Through the Dark

Chapter Two

The camp was mostly just as it was when Silverlight left it. Warriors out of camp hunting and training their apprentices; nursing queens in their dens sleeping; elders stretching their stiff bones in the clearing; and kits play-fighting together.

Some things - a lot - had changed, however. The former IceClan leader had retired, with Darkstar in his place. Emberleaf was the new deputy, and Brightlight - Silverlight's former apprentice before she had left the Clan - had taken her place as medicine cat.

While Silverlight was following Darkstar toward the prey pile, she spotted Brightlight out of the corner of her eye, staring at her. She turned around to say hi, but before she could even open her mouth, Brightlight turned around and slipped into the medicine cat's den.

Was it just the bright sunlight affecting my eyes, or did Brightlight just glare at me?

"Come on, Silverlight!" Darkstar called, a twinge of impatience in his voice. "I don't have all day."

Slowly, Silverlight trudged toward where Darkstar was, and settled down in a patch of dry, crinkly, browned grass beside the prey pile.

Darkstar settled down right across from her, looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping on them, then sharply turned his head to face her, his dark brown gaze especially piercing at the moment. Her old rival was back. She was sure of it.

"So, what do you have to say about that?" he challenged, pointing his nose at Silverlight's belly. "You couldn't help but fall for a tom, breaking the warrior code rule of medicine cats not allowed to have kits. And then you run away just to escape the humiliation. I knew something was wrong with you all along."

"I can explain-" Silverlight started, then realized that all Darkstar had said was the truth. It could've been stated nicer, yes, but it was the horrible, ugly truth. And I can't object to it. I have nothing on my side.

"Sure, that's what they all say," Darkstar snarled. He snatched a plump mouse from the prey pile, and took a bite from it. "Explain away. But it better be good."

Inwardly, Silverlight cringed. What am I going to do now?

Her throbbing stomach saved her. She crouched over, suddenly feeling sick and dizzy. "I..."

Darkstar continued to glare at her until he realized that she wasn't faking the pain - it was real.

Silverlight was giving birth.