Flamepaw's Quest

Chapter 30

            Flamepaw stood, frozen in fear, waiting for her tortoiseshell friend to speak. Sighing, Mothwing sat down, and the small kit beside her did the same, looking up at Mothwing anxiously.
            "Is RiverClan okay?" Goldstar asked, concerned.
            Mothwing nodded.
            "Everything was fine when I returned," she explained. "Mountainheart was anxious, of course, but he'd been running the clan well. When I relayed the message that all of you had jumped off a cliff, Mountainheart was sure you'd all been killed. He wouldn't, however, go to Moonstone to become leader, even though the clan had advised him too. He still had hope you were all alive and would return. It'll bring him joy when I relay the news."
            "What about my parents?" Flamepaw blurted out.
            "They were worried too," Mothwing explained. "Your mother, Suntail, burst into tears as soon as I told them. They'd been worried ever since you had left with Rosepettle. They'll be happy to see you, Flamepaw, I'm sure."
            "But what's happened that's concerning you?" Goldstar repeated.
            Mothwing sighed. "We've been kitnapped, Goldstar."
            Flamepaw stiffened, immediately knowing who was responsible for this event.
            "What are the names of the cats?" Snowheart demanded, slashing her white tail angrily against the ground. Falling victim to the act herself, Flamepaw suspected she was angry.
            "It happened this morning," Mothwing began. "There were two cats. I know one was named Jayscreech, but there was also a white she-cat."
            "Korosu," Rosepettle growled.
            Mothwing nodded. "That was it."
            "Mothwing, what's going on?" the small kitten mewed beside her.
            "Korosu is an evil cat who steals kits and uses them for her advantage, Spotkit," Mothwing warned. She glanced up, then spoke. "I suppose I forgot to make introductions. Mountaineye unfortunately passed away while you were gone. Spotkit will become the new medicine cat apprentice as soon as she reaches six moons."
            Spotkit nodded, joyful for a moment. She then returned to her somber mood and looked to Mothwing to explain more.
            "How many did she take?" Goldstar asked.
            "Five," Mothwing replied. "Mountainheart sent out patrols to search for Korosu. I offered to look as well in case any of them managed to escape. I made Spotkit come with me and bring herbs in case any cats were injured. I'm thankful to have found you."
            Flamepaw nodded. "It's a good thing you did. Have you found any kits or Korosu at least?"
            Mothwing shook her head. "I had thought that I had found her until I realized it was only you, Flamepaw. You're lucky Spotkit stopped me from leaping out onto you. I would've ripped you to shreds before I recognized you."
            Flamepaw gulped. "That's...comforting."
            "How is the clan dealing?" Goldstar questioned further.
            "Not well," Mothwing sighed. "Like I said, Mountainheart's been doing well, but the clan isn't the same without you, Goldstar."
            "Then it's a good thing we're returning," Goldstar said. "Should we head back?"
            Mothwing sighed, glancing over at Spotkit. "I suppose. We haven't had any luck all day. Let's head back to RiverClan."
            Flamepaw's heart leapt at the idea of returning home. She supposed that the clan would not be in good spirits with the kitnapping, but upon seeing their leader and several warriors return, including new clan members, she was sure their moods would be lightened.
            Beginning to walk with the others, Flamepaw felt Barkpaw brush against her.
            "This is just how it happened with LightningClan," he muttered.
            Flamepaw sighed. "No, RiverClan is strong. I-I don't know how big your clan was or how great it was, but RiverClan will survive. Things will be better when we get back. You'll train with me, Barkpaw, and we'll become warriors!"
            "It might be a little sooner if RiverClan keeps getting threats," Barkpaw spoke.
            Flamepaw was becoming irritated with his pessimism.
            "Well, I'll see my parents," she snapped. "And my mentor. The clan will be fine, you'll see."
            "All right," Barkpaw replied, sounding uncertain.
            Furious, Flamepaw pushed past him, catching up to Mothwing and Spotkit.
            "I'm sorry about Mountaineye," Flamepaw said to Mothwing.
            Mothwing sighed. "Don't be," she replied, smiling some. "He was old anyway."
            "How did he die?" Flamepaw wondered.
            "Old age," Mothwing responded. "Completely natural. Died in his sleep."
            "That's good," Flamepaw replied quietly. She then turned to Spotkit. "Are you excited to be a medicine cat apprentice?"
            Spotkit nodded her head vigorously, her eyes wide with either excitement or fear from the darkness of the forest.
            "How old is she?" Flamepaw asked.
            "Almost five moons. It won't be long," Mothwing explained.
            Flamepaw nodded, halting as she heard a rustle of bushes.
            "Is everything okay?" Mothwing asked, stopping beside her. The others soon stopped, and Flamepaw spoke.
            "I-I thought I heard something," she admitted, continuing to walk. She continued walking in embarrassment, not meaning to stop the entire party of cats.
            However, the noise returned, and Flamepaw's heartbeat began to quicken as she imagined Korosu lurking beside them, waiting to snatch up Spotkit and kill the others. Flamepaw quickened her pace, shrieking as two figures sprawled out of the bushes.
            "It's Korosu!" she shrieked without even making the cats out.
            The other cats unsheathed their claws, and Mothwing stood in front of Spotkit protectively, growling at the cats. Suddenly, Mothwing's growls ceased, and she relaxed her muscles.
            "They're kits!" she gasped.
            A tortoiseshell tom stood up while the other kit, a gray tabby she-cat, remained groaning on the forest floor.
            "Ella needs help!" the tom gasped. "She's been greatly injured!"
            Mothwing rushed to the tiny she-cat, inspecting her wounds. She pressed her ear against the she-cat's chest.
            "She's still alive," Mothwing breathed in relief. "Well, we'll give her help then."
            "Is she okay?" Flamepaw asked, approaching Mothwing.
            As Mothwing looked up, Flamepaw noticed blood smeared on Mothwing's ear where she had listened to the she-cat's heartbeat.
            "She's alive, but just barely," Mothwing spoke more quietly. "Spotkit," she said, turning to her future apprentice. "Get those cobwebs."
            Spotkit nodded, rustling through the collection of herbs she and Mothwing had been carrying. Mothwing then turned to the tortoiseshell tom.
            "You should not have dragged her so roughly," she snapped.
            "I'm sorry...We were being chased," the tom explained. He too looked exhausted.
            "Did you escape from Korosu?" Goldstar asked.
            "Who?" the tom wondered. "We escaped from a white she-cat and were trying to come back to RiverClan. Ella was attacked in the process. Even I got a few scratches," he spoke, revealing a bloody wound down his side.
            Flamepaw watched both Goldstar and Mothwing's expressions turn grim.
            "You're Volekit, aren't you?" Mothwing asked. "You were also taken by Korosu?"
            Volekit nodded, then out of exhaustion, collapsed.
            "We can't keep moving," Mothwing decided. "We'll rest here for the night while I tend to the kits. If we leave by dawn, I should be able to get them back before..." Her voice trailed off. "I wish I were back in my den."
            "Will they be okay?" Flamepaw asked, concerned.
            Mothwing placed the unconscious Volekit next to the groaning Ella. Spotkit was tending their wounds and fetching herbs for Mothwing. Mothwing, slowly applying them, turned to Flamepaw, sighing.
            "I believe so, but it will be a long night," Mothwing explained. "Get some sleep, Flamepaw. Spotkit and I will be able to handle it."
            Flamepaw did not want to leave her friend to care for dying kits all night, but she agreed and curled up next to a tree, tossing and turning as she listened to the painful cries of the kits who had miraculously managed to escape from Korosu.
            All Flamepaw wished was to be home in RiverClan so all of this could go away.