Chapter 11

Swirlpaw was walking in warm, gray mist. It seemed to swallow her every time she walked into it. As it did, she felt the pain in her head spark again, too much to bear, and she flew out of it, starting back over in front of it, but when she tried to wander in the opposite direction, it seemed to pull her back as if it wanted something. What do you want? Swirlpaw wondered. Why are you always there?

Sometimes she heard the rustling of her nest, or smelled a ShadowClan scent close to her nose. Who was there? Why was a ShadowClan cat here with her? And then she sometimes caught glimpses of Curlpaw’s face gazing into hers, felt her sister’s glossy fur pressing into hers…

 

Swirlpaw blinked open her eyes and realized that her belly was cramping in pain. She felt Curlpaw’s presence, but somehow she couldn’t see her sister. There was just blackness, blocking her vision completely, though she thought she saw a flash of gray fur somewhere. “She’s not waking,” an unfamiliar voice said.

I’m awake, Swirlpaw tried to say, but her mouth wouldn’t open, and she didn’t have the energy to talk. “She’s too weak to,” the voice added.

“Then how can we help her?” Swirlpaw’s heart leaped as she heard Curlpaw’s exasperated mew beside her. “Come on, Leafstem, can you actually be helpful for once?”

“I’m doing my best!” the cat snapped. “Will you shut up for once?”

Swirlpaw felt her sister puff up beside her. No, she thought hazily. No, Curlpaw. She really is trying her best. I’m the one who’s not trying my best. Curlpaw’s fur smoothed again as if she’d heard her thoughts.

Paw steps sounded at the den entrance and a cat slid in. Swirlpaw sniffed the air weakly and realized it was Nightstar, the Clan leader. “Leafstem,” Nightstar meowed, “how are you doing?”

Leafstem seemed to want to hide the argument she and Curlpaw had had earlier. “Fine,” she replied. “But Swirlpaw’s still not waking, I’m afraid.”

Curlpaw muttered something under her breath, and Swirlpaw thought she caught the words, “Stupid old mouse-brain. Trying to be helpful when she actually can’t.” Swirlpaw felt a stab of sympathy for Leafstem.

Suddenly pain burst at the back of her head, burning like fire, and Swirlpaw broke through the last of the darkness. “My head is burning!” she screeched.

Curlpaw gasped and Nightstar’s eyes widened in horror. Swirlpaw’s whole body convulsed, and she felt something in her shoulder crack, and it immediately sent sparks of pain through her body. Swirlpaw wailed desperately, trying to fall back into unconsciousness, back to the warm mist. Darkness closed over her, and the last thing she saw was the ShadowClan medicine cat bending over her, holding a green plant in her jaws.

 

Swirlpaw opened her eyes and found herself standing in front of the mist again. The place was familiar as the camp to her now. Yet something was wrong, and she couldn’t tell what. She took a deep breath and walked into the mist once more, hoping after it closed around her, it would bring her back to the living world, healed. I’m so sick of being hurt. I want to get better now! She pushed her way through the endless fog.

Suddenly she was standing on the hill again. The blue-gray kit was staring up at her again, its yellow eyes wide with curiosity. But as Swirlpaw stepped toward it, the fire burned in the back of her head again, and she opened her mouth to let out a screech. Help! Help! she wanted to say. Help me!

The kit opened its mouth to say something, and the vision was gone. Swirlpaw was thrown into the endless blackness again.