Extra: Mudkit
“Can’t I come too?”
Mudkit looked hopefully up at her mother. Quickspring, the Shadowclan deputy, shook her head.
“A battle is no place for a kit.”
Mudkit hung her head in disappointment. “I’m five moons old. I can look after myself.”
Outside, warriors bustled around, preparing for the battle ahead. Almost every cat would be joining in the attack on Windclan, and Mudkit was disappointed about being left out.
“I know you can,” replied Quickspring. “That’s why I’m trusting you to stay here without me. Help Dewcloud look after the younger kits, and I’ll tell you about everything that has happened when we return.”
Mudkit still wished she could come and fight, but it was clear that Quickspring would not change her mind. Sulkily, the kit turned to face away from her mother. She heard Quickspring leave the nursery, and speak softly to her mate, Badgerfur.
“Are you ready?” Badgerfur asked. Gently, Quickspring responded.
“I should be asking you that. We may have to battle Windthorn.”
Badgerfur’s voice hardened at the mention of his former apprentice.
“He made his choice. If he’d rather be crushed alongside the rest of those rabbit-hearts, then so be it.”
Quickspring walked away from the nursery as she responded, and Mudkit couldn’t make out her words.
-
It didn’t take long before Toadstar’s voice rang out through the camp.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Clanrock for a clan meeting!”
Despite her frustration at being left behind, Mudkit couldn’t help admiring her clanmates as she peered out at them through the nursery. They stood proudly, a quiet ferocity practically radiating from their pelts.
Among them were Mudkit’s parents, Quickspring and Badgerfur, alongside the experienced warriors Aspenshade and Pearblossom. Snowstorm’s white fur was bristling, and Snailwater looked as ready to fight as anyone, despite his age. The healers, Embersinge and Palesong, stood near their den, eyes fixed on the leader.
Toadstar surveyed each of the cats, and then spoke in a clear, commanding voice.
“Warriors! Today I call upon you to join in a battle that will change the history of the clans forever. Windclan has been left weakened by illness and a harsh Leaf-bare. We have an unprecedented opportunity to claim their territory for ourselves, and become stronger than they could ever imagine!”
Cheers went up from the assembled cats, and even Mudkit herself joined in, swept up in the excitement. If they defeated a whole clan, there would be no doubt that Shadowclan was the strongest in the whole forest.
At a signal from Toadstar, the warriors swept out of the camp, leaving it suddenly feeling emptier than Mudkit had ever seen it before.
The sun set, and the moon climbed high in the sky. Dewcloud invited Mudkit to share her nest, but her thoughts were racing, leaving her too excited to even consider sleeping.
-
It was almost dawn when Mudkit heard the sounds of cats returning to the camp. She raced out to meet them, expecting to see their heads held high in triumph, but she was instead met with a sight that frightened more than anything she had ever seen in her life.
Nearly every cat was injured, many of them badly. Quickspring was at the head of the group, her pelt slick with blood, holding one of her legs off the ground, and limping to avoid putting pressure on it.
Aspenshade was falling to the ground, even as Snowstorm tried to support him, his blood a bright red against her white coat.
Pearblossom’s ears had been torn to shreds, and his pelt hung off in patchy clumps. Even one of the healers, Embersinge, seemed to be unconscious, and was being carried by Palesong, who bowed under the weight of the older cat.
But far worse than the sight of the cats before her, several cats were not present at all. Snailwater was missing, and so was the clan leader, Toadstar. Not just them, but…
“Where’s Badgerfur?” Mudkit’s voice was shrill with terror as she asked Quickspring what had become of her father. Her mother’s eyes clouded over, and she said nothing. Mudkit feared she knew the answer.
Every one of the returning cats trudged toward the healer’s den, but Mudkit was too afraid to follow them. She rushed back to the nursery, and ran headlong into Dewcloud, burying her face in the old queen’s fur. Dewcloud grunted as she was startled awake.
“Mudkit? What’s the matter?” Dewcloud glanced out of the nursery. “Has the battle patrol returned?” Mudkit gave a small sob, and Dewcloud curled around her protectively. “There now, don’t cry. You’re all right with me.”
-
The sun was high in the sky. Mudkit didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. Now, the idea of leaving the nursery seemed overwhelming. Duskkit stirred beside her. He blinked slowly and looked around.
“Mudkit? He asked, his gaze settling on her. Where’s Quickspring?” Mudkit closed her eyes and shuddered, remembering what she had seen the night before. Her voice was small as she replied.
“In the healer’s den…”
Duskkit blinked with confusion.
“Oh. Is she hurt?”
Mudkit couldn’t bring herself to answer. She hurried out of the den to avoid any more questions. But now that she was up, curiosity urged her paws toward the healer’s den.