Emberflame's Betrayal

Chapter Four

Emberflame opened her eyes to the smooth sandstone walls of the medicine den. Or she thought she did. She felt lopsided. Putting her paw up to her face, Emberflame felt one eye, two eyes...

"Emberflame! You're awake!" Greenleaf mewed. "Greenleaf, I have both eyes. Why can't I see?" She asked.

The dainty she-cat shuffled her paws on the sandy floor. "Oh. Well, we got some info from Roguekit. The tortoiseshell you were fighting, Vixen, was the rogue's leader. The tom that called the retreat was like her deputy. They practice a certain battle move that's intended to rip out the opponent's eyes. Your lucky. You have both your eyes, but your left eye, is blinded from the blow." Greenleaf explained.

"Oh, I see."

"No with your left!" Greenleaf teased.

"Very funny. Where is everyone?" Emberflame meowed. "Oh. You've been out for two sunrises, you had more wounds than you or I realized. Pain made you numb. But Moonbreeze, Raccoonsky, Ravenpaw, and Swiftstorm took turns visiting you." Greenleaf purred. "How's Roguekit?" Emberflame mewed.

Greenleaf sighed. "Yesterday I found him sneaking out of the nursery, headed for your nest. He curled right up next to you, even though your nest was wet with blood, and right before dawn, he scampered back into the nursery. Dawnheart was horrified when he came back covered in your blood. She thought he had been wounded!" Emberflame let out a purr of amusement. "I think he'll make a good apprentice."

"Emberflame!" Moonbreeze yowled, bursting in. She took one look at Emberflame and nuzzled her cheek. "We were so worried! We thought you wouldn't EVER wake up! You might have died from shock or p-" "Calm down Moonbreeze. I'm fine. See? I can even walk." Emberflame mewed hastily. She stood up, and fell down again. Emberflame sighed. "Greenleaf, did I break my legs?" Greenleaf purred. "Nope. You've just been sitting too long. Try stretching first."

Emberflame stretched each leg in turn, and then bounded out of the medicine den, nearly colliding with Swiftstorm and Ravenpaw, who had been pacing outside. "Oh! Hi guys!" Emberflame purred. "Emberflame!" Swiftstorm purred as Ravenpaw twinned her tail with hers. "Nice to see you up." she purred. "Yea. If you don't mind, I'm going to check on Roguekit." Emberflame explained, padding away.

She ducked through the bracken tunnel that sheltered the nursery, uncoordinated with only her right eye.

"Emberflame!"

A herd of kits tumble over Emberflame, knocking her gently to the ground. Emberflame let out a mmmeerrooww of laughter. "Hello! Falconkit, Gorsekit, Poppykit, and Roguekit, you've grown in the last two sunrises!" She purred. "Now kits! We just talked about not attacking our visitors!" Dawnheart scolded.

"Dawnheart, I don't know how you keep up with them!" Emberflame mewed. Dawnheart let out a purr. "Roguekit has become great friends with Falconkit. Roguekit even let him come with him to sneak into the medicine den with him." Emberflame looked at the fluffy tabby kit. "Well you may be able to sneak into the medicine den, but I'm not so sure how happy Swiftstorm would be if you stepped on his tail trying to get to me." She purred.

"I bet he would let me." Roguekit squeaked. "He came to visit me every day while you were out." Emberflame purred. "Well, he's grown fond of you has he?"

Emberflame gazed around the nursery. It's strange using only one eye to see, She thought. She spotted a second nest in the corner of the nursery. "Is there a new queen coming in?" Emberflame asked, tearing her green gaze from Roguekit.

"Yes. You were my apprentice, Emberflame. I was so sure I taught you how to know if a she-cats having kits." Dawnheart teased. "Alright, alright! I've been down for two sunrises and still getting use to only having one eye." Emberflame mewed in protest. "So who's the new queen?" she finished.

"Coldheart." Dawnheart mewed simply.

Emberflame's blood froze.

Coldheart!