Aurorastar starred at the kit in horror. Its pelt was mangled and bloody, a long scratch going down its shoulder and to the belly. She was almost sure that it was dead, until she saw the faint rise and fall of its chest.
Great StarClan, it's alive. We need to help it!
Aurorastar let out a yowl, signaling her patrol. It took a few moments for them to find her, but quickly they arrived at her side, pelts bristled.
"What's wrong?" Moonpaw asked. She suddenly noticed the kit lying at Aurorastar's paws. "Oh my! Is it dead?"
Aurorastar shook her head. "No. We have to bring back to camp or it will die."
"I don't think we should do that," Leopardsun countered. "It's a rogue kit, and Blood's scent is all over it. It could be a trap."
Aurorastar sniffed the kit, suddenly realizing that Leopardsun was right. Blood's scent covered the kit, though it was stale.
A growl rumbled in Aurorastar's throat. Why would Blood attack an innocent kit?
"We can't leave it here to die," Aurorastar said firmly. "It's against the warrior code if we leave it here." Being as gentle as she could, she picked up the kit by the scruff. It didn't even react.
Waving her tail, she signaled Stoneclaw to lead the way back to camp. Swiftpaw padded along beside Aurorastar, giving the kit an anxious glance every now and then.
They returned without trouble. Immediately the news had spread through the camp, although most cats were angry with bringing the kit back to camp. Starwhisper had quickly taken the kit into her care, although she was definitely worried.
"I will do my best, Aurorastar, but the kit may not make it," the medicine cat had told her leader. Aurorastar acknowledged her without comment.
She now sat by Brightledge, starring at her paws. She was thinking deeply.
It was right to take in the kit, but did I endanger my Clan in doing so? What if the rogues come back for it? Will I create unwanted battle?
She snapped out of her thoughts when Bluefire came forward. He was followed by Leopardsun, Bluegalaxy, Silverblaze, Dragonclaw, Redpalm, and Stormsky. All of the cats gave her hard stares, and Aurorastar realized why they were here.
"Aurorastar, we need to talk to you," Bluefire started.
"You are upset with my choice of bringing the kit here." Aurorastar sat up straight, meeting Bluefire's stare.
"Yes," the tom growled. "You are endangering our Clan because of that kit. It's a rogue, and rogues have caused us too much trouble the past few moons."
Aurorastar was startled when Nightglow came to join them. However, she sat beside her brother, not Aurorastar.
"Bluefire has a valid point," the deputy started. "Aurorastar, you are putting the Clan in danger. It's a rogue, and we should put the kit back to where it came from."
Aurorastar's eyes flashed. "Nightglow, though your intentions are pure and I respect them, I will make the decisions for SunClan. I will not break the warrior code and risk the life of a kit."
"Our Clan is more important than that kit!" Nightglow snarled.
"Are you saying that we should leave an innocent kit to die?" Aurorastar asked, a sharpness edging her voice.
"If it means keeping SunClan safe, than yes!" Nightglow flattened her ears and raised her hackles. Aurorastar was alarmed when the deputy unsheathed her claws.
Nightglow wouldn't really attack me, right? Aurorastar tried to push the thought away.
Stormsky stepped forward. "Aurorastar, if you will allow me to speak."
Aurorastar dipped her head.
"I know these rogues," Stormsky continued. "I was their prisoner for moons. If this kit belongs to them, they will come back for it."
"Thank you for sharing this with me," Aurorastar meowed. Before she could say anything else, a yowl of alarm sounded at the entrance to the camp.
Aurorastar whipped her head around to the entrance, narrowing her eyes.
There stood Blood, black fur bristled and amber eyes blazing. He looked thinner than the last time Aurorastar saw him during the battle with DarkClan.
Nightglow cast a glare to Aurorastar that said "I told you so," before prowling over to Blood. Sighing, Aurorastar followed her, unsheathing her claws in case Blood decided to attack.
"Aurorastar," Blood sneered. "Is your neck doing well?"
Aurorastar growled. She knew he was talking about the time where he took her first life. However, she ignored his comment. "Blood, why are you here?"
"I am here to reclaim what is mine," Blood hissed. "I believe you are currently imprisoning my daughter."
Aurorastar starred at him in disbelief. The kit is his daughter? Aurorastar glared at Blood, fury beginning to burn within her.
Blood tried to kill a kit! His own kit!
Aurorastar took a step forward, narrowing her eyes. "This kit is yours? And you attacked it?"
"The kit was weak," Blood replied as if it wasn't a big deal. "I attacked it as punishment. If it was truly strong, it would have lived rather than die from its wounds. She is not dead, so I want her back."
Aurorastar bristled her fur. "We will not give the kit back. I will not let you kill it for your own cruel purposes. The kit is now of SunClan."
A growl sounded in Blood's throat, though Aurorastar flicked an ear when many other growls were heard from her own cats.
"I will fight you for her," Blood threatened.
"We will fight back. Clan kit or not, it should never be put in danger or in a situation where it can die."
"Aurorastar." This time it was Nightglow who spoke to her. "Do not make a mousebrained decision. Give him the kit."
Aurorastar turned to her deputy. She kept her eyes firm and her voice strong, meeting Nightglow's harsh stare. "No." Aurorastar whipped back around to Blood. "Now get out or we will attack. Don't bother bringing back your rogue friends for an attack either, because we will be ready. We will outnumber you and chase you out. Your blood will be spilled for no worthy reason." When Blood did not answer, Aurorastar asked him again. "Do you choose to leave or fall under the wrath of SunClan?"
Blood glared at her. Though he still looked furious, Aurorastar could tell he understood her message. He eventually gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. Keep the pathetic scrap. It will die anyway." With that, Blood turned and left the camp.
Aurorastar turned to her Clanmates. They were all grouped behind her. "I want two patrols out there. One to escort Blood and make sure he leaves, another to search the territory for any more rogues."
The cats nodded. Ravensong lead one patrol, and Tigerfang lead the other. Each gathering a few cats, they headed out of camp.
Aurorastar turned to face Nightglow. The deputy was glaring at her. Then with a curt wave of her tail, she whipped around and padded into the warrior's den.
Did I make the wrong decision? Will the rogues really return? Aurorastar shook her head, feeling suddenly lightheaded.
She felt a soft touch on her flank, and Eclipsewing and Nightsun came to join her side.
"Are you alright?" Eclipsewing asked.
Aurorastar sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if all the Clan really feels loyal and respecting to me and my decisions. I think I just lost half the Clan and deputy's respect in making a difficult choice."
"But it was the right choice," Eclipsewing pointed out. "You couldn't leave it to die. That's against the warrior code."
Nightsun licked Aurorastar's cheek. "Eclipsewing is right. We just want to let you know that we will always be here for you, and will follow you to the end."
Aurorastar's eyes filled with warmth as she gazed at them. "Thank you." She turned her eyes towards Starwhisper's den. "Now, if you will excuse me." Nightsun and Eclipsewing nodded in approval.
Aurorastar, starting a quick pace, trotted over to the medicine cat's den. The sharp scent of herbs filled her nose, along with the sweet scent of her friend, Starwhisper.
"Aurorastar," the medicine cat greeted her in a whisper. "Ice is sleeping."
"Ice?"
"When you brought the kit to me," Starwhisper started,"she awoke for just a few moments. All I was able to ask her was her name and how many moons old she was. She said that her name was Ice and she had been born at the beginning of greenleaf."
"Ice must be about five moons old then," Aurorastar realized. "May I see her?"
Starwhisper dipped her black head. "Yes, but be quiet. She's sleeping." The medicine motioned to a moss nest in the back of her den.
Aurorastar padded over until she was next to Ice's sleeping body. She was near Searose, who was also sleeping.
Ice's chest fell in slow breaths. Her fur had been cleaned from the blood, revealing that she had white fur. Her ears and paws were a light gray-blue color, and cobwebs covered her shoulder.
"Is her wound okay?" Aurorastar whispered.
"Yes, I don't believe it will get infected. I was able to stop the bleeding very quickly..." Starwhisper's voice trailed off.
"What's wrong?"
Starwhisper didn't meet Aurorastar's eyes. "I did a good job with Ice, and I know she will be fine, but it's not her I'm worried about." She glanced at the blue-gray body nearby. "It's Searose."
"Has she gotten worse?"
"Yes." Starwhisper's voice dropped to a whisper. "She came to me with whitecough, and she already has greencough. She isn't doing well, but I can't let her die." She then turned to Aurorastar. "I can't hide it anymore. I have almost no catmint, and our supply was taken by StormClan. Greencough spreads like wildfire, and without catmint, it won't be long until a cat dies."
Aurorastar stepped forward, licking Starwhisper's ear. "You are an amazing medicine cat. You will do all that you possibly can. If a cat dies, you cannot help that. You can only do your very best to prevent it."
Starwhisper narrowed her eyes. "I can't do much without catmint. We have to do our very best to preserve what we have before the snow comes in."
Aurorastar nodded. "I will start posting guards by the catmint, day and night. We won't let StormClan take anymore or let it be destroyed by other animals."
"Thank you," mewed Starwhisper, her eyes warming.
Aurorastar flicked an ear before padding away towards the entrance. Before she left, she glanced at Searose.
The she cat's eyes were closed, though green goop was gathering around her eyelids. Her nose was crusty, and her chest fell in short, ragged breaths.
Dear StarClan, please don't let Searose die.
Yay for long chapters! There is definitely a lot of stuff going on in this chapter. Poor Searose and Ice! :( I hope you enjoyed it! :)
HalfSun: Thank you! Yes, you obviously learned more of the kit/Ice's condition in this chapter, but you will learn more of Ice in chapters to come :) Thanks for the review!