Thunder And Shadow

Violetkit hung her chin over the edge of the nest, feeling Pinenose’s flank fall and rise against hers. Across the nursery, Grassheart was still fidgeting and m oaning. Birchkit was curled into a tight bundle, his m uzzle buried under his paw. His lim bs were quivering, as though he was dream ing of hunting. Puddlekit’s head lolled; his m outh was open slightly. Slatekit stirred, but the gray tom kit didn’t wake. Violetkit wondered if they thought she didn’t belong, too. Perhaps every cat in ShadowClan thought she shouldn’t be here. Then why did Rowanstar take me?

She tried not to remember the night of the Gathering when, without warning, the ShadowClan leader had plucked her by her scruff and carried her away from Twigkit. It had felt like an awful dream, but it hadn’t been; the next m orning she’d woken up here and not in Lily heart’s nest.

Suddenly she remembered her feather. She dug into the m oss and pulled it out from where she’d hidden it for safekeeping. She buried her nose in its soft fringes and shut her eyes. Was that Twigkit’s scent she could sm ell? She breathed in deeply, feeling herself relax. Tiredness began to seep into her pelt. Im agining Twigkit beside her, Violetkit let herself drift into sleep.

“Puddlekit!” Pinenose’s alarm ed mew woke her. “Go and fetch Leafpool! Grassheart is kitting!”

Violetkit blinked open her eyes, her heart pounding. Pinenose was crouching beside

Grassheart, who was writhing in her nest. The pale tabby’s breath was fast and hard, a growl deep in her throat.

Puddlekit darted from the den.

“We’ll go with him.” Birchkit leaped from his nest, Lionkit at his heels. They disappeared through the entrance.

Violetkit blinked at Pinenose and Grassheart. What should I do? Grassheart’s growl turned into a wail. Trembling, Violetkit squashed herself deeper into her nest, flattening her ears. A m om ent later, Leafpool burst into the den. In the moonlight filtering through the bramble walls, Violetkit watched her run a paw over Grassheart’s heaving belly.

“Every thing’s just as it should be,” the ThunderClan medicine cat meowed calm ly. “For now she only needs som e wet m oss to drink.”

“Violetkit can fetch som e,” Pinenose meowed briskly.

“Violetkit?” Leafpool turned and blinked through the shadows. “Are you there?”

Violetkit peeked over the edge of the nest and nodded.

“Go to the apprentices’ den,” Leafpool told her. “You can sleep there tonight.”

“But what about the m oss for Grassheart?” Violetkit stared at her, round-ey ed.

“I’ve already sent Puddlekit to fetch som e,” Leafpool told her. “He’s going to help m e deliver these kits.”

Pinenose bristled. “He’s not an apprentice y et!”

“He will be soon, and the quicker he starts training, the better,” Leafpool meowed firm ly. She flicked her tail toward Violetkit. “Go.”

Violetkit scram bled from her nest and headed for the entrance, relieved to get away from Grassheart’s frightening m oans. She nosed her way out and froze.

Rowanstar, Crowfrost, Tawny pelt, and Stonewing were still sitting vigil beside Littlecloud’s body. It lay like a stone in the center of the camp. Ratscar, Oakfur, and Kinkfur crouched nearby.

Her heart pounded and she swerved to avoid the vigil, but as she m oved closer to the apprentices’ den, new worries invaded her m ind. What would Sleekpaw and the other apprentices say when she told them that Leafpool had sent her to sleep with them? They weren’t exactly friendly.

A soft mew sounded behind her. “Violetkit. I was just coming to find you.” Needlepaw padded from the shadows at the edge of the camp.

“Find m e?” Violetkit spun around, alarm ed. Had she done som ething wrong? Needlepaw had spoken to her a few tim es since Alderpaw’s visit, but before that she’d hardly paid her any attention.

“We have to go som ewhere.” Needlepaw halted, her green eyes shining in the moonlight.

“But Leafpool told m e to go to the apprentices’ den,” Violetkit told her. “Grassheart is having her kits.”

“So?” Needlepaw shrugged. “You can do that later.”

Beside Littlecloud’s body, Tawny pelt turned. Her eyes flashed with worry as she caught sight of Violetkit and Needlepaw. The tortoiseshell hurried toward them. “Violetkit, why are you out of the nursery? It’s late.”

Needlepaw answered for her. “Grassheart is kitting.” She j erked her nose toward the nursery.

“I’m supposed to take care of Violetkit.”

That’s a lie. Violetkit blinked at the apprentice, surprised.

“Make sure she gets a warm nest and som e sleep.” Tawny pelt turned back toward the nursery.

Violetkit was im pressed. Tawny pelt hadn’t doubted Needlepaw for a m om ent. I wish I were like Needlepaw. She’s so sure of herself.

Needlepaw glanced at her. “Are you ready?”

Ready for what? Violetkit stared at her. Tongue-tied, she could only nod.