Chapter 9: Kits

Chapter 9: Kits

     A day had passed since Robinsong's vigil.  Sharpfang looked forward to a night of sleep.  He'd decided to sleep with Snowfur that night, to comfort both himself and Snowfur from Robinsong's death.  They'd both been good friends with her.  What Sharpfang hoped would be a good sleep turned out to be Mapleleaf and Skullstar.  "Huh..?" Sharpfang said.  Mapleleaf grinned.  "Welcome to our happy home," she said.  At that moment, a dead bird dropped from the sky.  Sharpfang blinked.  This was more of a dark forest then a home.  "Where are we?" Sharpfang asked.  Skullstar and Mapleleaf rolled their eyes.  "Warriors today," Skullstar muttered.  "Maple just said our happy home you mousebrain.  This is our training grounds," he said.  Sharpfang glanced around.  The trees were missing their leaves, and the sky was dark.  "StarClan took all the good territory," he heard Mapleleaf mutter.  "Ready to start training?" Skullstar asked.  "We want you to be the best warrior you can be,"  he said.  Sharpfang nodded.  "Alright then," Mapleleaf said.  "Fight Skullstar," she said.  Sharpfang stared at her.  "You heard me!"  she yelled.  "Fight!"  Sharpfang lunged at Skullstar.  The dark tabby easily side-stepped.  Sharpfang lunges again, aiming for the cat's side.  Skullstar flattened down, and when Sharpfang tried to come up, Skullstar raked his belly.  Sharpfang's eyes widened. "A warrior's eyes give away their moves," Skullstar growled.  Sharpfang nodded. A scream was heard in the distance.  "Time to go," Mapleleaf said.  "Someone's calling you,"  With that, a ripple formed and Skullstar and Mapleleaf were replaced by a dark room.  Slowly Sharpfang made out Snowfur's sweating face.  "The kits!" she yowled.  "Fetch Grayfur!"  Sharpfang's eyes widened.  He couldn't move.  Snowfur gritted her teeth.  "Now!"  she yelled.  Sharpfang obeyed and ran to the medicine cat den.  Grayfur and Ashfeather were curled up together.  Sharpfang panted.  "Grayfur!  Ashfeather! The kits!" he panted.  The two cats sprang up.  "Daisy and a stick, Grayfur," Ashfeather half screamed half said.  Grayfur obeyed, and they sprinted to the nursery.  "Bite on the stick when the pain comes," Grayfur muttered.  "The daisy will give you strength and milk,"  Then Ashfeather quickly added, "Concentrate on breathing."  After what seemed like forever, two kits emerged, a she-cat and a tom.  "They're beautiful,"  Sharpfang muttered.  The she-cat had taken after her father, the tom his mother.  "What should we name them,"  Sharpfang asked.  "The tom should be Frostkit,"  Snowfur said.  "And the she-cat Rosekit," Sharpfang added.  A loud meow from the apprentice den startled them.  "What happened?!" a cat mewed.  Rosekit flinched.  Frostkit didn't.  Sharpfang didn't notice, but Snowfur did.  "Why didn't Frostkit flinch?"  Snowfur asked worriedly.  Another cry sounded out.  No reaction from Frostkit.  "Oh StarClan,"  Snowfur whispered.  Grayfur's eyes widened. "He's deaf."
                                                            End of Chapter 8