ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴡɪɴᴅ ↷ ᵃ ʷᵃʳʳⁱᵒʳ ᶜᵃᵗˢ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ᵒⁿᵉ ☆ ᵈᵒᵛᵉˢᵒⁿᵍ

The sun was up and the birds were singing. Dovesong was padding towards the river with Sweetpaw at her side.

"So when do we get to do something cool?" Sweetpaw mewed impatiently

"What do you mean, cool? Dovesong asked, amused.

"I wanna learn how to fight! I wanna chase a fox! I wanna do anything other than learn to hunt!"

"We'll get to that soon enough. What do you have against hunting, anyway?" Dovesong asked while approaching the riverbank.

"It's just so boring! Nothing exciting ever happens."

"Well, we have to do it. Unless you want the Clan to starve?"

Sweetpaw rolled her eyes and padded up to the river. Dovesong followed, the mud padding her paws as she stepped.

"How do you catch a fish again?" Sweetpaw asked bitterly.

Dovesong purred and sat down next to Sweetpaw. Dovesong enjoyed helping her apprentice. As they went through the procedure of catching a fish again, Dovesong began to think. Sweetpaw was formerly a kittypet named after some Twoleg food called 'candy'. She and her best friend, Bubblepaw had to work extra hard to earn the respect and acceptance almost all of their Clan mates were born with. Sweetpaw was just trying to act like she knew about everything because she didn't want to be seen as a lost cause.

Just then, Sweetpaw lurched her paw into the water and scooped up a fish. She killed it with one swift bite and turned to face Dovesong. She tries to show no excitement, but her eyes shone with happiness.

🌸🌸🌸

Dovesong was sprawled across the ground as the sun shone down on her white pelt. She gazed across the BlossomClan camp, watching her Clanmates going about the day. A group of apprentices trotted by her, almost bursting with excitement. They had been chosen to go to the gathering, and they couldn't be prouder.

Whisperheart, the healer, bounded out of the nursery, her eyes wild and her fur frazzled. Most of the cats in the clearing turned to see what she was doing, including Dovesong.

"Excuse me, out of the way please," she mewed to any cats in between her in the enterance to her healing den.

Once she had disappeared into the rock, Dovesong saw Sweetpaw's calico pelt slinking into the nursery. She slowly rose to her paws. What was her apprentice up to now? Dovesong padded slowly across the clearing, not worried about what what in store for her in the nursery. As she struggled through the brambles and thorns that guarded the entrance, she heard a wheezing like sound followed by a wail. Once her eyes adjusted to the damp, dark air of the nursery, Dovesong could just make out a brown bundle of brown fur against a pure black one.

Nightpelt was licking Tawnykit, her eyes glazed over with grief and fear. Tawnkit squirmed and let out a mewl so soft, it was barely audible. Dovesong then noticed Sweetpaw looking at an especially shadowed part of the nursery, off to the right by about two tail-lengths. After walking over, Dovesong saw that Sweetpaw was looking down at Sootkit, a small black tom, Tawnykit's brother. He was mewling pitifully and had sadness in his face. Sweetpaw was meowing at Sootkit, but Dovesong could only make out the end of what she was saying.

"...I think Nightpelt has got it, Sootkit. You should really have a nap. Try not to worry."

Sootkit, tail drooping, walked to the side of the nursery and got comfortable in the freshly replaced moss.

"What happened?" Dovesong asked, a shard of worry in her voice.

Sweetpaw turned to reply, "Sootkit told me that Tawnykit wasn't, so they called Whisperheart to see what was wrong, and it's supposedly something she's never seen before. Nightpelt is worried sick."

"I've noticed,"

Dovesong noticed the drastic change in Sweetpaw's voice and acts, since their hunting this past morning. Just then, Mothheart sped back into the nursery, a bundle of herbs in her mouth. She dropped them onto the floor beside Tawnykit.

"Nightpelt, please make sure she eats those. Just chew up the borage leaves and the catmint. There's also some yarrow in there. If she doesn't feel better by sun-down, give her these poppy seeds to ease her pain. Bring her to me if anything else happens." Mothheart mewed

Then she saw how confused and upset Nightpelt looked.

"It's okay," she pressed her muzzle into Nightpelt's flank. "I'll do all I can to help Tawnykit get better."

Then Mothheart got up and acknowledged Dovesong and Sweetpaw.

"I think you should go. I don't know if this disease is contagious, but it's better safe then sorry," she bowed her head in farewell "And I would appreciate it if you took Sootkit with you. Caverncloud and Dropkit are staying in Creekstar's den. You could drop him off there."

Dovesong nodded and picked up Sootkit by the scruff. He wriggled and meowed faintly, but stayed half asleep as she and Sweetpaw escorted him to the leaders den. It was rather big with roots on the ceiling of the den. Cavercloud was sitting next to Dropkit, their grey pelts almost identical.

"Of course I'll watch him," Cavercloud said, her eyes shining with sympathy for Sootkit and Nightpelt.

"Thank you." Dovesong mewed before padding back into the open clearing.

Sweetpaw ran off to speak with her sister, Bubblepaw. Creekstar approached Dovesong and sat down next to her.

"I expect you heard about Tawnykit," she meowed

"Yes, I have" Dovesong sighed

Creekstar opened her mouth to speak, but Ashpaw, the healer apprentice, ran over from the nursery where Mothheart was still treating Tawnykit with herbs.

"Creekstar! Creekstar! Mothheart told me to get you to comfort Nightpelt so she can take Tawnykit to her den."

Creekstar bounded after Ashpaw back into the nursery.

🌸🌸🌸

The rain was pouring down as Dovesong made he way through an unfamiliar forest. It was almost pitch-black, and yet she could see perfectly fine. She crept towards a glowing red light. Once she got closer, she could see a huge red, gem. Her nose pressed against the surface, and then all she saw was swirling colors, trees, and flashes of pelts.

And then, suddenly, she stood in a den. The sound of trickling water could be heard. It was like music. Then, a flash in the corner of her eye revealed a cowering black she-cat. She looked no older than Sweetpaw, and had a noticeable scar on her right forepaw.

"N-no! I won't do it!" she mewed helplessly

"Oh really?" A voice echoed in Dovesong's head. It sounded familiar, but who was it? It was nobody she knew.

"Then I'll make you do it. You have three days to consider, or else you'll pay."

"I-I...who are you anyway?" mewed the helpless black she-cat. She looked beyond terrified, her fur sticking out in all directions as she pushed herself against the wall.

"I'm Frostshade, and you will do as I say. Do you understand?"

"y-yes Frostshade,"

"Good."

🌸🌸🌸

Dovesong shot up, sending moss flying through the warriors den. It was just a dream... she reminded herself Only healers and leaders get important dreams...right?