Amberstar's Burden

Distress

Amberkit opened her eyes. She was in the nursery, laying in warm moss.  Was that all a bad dream? She stood up and stretched, letting out a loud yawn. Sunlight trickled in through the  opening at the top of the cave. The she-kit padded out ot the den, blinking her eyes to adjust. That felt so real... It was seriously a dream? I thought I was going to die. Amberkit padder through the camp and her eye caught sight of a circle of cats staring down at something. She looked around and there were two elders staring at the ground sadly, their tails resting on each other's back. "What's going on?" Amberkit tilted her head, and a dark ginger she-cat snapped her head around. Grief filled the queen's vision, then anger. "It was your fault." She growled standing up and stomping over to the young kit. She shrunk beneath her pelt. "Voleshine, she didn't expect for this to happen." Darkfoot padded over, pressing his pelt to the cat's. Voleshine, the pregnant queen, spun around. "He's dead Darkfoot! He is gone! All because Amberkit tried to play warrior." The she-cat twitched her ears in Amberkit's direction. "What's going on...?" Amberkit whimpered, her legs starting to wobble. "Take a look." Voleshine frowned, pointing her nose to the crowd. Amberkit ran to the commotion and pushed through the group of cats. No... The kit's heart plummeted. It felt as if stones were dragging her down, down, down. Her throat dried and a sickness took over her. Sleekfoot, NightClan's deputy, lay stiff on the ground. Wounds shone visible on his flank, his legs twisted and broken. They looked like they were crushed. "Sleekfoot..." Amberkit let out a wail. It really is my fault. Oh StarClan why didn't you take me instead? "I... I didn't think this would happen..." Amberkit turned, and stared up at her father. Grief made her stomach turn. "It's all my fault..." she mumbled to herself. Amberkit realized Echokit and Sweetkit were staring at her. "He died saving me, didn't he?" Amberkit stared down at her paws. "He did!" Voleshine hissed, sitting next to a sandy gray tom. "It's not your fault, Amberkit. You didn't know this would happen. You didn't know he would pass on." Darkfoot turned and stared softly at Voleshine. "Your mate was a brave and strong warrior. He will be remembered by all. Do you think he wants you to hiss and shout at the cat he gave his life to protect? I know you're hurt, but throwing blame among your clanmates is not the solution." Darkfoot strode over to the queen and rested his tail on her flank. "We will hold a vigil for him tonight." Voleshine let out a depressed sigh and rested her head on her paws. "He was a brave cat. I just wish he could be here for his kits' birth." She whispered, revealing her swollen belly. "He will be watching from StarClan." The sandy gray tom reassured her. "Thank you Dustheart." Voleshine smiled warily. Darkfoot turned around. "As for you." He narrowed his eyes and twitched his tail in irritation. "What were you thinking?" The tom grumbled. "I... I don't know.." Amberkit nervously fidgeted with her paws. "She wasn't thinking, that's the problem." A disappointed voice could be heard behind her.