Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 26

(Kitten above is Wolfkit)

Foxgaze lay with her kits all night in the Wolf Tree. The sun was just barely shedding light on the horizon when she and Leafshade stepped out into the frosty air. Leafshade held Wolfkit and Foxgaze carried Beechkit.

Beechkit mewled for milk as Foxgaze carried her by her scruff. Her ears were so tiny that they pressed themselves against her head. Foxgaze felt a rush of affection for her daughter and quickened the pace.

After what felt like seasons, they arrived at the camp entrance. "You first" Leafshade nodded "watch out for other cats".

Foxgaze stepped through the tunnel and immediately made a sharp turn towards the Nursery.

"Foxgaze?"

Foxgaze turned around slowly and saw Dawnstar standing outside her den. The black and white she-cat crept forward, staring at Beechkit.

"What are you doing up this early and why do you have a kit?" Dawnstar cocked her head to the side "and is that milk-scent you have on you? What does this mean?"

"Look Dawnstar I" Foxgaze felt dread rush to her paws. Leafshade had just come through the thorn barrier and froze when he saw Dawnstar. Wolfkit squeaked loudly when he stopped moving.

"You were expecting kits this whole time weren't you?" Dawnstar narrowed her eyes.

Foxgaze sighed and looked at the ground "Yes".

Foxgaze expected Dawnstar to be really angry but nothing but understanding filled her eyes. Dawnstar stared at Beechkit as if recalling an old, painful memory. Finally she closed her eyes "Just give them to Glazepool. I will never speak of this night to anyone again".

Giving a respectful bow, Foxgaze padded onward with Leafshade at her tail. Glazepool was already awake when they arrived, she moved her tail aside so Leafshade and Foxgaze could set down the kits. They both nuzzled past the other three kits and tried to find a spot to suckle.

"What are their names?" Glazepool asked as she curled around her adopted kits.

Foxgaze put her paw on the russet tabby "Beechkit" and placed her other on the grey and white one "and Wolfkit".

As if responding to her, Wolfkit mewled and began to crawl over to his mother's paws. Foxgaze felt a lump in her throat as she nudged him back over to Glazepool.

Leafshade put his tail over Foxgaze's shoulders "Come, you need some herbs before you can sleep".

Foxgaze touched his nose in gratitude and stepped out of the Nursery. She glanced back once more at her kits I'll protect you no matter what my loves. Always.

***

"By the powers of StarClan, I name you Shatteredsight" Dawnstar rested her head on the new warrior's dipped head. Shatteredsight then turned around to join her newly named sister, Starpool.

"Shatteredsight! Starpool!" the cats cheered. Starpool's amber eyes sparkled with joy as she looked around at her fellow warriors.

Beechkit struggled to look over Wolfkit's head. She playfully shoved him a little to the side "Move it mousebrain!"

Wolfkit shoved back "Hah! For once my big shoulders are actually good for something".

Six moons had passed since Wolfkit and Beechkit were born at the Wolf Tree. Foxgaze had watched them both and they were getting along well with Glazepool's other three kits. All of them would be made apprentices soon anyway.

Dawnstar has lost one of her remaining lives during border skirmish with MountainClan. Foxgaze could tell she was starting to take things slower with her age.

Swiftwillow had been killed coming back from a Gathering. While the group was moving last Horseplace, a dog had broken loose and had attacked them. Swiftwillow died from his wounds soon after the attack.

Foxgaze, with her other ear torn from the border skirmish was waiting for the day she would be given an apprentice. Both Shatteredsight and Starpool were given to other cats.

Dawnstar flicked her black tail "Meeting dismissed". As cats began to disperse, Foxgaze saw Beechkit and Wolfkit wrestling in the dust. Something about them reminded Foxgaze of her and Adderpaw playing as kits.

Wolfkit, with his wide shoulders and heavy frame, held Beechkit down with his paw. His fluffy tail waved back and forth "Give up yet?"

"I'll never serruender!" Beechkit mewed. He was strong, but she was lanky and thin like Leafshade. Beechkit wiggled out from below his grip and clung to his underbelly.

Glazepool came over and separated the siblings with her paws, her other three kits crowding behind her. Glazepool meowed in a fake stern voice "No fighting roughly with your brother and sister kits. Ahh... now I have to give you all another bath".

"Mama! I swear I'm clean!" Snowkit protested. She fluffed up her cotton white fur to show its lack of dust.

Beechkit, covered head to tail in dust calmly went over to Snowkit and dragged her dirty paw across Snowkit's white chest.

Snowkit yelped and jumped back as if she had seen a beetle crawling in her nest. Foxgaze couldn't help but smirk to herself. The white kit was a little bit selfish about her appearance and it was funny to see dirt smudged on her pristine pelt.

Foxgaze couldn't help but intervene "Beechkit! That's not good to smudge your sister like that".

"S-sorry Foxgaze" Beechkit gulped.

"Thank you Foxgaze" Glazepool mewed. She drew her five kits closer to her with her tail "Now, since Foxgaze is the deputy, we all must listen to her and Dawnstar".

Wolfkit flexed his tiny claws "I can't wait to be a warrior when I'm older".

"You'll be a great warrior one day Wolfkit" Foxgaze purred at the beefy grey and white tom "Just make sure you listen to your... mother". The words seemed stuck in her throat. It was like her heart didn't want say that Glazepool was his mother.

Wolfkit nodded enthusiastically before following Beechkit back to the nurserey. Foxgaze watched them go and felt a prick of jealously when Beechkit rubbed up against Glazepool's legs affectionately. Some day I'll tell you the truth.