RisenClan- Book One: Death Brings New Life

Chapter 4 ~ An Offer

Ruinstar's POV

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Ruinstar gripped the small kit named Nero in her jaws lightly. The kit was weak and small. She was not sure how long they had been out there without there mother. It could not have been long because kittens can't last long at all without there mother. There are so many things little kittens can be prey too,  foxes, badgers, dogs. These kits are lucky they have not been gobbled up by anything yet. The litter consisted of 4 living kittens. Three of them had red colored pelt and one had a brown tabby colored pelt like her own. The kit who was dead also had a brown tabby colored pelt. He was especially small. She felt bad for the small kit. But it was life. 

She did not know what the other cats would think about these kittens. As Tidepool said, they did reek of two-legs. Yet they were just kittens all the same. This had to have been what Nightwatcher meant and why Spiritsong asked her to leave on patrol. These kits were a blessing StarClan had sent to RisenClan to help them. She would not let these kits die. 

They padded back through the bushes into camp. Cats looked at her curiously and confused. "We are going to take these kits right to Sparrowstep. They need to ne fed" She let Tidepool set down the smallest dead kit next to Risenspirit. "Stay with it." Ruinstar meowed. They padded into the Queen's cave den where Sparrowstep's kittens, who were the same age as these 4, were awake and playing with there mother. When the small kits noticed there leader, Mossypelt, Runninggaze, and Tidepool, carrying in 4 kits they looked shocked. 

"Mama, mama look!" Finchkit meowed. 

The silver bengal, Sparrowstep turned her body and looked at the kits. "Oh my Ruinstar, what in the name of StarClan is this bunch!"

Ruinstar set Nero down. "We found them right before Rolling River." She meowed. "Would you mind feeding them please." 

Sparrowstep shook her head. "No I don't mind, poor kittens they look starved."

Tidepool set down the remaining kit with a grunt and padded out. Mossypaw sat down one of the other and took a deep breath. Ruinstar licked the apprentice's ear quickly. "Thank you Mossypaw, you are one strong cat!" He nodded and padded out. Runninggaze sat down the remaining kit and left the den as well. 

"Well go on then little guys, you need to eat." Sparrowstep coaxed with a sweet voice nudging the kits to her tummy to suckle. The kits reluctantly obeyed. Finchkit and Ensoulkit, Sparrowstep's own kits sat and watched the other kits suckle on there mother. 

"After they are fed and rested I want to speak with them." Meowed Ruinstar.

Sparrowstep nodded. "Of course miss Ruinstar."

"I will send Risenspirit to bring the kits to my den. If you would not mind, could you keep the four of them inside here."

"No Ruinstar, thats fine."

With that Ruinstar nodded her thanks and headed back to her den.

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Nero's POV

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Nero woke up and he was neither sleepy or hungry now. He looked up and saw Sparrowstep in front of him. She smiled. "Hello little one."

Nero yawned and rose to his paws. "Hello."

"There is going to be a cat coming to take you to Ruinstar, he is a very important cat and a nice cat so be respectful please." Nero noticed Fiera, Caesar, and Immy were all clean. Then the cat leaned over and began to lick Nero's pelt clean. "Oh my, all four of you reek of two-legs." Then a large cat came through the cave entrance and Sparrowstep looked up and touched noses. "Nice to see you Risenspirit." She meowed. The cat dropped an adder in front of Sparrowstep.

"For you, Sparrowstep." 

"Thank you Risenspirit!" She meowed and leaned in and began to eat the adder.

Nero opened his mouth to say something but Caesar took the words from his mouth. "Why would you eat a snake?" He asked.

Risenspirit looked at the kitten, his grey fur bristled. "Adders are very good for cats." He said simply. He looked at the other kits, Ensoulkit and Finchkit and smiled. "Hello kits, getting along well with your new friends?"

The two nodded.

"That's awesome! I will see you later, you four come with me." Rsenspirit meowed looking at the four new kits.

Nero followed after Fiera and Caesar and looked back at Immy who looked unsure. "Come on Immy." Nero said and she followed. Out of the den the sun was high in the sky ass the kits followed the cat. There were some cats out of thier dens looking at the kits. Some looked confised and others angry. Risenspirit stopped near the middle of camp and the four saw there brother's limp body on the rocky ground. 

"Your brother was not as lucky as you four." He meowed. "When a cat in our clan dies we touch our noses to them to say goodbye."

Fiera was the first, followed by Nero then Caesar, them Immy. 

"We are going to bury your brother just outside of camp so you can visit his grave when you like."

The kits nodded. "Please do follow me." He led them on. They passed multiple caves, Nero thought that Ruinstar had called them dens, on there way to there destination. They stopped in front of the largest one and Risenspirit called in. "I have brought the kits." He meowed.

"Do enter." Called a cat from inside.

Risenspirit led them inside the den. It was fairly large and round. Inside two cats sat next to each other. Risenspirit nodded. "Hello Spiritsong, Ruinstar."

"Hello Risenspirit." Said the cat with the calico chocolate fur named Spiritsong.

"You all may sit." Said Ruinstar. 

The kits all sat down as well as Risenspirit. 

"Kits would you mind repeating your names."

Fiera nodded. "I'm Fiera, and these are my brothers, Caesar and Nero, and this is my sister Immy."

Spiritsong watched curiously and Ruinstar nodded. "I am Ruinstar, the leader of RisenClan, this is our medicine cat, Spiritsong. And that is my deputy, Risenspirit."

Nero didn't understand. "Why is there a leader, what does a medicine cat do?" He asked.

Ruinstar smiled. "I thought a bunch of curious kits like yourselves would have questions, let me tell you a bit of background." Ruinstar adjusted herself more comfortably like she had told this story a thousand times. "Many, many moons ago all cats of the forest lived happily together under the warrior code, which is a  set of rules all cats must live by. But over arguments and stupidity the cats broke off into four groups called clans. RisenClan, CrimsonClan, CoastClan, and LostClan. All cats moved to different parts of the forest and picked one leader. In case that leader died they picked another cat who would take over if the leader were to die. The first fight that broke out in the clans was with CrimsonClan and CoastClan, many cats were injured in that first battle. So with so many cats sick they decided to pick one cat that would take care of herbs to heal sickness. This cat was very very important because they really needed StarClan's guidance to help the other cats in the clan. StarClan is where all good loyal cats go when they die. Since then they decided that a good way to keep some peace in the forest was to have all clans meet together once every moon in the middle of the forest, we call that place Lighted Clearing. It is a large clearing in the middle of the forest where all the stars of the lost ancestors can be seen, I bet this is a lot for you to take in right now. Trust me you will pick up, that is if you would like to stay here."

The kits tried o take in the question. "Stay here?" Asked Fiera.

"Yes, there is a large shortage of kits these days and we need strong warriors to run the clan when we all get older." Said Ruinstar. "It's your choice, if you don't want to stay, you are not ever welcome back here though. It's a one time and only offer." She said. "Up to you."

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Author's note

RANDOM QUESTION

What is Unique about the author Erin Hunter?