it out, he shakes his sliver head and turns to his littermate.
She backs up like him and then flings herself over.
But not far enough. Her paws catch the edge and her small legs churn furiously as she struggles to pull herself up. Fear swirls in Fiercekit's heart and she lets out a fearful yowl. Silverkit jumps forward, his tiny teeth grasping her scruff and tugging her over. Flopping down beside him, their tiny flanks rising and falling rapidly as they catch their breath.
Slowly, Fiercekit huffs out a small laugh and he brushes his nose against her cheek.
"You scared me." He admits and she giggles a little bit, climbing to her feet and stretching.
"Sorry but I think I was more scared!" She teases and he rolls his eyes. Laughing, she peers into the aspen woods before them. Padding side by side, they twine their tails as they slowly enter the forest of the MoonClan. The ground is slightly damp from drizzling rain and they flatten their ears to their heads, shaking their floppy hair from their eyes as they tread farther into the territory.
Slowly, they become aware of strange scents but the forest remains silent.
The two kits perk up as they see a small brown mouse.
"Catch it!" Fiercekit whispers, and Silverkit drops into a crouch, holding himself still as he pulls himself closer. He steps on a stick and the crack alerts the mouse. It darts away as Silverkit pounces and he pouts as he straightens and turns back to his littermate, shrugging sheepishly. Amusement gleams in her eyes as she nuzzles his shoulder.
"Mouse-brain." She mutters and he rolls his eyes again, opening his mouth to say something.
"What have we here?" A large white she-cat with brilliant golden eyes strolls out of the shadows and the two kits stare in awe at the sleek cat.
"I believe it is two trespassing kits, Winterstar." A dark gray tabby tom answers, his dark blue eyes locked on Fiercekit and Silverkit. His pelt ripples with muscles.
"Indeed, Darkflame." Winterstar watches the two kits curiously, scenting the fear in the air. "That scent is StormClan." She mummers, glancing at her loyal deputy. Understanding what she wants, he turns his head and flicks a summoning ear at the shadows. A black she-cat with amber eyes melts from the shadows with a grey and black tabby tom, who blinks dark green eyes at the two kits.
"Shadowstrike, you and Lichenstripe go see if anyone is with these two kits." He orders and they nod, turning and silently bounding off.
"What are your names?" Winterstar asks and they stare at her. Silverkit is trembling against Fiercekit and a sudden surge of protective anger makes her straighten, holding her tiny body with dignity. She nudges her littermate, forcing him to his paws. Her inky black pelt melts into the shadows, the silver on her belly, paws, tip of her tail, the tips of her ears and on the bridge of her nose serving to break up her image and making it hard to see exactly where she is. Her littermate is the opposite, the black on his belly, paws, tail, ears and nose ensuring those that can see him know where to strike. But together, they look like little StarClan kittens, ghostly and hard to pin down.
"I am Fiercekit and this is my littermate, Silverkit." Fiercekit introduces, hiding her fear away inside of her. Approval glints in the sleek white she-cat's golden eyes.
"I can see your fighting spirit, kit. It is just what my Clan searches for when we find new Clan-mates." Winterstar meows. Silverkit's eyes widen and he looks between the two she-cats. Despite her small size, Fiercekit is bristling; her tiny fangs glinting in the moonlight.
"I already have a Clan." She meows back boldly, pressing closer to Silverkit. A nameless fear is rising in her as she stares in the golden eyes of the MoonClan leader. She fears being taken away from her littermate. A bond is between the two kittens that should never be broken.
"We can see that." Darkflame's amusement glimmers in his dark blue eyes. "Why are you two here then?" He asks, and a sudden flush of shame sweeps though the two kits. The only thought is the warrior code. They broke it...and only for their amusement.
"We were curious." Silverkit mews, shuffling his paws in shame. Nuzzling his flank, Fiercekit comforts him.
"We shouldn't have come over here." She mummers to the MoonClan leader, knowing what they have done is wrong. The two warriors watch the kits and moments later, Shadowstrike slips from the shadows.
"There were no scents with the kits but as Lichenstripe and I were leaving the border, StormClan cats emerged from their forest searching for their kits." Shadowstrike meows and hope perks up the two tired kits. She hesitates and glances at her deputy and leader. "Lionstar was with them." Shock shows in Winterstar's golden eyes as she looks at her warrior.
"Is Lionstar your father?" She meows to the kittens and Fiercekit snorts.
"No! Nightstream and Talonstrike are our parents." Fiercekit says proudly and Silverkit nods.
"Yeah. They are the best warriors in all of the Clans!" He boasts. Winterstar nods, sorrow flashing in her eyes at the mention of Nightstream.
"I knew your mother. She was born of MoonClan. She was one of our best warriors." The two kits freeze, staring at the MoonClan leader.
"That's not true. Our mother is StormClan." Fiercekit meows fiercely, but she remembers the wistful look in her mothers eyes as she told them of MoonClan. Dread churns in her stomach but it is nothing compared to Silverkit. He is the closest to their mother and tears start to film his eyes. "Silverkit..." She mews, pressing against her littermate. "She loves us no matter what." She mummers and Silverkit nods numbly, leaning on her.
"I know...but what if she loves her former Clan more than us?" He meows sadly, his amber eyes dull. Fear pounds through Fiercekit at the thought.
"But she has us and Talonstrike. She won't leave StormClan. She won't leave us." Fiercekit comforts her littermate and he nods, the light appearing in his amber eyes again. Seeing the kits finished comforting each other, Shadowstrike turns back to her leader.
"Lichenstripe is bringing Lionstar and two cats with him. They scented of the two kits, so I believe they are the kit's parents." Nodding, Winterstar dismisses her warrior and turns to the kits.
"You will go back to your Clan but one day, you both will have to potential to be chosen as warriors of MoonClan. I wish you the best of luck Fiercekit and Silverkit. Darkflame, take the kits to their parents."
"Yes, Winterstar." The dark tom dips his head in respect and picks up Silverkit, dropping him on his broad back and grabbing Fiercekit by her neck. Automatically curling, the kit swings from his jaws as he leaps through the aspen trees confidently. It isn't long before they reach Lionstar, flanked closely by Nightstream and Talonstrike.
"My kits!" Nightstream yowls and leaps forward. Setting down Fiercekit and pulling Silverkit off his back, the dark deputy watches her. Recognizing the stripped tom, she slows.
"Hello, Nightstream." He greets her coldly, pain in his dark blue eyes. Her dark pelt shrinks as she sees the pain in his eyes.
"Darkflame." She says evenly, her head held high. Talonstrike pads forward, twining his tail in hers as their pelts brush closely. Darkflame's claws glint as they unsheathe and he bares his teeth at the other tom.
"Talonstrike." He hisses and Fiercekit scrambles to her feet, moving to her father and curling around and settling in between his paws. Silverkit does the same to Nightstream as Lionstar watches with blank green eyes. Talonstrike watches the other tom, knowing that if his beautiful mate had not chosen him, it would be Darkflame that Nightstream would have chosen.
Darkflame and Nightstream had been close as they grew up in MoonClan and had been destined to be mates...until she met Talonstrike at a Gathering Tournament. The tom had caught her attention with his passionate crimson eyes and then her heart with his gentle words and love.
They had met several times after that until she finally agreed to leave her clan. Lionstar had been hesitant but seeing the devotion between the two mates, he could not turn them away. Nightstream had to fight for the approval of her new Clan-mates but eventually, the beautiful she-cat won them over. Now, she is a StormClan cat through and through.
But it appears that Darkflame never moved on from Nightstream.
Love and pain gleam in his eyes as he watches her but all she can show him is the love for her kits and mate. He stiffens but dips his head at Lionstar before whirling around and bounding away. Staring after him for a moment, Nightstream feels sorrow for the pain she has caused her oldest friend.
Then Silverkit stirs between her paws and she turns her attention to him. The two kits are carried silently though the MoonClan forest until they break through to the ravine. Squeaking a little, the two kits curl into their parents as Nightstream and Talonstrike leap over the ravine easily, following their leader.
"Silverkit, Fiercekit; I need to know why you were over there." Lionstar tells them, pausing and turning to the small family. They set down their kits so they can answer.
"We just wanted to see the territory of our Clan. We were just running and then we came out on this side and I...told Silverkit we should go look." Fiercekit mumbles, shame washing through her as she is faced with her clan leader's disapproval. Her head hangs low as her clan leader looks at her.
"This will never happen again, am I understood?" He meows sternly and they flinch, crouching closer to the ground.
"Yes, Lionstar." Silverkit mutters and Fiercekit nods. Pausing a moment, the golden tom watches the two kits and sighs.
"I will say though, it was brave of you to venture out like you did. Now let's get back to camp." Lionstar orders gently and pads into the forest. Picking up their kits, Talonstrike and Nightstream follow. The group of five travel silently, a marked change from when the two kits were travelling by themselves. They exchange small glances, mostly of relief at being back on their own territory with their parents.
Passing by the small hill that Silverkit fell down earlier, Fiercekit stiffens as she scents the musky smell again. Twitching an ear at her brother, she alerts him. His eyes widen as he spots the white tipped tail and she exchanges an alarmed glance with him. Nightstream and Talonstrike cannot scent it because their scent glands are being blocked by the two kits scents in their noses and mouths. Lionstar seems to be lost in thought.
Fear slowly rises in the two kits and suddenly Lionstar stiffens. He turns slowly, his mouth open as he draws in the scents. Stopping, Nightstream and Talonstrike set down their kits.
"Fox." Lionstar says lowly and fear pours off of Nightstream. "Go get help." He orders her lowly and she nods, nudging Silverkit closer to her mate and taking off at a run. Turning to Talonstrike, Lionstar flicks his tail at a small hollow in a nearby tree. "Hide the kits there." Talonstrike nods, picking up Fiercekit and herding Silverkit along.
"Stay here, my beautiful kits. Don't make a sound and always remember, we love you." He whispers and pulls a large, leafy branch in front of the hollow. Creeping forward, the two kits try to peer through the leaves. The following battle is partially blocked out and is all the more scary for the two kits.
Yowls and screeches of pain ring out as Talonstrike leaps on the foxes back. It lets out a peculiar cry, bucking and twisting in an effort to get the tom off its back. It's long, snapping fangs close on Talonstrike's paw and he wails with pain as it flings him off his back and he hits the tree, falling with a nasty thud. He doesn't move. Fear pulses through Fiercekit's pelt and she scrambles out of the hollow, Silverkit right on her paws as they dash over to their father.
"Talonstrike! Talonstrike!" Fiercekit yowls, skidding to a stop and nuzzling her father. His eyes are closed and his pelt is soaked in blood.
"No!" Silverkit wails, backing away. Suddenly, a second fox; smaller than the first steps out of the bushes. The narrow face seeming scarier in the shadows it is standing in. The fox spots Silverkit, a small bundle of silver and black fur by his self and it leaps.
"Silverkit!" Fiercekit screeches as the fox snatches him up. "No!" She wails and she lunges at the fox, her tiny but sharp fangs piercing the thick red coat. The taste makes her gag but she bites down harder on its flank, causing it to yelp and drop her littermate. It nips at her with its longer fangs. A fang catches her on her side and Fiercekit lets go, dropping down and crawling to her littermate. The pain radiating from her side not even registering. "Silverkit..." She whimpers as the fox stands over them, salivating.
Swiping out a paw, Fiercekit claws its face, tearing a wound over its eye. Screeching with pain, it whirls around running away. Shaking, the tiny she-kit turns to her littermate. Silverkit has a gaping wound in his throat that is pouring blood.
"gughg...Fiercekit..gugug..." He whispers, the blood gurgling in his throat and then he stiffens and his head drops. His amber eyes go glassy and the light, his life- is gone. Suddenly, his form seems even smaller as Fiercekit stares at him with horror-stricken eyes.
"No. No, no, no, no, no!" She wails, pressing her paws to his throat. "Silverkit!" She yowls, shaking his limp body as a pain like never before wells up in her heart. Blood coats her paws as she struggles to wake him up, tears clouding her gaze as she wails. "Silverkit!" She cries, the drizzling rain coming down harder. "Please! No!"
"Silverkit!" Talonstrike calls weakly, his injured form slowly moving towards them.
"My kit! No!" Nightstream bounds forward, her eyes wide with horror and pain as her kit lays limp on the forest floor.
"Wake him up! Help him!" Fiercekit cries, but he is gone. Wailing, she collapses, her flanks heaving with her sobs. "My littermate!" She cries, the bond they shared suddenly gone.
"My poor kits. My poor kit!" Talonstrike calls, curling his body around hers, trying to comfort her but poor Fiercekit is inconsolable.
XXX
Padding into the camp, Talonstrike slowly moves to the medicine cat's den, sorrow in his heart.
It is 10 sunrises after the fox attack and Fiercekit has yet to respond to any cat. Her wound is healing nicely but she lays in her nest, silver eyes dull and blank. Her fur is clean, thanks to her mother and Talonstrike but it is still dull. The light is gone from the tiny kits eyes and in response, the clan is quiet.
Before, it was never unusual to see Silverkit and Fiercekit bouncing around the camp, tussling and teasing each other. But now...not even Honeykit and Boulderkit play around, the sorrow for the lost kit getting to even them.
Entering the den, Talonstrike's heart clenches as he sees his beautiful mate grooming Fiercekit, who's dull grey eyes are locked on a spot on the wall. He pads forward, curling around the two. His heart aches for the pain they have all experienced and it is all he can do to stay strong.
"Please Fiercekit. Come back to us. We already lost one kit...we don't want to lose you too." He mews lowly, pain in his voice echoing in his crimson eyes. The tiny kit stirs for the first time in days, looking up at her father.
"But he's gone." She whispers quietly, her voice high and broken. "He left and I won't get him back! I need Silverkit! Why is he gone?!" She wails, her small body shaking with the sorrow in her heart as she burrows into their sides and cries herself out. As she slowly slips into a peaceful sleep, Talonstrike knows he will do anything to keep her safe.
Anything.