Shadowstripe's Treachery

Prologue

((^^Cat above is Larkkit^^))

~~Duskheart's pov~~

A bright quarter moon shone high in Silverpelt over the shadowy pine forest. Everything was silent except for the sound of a single set of paws padding carefully through the undergrowth. A large tabby cat was hiding amongst the bracken, scanning his surroundings to see if there was any prey out at this time of night.

Duskheart, a warrior of the very powerful IceClan, was taking his normal midnight hunt. He sniffed around, parting his jaws. He caught the fresh scent of a mouse, and saw that it was only a few tail lengths away. He crept closer towards it, until he stepped on a twig. It made a small crack, and the mouse heard it and immediately started to run. But Duskheart was too quick, and he leapt on it and bit its neck. The mouse let out a small squeak until it fell silent again and went limp.

He nodded to himself in satisfaction, "That should do it for tonight." He added the mouse to his fairly large pile of fresh kill that he had caught earlier.

Suddenly he heard the hoot of an owl overhead, and saw it perched on a tree above him. It took flight and glided across to the next tree. He shuddered, that's a bad omen... I'd better get back to camp. He gathered as much fresh kill as he could in his jaws and quickly moved through the forest.

He normally wasn't phased by those sort of things, but this night was different. So many things could go wrong, since his mate, Thrushpelt, was expecting kits anytime now. He soon reached the camp entrance and bounded through the thorn tunnel. He stopped dead when he heard a grief-filled wail. No! Oh Star Clan, please help Thrushpelt to be okay!

He dropped the prey, not bothering to put it in the fresh kill pile, and rushed to the nursery. He was met at the entrance by Russetleaf, the clan medicine cat. The red colored she cat looked exhausted and her eyes were clouded with sadness, "We lost one..." her voice cracked.

He stiffened, "What do you mean you lost one?! Has Thrushpelt already began to kit?"

"While you were hunting she started to give birth," she hastily explained, "She had two toms and a she kit. We... we lost one of the toms..."

He looked down sadly and sighed, "Here, let me come in." He mewed, and she let him go past her.

He cautiously walked into the hollow tree, and saw his mate sleepily curled around her two remaining kits, "Thrushpelt?"

She quickly lifted her head, "Duskheart!" She purred, "Come see the kits."

He smiled and looked at the his two kits. One was a very healthy looking grey and white she kit. Her fur was already sleek and shining, and she had the sweetest face. She looked almost exactly like Thrushpelt. He purred and then looked at the other kit. He held back a gasp of surprise at the major difference between the two. The tom was much smaller and very scrawny. He had a very dark brown tabby pelt. The little kit blindly swiveled its head around and crawled fowards in search of milk, but the larger she kit pushed him back and he stumbled back to where he began.

"Isn't she so beautiful?" She sighed, looking at the she kit. Everyone in the den nodded.

It was very crowded in the small nursery since Doespring, another queen, had just given birth to her own kits about two moons ago. Also Juniperheart, an elder and Thrushpelt's mother, was proudly gazing upon this gift of new life. The little brown kit let out an irritated squeak, as if trying to bring the attention towards him.

"And the tom... the tom is so-" he hesitated to think of a word to describe his son.

"Ugly?" Commented the always honest Juniperheart.

"No! He may look a little scrawny right now, but he is not ugly." Duskheart hissed at her. He had never liked the old she cat. She was always way too frank about everything, and she had no filter in what she said to anyone. That will be the death of her someday... he thought grumpily to himself.

"Look how tiny he is!" Squeaked a voice from the other side of the den. Duskheart saw a little head poke out from behind Doespring, and he recognized the little white she cat as Snowkit, "He's so skinny! Is he going to actually survive, Mama?"

Doespring gave her a warning glare, "Snowkit! What did I teach you about manners?"

"But Juniperheart-"

"Juniperheart is an elder. She can say what she likes," she scolded, "now you go back to sleep."

"But-" she complained.

"Now!"

Snowkit grumpily trudged back to the nest beside her brother and plopped herself down. She closed her eyes, and when Doespring turned around, she reopened one of her eyes to eavesdrop.

"I have a feeling he won't survive leaf bare..." Juniperheart murmured skeptically.

Duskheart bit back a stinging retort when Russetleaf entered the nursery again, her jaws filled with borage leaves. She dropped them next to Thrushpelt, "Eat these. It will help with your milk. And Juniperheart, all kits are a gift from StarClan. It doesnt matter what they look like, and I'm sure he's going to make a great warrior."

Juniperheart grunted and mumbled something under her breath. "I'd better get back to my nest. These old bones can't take much more of this cool leaf fall air. Your kits are great, Thrushpelt, I'm very proud of you." She licked her daughter on the head before turning away.

"Finally..." he growled. Once she was out of the nursery, he smiled, "Our kits are going to be the best warriors ever known to IceClan. I can just tell." He looked at the she kit.

She purred, "I know they will be wonderful."

"What are their names?" Duskheart asked.

"I will name her Larkkit. After your mother." She mewed, a hint of grief showing in her pale amber eyes. Larkwing, Duskheart's mother, had died of greencough last leaf bare.

Duskheart managed a small smile, "And what about this one?" He looked at the tiny tabby tom.

She stared at him long and hard, "Shadowkit." She nodded to herself.

"Shadowkit?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

She yawned sleepily, "Yes. Does it not fit him? His pelt looks like it has shadows all over it."

He shook his head, suspiciously wondering if his mate had different intentions for his name other than his fur pattern, "Okay then, it's your choice. Shadowkit it is."

The grey and white queen nodded, resting her head on her paws. Duskheart watched the two kits struggle as they tried to get milk. They constantly pushed each other out of the way, until one landed with a thud and squeaked in annoyance. Larkkit easily pushed Shadowkit out of the way, and he landed on his back. Thrushpelt was already fast asleep, so he tenderly helped the kit and led him to his mother.

He sighed, taking one last look at his mate and kits. He walked out of the nursery, feeling unsure of himself. I wonder how they will grow up... I just have a bad feeling... he shook the thought away and walked to the warriors den, happy that he was now a father.

((Yaaay, first chapter! Sorry it took me so long to post xD. Hope you enjoy!))