Chapter 29
"Ashwinter!" a paw prodded her side cautiously, "Ashwinter! Wake up!"
"Huh…?" Ashwinter grumbled, blinking rapidly a few times. Honeymallow stared down at her with a worried expression.
"What?" she asked.
Honeymallow looked out the nursery entrance fleetingly. "Something's happened. Come quickly."
Regretfully, Ashwinter rose and stretched, yawning. Honeymallow turned, halfway out of the nursery.
"Come on! There's no time to waste!" she meowed urgently.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" Ashwinter replied, following closely now.
A large congregation of cats was circled around the medicine cat den. Ashwinter fought her way through the crowd behind Honeymallow when suddenly she stepped to the side. Ashwinter caught sight of a beaten, dark brown body. Her voice caught in her throat and a block of ice seemed to weigh down her belly.
"No…" she choked.
Rushing to the body, she swallowed a deafening screech. Pausing over the seemingly still figure, she hesitated and gazed up at Burtail.
"He's not…don't say…" she stuttered.
Burtail made no move of reassurance or comfort. Ashwinter placed a paw gently on the figure's chest, as if she would snap it in half were she too rough. Slowly, ever so slowly, she rolled him over and stared into the mangled face of her mate. She briefly buried her muzzle into his tabby fur. His pelt was soft, the skin warm, with the faint sound of a heartbeat. Reassured, she lifted her head again and asked with a fierce tone laced with shock:
"Who did this?"
"WindClan," came the reply.
She looked up and met Russetclaw's gaze. She hadn't noticed him hidden in the darkness. He was also badly cut up and would, no doubt, carry scars for seasons to come.
"They came silently and ambushed us when we were alone. We didn't stand a chance," he continued.
"They ran off when we showed up," Darkflower added.
Before Ashwinter could reply, another voice cut into the conversation.
" Why was Dustrise and Russetclaw alone? Where was the rest of the patrol?" Leopardstar interrupted.
"We were up ahead a ways. We left them to make sure the river was clear," Burnpelt explained.
"Evidently you were too far ahead," Leopardstar meowed coolly.
"We're sorry, Leopardstar," Darkflower hung her head.
"It won't happen again," Bluefire added.
Leopardstar sniffed indignantly. "See to it that it doesn't."
A soft breath rustled Ashwinter's fur.
"He'll be fine, don't worry," Burtail whispered.
"I'll try my hardest," she replied quietly, "but I'm not making any promises."