Danger Force in Shadowclan

Chapter 9

"I don't want to be the mouse again Shadedkit! I was the mouse last time!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Shadedkit let your sister be the warrior this time, or you can find a different game to play!" Owlswoop told them sternly.

"I have an idea, how about Nutkit is a rabbit, and we have to hunt him

down?" Shadedkit suggested, "what do you say?" Nutkit gazed up from observing a feather.

"Please Nutkit," Mosskit pleaded.

"Fine, but next time we're playing hide'n'seek!" Nutkit sighed, getting to his paws, "try and catch me!" Nutkit bolted away from his littermates, and Shadedkit immediately gets on his tail.

"Don't get under any cats paws!" Owlswoop called after them, and sighed. She turned her head to the sound of a round of heavy coughing. She narrowed her eyes at Fernpath, who wheezed, her round stomach moving heavily.

"Maybe you should see Windears about that cough," Wrenpool mewed.

"It's nothing but dirt getting in my throat," Fernpath retorted, her mew was raspy.

"What if it's more?" Owlswoop questioned, "what if it effects your kits or spread through the nursery."

"Fine if it makes you feel better I'll go," Fernpath snorted, slowly getting to her paws and wobbling over to Windears den.

"It isn't greencough season quite yet," Wrenpool whispered, "I wonder what she came down with." Owlswoop shrugged.

"Blasted kits!" A growl from the warriors den, turned Owlswoops attention. Flamekit, Oakkit, and Mosskit ran out with Minktoes chasing after them, shooing out.

"Mosskit!" Owlswoop grumbled, quickly getting to her paws, trotting over, "what did they do?"

"Trying to attack my tail, while I take my well deserved rest!" Minktoes huffed, tail lashing.

"Sorry," Wrenpool apologized, "I swear I can't take my eyes of you kits for one heartbeat."

"Mosskit I thought you were playing with your brothers," Owlswoop gazed down at her kit, who was sunk down.

"I was," she started, "but Shadedkit was getting rough, so I joined in with them, and we decided to explore the warriors den, we tripped over his tail!"

"What do you mean getting rough?" Owlswoop tilted her head.

"Just play fighting rough, thats all."

"Stop it Shadedkit!" Nutkit squeaked, running over to Owlswoop, hiding under her legs.

"You are an actual rabbit!" Shadedkit snorted with laughter.

"Shadedkit, I think Nutkit has had enough playing, how about you go wait for your father to return from patrol?" Shadedkit rolled his eyes.

"Fine," he groaned.

"Can I go to Windears den?" Nutkit asked.

"Did you get hurt?" She flicked her ears, sniffing her kit for injury.

"No, just to visit," he mewed, shuffling his paws. Owlswoop nodded.

"Alright just stay out of trouble." Nutkit jumped up, running over to Windears den, nearly running into Fernpath who was just leaving, before running in.

"As for you," Owlswoop turned to Mosskit, "stay out of the warriors den until your nest is in there." Mosskit nodded before running to join Wrenpools kits. She turned and padded over to Fernpath.

"What did she say?" She asked.

"She doesn't even know, she assumes it's just a cough and it will hopefully pass," Fernpath sighed, "she gave me herbs, and I'm going to rest." The fawn colored she-cat nodded, and Fernpath disappeared into the nursery.

...

Fernpath yowled weakly. "Come on Fernpath your first kit is almost here!" Windears urged.

"Can't....tired..." she rasped.

"You have too," Wrenpool snapped. Fernpath winced, and a small bundle fell into the nest. Owlswoop reached forward, grabbing kits, lapping at the kits pelt, nipping the sack. Fernpath screeched, and another kit arrived.

The more Owlswoop licked the kits fur, there was no breathing, no squirming, and no squealing for milk. "Wrenpool....?"

"It's a still-born...any luck?" She muttered, and Owlswoop shook her head, her stomach twisted as she gazed at the two still kits. "Windears?"

"Hush!" She hissed. Blood stained Fernpaths cream pelt. "Get Widowweb." Wrenpool nodded, slipping out, coming back a few breaths later with the weirdly patterned tom, he froze at the sight.

"No!" He screeched with grief rushing over to his mate, "stay with me!" Owlscreech's head spirled, as she watched the queens sides slowly stop moving.

"It's no use," she croaked, "she is with Starclan now."

"Fernpath!" Widowweb wailed with grief, nudging her, "come on wake up!" He sat, laying his head on his paws. "For our kits...." He whispered.

"Widowweb..." Owlswoop whispered, voice muffled from shock, "they were born dead." The tom collapsed.

"Why Starclan!" He screeched, "why my family instead of me?!" Wrenpool sat by him, rubbing her tail along his back.

"Come on," she whispered with sympathy, "lets prep them for a vigil..."

"Do you wish to name your kits?" Windears asked. Widowweb gazed at his kits.

"Yes, Deathkit and Bloodkit, for causing the death of their mother!" He snarled, getting to his paws, and rushing out of the nursery.

"He isn't serious is he?" Owlswoop whispered.

"Widowweb is just grief struck, he'll come around," Windears told them, "lets get them to the clearing." Windears grabbed Fernpaths body while, Wrenpool and Owlswoop each took one of the kits.

"I guessed it wasn't good, by the way Widowweb came out of there..." Mudsong whispered.

"It's horrible. Kitting is the best part of being a medicine cat," Catminlight sighed, "it's heartbreaking when something like this happens."

"Poor Widowweb, I can't imagine what he's going through," Ratnose dipped his head.

"Are they really dead?" Mosskit asked.

"It's unfortunate young one," Lizardcry sighed, licking her head. Runningthorn let out a wail of grief, running over to his sisters body, and shoving his muzzle in her pelt.

"Kits come on, it's time for a name," Wrenpool called.

"Do we have to?" Shadedkit asked.

"Yes, cats are grieving right now, and they don't need hyper kits around," Owlswoop told them, nudging them into the nursery. After Wrenpool and her managed to get the kits to settle down, they joined their clanmates.

Owlswoop placed her nose in her friends, now cold pelt. With heavy shoulders she padded over to the nursery. She found her kits, curling around them, nuzzling them closer.