// chapter 13 //

                                    

                                          
            
                          
The next half moon brought with it cooler winds. Every night, when Shademask woke from his nightmares, he perched himself outside of the warrior den until his heart stopped racing, watching the slowly changing leaves in the partial light of the moon. They were the colour of the setting sun now, only the faintest flecks of green still visible.
                          
               "Another dream?" Mothpelt asked him on her way past. It was the night of a half moon, which meant she was returning from her trip to Moonwaters. He nodded mutely in return, following the medicine cat to her den where the promise of relief from his nightmares waited.
                          
               Thanks to the mixtures of chamomile, thyme, and poppy seeds Mothpelt prepared for him, Shademask woke well-rested most mornings, even despite his nightly vigils. Though the dreams continued to bother him, he could at least rest easy knowing they didn't impact his ability to help the Clan.
                          
               "You're awfully lively this morning," Lightchaser commented with a yawn as they sat awaiting Oakshade's morning orders.
                          
               Shademask shrugged. "I'm excited for patrol I suppose."
                          
               His mate gave him a curious glance but didn't say anything more. Sure enough, the Clan deputy called Shademask's name for the midday patrol.
                          
               "I'll be off hunting," Lightchaser said by way of farewell, brushing her tail over his whiskers. Shademask felt his heart thrum in his chest.
                          
               With the extra time he had before the patrol, he decided to visit Rainheart in the nursery. Grabbing a mouse from the freshkill pile, he headed over to where she lay in a sunny spot outside of her den, for all the world looking to be asleep. Shademask knew, however, that she was keeping a watchful eye on her kits.
                          
               "Can you believe they're almost a moon old already?" she said as he approached. Owlkit and Sootkit were crawling around within her reach, having taken their first steps only days prior. Their eyes were fully open now, and their ears tall as could be.
                          
               Shademask dropped the mouse in front of the queen and watched her eyes light up. "They'll be eating solid food soon too." She ran her tongue over her fangs before digging in. "But I'm not ready to share just yet."
                          
               "They're growing much more quickly than I expected them to," Shademask admitted, watching Sootkit fall over his own paws. He purred.
                          
               "They are, aren't they?" Rainheart's single eye held pride and joy.
                          
               "They'll be sneaking out of camp in no time," Shademask said, earning himself a swat from the queen.
                          
               She fixed him with a pointed stare. "Don't go giving them ideas." Sure enough, the kits' ears were pricked, though they were busy pawing at each other, pretending not to listen. Shademask gave Rainheart an apologetic look before moving to join his patrol, which was slowly gathering around Oakshade by the fallen tree.
                          
               Robinflight led the way, though she was the youngest, and Shademask brought up the rear. Beavertail and Oakshade padded along, the former clumsy as always and the latter nearly silent.
                          
               "How's Antpaw doing?" Beavertail asked the deputy. "I thought Minkfur was going to completely lose it on you."
                          
               Oakshade's whiskers twitched. "He's healing up just fine. Honestly, he's lucky the injury wasn't worse. That fall would have killed him if we hadn't been there."
                          
               "Sounds like Minkfur should be thanking you, not screaming at you," Robinflight commented.
                          
               "I did what I could," Oakshade replied. "But I understand her; we all have remnants of DarkClan somewhere within us."