Chapter 3

Rockkit's eyes glistened in the moonlight, watching Berrywhisker's den. First Shadowkit, now Swiftkit! Who would be next?! He thought anxiously, not ready to lose any of his siblings. He was in the Nursery, sleeping beside Rosekit and Leafkit. He heard Leafkit mumble something. Suddenly she jumped up, eyes glistening with sorrow and fear. "L-Leafkit?" Rockkit meowed, startled. She must have not heard him, as she raced off into the night. Rockkit, startled as he was, was curious. Careful not to wake up his best friend, Rosekit, who was snuggled beside him, he stood up silently. Sniffing her trail, he followed it up to the medicine den. Why was she such in a hurry to come, well, here? "Leafkit?" He called again. Suddenly, he heard voices. His sister's trembling voice filled the air. "One will lay to rest, and the shadows powers will be twice as strong." Rockkit's ears leaned in, too curious for his own good. "No, she MUST be the cat in the prophecy." Berrywhisker's meow filled the den. Rockkit moved closer to the entrance, but to only catch the dreadful sent of poppy seeds. Oh no! Thought Rockkit as he tried to muffle the sneezes and hiccups bubbling inside of him. "You must speak of this to no one!" Was the last thing he heard as he rushed to the bushes near the nursery.

As the last sneezes and hiccups shook his body, Rockkit only felt pain growing through his chest. I've heard something I shouldn't have! The thought rang in his head. He couldn't get the conversation out of his head. As he stepped out of the bush, he headed to the Nursery entrance. Rosekit was awake, playing with some moss. All of the Queens and kits were awake, only leaving Leafkit sleeping soundless. "There you are!" Called a voice. Redstar! He rushed to his mother's side. "I've been looking for you! You weren't in the Nursery.." "I'm sorry, Redstar." He mewed. "I… uh.. went too close to Berrywhisker's den and smelled the poppy seeds." Rockkit hated to lie, but not telling Redstar what he was doing isn't really a lie, is it? "How many times did I tell you not to go by Berrywhisker's den! You know how allergic you are to poppy seeds!" Scolded Redstar. "I was only following Leafkit!" Blurted Rockkit. "You… WHAT?!" Yowled a voice. Rockkit, startled, sprung around to see Berrywhisker standing over him.

Rockkit sat on the cold stone ground of the Berrywhisker's den. "I'm so sorry!" He pleaded. Berrywhisker looked flaming mad, like she was ready to shove deathberries in his face. Rockkit felt a shiver go down his spine. He just wanted to fall through the ground. After what seemed like a moon, Berrywhisker dropped her gaze. Suddenly, a grief filled yowl filled the den "Why is everything going wrong?!" Berrywhisker howled. "Shadowkit didn't wake up, and I'm not sure Swiftkit ever will!" Rockkit was shocked. "What if Shadowkit dies?! Who would replace her? We need her!" Berrywhisker continued. "Going forth, you're all Redstar's kits!! The Leader's kits! This isn't supposed to happen!" Berrywhisker looked as if she would burst. "U-uh.." Rockkit stammered. He suddenly sneezed and hiccuped, again. Wheezing, he whispered "Poppy Seeds." Berrywhisker's grief suddenly left her eyes as she went to the storage room. She came back, carrying a berry colored herb. "Juniper berries, help with wheezing and breathing." Rockkit sniffed it. "There's no cure for your allergy, but this will at least help the wheezing." Berrywhisker mewed softly. Rockkit, almost surprised at how soft her voice sounded, quickly consumed the herb. As he finished, he saw Berrywhisker sitting over Shadowkit's sleeping body. Swiftkit's body suddenly started to shake , and spasms of coughing echoed in the air. "Swiftkit!" Rockkit cried, racing towards his littermate. "You must leave." Berrywhisker said as she suddenly blocked him. "Your brother might get you sick. He might also not survive the night. Please, don't tell your mother about this.." Her eyes filled grief again. "Y-yes Berrywhisker." Mumbled Rockkit as he stepped out of the den.

Rockkit woke up to the sound of frightened cats running all around the clearing. Everyone was surrounding Berrywhisker's den, it must have something to do with Shadowkit or Swiftkit! Rockkit thought as he raced to the den. When he finally reached the entrance he saw Swiftkit coughing up blood. The drops of red liquid laying on the stone floor of the medicine cat den. "Get out of here Rockkit! Swiftkit has Blackcough!" He heard Berrywhisker's voice from behind him. "He has what?!" Rockkit mewed in reply. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do…" She said with grief in her voice. "It would be a true miracle if he survives, but I doubt it." Berrywhisker added quickly. "No!" The world around him suddenly stopped. "No, it can't be true!" Rockkit yowled. How could this have happened! He thought. His life was falling apart. He couldn't watch Swiftkit suffering any more than he already had, so he ran, slowly making his way farther from the camp. Soon enough he came to some kind of cave. "H-huh?" He stammered. Where was he? His mind lost in thought, he slowly padded into the cave. Inside, water sparkled a beautiful blue as well as a waterfall raining crisp mist. "Wow.." he gasped. His own blue and brown eyes twinkled as he studied the flowing water. Out of curiosity, he padded down through the cave, following the pulchritudinous river.