Owlflight's Kits (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Two

Owlflight couldn't believe that Cloud and Winter had given two of their kits away. He understood that she was missing MudClan, but he would have never given up his kits. Cloud clearly regretted it, because no matter how much Winter prodded her, the she-cat would hardly ever get up and move around. She spent the majority of her time sleeping or nursing Frost.

"I am never having kits." Firepaw announced. "They're so annoying!"

Owlflight turned to see that Frost was clinging to Firepaw's ginger tail. As the apprentice struggled to pull the kit off of her, Winter appeared, picking the kit up with ease. "You need to pick her up from the scruff, mouse-brain." He said, though there was a teasing tone to his voice.

"Bring her here!" Stone said, padding over to the two. "She's getting big. I want to take her out!"

Owlflight couldn't help but notice the pride in Stone's eyes as he gazed at his sister's kit. Then the gaze flicked to Owlflight, "May I?" He asked.

"Ask her mother," Owlflight flicked his tail towards Cloud.

"Don't wake her." Winter snapped. "You can take her out, just bring Owlflight with you. If that's okay.." He added. Owlflight nodded and stood up, bending to lick Frost on the head.

"Okay, let's go out." Owlflight agreed. Frost squealed happily, already dashing off into the bushes. Stone bounded after her, Owlflight right behind.

"Where to first?" Frost asked, dashing towards the gorge. Owlflight's heart suddenly began to thud. "Not that way." He growled, but Stone was headed in the same direction, tail held high.

I have nothing to worry about. Owlflight reminded himself. The gorge was safe; they'd learned to be more careful after Cloud's accident. But with Rainpaw's frantic warning still clear in his head, it was difficult for Owlflight to imagine ever allowing Frost to go somewhere potentially dangerous.

"It's so cool!" Frost gasped as the three cats stopped at the edge of the gorge. The black river water splashed endlessly at the rocks, roaring at the effort.

"We shouldn't be here." Owlflight breathed.

"It's fine." Stone said dismissively. "I won't let another accident happen here."

As he said that, though, Frost was bracing herself for a jump. "I bet I can jump over!" She squeaked, leaping into the air.

Hundreds of images flashed in Owlflight's head. Memories of Robin dragging his bleeding sister out of the river, Rainpaw's worried cries, screams of terror. New images formed, a tiny white kit broken and bloodied on the rock, Cloud's cries as she heard that her kit was dead, Stone's horror when he realised that he was partly at fault.

But none of that happened. Fast as lightning, Stone shot out, his paw cupping the kit and shoving her thumping back safely to the ground. As Owlflight was about to let out a sigh of relief, he realised that his son hadn't formed a grip on the edge of the gorge.

He jumped forward, but he was too late. Stone's claws slid in the mud and with a startling scream, the tom fell to the river. He just barely made it to the water, nearly landing on a rock jutting up from the ground.

"Go get help, quick!" Owlflight hissed to Frost as Stone's head disappeared underneath the current. He had to trust a kit to bring help; Stone would never survive if Owlflight didn't try to save him.

As Frost bounded away, Owlflight made his way down the slope of the gorge. Once he was near the river, he tried calling Stone's name, but there was no reply. He bounded downstream, following the rush of the current in hopes that he would see a grey head bobbing up and down in the water.

But he saw nothing. "STONE!" He called again, picking up his pace. This was the fastest that he had ever run. Images of his dead kits, Songkit and Echokit danced in his head. Would Stone soon be just another memory, like his sisters?

"STONE!" He tried again and again, desperate for an answer. Eventually he collapsed, panting and soaking wet from the spray of the river. "Stone, please.." He wheezed. But he knew he wouldn't reach him. He let out a wail, realising now that his son was dead.