Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 17

"Minnowtail?" Mothwing loomed over her, clamping her jaws over her scruff and dragging her to the medicine den. But Minnowtail had never felt so wretched before. She put up her paws and muttered weakly. "I'm sorry! Brokenstar made me promise..."

"Hush," Mothwing led her to the den and gave her some poppy seeds, which she licked up, weary from the ordeal. But do I really deserve this care?

She woke up in a grassy meadow. All her wounds were gone, and her agony too. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud.

"In StarClan."  Hollowflight appeared, his sleek dark brown pelt already shining with stars. "So I'm dead?" Minnowtail gulped, hardly able to contain her fear. "No. But almost." Dawnflower was here, with a small plump black tabby she-kit. "Dawnflower! And...Tumblekit?" Minnowtail couldn't believe her eyes.

Her sister wound around her legs, purring. "Yes. But don't worry, Minnowtail. You aren't dead, yet. Just very wounded. You will stay here while Mothwing and Willowshine try to heal you." Guilt flooded Minnowtail's heart and she blurted, "I'm sorry for killing you, Tumblekit."

Her dark green eyes widened in surprise. "You never killed me, sister. It was my own choice to join in to play with Twoleg poison. It was never your fault." Warm joy and relief filling her chest, Minnowtail let out a short purr and nuzzled the black tabby she-kit.

Suddenly, Minnowtail noticed a gray tom with yellow eyes watching them, almost forlornly. Though longing clouded his gaze, he was still hesitant to approach the family. Seeing him, Minnowtail pointed with her tail and questioned Dawnflower, "Who's that?"

Her leaf-green eyes darkened ever so slightly as she explained, "Voleclaw...your father." Shock pulsed through Minnowtail and she rounded on Tumblekit. "Did you know this?" she asked, her tail lashing. The plump black tabby she-kit shook her head. "I only found out when Dawnflower came to StarClan. But if you ask me, he's not that bad."

Minnowtail glanced at Voleclaw, and the gray tom slowly got to his paws and made his way to them. Dawnflower, upon seeing him, shuffled his paws, looking confused whether to welcome her mate or to snap at him. At last the pale gray she-cat decided on meeting his eyes, her gaze as hard as stone.

Voleclaw shuffled his paws. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about what happened. But I did love Dawnflower, I promise. I was just taken aback by the fact that she was having kits so soon." he muttered, staring at Dawnflower desperately. 

Before Minnowtail could react, her surroundings began to blur...