The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

31. Terrible Signs

Tinypetal's breathing was shallow, her mouth hanging open as she dragged in air. Patchback hung over her like leaves on a branch, licking her rugged fur down. Echopaw watched miserably. Her feeling of disappointment made her sick, as if she would heave her stomach out through her mouth. She pressed her nose into Tinypetal's fur, heart breaking at the heat burning through her. Still she shivered.

Cobweb sat near, trying to cool her with the coldness that seeped from his spectral pelt. He watched her with his one eye, studying her. "She won't last long," he muttered.

"I don't know what's wrong with her," Echopaw whimpered, and she sat beside her ghostly friend, taking in the chill.

"I would guess that it's a lung infection. I don't know what to do, if there is anything." She watched as Cobweb shifted his paws uneasily. "I'm not confident that she'll make it."

Echopaw got to her paws. "I'm going out. If something happens, tell me." She forced herself out of the den and into the light, taking in the scents of Newleaf. Her time in the camp did little for her mood, though, as her Clanmates padded around. Many were covered in scratches they had received three days ago in the vicious battle against WaterClan and their rogue allies. Still, they performed their warrior duties, hunting and marking the borders. Shadowclaw had added more patrols, and even Blackstar took part. Palepaw and Scorchpaw were always busy with their duties, even more so with all of the paranoia, leaving Echopaw alone.

Palepaw crossed the camp now, a fat mouse in his jaws. He carried it towards Sandfoot's den and disappeared inside. Echopaw could think of nothing but the battle now, and how Cobweb had interfered. He attacked that WaterClan cat. Others can see him if he wants them to. She felt sick to her stomach. And Palepaw saw him. But does he know about Cobweb?

"Echopaw?" Came a meow, and Echopaw turned towards the prey pile. Goldstreak was padding towards her, eyes filled with concern. Oh no.

"What's wrong?" Echopaw asked. Goldstreak shook her head and sat down, wrapping her tail around her daughter.

"Your father told me about your vision before the battle. About how you . . . He said it was quite scary," Goldstreak explained, looming over her kit. "Are you okay? Does that happen every time?"

Echopaw stared up at her mother, confused. She had pushed the vision far out of her mind, and now remembered very little of it. All she could picture was two shapes and stones surrounding them.

"Two cats on jagged stones, where others have died before."

Echopaw shuddered. It had been the dark voice of all of StarClan screaming in her ears. Since that night, she remembered little, but it all came flooding back.

Blood. There was so much blood. And golden sand. Screaming. Cries for help. She held her breath. Falling. Why falling? Are the cats falling?

"Catch them!"

She shuddered and closed her eyes, but she searched deeper in her brain. What else?

An image of fear in a cat's eyes flashed through her mind, a flash of a single green eye. When she opened her eyes, she found herself quivering, huddled against her mother. She tried to relax, but her muscles were as tight as ever, unable to unlock. I hate this. I hate all of this.

Without thinking, she turned her head and buried her face in her mother's fur. "I don't know how to feel."

"It'll be okay," Goldstreak said softly, casting a gentle lick over Echopaw's ear. "How is Tinypetal?"