〘 Galepeak's Regret 〙

Prologue

Breezeflower stirred in her soft feather lined nest, her stomach swollen with kits. A small rustle of leaves brokenly echoed in the quiet and dark nursery.

The light gray she-cat spotted a flash of orange fur exit the nursery, their paw-steps uneven. Allowing her tired green eyes to adjust to the lack of light, she recognized the plume tail that was disappearing into the freezing leaf-bare night.

Appleblossom...

She tried to tell herself that she was simply going out to make dirt, but she couldn't. Appleblossom had been acting strange ever since her mate left the clan, leaving her to take care of their unborn kits. She hadn't been talking to anyone, refusing to eat, simply laying in her nest all day. Sometimes not even sleeping, just staring at the neatly woven den walls.

Breezeflower and Appleblossom has been close friends since kithood, and even then, Breezeflower had been pushed away by her.

She knew something was up, besides, if she was wrong there was no harm in checking. She gently heaved her heavy weight out off the nest and slipped outside.

She flinched as the strong wind whipped her face, snow jabbing her like icy thorns. She wanted nothing more than to go back into the warm den and sleep though the night.

That is until she saw Appleblossom. She could clearly see sparkling tears in her friend's eyes. She watched as she took a deep breath and pushed her swollen body though a small hole in the camp walls.

No no. Something is wrong, I'm not going to let Apple get herself hurt. Her or her kits.

Forgetting the cold, she stalked after her. Each breath she took shook with worry. Appleblossom's fur stood out in the snowy haze like a dying flame. However, Breezeflower could easily be mistaken for a lump of snow.

She continued to follow her friend, cursing each time the thick layer of snow made a crunching noise under her paws. She felt her unborn kits moving inside of her, begging for warmth. She quickly grazed her tongue over her stomach, trying to soothe the tiny bodies inside.

Suddenly a wail cut though the silent night, Breezeflower's eyes shot ahead. She leaped up as she saw Appleblossom tumble to the ice covered ground, "Appleblossom!" She cried, sprinting over to the queen.

"B-Breezeflower-" She cut herself off with a painful yowl, causing Breezeflower to stiffen, "What are you doing out here?! Your kits could be born any minute, plus, the snowstorm out here is awful!" She was choking on her own words, worry guiding her. Appleblossom dug her claws into the snow, pain spilling though her tears, "M-my kits.." A painful looking spasm gripped her body, Breezeflower rested her paw on her.

"Your kits!" She echoed, realizing what was happening with a jolt, "Why did you leave camp? You should be with Redherb and Stripepaw right now!" Appleblossom shook her head, "They can't be born t-there. The clan hates their father." She breathed heavily, "I-I won't let them h-hurt them." Spasms continued to pulse though her body, painful cries echoing though the cold night air.

Blood sent hit Breezeflower's nose, she looked down at Appleblossom. Her first kit had been born, a tiny bundle of orange tabby fur. Blood covered it. The red liquid was pouring out of her friend's mouth, "A-Apple, I have to get you to camp, something's wrong... The kit.." She looked at the broken body, twisted at an awkward angle. I seemed past dead, it had never been alive. It looked like a she-kit.

Realization pulsed though Breezeflower.

It never even took its first breath. Apple's going to die. All her kits are going to die. My best friend...

Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes, another kit was born with more blood sent, she didn't even look. She couldn't bare to see another life stolen before it even had a chance.

"B-Breeze..." She breathed out weakly, "Please.. If any of them survive... Take them back to Windclan, take care of them..." Her forest green eyes dulled, "I made a mistake... I... I..." Breezeflower took a shaky breath, "I-I will, I promise. Please don't strain yourself..." Sobs shook her body, "G-goodbye Appleblossom... May Starclan light your p-path..." Appleblossom's eyes dulled completely, and with a final broken breath, her body laid still.

Breezeflower collapsed onto her friend's body, tears wetting her tangled fur, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, oh Starclan I'm so so s-sorry..."

"Cold!"

A weak voice mewed though the roaring wind, nearly being drowned out by the cold sound. Breezeflower quick jerked her head towards it, a tiny gray and white tabby laid next to Appleblossom, shaking.

Breezeflower couldn't believe it, one lived. She shot down and buried the tiny tom in her fur, giving it her warmth. She recognized Appleblossom's fur pattern, color on the top, white on the bottom. However, instead of orange, it was a gray tabby like his father.

Tears continued drip out of her eyes, but this time they were full of joy, "One of them lived... He survived. Oh Appleblossom, I'll take care of him, I promise. Thank you Starclan." She continued muttering prayers as she warmed the kit up, "M-mom?" He squeaked, a wave of grief hit her, "No little one. Your mom is... g-gone. But it's okay, I'll take care of you." The kit relaxed against her, warmth filled her heart.

Once again she felt her own kits beg for warmth, she needed to get back to camp. She gently whispered to the kit, "It's going to be cold again okay? I'm taking you somewhere so you'll never be cold again. You just have to be strong." The kit puffed up his fur, his tail exactly like his mother's plume.

She gently picked him up with a squeak of protest. She turned and raced back to Windclan, the tom dangling from her mouth.

***

She finally rushed back into the safety of the camp, sunrise sending milky light across the moor. She quickly spotted her mate, Moorclaw. Sitting down the tiny newborn, she cried, "Moorclaw!" The deputy turned around, seeing the kit.

"Breezeflower, who's that?" He meowed, confusion lining his voice, Breezeflower did everything she could not to cry again, "Appleblossom... S-she's dead, he's her kit." Moorclaw stared in horror, "I-I have to tell Owlstar... Oh Starclan, I'm so sorry my dear." He nuzzled her, she gave him a quick lick before continuing to warm the kit.

"Owlstar!" The Windclan deputy called, the brown speckled tom popped out of his den, "What is it Moorclaw?" He simply nodded towards his mate and the kit, Owlstar's eyes widened, "Who's-" Moorclaw cut him off, saving Breezeflower from having to explain again, "It's Appleblossom's, she left to join Starclan..."

By now the whole clan had gathered around them, the leaders mate, Birdsong, rushed to her side, "He needs milk, you need all yours for your kits. Mountainkit and Piercekit are a moon old, they can share mine." She began to groom the kit fondly, causing him to let out mews of delight. Birdsong glanced at her, "What's his name?" Breezeflower shook her head, Appleblossom didn't get a chance to name him.

She let out a sigh, causing a white cloud of warm breath to swirl around her, she got an idea. "Galekit." She breathed, "It means a strong wind. He survived an awful snowstorm, he's a strong Windclan cat. I-I'll tell the story later..." She smiled brightly at the kit, he looked up at her with his mother's same forest eyes, "Gwalekit!" He cried rolling around. Breezeflower giggled with most of the clan.

He was going to be a loyal member of Windclan, she would make sure of it.

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[Word Count: 1306]