Rain soaked through the plump she-cat's pelt, chilling her to the bone. She shuddered, feeling too weak to continue. But she had to. The cat from the stars had told her she must, and she wasn't one to argue with a cat who came from the sky. She struggled on, the wet on the grass brushing against her belly fur. Every breath was a struggle as she trudged on, mud sloshing beneather her paws.
The sky darkened further and thunder rumbled. The she-cat yelped in pain and frusteration. She had no idea if she was even close to this Clan the cat had told her to find, and she couldn't go on much longer.
"Help," she whispered to the sky, desperately wishing someone could hear her. She stumbled on, until finally the world began to rock in front of her. She fought to keep going, but it hurt so much. The rain poured around her, its lulling rhythm making her drowsy. But she had to keep going! She couldn't fail, had to get there, had to complete her task…
The little she-cat collapsed. Everything went black. All hope wasn't lost, though. By some crazy twist of fate, at that very moment a black-and-white tom skittered into the clearing where she was lying motionless. His name was Gorseclaw, and he was on his way back to FireClan, which was the same Clan the she-cat had been sent to find. Mystified, yet knowing the she-cat needed help, Gorseclaw shouldered her up and carried her back to his camp.
He was just staggering through the enterance when a sandy-colored she-cat darted up to him. "Gorseclaw! Are you all right? What happened?"
Suddenly, she noticed the other she-cat Gorseclaw was supporting. "Wha- who is this?" she snapped, then shook her head. "Sorry. We should get her to the nursery. She looks like she's about to kit."
"You're right, Larktail," Gorseclaw murmured. Raising his voice, he called, "Speckleclaw!"
The old medicine cat took a moment to come out of his den, muttering curses. "What?" he croaked. Looking up, he saw the unconcious she-cat. He didn't ask any questions, instead padding straight toward the nursery. Gorseclaw followed him, Larktail helping him carry the she-cat.
When they heaved her into a nest in the corner of the nursery, Speckleclaw had already gotten Jasminepaw to help him. The grey medicine cat apprentice was carrying a bundle of sweet-smelling herbs.
"Will she be okay? How long until she kits? Is she in good condition?" Gorseclaw asked.
"She'll be better if you get out," Speckleclaw said gruffly. Reluctanty, Gorseclaw left. Larktail trailed behind him, looking put out.
"I'm still nervous," Gorseclaw said to no one in particular. Larktail sighed.
"Gorseclaw?"
The black-and-white tom looked over at her. "Yeah?"
"Would you ever… consider having a mate?"
He thought it over, completely oblivious. "Sure. I'm just looking for the right she-cat. Why?"
She padded toward him, eyes full of hope. "I thought… maybe… we…" she trailed off, letting the words speak themselves.
"Us?" he stammered anxiously. "Well- Larktail- you're nice, really, but I- I just-"
"I understand," Larktail said, her voice instantly freezing over. The night air suddenly got colder as she stalked off to the warriors' den, tail held high. Gorseclaw stared after her, eyes wide. "Larktail, wait!" he cried finally, leaping toward her. But she had already disappeared into the den.
Gorseclaw didn't dare follow her. He knew that he had unintentionally wounded her with his words. Why didn't he say yes?
Well, he knew that. He didn't love her, he liked her, but not love. There was no passion.
A wailing came from the nursery. Gorseclaw raced in, his heart pounding. "What happened?" he asked quickly. Speckleclaw grimaced, feeding the yowling she-cat some herbs. Jasminepaw answered for him. "She's kitting. Now." She then pushed Gorseclaw out of the nursery. He stared dumbly after her. Defeated, he turned to go to the warriors' den, but remembered, like a rock hitting him on the head, Larktail. Not the warriors' den.
Instead, he padded out to go hunting. It was late and lightly raining, but no matter. By the time he got back, maybe the she-cat would have kitted. He held a strange fascination with her.
Outside camp was cold, but he didn't care. He had already caught a sparrow and an unsuspecting mouse. For leaf-bare melting into newleaf, that was good prey.
The forest got lighter as he padded toward the pond that was on the edge of territory. Ice was forming on its surface. Gorseclaw stared into the water, wishing he could see his reflection in the moon-lit pond.
Something crashed in the bushes behind him.
He whipped around, staring into the darkness. His claws unsheathed but his breathing steadied as he saw that nothing was there. He was looking back up at the moon when he scented the faint scent of a cat.
He snarled. "Who's there?" he asked, trying to steady his voice. No one replied.
Gorseclaw calmed himself. He was right near the FrostClan border. Of course he could smell cats. He turned back to the water.
There was one more crash in the bushes. The black-and-white tom barely had time to look around before claws sank into his neck and he collapsed.