“There’s no need for this,” Foxfire said. His voice was hoarse from the hours of trying to convince Searingstar, but it appeared nothing he did was having an effect on her.
Searingstar, once powerful and graceful, was a hollow shell now. Her face was gaunt and every movement she made was jerky. Now she was glaring down at the two kits huddled at Foxfire’s paws, the little ones mewling pathetically. “They’re cursed and there’s only way to cure it.”
Foxfire crouched over his kits and bared his teeth. “No! They’re innocent!”
“I am your leader!” Searingstar’s voice cracked as she heaved. “You will listen to me!” Her eyes suddenly narrowed to dangerous slits. “Are you… unloyal? Like the others?!”
“Searingstar!” Shellheart protested, pushing his way in between the two. “He’s loyal! But what you’re asking…”
“Then you will help him!” Searingstar snarled. “Both of you go and if you don’t finish, don’t expect to have a home!”
Foxfire’s heart twisted as Searingstar whirled around and stormed back to the nursery where the remaining kits were sleeping soundly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered down at the two tiny forms at his paws. “I couldn’t change her mind.”
Unlike both Foxfire and Searingstar, these two kits were milk-white and had pink skin. Their littermates had been black and red, like him. Foxfire could admit that, at first, he was hesitant on whether or not the kits were his. But, after just a day, he was able to see the resemblance. Some of the queens talked about kits who were born with strange colors. It wasn’t impossible.
Yet, as Foxfire came to love his kits, Searingstar progressively seemed to hate the snowy pair. She kept mumbling about curses, refusing to name the little ones, and even kicked them out of their nest, refusing to let them nurse. Helleborebloom had pulled the kits into her nest and guarded them jealously. Foxfire had thought Searingstar was content to let the grieving she-cat raise them, but this morning everything had turned into a nightmare.
Helleborebloom hurried to Foxfire’s side. “You can’t abandon them.”
“It’s this or…” Foxfire shook his head, then forced the words out. “Or she might just kill them.”
Magpiefeather shuffled her paws, then crept closer. “… Foxfire, you need to go. Take them… where we won’t see them.”
Foxfire’s fur instantly began to bristle. “You mean where we won’t see their bodies?” He snapped. “You won’t even stand up to her?”
“She’s our leader.” Magpiefeather countered. “It’s part of the Code to do as she says.”
“It’s also part of the Code to care for kits.” Helleborebloom shot back icily. The she-cat was trembling in rage. “You sent my son away twice now, but that doesn’t matter. Jadeeye and Violetdusk got to stay here!”
Magpiefeather’s face darkened. “Don’t-”
“Hey, let’s not,” Shellheart said, his voice trembling slightly. “You’ll upset the kits.”
Helleborebloom muffled a sob and raced away at once while Magpiefeather refused to glance at the kits. Shellheart and Foxfire each took a kit, the tiny bodies squirming and mewling, and headed out of camp.
Foxfire was sick to his stomach. He followed Shellheart mindlessly, briefly imagining himself running away to live alone with his kits. But where could he go? Searingstar would definitely hunt him down. Besides, he had no milk for the little ones and was doubtful any Clans would take the three of them just to nurse.
Before he knew it, Foxfire realized his paws were crunching through snow. He hesitated and glanced up, setting the kit down carefully. “Shellheart…”
“I know where they’ll be safe.” Shellheart’s voice was muffled by the kit’s scruff, but Foxfire could understand him. “Just… come on.”
Foxfire picked up the kit again and followed, his heart sinking. He was starting to recognize certain stones along their path…
Sure enough, as the pair crested a hill, the strange Dark Stone appeared. The long-abandoned two-leg camp was a stout obelisk of might against the snowy tundra. Deep within its heart, a deep orange flame flickered.
Foxfire stared for a long moment. “Shellheart-”
“It’s their only hope.” Shellheart’s eyes were pained. After a moment, he paused. “Have you met… the Tundra Queen?”
“Tundra Queen?” Foxfire hesitated. “Who’s that?”
“Just be ready,” Shellheart mumbled, then plunged down the slope. Foxfire had no choice but to follow, feeling exposed among the white snow.
As the pair drew closer, eyes appeared from the darkness. Dozens of cats were perched inside along various heights, creating the illusion of some creature with a thousand eyes. Foxfire paused, but Shellheart hurried in. Taking a deep breath, Foxfire followed his Clanmate, subconsciously gripping his kit tighter.
Inside the Dark Stone was surprisingly spacious. Various tunnels led to other dens and the roof was so high Foxfire couldn’t even see it. In the center of the floor was a hissing fire that smelled strongly of pine sap.
Nests were strewn along the ground in a disorderly fashion, a few dozen of them, and cats watched the strangers from within. Foxfire recognized the ginger tom Haunt and Kittiwake, who was born in CanyonClan and was exiled.
“Shellheart, who is this?” A voice, melodic and commanding, echoed out from the darkness. Foxfire squinted and, to his shock, possibly the fluffiest she-cat he had ever seen was perched on a strange two-leg thing that looked like a tree stump with soft moss-like pelts sitting on it. “As much as we enjoy your company, you can’t bring strangers into my camp.”
“Your camp?” Foxfire blurted. “Who are you? Where’s Bee?”
Shellheart shot Foxfire a look, but the cats around them just began laughing.
The she-cat gave a sharp hah! and lept off the shiny stump object, striding over with overwhelming grace and authority. “I am Glacier,” she said, her shimmering blue-violet eyes locking onto Foxfire’s face, “and you would do well to remember me.”
“This is the Tundra Queen,” Shellheart mumbled, before nudging the two white kits closer. “And… Glacier, we have a favor.”
“Are those kits?” A she-cat who looked like a smaller, paler Haunt appeared. “Are you crazy?! They’re freezing!”
“We had no choice.” Foxfire put a protective paw over his kit. “Searingstar wanted us to abandon them at a river, where they would…” his throat tightened and he found he couldn’t continue.
Murmurs broke out among the cats and Foxfire noticed that Kittiwake and Shadowpaw, who had been sent away mere moons ago, were watching with intense interest. Glacier raised her tail, the fur flowing with the movements, and the cats went quiet.
“They’re just a few days old.” Glacier pointed out. “Is Searingstar crazy?”
“She thinks they’re cursed,” Shellheart whispered. “… and you just had kits, right? You could raise them.”
Foxfire’s heart clenched as he imagined his two tiny kits growing up in the harsh tundra. Yet, even as he ached to protest, he knew it was the only way they could survive. He bit down his objection and lowered his head. “Please. My kits won’t survive otherwise.”
Glacier’s gaze burned across Foxfire’s shoulders and he held his breath. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she sighed. “I’m not heartless enough to reject two kits. Edge, take them to my nest.”
A black tom with unusual fur appeared. He gave Foxfire a suspicious glare before plucking up the kits and, struggling to manage both, he hauled them off to the cushioned stump. Foxfire realized after a moment that two kits were peering from the strange pelts, their eyes wide and curious.
Glacier nudged Foxfire gently. “Go. Searingstar will just make your life worse. Tell Helleborebloom I said hello and run along.”
Foxfire sent one last look at his precious kits, his stomach heaving as he fought the urge to race over and take them back. Then he turned and raced into the snow, muffling a sob that rose in his chest.
“I don’t see what you do,” Edge muttered, looking into the nest with mild distaste.
Glacier resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “They’re kits, Edge. Go do something useful, will you?” She pulled the little white kits closer to her stomach, feeling them latch on to her teets.
Edge snorted but hurried away anyway. Good. He hasn’t forgotten who’s in charge. The tom had begun to get on Glacier’s nerves again, talking like he was on equal footing with her just because they had kits together.
Glancing around the room, Glacier shifted slightly on her throne and watched the various kits scramble across the ground. Nightshade and Carrion would join them soon, alongside the little nameless kits.
After a moment, Glacier glanced around. “Frostburn, Ghost, come here.” The two-she cats were there almost immediately, much to Glacier’s satisfaction. “We need to name the little ones.”
Ghost peered dubiously at the kits. “They’re so pale. How about Milk for one of them?”
“Milk is a good name,” Frostburn said, squinting at the kits. “How about Hibiscus for the big one? Her skin is so pink she looks like a flower.”
“Perfect names.” Glacier was satisfied and curled up around her newly grown litter. “Someone tell Bee when he comes home. For now, I’m going to sleep.” She absentmindedly began to groom the kits, wondering when Foxfire would be back for them. It had been impossible to miss the obvious streak of hostility on his face when Shellheart mentioned Glacier taking care of them.
A good tom that one is. Glacier mused as she drifted off. I can’t wait to see the bloodshed he brings.