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Children of the Shadows
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Challenge - 20 Warriors What-ifs
Words - 500 minimum
Word Used in Story - 572
Description - What if Briarlight hadn't gotten injured
Lionblaze's words rang through the camp. "Everyone leave the camp!"
In an instant, Briarpaw was gently flung towards the camp entrance. She turned around and saw that Greystripe was nudging both Blossompaw and Bumblepaw to their feet. Briarpaw ran alongside her siblings to the thorn barrier. She ducked through and waited nervously for the rest of the clan to file out. The apprentice scanned the the crowd of cats. Her heart beated faster when she realized that the elders were not out yet. She sighed in relief as she spotted Mousefur and Longtail emerging out the camp. Briarpaw could faintly hear Mousefur protesting. She swiveled her ears to the direction of Mousefur arguing with Lionblaze.
"Leave the mouse! We can catch another." Lionblaze growled as he nudge the elderly she-cat away from the camp entrance.
"I'm not wasting prey!" Mousefur spat back. "It's an insult to Starclan!"
"Then I'll get it!" In a blur of pale brown, Longtail darted back into the camp.
Briarpaw raced after the blind elder. "Come back! It's not safe!"
Through the pouring rain, she caught a glimpse of Longtail veering into the elders' den. She stepped in and saw Longtail sniffing at the ground for the mouse. "Get out! Leave the mouse," Briarpaw hissed. Longtail looked up at her and opened his mouth to protest. Suddenly, a loud thunderous noise exploded into her ears. Extreme weight began to press her to the ground. Splinters pierced her skin. The pain was too agonizing, and her eyes began closing.
"Briarpaw! Briarpaw!" The apprentice's eyes fluttered open. She fixed her eyes on the voice. Dustpelt lowered his head to match her level. Briarpaw could see his eyes brighten but distress still glittered in them. The warrior lifted his head and turned to call out to all the others. "She's alive! Quick!"
Greystripe and Millie stormed in. Her father grabbed her scruff and began to pull her. Briarpaw squeaked in pain. Lionblaze darted in and shoved Greystripe away from the apprentice. "You'll kill her!"
Lionblaze pressed his back against the fallen tree trunk. With a creak, the log began to tremble. Dustpelt gasped as the tree shifted. Greystripe leaned in to grab Briarpaw's scruff. Briarpaw squealed as she saw the tree crumpled. Greystripe leapt out of the camp, holding a firm grip on his daughter. Briarpaw peered through the tunnel and signed in relief as Lionblaze's sodden golden pelt came into sight.
Greystripe gently let go of Briarpaw's scruff. The dark brown apprentice fell to the ground instantly. Millie buried her nose into her mate's grey fur. Briarpaw looked at her two parents, her own eyes also filling up with sadness. Not giving up hope, she tried to stand up. Legs wobbling, she balanced herself on her paws. She smiled slightly at Greystripe and Mille.
Jayfeather padded to Briarpaw and sniffed along her back. "A few wretched muscles and scratches. And she's in shock," he reported to the apprentice's parents. "Besides that, she's perfectly fine."
~Time Skip~
Briarlight puffed out her chest proudly. She pressed against her siblings' pelt happily. The newly named warrior closed her eyes and enjoyed the sound of her clanmates cheering her name. She blinked open them and scanned the crowd for her parents. She saw Millie affectionately leaning on Greystripe, her heartwarming eyes fixed on their kits.
~Time Skip~
Briarlight licked her newborn kit. Doekit, she thought. The queen curled around Doekit, contented. Life is beautiful.
I used some actual dialogue from Fading Echoes. I hope that okay ;-;...