Dappled Shadows

Chapter Two

"Redfrost, can we go outside?" Dapplekit mewed, looking up at the white queen. 

"Ask your mother darling." Redfrost replied turning to her own two kits.

"Fennelwind, can Shadowkit and I go outside?"  meowed Dapplekit turning to face her mother. 

"Sure," Fennelwind meowed absentmindedly as she groomed her tail. 

"Yay!" Dapplekit squealed racing outside.  Tornstar and Hailstorm were conversing on the mound of earth where Tornstar made his den while Redfrost's kits played in the clearing.  Shadowkit and Flowerkit bounded over to the other kits but Dapplekit slowly  walked over to where the elders were cherishing the last of the good weather before leaf bare. 

"Hello Dapplekit!" Sagebreeze purred, making room for the little kit. 

"Hi Sagebreeze," Dapplekit replied settling down next to the elderly she-cat. 

"You've grown so much!" Sagebreeze meowed.  "You must be almost six moons!" 

"I'm almost an apprentice." Dapplekit purred proudly. 

"The Clan will be lucky to have you as a warrior." Sagebreeze meowed encouragingly.  The two cats talked all day until it was time to get back to the den.

"Dapplekit!  It's time to sleep!" the kit heard Redfrost's loud meow from the clearing. 

"Bye Sagebreeze!" Dapplekit mewed running out of the den. 

    Dapplekit awoke in the middle of the night to a rustling noise outside.  All of the other kits and queens started to stir as the rustling grew louder. 

"ShadowCl-" the yowl from outside was cut off by a scream of agony. 

Warriors and apprentices started to pour out of their dens.  Shadowkit and Frostkit were trying desperately to see outside of the den but Fennelwind was holding them back.  Aspenrose's russet muzzle poked through the nursery entrance. 

"Acornpaw and I will be here if you need anything.  We'll keep you safe."  she meowed, her face already dripping with blood. 

"I want to fight." Fennelwind snarled trying to shove Aspenrose out of the way. 

"I know what they did to Rosekit but you need to stay and help Redfrost." Aspenrose hissed quietly. 

Fennelwind roughly pushed past Aspenrose and flung herself into the middle of clawing, screeching cats.  Redfrost ushered the kits to the corner of the nursery.  There was a screech and then a snarl from outside the nursery as a huge ShadowClan tom forced his way in. 

Redfrost tried with every ounce of strength in her body to fight him off  but she was no match for the huge tom.  He was about to grab a shaking Shadowkit when Fennelwind pelted in. 

"Get away from my kit fox-dung," she snarled raking her claws against his smoky muzzle. 

"Calm down Fennelwind.  I just want to see the kits." he hissed in her ear glaring at her with piercing blue eyes. 

"Leave now Shadowfang.  I don't want to hurt you." Fennelwind spat back. 

"Oh, but I want to hurt you." He snarled lunging for the dark ginger she-cat.  She wasn't even trying to defend herself as the large tom slashed and bit  at the young queen.  Sparrowfoot and Fernhollow entered the nursery and chased of the huge tom.

"Don't think I won't be back  Fennelwind." He spat out the queen's name like it was poison.  Sparrowfoot ran over to Redfrost, his mate, and Fernhollow comforted the kits while Fennelwind stood in the center of the nursery, blood dripping from various bites and scratches on her body and her eyes full of  pain.