Red Snow

CHAPTER 11

The birds sang for the first time again since leaf-bare, and rejoiced in the new-leaf sun. Their song seemed to bring a message to the Clans that everything would be alright. Or at least, that is what they hoped.

With a mighty leap, black paws landed firmly on the other side of the river that marked the border between the WindClan and BloodClan territory. Twitching his whiskers, the dark feline began to part his jaws to find that sweet scent he knew anywhere. Where are you? Suddenly, the leaves rustled and a beautiful, sand-colored she-cat strolled out. She looked tired, achy, and sad. But one thing was more noticeable that anything else. She's had the kits!

"Ravensoul." She whispered as she ran forward to nuzzle him. "I'm so glad you could make it."

His heart swelled with longing. "I would never miss it." A moon ago, Sandfeather had met him at the border and begged to see him at the next quarter moon, a moon away. She assured him that her kits will have been born by then, and they could meet. "Where are the kits?"

Sandfeather turned around and beckoned to where she had emerged. Two tiny kits slithered out and cautiously approached, their noses twitching in suspicion. "The speckled gray tom is Ashkit and the brown-tabby she-kit is Bramblekit. Kits, meet your father."

     Pride warmed his heart as the kits scampered toward him, their suspicion gone. They jumped on him and chased his tail. "They're beautiful, Sandfeather." He purred.

     "Give me a badger ride!" Bramblekit demanded.

     "Now, now. Your father had to walk a long ways to see you. Give him some time to rest." She meowed softly, and Ravensoul had never seen her look so beautiful, despite her weariness.

     The kits slid off his back and ran to their mother's side, basking in her warmth. Although he was beyond happy, sadness still welled inside of him. This would be the only time he saw his kits for a long, long time. Rage flamed for a heartbeat as he remembered how his mate left him to join the enemy, but he shook it away. She had to, for the kits. "How's life?" His words caught in his throat.

     She was grooming Ashkit when she looked up and answered. "It's alright. They take good care of me and our kits." She mumbled.

     Ravensoul narrowed his eyes. "What are you hiding?"

     Sandfeather hesitated, then whispered, "There is no medicine cat. I had four kits, but two of them died just after I delivered them. Now there's been a whitecough outburst, and Flintstar is coughing up blood. Snowshade is distraught, and he wants to find Echoleaf and Swiftprance to help them."

     Shock left him speechless. Grief also made him unsteady. "You have to come back WindClan! You can't put you and our kits in danger by just staying in that filthy camp! Please come back."

     She shook her head. "I can't. I can't leave Snowshade right now. I'm all he has."

     A growl formed in the back of his throat. She was choosing her brother over him again. "You can't stay there. Don't you love me enough to come back? Think of the life we could give our kits in WindClan. You were raised there, you know how good it is."

     "Of course I do. But I can't leave."

     "Why?" He hissed in fury.

     Sandfeather's eyes were wide and scared. "I'm afraid of what they'll do to me if I leave."

     He dropped his eyes to the kits, who were oblivious to what was going on. He didn't know Sandfeather felt that way. "I would keep you safe." He meowed softly. "I wouldn't let them lay a claw on you, or the kits."

     After a long pause, his mate nodded. "Okay, we'll come."

     "What's she doing here?"

     When they arrived at the WindClan camp, most of the cats were already out in the clearing, giving Sandfeather hostile looks. "It's okay! She's coming back!" Ravensoul purred, then it dropped when no one celebrated. He watched as Tigerleap ran to get Oakstar.

     "We don't want her. She's a traitor just like the others." Shatteredwish sneered. "Did you see our old Clanmates on your way here?"

     The black tom tilted his head in surprise. He knew that they had lost Briarstorm, but what now? "Who?"

     "Bluefire, Darkwave, and Tallpaw. They're all gone. We're losing cats faster than you can say 'mouse'." Oakstar growled as he stepped out of his den.

My apprentice! Horror made his jaws fall open. What did I do wrong? "More reason to take in Sandfeather and our kits. She made the decision to leave only for the safety of her kits, but realized that she was terribly wrong."

Oakstar sniffed. "How do I know you'll be loyal?" His voice was stern and suspicious, but Ravensoul could tell he was desperate for more cats. He would let them in.

"I will be loyal, I promise. I'll do anything to come back." Sandfeather pleaded.

     The leader's eyes narrowed. "Okay, I'll let you back in on one condition."

     Ravensoul tensed.

     "Will you spy on BloodClan?"

     "Are you insane? She's a new mother and you're going to put her in danger?" Ravensoul hissed, but Sandfeather slapped his mouth with her tail.

     "I'll do it."