The Kits That Never Were

Cinderpelt

Cinderpaw froze as glaring lights blinded her. A terrible screeching sound echoed across the unnatural path, and the small grey apprentice's legs buckled as the ground rumbled.

A choking scent filled her mouth as hot air blew her fur in random directions, and the screeching sound overwhelmed her ears. 

Then it happened, a terrible pain crackled in her left hind leg, so that it felt as if it would burst open. 

For the split second after that, time seemed to slow down as the pain seared across her body. And then there was darkness

                                                                           ...

Cinderpaw was in complete darkness, and the pain in her leg was no more. Gradually, a soft light formed in front of her, and three tiny shapes became visible. 

When Cinderpaw could finally see the blurry shapes clearly, she found they were kits. Three kits, smiling, standing in a row

As Cinderpaw gazed at them, an invisible sense began to draw her towards them. But she found she couldn't move her legs.

In the next instant, a fierce happiness bubbled in her chest as she stared at the kits in awe. 

And then she knew. She knew that these were her kits.

The first one had the same grey fur as her, and had piercing green eyes that glittered, so that they closely resembles dappled sunshine glowing through leaves. 

The next kit had fiery orange fur, that flickered and molted like real flames, he had soft blue eyes filled with determination.

The last was a beautiful calico that seemed to shine, and she had grey rimming her deep blue eyes that swam with different shades of blue. 

Daykit. Emberkit. Lakekit. 

The names echoed in her head. 

Then the kits began to fade, until they were nothing more than twinkling shadows. 

                                                               ...

The next day, Cinderpaw lay in the Medicine Den, her leg throbbing with pain. 

As she drifted to sleep, she saw Daykit, Emberkit and Lakekit again, only this time they were full grown. 

Daykit sat and sorted herbs. Daylight. The name echoed in her head. Emberkit stood on a high ledge, his head held up with authority. Emberstar. Lakekit lay beside Emberstar with two kits of her own huddled by her belly. Lakespots. 

I'm sorry, my precious kits, I'm sorry that you will never exist. It's my fault. Please forgive me.