With the blood pounding in his ears, young Xavier raced to the top of the Highrock, hissing and spitting in challenge at the large gray wolf who towered below.
"Get down here, you kit!" The wolf growled, showing his yellow-stained teeth and barring them wide. "Show you're not afraid to fight!"
Flicking his tail in annoyance, Xavier let out a yowl with a taunt, "Oh, please, it's not like you could do any damage to me!" Then the tom realized what he had just said was not so smart.
"You want to see damage?" The wolf lingered closer, stepping slowly with his massive paws. "I will give you some damage to think about!" With a mighty leap, the wolf landed on top of Xavier, almost snapping it's disgusting jaws around his neck. Quickly thinking, Xavier decided to go with a frontal attack. Unsheathing his claws and slicing down the face of the wolf, it was barely enough time to distract the wild animal.
Shaking his head in fury with blood drops of scarlet sprinkling the ground, the wolf hung over Xavier, growling and snarling.
Xavier raked his back claws across the stomach of the wolf. It howled and flung n the air, then crashing down and holding a giant paw on Xavier's stomach.
"Cats of FireClan," He bellowed proudly. "I have here one of your strongest warriors. Surrender now, or he will die." Staring down evilly at the crowded mass of wolves and cats, the leader wolf barked, "Unless...you are willing to give a life, Blake."
Blake gasped then inched forward, shakily stepping paw step by paw step.
"W-wait!" Xavier interrupted, looking sadly down at his mate and kits. Uttering a sigh and closing his eyes, he continued, "I will give my life. I have lost my mother, father, and sister. To my brother and mate along with my children, I am sorry." Xavier could tell Blake was almost about to refuse his request, but realizing that the Clan needed him more than Xavier, he solemnly went through with it.
"As you wish," Snarled the leader wolf. "I will take your life right away!" With a terrifying screech, Xavier braced himself. The jaws of the wolf snapped down on his neck, and his vision went black. The last sound he heard was the wailing of his two daughters and the shrilling agony cry of his mate's. Terrible he felt that he had to give his life. Before he finally went off, a wail of pain sounded from the nursery. No time... Xavier thought. StarClan, welcome me.
Blake felt horrible that he let one of his finest warriors just go to waste like that. But there was no time to think about it now. Someone was in trouble. "What's going on?" He demanded, entering the den.
Jeremy was there, hovering over his mate who seemed to be the one in pain. "It's Candace!" He exclaimed. "It's the kits!" Their first kit, who was about to be an apprentice, nodded in a fast wave. "Their coming!"
Blake hurried to catch Echo. Bursting into her den, there she was, nursing to a wound on Midnight's shoulder.
"Why Blake, what ever is the trouble?" Her voice was soothingly calm.
"Yeah?" Midnight prompted. "We're kind of in the middle of something here."
Blake ignored the feisty young she-cat and eyed Echo in a hurry. "It's Candace," He mewed, "She's kitting."
The cinder she-cat's eyes widened as she grabbed some borage and poppy seeds, padding out. "Coda," She murmured, "Tend to Midnight's wound."
The dappled apprentice nodded, setting some marigold pulp onto the gouge.
Echo arrived in the nursery, dropping the herbs next to the queen and hissing, "Everyone, get out!" She turned to Jeremy and Amanda who sat warily. "You two, you can stay."
The cats nodded.
It was a struggle, but eventually, Candace had two healthy kits at her side. One, a brown tom with deep blue eyes and the other, a blond tom with unusually beautiful light blue eyes.
"Congratulations," Echo whispered s she left the den.
Candace stared down happily at her two new children. Each giving them a nuzzle, she wrapped her fluffy tail around them and pulled them close.
"Candace!" A familiar apprentice's voice called from outside, rushing in.
"Shh!" Amanda spat, whipping to face the tom.
Phineas, Isabella, Ferb, and Emily tip-toed in. They all seemed to be happy for her.
"So, Candace," Isabella whispered, "What are their names?"
"This one," She pointed with her tail to the brown tom. "Will be Fred." She smiled up at Jeremy, then turned her gaze to the blond tom. She smiled warmly and whispered, "This little guy will be Xavier, in memory of the brave cat who gave his life."
Hearing the naming from outside, Butterscotch slightly felt happier.
"Mommy?" Jet squeaked. "Has Daddy gone to StarClan?" Her and Stream's face her sadder than anything the black she-cat had ever seen.
"Yes, my dear," She sighed with tears in her eyes. "But he'll always be here"- She pointed to Jet's heart with her paw- "In your heart."
"Get down here, you kit!" The wolf growled, showing his yellow-stained teeth and barring them wide. "Show you're not afraid to fight!"
Flicking his tail in annoyance, Xavier let out a yowl with a taunt, "Oh, please, it's not like you could do any damage to me!" Then the tom realized what he had just said was not so smart.
"You want to see damage?" The wolf lingered closer, stepping slowly with his massive paws. "I will give you some damage to think about!" With a mighty leap, the wolf landed on top of Xavier, almost snapping it's disgusting jaws around his neck. Quickly thinking, Xavier decided to go with a frontal attack. Unsheathing his claws and slicing down the face of the wolf, it was barely enough time to distract the wild animal.
Shaking his head in fury with blood drops of scarlet sprinkling the ground, the wolf hung over Xavier, growling and snarling.
Xavier raked his back claws across the stomach of the wolf. It howled and flung n the air, then crashing down and holding a giant paw on Xavier's stomach.
"Cats of FireClan," He bellowed proudly. "I have here one of your strongest warriors. Surrender now, or he will die." Staring down evilly at the crowded mass of wolves and cats, the leader wolf barked, "Unless...you are willing to give a life, Blake."
Blake gasped then inched forward, shakily stepping paw step by paw step.
"W-wait!" Xavier interrupted, looking sadly down at his mate and kits. Uttering a sigh and closing his eyes, he continued, "I will give my life. I have lost my mother, father, and sister. To my brother and mate along with my children, I am sorry." Xavier could tell Blake was almost about to refuse his request, but realizing that the Clan needed him more than Xavier, he solemnly went through with it.
"As you wish," Snarled the leader wolf. "I will take your life right away!" With a terrifying screech, Xavier braced himself. The jaws of the wolf snapped down on his neck, and his vision went black. The last sound he heard was the wailing of his two daughters and the shrilling agony cry of his mate's. Terrible he felt that he had to give his life. Before he finally went off, a wail of pain sounded from the nursery. No time... Xavier thought. StarClan, welcome me.
Blake felt horrible that he let one of his finest warriors just go to waste like that. But there was no time to think about it now. Someone was in trouble. "What's going on?" He demanded, entering the den.
Jeremy was there, hovering over his mate who seemed to be the one in pain. "It's Candace!" He exclaimed. "It's the kits!" Their first kit, who was about to be an apprentice, nodded in a fast wave. "Their coming!"
Blake hurried to catch Echo. Bursting into her den, there she was, nursing to a wound on Midnight's shoulder.
"Why Blake, what ever is the trouble?" Her voice was soothingly calm.
"Yeah?" Midnight prompted. "We're kind of in the middle of something here."
Blake ignored the feisty young she-cat and eyed Echo in a hurry. "It's Candace," He mewed, "She's kitting."
The cinder she-cat's eyes widened as she grabbed some borage and poppy seeds, padding out. "Coda," She murmured, "Tend to Midnight's wound."
The dappled apprentice nodded, setting some marigold pulp onto the gouge.
Echo arrived in the nursery, dropping the herbs next to the queen and hissing, "Everyone, get out!" She turned to Jeremy and Amanda who sat warily. "You two, you can stay."
The cats nodded.
It was a struggle, but eventually, Candace had two healthy kits at her side. One, a brown tom with deep blue eyes and the other, a blond tom with unusually beautiful light blue eyes.
"Congratulations," Echo whispered s she left the den.
Candace stared down happily at her two new children. Each giving them a nuzzle, she wrapped her fluffy tail around them and pulled them close.
"Candace!" A familiar apprentice's voice called from outside, rushing in.
"Shh!" Amanda spat, whipping to face the tom.
Phineas, Isabella, Ferb, and Emily tip-toed in. They all seemed to be happy for her.
"So, Candace," Isabella whispered, "What are their names?"
"This one," She pointed with her tail to the brown tom. "Will be Fred." She smiled up at Jeremy, then turned her gaze to the blond tom. She smiled warmly and whispered, "This little guy will be Xavier, in memory of the brave cat who gave his life."
Hearing the naming from outside, Butterscotch slightly felt happier.
"Mommy?" Jet squeaked. "Has Daddy gone to StarClan?" Her and Stream's face her sadder than anything the black she-cat had ever seen.
"Yes, my dear," She sighed with tears in her eyes. "But he'll always be here"- She pointed to Jet's heart with her paw- "In your heart."
With the blood pounding in his ears, young Xavier raced to the top of the Highrock, hissing and spitting in challenge at the large gray wolf who towered below.
"Get down here, you kit!" The wolf growled, showing his yellow-stained teeth and barring them wide. "Show you're not afraid to fight!"
Flicking his tail in annoyance, Xavier let out a yowl with a taunt, "Oh, please, it's not like you could do any damage to me!" Then the tom realized what he had just said was not so smart.
"You want to see damage?" The wolf lingered closer, stepping slowly with his massive paws. "I will give you some damage to think about!" With a mighty leap, the wolf landed on top of Xavier, almost snapping it's disgusting jaws around his neck. Quickly thinking, Xavier decided to go with a frontal attack. Unsheathing his claws and slicing down the face of the wolf, it was barely enough time to distract the wild animal.
Shaking his head in fury with blood drops of scarlet sprinkling the ground, the wolf hung over Xavier, growling and snarling.
Xavier raked his back claws across the stomach of the wolf. It howled and flung n the air, then crashing down and holding a giant paw on Xavier's stomach.
"Cats of FireClan," He bellowed proudly. "I have here one of your strongest warriors. Surrender now, or he will die." Staring down evilly at the crowded mass of wolves and cats, the leader wolf barked, "Unless...you are willing to give a life, Blake."
Blake gasped then inched forward, shakily stepping paw step by paw step.
"W-wait!" Xavier interrupted, looking sadly down at his mate and kits. Uttering a sigh and closing his eyes, he continued, "I will give my life. I have lost my mother, father, and sister. To my brother and mate along with my children, I am sorry." Xavier could tell Blake was almost about to refuse his request, but realizing that the Clan needed him more than Xavier, he solemnly went through with it.
"As you wish," Snarled the leader wolf. "I will take your life right away!" With a terrifying screech, Xavier braced himself. The jaws of the wolf snapped down on his neck, and his vision went black. The last sound he heard was the wailing of his two daughters and the shrilling agony cry of his mate's. Terrible he felt that he had to give his life. Before he finally went off, a wail of pain sounded from the nursery. No time... Xavier thought. StarClan, welcome me.
Blake felt horrible that he let one of his finest warriors just go to waste like that. But there was no time to think about it now. Someone was in trouble. "What's going on?" He demanded, entering the den.
Jeremy was there, hovering over his mate who seemed to be the one in pain. "It's Candace!" He exclaimed. "It's the kits!" Their first kit, who was about to be an apprentice, nodded in a fast wave. "Their coming!"
Blake hurried to catch Echo. Bursting into her den, there she was, nursing to a wound on Midnight's shoulder.
"Why Blake, what ever is the trouble?" Her voice was soothingly calm.
"Yeah?" Midnight prompted. "We're kind of in the middle of something here."
Blake ignored the feisty young she-cat and eyed Echo in a hurry. "It's Candace," He mewed, "She's kitting."
The cinder she-cat's eyes widened as she grabbed some borage and poppy seeds, padding out. "Coda," She murmured, "Tend to Midnight's wound."
The dappled apprentice nodded, setting some marigold pulp onto the gouge.
Echo arrived in the nursery, dropping the herbs next to the queen and hissing, "Everyone, get out!" She turned to Jeremy and Amanda who sat warily. "You two, you can stay."
The cats nodded.
It was a struggle, but eventually, Candace had two healthy kits at her side. One, a brown tom with deep blue eyes and the other, a blond tom with unusually beautiful light blue eyes.
"Congratulations," Echo whispered s she left the den.
Candace stared down happily at her two new children. Each giving them a nuzzle, she wrapped her fluffy tail around them and pulled them close.
"Candace!" A familiar apprentice's voice called from outside, rushing in.
"Shh!" Amanda spat, whipping to face the tom.
Phineas, Isabella, Ferb, and Emily tip-toed in. They all seemed to be happy for her.
"So, Candace," Isabella whispered, "What are their names?"
"This one," She pointed with her tail to the brown tom. "Will be Fred." She smiled up at Jeremy, then turned her gaze to the blond tom. She smiled warmly and whispered, "This little guy will be Xavier, in memory of the brave cat who gave his life."
Hearing the naming from outside, Butterscotch slightly felt happier.
"Mommy?" Jet squeaked. "Has Daddy gone to StarClan?" Her and Stream's face her sadder than anything the black she-cat had ever seen.
"Yes, my dear," She sighed with tears in her eyes. "But he'll always be here"- She pointed to Jet's heart with her paw- "In your heart."
"Get down here, you kit!" The wolf growled, showing his yellow-stained teeth and barring them wide. "Show you're not afraid to fight!"
Flicking his tail in annoyance, Xavier let out a yowl with a taunt, "Oh, please, it's not like you could do any damage to me!" Then the tom realized what he had just said was not so smart.
"You want to see damage?" The wolf lingered closer, stepping slowly with his massive paws. "I will give you some damage to think about!" With a mighty leap, the wolf landed on top of Xavier, almost snapping it's disgusting jaws around his neck. Quickly thinking, Xavier decided to go with a frontal attack. Unsheathing his claws and slicing down the face of the wolf, it was barely enough time to distract the wild animal.
Shaking his head in fury with blood drops of scarlet sprinkling the ground, the wolf hung over Xavier, growling and snarling.
Xavier raked his back claws across the stomach of the wolf. It howled and flung n the air, then crashing down and holding a giant paw on Xavier's stomach.
"Cats of FireClan," He bellowed proudly. "I have here one of your strongest warriors. Surrender now, or he will die." Staring down evilly at the crowded mass of wolves and cats, the leader wolf barked, "Unless...you are willing to give a life, Blake."
Blake gasped then inched forward, shakily stepping paw step by paw step.
"W-wait!" Xavier interrupted, looking sadly down at his mate and kits. Uttering a sigh and closing his eyes, he continued, "I will give my life. I have lost my mother, father, and sister. To my brother and mate along with my children, I am sorry." Xavier could tell Blake was almost about to refuse his request, but realizing that the Clan needed him more than Xavier, he solemnly went through with it.
"As you wish," Snarled the leader wolf. "I will take your life right away!" With a terrifying screech, Xavier braced himself. The jaws of the wolf snapped down on his neck, and his vision went black. The last sound he heard was the wailing of his two daughters and the shrilling agony cry of his mate's. Terrible he felt that he had to give his life. Before he finally went off, a wail of pain sounded from the nursery. No time... Xavier thought. StarClan, welcome me.
Blake felt horrible that he let one of his finest warriors just go to waste like that. But there was no time to think about it now. Someone was in trouble. "What's going on?" He demanded, entering the den.
Jeremy was there, hovering over his mate who seemed to be the one in pain. "It's Candace!" He exclaimed. "It's the kits!" Their first kit, who was about to be an apprentice, nodded in a fast wave. "Their coming!"
Blake hurried to catch Echo. Bursting into her den, there she was, nursing to a wound on Midnight's shoulder.
"Why Blake, what ever is the trouble?" Her voice was soothingly calm.
"Yeah?" Midnight prompted. "We're kind of in the middle of something here."
Blake ignored the feisty young she-cat and eyed Echo in a hurry. "It's Candace," He mewed, "She's kitting."
The cinder she-cat's eyes widened as she grabbed some borage and poppy seeds, padding out. "Coda," She murmured, "Tend to Midnight's wound."
The dappled apprentice nodded, setting some marigold pulp onto the gouge.
Echo arrived in the nursery, dropping the herbs next to the queen and hissing, "Everyone, get out!" She turned to Jeremy and Amanda who sat warily. "You two, you can stay."
The cats nodded.
It was a struggle, but eventually, Candace had two healthy kits at her side. One, a brown tom with deep blue eyes and the other, a blond tom with unusually beautiful light blue eyes.
"Congratulations," Echo whispered s she left the den.
Candace stared down happily at her two new children. Each giving them a nuzzle, she wrapped her fluffy tail around them and pulled them close.
"Candace!" A familiar apprentice's voice called from outside, rushing in.
"Shh!" Amanda spat, whipping to face the tom.
Phineas, Isabella, Ferb, and Emily tip-toed in. They all seemed to be happy for her.
"So, Candace," Isabella whispered, "What are their names?"
"This one," She pointed with her tail to the brown tom. "Will be Fred." She smiled up at Jeremy, then turned her gaze to the blond tom. She smiled warmly and whispered, "This little guy will be Xavier, in memory of the brave cat who gave his life."
Hearing the naming from outside, Butterscotch slightly felt happier.
"Mommy?" Jet squeaked. "Has Daddy gone to StarClan?" Her and Stream's face her sadder than anything the black she-cat had ever seen.
"Yes, my dear," She sighed with tears in her eyes. "But he'll always be here"- She pointed to Jet's heart with her paw- "In your heart."