Chapter II
Today was Smokepaw's second day and first full day as an apprentice. It was probably bad luck that his mentor had shooed him off to the nursery to take care of the kits, other than going out with his littermates.
Smokepaw actually didn't mind very much. He did prefer going out and exploring the territory, but he supposed it could very well be nothing, instead of taking care of the kits. Just a couple of days ago, Feathersky had kitted three adorable kits, and Smokepaw was intrigued to how they looked.
He stepped into the cozy, shaded nursery burrow, his ears twitching with recognition. It seemed so strange to think that only half a moon ago, he had been a young kit and his parents had still been alive. It was just so much to happen in two weeks.
Inside were Feathersky and Dawnbreeze, the two queens. Dawnbreeze's kits were obviously out, and Dawnbreeze herself was also getting ready to go out.
"Hello, Smokepaw." Feathersky looked up at him from where she was lying, the kits spread out around her. "Have you seen the kits yet? These are Dewkit," She brushed her tail over a pale gray tom. "Songkit," She gestured to a cream tabby she-cat, "and Icekit." Her gaze fell on a small white she-kit.
"Could you take care of them while I go get some fresh-kill?" Feathersky asked, already getting up. "Sure." Smokepaw promised, moving over to the kits. When Feathersky was gone, he sat silently, watching over the kits. Songkit and Icekit were pretty and looked to be good hunters like their mother, and Dewkit was good-looking and already looked like a fighter.
It was odd for a fairly new warrior to mate with a senior warrior like Whitewhisker, Smokepaw realized. The kits will be a nice contribution to the Clan, really. He also thought, taking a second glance at Dewkit, Songkit and Icekit.
The sound of pawsteps pushing hard into the ground came from above his head. Smokepaw cocked his head, trying to think what that resembled. Running. He frowned. It was a peaceful time in their Clan - why would anyone be running hard into the camp?
Getting up softly so as not to disturb the kits, Smokepaw headed out of the nursery curiously. Looking to his right, he saw some unfamiliar-looking cats running into camp, their eyes panicked.
Swallowpath walked slowly towards them, looking unsure about how to treat them. "We need to talk to Rosestar!" The red tabby tom blurted, his companion nudging him with a sharp gaze on her face. "Urgently." She added.
"Well, okay. Follow me." Swallowflight meowed, still sounding unsure. "No need, Swallowflight." Rosestar descended from her den, trotting towards the visitors. "Redheart and Lightningscar from EmberClan, right?" Rosestar mewed after taking a close glance at the two. The visitors exchanged a brief glance and followed Rosestar into her den.
"What's happened?" Rosestar asked curiously as she ushered the nervous warriors into her den. "Two of our senior warriors were killed yesterday." Redheart replied heavily as he settled into a corner of the den. Lightningscar nodded in tired agreement. "Blossomwing and Barkfrost." She mewed.
"How did that happen?" Rosestar gasped, wrenching herself back in surprise. "Not even our medicine cat knows. Two of our apprentices found their bodies draped over a rock in our territory." Redheart meowed dully. "Blossomwing was my sister." His features drooped, obviously in sadness and grief.
"That's terrible!" Rosestar exclaimed. Lightningfur nodded. "We heard that another cat from LakeClan was killed without reason too." She replied. "I need to announce this to the Clan. You two, quickly go and tell the other Clans what has happened and to be on high alert." She mewed authoritatively, heading outside. Redheart and Lightningfur quickly scampered out of the camp and disappeared towards DuskClan territory.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Burnt Log!" Rosestar yowled, leaping onto it. The cats flowed out of their dens to look up at Rosestar from beneath the log.
"Three cats - two from EmberClan and one from LakeClan - were killed in the last three days." Rosestar got straight to the point. She saw Fawnberry gasp, then interrupt, "One of DawnClan's apprentices was killed too!"
Everyone seemed to suck in a breath. So many innocents were being killed. What was happening? A distressed air began to cover the cats, making them murmur in fear. Rosestar decided it was time to do something - something, at least, to make her Clan assured.
"Don't worry. I'll call a meeting with the other leaders and hopefully, something can be done." Rosestar dismissed the cats, then headed over to the medicine cats' den once all the warriors and apprentices were gone. "Goldenfern?" Rosestar peeked into the den. "Yes?" The medicine cat looked up from her herbs.
"I need you to go to the other Clans and tell the leaders that we will have a meeting at the Island at moonhigh tonight." Rosestar ordered. Goldenfern, leaving Blazeflight in charge, quickly went to fulfil her leader's needs.
Rosestar quietly strolled back to her own den, turmoiling thoughts rushing in her head. What's going on?
A/N: Hel-lo, my lovely readers. This is a long chapter for you guys today! Woohoo!
QOTD: What's your favorite cat? Descriptions and names can be as crazy as possible!