Dark Sky

Chapter fifteen

Sandpaw was trotting back to camp, a blackbird clamped between his jaws. He carried his catch of the day to the elders while Bloompaw gave her two moles to the queens and Moonpaw dragged her exceptionnal piece of prey in leaf-bare, a huge rabbit almost as big as her, to the sick cats. They would need strenght to recover without catmint.

The prey heap couldn't be called a prey heap anymore, since it was only made of two mice, a scrawny squirrel and a finch. He settled beside the other apprentices to eat, and together they shared the finch in silence.

The whole clan was grieving the loss of Blizzardkit and Pebblekit.

--- Time skip

Dusk fell on the camp, and Briarstar climbed the High root as Owlwing and Ravenleaf carried the two dead kits in the clearing for the vigil.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high root for a clan meeting"

Everyone headed to the center of the clearing, heads low, tails dragging in the snow behind them. Every cat had heard of the horrible news.

"Today, Skyclan suffered a terrible loss. Two of our youngest members, Blizzardkit and Pebblekit, died from greencough early in the morning"

At the mention of her kits name, Shadefeather began to sob violently and incontrolably, and Birdclaw immediatly ran to her side to confort her. Briarstar went on.

"They might be kits here, but they will be warriors in Starclan. I trust our ancestors will welcome Shadefeather's kits among them."

"May Starclan light your path, Blizzardkit and Pebblekit", Beepaw repeated the prayer medicine-cats said over their desceased clanmates since the clans existed. "May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep". She stepped back to let the cats install themself to mourn the two little kits.

Embertail crouched beside the small bodies and he joined her, their pelts brushing. Shadefeather laid down heavily, her muzzle buried in her kits' soft fluff. Beside her was Birdclaw, and Fernflower, and Mothtail, Flamepelt, Featherfoot, Milknose, Swiftclaw and Harewhisker, Vinefoot and Redleaf.

The queens and elders by solidarity, Swiftclaw because he had lost his entire litter as well as his mate. He knew the pain too well. Since then, he had sat vigil for all the kits or queens that died.

Briarstar leaped from the High root and joined them. All night, they stayed like that, and Sandpaw was extremely sore and cold when he rose up. He woke up his mentor, who had fell asleep during the night.

At the sight of Sandpaw's exhausted eyes, Vinefoot whipped the air with his short tail. "Go get some sleep, young'un. The borders can wait". Gratefull, Sandpaw headed to his nest, and dropped in heavily. As soon as he touched it, he fell asleep.

Sorry this chapter was super short!