Spirits on the Wind

Chapter 12

It's been nearly a moon of visiting and hunting for Silvermoon. Minnowsplash woke up one morning, the air still a bit chilly. It was nearing the end of leaf-bare and he was excited for the cold weather to end. In the past moon, Brookspring had given birth to three healthy kits. One she-kit named Shinekit, who had a tortoiseshell pelt like her mother, two toms, Stormkit, and Streamkit. They both had gray pelts but Stormkit had a deeper, bluish hue to his. Also, Larkkit was now Larkpaw with Dewfeather, a gray tom a little older than Minnowsplash, as her mentor.

He pushed his way into the clearing, the entrance of camp rustling. A patrol entered, consisting of Cherryfeather, Jettail, Eaglestrike, Ashflood, and Quailswoop. They had a cat in between them, like they were holding the cat, clearly expecting, captive. Only the cat was.... Silvermoon!

Minnowsplash scrambled over the patrol. "What are you doing bringing a rouge into camp?" Rippletalon beat him there, asking that question.

"She is too close to kitting, we can't just leave her out there in the cold, Rippletalon!" Quailswoop said, curling her tail over Silvermoon's back. Silvermoon flashed a scared look at Minowsplash. He blinked trying to tell her 'it's okay'.

"We found her nested in a hollow tree right along the outside of the border." Jettail reported. By now, the tom was sturdy and broad shouldered with a sleek, muscled body.

"Was she the only one?" Rippletalon asked.

"Yes, we scanned the rest of the area and there were only stake scents of one other cat who hadn't been there in a long time." Jettail replied.

"Please lead a patrol with Twigtail, Mothlily, Tigerstrike, and Softcoloud. You need to scout back there to make sure that other cat doesn't come back." Rippletalon nodded. "And y-" he was cut off by a strict voice.

"Don't make the poor queen stand out here! Bring her to me!" Crystalpool yowled and walked over to Silvermoon. She guided her away, asking questions like what her name is and where she came from.

Minnowsplash followed them, pretending to have stepped on a thorn. He limped to the medicine cat den. "Crystalpool." He meowed as she settled Silvermoon into a nest.

"Yes Minnowsplash?" She asked looking at him.

"I-I seemed to have stepped on a thorn." He meowed. Crystalpool examined his paw pad.

"Hmm... It's mustn't have been deep, it's gone already. Here, you can have a poppy seed for the pain." She pushed a small black seed over to him. He licked it up and then spit it out, shoving it behind him.

"Crystalpool. Since you have no apprentice. I could help with the newbie." He proposed.

"That sounds great, thank you Minnowsplash. Could you fetch some wet moss?" Crystalpool turned to face him and handed him a bundle of dry moss.

He dipped his head and walked to the stream beside camp. He plopped it in, and dragged it out dripping wet.

Then he trotted back to the medicine cat den, dropping it at Silvermoon's paws. She looked awkward sitting there. Crystalpool's back was turned and he brushed his muzzle with hers and stepped away.

"Thank you." Silvermoon meowed, trying to hold back a purr.

"Now Minnowsplash, I need you to find a cat who is willing to lay with, Silvermoon. That's her name by the way." The gray medicine cat meowed.

Silvermoon looked very uncomfortable with another cat with her.

He almost said that he would but that would be obvious after he already offered to help. When Minnowsplash walked out, Thistlefall and Ashflood were waiting at the entrance.

"Why are you two here?" Minnowsplash asked suspiciously.

"I- uh I have a cough..." Thistlefall meowed and faked a small cough.

"No! This fish-brain wants to look at the beautiful new she cat." Ashflood mocked, pushing his friend over with his paw. "Anyway, why are you in there?"

"I was requested to help Silvermoon. That's her name."

"Her name is even pretty!" Thistlefall said googley eyed.

"Knock it off idiot!" Ashflood flicked his tail at Thistlefall's nose. "Now what do they need?" He asked

"They want some cat to lay with her to keep her warm-" he immediately stopped, regretting what he said as Thistlefall perked his ears.

"I will!" He exclaimed and trotted into the den.

"He's so stupid! Obviously she's expecting another cats' kits! I wonder who the father is..." Ashflood meowed.

Minnowsplash froze, his teeth gritted when Ashflood stopped talking.

"Oh well."

He let out a long breath thankful that he wasn't questioned.

"Ashflood!" Dewfeather called. "Come on a hunting patrol with Larkpaw and Stripedtail and I!"

"Okay coming!" Ashflood meowed and got up. "Bye Minnowsplash, I'll catch up with you later." The gray dappled tom trotted away.

"All this buzz about the new she cat makes me wonder..." Quailswoop meowed, coming up beside him.

"Yeah. This is a new thing. We really haven't included many rouges." He meowed. "And s-" he was cut off by Crystalpool who came out of the den frantically meowing.

"Minnowsplash! I need you. Silvermoon is kitting...."