Code Thirteen
No Warrior may neglect a Kit in pain or in danger, even if that Kit is from another Clan or is a HouseKit.
The strength of any Clan is not only determined by the strength of the Warriors.
Clans need to raise healthy Kits to follow in the pawsteps of their Clanmates.
For this very reason Kits are protected by every forest cat, wherever the Kit took its first breath.
This was not always so. As you will see, it sometimes takes a tragedy to teach the simplest of lessons.
This Code comes from a WaterfallClan Medicine Cat.
A Terrible Loss
Thistletail is standing on a large flat rock that overlooks the bubbling river and closes his eyes letting the mist spray his face. Heavy spring showers have caused the river to overflow its banks and move at a fast-paced torrent that tumbles down the falls. Today the rain has finally stopped, sending WaterfallClan cats out of the camp to stretch our cramped legs and see which parts of our territory are underwater. Thistletail thought.
"Don't fall in! All of this rain is bound to bring sickness and stiff joints, so our Medicine Cat is needed!" Nettlewing said. Thistletail turns to face Nettlewing as she pads over the pebbles to join him.
"Don't worry Nettlewing; I do not intend to swim today," Thistletail said. A tom slides out of the reeds behind Nettlewing. He scowls at the flooded river.
"We'll be living on water voles for a long while. We can't risk any Warrior trying to fish in the river," Hawkwing said. Nettlewing nods her head.
"I'll warn the hunting patrols to avoid the river until the water level goes down. Perhaps you can take a patrol into the fields, Hawkwing," Nettlewing said. Hawkwing grunts in reply. Nettlewing opens her jaws to reply, but stops, staring past Thristletail with horror in her amber eyes. Thristletail spins around and sees three fluffy shapes clinging to the side of the falls on SkyClan's side, their tiny hindpaws dangling over the foaming water.
"Great HeavenClan! What on Earth, do those Kits think they're doing?" Hawkwing asked. Nettlewing starts running along the bank towards the mouth of the falls.
"That doesn't matter now! They're going to fall in!" Nettlewing shouted. As Nettlewing finishes speaking one of the Kits loses its grip and plunges into the icy water below. There is a tiny wail from one of its littermates and then another Kit falls down into the water. Thistletail feels as if his paws are frozen to the ground; the only thing he can do is watch as the third Kit falls. It is impossible to see where they landed because and tiny splashes are swallowed by the river foam.
"Come on! We must help them!" Nettlewing said as she rushes to the end of the open river and races down to the narrow shore where the water explodes out of the falls.
"Stop!" the Medicine cat shouted. Thistletail's paws suddenly let go of the Stones and he races after Nettlewing. "I can't let you go in."
"What do you mean? Those Kits will drown if we don't help them now!" Nettlewing protested. Thistletail feels a sharp pain in his chest as if he swallowed a few pebbles.
"They may already be dead. We can't risk our own lives to save them. Besides, they are SkyClan Kits and are not ours to save," Thistletail said. Beside Nettlewing and Thistletail, a tiny squeak sounds from the waves and a paw, the size of a raspberry, shoots to the surface before disappearing again.
"They're not dead!" Nettlewing shouted. Nettlewing bunches her hindlegs ready to leap into the water. Thistletail takes hold of Nettlewing's scruff in his teeth.
"I can't allow you to do this! HeavenClan made me a Medicine Cat to serve WaterfallClan, not to risk my Clanmates' lives to help Kits from another Clan!" Thistletail said. Nettlewing wrenches herself free and glares at Thistletail.
"How can you just watch those Kits drown and not do anything about it? What kind of Medicine Cat are you?" Nettlewing asked.
"One that is loyal to his Clan above everything else," Thistletail said. The pain in Thistletail's chest begins to swell until he can't breathe and his vision becomes blurred.
"Thistletail is right. It would have been madness to risk the lives of WaterfallClan Warriors to save another Clan's Kits. Come on, Nettlewing," said Hawkwing. Nettlewing and Hawkwing pad away on the river stones. Thistletail lets his legs crumble beneath him until he is slumped on the pebbles.
All I can think of is the pitiful wail of the SkyClan Kit as it was swept away… Thistletail thought.
WaterfallClan Camp
Clearing
Duststar, the current WaterfallClan Leader, is shocked to hear about the SkyClan Kits. "I agree with Thistletail on not letting Nettlewing jump into the river," Duststar said. Duststar studies Thistletail closely as he stands before him with his head bowed. "It was not your fault that those Kits fell in. I'm sure their Clanmates told them repeatedly to stay away from the falls." Thistletail shakes his head.
"Their poor mother. Such a terrible loss for SkyClan," Thistletail said.
"And it would have been a terrible loss for WaterfallClan, too, if Nettlewing had gone in after them. Now go get some rest. I'll tell the patrols to keep an eye out for your mallow plants," Duststar said. Thistletail walks slowly to his den. Three WaterfallClan Kits, Stonekit, Robinkit, and Mosskit, bounce around him.
"Did you really see Kits drown?" Stonekit asked.
"Were they wet and horrid looking?" Robinkit asked.
"Did their eyes fall out?" Mosskit asked.
"Stonekit! Robinkit! Mosskit! Stop asking such horrible questions! Get back here right now!" Crowberry scolded. Thistletail doesn't look up. He pads to his nest and curls up with his nose under his tail.
It's not my fault those Kits drowned. So, why do I feel so guilty? Thistletail thought.
That Night near Moonhigh
Thistletail's Dream
As Thistletail opens his eyes, moonlight floods his den and the camp is still and quiet. He sits up, shocked that he'd slept for so long. The reeds in front of his den rattle, and he hears quiet murmuring from the clearing. Has a cat taken ill? Thistletail thought. Thistletail slips from his nest and pushes his way through the reeds.
Three cats are standing in the center of the clearing, their fur speckled with starlight.
"Who are you?" Thistletail asked. They aren't any WaterfallClan Warriors and I don't recognize them from any Gatherings. I wonder how they got all the way into the camp without being challenged…
"Greetings, Thistletail. My name is Crowclaw of SkyClan. This is Nightdance – and our Leader Sheepstar," Crowclaw said. Sheepstar, a small white tom with a puffy coat, is looking at Thistletail, his green eyes are friendly.
"We traveled very far to see you," Sheepstar said. Thistletail looks at each cat in turn.
"I don't understand. Has something happened to Hawkstar?" Thistletail asked. Sheepstar shakes his head.
"Hawkstar is fine. We are the cats that would have been," Sheepstar said. Thistletail stares at them in sheer horror. The image of the three furballs falling one by one into the foaming river fills his eyes.
"You're the three SkyClan Kits that drowned…" Thistletail whispered.
"Yes, that is true. Come, we have come to show you something," Nightdance said. Nightdance turns and leads the way across the clearing towards the Nursery. Thistletail follows without really having to think about it. Crowclaw moves the lichen aside that is draped over the Nursery entrance with his right forepaw.
"Look," Crowclaw urged.
Oh, HeavenClan let our Kits be fine. Did the SkyClan Kits return to punish me by hurting our Kits? Thistletail thought. The den smells warm and milky. Enough moonlight is filtered through to see Crowberry curled around Stonekit, Robinkit, and Mosskit. Thistletail pulls out of the Nursery.
"They're fine," Thistletail said slowly.
"Sure they are. Had you thought we would hurt a single hair on their pelts? Kits are the most special part in any Clan or home. They are the Warriors that will defend their Clanmates in the moons to come. The hunters that will find food even in the coldest winter. The cats that will have Kits of their own in order to pass on what they've learned. A Clan having no Kits might as well be dead," Sheepstar said.
"So if one Clan dies, then the other Clans are threatened as well. We are rivals, but also linked by HeavenClan," Crowclaw said. Thistletail faces the Warriors his head bowed.
"I'm sorry. I should have let Nettlewing try to save you. SkyClan's loss is ours as well," Thistletail said sadly.
That Morning
Medicine Den
Thistletail blinks open his eyes; he is lying in his nest, the feathers and bracken looking as if he had a nightmare. He stands up and stretches one hindleg at a time. Why does it feel like I didn't sleep at all? The dream! Thistletail thought. Thistletail races from his den and goes straight to Duststar.
Duststar's Den
"I need to take out a patrol!" Thistletail panted. Duststar cocks his head to the left.
"Do we need herbs that badly? Did anyone fall ill?" Duststar asked.
"No, nothing that desperate. Please let me take Nettlewing and Hawkwing. I shall tell you everything afterward!" Thistletail shoots out of Duststar's den and goes to the Warriors' den to wake Hawkwing and Nettlewing.
Warriors' Den
Nettlewing is still cold towards Thistletail, but he doesn't stop to apologize or even tell them what they are about to do. They will soon understand…
WaterfallClan Territory
Thistletail leads them along the shore heading downstream toward Sunbathing Rocks. He slows down as they draw near the looming gray-black shapes and starts sniffing carefully along the edge of the river. "Is there something you're looking for?" Hawkwing asked. Thistletail looks up at Hawkwing and Nettlewing.
"I need to find those Kits that drowned yesterday. They should have lived to become Warriors for their Clan. We have o take them home," Thistletail said urgently. Nettlewing stares at Thistletail with shocked eyes.
"But yesterday you said we couldn't do anything because they are SkyClan Kits!" Nettlewing protested. Thistletail nods slowly.
"And I was wrong. Kits are precious to every Clan. After we take them back to SkyClan, I will ask Duststar to suggest an addition to the Messenger Code: that Kits should be protected by all forest cats, regardless of where they come from. Our future depends on them," Thistletail said.
"Over there…" Hawkwing said quietly. Hawkwing is standing at the edge of the shimmering water facing Nettlewing and Thistletail. He jerks his muzzle towards the far bank, where a bundle of sodden fur has been washed up. Thistletail murmurs to the two Warriors in a low voice.
"Come on," Thistletail said. Thistletail, Nettlewing, and Hawkwing slide into the water and paddle strongly through the current toward the far bank. The flooded river tries to drag them away and beat them with twigs and other debris washed downstream, but they stretch their necks to keep their muzzles above the water's surface and paddle with legs use to swimming. Thistletail reaches the Kits first. Through the filthy gray-black fur, he can make out white fur in the Kit nearest him.
This is Sheepkit who would have been Leader of SkyClan had he lived. Thistletail thought. Thistletail picks up Sheepkit and carries him back to the WaterfallClan shore. Hawkwing follows with Crowkit. Nettlewing brings Nightkit. The three cats lay the tiny Kits on the shore in order to catch their breath. Thistletail nuzzles each Kit gently with his muzzle.
"Your Clan will honor you with a burial for the Warriors you should have been. In addition, you will live on in the Law that makes every Clan responsible for the safety of every Kit, wherever they are born. Precious Kits, walk safely among the Heavens…" Thistletail said gently.
This is Code Thirteen