Darkness In The Clans 1- Frost (warrior cats)

Chapter Three

Hollyheart crouched beside the nursery, anxiety flashing in her eyes. It had been one moon since Berrypaw and Snowkit had returned, and the kit seemed to be growing weaker since.

"Here, Berrypaw says you need to drink." She gently placed a soaked piece of moss at his paws.
"Nuh-uh. I'm not thirsty." He croaked.

"You need to drink. Medicine cat's orders." Snowkit hesitated for a moment before she added, "Warriors need to keep their strength up."

His eyes flashed and he eagerly lapped at the moss, before throwing up some water. She sighed.

"Has he eaten anything strange?" She asked Sugarglow.

She shook her head, eyes wide. "No. He barely had more than a full mouse. I have to convince him to eat even the smallest chunk of prey." The calico rasped her tongue over Snowkit's head. Poor little scrap. He's only four moons old. Hollyheart admired Berrypaw for taking such good care of Snowkit. He even stayed with him overnight, curling up beside him on the floor. He's really nice, but I would never sleep outside of a nest! She thought with a purr.

"Hollyheart, are you okay?"

Berrypaw noticed she was staring and was looking at her anxiously. "You look okay... Do you feel weird?"

"No, sorry, I'm fine." Hollyheart licked her chest, avoiding his gaze. Berrypaw examined her for another minute.

"Okay. Be sure to come to me if you feel odd. Or Redtuft." He added, his eyes shining with admiration. "Redtuft can cure anything!"

Hollyheart winced. She thought of the elder that died before he was born. Ashheart had suffered from a fatal disease, greencough, and Redtuft wasn't able to save him. Better not ruin his spirits. She flicked an ear. "You really like your mentor, huh?"

"Of course! He's so smart, and calm, and cool... He must know everything!" Berrypaw circled around excitedly.

"Shouldn't you be working instead of talking to me?" Hollyheart tipped her head. Berrypaw shook his.

"Nope! Redtuft told me to check Snowkit, then take a break. My paws are so sore..." He whined. "If I'd have worked any more, I'm sure they'd fall off!"

Seeing the tom all happy and playful made Hollyheart purr. He certainly was working hard, always in the medicine den. He only came out to gather herbs, and other cats had to drop off his prey for him. Hollyheart noticed whenever one of the apprentices did so, he looked sadder than he was before. It was probably her imagination. "Do you want some prey?"

Berrypaw looked around the camp, fear making his fur bristle as he gazed upon Snakepaw. "No thank you! I'm not hungry!" He squeaked. "You can give some to Sugarglow and Snowkit, though!"

"Okay..." Hollyheart seemed confused. Was he afraid of Snakepaw? They had grown up together as kits! Morningsun was the mother of Flowerpaw, Snakepaw, and Birchpaw, and had raised Berrypaw alongside them after his mother, Monarchwing, died due to blood loss. His littermates, Bristlekit and Tulipkit, had died as well alongside her, freezing. Why would he be scared of him? As she padded to the fresh-kill pile, he heard Snakepaw's sneer.

"Berrypaw's so annoying! He's just like his father- a fat, lazy, kittypet." Snakepaw licked a paw.

"Yeah! If it wasn't for him, our lives would have been so much better." Iciclepaw agreed. Batpaw, Eggpaw, Cherrypaw, Birchpaw, and Flowerpaw all looked worried as Snakepaw continued,

"The next time he leaves his sick clanmates, we're going to attack. Last time, I wasn't able to drown him. But this time, we'll succeed." His eyes glowed with hostility. Hollyheart creeped closer to hear him better, hiding behind some ferns and mushrooms nearby. "We're going to lead him to a badger den. Batpaw, you pretend like you're injured and Birchpaw, lead him to Batpaw. Berrypaw likes you, he'd go try to heal you. Eggpaw and Iciclepaw, you lead him there. Pretend to be rogues or Seaclan cats. The rest of us, Cherrypaw, Flowerpaw and me, will make sure he stays in the den long enough for the badger to have a good meal." Hollyheart's fur bristled in anger and fear. They were going to kill him!

"What if someone finds out?" Batpaw shuffled his paws. "And what if he figures out I'm not hurt?"

"I'll give you a scratch." Snakepaw flicked an ear. "Or two. Or three."

Batpaw looked unconvinced, gazing at Berrypaw. He likes him! Surely he would never do something so bad to him? "Okay..." He murmured.

"Don't tell me you're padding after him!" Snakepaw gasped. "Oh, Batpaw, you have the worst taste in toms."

"He's really nice! You need to give him a chance." Batpaw mewed defensively, though he spoke in an unusually high-pitched voice. Hollyheart wanted to leap in to Berrypaw's defense as well, but she kept quiet. I need to find out when they're doing this.

"You're disgusting." The gray tom spat, "Berrypaw probably hates you."

Batpaw flinched. "Keep insulting me, and I'll tell him all about your little plan." He sniffed.

"Fine." Snakepaw sighed, rolling his eyes. "Let's go. Batpaw and Birchpaw, use the normal entrance. The rest of us will sneak out from behind the elders den. Whiskerfur is so old, he'd hardly notice!"

The apprentices left, and Birchpaw and Batpaw exchanged worried looks. Hollyheart stood up and stretched. She had to follow them and make sure Berrypaw was okay. She followed them quietly, her fur bristled in anger. Berrypaw didn't deserve any of this! She had to stop them!