Damaged

Chapter 15

Berryheart woke up to the sound of coughing. Leaf-bare was just starting to set in and no cats had Greencough yet.

She stumbled to her paws and saw Clawstone and Venomstar stumbling to her.

She sighed. "Which one of you is it?" She asked.

"Me." Venomstar replied weakly.

"Right. Come inside and let me look at your throat. It might not be Greencough." She lead him in. Tullipfeather was spending the night with Swifthunt. He seemed to be better.

Berryheart looked down his throat. It didn't look swollen or puffy yet.

"Right. It might just have been from dehydration. I'll give you some honey, it should hopefully help you're throat. Drink plenty of water." Berryheart grabbed a wad if moss and soaked it in the honey.

"Lick it slowly." Berryheart mewed.

Venomstar nodded, taking the moss and walking away with his deputy.

"Geez not even a thank you?" She muttered. "Toms these days don't know any manners." It had been three moons since Wolfypaw and Swiftypaw went on that journey. Since then, Ashscent had moved into the nursery. Berryheart assumed she was expecting Swifthunts kits.

"Mummy!" Riverkit bounced up from where she had been 'sleeping.'

"What are you doing awake?" Berryheart gently rasped her tounge against the kits ear.

"My apprentice ceremony is tomorrow." She squeaked.

"I'm very proud of you." She purred. "But you should get some rest."

"When I'm a warrior I won't need to rest!" She declared.

Berryheart let out a little purr of laughter. "Every great warrior needs rest."

"Well I'll be so good, I'll never need rest." Riverkit meowed.

"I'm sure you will. Now it's only Moonhigh, have some honey then let's go to sleep." Berryheart grabbed a honeysuckle and gave it to Riverkit, who happily sucked on it.

"Now go to bed." Berryheart mewed.

"Okay!" Riverkit waddled back to her nest, where she curled up, the honeysuckle still in her mouth.

Berryheart chuckled, gazing lovingly at her daughter. Then she too went to her nest to sleep.

***

"Cats of VenomClan, gather here, beneath the big rock, for a Clan meeting!" Venomstars hoarse meow, woke her up.

She nuzzled Riverkit awake and gave her a thorough groom.

"I can do it myself." Riverkit squirmed.

"Come on, the clans waiting for you." Berryheart gave her daughter another lick, before leading her towards the clan.

"Are you being made an apprentice too?" Her best friend, Tigerkit, asked running up to them.

"Yep." Riverkit licked her chestfur proudly.

"Awesome! We can share the same den!" He cheered.

"Cats of VenomClan! We have a ceremony to preform." Berryheart sat beside Riverkit, whilst Venomstar addressed the clan.

"Riverkit, please come up here." Venomstar meowed. Riverkit puffed out her chest and strode up to the big rock.

"Riverkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it's time for you to become a apprentice. Do you promise to serve your clan loyally and truthfully?" Venomstar asked.