The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

52. Seeking Guidance

     Echolight watched the clouds anxiously as they lurched across the sky. The moon was only just beginning to creep upwards, the sun still casting shadows. Once it dipped beneath the trees, darkness began to fall. 
     With a sweep of her tail, she stood and slipped into her den. Spiderkit was settled in his nest, nestled into a batch of feathers that Pinekit had brought for him. He was swathed in cobwebs to protect his wounds. When he fell, he slammed into a sharp rock, and a massive gash was left in his side. It refused to heal, as he was incapable of staying still, squirming in his sleep. 
     Now, he twitched and simpered, paws flicking. Echolight watched him like a hawk plotting to capture prey. Every moment, she was studying him, searching for some sort of clue as to if her suspicions were true. She gazed into his eyes when he wasn’t focused on her, and memorized his every movement, hoping to find a sign. She couldn’t decide which would be worse or better. 
     His dreams are so strange. Echolight watched as the kit batted at the moss lining of his nest. And that vision of fire. He’s never seen fire. Or dogs. And according to Palemist, the dogs almost tore apart his face.  
     She worried that Cobweb’s sudden disappearance upon the kit’s birth was not a coincidence. He may have been reincarnated. Is that why he had to talk to Dapplefoot in StarClan? Why he was there in the first place? Why would he be reincarnated anyways? To make up for how StarClan forsook him? To give him another chance? 
     Spiderkit suddenly wailed, scraping at his nest. Echolight lunged towards him and held him down. “Stop moving! You’ll make your wound worse.” 
     “Momma!” The kit shrieked. “Help me!” 
     “Wake up!” Echolight hissed, shaking the kit. Spiderkit snapped awake and whimpered. 
     “Momma?” He mewled pitifully.  
     Echolight sighed and pressed her nose to his cheek. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” 
     Spiderkit whined. “I want Rosepetal.” 
     “I know.” 
     “My side hurts.” 
     Echolight took a deep breath and peeled away the webs. They had turned red, blood soaking into them. She wadded them and nudged them away, then pushing into her stores and returning with marigold. She chewed the petals into a fine paste and licked it over the wound, then finding fresh cobwebs and pressing them down. “You’re doing well,” she praised. “You’re very brave.” 
     “I’m tired,” Spiderkit huffed. “Can I have a poppy seed?” 
     “Of course,” Echolight replied softly. She picked out a single seed and nudged it to him. The kitten lapped it up gratefully. “I have to go to the Moonpool, but someone will stay here with you.” 
     “Can it be Rosepetal?” Spiderkit asked. 
     Echolight looked sadly at the kit. “She has to stay with your littermates, but I can probably get Shadowclaw.” 
     Spiderkit shook his head. “What about Palemist?” Echolight suggested. When Spiderkit bobbed his head, she purred. “I’ll send him. I think he’s with Scorchwing by the tunnel.” 
     “Thank you,” the kit squeaked. 
     Echolight dipped her head. “Of course. Try to sleep. You need it to heal.” She gave the kit a gentle lick on his ear and ducked out of her den, making her way towards her own littermate and friend. “Palemist,” she called. “Spiderkit needs someone to stay with him, and I think he’d appreciate it if it were you.” 
     Palemist looked startled. Since the accident, he had avoided the kit. “You should,” encouraged Scorchwing. 
     Finally, the warrior nodded. “I’ll keep careful watch over him.” 
     “If he starts to thrash in his sleep, you need to hold him still. It’s just nightmares, nothing like seizures, so it’ll be okay. The big issue is his wound,” Echolight explained. “And if it starts bleeding, lick it clean, put marigold on it, and cover it again.” 
     Palemist said nothing, making his way towards the medicine den. Echolight bit back a groan.  
     “It’s okay,” Scorchwing assured her. 
      She hung her head. “I know about the rogues. Palemist told me. I don’t want to deal with it all again. Not after being free from it.”