Darkness

Chapter 1
Maplesnarl curled up in the rough moss, trying to find warmth in leafbare. It was hard, and she'd even heard rumors that cats were stockpiling prey. The warriors den had been searched, revealing two mice, one of which Maplesnarl had gotten. The queens needed food. It was hard to find prey, and warriors were going without food as they were punished for not sharing food. It had been a moot year for kits, and the newest warriors were having to take care of apprentice duties. She glanced out at Tigershadow and Lightshine, her brothers, and asked Fernstorm, the full-time queen, if her moss was rough. "Yeah. Aren't your brothers meant to be doing it?" Maplesnarl nodded and picked herself up, along with her fat belly. She padded past the two playfighting warriors and ducked as she entered LightningClan's warrior den. Bushytail, the deputy, perked up. "When are they coming?" "Tomorrow," she replied. "I'll get Fernstorm to keep you posted on when they come, so you can see our kits. Anyway, Tigershadow and Lightshine haven't gotten us new moss." "He nodded. Well, I have to ration prey, and we need to spend time look-" "It hasn't been done in at least a quarter-moon. I'm sure they know about it." Bushytail just padded past her to the den entrance. She heard the scuffling stop, and the duo appeared. "Why haven't you gotten moss for the queens?" "We didn't know we had to." "I told you yesterday. Go and get it." Maplesnarl returned. "They're getting it."

Maplesnarl yawned and burrowed into the moss. She sighed at its smoothness, and a burst of pain shot through her as a kit slid out. "Get Bushytail!" she gasped. She pulled the ginger she-kit next to her as a silver tom slid out. Another one, a white munchkin she-kit, followed it. Her belly contracting for the last time, a tortoiseshell-and-white tom slipped out. He was slightly longer than the rest. Maplesnarl sighed as they suckled, falling asleep.