Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 21

(Cat above is Hawkbreeze)
Several cats gasped. Foxgaze remained silent, eyes wide with shock. Well, you shouldn't really be shocked that she was dying. I mean, she did have greencough. Bad greencough.

Leafshade's thin tail waved back and forth "Lakeheart has requested to talk to Hawkbreeze and Echowhisper".

The dark brown and white tabby tom and the gray she-cat stalked forward. From the way they dragged their paws and their tails, Foxgaze assumed they were Lakeheart's littermates.

She heard Spottedbreeze whisper behind her "Always a shame to loose a cat".

"Indeed" Willowfur snorted, drawing Starkit closer with her tail "Even more painful to loose one so valuable to the clan".

"Foxgaze? Are you okay?" a polite voice said from behind her. Foxgaze turned around to see Shatteredkit looking up at her with kind eyes. Something about the kit was deeper and more ancient than she had ever seen.

"I'm okay Shatteredkit" Foxgaze smiled slightly. The brown and white tabby and her sister would be apprentices soon by the looks of it. Foxgaze bent down and licked Shatteredkit's head. Something however smelled bad compared to her normal kit scent. It smelled dead and furry.

Shatteredkit scampered away to join Starkit leaving Foxgaze alone. She watched as Echowhisper and Hawkbreeze left the den. Leafshade looked at Foxgaze and announced "Foxgaze! You're next".

I never really had that close of a relationship with Lakeheart but, okay. As she passed by Leafshade whispered in her ear "She might know about us".

Foxgaze stiffened a little. She glanced back at Leafshade, his green eyes were fixed on the den.

"Lakeheart?" Foxgaze mewed once she walked into the den. She wrinkled her nose as the foul scent of sickness hit her nose. In the darkness she could see the medicine cat's silver spotted form lying limply in her nest. Her dark blue eyes looked glazed over as she looked up at Foxgaze.

Foam bubbled around her mouth "Foxgaze... The she-cat who survived so much".

Foxgaze shifted her paws, unsure of what to say.

Lakeheart continued "You are different then others Foxgaze. From the day you were born, some things in your future still suprise me".

Does she know? Foxgaze thought to herself before Lakeheart confirmed her thoughts "I know about you and my apprentice Foxgaze".

"I..." Foxgaze stammered "I didn't know what I was doing I swear".

"We all know love at some point in our lives" Lakeheart rasped," A cat without love isn't a cat at all. But I think something you should know is that your expecting kits".

Oh StarClan no. She stared at the wall before meowing shakily "I guess you could say I've already known that".

"Some legends are told Foxgaze" Lakeheart coughed "T-that the kits of a medicine cat will uphold a very dark or a very great destiny". Foxgaze's paws felt like they were turning to ice, and it wasn't because of the cold air and the stone floor.

"Don't let the dark destiny descend on all of them" Lakeheart sighed. She took a rattling breath and fell silent, eyes closed. Foxgaze began to panic. She nudged Lakeheart with her paw. She didn't stir.

"Leafshade! Lakeheart's not stirring!" she yelped, voice cracking with grief. She's just resting. No you mousebrain, she's dead! Please just be resting.

Leafshade brushed past her, his eyes wide and placed his paw on Lakeheart's side. His eyes were closed as he took a deep breath.

Moons seemed to go by before he announced "She's dead".

A wail of grief came from someone in the crowd of cats. Foxgaze closed her eyes and silently prayed to StarClan Please watch over her and thank her for what she's done for our clan.

As Leafshade was about to leave she yanked him by his scruff to the back of the den. "What in StarClan-" Leafshade hissed but Foxgaze silenced him and whispered "She did know".

"Oh" Leafshade whispered back, "Did she say anything else?"

"Yes...yes she did" Foxgaze looked at the roof of the den and mumbled "I'm expecting kits".

Leafshade looked a little taken back before suddenly looking really happy "That's great!".

"No, you're not seeing the point Leafshade" Foxgaze made her whisper a little louder "Our kits are the kits of a medicine cat and the deputy who doesn't have enough time on her paws to take care of them".

"You can take care of them" Leafshade cocked his head to one side. "I'm the only one who can't be known as their kin".

Foxgaze grumbled to herself Toms! and stalked off. Leafshade rolled his eyes "You should be happy!"

Lakeheart's body has been dragged outside and several cats were sitting around her. Dawnstar stopped her "What did Leafshade just tell you?".

"Nothing" Foxgaze grumbled and shoved past her. She felt Dawnstar's gaze burning her pelt.

Dropping down in her nest, she pretended to sleep in case someone walked in. Her paw was draped over her muzzle. Can this day get any worse?