Colorful Doom

Chapter 20

"ShadowClan, attack!"

Willowkit yowled the battle cry before leaping at her littermates, who were standing by the fresh-kill pile. Sagekit jumped out of the way, but Robinkit, who seemed to be the slowest, was pushed to the ground by his sister.

Nightfeather watched them, eyes shining with amusement. Willowkit was the leader type. Sagekit was small and fast, but Robinkit was slow and a little sickly. He was almost always sleeping.

Robinkit didn't say anything, instead he just stared back at his sister with big green eyes.

Willowkit stifled a laugh and pressed her whole weight on him. "Do you give up?"

Suddenly, in a flash of dark gray fur, Sagekit bowled Willowkit over. "Stand down, ShadowClan scum!" She growled playfully before slapping her with a paw.

"Never!" Willowkit hissed.

Nightfeather pricked her ears. Lilyheart had asked her to watch the kits while she trained with Pebblepelt. It was a wonder she could balance being a queen and training at the same time. She smiled a bit to herself at her choice of setting. They were right under the weeping willow, were they couldn't really bother anyone.

"Robinkit, don't you want to play?" Nightfeather asked softly.

Robinkit shook his head. Instead, he studied the ground in front of him intently, sneezing a few times.

Sagekit and Willowkit, who had broken apart, watched their bother with annoyed gazes.

"He never wants to play!" Sagekit whined.

Nightfeather rose from her spot. "Now, now, Sagekit. He is your brother. You should be thankful and kind."

Willowkit bared her tiny fangs in a feeble attempt to look fierce. "But warriors need to fight!"

Nightfeather shook her head. "Not always. The warrior code says to show mercy. You'll learn this stuff when you're apprentices, don't worry."

Sagekit shrugged. "I guess."

Nightfeather felt a tail prod her shoulder and turned around.

Lilyheart smiled at her, eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you so much, Nightfeather. You can go now."

Nightfeather dipped her head and turned around to pad away.

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A soft breeze swept through the air as Nightfeather bent down to sink her jaws into the rabbit she had caught. Her limbs hurt from the excessive running after it whilst on the patrol, but it was all worth it. She lifted her head and scanned the clearing, eyes flashing. Every other cat was sharing tongues. Even Snowstripe and Mistflower, who seemed to be on good terms once again. They stared deep into each other's eyes before rubbing their cheeks together.

Nightfeather heaved a small sigh. Almost every cat avoided her now that Sparrowwing was out of the picture. He was pretty popular, and she knew how ShadowClan was with self-image. The black she-cat's tail twitched as she recalled a cat back from her kit-hood. His name was Thrushfur, and rumor had it that he had kits with a rogue. The whole Clan shut him off in disgust. No cat would talk to him, or hunt with him, or even look at him. She remembered staring at him quietly sobbing to himself outside the dirtplace. Fawnfur had ushered her back inside, though Nightfeather had spotted the sympathy in her eyes. The tom ran away a few days afterwards.

She stood and shook out her ruffled pelt, gaze dull. If only her mother was here. She had always had the sweetest heart, and the kindest voice.

Nightfeather turned around as she felt something tug at her tail.

Robinkit stared up at her with those big green eyes of his. "Mama is sick." He whispered.

Nightfeather registered this in her mind. "Lilyheart? Where?"

Robinkit didn't say anything, instead he just turned around and began to pad away. Nightfeather trotted after him, eyes widening when they reached the nursery. She ducked into the cool darkness.

Lilyheart lied in a nest, eyes closed as she shivered violently. She was mumbling something over and over.

"No... Please... My kits... Stop..."

Nightfeather dug her claws into the moss and turned to Willowkit and Sagekit, who were huddled next to their mother, eyes wide with worry.

"Where's Birdsong?" Nightfeather pressed.

Sagekit sniffled. "Auntie went to get Blazefur."

Nightfeather nodded and bent down to press an ear to the queen's chest. Her heart was racing madly, as if in a moment it would burst.

Foxfang suddenly plunged into the den, Blazefur hot on her heels. Nightfeather side-stepped so they could access the queen.

"Her pulse!" Nightfeather said frantically.

Foxfang nodded and bent down to place an ear on her chest. Her eyes widened with understanding. "Blazefur, she's asleep, but...it's like she's awake."

Blazefur flicked his tail. "That's impossible! If she's sleeping, her pulse would slow."

He pushed past his panicked apprentice and leaned down to listen to Lilyheart's heart.

"Great StarClan," he breathed. "You're right."

Nightfeather curled a tail around the three kits who had nestled into her. Their eyes were wide with fear. "Can't you do anything?"

Foxfang stared at the dark gray she-cat, eyes glazing over. "I don't know... She's sleeping, but she won't wake up."

Blazefur gently grabbed Lilyheart's scruff in his jaws and began to pull her out of the den. "Birdsong is waiting outside," he grunted. "She'll take care of the kits for the time being."

"No!" Sagekit wailed. "I want my mama!"

Nightfeather ran her tongue over the kit's head in a desperate attempt to calm her. "Sssh," she murmured. "It's gonna be okay."

Foxfang placed an herb in front of the she-kit, who was still shaking. Nightfeather immediately recognized the soothing scent as thyme.

"Here. Eat this." Foxfang meowed.

The entrance shook as Birdsong ducked into the entrance. "Blazefur took Lilyheart to the medicine den," she reported.

"Auntie!" Willowkit launched herself forward before falling at her paws, nothing more than a sobbing heap of fur. "Mama..." she hiccuped. "Mama went to sleep."

Birdsong nodded. "I know. I know, sweetie. Hey, why don't we go play with Sunpaw?" She asked.

Willowkit shook her head soundlessly as Birdsong sat down. She nestled herself between her paws, eyes fluttering shut.

》》》》》》》》

Hey guys! I'm really sorry about how short this chapter was! I'm really busy, with school and such :/

Lilyheart! Noooooo! :(

Lol

Qotd: What do you think would be an improvement to Colorful Doom?

I'm thinking of making this book were every chapter is a short story,  3,000- 4,000 words. The catch is, YOU guys have to send me descriptions. Plot, character, etc. :3

Dawnpaw's Regret is coming after the book finishes, don't forget!

Thanks for reading! I love you guys so much ♥

~ ♣