Warriors: Finding Myself: Downcasted (Book Two)

Chapter Six: WindClan

CHAPTER SIX

A light breeze made the small white she-kit stumble and her brown eyes lit up with fear. The black tom quickly darted to his sister's side, helping her stay up. She was practically invisible in the deep snow. Ravenkit, however, stood out. After Echobreeze moved to the nursery a half moon ago, expecting Strikefang's kits, there was barely enough room for the three moon old kits in there.

Hunting had become difficult and Beestar was always hesitant to take Winterpaw out for training. Her mentor was afraid she would get sick like the other cats throughout the Clans. The only cat that remained happy, totally healthy, and always going on patrol was Tawnypelt. She was either out by herself or on a patrol, determined to feed and protect the Clan.

"Dovekit, it's okay, we're almost to the medicine den," she purred softly and padded on. Lightheart had told Puddleheart there was a wind blowing through the den and Winterpaw was put on the task with Beestar to find the reason. It would be easy, however, as soon as Winterpaw entered the den she could feel it.

"Winterpaw!" Featherpaw mewed from the mouth of her den and she padded through the snow with the kits. "Come on you two, we're going to check you for sickness!" The medicine cat seemed excited to have kits in the den.

Ravenkit and Dovekit glanced at each other, but instantly went squealing inside with Featherpaw right behind them.

As soon as she turned around, Beestar was above her smiling widely. "Very nice! Now, to the nursery..." she began as they padded back across the clearing to the nursery, "I think Flowerstem found the problem." My mentor's eyes gleamed for a second in mischief.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head at Beestar. "Is Flowerstem o-"

She was cut off as Flowerstem exited the nursery and instantly, she could see why Beestar was excited. The queen was definitely expecting kits again! Two moons at most!

Without even meaning to she let out a squeal of delight. "You're having kits!" she squealed quietly, so she didn't wake any cats. "Does Tigerheart know?"

Flowerstem shook her head. "Not yet. He's on patrol..." The queen caught gazes with Beestar and cleared her throat. "Right, so to the hole. I think it's over here." She led us to the back of the den where there was a small space to squeeze through. Easily, Winterpaw squeezed back there and padded along the back of the den and the edge of camp. There were a few holes in the back of the den.

"We'll need brambles to patch the back of the den," she mewed and squeezed back out, the cold reaching her and she shivered.

The two she-cats were mumbling quietly when loud pawsteps drew them away from the den and to the entrance where the barrier shook as six cats exploded into the camp.

Clumsystep, Mudstorm, and Twigpaw led three WindClan cats into our camp, A brown-and-white tom she recognized as Harespring, a light brown tabby she-cat she remembered as Heathertail, and a pale brown tom named Molefur.

"Harespring," Beestar greeted coolly, "how may I help you?"

The WindClan deputy looked exhausted and the other two did as well. "WindClan needs ShadowClan's help. We know that you've been having problems with RiverClan, well, we have too. They keep taking our territory..." He shook his head in shame and she could see something was wrong.

Heathertail stepped forward. "Onestar has fallen ill and RiverClan keeps attacking when we're so weak. We can't hang on much longer."

Beestar hesitated, glancing at her deputy who also seemed hesitant. "We could send a few warriors with you..." She looked at her surrounding cats, the ones who weren't sick. There were so few of us.