Sneak peek for new cots chapter to feed you all.
Hollyleaf drifted in and out of consciousness. One moment she was riding on Ash’s back the next she was on the ground. Everything was hazy and cloaked in fog. Her eyes fluttered and she looked up. Above her stood Foxfang screaming her name with worry, as Ivypaw stared at her in horror. Hollyleaf let her head lull to the side again, watching as Brambleclaw leaped on top of Ash. She then drifted back into inky black darkness.
When she woke once more, she felt her body crying out with pain. She ached from her nose down to her tail. She could feel a burning heat beneath her fur. Her sides heaved with the effort to breathe. She dug her claws into the soft moss nest underneath her, as she tried fleebly to wipe away the sweat from her paws. Disoriented and pained, a kit like need to be soothed cried out inside her chest. She let out a small whimper as gentle paws prodded at her wounds; lathering them with poultices.
“Shhh. Hush now precious. It’s alright.” a familiar voice told her warmly.
It was her mother’s voice, Hollyleaf knew that for sure. But which mother? She let her head lull slightly, her green eyes flickering open. Whichever mother it was, Hollyleaf could not tell. The cat above her flickered between Squirrelflight and Leafpool, the two cat's images merging and unmerging.
Hollyleaf reached out a paw desperately, towards Squirrelflight/Leafpool. The desperate need for her mother overwhelmed her. She felt so small, so weak. All she wanted to do was bury herself in her mother’s fur for comfort.
“Mother.” Hollyleaf cried, her voice raspy and strained. “Mother, I'm sorry. Please don’t leave me.” she wailed.
“Shhh. It’s alright, poppet. I’m not going anywhere.” Squirrelflight/Leafpool mewed. They held out their paw, which was dotted with tiny black seeds. “Here, eat these.”
Instinctively Hollyleaf, lapped up the seeds and swallowed them.
“Mother, I'm sorry.” She whimpered again as drowsiness began to overtake her.
“I know, Poppet. I forgive you. It’s alright.” Squirrelflight/Leafpool mewed. The she-cat laid down next to Hollyleaf on the nest, beginning to lick her between the ears. Hollyleaf rested her head against her mother, her pain starting to subside.
“Mother.” Hollyleaf whimpered again.
“Shhh. I am here.”
“I love you.” Hollyleaf muttered, before drifting off to sleep.
