This is a short story called War. It is a challenge for the Duskclan forum that I have been challenged to. Hope you like it!
Sunpelt paced the clearing, flicking her tail anxiously. She glanced upwards, seeing the red-orange glow of the setting sun as it shone between the trees. A cold breeze ruffled her golden and white pelt but it hardly bothered her. Despite the coming leaf-fall, Eaglestar had ordered an attack on Shadowclan even though Shadowclan had attacked them only a quarter moon ago. It was truly a war.
Sunpelt stopped pacing and closed her eyes, remembering what began the now seemingly endless war. She was an apprentice at the time when Shadowclan accused Thunderclan of murdering their former deputy, Mudpelt, in cold blood at a gathering. Thunderclan had denied the claim and rightfully so, since patrols around that area were reporting the scent of rogues at the time.
"Hey, Sunpelt! What are you thinking about?" Mouseclaw's deep mew snapped Sunpelt out of her thoughts.
"Just about the war," Sunpelt answered.
"Don't," her former mentor advised. "It's bad for your health and besides you won't be able to fight as hard."
Sunpelt nodded, feeling like an apprentice again. Her gaze slid across the clearing to where her parents, Brackenpelt and Juniperheart, were talking with Nightfeather, her mate. Sunpelt had a brother, Breezekit, but he died a few days after they were born, so Sunpelt grew up an only kit.
"Good," Mouseclaw meowed before padding away.
Sunpelt watched him leave before padding over to Nightfeather and her parents. As she approached, Brackenpelt and Juniperheart exchanged glances before padding away, leaving Nightfeather and Sunpelt alone.
"Anxious about the battle?" Nightfeather asked, curling his black, feathery tail around Sunpelt.
"No," Sunpelt answered. "I'm not afraid to fight but more afraid for our kits."
"Why haven't you moved to the nursery yet?" Nightfeather asked, licking Sunpelt's ears. After Sunpelt had announced that she was expecting a few days ago, everyone kept insisting that she move to the nursery. Sunpelt kept refusing, claiming that since she wasn't due for another few moons, she could still serve her clan in any way possible. Due to that claim, she was expected to fight in the upcoming battle, which she hoped won't claim any lives.
"I have a few moons till then!" Sunpelt answered with purr. To Nightfeather's credit, he hadn't given up trying to persuade his mate to move to the nursery.
"Thunderclan! It is time to leave!" Eaglestar announced from the entrance to the camp.
Nightfeather and Sunpelt rose to their paws, eager to meet the clan leader's summons. Before they padded over, however, Sunpelt pressed her nose against Nightfeather's black pelt. Amber eyes met amber eyes as the other silently pleaded with the other to survive this battle. Then they bounded over with the other warriors, ready to fight.
Sunpelt crouched in the shadows, her muscles tense and her claws unsheathed as she waited for the battle to begin. She knew that despite her caution in hiding her golden pelt, it will still show like a sore paw as the moon lit the battlefield. Everyone will be heading for her, seeing her as easy prey. She let out growl, as thought entered her mind. She would not let herself join Starclan. She owed it to herself, Nightfeather, her parents and her unborn kits.
The undergrowth rustled as a Shadowclan patrol headed for the border. They were talking and playing around as if it were a regular patrol. Not tonight however. Eaglestar let out a battle cry and the Thunderclan warriors raced out from the shadows, towards the patrol. A bracken-colored tabby raced away from the patrol and towards the Shadowclan camp, barreling past Sunpelt. Sunpelt let the apprentice go, knowing that it wouldn't be fair fight if Shadowclan reinforcements didn't come and help their clanmates. Sunpelt crouched, preparing to leap at a gray she-cat when something barreled into her from behind.
Sunpelt twisted around her claws lashing out and catching her attacker on the muzzle. It was a gray white tabby tom who Sunpelt recognized as Stonefang. Stonefang lunged forward and sank his teeth into Sunpelt's shoulder. Sunpelt screeched in pain and ducked down only to sink her teeth in Stonefang's leg. Stonefang yowled and brought a paw down on Sunpelt's head. Sunpelt immediately released his leg and crumpled to the ground, pain searing through her head. She screeched in pain and agony as blood trickled down into her eyes. However, she forced herself to her paws and lunged forward.
Stonefang dodged but Sunpelt was ready for his counterattack. She dodged the swipe and swiped her claws across the Shadowclan warrior's flank. Then a cat landed on her back, forcing her to the ground. Sunpelt growled, struggling vainly to free herself. Sadly she was pinned to the ground by the gray she-cat she was preparing to attack and Stonefang was advancing menacingly towards her. Sunpelt stopped struggling and closed her eyes, preparing to meet her end.
"Get off her!" Nightfeather's angry yowl reached Sunpelt's ears just as the weight vanished from her back. Sunpelt leaped to her paws and slashed Stonefang's muzzle before whirling around to see Nightfeather wrestling with the gray she-cat, Pebbleshine. The two warriors matched each other, blow for blow, Nightfeather slowly getting the better of Pebbleshine. Claws raked Sunpelt's flank and Sunpelt whirled around to face Stonefang.
Her fury and loyalty to her clanmates, kept her reflexes sharp. She began to match Stonefang, blow for blow, slowly beginning to get the upper paw. A screech tore through the air and was abruptly caught off. The fighting stopped and every cat turned to see Pebbleshine panting, her white paws stained with blood. At the warrior's paws was a bloody black pelt.
"Nightfeather!" Sunpelt screeched, sheathing her claws and racing over to her mate's side. His amber eyes were glazed and staring into the distance. The unmistakable stench of death reached her nose and Sunpelt collapsed beside Nightfeather. She buried her nose into his pelt, grief overwhelming her as she realized that she would never see her mate again. She closed her eyes as memories swamped her. They played together as kits, trained together as apprentices. Hunted, patrolled and fought together. The day after their warrior ceremonies where Nightfeather asked her to be his mate. A tail gently touched her shoulder, bringing Sunpelt's memories to a halt.
"I'm sorry," Juniperheart whispered. Sunpelt gazed at her mother bleakly and pressed against her soft fur, taking comfort in the familiar scent. As she did so, Thunderclan began to retreat. Sunpelt followed the warriors home, keeping close to her mother and to the cats that were bearing Nightfeather's body home. Sunpelt gazed up at the stars, her gaze blurring, wondering when the war would end. However one thing was clear, Pebbleshine will pay for what she did to Nightfeather even she had to die trying.
A few moons later, Sunpelt sat outside the nursery, watching her kits play in the clearing. The war hadn't yet ceased and more cats had died at the claws of both clans. Juniperheart and Brackenpelt were still alive though Eaglestar was rumored to be on his last life. Pebbleshine had died a few days ago when Shadowclan invaded the camp. The she-cat was trying to enter the nursery to kill Sunpelt's kits but Sunpelt fought back as hard as possible and killed the she-cat in the process. She wouldn't let anyone touch Featherkit and Flamekit on her watch. They may be at war but Sunpelt won't let the war touch her kits, which was the only thing besides memories that she had of Nightfeather.