The Medicine Den

The Medicine Den - Part 6

"She's dead!" Rosespeckle wailed. Ashcloud looked up from her mouse, fur standing on end. "I have to go", she told Rainpelt quietly. As she got up and padded across the grassy clearing, she smelled the scent she wished she would never smell. Sugarkit. She halted as Hazelbreeze dashed past her and into the nursery. The Clan were stirring from their afternoon naps, milling around the glade. Another grief-stricken wail came from beside the Medicine Den, in the nursery. No. Ashcloud didn't want a kit to die, not now and not ever.

Horror struck Ashcloud as she stared at the pale lifeless body of Sugarkit. Fircloud buried his face in his dead daughters fur, Rosespeckle's eyes were clouding up. Foxkit, was peeking behind Clearmist, who had joined the nursery that morning. Squirrelkit's fluffy white tail drooped, weighed down by grief and pain. Palekit had opened his light blue eyes first, now he was peering through the bracken in Clearmist's nest. Hazelbreeze was trying to get Rosespeckle to swallow the thyme, which helped with shock. She refused, tears rolled down her cheeks. Ashcloud backed out of the nursery, giving some space for the mourning family.

Outside in the camp, Orchidshade was organising patrols. The elders were whispering outside the elder bush, ironic. Ashcloud needed some time to think, the camp was too crowded. She slipped through the horse tunnel, nodding to  Fernbreeze, who was on guard.

The sun was up high, beating down on Ashcloud as she trudged through the dry forest. It had not rained for a half-moon. She paused to lick a burr of her dappled grey pelt. She needed to clear her head after poor Sugarkit's death. As Ashcloud kept walking she felt a dark presence prickle her pelt, a sour stench wafted in the air. Rouges!