Aspenleaf's Duty

Chapter 4

"Silverstar! Silverstar wake up!"

Aspenkit raised her head at the noise and saw Poppydust nudging the leader gently. At once, she felt her stomach tighten. Poppydust wouldn't be up here for just anything. Something terrible must have happened.

Silverstar raised her head. "What is it Poppydust?" she murmured, shaking her head trying to wake herself up.

"It's Alderheart!" Poppydust breathed. "He's very ill and he's asking to see you."

At once, Silverstar was on her paws and heading towards the entrance of her den. Aspenkit leapt up and followed, trying not to wake her siblings as she moved. Silverstar turned and looked at her daughter. "Get back in the nest my darling, I'll be back soon." She soothed.

"No!" squeaked Aspenkit. Silverstar looked stunned and Aspenkit realised that her mother had not yet heard her speak. "Alderheart is my friend." She continued before Silverstar could interject. "If he's sick, I want to see him."

Silverstar hesitated, then grasped Aspenkit by her scruff. She turned to Poppydust. "Go and wake Twigtail, Blackheart and Tigerfang. I'll wake Robinpaw and Creekpaw." She mewed around the fur in her mouth. "If this is bad, they'll want to see him."

Poppydust dipped her head and scrambled down the rocks jutting out of the wall with Silverstar following close behind, carrying Aspenkit. As she reached the bottom, she placed Aspenkit on the ground and she immediately began running towards the medicine den. If Alderheart was dying, she would never forgive herself if he left her without her being able to apologise for what she had said.

She burst through the bracken curtain, chest heaving before bounding across the den to where Alderheart was lying beside the little pool at the edge of the medicine den. He was collapsed over on to one side, his eyes closed and his breathing wheezy and laboured. His ginger tabby pelt was matted together with sweat.

Aspenkit pressed her face into the thick fur of his shoulder, trying to rouse him. "Alderheart?" she whimpered.

He gave a little shudder and his amber eyes opened. For a moment, they were blank, as though he didn't recognise where he was. Then they softened as they rested on the kit before him. "Hello Aspenkit." He mewed warmly.

She sat back and looked at him seriously. "Poppydust says you're sick." She stated. "Are you? How do you feel?"

Alderheart gave a juddering, wheezing breath before he answered. "Starclan is calling me, little one." He mewed. "But it's ok. Poppydust has made me comfortable. If it's a cat's time, not even the best medicine cat can do anything about it."

Aspenkit pressed her face against his broad forehead. "You can't go to Starclan." She whined. "You're my only friend. I don't want to be alone."

Alderheart purred a little before giving a little cough. "Starclan have spoken to me tonight." He murmured. "They told me not to be sad about leaving you my little friend, and you mustn't be sad about me going. You have a great destiny, and soon you will never be alone again."

Aspenkit closed her eyes. "But... but I'll miss you."

"I know." Murmured Alderheart. "I'll miss you too. I'm going to miss all of my clan... and my family. You, Blackheart, Tigerfang, Twigtail, Robinpaw and Creekpaw... Poppydust... but I've had a good life and I don't regret anything. What more can any cat ask for?"

The bracken curtain swished behind them and Twigtail padded into the den. Alderheart raised his head slightly. "Hello dear one." He murmured as she approached.

The old grey she-cat dipped her head and touched her nose to his. "Is it time, Alderheart?"

"It is." He wheezed. "Jayfeather came to me tonight to tell me to say my goodbyes."