Flames & Shadows

Chapter 4

Hey, everyone!

I'm back with another chapter!

I hope you like it!
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Several sunrises pass since both Mosstalon and Lightcloud had woke up and Smallflame had allowed them to leave the medicine den.

Unfortunately, they both have to remain confined to the camp so both Smallflame and Pinetooth can check on their progress.

Progress has been steadily improving for Lightcloud. He's been hopping around, trying to get his strength back.

At sunhigh, he hops out of the medicine den and slowly makes his way over to the prey pile. He starts to lean down to grab a mouse when a dark gray she-cat pads up to him.

"Hey, Lightcloud. How are you feeling?"

He looks up. "Oh! Hi, Emberdust. I'm fine. A little sore still, but I'm getting better every day."

The she-cat nods. "Thank Starclan!" She touches his side with her tail. "May I eat with you?"

Lightcloud dips his head. "Of course. I'd be happy to share a meal with my mother."

Emberdust dips her head and grabs a vole and pads towards a sunny patch of clearing in the camp.

The young tom hops over to her, a couple of mice in his jaws, and settles down, stretching his injured leg out.

His mother settles down on his good side, but waits to eat. "How's your leg?"

Lightcloud turns to her. "It's still very sore. Smallflame thinks that I will never be able to use it fully again."

Emberdust sighs. "I... I'm so sorry that this had to happen to you. I-"

Her son shakes his head. "It wasn't your fault. You were keeping the rogues away from the nursery. You couldn't have known that I would be injured."

The she-cat sighs. "I know. But Starclan knows that I would protect you, even if my own life were lost and I went to Starclan."

Lightcloud dips his head. "I know you would. But you still are very brave for protecting the queens and their kits, Mother. I would've done the same thing."

"I know you would." Emberdust touches his ear with her nose. "I'm grateful to Starclan that you didn't join their ranks."

The young tom says nothing in reply and begins to eat, prompting the she-cat to follow suit.

"Hey, Emberdust! Hey, Lightcloud!"

Both cats look up to see a white tom with blue-gray patches padding up to them.

"Hi, Splashleap."

The white tom sits down. "May I join you both before I go on a border patrol?"

Lightcloud nods. "Of course."

Splashleap dips his head and pads away, returning only a moment later with a rather small blackbird and settling down across from the other cats.

"Where are you patrolling today?" Emberdust glances at the tom as he crunches on his meal.

Splashleap swallows his mouthful. "Along the border of Thunderclan and Skyclan."

Lightcloud nods. "I wish I could go on patrols." His voice is thoughtful, but still a bit sad when he sighs. "But I have to get better before I can be doing that."

His mother nudges his shoulder. "You'll be back doing what you want most with the help of Starclan."

He nods and gets to his paws, grabbing his half-eaten mouse to bury it in the dirtplace, and hops away, his fluffy white tail tapping the ground with each hop.