Dawnberry's Escape

Chapter 2

  Ravenpelt gasped and headed over, inspecting the kit. 

  "Is, is he dead?" Bluekit dared to ask in a shaking voice. Dread crashed on Dawnkit. Spottedkit can't die. He can't! 

  Ravenpelt ignored the kits but called to Rosedusk. "He's still breathing! Honeypaw, go fetch Nightleaf! Hurry!" Honeypaw nodded, frightened. She turned and careered towards camp. 

  Rosedusk went to Ravenpelt. "Darkstorm, find some cobwebs! He's bleeding badly. Nightleaf would need more." She called. "I'll stay here with Ravenpelt just in case the badger comes back." 

  Darkstorm nodded and with a flick of his tail went into the trees. The other three kits didn't dare to move. They knew that no one was scolding them now, but once Spottedkit was better, they would be punished severely. 

  Dawnkit's fur was still bristling, so she forced it to lay flat. She can't help staring at Spottedkit's barely moving body. Was he really alive? It doesn't seem like it. 

  "Do you think he's okay?" Morningkit whispered fearfully. 

  "He must be! He's alive!" Bluekit dared to mew a little louder. At once, Rosedusk gave them a disapproving look. "We haven't got to you yet! What were you thinking, going out like this? You were suppoed to stay in camp. Streamlight was distraught. Luckily we were on a search patrol and we found you with a badger!" Rosedusk sighed. "Kits! Trying to be all brave and adventurous!" But there was a slight bit of humor in what she said.

  Pawsteps sounded as Nightleaf hurried towards them, Honeypaw behind her carrying some herbs for her. "Move out of the way." She told Ravenpelt. Nightleaf inspected Spottedkit. 

  "He's hurt very bad. We can't move him just yet, or he will lose more blood." Nightleaf commented. Just then, Darkstorm appeared, cobwebs stuck to his paw and ear. 

  "Ah, good. I need some water to wash the blood off." Rosedusk dipped her head and padded out with Darkstorm. They soon returned with moss-soaked water. Nightleaf gently washed the blood away and smeared some chewed up herbs on Spottedkit. 

  Dawnkit noticed Morningkit watching Nightleaf with fascination as she pressed the cobwebs on Spottedkit. She untangled herself from her siblings and gave her pelt a shake. 

  There was some rustling, and Dawnkit looked up sharply, afraid the badger has come back for revenge. But no, it was Streamlight, Volefur and Breezethorn. Streamlight gave a small shriek as she saw her kit lying motionlessly, covered in cobwebs. 

  "Spottedkit!" She yowled. Nightleaf stood in her way. "Let me see my kit!" Streamlight wailed. Dawnkit winced at the fright in her voice. 

  "No." Nightleaf mewed firmly. "He needs some air. He'll get better if no cat is mooning over him. We can't move him yet. When his bleeding stops, we carry him to camp gently and slowly so his wounds won't open again." 

  Streamlight refrained herself from swatting Nightleaf aside and seeing her kit. "Will he live?" She whispered. 

  Nightleaf looked away. "It's hard to say at this point." She meowed, quite forcefully. Streamlight didn't seem to notice and turned to look at her other kits. 

  "Oh, you're safe!" Streamlight mewed in relief, purring and showering Dawnkit with licks. Then she seemed to remember they were out of camp and hissed. "Where were you? You are not allowed to be out here! Why were you here?" 

  "We wanted to explore.." Bluekit explained in a small voice. 

  Streamlight cut his words off. "Quiet! You're not allowed to be out of camp! You know that! Morningkit, why didn't you..." 

  "Streamlight." Nightleaf mewed gently. "Your kits were shaken up enough by the badger. Leave that to another day, okay?" She dropped a few leaves in front of them. "Eat these. They'll calm you down." 

   "What is it?" Morningkit squeaked. "Thyme." Nightleaf replied, walking back to Spottedkit. 

  Dawnkit licked up the leaf. It tasted a little bitter, but the fear left her after a while to be replaced by calmness. "Let's get you back to camp." Rosedusk nudged the kits and they followed Streamlight, Rosedusk and Honeypaw back to camp. 

  The kits followed silently, occasionally giving each other worried looks. "You're not allowed to get out of your nests unless I'm watching." Streamlight hissed at the nursery, ushering them into the soft moss. 

  Minnowkit's head popped up. "Did you really see a badger?" The older kit asked with admiration. 

  "Minnowkit!" Shellflower scolded. "They are supposed to rest. They must be tired." 

  Sighing, Streamlight bunched up her kits and gave them warm, comforting licks. Dawnkit started to doze off under her mother's steady licks, but just before she dreamed, she caught sight of Darkstorm and Volefur carrying the unconcious Spottedkit back to camp. 

  Dawnkit's nightmares were filled with roars, the badger's claws and Spottedkit's blood-soaked body. Whimpering, she woke up to a devasated yowl.