~~~Anhagas POV~~~
Gently lifting my paws I felt the cool air blow through my pelt. "Anhaga!" A shrill voice called. Turning my head toward the sound of the voice, I pricked my ears. "I'm coming mother." I groaned and rushed off to meet her by the stream.
"Wash up." She glanced toward the sparkling water. Rolling my eyes I sat down next to the stream and licked my paw and ran it over my ear. "Hello brother." A small brown tom circled around his mothers paws. "Morning Bracken." I replied and smiled.
"Acelan come on! Hurry up." A small black kitten toppled out of the weeds that lined the stream. "Good morning Anhaga." She dipped her head and peered back at the weeds.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, don't get your tail in a knot." Acelan stepped out behind Algera, his eyebrows drooped. "Didn't get any sleep last night?" I joked and licked the top of his head. "Hey, hey cut it out." He hissed and squirmed away from me. Chuckling I watched as he slowly began to groom his own fur.
"Where is father?" Algera whispered and looked around wildly. "He is out hunting." Mother lied to her. "Oh." She looked down at her paws. "I will be back soon." I spoke up and stalked off into the undergrowth once again.
~~~No Cats POV~~~
Crouching he slid along the forest floor toward a plump mouse nibbling on a seed. Hissing he leapt into the air and came down on top of the small creature. Letting out a small squeak it went limp in his paws. Smiling he picked it up in his jaws, careful not to drop it he made his way slowly through the winding forest back to the camp.
"Mouse!" Acelan came tearing across from the small den that he shared with his siblings. Placing it down Acelan, Bracken and Algera gathering around the mouse and began to eat. "Where did you find such a mouse?" his mother came and sat next to Anhaga. "Scuffling around in the dead leaves for seeds." Anhaga answered and turned his ears to the sound of a crackling twig.
~~~Anhagas POV~~~
"Smoke." Acelan whispered as a waft of warm air blew to his nostrils. Just as he said that the forest around them seemed to come alive. Flames danced and shimmered, catching from tree to tree. "Anhaga grab Algera and swim across the river." Mother barked orders at me as I scooped up a stunned Algera and herded Bracken toward the water with her tail.
"Anhaga I'm scared." She whimpered. "Everything is gonna be ok." I panted as I set her down on the other side of the river. "You promise?" her green eyes glistened up at me, full of fear. "No." I whispered. "No, Algera I cannot promise you that everything will always work out." I bit back as she began to softly whimper. "Oh no Algera Mother will be right over with Acelan and Bracken." I breathed and wrapped my tail protectively around her shivering body.
Looking out across the wide stream I searched desperately for mothers head. "Where is she?" Algera begged and stood beside my paws. Then her head broke through the water's surface with Acelan clenched tightly in her jaws. A smaller figure bobbed next to her. Bracken! My mind raced as the two slowly paddled toward the shore. Turning to Algera I looked into her eyes. "Stay here." I hissed before jumping into the icy water once again.
"Anhaga!" Algera yowled as the water rushed above my head. Oh dear StarCats! I begged as the water churned around me, pulling me further down. Something brushed against my pelt. Opening my eyes, water instantly stung them. Ignoring it I stared down into the darkness that was under me. "Bracken." I whispered as small bubbles rose. "Bracken!" I yowled and quickly began to thrash under the water.
I starry figure appeared to me and the burning in my eyes stopped. "Let him go, he will be ok." She spoke gently. "Who are you?" I asked. "I am your mothers sister and I promise your brother will be well cared for." Her eyes were soft and promising. "Where are you taking him?" I begged helplessly. "To Starclan." She whispered than vanished. Pain quickly returned to my eyes and I gasped for air.
"Anhaga where are you?" Algera was calling from the shore where she stood with mother and Acelan. I was to out of breath to answer her. I slowly paddled to the water's edge than collapsed at her feet. "Bracken…couldn't reach him…drown..." My voice stuttered then trailed off. "Bracken." I heard Algera breath. "Not him." She drew her head against her chest and clenched the ground with her claws.
"Everything is gonna be just fine I promise." Acelan tried his best to comfort his sister. "It will all be better soon." He whispered and nuzzled her cheek. "Oh, my sweet Bracken it was not your time." Mother looked out over the still water. All I could do was lie and look up at them. "It's my fault he died. I should have dived in after him." Pain gripped my heart like the claws of an enemy. "It was not your fault. Don't you ever let someone tell you differently." Mother prompted sternly.
Getting to my feet shakily a twig cracked in the distance and Mother drew in a sharp breath and glared up at a tom towering in front of her.