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The damp coolness of a rainy day suppressed the scorching sun from beating down on the forest. A heron's cry, of complaint, rang out over the rushing river.
Silverpaw shivered, scooping out pawfuls of old moss and patting them into a rough pile. Fortunately, the elder's was dry enough. As soon as Mosspelt claimed the warning of a storm was felt in her old bones, Redtalon had ordered warriors to patch the many leaks with layers of bramble tendrils. The muscular tom was basically leader now, with Sleetstar looking not to recover anytime soon.
Vinetail lay slumbering in the crook of the hollow log's side, tail twitching.
"Y'know, young'un, did you have to drag this moss 'specially through every puddle you could find?" Mosspelt grumbled critically. Silverpaw winced apologetically. He had tried to squeeze out all the moisture before offering the old she-cat her bedding.
"Don't be too hard on him, you old grump!" Fogstep teased, single eye sparkling with amusement. "There's not a fleck of dirt that's dry in this kind of weather." The old tortoiseshell she-cat sighed wistfully. Mosspelt held up a scrap of soaked fur with a claw.
"Look at this sorry excuse for prey," Mosspelt tossed the small piece of fresh-kill at Silverpaw's paws. Silverpaw glanced down. It seemed to be a squirrel, but it was too mutilated to be certain.
"You're sister's handywork," Mosspelt narrowed her eyes. Fogstep gently cuffed her with one paw.
"Young Flamepaw caught it herself. That's a feat in itself, with a mentor like that," The grey tom's smoke coloured markings almost swirled as he ruffled his pelt.
"That Moontail's name is a disgrace to StarClan," Mosspelt scowled. Silverpaw held back a purr at the two elders.
Suddenly, a yowl of pain sounded from across the clearing. The hairs on Silverpaw's hackles stood up.
Mosspelt peered out of the entrance, hissing as raindrops hit her muzzle.
"Well," The tortoiseshell elder remarked, looking surprised as she ducked back into the den. "Seems like Ravenstrike's 'aving her kits!" Silverpaw gaped in shock.
"Already?" It had been only a moon since the black queen with the white mark on her chest moved to the nursery.
"She did hide it for a long time before, kit," Fogstep reminded, flicking his tail.
"You better go get yourself some prey, Silverpaw. Thanks for the help," Dipping his head to the two elders, Silverpaw dashed out into the clearing.
Darkblaze was pacing back in forth in front of the nursery, lashing his tail in frustration. Hailbreeze was sitting by him, comforting the ginger and black tom when each cry of pain came from inside the dark den.
Kestrelpaw padded out of the nursery, muttering things to himself with a furrowed brow. Silverpaw shook his head quietly. Kestrelpaw had not talked to him ever since Featherpaw joined StarClan.
"Silverpaw."
Silverpaw looked up in surprise. Kestrelpaw was staring at him expectantly.
"Yes, you!" The long-furred brown tabby mewed, exasperated. "Listen, we need raspberry leaf, but I can't leave. It's a pointy looking plant with spiked leaves. You know what the fruit looks like. There's a good supply by the stream."
Silverpaw nodded, racing out of camp and toward the direction of Owl Tree. Rain splattered on his pelt, but Silverpaw couldn't care less. At least he could get away from the brooding camp, away from Ravenstrike's agonized wails.
He stopped just short of the stream, nose snuffling at the undergrowth. A sharp pain pierced the tip of his nose. Indignant, Silverpaw pulled the thorn out of the moist flesh. Silverpaw stared more carefully at the bush.
It carried small, bright red berries that were protected by a layer of dark, almost fuzzy looking leaves. Have to be fast, Silverpaw. Just grab them and go.
Easier said than done. Silverpaw was pricked by thorns as he bent to nip off the leaves. Wincing, he picked up the small bunch he gathered and charged back to camp.
Kestrelpaw was waiting for him at the foot of the nursery, motioning for him to enter.
"Is this it?" Silverpaw panted, tipping his chin up to reveal the plant. Kestrelpaw twitched his whiskers in approval.
Darkblaze saw him and nodded gratefully.
As Silverpaw entered the medicine den, the pungent scent of blood wafted up his nose. Ravenstrike lay on her side, chest heaving with each wail she let out. Pinespring took the bundle of herbs from Silverpaw and carefully separated the leaves from the thorns.
"It hurts," Ravenstrike moaned. A small pool of blood was building up on the moss underneath her. Pinespring turned back to his patient.
"You must eat these, Ravenstrike. It will stop the blood," Ravenstrike lapped up the herbs before screeching.
"I hate you, Darkblaze!"
Darkblaze's encouraging mew came from outside the bramble walls. Kestrelpaw rested his paw on the queen's rippling flank.
"The first one's coming!" Kestrelpaw meowed. Silverpaw awkwardly padded out of the den. Darkblaze was at his side in an instant.
"How is she?" The ginger and black warrior asked anxiously. Silverpaw purred.
"Strong enough to yell at you."
A bloodcurdling scream sounded from the den, followed by a thin mewl. Kestrelpaw poked his head out.
"A tom!" Darkblaze's eyes widened in delight. Shouldering past, the tom tried to enter the den, but was stopped by Kestrelpaw.
"There's more to come," Frustrated, Darkblaze resumed his obsessive pacing. Silverpaw turned back and walked for the apprentice's den. Parting the ferns, he noticed Stormpaw, Flamepaw, Rainpaw and Seedpaw giggling together.
"Hey guys, look, it's Loserpaw!" Rainpaw sneered. Flamepaw was glancing at her brother uncomfortably. The ginger she-cat attempted to move closer to Stormpaw.
Silverpaw flinched as if struck. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of betrayal to see his sister so close to the cats that tormented him.
"Come on, let's get away before Oddpaw stinks up the den," Stormpaw strutted out, with Seedpaw and Rainpaw close at his heels.
Flamepaw was looking at Silverpaw with guilt in her green eyes.
Silverpaw forced himself to hold his head high. Moving close to his sister, he hissed quietly.
"Quit it."
Flamepaw cocked her head, confused. "Quit what?" Silverpaw narrowed his eyes.
"Mooning over Stormpaw."
"I'm not mooning over him!" Flamepaw cried, outraged. Silverpaw raised an eyebrow.
"Fine, I do like him, but so what? It's none of your business," Flamepaw snarled, pinning her ears flat against her head. Silverpaw growled back.
"That tom isn't good for you." Silverpaw lashed his tail. Couldn't Flamepaw see that Stormpaw was just playing with her?
"How would you know? And what right do you have to object to my decisions?" Flamepaw spat, unsheathing her claws and digging them into the moss.
"You're not Redtalon! You can't control me!"
"At least he cares enough to direct you. We both know that you're the perfect kit, while I, oh, I'm just the unwanted baggage!" Silverpaw spat bitterly.
"Not everything is about you. Silverpaw. You don't know a thing!"
"I'm your brother! You will end up getting hurt," Silverpaw positively radiated anger. "He doesn't like you back!"
Flamepaw stalked out of the den, twisting her head to meow one last retort.
"Stormpaw was right. You're just jealous that I actually have friends, unlike you. I wish you weren't my brother. Have fun being alone, Oddpaw!"
Silverpaw scowled, thinking hard. Perhaps I should have worded it differently.
Shaking his head, Silverpaw padded out, pushing back fronds of fern to exit the apprentice den. Darkblaze was nowhere to be seen.
"Silverpaw!" Aspenpaw's voice came from across the clearing. The grey and white she-cat bounded to him.
"Come on, let's go visit ThunderClan's newest members!" Silverpaw wiped the anger from his mind.
"Sure."
Aspenpaw led the way.
Silverpaw poked his head into the bramble den. "Can we come in?" Darkblaze nodded, not taking his eyes off of his kits.
"But keep quiet. My mate is tired," Silverpaw ducked under the thorns and sat down, Aspenpaw beside him.
There were four. The biggest was a greyish brown tabby tom with black ear tips. He mewled, jerking his paws. A small black she-cat, splotches of white like snow coating her paws and head. Beside her, a chunky little tom, completely black except for a star shaped white patch on his forehead.
Silverpaw's tail twitched in surprise as he saw the last one.
The little tom bore no resemblance to either of his parents. He had light cream fur, with ginger dots on his muzzle as if he had just killed a piece of fresh kill.
"They're so cute," Aspenpaw breathed beside Silverpaw. Darkblaze turned to look at the two, amber eyes filled with pride.
"What are their names?" Darkblaze puffed his chest.
"This is Grasskit," He mewed, pointing his tail at the brown tabby. "Swankit," The black and ginger tom purred as the his daughter churned her tiny paws against his pad. "Shadekit." The kit growled as his father disturbed him from his suckling. Darkblaze purred and placed him back beside his mother.
Darkblaze paused at his last son.
"He doesn't have a name yet. Any ideas?" Darkblaze stepped away. Silverpaw sniffed at the cream tabby tom. He squeaked.
"Lightkit."
Darkblaze's surprise shone clear in his eyes. "Lightkit?"
"You're Darkblaze. Light comes from darkness during dawn," Darkblaze nodded in approval.
"Lightkit it is."
Spending a few moments more in the den, Aspenpaw padded out with Silverpaw in tow. Silverpaw smiled and tossed a finch at his friend. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the night cool for the first time in a moon.
Sighing, Silverpaw looked at the sky. Silverpelt lay thickly, like a glowing snake.
Flamepaw, you can't change blood, no matter how hard you hope to.
Hee. Hee. Hee.
QOTD: Who's your favourite kit, out of the little information provided so far?