A Clan's Tragedy #1

Chapter 16 (COMPLETED)

 Chapter 16

 When Hazelfur woke up, lots of cats were above her head, their mouths moving but she couldn't hear them. After a few heartbeats, the cats turned into only three- Feathersong, Yarrowtail, and Rabbitstar. Hazelfur lifted her head slightly and looked at Feathersong.

   "Wha- what happened?" she mewed groggily. "Why am I on the ground?"

   Feathersong exchanged a look with Yarrowtail. "You fainted. Come on, we need to go to your nest." She nudged Hazelfur up, and led her to her nest. She didn't glance at the white shape huddled on the ground, afraid to see her mate. Her five kits waited for her and when she slipped in the nest, they huddled around her.

   "Are you hungry?" asked Cherrykit. "I'll go get you a mouse!"

   Feathersong blocked the little she-cat's way, not letting her out. "You can't go out there. How about you rest in here with your mother, and I will get a mouse for you to share?" Cherrykit nodded and raced back to Hazelfur.

   "I need to tell you something." Hazelfur gathered her kits close. "F-Frostail's.... dead." Shock filled the kits eyes. Then Hunterkit looked angry. Hazelfur tore her gaze away- her throat tightened.

   "No he isn't!" decreed Echokit. Cherrykit ran out of the den and over to her father. Hazelfur got up and walked over to her kit. Cherrykit buried her head in her father's white soft pelt. She did also. She felt a last rush of warmth fade from his body. The other four curiously peeked their heads out- afraid to come outside.

   Yarrowtail came up to her and mewed, "I'm sorry. For everything." Hazelfur glanced at her for a heartbeat, and then rushed over to her mother and buried her head in her pelt. Hazelfur sobbed and Yarrowtail wrapped her paw around her comfortingly and licked her daughter's head.

   "It's okay." soothed Yarrowtail. "You need to go to your kits." Hazelfur looked up at her mother and nodded.

   "I know. I just loved him so much... and I quit my job for nothing."

   "Not nothing. Your kits." Yarrowtail gently pushed her over to Cherrykit. Hazelfur nudged her and Cherrykit slowly got up and walked back to her littermates. Hazelfur glanced back at her mate and saw cats starting to sit vigil for him. She sat in her nest and soon the kits fell asleep. She too fell asleep after a while.

   In her dreams she was in Starclan. Hazelfur glanced hopefully from side to side. Giving up she started walking towards a forest. A snap made her turn around. Behind her was a sparkling white tom. He sat there, not moving a muscle but Hazelfur could see in his eyes pain.

   "Frostail!" she rushed over to him and covered him in licks. "Why did you have to leave us?"

   Instead of anwering he drew back. "You have to become a medicine cat." This startled her,

   "But I can't with my kits." explained Hazelfur. "Why do I anyway?"

   "After your kits become apprentices." He lifted up her head with his paw and stared straight into her eyes. She could tell he was holding back tears. "The clan's fate depends on it. Please! For me and for Starclan."

   "Of course I will." she paused for a heartbeat. "I will miss you. And the kits are so so sad." Hazelfur licked his nose,

   "I know. But tell them to be strong," Hazelfur thought she could see a flicker of fear in his eyes. "I will meet them again soon." After he said that, he started to fade. 

   "Don't go!" begged Hazelfur. "Please!" She tried to grab him but her paw went right through him. She looked at him with great sadness and then the world went black.