Warriors: The Clans Curse, The Second Sight (Book 1 Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

Fallingkit was huddled away sound asleep, away from large brutish paws, covered by moss that had been rubbed in the strong scent of mint. The chilling air slowly seeped in through the trees' old moss covered Roots. Yellowkit awoke to the sound of barking in the camp,wailing and yowling filled the cold air, Yellowkit got to her paws looking around the nursery, surveying her surroundings and then looked at Toadwhisker who was standing at the entrance of the nursery blocking out any fresh air and muffling the sounds.

"What's going on Toadwhisker?" Curiosity filled Yellowkit's mew as she looked up her.

"Hide behind me.... Now." Toadwhisker's ordering meow sent shivers down Yellowkit's spine as she hid behind the queen "Your sister should be fine in the medicine den. The stench of herbs will hide her scent."

"hide her scent from who?" whispered Yellowkit.

"Silence. Dogs are approaching now" hissed Toadwhisker. Yellowkit hid in the corner of the nursery behind Toadwhisker, the familiar, tangled scent of Sheepfur and Eagleheart flowed into thedark den, followed by some heavy panting "Stay hidden you two,if a dog comes I'll claw their eyes out!" Hissed Eagleheart as one dog lumbers into widened rabbit hole baring its yellow putrid teeth at the cats. With a mighty hiss, Eagleheart lunged onto the dogs' back racking down its flank with his sharp claws. Instinctively another dog crawls through the den; its foul odour hit Yellowkit in the face as its yapping barks echoed. The dog paused for a heartbeat sniffing the air around it; its eyes gleamed in enjoyment as it picked up the scent of Yellowkit. The shaggy dog lumbered towards Yellowkit; its yellow snarling fangs were raised speckles of red painted its teeth. Toadwhisker's fur stood on end, and her claws were unsheathed, a snarl rumbled from her throat. Quickly she kicked Yellowkit away from her hoping for her survival, Toadwhisker leapt into the air only to be batted down by the shaggy dog, its beady eyes gleamed at Toadwhisker.

Yellowkit watched in horror as Toadwhisker is being torn to shreds. Eagleheart and Sheepfur stood pelt by pelt raking their honed claws down the dogs' muzzle and chest sending the two dogs whimpering away. The couple then charges to the dog that is standing over Toadwhisker, Sheepfur angrily hissed at the dog grabbing its attention while Eagleheart leapt into the air and onto the dogs back. Unnoticed until he pried his sharp vengeful claws into the thick dog's pelt, gushing out blood, the dog shook loose of Eagleheart and bolted out of the nursery yelping in pain and agony.

"Toadwhisker? Are you sleeping?" Yellowkit mewed as she nudged her head into Toadwhisker's fur.

"Do not worry about me, is the clan safe?" her voice rasped as she started to hackle up a cough.

Eagleheart rushed out of the nursery in search for Foxstripe; the camp was full of injured cats with dogs yapping at their hind-legs,Foxstripe was at the foot of her den rushing about carrying mouthfuls of leaves.

"Foxstripe quickly! It's Toadwhisker!" screeched Eagleheart as he looked at the medicine cat in disarray. Foxstripe weaved through the pack of cats towards the nursery and stepped into the dark scene. Toadwhisker laid splayed on the den floor blood oozing from her back.

"Hush Yellowkit you mustn't wake up Toadwhisker, do you want to see Fallingkit" mewed Foxstripe, Yellowkit gave a quick nod and then was scooped up by Sheepfur and taken into the medicine den.

"Eagleheart, I am so sorry." Foxstripe looked down at the queen sympathetically.

"What do you mean sorry!? You are a medicine cat! It is your...Your job to heal, why aren't you helping her!" Hissed Eagleheart

"She has joined Starclan. You fleabag! The greatest honour for any warrior" Hissed Foxstripe cutting off Eagleheart lashing her tail back and forth frantically "I must see to other cats now, as you can see Cliffclan is being attacked by dogs. So why don't you make yourself useful?"

"Eagleheart, she is...at peace, this is no time to be bickering. and you know it" soothed Sheepfur licking Eagleheart's shoulder gazing into his troubled yellow eyes. "The clan is being attacked. We must help every elder, apprentice, and warrior in the camp. Let's leave Foxstripe to her duties, what happened here was no one's fault."

"But it was mine! I should have paid more attention to what was around me" argued Eagleheart, looking at Sheepfur unsheathing his claws.

"Starclan knows when a clanmates' time is up!" yowled Sheepfur, "Starclan chooses...because if we had the choice, we wouldn't leave!" Sheepfur slowly blinked at Eagleheart waiting to see what his reaction was but all she got was a lick on the forehead within a heartbeat he had left into the fray of the battle.

"Yellowkit is that you?" Mewed Fallingkit, prodding her forepaw into her sister's long fur.

"Who else Pheasant, Dogs are attacking the camp!" Squeaked Yellowkit puffing out her fur. "It must be so awesome to fight mangey flea-ridden dogs!"

"What if we made barking sounds to mislead them!"chirped Fallingkit followed by attempts to sound like a dog.

"Don't be silly Pheasant there is no way that you could sound like a dog!" Bickered Yellowkit "We are cats, sworn enemies to floppy eared dogs."

Orchidstar stood at the base of her den as dogs surrounded the clan, there was maybe four or five, eight up all together. After seeing the ones that raced out of the camp Orchidstar leapt down from her rocky tower, and to a dog that was hot on the heels of Rabbitsong and Riverstone who were leading it towards the cliff, quickly Orchidstar intercepts the dog's course and begins to slash at its nose. The dog stalks slowly towards Orchidstar, not fazed by Orchidstar's attacks, closing off her route of escape. The leader's eyes were frantically racing with her heart to see any way of escape. She could feel the earth underneath her begin to crumble under the weight of the dog and her. Orchidstar closed her eyes tightly her heart felt like it was beating up into her mouth, the snarling of the dog echoed in her ears, she crouched down ready to take the attack and be sent down the cliff. A high pitched whimper quickly filled the air as a massive gush of wind surged over Orchidstar's fur carrying the stench of the dog. It was flung over the perilous cliff in an instant. With the leader of the pack dead, the dogs were sent racing to where ever they came from.

"We lost Toadwhisker, the apprentices have some injuries, that's all I have to report on the fight" informed Foxstripe looking at the exhausted leader.

"Foxstripe, what if that furball was telling us the truth, what if the clan is cursed?" Worried Orchidstar.

"I think it is the truth, Bumblemint was a bit cranky but, he did everything to help the clan. I'll prepare Toadwhisker for burial and prepare a ceremony." Mewed Foxstripe as she quickly walked away getting the elders up to carry Toadwhisker's up into the stump beside the river.

The sky was painted pink and orange, and clouds sat heavy over silverpelt, the sun burst out beams of light until it was swallowed by the darkness of the night. Eagleheart sat beside Sheepfur looking at Toadwhisker who looked like she was still sleeping peacefully. Her sons' sat around her giving her one last goodbye. The scent of lavender and rosemary filled the air as the elders carried Toadwhisker away and out of the clan and into the burial area. Tanglepaw, Lizardpaw and Flamepaw sat by the entrance of the camp silent and almost lifeless.

"What have I done Sheepfur. I could of saved her" shame-filled Eagleheart's meow as he looked at Sheepfur in her lavender eyes.

"We both could of Eagleheart, Starclan chooses whose time is up, we are not immortal. There is nothing we could have done."Meowed Sheepfur pressing into Eagleheart wrapping her tail around him. The two look at Silverpelt as it shimmered in the dark sky as a single segment of silver pelt shimmered and burst across the sky.