Spirits on the Wind

Chapter 11

(I just want to clear this up. They are in the old territory, the forest territory! :3)

Minnowsplash woke up the next morning, feeling the chill of leaf-bare. It was colder than usual and he peeking out of the warriors den, squinting. A thin blanket of white snow covered the ground. He smiled as he saw a gingerish tannish head pop out of the nursery with wide green, excited eyes. Larkkit started to go out but was pulled back in by Brookspring.

Minnowsplash swished his tail and walked over, pushing his way through the entrance. "Larkkit." He called quietly to the kit who was exiled to her own nest, shivering alone.

She looked up, her eyes full of longing which then turned into happiness. "Come on." Minnowsplash whispered, careful not to alert Brookspring who had instantly fallen asleep.

The kit slinked over to him quietly. Minnowsplash started to nudge her out of the entrance but a sharp meow made him stop.

"Larkkit! Come back here!" Brookspring scowled.

"No it's alright Brookspring. I'm taking her out into the clearing." Minnowsplash meowed.

"No, Minnowsplash. You're not her father." She sneered.

"Well you're not her mother either. She won't get hurt." He hissed back then turned away. Then he whispered to himself. "Though she wouldn't really care anyway."

"Thank you Minnowsplash! She is evil." Larkkit mumbled.

"Now yes she is strict but she isn't evil." He nodded and they started to walk across the snow.

"What is this stuff? It's so cold..." Larkkit shivered, her long ginger pelt fluffing up as more flakes fell on her.

"This is snow. It comes almost every single leaf-bare."Minnowsplash replied, sweeping his tail around the kit.

"It's fun though." She smiled and scooped up a pawful, flinging it on Minnowsplash's shoulder.

"Oh so that's how you want to play?" He smirked and flicked some onto her nose. She sneezed and shook the snow off her head.

"Let's do this!" She backed up, scampering around. She backed into a bush full of snow, a small drift covering her.

"Larkkit!" Minnowsplash dashed over, snow spraying behind him. He hauled the little kit out. She was shivering and her nose was cold.

"Let's go back into the nursery." Minnowsplash murmured for reassurance. She gave a small, weak nod. He turned and pushed into the nursery, setting her on the ground. He licked the snow out of her pelt, though it was still cold and wet. Then he moved her to the nest where she would've been alone.

He licked her fur the wrong way to dry it, then curled around the shivering kit, laying his tail over her nose. He fell asleep with her.

He woke up to slight laughing.

"Looks like we've got a new queen." A voice giggled. Minnowsplash opened his eyes to see Pebblestream and Grayfeather.

He saw Larkkit blink her green, sleepy eyes open. "Hey Pebblestream. I have a bone to pick with you." He meowed, rising to his paws.

"What is it?" She asked, wrapping her tail over her paws neatly.

"Why don't you let Larkkit sleep in your nest so that she's not cold?" He asked seriously.

"I don't know what you mean? She falls asleep with Brookspring every night." Pebblestream meowed, looking confused.

"Um she moves me after you fall asleep. It's really cold in my nest." Larkkit piped up from behind Minnowsplash.

"Oh you poor thing. She's being mean isn't she?" Pebblestream guided Larkkit to her nest. "Here. You can sleep with me now. You can't be cold. You'll catch one." Pebblestream murmured gently.

"Thank you Pebblestream." Larkkit looked up gratefully at the silver queen.

"No problem. I don't want you to get sick." She smiled and laid down with the kit.

Later that day, Minnowsplash left camp to see Silvermoon. He stopped by the river first. He settled down beside it waiting and watching. A pink salmon swam by and he flicked it up, and killed it. Luckily, the river hadn't froze over yet.

He carried it through the marsh, moving at a swift pace to avoid patrols and to keep warm. He arrived at the hollow tree just after sunhigh. Silvermoon had taken his warning and she was inside, her silver head looking curiously through the brambles.

"I'm here!" Minnowsplash meowed and padded into the small shelter. He pulled the brambles in front of the entrance behind him. "I brought a fish for you!"

Silvermoon looked hungry so he pushed the salmon over to her. "Aren't you going to eat?" She asked. Seeing how hungry she looked, he shook his head. Soon she finished it.

"Minnowsplash..." She meowed. Her eyes sparkled with life but she also looked tired too.

"Yes?" He twitched his whiskers.

"I'm expecting your kits!" She meowed, her smile adding to the happiness.

His heart soared. "They will be amazing, trust me." He purred and licked her cheek.

"I know they will." She meowed. They sat together, sharing tongues for a while.