Burnt to Ash

This is a collab by Firey, Dawny, Stormy, and Brighty.

Prologue--Stormy

Flamedapple took a breath of the cold, fresh air. Silverpelt seemed to be outlined in the indigo sky, in and intricate curving pattern, as snowflakes floated down to the frosty earth.

She looked back down at her smoky gray pelt. It ruffled in the soft breeze. Her belly swelled outwards, between her forelegs. Gingerly, she gave it a lick. She felt a feeble squirm from within.

Her kits were supposedly going to come any day then, and she was ordered to remain in the nursery. But it was hot and stifling in there, and she was tossing and turning, as she had been restless for days. Berryleaf, the DewClan medicine cat, refused to let her leave. And Grayclaw was constantly fussing over her, so there was hardly any escape.

Flamedapple gazed upwards again. That night was her chance.

She had easily snuck out of the nursery, and slipped through the dirtplace tunnel. While Adderflight wasn't looking, of course. Classic. I'm surprised he didn't catch me.

But just for that time, she would enjoy the nippy air through her pelt, and the downy flakes drifting through the night. The once-grassy hills were now covered in a fluffy white sheet.

As Flamedapple settled down in the snow, not minding the cold, her legs began to grow heavy. Her amber eyes drifted half-closed. The world became a land of white, as she lost herself in a deep reverie. A world where no one fights, and no one cries. Where mates stay in love forever and queens actually get to choose to have kits or not...

Guilt washed over her. She already loved the unborn lives with all her heart, but she could only imagine what her life would be like if she wasn't expecting. She could even be deputy of DewClan!

Flamedrapple drifted off again, no longer caring if she dozed off in the peaceful snow.

Suddenly, a jolt of pain broke her off from her utopia. She instantly shot to her paws. Her stomach was sore all over, and her legs wobbled. Resisting the urge to yowl in pain, she whipped around, and began to dart in the direction of the camp. No, no, no. Now of all times?

Flamedapple finally crashed through the bushes, and into the woods, where camp was stationed.

Another jolt of agony passed through her body. She gritted her teeth; that time, she nearly fainted. Ungracefully, she toppled over.

She contracted. But camp isn't far now! If she reached it, Berryleaf could give her help, and she would at least be warm. And so will my kits.

Like the fighter she was, she dragged herself to her paws once again. She was able to get a few paces, but then collapsed once again, this time in a snow drift.

The flakes at least provided some padding for her as she convulsed.

Flamedapple screeched in pain, hoping someone would hear and come to her aid.

But no one did.

The first kit was born dead. He had a silver pelt, just like his father's. A tear slithered from Flamedapple's eye, as she gazed upon the lifeless body.

The next kit was also born dead; it was a smoky gray she-cat, just like her.

She settled back down, waiting for the next jolt.

But it never came.

More tears flowed, as she realized her situation. But even out of eyes blurred with tears, she could see the gray she-cat twitch.

Her neck instantly snapped up, and she ceased her grieving.

Fast as lightning, she was at the kit's side, rasping her tongue over the little  life.

At first, Flamedapple didn't think that she would pull through, for she was cold and her breathing was unnaturally shallow.

But finally, she squeaked and wriggled to Flamedapple's belly to suckle. She purred as she watched her singular kit.

She looked up and meeped. "Hello, Dimkit," Flamedapple purred. That is your name in honor of this dark night, and your beautiful coat.

The snow began to fall thicker and faster. Without a second thought, she buried her deceased kit, and picked Dimkit up by the scruff. Slowly, she padded back to camp, her heart heavy with grief yet buoyant with joy.

~***~

Windpetal let a moan escape her lips. It was moonhigh, and all was silent in the LilyClan camp. Except for the groans that were echoing around the nursery, from Windpetal.

Her stomach was acting up again. She had been expecting kits for many moons, and they were due anytime soon.

But LilyClan had just clashed with SilverClan over stolen prey, and most warriors lay wounded, crying out in pain as Blackfrost attempted to treat them, using the last of his herb stores. He was busy that night. My kits just can't be coming at such an inconvenient time!

But she couldn't ignore the next pang of discomfort rose up in her. She squeaked in surprise. Trying to be quiet, she muffled her gasps for air with her bushy tail.

Skyfire rolled over, and drew her paw off her nose. "Windpetal," she mewed softly, "Are you okay?"

She gritted her teeth. "I'm fine." Yet she couldn't keep the strain out of her voice. 

Skyfire quickly rose to her paws, ignoring the protestant squeals of her own kits. "They're coming," she mewed, "I'm going to get Blackfrost."

"No!" she shrieked, partially out of fear, partially out of pain, "Most of our warriors and some of our apprentices are wounded severely from the battle! They can't go without a medicine cat!" And Nightstar is in there, too. Nightstar was her mate. He was severely wounded from the battle, and was on his last. life. If he died not only would he never get to see his kits, and she would be an emotional wreck, the whole of LilyClan would be unstable during a time of war.

But Skyfire just ignored her, and darted out of the nursery, peeping back in to add, "Watch my kits."

Windpetal scooted over next to Skyfire's kits. A jolt of pain swept over her, numbing the senses. The kits continued to wail.

"Hush," she mewed to them, "Don't cry." They continued their mewling, as another blinding flash of pain arrived. That time, she couldn't help crying out in pain. Where are Skyfire and Blackfrost...? 

Moments later, both of them slipped into the den. Windpetal dragged herself away from Skyfire's kits, and collapsed into her own nest, her breathing shallow.

"Her birth seems... unusual!" Skyfire fretted. Unusual? But I can't die!

Blackfrost made no move to deny this, but when he spoke it came out calm and clear. "Yes, maybe a bit unusual. But she'll be perfectly fine, if she listens to my instructions."

He placed a paw on Windpetal's heaving flank. "Now, I want you to take nice, deep breaths. And when the next jolt comes, I want you to push with all your might. Okay?" She nodded, barely able to move.

She found herself gazing upon two beautiful kits, suckling at her stomach. "They're beautiful," she whispered to Skyfire. Her eyes teared up looking at them. I now have kits, and my kitting was successful.

But a nagging pain was slowly rising up inside her. Skyfire was busy tending to her own kits, trying to make them stop mewling. Blackfrost had left hastily, to take care of the injured.

The agony was growing stronger every breath she took. "Skyfire?" she whimpered. She turned around. "Yes?"

Her eyes went wide with horror. She sprinted to Windpetal's side.

The pain intensified. She cried out in discomfort, as she dug her claws into the mossy earth. 

Moon glow that filtered through shafts of the nursery allowed Windpetal to see Skyfire lift up a paw, dripping with crimson. 

Her blood.

Windpetal choked in horror. She just couldn't die then. But the pain was just too much. "Blackfrost! Someone! Help!" Skyfire was screeching. But it slowly faded away into whispers. She could no longer feel anything, not even the burning pain or her sticky blood.

Everything went dark.

~**~

to be continued