Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 16

A few moons have gone by since the birth of the kits. They've been growing up nicely. Batkit seemed to have a heart full of creativity. She was always coming up with new ways to use things as simple as twigs. Her brothers were more mellow, and Falconkit especially was very affectionate towards his kin. Fernfreckle sometimes played with them, and also helped Batkit with her creations if she needed it. He was a senior warrior now, and the younger and newer warriors were a lot busier than he was, leaving time for him to spend more time with his kits. 

"Okay dad, can you step on this pile of leaves for me?" Batkit asked, pointing to a tiny bundle on the ground. "I wanna see how much weight it can handle."

"Sure," Fernfreckle responded, stepping onto the pile. The leaves crunch under the weight of his paw. 

"Hmmm.. not fresh enough," Batkit mumbled. "I need stronger leaves." 

"You should wait till newleaf then," Fernfreckle purred. "Most leaves are dead at this time. But don't worry, they'll grow back very soon." 

"HONEYSHADE!" Chestnutpaw called from the medicine den. "HELP!" 

"What's going on?" Honeyshade leaped down from the rock she was resting on and rushed inside. Fernfreckle, out of curiosity, stood up and followed her. He turned around to look at Batkit. 

"I'll be back in a moment, okay?" 

"Okay!" 

I should know what's going on, he thought. With Darkstar's Alzheimer's getting worse, and with so many cats gone, Flowerclan is in my paws. 

He sighs and remembers the gathering they had at the beginning of the moon. Twolegs had invaded and took nineteen cats out of the forest. Flowerclan lost the most cats, them being Cedarfall, Goldentuft, Leaftalon, Phloxberry, Rosenight, Dandypaw, Lionmask and Gingerpaw. A rescue patrol was sent out, but they have yet to return. Cedarfall's absence meant there was no deputy to help Darkstar lead, so Fernfreckle jumped in to assist whenever he could. 

He let himself inside and watched the young apprentice speak. The poor tom has been running the medicine den by himself after Phloxberry was taken. He was still in the process of recovering from the wounds some dark forest cats gave him. 

"So, I-I came inside to give Twilight her daily herbs, a-and..." He points to her, who looks like she's sleeping. 

"..I don't get it," Honeyshade meowed. 

"She's.. dead. What do I do??" 

"How did she die?" Fernfreckle asked, surprised. 

"It seemed to be from exhaustion," Chestnutpaw sighed. "I'm so sorry, I.. I failed as a medicine cat, didn't I..?" 

"There's nothing more you could've done," Honeyshade said. "It was her time." 

Fernfreckle looked at Twilight. 

Thank you for helping us. I'd be lying if I said I'm not at least a little guilty over your death. I'll never forget the favor you've done. 

He sighs and looks over at Honeyshade and Chestnutpaw. 

"I think one of you should tell Darkstar. He can decide what to do with her." 

"Yes, sir." Honeyshade nodded and left in a hurry. Chestnutpaw sat down and stared at Twilight. Fernfreckle could feel the guilt and pain coming from the young cat. 

"Every medicine cat loses patients," Fernfreckle piped up. "It's nothing to feel ashamed about." 

"How would YOU know," Chestnutpaw spat wearily. 

"I have a friend who is a medicine cat," he replied. "Hollygaze didn't handle her first loss very well. But, she's strong and she pulled through it. I know you can too, okay, kid?" 

Chestnutpaw sniffles and nods a bit. Fernfreckle smiles and leaves the den slowly. He spots Cricketkit and Falconkit chasing each other. He watches them happily. 

"Hey Ferny," Darkstar stumbles up to him. 

"Darkstar? What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be resting?" 

"I wanted to see you," he purred as he headbutted his side. 

"HI, DAD! WANNA SEE A STICK I FOUND?" Batkit called. 

"What..?" Darkstar looked at the tiny she kit. 

"Look at this stick!" She dropped a large root from her jaws. 

"Oh, that's not a stick. That's a root," Fernfreckle laughed. "Where'd you get it?" 

"Cricketkit helped me dig it up! I started, but then my paws started hurting really bad." 

"Who are you?" Darkstar asked. 

"Me?" Batkit looked up at him. 

"Yes, you." 

"Uhhh... I'm Batkit? Your daughter?" 

"I have a daughter?" 

"Yeah..? And two sons, over there." She points to her brothers. 

"I.. don't know who those are," Darkstar admitted. "Are you alright?" 

"Darkstar, go lay down please," Fernfreckle murmured, seeing the confusion and slight pain in Batkit's eyes. 

"Why doesn't he remember me..?" 

"Darkstar, Honeyshade needs to speak with you. Go do that, please." 

"Alright," Darkstar nodded. He gets up and leaves. 

"Why does he remember Honeyshade and not me?" Batkit asked quietly, on the verge of tears. 

"Listen," Fernfreckle sighed, crouching down to her level. "Your.. other father is having some memory issues. He hasn't been feeling well recently. It's not his fault." 

"How do I help him? I wanna help Dad!" 

"I'm afraid you can't, Batkit," he sighed. "Not even the medicine cats know any treatment. What we can do now is appreciate the time left we have with him." 

"How can I do that when he doesn't even know who I am??" Batkit raised her voice, slightly cracking with emotion. 

"He's your father, kiddo... He loves you very much." 

"If he loved me, he'd recognize me..." 

"Honey, it's not his fault. Conditions just happen sometimes, and the best we can do is be there for him. ..Can you do that for me?"

Batkit thinks, then nods a little. "Yeah, I think so." 

"Thatta girl," Fernfreckle patted the top of her head. "I think I have a good idea of what he'd want you to do." 

"What?" 

"I bet he wants you to grow into the strongest, best warrior you can be. Think you can do that too?" 

"YEAH!" The small black kit springs to her feet. "I'll make him proud. Real proud!" 

"Good! Now go play with your brothers and have a little fun." 

She nods and scampers off to see Cricketkit and Falconkit. He watches her go, a huge lump of pain in his chest. Every day felt like a ticking time bomb. 

He knew time was running out.