Out of all possible punishments…
Darkstorm pulled the mouse's liver out with it hooked on a single claw; it smelled so bad she retched, having to swallow her own bile coming up from her throat. The mouse's lung was oozing with mouse bile, perfect for the Elder's ticks…
But Starclan, it smelled so incredibly horrible!
She'd have to rub the putrid mouse-gut-slime all over the Elder's bodies to get rid of ticks – and Hotwing's punishment?
She had to be Skyfall's assistant for a couple days.
What kind of unfair, cruel –
"My claws! I don't have my claws!
I wish I died, too…"
Darkstorm blinked angrily, picking up the mouse bile and carrying it into the elders den.
"You're in luck today, young one. Leafsong is the only one with ticks," Squirrelspot mewed following her entry. She motioned to the brown tabby with a fluffy ginger tail.
"Right." Darkstorm felt her relief build. Out of all the Elders, Leafsong was the only one she could stand. Leafsong wasn't mute, like Quietwater, or loud and boisterous, like Squirrelspot. She was in that perfect area of being calm and also having things to say – but only relevant things.
"I appreciate this," Leafsong mewed. "There are three ticks along my lower back needing removal, and that will be all." She finished.
"Understood," Darkstorm noted how along the she's spine, there were three huge, blood-sucking ticks feasting on her flesh. "Nasty things," She remarked, rubbing the bile down the cat's pelt.
A sigh of relief filled the Elder's den as, one by one, they popped off.
"Thank you, indeed." Leafsong nodded in appreciation and closed her eyes, dozing off.
"Hey," Squirrelspot spoke up, "You're in here a lot nowdays. How'd you get stuck wit' us, young warrior? Hmm? Hmm?"
Darkstorm blinked. She wanted to say, 'What's it to you, old hag?' but knew better then to disrespect her 'superiors' as Podfrost put it.
"I got in a fight." Darkstorm turned to leave.
"Really now? Back in my day we apprentices fought all the time, dilly dally over plain sort nothin'. I can't see why ol' Shimmerstar there punished you for et," Squirrelspot mewed back.
"Me neither," Darkstorm hissed.
It had been four days since her and Hotwing fought, and each day Darkstorm was banned from patrols, and her jobs were to get rid of the elder's ticks and take rotten prey out of camp – but not without warrior supervision, of course!
Darkstorm groaned as she stepped out of the musty den and into the fresh air. But her nose sensed something wrong. She opened her eyes to see the camp in panic, running around frantically. Perhaps the fastest cat running about, however, was Hotwing, her orange coat whipping in the wind behind her as she flew out of the Medicine Den and into the Nursery, carrying a heavyset amount of herbs in her mouth.
"Hey, Sorrelstripe," Darkstorm approached her striped friend, "What in the name of Starclan's going on?"
"Apparently, Swiftflight just started kitting."
"No kidding?"
"Yep. I feel bad for Hotwing – she got more then she bargained for with this punishment. I can't imagine having to help birth kittens. I pray they'll get here safely."
"Don't feel bad for her," Darkstorm spat, "She deserves it. She's done nothing important for her punishment yet."
"What if she messes up and accidentally kills a cat? That's a huge weight on her shoulders, Darkstorm."
"It'll be her fault, anyway."
"You've no sympathy at all. No offense, Darkstorm, but you'd be a terrible mother."
Darkstorm chuckled. "Good. All the more reason not to be one."
"You don't want kittens, Darkstorm?" Sorrelstripe questioned.
"Starclan knows, no way."
"What if your mate wants some? What'll you do, then?" Sorrelstripe inquired.
"I won't have a mate, so I won't have to worry." Darkstorm countered.
"What a lonely existence." Sorrelstripe flicked his tail. "You only get one life, Darkstorm."
Just then, Skyfall erupted from the nursery, looking worn out and tattered – and it didn't help how we was being berated by questions from the warriors.
"How many kits are there?"
"Is Swiftflight okay?"
"Are the kits dead?"
"What are the names of them?"
"Silence!" Skyfall yelled, his voice cracking with exhaustion. "I have to get back to work."
"Please, Skyfall," Foxspots asked, sincere with worry.
Skyfall sighed. "She will be having three kits. One is already almost out, but I need to help her. Now, please excuse me! I have kits to deliver!" Skyfall sprinted away, back into his den, then ran out only a few seconds later, mouth clamped shut with herbs.
Darkstorm flicked a black ear. "You want kits, Sorrelstripe?" she asked.
"Yes, and a mate," Sorrelstripe purred happily.
"Got a she-cat in mind?"
"Yes," Sorrelstripe's purr got even louder.
"A Thunderclan she-cat, I hope?"
"Of course! I'd never stray from the Warrior Code."
"Mind telling me who this certain she-cat is?"
"Yes, I do." Sorrelstripe flicked his ear, moving close to Darkstorm's face. She didn't flinch away.
"But I'll tell you now that she's already falling for me," he cooed.
"Is that so?"
"Certaintly." Sorrelstripe winked and walked away.
Darkstorm, alone with her thoughts, began to think. A mate? Could she get one?
Be my mate, Darkstorm. I promise to love you forever.
The thought didn't warm her, exactly, but it didn't exactly chill her, either. Would it be so bad to have someone you love? Someone to protect you through and through in battle, endlessly? Someone to care for, even in the long, long afterlife to come?
No. Darkstorm shook her head at the thought. That's not me.
Darkstorm sighed, feeling bored. Her first instinct would be to go visit Weaselkit, but remembered the chaos shrouding the nursery and thought better of it. She couldn't leave camp under punishment, so what else would she do?
"You seem stand-offish." Dappleberry's soft words filled her ears and she turned to see her mother smiling at her. When Darkstorm cocked an eyebrow, Dappleberry quickly added, "Well, more than usual. What's tickling you, darling?"
"I can't stand this stupid punishment. I'm finally a warrior, and I still can't do anything a warrior would. I'm just staying in camp all day, letting my abilities slowly rot away." Darkstorm mewed, eyes narrowed in anger.
"Why don't you talk to Shimmerstar about it?" Dappleberry licked her paw.
"You think she'd listen?"
"That's what leaders are for, hon. Go ask her about it. It won't backfire on you," Dappleberry rose up. "And Swiftflight's kitting, bless her heart. Can't wait for more kits. The clan's been busy this moon cycle!" And with that, she was gone.
