Lurking Shadows - Specklepaw/ Pigeonfeather POV

Chapter 8

Pigeonfeather opened his eyes to the blurry sight of the medicine den. He couldn't remember entering camp after the battle with the fox. His eyes adjusted to the gloom of the den. It must be the middle of the night, Pigeonfeather thought. A light grey tabby pelt shown in the darkness at the entrance to the medicine den. She announced, “Dawnflight's kits are coming!”
Her usually gentle tone was tinged with alarm. Pigeonfeather could understand why. Dawnflight's kits weren't meant to be due for another moon yet, meaning the kitting could be hard. Pigeonfeather watched as Maplepaw, the medicine cat apprentice, scrambled to her paws and woke up her mentor, Whiteberry. Together, they ran towards the nursery.

Skypelt, the cat who had came to announce the kits, trotted over to her kit, Pigeonfeather, and nudged him with a paw. “Are you awake?” she whispered. “Yes,” Pigeonfeather groaned. His body ached all over. His mother lay down beside him and started to lick his fur. Pigeonfeather curled up next to Skypelt, slightly annoyed at being treated like a kit but he didn't complain. The soft strokes of her tongue soon sank him into sleep again.

Pigeonfeather arched his back in a long stretch, trying not to wince at the pain on his head. The medicine den was empty, apart from Thistledawn- who was still asleep. The shrieks from the nursery continued to fill the air as Pigeonfeather shakily limped into the clearing. Maplepaw wearily padded to the fresh kill pile and took some mice. Pigeonfeather sympathised for the young apprentice; she had been up since moonhigh. He chose a sunny spot in the sandy clearing and settled down on it. From here he had a good view of the nursery. He was aware of Sparrowflight tucking her paws underneath her and curling her tail over his back. He purred in amusement as a brown kit kicked Maplepaw in the face. “Something funny?” Sparrowflight teased.
“It looks like a kit is stronger than an apprentice,” Pigeonfeather replied, purring with laughter.
“Are you ok? You was pretty badly hurt in that fight with the fox,” Sparrowflight mewed, concern replacing the teasing in her emerald green eyes.
“I'm fine," Pigeonfeather lied. "I've survived haven't I?"He lay his head on his silver striped paws and watched as the clan woke up.
"I don't know what I would do without you, Pigeonfeather," Sparrowflight murmured.

At sunhigh, most of the clan had seen Dawnflight's new kits. They were the kits of the leader after all.
“I'm going to see the new kits. Want to come?” Sparrowflight asked.
“Sure,” Pigeonfeather replied.
Pigeonfeather entered the shade of the nursery. He took a step towards Dawnflight and the new members of the clan but paused as pain jolted up his shoulder. He forced himself to carry on moving, determined to not cause his mate to worry. He touched noses with both of the kits, meowing “Hello, my name is Pigeonfeather. I'm your clanmate.” Tiny paws reached for his nose. He purred, thinking of the kits he and Sparrowflight would have one day.
Eventually, he let Sparrowflight see the kits and left the nursery.

He flipped down in his nest, the harsh herb scents stinging his nose. He longed to leave the herb smelling den and return to his warrior duties. But that doesn't matter, he thought, I saved Sparrowflight and that's what matters. I would sacrifice my life for hers or the lives of our future kits.