So much for my Happy Ending
Talonthorn. My mate, my life, my everything. We were so devoted to each other, we did everything together; ate, drank, slept, hunted, patrolled, there wasn't a moment we were separated. It seemed as though we were destined to be to mates, an act of StarClan. That is, until that…. that fox-heart Icetail came. I'd already become a warrior when she was apprenticed, so I hadn't paid much attention to her. But how I wish I had. How I wish I had.
I never noticed it, at first. After all, Talonthorn had always taken a big interest in the apprentices training; excited for the day he'd get his own. Then I noticed he seemed to single out Icepaw above the rest. No big deal, I told myself. Her mentor, Smokecloud, is a busy cat; Talon's just filling in for him. But soon he started sharing fresh-kill with her, patrolling with that…. she-rat, going so far as to cancel our plans to meet with her. I was so naïve, not even then noticing what was going on. The look on his face when she was finally given her warrior name, that wasn't pride; that was love. Something he should save only for me.
"Emberpelt?", He said, his voice deceivingly innocent.
"Yes, my Eagle?", I replied (My pet name for him was Eagle, mine was flames).
"I have something I need to tell you"
"Go ahead"
"It…. Its over. I'm with Icetail now"
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
"But…. We… I loved you!" I cried, trying to stop my voice cracking with emotion.
"I thought I loved you too, but my heart belongs to Icetail now. You'll just have to get over it" I was shocked by the coldness of his voice. He stalked out of my den, not even glancing back. When his tail slipped out of view, I collapsed to the floor, overcome with sorrow. I cried like a kit that'd just lost its mother. My tears fell on to the sandy floor, soaking in as if they also wanted to escape the horrible truth of what Talonthorn had done to me. Gradually, the tears dried, and my misery melted into rage. How dare that piece of fox-dung take my mate away from me! And how dare he choose her over me!
Soon enough, the word that Talon had left me reached the ears of every cat in camp. Some of them offered me comfort, though all the smart ones left me alone, knowing how ferocious my temper could be. I tried to pretend that I didn't really care, that I was going to end it anyway. But I couldn't hide the truth from myself forever, and I knew I'd have to confront Talon eventually.
The opportunity came a quarter-moon later. Talonthorn was going on patrol and needed a cat to go with him. I immediately volunteered myself and, before he could protest, herded him off into the forest. We padded quietly for a while, until he broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, Emberpelt. I didn't mean to…."
I felt all the anger well up inside me once again, until it all spilled over into an uncontrollable rage.
"Didn't mean to what! Break my heart? Betray my trust?"
He backed away a few paces, "Flames, I never knew…"
I advanced on him, pushing him back further "Don't ever call me by that name again!" I hissed
"You'll never know the pain I'm in!"
"Ember - ahh!" He broke off into a yowl as the ground beneath his paws gave way. I realized we had reached the cliffs at the edge of our territory.
"Ember, help!" He screeched, his eyes pleading with me. He was hanging on with one paw.
I sighed softly and placed my paw on top of his. I pushed my face closer to him, tears in my eyes.
"You'll never know the pain I'm in" I whispered, unsheathing my claws. He let out a scream as he fell into darkness, ending with a sickening thud.
"Never"