Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Prologue

The slushy floor of early newleaf spread the floor. Waters glinted brightly as it mirrored the starlit sky. Snow fell crashing down into the cold icy water. The earth drowned in unending water supply. It was empty of all scents. Mice and voles were chased out of their homes because of the water that flooded tree trunks. Silence was frozen in the air. Stones were covered with shiny coats of ice from previous melted snow. The air was cold enough to kill. Snow made it hard to trudge through, but stale paw prints that lay resting in the snow proved it was possible.
There was a dark movement that came from past the stones. A black she-cat appeared from behind the boulders. She padded along the smooth rocks and shivered with dull eyes. Her paw raised from the ground as she sat. A small tongue shot out of her muzzle when she licked her paw for warmth. She shivered again. Her round pink underbelly showed she was close to kitting.
Her tail hung lowly behind her as she got up and pushed herself on. A raspy cough made a fog smoke out of her mouth. She gulped and tried running on. Her stomach hung low near the still water beneath her. Instead, she decided to trot. Pain struck her stomach and she fell on her front paws. "My kits!" The queen yowled out loud.
A white warrior jumped quickly out from behind the stones behind the she-cat. The Tom rushed over to her, his muzzle touched hers gently. "Keep going, Coalstorm," said the Tom encouragingly. His voice was calm and soft. The cold air lowered his voice even more with the calm wind that brushed away his words. "We're almost there." He gave her a light push to the queen, convincing her to move fast enough to get to the nursery in time for her kitting.
The queen stumbled forward and meowed in distress. Yowls of pain shot out from her. "Icepelt, I can't do this-" Coalstorm fell ahead. Her face plunged into the cold water.
Icepelt stayed at her side. He couldn't imagine the pain she was going through. His tail drooped and he scooped her up, helping her with his back. Water dripped in ice pellets off her pelt. "Yes, you can." convinced Icepelt. His warm fur calmed the queen of her frozen misery.
Coalstorm gave a smile of appreciation and dragged herself on. The strong scent of CloudClan gave her another chill. She looked up through the gorse tunnel. Her pelt was covered with droplets of ice that clung to her fur.
Icepelt guided her through the path of iced-over brambles. The floor was slippery and wet. "Crowfur! Hollywish!" He growled and kept his balance on the slippery glace under his paws. "Take Coalstorm to Echoleaf's den for her kitting. I'm going to tell Skystar." ordered Icepelt as he quickly galloped to the leader's den.
The queen yowled in pain. Both warriors planted themselves beside her and marched their way over to the medicine cat den. Their paws sunk deep into the puddles of melted snow as they guided Coalstorm inside.
A glossy black she-cat turned around and her eyes shot open. "Coalstorm!" She turned back and darted into her den, searching for kitting materials. Soon returned Echoleaf with multiple sheets of thick moss -enough for an elder to sleep on- and a stick. She placed the branch carefully in the queen's mouth and slid a moss sheet under her flank.
Icepelt bust into the den, his muzzle gasped for air, but that didn't stop him from running to his mate's side. He licked his rasp tongue over her head calmingly.
"Kit number one!" meowed Echoleaf with a smile, wrapping the first kit into another sheet of moss. It was a she-kit. Her underbelly was matted with cloud white fur, but her pelt was a dark, smoky grey.
"And kit number two!" she slid out a white she-kit with a black-tipped tail. She looked like her father, Icepelt. Her eyes were glued shut and she didn't make a sound. Echoleaf held the kit in her paws. She gazed down at the white kit and knew the unfortunate news that would have to be shed.
Coalstorm sighed in relief and gazed at her two kits that were bundled up together. A smile crept up her face at them. She felt warmth run through her veins even though they sat still in the snow.
The white warrior rubbed his nose against hers. He purred loudly and looked over at the two warriors who stood by the entrance.
Hollywish and Crowfur sat, happily, watching from the fern tunnel. They mewed in appreciation for the new kits.
Echoleaf purred her congratulations to the queen. Her nose touched Coalstorm's ear respectfully. "I'll take the kits to you when you're settled in the nursery." She meowed, grabbing the bundle of moss-wrapped kits and trotting carefully into her den. Her black tail finally disappeared after a moment.
Coalstorm sighed. "Hollywish, can you help me up? I want to get to the nursery as fast as possible." She mewed and tried pushing herself up.
The dark warrior caught her. She smiled and looked at Icepelt. She waited for his approval to take on his mate for now. He nodded and stood back to give them space to move out of the den. Hollywish marched by the queen's side as they passed Crowfur and slipped into the ferns. The Tom watched silently and he dipped his head when they passed.
Icepelt trotted swiftly after them. He didn't want anything to happen to his mate. Worry filled his eyes as he ran after them.
"Icepelt!" Echoleaf called from behind.
The white warrior spun around and stood in the brambles. "Yes, Echoleaf?" he looked at the medicine cat with clouded eyes.
Her black head lowered. "I must speak to you, now." She turned and padded to her den. The concerned breaths of Icepelt let her know he was following close behind.
When they arrived in the den, Echoleaf turned around to face the queen's mate. "I'm sorry, Icepelt. One of your kits didn't make it..." She meowed with a sad expression. Her tail curled around her sitting body.
Icepelt's happiness faded. His worry got stronger and he hung his head. A sad cry escaped his muzzle as he fell onto his haunches. His underbelly hit the floor and he placed his face in his paws. "Echoleaf, you must be lying!" He looked at the she-cat with eyes that showed only the heartbrokenness inside him.
The medicine cat looked at the floor. "I am truly sorry. I feel so bad. Nothing like this has ever happened before..." She spoke tenderly with an understanding temper.
The warrior kept his face in his paws as Crowfur came into the den. "What's the matter?" He looked down at the sobbing Tom-cat that was shaking his head.
"Only one of the two kits made it." Echoleaf explained, her voice was still soft with compassion.
Crowfur hung his head. "I'm sorry, Icepelt." He sighed and turned out of the den. His tail hung low in sorrow for his friend and he padded into the fern tunnel on his way out.
"What am I going to tell Coalstorm?" His yellow eyes peeked out of his tear-wetted paws at the medicine cat. She just stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. "One kit. I don't think a queen has ever just raised one kit." Icepelt purred lightly. Maybe they'd be the first.
Echoleaf sensed a little bit of delight in his words. She smiled at his gesture and laid down, wrapping her tail around the live moss-covered kit. She lifted her nose to smell the air, feeling the warmth of the kit beside her. "I think Coalstorm is ready for you." The medicine cat meowed and nosed the Tom's kit over to him.
Icepelt looked at the bundle and slowly bent his neck to pick her up. His jaws clamped lightly down on her and he lifted. Icepelt flicked his tail as a goodbye and padded his way out of the medicine cat's den.
In the nursery, Coalstorm watched him walk over from inside. She purred a welcome and waited for him to place the kits in front of her. "I love you, Icepelt." She mewed.
The white Tom placed the kit on her front paws. "What should we name her?" He gazed lovingly at his new daughter as he sat down.
"I thought we had two kits?" She looked worriedly at her mate.
Icepelt sighed. "The other didn't make it..." He bent down and touched noses with Coalstorm comfortingly and gently.
"But-" The black queen stopped and looked at her only kit. Her purr grew stronger as she gazed at the grey bundle. "She shall be named Smokekit, after the cold breaths we take in leafbare."

Two sunrises passed. Morning light peered through the nursery den. The small grey kit had her head up. She looked outside with narrowed eyes. Her pelt was snugged up in her mother's fur. Snow poured in and melted quickly by the heat of the cats inside.
Smokekit closed her eyes and laid down again. She suckled quietly by herself under her mother's scent.
A white Tom snuck into the den. His silent pawsteps crawled across the floor, unnoticed. He lowered his head and rubbed his nose against the queen's. "She's beautiful, like you." whispered the Tom-cat.
The queen opened her eyes slowly and lifted her head from the dust floor. "She gets her eyes from you." She looked over at Smokekit who was nursing peacefully.
The warrior dipped his head in agreement. "That's true," he purred, not knowing what to say next.
Smokekit finally lifted her head to look at her father. Her green eyes gazed at him gratefully. She used her tiny paws to lift her small body and wobble her way over to the white warrior. A purr rumbled out of her throat as Smokekit pressed her forehead against his arm.
"Hello, Smokekit." The warrior meowed with a well-held admired look and touched noses with her.
The kit looked back at him with glittering eyes. She purred some more and pushed her pelt against his flank. "You're my daddy?" She asked sweetly.
"Yes," he answered, smiling. "My name is Icepelt, and yours is Smokekit." Icepelt twitched his ear and looked at the queen who was watching them quietly. "And this is your mother, Coalstorm." He added.
The black she-cat purred. "Hello, Smokekit." She meowed to her new kit.
Smokekit's jaws opened widely, showing her tiny kit teeth. Then clamped back together, sealing them away. Her dark fur ruffled as she marched her way back to her mother's underbelly. She lay herself down, purring, but otherwise soundless.
"I love her." Icepelt let his eyes adore the small clump of grey fur. He bent down and laid beside his mate. With a touch of his nose, the queen put her head on her paws.