Shadows in the Night

Chapter Thirteen

I love you all so I MADE time to write this chapter, hope you enjoy :) And it's 4 days earlier than originally planned :)

Nightstar leapt out of her den, with her kits trailing close behind. She padded up to the returning gathering patrol, and searched the crowd for her mate. Nightstar was still searching for that pair of blue eyes when Leaffur pulled her aside.

"Nightstar," the elderly medicine cat meowed, her voice hushed. "We need to talk."

The black she-cat widened her eyes in surprise, looking up from licking a tuft of Dawnkit's fur down. "What happened at the gathering?"

Leaffur only shook her head, and let out a deep sigh. "Come with me." As the old brown she-cat turned away, Nightstar sat up and began to follow her.

"What about us, Nightstar?" Berrykit mewed, pawing at his mother's fur.

"You'll stay with me," a voice replied, and the LightningClan leader turned to see Webfoot use his tail to pull all three kits towards him. Nightstar nodded at her mate, but felt trouble stir inside of her. Is that worry I see is his eyes? It flickered for a moment, and disappeared. I must have been seeing things.

"Nightstar!" Came Leaffur's exasperated meow. "Are you coming?" Nightstar sprinted across the clearing into the medicine cat den. Freckleleaf and Leaffur sat with their tails curled perfectly around their paws, and the black she-cat settled down facing them.

"What's so important?"

Freckleleaf's eyes darkened, and her blue gaze bore into Nightstar's. "Darkclaw."

It can't be. No. It can't be true.

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"Fallownose! What's going on?" Nightkit whimpered and burrowed under her mother's fur. Sharpkit was already there, and Leafkit too. She could feel her mother trembling all over, and even her little kit mind could tell her that something was wrong.

"Nightkit!" She whipped around as quickly as she could underneath her mother's stomach to face Sharpkit. "Will you poke your head out to see what's happening?"

"No!" Leafkit wailed, her amber eyes wide with distress. "Nightkit might get hurt! I don't want that to ever happen." Nightkit felt warmth spread through her tiny body as her two siblings pressed closer to her.

"I won't let you have the kits!" She heard Fallownose wail.

"You don't have a choice!" Came a gruff voice, filled with hatred and anger.

Suddenly, her mother's voice softened. "You never did love me, did you?" The tom laughed.

"As if," he spat. "Snakecliff would have been a much better choice. All I want is more followers, and this was the perfect opportunity!"

Fallownose shivered, and parted her jaws to let out a wail, when her jaws snapped shut. "Don't you dare call out for help! Do you want to die too?"

"I will not let you harm my kits."

"Our kits."

Fallownose took in a deep breath. "You said I don't have a choice, but I do. I will die defending these innocent lives!" Nightkit mewed in horror and pressed closer to her littermates as she heard Fallownose cry out in pain. The tom was hurting her mother!

Nightkit poked her head out, and felt Leafkit's tiny teeth in her short, stumpy tail. "Nightkit, no! Please!" Her sister begged.

"I have to help Fallownose," Nightkit growled, and broke away from her sister's grasp. She stumbled in a pool of blood, and summoned up all of the strength she could muster. "DON"T HURT FALLOWNOSE!" She yowled, shutting her eyes tight as she felt sharp teeth pierce her scruff. When she finally dared to sneak a peek, she found she was laying down in the clearing, with Owlpaw laying next to her, and Goldenleaf, another queen, licking her pelt.