Winterpaw's wish

Chapter 7 ( A life lost, and a great honor gained )

I woke up to the sunlight beaming into the den, it felt empty now with only Dewpaw with me inside. Rosepaw had a dream and Tigergaze came to her saying that he was now in Starclan, and that he was no longer in clan territory. The clan had grieved for him, especially Dewpaw, Rosepaw, and I. When we sat for his vigil we had all cuddled together and I had vowed something I will never forget.

" Scourge will not take anymore of my family, and I will protect them." I had whispered to my self. It had been four sunrises since the vigil and I still hadn't seen  Scourge in my dreams, at this time I was getting annoyed I wanted him gone and over with so he wouldn't loom over me anymore. I sighed and flexed my hind legs. Dewpaw moaned and rolled over, snoring softly.

I looked at her and purred, Dewpaw was a light sleepier and I was very thankful for that. I padded out of the den and noticed Frostheart speaking with Darkstar, she had her kits last night. I was very curious to see them.

I padded over to the leader and deputy and sat down next to Darkstar.

" I'm afraid it might stray into the nursery." Frostheart complained. I sat up and pricked my ears.

" What?" I asked.

Frostheart turned towards me.

" Fox," She sighed. " I smelled fox just outside of the nursery. I don't want it coming anywhere near my kits." She growled. I nodded and padded inside of the nursery to see three bundles of fur laying by Sunflower's belly while Sunflower's four kits played happily. Dandelionkit sat up and smiled at me bouncing around my paws.

" Hey, Winterpaw!" She mewed happily. " I think Darkstar might make us into apprentices soon!" She teased. I purred and nudged her towards her litter mates.

" You still have one more moon after the gathering tonight." I pointed out. Dandelionkit sighed sadly and leaped onto Mousekit's brown pelt and bit her ear playfully. I purred and sat next to Sunflower and the three bundles of fur suckled at her belly.

" Did Frostheart and Oakfrost name them yet?" I asked the she-cat. Sunflower nodded and pointed to each kit as she named them.

" The bright ice blue kit is Frozenkit, the reddish brown tabby she-cat is Lilykit, and the white she-cat with reddish brown spots is Lakekit." Sunflower finished. I purred and I licked Lakekit's ear and the she-kit purred soothingly.

" They look beautiful." I mewed. I couldn't help but glance once more at Lakekit, she was my favorite some how. Just the way she took looked, strong and lean and how she acted, confident and quiet. I liked this kit, and I would make sure when she was old enough she knew. I dipped my head to Sunflower and padded out of the den saying a farewell to Coguarkit, Firekit, Mousekit, and Dandelionkit, but I think only Firekit heard and he only flicked his ear. I saw Darkstar still speaking with Frostheart and I brushed past them and padded to where Flowernose, deputy until Frostheart is out of the nursery was setting patrols.

" Oakfrost, you can lead a hunting patrol with Dewpaw, wake her up, Stonefeather, and Rubyshine." Stonefeather heaved a sigh and padded over to where Rubyshine was waiting while Oakfrost went to get Dewpaw. Stonefeather had been devastated when he heard Tigergaze had died and he had grieved more then any other cat, well almost as much as my litter mates and I. Oakfrost came out of the apprentice's den with Dewpaw trudging behind him. Dewpaw's black pelt was ragged and her blue eyes were glazed, as if she wasn't fully awake yet. She approached me and yawned loudly.

" Can't get any sleep these days." She sighed. I nudged her shoulder and watched as she followed her mentor out of the camp and through the thorn tunnel.

" Eagletalon, Amberheart, nd Leopardnose will join me for a patrol around the whole border. Winterpaw, Ratfang, stay here and help guard the camp while we are away." I dipped my head and watched them disappear out of the thorn tunnel. Ratfang's were gleaming and he bounced towards the medicine's cat den and trotted inside happily.