Warriors: The Darkest Shadow [Book 1]

Chapter 22

     (Darkkit! P.S there will probably be an OC every chapter lol)

     More shocked gasps followed his announcement, "No. Sorry Swiftstar." Her leader meowed briskly, making sure his point got across, but before Swiftstar could argue, Gingerleaf stepped up, her three kits hiding behind her fluffy tail.

     "Smallstar, I hate to say this, I really really do, but I'm taking care of six kits, I'm afraid one will die, I can't spare enough milk for them all, I will give you two of my kits." She sighed, pushing her kits toward Swiftstar.

     Darkkit stared in horror as the leader shifted his gaze between the three kits, Shadepaw saw the kit sit up, and pad forward, "Swiftstar! I will go with you!" He announced, Greycloud was there in an instant. "No Darkkit, your all I have left of you mother, your not leaving." He snapped, holding onto the kits scruff.

     But the strong kit shuffled out of his hold, "Sorry Greycloud, there must always be five clans." He mewed sadly, and padded up to the leader. "Ok, Darkkit, and-" He stopped abruptly, staring intently at Harekit, "What's your name?" He asked.

     "Harekit." He said, Swiftstar's gaze went clouded for a moment. "And Harekit." He said.

      No! Not Harekit!

     Shadepaw twitched her tail, her thoughts screaming in protest as the small tan kit padded closer to Swiftstar, a mottled red-brown tom picking him up, while a tortoiseshell she-cat picked up Darkkit.

     Stormkit and Robinkit bolted to Harekit, the tom dropping him long enough for them to say goodbye.

     "Goodbye Harekit." Whimpered Stormkit, but Robinkit wailed, her teal eyes glazed with water. "Don't leave me!" She wailed again, stuffing her nose in his fur.

     Gingerleaf padded up and grabbed Robinkit's scruff, dragging the wailing kit back to the nursery. "Harekit!" She screeched once more as the last tip of the tail disappeared behind the nursery walls.

     Branchclaw, Silverwind, lets go." The leader meowed to the two cats with him. Shadepaw recognized the tom from the gathering.

     The WindClan deputy.

     Featherkit and Stormkit followed the WindClan cats as far as the camp entrance, before they were stopped by Greythroat and Silversong. "Bye Harekit!" Featherkit mewed, it sounded like she was choked, trying not to burst into tears.

     Shadepaw padded up to them, curling her tail around the two she-kits. "Wanna go finish your story? We can talk about any thing you want." She said, trying to sooth the upset kits. Featherkit followed silently, while Stormkit sprinted back to the apprentice den, a scent trail full of grief following her.

     "Ok, what do you want to talk about?" She asked, gently running her tounge over Featherkit's fur, smoothing down the ruffled silver-grey pelt. "Ca-Can you tell us a story?" Stormkit asked, letting a tiny yawn.

     "Of course." She purred, the two kits curling up, their ears pricked and their eyes sparking with interest.

     "And then, the three kits banished the evil leader, sending him to the Place of No Stars. The End." She finished, Stormkit let out a small snore, while Featherkit's fur bristled slightly, she was lost in dream, Shadepaw let out an amused purr and curled up by them.

     She gave Stormkit a lick between the ears, smoothing her dark grey fur, her eye lids suddenly heavy, Shadepaw tried shaking away her exhaustion, but her eyes kept feeling more heavy, she curled up and layed her head on her paws, Stormkit grunted and rolled over, snuggling against her flank.

     A small purr escaped her as she fell asleep.

     "Shadepaw! Something's wrong with Stormkit!" A distressed mew hit he rear fur, Shadepaw sprang up, worry clouding her head, Stormkit was splayed in her nest, her lake blue eyes giving flashes of pain. "Shade...paw," She whimpered, she smelled of hunger and sickness, and her thin coat bristled as a breeze blew through the ferns.

     She snatched up Stormkit, bolting to the nursery. "GINGERLEAF!" She screamed, snapping the she-cat's head up, she looked so exhausted.

     Gingerleaf jumped up, sniffing over Stormkit's pelt, "Birdfeather!" She yowled, running to the medicine den, Shadepaw sat Stormkit down in Gingerleaf's nest, the kit thrashed in pain. Flash backs of Bluefeather clouded her mind.

     Robinkit looked over Stormkit, sniffing over her ruffled pelt. "Shadepaw picked up Robinkit and set her down beside Firekit. "Is she gonna be ok?" Asked Featherkit, curling up around her sister.

     Birdfeather burst in the den and grabbed Stormkit, carrying her away. Shadepaw following intently. "I'm cold..." She whimpered, trying to curl up in Birdfeather's jaws, but sadly failing.

     Shadepaw sniffed her mouse, it was barely even fur and bone, she doubted it had any meat at all. "Shadepaw? Are you gonna eat that?" A tiny mew drifted into her ears, she flashed her head to find a sick Stormkit, her beautiful eyes gleaming with sickness.

     "No. You can have a nibble." She tried purring, but grief choked her up. The sickly kit nibbled at the scrawny mouse. "Shadepaw? How are you?" A she-cat meowed from outside, flashing her head toward the nursery, she found Birdfeather.

     "I'm ok-" A yowl cut her off, it was from Smallstar.

     "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join under the Highrock for a warrior ceremony!" Shadepaw padded outside, clearing out a small clearing in the snow.

     Smallstar stared across the gathered cats, resting his gaze on her. "Today we are gathered to make two new warriors." Gasps sounded, a few expectant glares went to Larkpaw.

     "Cloudpaw. From this moment on, you will be known as Cloudheart, StarClan honors your courage and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He said, Cloudheart stood up, holding his chin high.

     "Shadepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Shadefrost, StarClan honors your compassion and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He said bowing his head.

     "Shadefrost! Cloudheart! Shadefrost! Cloudheart!" The Clan yowled, "As usual, the new warriors will sit a silent vigil." He then twitched his tail, and leaped down from the Highrock, landing awkwardly.

     "Congratulations Shadefrost!" A proud meow sounded from behind her, Bluesky licked her fur, just as if she were a kit.

     "Night guys." Hawkfeather said, turning to the warriors den. Her and Cloudheart had to be silent the entire night, and the night was just beginning.