A Fresh Start

Chapter 3

Coalpaw had an apprentice name but he didn't smell of any of the other Clans. He smelled like mice. Silverwind followed Squirrelfur to where Coalpaw was. "What is it Coalpaw?" Squirrelfur asked. 

"I need to speak to Flamestar," Coalpaw replied.

"Coalpaw?" Flamestar asked. All three cats turned to Flamestar. 

"I need a favor to ask of you," Coalpaw meowed. Silverwind and Squirrelfur stepped back but stayed in earshot. 

"Yes?" Flamestar asked. 

"This is Ice," Coalpaw gestured toward the she-cat. "And this is Fox." Coalpaw flicked his tail to the tom.

"They're going to be six moons soon and I heard from a cat that the Twowalkers are going to take Ice and Fox. So I was wondering if you would take them into your Clan," Coalpaw meowed. Silverwind was shocked. Flamestar replied, "I'll have to talk to Graypelt and Sandtail about this. You're welcome to stay until the decision is made though." Coalpaw bowed his head respectfully. "You can take the kits to the nursery and ask Fernclaw to take care of them," Flamestar meowed.

• • •

Ice and Fox ended up becoming part of the Clan. Their kit names are Icekit and Foxkit. "Where is Coalpaw from?" Silverwind asked Squirrelfur. 

"He lives in a barn with Oreo a little past WindClan territory," Squirrelfur replied.

Later that day, during the evening meal, Silverwind asked, "Who's going to the Gathering?" 

"Sandtail, Brackenclaw, Brightclaw, Bramblefoot, Browntail, Spottedpool, Shadowstorm, Grasspaw, you, and me," Squirrelfur meowed.

Flamestar called to the cats Squirrelfur listed and Silverwind padded next to Squirrelfur, Leafpaw on his other side, out of camp.

Once settled the Gathering started immediately. As Swiftstar stepped up to speak Silverwind felt a strange wriggling sensation in her belly. She shifted her weight, trying to get comfortable.

"Are you okay?" Spottedpool asked from next to Silverwind. "I can't hear Swiftstar with all of your squirming." 

Silverwind let the wriggling go thinking it was just something she ate. "Sorry," she replied. "Must have been something I ate."

Silverwind tried to pay attention to the Gathering after that, but every now and then the wriggling came back and the whole time she felt nauseated, so she started focusing on the wriggling sensation, trying to find out what it was.

On the way back to camp Squirrelfur asked, "Were you alright? I heard what Spoottedpool asked." 

Silverwind opened her mouth to speak when Leafpaw asked, "Do you have a bellyache, Silverwind? I can give you some juniper berries at camp." 

"Yes, thank you Leafpaw," Silverwind meowed.

At camp Leafpaw gave Silverwind juniper berries and meowed, "Do you need some help sleeping? I could give you poppy seeds." Silverwind lapped up the poppy seeds obediently and went back to the warriors den.

The next day Silverwind trained Grasspaw with Squirrelfur and Birchpaw since Squirrelfur didn't want Silverwind out of his sight. The day after that Silverwind woke up to Flamestar's call. Silverwind settled next to Squirrelfur and Goldenheart tiredly when Flamestar started speaking. "Cats of ElectricClan; AirClan is being attacked by WaterClan! I will take Graypelt, Dustclaw, Cloudfur, Sootheart, Squirrelfur, Silverwind, Spottedpool, Shadowstorm, and Grasspaw to help them." Squirrelfur gave Silverwind a concerned gaze. She nodded once and followed him out of camp.
They hurried through the undergrowth, across the Ancestors Oaks hollow to the AirClan moor. Flamestar paused for a moment before plunging into the AirClan camp.