Cinderkit's POV:

"L-Looking for Cinderkit." Blossomfur stuttered, refusing moving a whisker-length further into the den, not with the shadows still menacingly swimming along the floor. She stayed at the entrance, her green eyes fixed on her leader. "What was she doing in here?"

"You ask me." NoName meowed, letting the shadows return safely to her own red furred paws.

Cinderkit shuffled deeper into the shadows, wishing she could disappear right at that moment. What if Blossomfur didn't let her out anymore because of this? Had she completely blown her chances of being a medicine cat apprentice? But then a thought hit her. Why is Mother here in the first place? I doubt she was really looking for me...

"Since neither of you are willing to give me clear answers, I would like both of you to leave now." NoName's taut voice sliced through the thick air, turning all four eyes to her.

"Very well." Blossomfur meowed, her voice honeyed. "Let's go Cinderkit." She flashed the grey she kit a smile, beckoning her over to her. "We shouldn't be bothering NoName anymore."

As Cinderkit rose to leave, Obsidiankit started mewling loudly. He had woken up.

Cursing under her breath, NoName tried to shush her kit, giving him little pats on the muzzle with her paw. Cinderkit looked up at Blossomfur to see her mother leaping to help NoName, her eyes growing brighter as she crouched beside the red she cat.

"That's not how you quiet down a kit." She cream furred she cat chuckled. It sounded forced. "Honestly, it's as if this is your first one! Have you forgotten about Shadeheart?"

NoName let out a soft growl. "Go away I can do this myself."

"No, no, let me help you. Please, we're family, aren't we?" Blossomfur offered NoName a wide smile. Cinderkit felt uneasy with her mother's strange, jumpy behaviour. Was something wrong? The little grey she kit stayed a safe distance away, not wanting to cause any trouble.

Finally, NoName shrugged and leaned away to let Blossomfur tend to Obsidiankit. Within heartbeats, the cream furred she cat had the small black tom silent and happy once again, suckling from the red she cat's belly. "I guess he just wanted a drink." Blossomfur smiled.

"Thank you, now leave please." NoName was clearly growing uneasy with all the attention. Cinderkit had never thought of the Dark Forest leader as fearful, but there she was, acting timid in front of her son's mate. Something was wrong, and they all sensed it.

Blossomfur didn't budge from her spot at NoName's side. "I think I'll stay."

"What? Why?" NoName bared her teeth, alarmed by the refusal.

Blossomfur suddenly took up a menacing position, looming over NoName. Cinderkit squeaked, watching as her mother pinned the red she cat down, her pale furred tail lashing with energy. "I'm going to kill you now, and take your shadows for myself." The cream furred she cat smiled down at NoName. "I won't let you kill Shadeheart by giving them to him."

NoName let out a shocked gasped, her white eyes stretching wide in terror. "B-B-Blossomfur no!" It was clear the attack was completely unexpected, and the red she cat could do nothing to free herself. Blossomfur had strategically pinned her forepaws down to stop her from using her shadows. NoName was powerless.

Cinderkit glanced at NoName's belly to see Obsidiankit still curled into his mother's belly. The grey she cat immediately leapt into action, her instincts leading her right up to the fight so that she could save Obsidiankit. If a battle broke out, he would be trampled. Cinderkit reached Obsidiankit just in time, snatching him from his nest and gently carrying him to the other end of the den, where it was safe. NoName and Blossomfur didn't even realise what had happened, they were too wrapped up with staring at each other.

"You can't do this!" NoName squeaked and kicked at the bigger she cat. "Why are you doing this?"

"You wouldn't understand..." Blossomfur's lips pulled into a small frown, as if she were regretful that she had to murder the red she cat. "I have to do this, you've given me no choice NoName. If you give Shadeheart the shadows, he'll die. I will not let anything hurt my mate. I'll kill anyone in my way."

"H-He won't die!" NoName stared up at Blossomfur. "Who told you that?"

"It doesn't matter. It's time your reign ended. I'm going to be the next Dark Forest leader." Blossomfur grinned down at NoName. "When I end your life and take your shadows, I will rule these cats with Shadeheart by my side. You've had enough time in the spotlight, rabbit lover."

She's crazy! I have to get someone to stop this! Cinderkit left Obsidiankit in the darkness to fend for himself, pelting out of the leader's den to find someone- anyone- to stop Blossomfur before she hurt NoName.

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Silvershy's POV:

"Who cares about her, she was just your guardian." Ebony meowed as she approached Silvershy- who was curled in her nest grieving for her lost friend.

"She was my friend, and she just left like that." The silver warrior whimpered, her silver paws covering her face. "How could she.."

"If she really considers you a friend then she'd have returned already." The black she cat pointed out, hovering over her mother. "Now get up, we have to start discussing how you're gonna pull your own weight around here. You're living with us now, Silvershy."

Silvershy grumbled and let her paws drop from her face, looking up at her kit to see Ebony was looking greatly exasperated. Java had obviously given her babysitting duty for her mother, and she wasn't enjoying it one bit. The silver she cat sighed and put on a brave face, rising slowly to her paws. However, just as she took her first step towards the gathering of cats near the other end of camp, shd felt a sharp pain erupt inside of her and she collapsed with a soft cry.

"Now what is it?" Ebony hissed, stamping her paws on the ground as she glared down at her fallen mother.

For a heartbeat, Silvershy was petrified. Had she eaten something bad? Was she sick? She had no clue what was causing the immense pain in her belly. It took a surprising amount of time before the realisation struck her.

"My kits are coming!"

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