A Spark in the Night, part one: The Spark Ignites

Chapter twenty-three

Softcloud peeked into the medicine den. It had been about a quarter-moon since Foxtail had been bitten, and she'd only been getting weaker. To everyone's relief, she'd woken up for some time the day before, but had been so confused, she hadn't known who was speaking to her.

"Poppyflower, may I see how she's doing?" Softcloud asked nervously. What if I check on her, and she's... Softcloud couldn't finish the thought. There were so many horrible possibilities.

Poppyflower looked up at her, sadly. "I suppose you can come in, Softcloud." She mewed quietly. Softcloud thrust herself into the den. In front of her was Foxtail, looking small and frail, like a scrap of fur. She gasped in horror when she realized her friend wasn't breathing. "No, Foxtail!" she wailed, and turned to face the medicine cat. "Can't you give her any herbs?" she asked, panicked, but she knew herbs wouldn't do anything. Foxtail was dead.

Softcloud looked sadly around the Clan that had just heard the news. Wails from some warriors, a yowl from an apprentice, but everyone else was silent. She knew the same thought was passing through everyone's minds. Not another death. Not so soon.

The vigil for Foxtail had been harder than Bluemist's had been. To make it worse, there was a worry that hung in the air that more loss was coming. No cat had trouble staying up all night, even those who weren't as close to Foxtail.

The loss of Foxtail was still fresh in Softcloud's mind as she finished sending out the evening patrols a moon later. Maybe I can distract myself. Softcloud headed out of camp, and started hunting.

A little later, she buried a mouse she'd just caught, and turned around to catch the squirrel she'd scented before. She spotted it and crept forward, about to pounce, but she was suddenly aware of a paw pressing down on her chest, in a sort of rhythm. Looking around, she confirmed that there was nobody around. But she started to hear voices.

"Is she okay?" The voice sounded vaguely familiar.

"I think so, Pebblepaw."

Pebblepaw? That's the BloomClan medicine cat apprentice. Softcloud realized she must be dreaming. She struggled awake, but the voices continued.

"How did this happen anyway?"

"You said she was on the streambed, right?"

Softcloud opened her eyes, suddenly aware of a strong mossy odor. This is BloomClan's medicine den, isn't it? "What's going on? I-"

She cut off, suddenly aware of light-headedness. She drew in a sharp intake of air, before asking again. "Why am I here?"

The BloomClan medicine cat, Streamcurrent, spoke first. "We should be asking you that. You were washed up on our territory, drenched and unconscious."

"Wait, what?"

"Why were you in the stream?" Asked Pebblepaw.

"I don't- I don't know." Responded Softcoud.

"Try to remember the most recent thing you can recall before waking up here." Encouraged Streamcurrent.

Softcloud thought hard. I was in the camp, and saw that the fresh-kill pile was low. She thought harder. I decided to go hunting with... with... Spekleheart. She felt close to finding out what had happened. We were by a stream, and... Softcloud realized that was all she remembered. But she didn't need to know more.

"Some cat pushed me into the stream." She told the BloomClan cats.

Pebblepaw looked at her, eyes wide. "What??"

Streamcurrent tilted her head to the side. "Are you sure?" She asked.

"Thank you for your help." Softcoud meowed, getting to her paws. "I need to head back now.

She was aware of the BloomClan cats calling to her, but she didn't respond, just kept walking. A wave of realization had crashed over her. It all makes sense now... When I was an apprentice, she always seemed to send me to where Leafclaw and Grasswhisker were waiting, and she put off giving me battle training. Spekleheart is working with Leafclaw and Grasswhisker! That's why she was disappointed after their attempts, she wasn't upset I'd fallen behind in training, she was upset that I survived.