Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 22

Two moons had passed since Lilymist went herb gathering with Pixiepaw. She never confronted Brightcloud about Foxbelly as she didn't really care and it was none of her business. What she did care about was that Brightcloud moved to the nursery expecting what everyone assumed to be Rainwhisker's kits. Adderpaw was given to Grassheart to train in replacement of Brightcloud.

Lilymist sighed and stood up. She panted and flicked her tail irritably. The heat only seemed to get worse and it was so humid. Duskflower, Grayheart and all her kits except Cloudkit had gone to go swimming in the creek. Cloudkit was watching Adderpaw practice his battle moves with Skypaw. She walked over to the fresh kill pile and chose a large pike. Littlefoot's favourite. She picked up the fish and carried to the elders den. She meowed to let Littlefoot know she was there.
"I was beginning to wonder when you were going to visit me again." Littlefoot purred. Lilymist dropped the fish at Littlefoot's paws.
"Did you catch that?" Littlefoot asked as she tore a chunk out of the fish. Lilymist shook her head.
"Skypaw caught it." Lilymist replied. She sat down and curled her paws under her belly.
"That cat is turning out to be an amazing hunter." Littlefoot purred. Lilymist turned her head as she heard reeds crunch. Pixiepaw stood there with her nose wrinkled in disgust. Lilymist saw that she had mouse bile.
"Well I'll visit you later." Lilymist stood up and shook the bits of moss from her fur. She padded out of the den and looked up. She saw dark clouds gathering overhead. The sun was still burning down despite the clouds. Lilymist sat down in front of the nursery and started sunning. She was sunning for a while when she felt a gust of wind and the sun suddenly disappeared. Rain started thundering on the ground and the sky was lit up with a bolt of pale blue lightning. Lilymist's tail puffed out and she ran to the nearest den. She got inside then heard a yowl of fear and pain. Echomist was laying beside Brightcloud. Brightcloud was crunching a stick in her strong jaws. The silver tabby let out a painful cry, but it was drowned out by the rumble of thunder. Echomist was working quickly, but shakily.
"Lilymist! Thank StarClan! I need your help." Echomist yowled over the wind and thunder. Lilymist crouched over the queen and waited. She heard hail starting to pound on the ground. Brightcloud yowled and crunched the stick. Splinters fell on the ground. Lilymist saw the first kit coming and got ready. She caught the kit and started cleaning it after breaking the birth sac. She placed the little kit beside it's mother. The small kit was mewling and started wiggling towards Brightcloud. Brightcloud's pain eased as two other kits were born. The storm stopped as quickly as it came. Lilymist cleaned the last kit then looked outside. There was mud everywhere and Cloudkit was huddling in fear under Adderpaw's belly. Skypaw was with Pixiepaw comforting Littlefoot. Lilymist looked back at Brightcloud then went to get Rainwhisker. She got the gray tom then returned to the nursery. Rainwhisker ran ahead of her, but stopped to talk with Echomist. Lilymist paused to listen to Echomist's hushed mumbling.
"...kit not normal. It's a beast." The medicine cat quickly whispered. Lilymist cautiously walked into the nursery after Rainwhisker she heard a gasp. She looked at the kits. They were all gray except for a large silver tom. The smallest kit raised its head and let out a pitiful mew. Lilymist froze when she saw the kits face. The she kits face was horrifying. It's nose was crooked and its left eye was huge and raised higher than the right eye. It's right leg ended at the kits knee and there was a knob at the end. Brightcloud had put the kit far away from the toms.
"We should still name it." Brightcloud murmured. The kit was not a he nor a she, but an it that wiggled and mewed.
"Yes my love. We should name the pure ones after the storm." Rainwhisker meowed. Lilymist felt grief seething out of Rainwhisker, but he could not show grief, for that would make Brightcloud feel horrible. Brightcloud nodded and flicked the gray one with her tail. "This one will be Stormkit and the silver one is Hailkit." Brightcloud pulled them closer as if she was afraid they would catch their sister's ugliness. Brightcloud looked up at Lilymist with grief in her eyes.
"Can you please find Snowbreeze." Brightcloud mumbled. Lilymist nodded and leaned forward to lick Brightcloud's forehead. She turned and left the den. Silverdust stood outside her den and looked around the camp. Lilymist padded towards Silverdust with her head hanging and her tail dragging in the mud.
"What's wrong?" Silverdust asked.
"One of Brightcloud's kits is... Unnatural." Lilymist chose her words carefully. This only confused Silverdust.
"How so?" The ginger patched she cat asked with worry creeping into her voice. She described the deformed kit to the deputy.
"Great StarClan!" Silverdust shivered and the fur along her spine stood straight up.
"Brightcloud wants Snowbreeze. Do you know where she is?" Lilymist asked.
"I sent her on a patrol near the WindClan border with Swanshine, Grassheart and Sunfrost. They should be back soon. We must report this to Icestar. Follow me." Silverdust mumbled. Lilymist followed Silverdust to Icestar's den.
"Enter." Icestar meowed when they announced they were there.
"Lilymist has something to report about Brightcloud's kits." Silverdust shakily meowed.
"Go on." Icestar sensed the she cat's worry and fear.
"Brightcloud had a deformed kit. It's left eye is large and raised higher than the other eye. It's nose is crooked and its right leg ends with a knob at the knee." Lilymist meowed seriously. The leader's eyes widened in fear. Icestar tried to remain calm for the sake of Lilymist and Silverdust.
"Who all knows about this kit?" Icestar asked, her eyes hardening.
"Brightcloud, Rainwhisker, Echomist, Silverdust, you and I." Lilymist responded.
"I want to see this...kit if that is what we call it." Icestar stood up and headed for the nursery. Lilymist followed behind with Silverdust. Echomist was already there.
"Brightcloud, I'm sorry about this, but no one must know about your kit. We must get rid of it or the Clan will think that the kit is a sign from StarClan." Icestar meowed softly, trying to soothe the queen. Brightcloud quickly pushed the kit away. The silver queen curled her tail around Hailkit and Stormkit and pulled them closer to her chest.
"Please take it away." Brightcloud begged. Icestar nodded and picked up the kit.
"Does it have a name?" Silverdust asked. Rainwhisker and Brightcloud looked at each other. Rainwhisker tried speaking, but his voice cracked. He cleared his throat and tried again.
"It's name is Cursedkit."