Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 5

Pinepaw returns back to camp after going on dawn patrol. The tired tom begins to head back to the apprentices' den when he hears a familiar voice call his name.

"Pinepaw!" Milkpaw calls, dashing over to him.

"Oh, hey Milkpaw," Pinepaw meows as he comes to a halt.

"Rosedawn had her kits! Well, kit now... it wasn't long until I learned the news because Volenose is my mentor!" Milkpaw meows, looking down at the ground with grief.

"What do you mean, kit now?" Pinepaw asks, a bit confused on what his friend means.

"Just, come and see!" Milkpaw meows. "Rosedawn is taking visitors," she meows. Then, the two apprentices hurry over to the nursery, where a few cats are already crowded. Pinepaw and Milkpaw push through the crowd until they enter the nursery. They spot Rosedawn laying in her nest with three kits laying near her belly. However, only tiny ball of fur is moving and nursing their mother.

Oh, that's what she meant. Only one kit survived. Pinepaw thinks.

"I'm so sorry, Rosedawn," Pinepaw hears Silvertuft meow. "I did what I could to make sure all kits were born alive. Only the runt made it,"

"Don't be sorry, Silvertuft, it's not your fault," Rosedawn responds. "It is sad, but it's no cat's fault. It's just the way things are."

"What's it's name?" Pinepaw asks. "If you don't mind sharing yet, that is," he adds.

"I decided to name him Acornkit due to his small size," Rosedawn shares, beginning to purr.

"I like that name!" Milkpaw meows.

"So do I, it fits him," Pinepaw also meows.

"Thank you," Rosedawn responds. Milkpaw and Pinepaw then glance over at each other.

"Do you want to go play?" Milkpaw asks excitedly.

"Yes!" Pinepaw quickly responds.

"Race you to the camp entrance!" Milkpaw quickly meows, quickly pushing through the crowd. "Bye Acornkit!" She quickly meows before exiting the nursery. Pinepaw quickly dashes after her.

"I win!" Milkpaw cheers as she beats Pinepaw to the camp entrance.

"Not fair, you had a head start!" Pinepaw quickly argues. Milkpaw lets out a purr of amusement.

"Now, let's go play!" Milkpaw cheers as she dashes out of ShadowClan camp. Pinepaw quickly follows her.

"Let's play a game!" Milkpaw suggests as she skids to a halt. Pinepaw stops running as well.

"What game?" Pinepaw asks curiously.

"You can be Pinestar, leader of ShadowClan!" Milkpaw suggests. "And I will be your loyal deputy, Milkclaw!" She meows. "ShadowClan is in danger, and it's up to us to save our Clan!"

"That sounds like fun," Pinepaw meows. "What's the danger though?"

"Hmm.." Milkpaw responds, taking a few moments to think about it. "A pack of wolves!"

As kits, they were told about when a pack of wolves attacked ShadowClan cats back in the early days of Cherrystar's leadership. Wolves are something the Clans haven't had to deal with and are very rare in the area. But, a pack managed to find the Clan and attack. Many cats were killed. The ShadowClan's only elder, Silentstream, was a warrior at the time so she was there to share her experience with the kits.

"Look, they're attacking right now!" Milkpaw quickly calls out. "Climb a tree!" She yowls, clinging onto a nearby tree with her claws, beginning to climb up it. Pinepaw does the same with a different tree.

"ShadowClan, defend yourselves if necessary!" Pinepaw meows.

"Yes, Pinestar!" Milkpaw responds with a different tone of voice, pretending to be the other ShadowClan cats. Pinepaw then purposely hops off of the tree, pretending to fall.

"No, Pinestar!" Milkpaw wails. Pinepaw then collapses, pretending to be dead. "He lost his last life!" She meows. "The wolves are gone now," she adds, hopping down from her tree. "I'm sorry, Pinestar. I will now go to the Moonpool and get my nine lives," Milkpaw meows. Pinepaw then opens his eyes, letting out a purr of amusement. Milkpaw begins to do the same.

"That was fun!" Milkpaw meows happily. "We should play together more often!"

"Yeah!" Pinepaw responds, getting up from the ground.

"I'm going to beat you back to camp!" Milkpaw claims, dashing off in the direction of the camp entrance.

"Hey! Wait up!" Pinepaw quickly meows as he dashes after her, letting out another purr of amusement.