A New Horizon Book 6: The Final Light {COMPLETE}

Chapter 9

"How are they?" Pebblestep called from across the den. "Any changes? Bad or good?" Honeyfrost gave the kits a gentle sniff. They smelled of milk, nothing seemed off. They were so tiny and not very active, though they wouldn't be given how early they were born. Honeyfrost let out a heavy yawn and turned away from the kits.

"Nothing seems to be wrong, they're not eating a lot though." Honeyfrost explained.

"They probably won't right away. From my guess they were born about a moon early, so they'll pretty much sleep for an entire moon just to catch up." Pebblestep explained, her voice strained.

Honeyfrost and Pebblestep had each only slept through about half the night when they physically could not stay awake any longer. The kits had survived the night, but Pebblestep didn't seem so sure that it would last. She told me how easily it is for new kits to get sick.

As Briarrose woke up, Pebblestep checked on her as well. The queen had suffered a lot from the hard kitting, from blood loss and the overall pain she endured. She would be recovering for a very long time. "You know," Brairrose mewed, looking at her kits. "I think I finally have names for all of them."

"Yeah?" Pebblestep purred. "I think it would help us for them to have names, instead of just saying 'the black one'."

Briarrose looked lovingly at her kits. "The black one is Rushkit, both because of long his tail is, like a rush, and because of how quickly he got here." She purred in amusement. "The brown tabby is Oakkit, the ginger tom is Firekit, the tortoiseshell she-cat is Blossomkit, because her spots look like fallen petals and finally, the little white she-cat is Owlkit, after the owl that guided us here."

Owlkit. For a moment, Honeyfrost's dream appeared in her mind. The chilling white owl. Was StarClan telling me about her? "They're wonderful names." Pebblestep purred.

Honeyfrost could see how much Briarrose loved her kits, even if they were unexpected, they were very well loved. "I should go update our Clanmates." Honeyfrost mewed, she knew that all of her Clanmates would be wanting to know about the kits. And I should tell Yarrowtail their names.

"Good idea." Pebblestep replied.

Honeyfrost stepped out into camp, she felt exhausted but she noticed Yarrowtail running up to her. "Honeyfrost! How is Briarrose? How are the kits? Are they okay?"

"For now, they're doing great." Honeyfrost replied. "Briarrose is recovering well, and she chose names for the kits."
"What are they?" Yarrowtail asked eagerly. "I wanna know."

"Rushkit, Oakkit, Firekit, Blossomkit and Owlkit."

"Those are perfect names." Yarrowtail's eyes flooded with love. "I can't wait to see them, and her."

"Pebblestep believes that as long as they live through this moon, they'll be just fine." She explained. "But I'll update you every day."

Honeyfrost went through her camp and updated all of the worrying cats about the kits, they were all warmed by the news but Honeyfrost felt fear nagging at her chest. This was only one day, these kits had a very long path ahead of them. One that would not be easy, not for the kits or for their medicine cats. No matter what it takes. Honeyfrost vowed. I'll do everything I can for these kits.

As the days passed, Honeyfrost and Pebblestep continued caring for the five kits every waking moment. Sleep evaded them both as they both feared the worse. The kits still didn't do much other than eat small amounts and sleep. Even Briarrose was barely eating which made producing milk difficult. They gave Briarrose plenty of borage and burnet for strength but something still felt wrong.

While Briarrose and the kits slept, Honeyfrost took a moment to breathe. She felt like she had run around the entire forest, but she had spent all day in the medicine cat den. "I need some fresh-air." Pebblestep spoke up. "I'm gonna go grab us some prey to share."

Honeyfrost nodded, she knew that neither of them had much of an appetite so sharing prey would be the best. Honeyfrost curled up in her nest for a moment and without realizing it slipped into a deep slumber.

Overhead, an owl let out a shrill cry as it soared across the sky overhead. "Wait!" Honeyfrost called, breaking into a run after it. "What are you trying to show me? Is this about Owlkit? Please talk to me!"

The owl vanished and Honeyfrost was left alone. I can't do this. She thought, her paws shaking. "How am I supposed to interpret visions from StarClan if you don't explain them?" Honeyfrost asked the stars. "You don't exactly make this easy! What does this owl mean? Are these kits going to survive?"
"So many questions." A soft voice spoke, Honeyfrost wasn't actually expecting a response so she jumped back in alarm, spinning to face the voice. She saw a pale, silver tabby tom. His fur reflected the moonlight and the stars shimmered in his eyes. "You are so desperate to be given answers that you don't search for them yourself."

"Who are you?" Honeyfrost questioned, he smelled of SunClan and herbs.

"My name is Feathernose, the medicine cat before Honeywing." He explained.

Honeyfrost felt her body relax. "I've heard about you."

"I would imagine so." Feathernose purred. "But, Honeyfrost, I meant what I said. You can't expect every answer to jump into your paws. A lot of times not even StarClan has all the answers."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Honeyfrost questioned. "How do I know what I'm supposed to do when not even StarClan knows."

"You will figure it out." Honeyfrost dropped her shoulders, Feathernose chuckled. "Not the most encouraging answer, I know, but you'll get there Honeyfrost. As time passes, everything becomes more and more clear. You have been guided by StarClan since the day of your birth, you will find your answers in time."

"I hope so." Honeyfrost sighed, she looked to Feathernose. She had heard a lot of things about him, he had always managed to keep so calm. "How did you manage to stay so calm during stressful situations? It's what everyone always praises you for."

"I didn't always." Feathernose replied. "When I was younger, I was faced with a horrible wound and I froze up. I thought I wasn't cut out to be a medicine cat, but my mentor, Moonbreeze helped me. She taught me that everything happens for a reason, even if it seems unjust or unfair, it's what helped me through the hardest of times. I know it seems silly, but that's what kept me going."

Honeyfrost thought about what he was saying. Everything happens for a reason? "What about--"

"I know what you're going to say," Feathernose interrupted her. "What about Heatherflight's kits? What about Pikepaw and Sorrelpaw? What about Applespots?" He looked intently into Honeyfrost's eyes. "The reason may not always be clear, and you may not believe it yourself but honestly, it's what I needed to do to get me through the hard times. Us medicine cats see horrors that our warrior Clanmates could never understand. They fight battles and hunt prey, but you had a little kit die in your paws. Its hard to get through that kind of trauma and if it wasn't for that mindset--" Feathernose turned away, his eyes burning. "I don't think I could've survived being a medicine cat."

Honeyfrost thought long and hard about Feathernose's words. He's right. What we do is hard, we all have our ways of getting through it. "It's time for us to part ways, Honeyfrost." Feathernose looked back at her. "You will be needed here soon."

"What?"

Honeyfrost! A voice rang within Honeyfrost's ears. Honeyfrost! In an instant, Honeyfrost opened her eyes and was back in the medicine cat den. She met Pebblestep's gaze, it was filled with fear. I forgot I fell asleep. "What's wrong?" What Pebblestep said next chilled her to the bone.

"The kits are sick."