MoonClan's Prophecy- Chapter 11

Snowdawn yawned and stretched, the blackness of the warriors den closing in around her. She sat up in her nest and glanced around the den. Light filtered through the entrance, falling on the sleeping bodies of Lilacslash and Robinwing. Lilacslash's head was rested on the orange tom's back. Snowdawn shivered.
Lilacslash had been pregnant for a moon. Snowdawn couldn't imagine a bunch of little Lilacslash copies running around camp. Would they be evil like her? Would they grow up, wanting to murder innocent cats because "mother" told them it was okay? Snowdawn remembered when Lilacslash had announced her pregnancy to the whole clan a few days after Morningfur's death. She had done it so arrogantly, making Moonstar call a meeting and then leaping onto the High Limb like she was the leader when she could have easily stayed on the ground to say it. The whole clan had cheered and congratulated her and Robinwing, but Snowdawn, along with Sootlife and Flamepool, had stayed back and refused to approach their life-long enemy.
One of the scariest things was that another cat had fallen in love with a tyrant like Lilacslash, but what really struck Snowdawn was that Lilacslash had fallen in love. Could she be faking it just to have kits that would follow in their mother's paw steps? Was she really that cruel, to fake her love for another cat just to have kits?
Snowdawn could believe it. She had no doubt Lilacslash could be so cruel. But maybe she had fallen for another cat.
Poor Robinwing. He has no clue what is his mate is, Snowdawn thought remorsefully.
Rising to her paws, Snowdawn pushed out of the den. She glanced up at the sky, the first few rays of the sun shining over the tops of the trees. She sat down and, as she watched, the stars, one by one, slowly faded away from the sky as the sun came out.
"Its a beautiful morning."
Snowdawn jumped as a voice spoke behind her. She turned to see Thrushpelt, standing at the warriors den entrance, watching her.
"Yes it is," she commented. Thrushpelt padded towards her, sitting down next to her. He began to wash his paw.
"I'm worried about you, Snowdawn," he said between licks.
Snowdawn was taken aback. What was there to be worried about? Suddenly, fear overtook her. Had he somehow figured out about the prophecy? Had he overheard Flamepool and her talking the day Morningfur died? Was he worried she was too young and inexperienced to do such a task?
She wanted to ask him all these questions, but finally settled on one simple one: "Why?"
"You were a very happy, giddy and active kit. You loved to play and run around. When you became an apprentice, those traits didn't diminish until Sootlife was attacked. Ever since, you've been distant, always in  deep thought, always looking slightly worried and a little afraid," Thrushpelt said.
"Oh..." Snowdawn said, not really sure how to answer. Was it really that obvious? It was true. Ever since she had found out about Lilacslash and Lilyfur being the killers, she had been thinking about it so much that she hadn't really ever had time to cut lose and just have some fun. The only real fun she had had was when she went hunting with Sootlife, but that hadn't lasted very long.
"Do you need somebody to talk to? You seem to have a lot on your mind," Thrushpelt said. "I'm here to listen, if you want."
It was a little awkward, Thrushpelt telling her this. They had always been friends, but never really close. Not like Mallowpaw or Sootlife or Flamepool, whom she would probably go to first if she ever needed to talk to somebody. But she felt a wave of gratitude for the tom as he offered her his time and ears.
"It's okay, I'm fine, but thank you for your concern, Thrushpelt," she said. As much as she did want to get everything, all of the weight of this knowledge, off her chest, she couldn't tell Thrushpelt.
"Snowdawn?" Snowdawn and Thrushpelt both looked back at the warriors den entrance to see Sootlife. He had a tad bit of jealousy in his eyes as he saw the two talking.
Snowdawn wanted to roll her eyes, but decided against it.
She would talk to him later about not having to be by his side day in and day out and how she could have other friends.
"Well, I best be off. Scorchfur will be setting up the rest of the day's patrols soon," Thrushpelt said, standing and padding away.
Sootlife walked up and took Thrushpelt's place, but a little closer, his fur brushing Snowdawn's.
"What did he want?" Sootlife asked when Thrushpelt was out of earshot.
"Just...to talk," Snowdawn said. Sootlife was very protective and jealous, and she didn't want to describe the conversation she had just had any further in fear Sootlife might begin to quarrel with Thrushpelt.
Sootlife eyed her suspiciously before saying, "Lets go. We don't want to miss our patrols."

Snowdawn laid down near the warriors den and the Nursery, which sat side by side next to each other on the side of the clearing. Past it, the medicine den sat, perfectly close to both the Nursery and the elders den, which was at the back of camp, completely opposite from the entrance. The apprentice den was just past that, and the leader's den sat even further, not fully opposite of the Nursery and warriors den, but still in perfect view of them. The High Limb hung above the leader's den, with a perfect view of the entire camp.
Snowdawn laid there, marveling at how well and perfect the camp was set up. She was bored and had nothing to do until sundown, when she would go out on a hunting patrol.
Snowdawn had never really thought about the layout of the camp. The medicine den was in the perfect place, nestled right in between the Nursery and elder's den, which would both need the most attention. All three were also further back in camp with the warriors den blocking it from the entrance, which would be a likely place for an attack. The dirt place tunnel was small and right in between the elder's den and medicine den, easy access for old cats and patients.
The leader's den could view the entire camp from the entrance, which was a thick tangle of roots, opening into a tunnel mouth that went about two tail-lengths underground; perfect for a single-cat den. Snowdawn purred at the memories of sleeping in that den, huddled up against her mother's belly and her sister for warmth. That was where she had been born, too, and she knew that because Moonstar liked to tell her and her sister that. Her mother had refused to move into the Nursery, and was in the leader's den with Dayflight when her kits had come.
Snowdawn was jerked away from her memories as a small bundle of fur slammed into her side. Little claws pricked her pelt like thorns as another fluffy ball hit on her the other side. Finally, a third attacker landed heavily on Snowdawn's shoulders.
"Stand down, rogue, for we have captured you!" Graykit's voice rang from above her ears. Snowdawn plopped her head down onto her paws.
"Okay, I give up! But please, don't hurt me!" she cried.
Graykit gave out a squeak of joy and leaped over Snowdawn's head and onto the ground.
"Follow me, prisoner!" he said, marching off. Snowdawn  rose to her paws, glancing back at her other two attackers. Maplekit and Mosskit stared up at her, a triumphant look on their faces. Maplekit had grown healthy in the past half moon, and played and hopped around with more energy than expected. Heatherpool had taken up the duties of nursing Maplekit, and, with lots of help from Heatherpool and the clan, the kit had grown much stronger.
Now Maplekit sat in front of Snowdawn, completely unaware of the dangers that lurked around her. Snowdawn yearned for those days once again, but, if Flamepool was right, then she had a big job to do. The clan needed her more than ever, and she couldn't sit around and sulk about how she wanted to be a kit again.
Snowdawn followed Graykit towards the leader's den, where Moonstar and Dayflight were sharing tongues. Maplekit and Mosskit flanked her on either side, marching along as if they were warriors.
"Moonstar! We have found a rogue in our territory!" Graykit squeaked, speeding up to Moonstar. Moonstar glanced up at Snowdawn, a very amused glint in her eyes.
"Why, yes, it seems you have! What ever should we do with her?" Moonstar asked the kit.
"I say we should teach her a lesson and send her on her way!" Graykit suggested, bouncing around with excitement.
"What has she done wrong?" Moonstar asked.
"Crossed into our territory!" Maplekit said.
"Oh! But we don't want to frighten her! She might be friendly!" Moonstar said.
"But she has crossed our borders!" Graykit exclaimed.
"Well then, take her back and warn her of the dangers of coming back!"
"But-"
"I need strong, brave warriors to do this for me," Moonstar interrupted.
This seemed to lift the kits' spirits, and they stood a little taller.
"Yes, Moonstar!" Graykit said. He turned around to face Snowdawn. "Come on!"
Snowdawn followed them back across the clearing, but stopped with Mosskit plopped down on the grass.
"I don't want to play this game anymore!" she cried. Her eyes suddenly brightened. "Let's play with a mossball!"
"Yeah!" Graykit agreed. "Snowdawn, will you play with us? Please?"
"Of course!" Snowdawn meowed, remember her days as a kit, always begging Sunheart or Fleetwind or even her parents, who always seemed busy, to play with her.
"Yay!" all the kits cried in unison. Graykit raced of towards the Nursery, disappearing inside. A few moments later, he came out with a mossball in his mouth. He dropped it at Snowdawn's paws.
"What should we do with it?" Graykit asked.
Snowdawn tried to quickly think up a new game they could play with the mossball. She decided to go with a game Sunheart had made up when she was a kit. She had enjoyed the game a lot, and thought that maybe these kits would too.
"I'm going to hit the mossball across the clearing. The first one to bring it back to me wins," she announced.
All three of the kits' eyes lit up. They bounced around, exclaiming their joy and waiting for Snowdawn to hit it.
Snowdawn raised her paw and hit the mossball, sending it flying through the air. All three kits raced after it, stumbling and tripping over themselves and each other in order to get to the mossball first. Mosskit was the first to get it. She scooped it up into her jaws, scrambled away from the other kits, and then raced back towards Snowdawn.
All three kits halted in front of Snowdawn, panting. Mosskit dropped the mossball next to her and then  sat down heavily. Snowdawn purred. "Did you enjoy this game?" she asked.
"Oh yes!" Maplekit said excitedly.
"Do you want to play again?"
All three kits leaped to their paws. "Yes!" they all squeaked.
Snowdawn hit the mossball across the clearing yet again. The kits tumbled after it. This time, it was Graykit who got to it first, but on the way back, he stumbled and lost it. Maplekit scooped it up, rushing for the end.
She triumphantly dropped the mossball down next to Snowdawn.
"Great job, Maplekit!" Snowdawn exclaimed, happy to see that the kit, who everybody believed would not make it, had recovered so well.
Maplekit stood a little taller at the praise. She bounced around Snowdawn's paws. "Hit it again! Hit it again!"
"Yeah!" Graykit and Mosskit agreed.
"Oh, alright!" Snowdawn said. She felt a sense of happiness as she again batted the mossball across the clearing, the kits fighting to reach it first.
They played for a long time. Not just that one game, but multiple games, like one where Snowdawn hid and the kits were forced to use their senses to locate her. She even taught them a few simple battle and hunting moves.
Suddenly, as the sun hit the tops of the trees in the sky and the cats all settled down to eat and share tongues, there was  crashing noise that came from somewhere out of camp. All ears instantly picked as more crashing noises came closer.
A light breeze blew, and the fear and horror rose through the camp.
"Badger!" a yowl split the air as the huge black and white head pushed through the barrier of camp near the entrance. The rest of it's body soon came into view, followed by another badger. The two badgers easily pushed aside the camp barrier, destroying it.
Snowdawn rushed forward, scooping up Maplekit in her jaws. The kit was frozen with horror, and easy to carry.
Snowdawn nudged the other kits towards the Nursery, but they wouldn't move. The badgers loomed up above them, no cats in their way to protect them.
One of the badgers lunged for the kits, and Snowdawn reacted instinctively. Dropping Maplekit, she leaped, meeting the badger head on. She landed in front of the badger and rose to her hind paws. Claws unsheathed, she raked them across the badger's face. Blood instantly splattered the ground. A long, deep cut bore into the badger's face, going from one eye to underneath the other.
The badger snarled in rage and pain, stumbling back from the blow. Snowdawn hissed, hackles raised. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other badger being driven back by multiple warriors. More warriors were rushing to get the kits and protect the elders and the Nursery. Snowdawn stood alone in front of this badger.
But she could sense the fear radiating from it's pelt. The blow she had given it had shocked it, and now, it didn't know what to do. Never before had a cat been so vicious, so dangerous to it.
It tried to lunge forward again, tried to get past Snowdawn, but she leaped sideways into it's path and raked her claws across it's cheek, the wound opening all the way back to the neck.
The badger again fell back, the fear radiating off it in waves. One more time. It would try one more time to get past this white beast with vicious claws. The badger lunged again, but Snowdawn was too quick. She leaped, dodging the badger's giant claws as it swung a paw at her. She landed on it's back and sunk her teeth into the back of it's neck, clawing viciously at it's shoulders.
The badger had had enough. It shook itself violently, dislodging Snowdawn, who flew off and landed on her side on the ground. The badger turned and raced off, pushing through the barrier after it's mate, who was already long gone.
"Snowdawn!" Snowdawn pulled herself up into a sitting position and glanced up to see Moonstar racing towards her. Sparrowfeather, Dayflight, Sootlife and Flamepool were right behind her.
Moonstar reached her first, showering her in licks. Snowdawn flattened her ears against her head. Then came Sparrowfeather, who kept babbling on about what could be broken and how she could be hurt as she checked her over.
Dayflight stopped in front of Snowdawn, a look of worry in his eyes. Sootlife and Flamepool halted about a tail-length away, obviously wanting to get to her but blocked by the three cats who had reached her first.
More cats were gathering, shocked looks on their faces as they whispered to each other. Snowdawn pricked her ears to hear what they were saying.
"It looked terrified!"
"I can't believe she beat a badger on her own!"
"What bravery and skill!"
"She saved the kits!"
Snowdawn felt her pelt grow hot as she heard everybody marveling at what she done. Had it really been that amazing?
Under orders of Sparrowfeather, Snowdawn was taken to the medicine den to be examined. When they had entered, Sparrowfeather sat down.
"There. Now you can have a little breather from all those cats," she said.
"Was it really that shocking?" Snowdawn asked as she sat down in front of Sparrowfeather. "Me beating the badger?"
"Usually, one cat alone is not enough to scare away a badger. You inflicted wounds on it that it will not soon forget and will forever leave a scar," Sparrowfeather said. "It is amazing that you were able to do it by yourself."
Snowdawn again felt her pelt grow hot.
"Now, are you hurt?" Sparrowfeather asked.
"I'm in a little pain from the fall, but that's it," Snowdawn said.
"Then I don't believe you need anything. If it's worse tomorrow, come to me and I will give you something for it," Sparrowfeather said.
Snowdawn nodded and stood, pushing out of the medicine den. The first cats she encountered was not at all what she really expected. Heatherpool and Ashclaw stood in front of her.
"I want to thank you so much for saving my kits!" Heatherpool exclaimed.
"And Maplekit," Ashclaw added. "That was very brave of you!"
"Oh, um, you're welcome," Snowdawn said, again feeling slightly embarrassed for all the praise she was receiving.
The two cats padded off towards the Nursery, and Sootlife and Flamepool took their place.
"That was amazing!" Flamepool exclaimed, pride shinning in her eyes. Sootlife, however, looked worried.
"Are you okay? Did Sparrowfeather give you anything?"
"I'm fine, Sootlife. My side hurts a little but that's all," Snowdawn said.
Sootlife didn't look very reassured, but didn't pester.
"Come on! Let's go eat something! You deserve it!" Flamepool said, nodding towards the fresh-kill pile.
Snowdawn followed her towards it, happy at what she had done. As she glanced around, she felt her hackles raise, and saw Lilacslash sitting at the other side of the clearing, her gaze intent on Snowdawn. Lilyfur sat next to her, also glaring, and as Snowdawn watched, Marshfur padded up and sat down on the other side of Lilacslash. He, too, was watching her.
Snowdawn's head snapped back around to the fresh-kill pile, a very uneasy feeling growing in her stomach as one question spun through her mind.
What was Lilacslash planning?