Aw my Spring break is ending. D: Here comes school...
Chapter 9: Only Fox
NightClan: Allegiances:
Leader:
Nightstar: Light grey tabby she-cat with blue eyes. A real mystery nowadays...
Deputy:
Foxflame: Russet-coloured furred she-cat with a darker brown on legs and a white tipped tail with a right blue eye and left brown eye. Easily offended and desperate to prove herself the best she can be.
Medicine cat:
Mosslight: Brown pointed she-cat with green eyes. Has a good sense of humour but can become rather serious and often daydreams. Rather lazy and has a bad memory.
Warriors:
Sparkflight: Dark grey she-cat with white on muzzle and chest with golden eyes. Bold and quick to fight but loyal to close friends.
Other cats: (who we'll probably never see again -_- sorry guys)
Moon: Dark grey tabby she-cat with white paws and amber eyes. Very strict and demanding. Rainstar's mother.
Strike: White furred tom with a black hind leg with green eyes. Strict but good-natured. Foxflame's foster father.
D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S:
Jessica: Slightly dark grey tabby she-cat with icy blue eyes. Convincing and cunning, not very merciful. Brilliant fighter.
Spruce: Dark brown she-cat with a splash of black on her back with blue eyes. Bossy and boastful, likes things her way.
Pumpkin: Light orange tabby tom with amber eyes. Quick thinker and first to think out flaws in plans.
Luna: Black she-cat with russet fur on chest and brown eyes, has a slightly squashed muzzle. Unusually more flexible than most cats and has fast reflexes.
Sailor: Black tom with white splotches and yellow eyes. Good hunter and though not the brightest cat around, can be the cat to unexpectedly come up with a good idea.
Blueberry: Grey-brown tabby tom with grey-blue eyes. Loyal to Jessica, can be a little shy.
Scar: Light grey and pink hairless she-cat with orange eyes. Self-conscious, and jealous of other cats' fluffy fur.
Eli: White longhaired tom, but his coat is so dirty it looks grey-brown, he has green eyes. Though annoying and just plain stupid at times, very aggressive.
Peter: Orange tabby tom with brown eyes, scrawny. Though he was forced to go with the rouges he tries to live life to the fullest.
Mushroom: Lilac coloured coat with darker points, blue eyed she-cat with abnormally short legs. Good climber and surprisingly fast despite her short legs.
Ginger: Cream coloured tom with dark blue eyes. Has lots of energy and gets excited by small things.
Curls: Curly grey long haired she-cat with yellow eyes. Grumpy and easily annoyed.
Bamboo: A pink hairless cat with abnormally short legs. Like Scar, he is jealous of the other cats for their fluffy fur, and he is jealous of some of the rouges longer legs, very self-centred.
Every cat turned to stare at Foxflame. The reek of fox was coming from the deputy.
Nightstar turned her gaze back on Mosslight and Sparkflight. "Does every cat agree? I agree." She meowed, ignoring Foxflame.
Mosslight stared up at her leader. Foxflame? Betray us? Join foxes?
"I agree." Mosslight stammered. But only if Foxflame actually did join the foxes and turned her backs on us! If she didn't!.. Then I don't! But Nightstar...
"So if Foxflame has not returned to NightClan after three sunsets, she will be exiled from NightClan and be seen as a fox." Nightstar growled.
Foxflame was looking shocked. "Excuse me?! What?!"
Mosslight looked at her. "Foxflame! You came back!" She exclaimed awkwardly as if she had only just seen her. "And you.. Stink of fox."
Nightstar unsheathed her claws, glaring at the deputy, hissing. Foxflame, taking a step back, muttered, "I.. I just got here, can you cats explai-"
"You fox friend." Nightstar spat. Foxflame didn't seem too bothered by her leader. "Heh, um, you guys do realize I'm a fox in this right? Like pretending."
What?! Mosslight knew Foxflame had a wild imagination just like hers, but unlike Foxflame, Mosslight didn't actually act out the things she daydreamed of.
Like when we were a season old, she said she had wings... I didn't know she is still on this kind of... Stuff.
"You have not been to the clan for a quarter moon! And you are a cat in this!" Mosslight hissed. She hadn't meant to sound so angry, and she winced.
Foxflame glared at her. "Fine."
Nightstar flicked her tail, "Sparkflight guard her. Mosslight, come into my den we will discuss what will happen to Foxflame."
"Okay..." Mosslight followed her reluctantly and Sparkflight padded over to Foxflame.
Foxflame was utterly bewildered. She called after her leader and medicine cat, "I didn't reeeaaally like the clan thing maybe kinda sorta-"
"Excuse us Foxflame." Nightstar lashed her tail. Foxflame stared after them.
Nightstar led Mosslight into a far bush, where they could still see Foxflame and Sparkflight, but out of earshot from both warrirors.
Nightstar sat down next to Mosslight, hissing each word out individually. "She. Has. Not. Been. Seen. For. Seven. Sunrises. And. Broke. The. Warrior. Codes!"
"So- So what do we do now?" Mosslight stuttered.
"Wait a moment, let me recall the warrior codes..." Nightstar closed her eyes, mumbling to herself. Mosslight waited, she herself could barely remember the codes.
"Do you remember what code twelve was?" Nightstar asked. Mosslight was startled. "Um..."
"Do you remember any of the codes?" Nightstar's voice grew harsher. Mosslight shook her head.
"Pfft. Forgetful mouse-brain." Nightstar growled. Mosslight looked away.
After a few more heartbeats, Nightstar meowed, "Foxflame has broken several of the codes, including code one, she didn't defend her clan from foxes, code three, she only hunted for herself while she was away, code eleven, she didn't challenge the foxes that trespassed on our land, and code thirteen, the word of the clan leader is the warrior code, she did not help us fight the foxes when ordered to."
Mosslight felt a momentary pang of jealousy. How can you remember and recall things so easily while I just forget almost at once?
"Should we keep her in NightClan?" Nightstar licked a careful paw and drew it over her ear.
But... I don't want her to leave! I don't want her to leave us, she's my friend! I've literally been together with her as friends since we were born...!
"Well..." She hesitated. "Won't that be a punishment for us too? We will lose a good warrior."
Nightstar bristled. "She is not considered a good warrior!" Mosslight felt her heart sink. "Fine... But she is supposed to be a friend."
"A FRIEND?!" Nightstar screeched. Mosslight saw Foxflame and Sparkflight whip around to look at where they were. Nightstar noticed, and lowered her voice.
"What sort of friend will leave the clan and become a fox?" Nightstar snarled. Mosslight buried her claws into the soil. "Good warrior or friend, bad warrior or enemy, could we really abandon her?"
"What sort of friend will leave the clan?" Nightstar spat. "What sort of friend will break the warrior code for her own selfish desire? Is she even a cat? Does she deserve to be a cat?!"
I have to convince her! Mosslight thought desperately. Foxflame... Can't, just can't leave!
"Actually the great leader Firestar broke the warrior code over and over again." Mosslight reminded her, racking her brain for a situation similar to this in the Four Clan tales.
"Firestar only broke the warrior code for the clans good." Nightstar snapped. "No good cat or warrior ever breaks the warrior code for her own desire."
"She could be doing it for good perhaps we don't know!" Mosslight protested. Nightstar unsheathed her claws, glaring at her. "No! Foxes are our enemy. For countless of moons! Like badgers and rats!"
"Midnight is a badger!" Mosslight knew this argument was weak. Midnight was the only badger in the Four Clans tale that was ever friendly.
Nightstar obviously thought that too. "Yes, but that's a good badger. Now, Firestar got bullied over and over but did not abandon his clan. Even if it was fox, a good one won't abandon her friends!"
"Well back then no cat thought badgers would be good. Maybe this is the same thing with foxes!" Mosslight mumbled.
"Yes but she is a cat!" Nightstar spat. I thought you just said she went to join the foxes so she is technically a 'fox' now?... Mosslight felt like saving Foxflame from exile was becoming more and more hopeless.
"Tallstar had to abandon his clan to find the truth in his heart." Mosslight gritted her teeth. Nightstar snorted. "Yes, but he is a good cat."
"Many cats judged him, his own father did! And many others!" Mosslight cried. Nightstar gave a quick glance at Foxflame and Sparkflight, who were sitting side by side, not speaking to each other. "But he turned out to be the best of the leaders..." Nightstar muttered to herself.
"So who knows it won't be the same for Foxflame?" Mosslight waited as Nightstar considered this.
After some long heartbeats of silence, Nightstar finally meowed, "fine. But we must hear her reason for abandoning the clan before deciding to banish her or not."
There's still a chance, still a chance!... "Agreed." Mosslight breathed.
Nightstar walked out of the bush, Mosslight following. Foxflame stood up, and so did Sparkflight.
"Sparkflight, please remain guard. Foxflame come to my den, you too Mosslight." Nightstar motioned with her tail.
Sparkflight looked quite disappointed and neglected as the three left her behind to look out for foxes or intruders.
The heartbeat they entered the den Nightstar turned on her, yowling, "Foxflame!" At the same time Mosslight murmured calmly, "Foxflame..."
"Yes-?" Foxflame was cut off by Nightstar. "Where in the name of StarClan did you go?!"
Nightstar calm down!... Mosslight addressed Foxflame, pretending Nightstar wasn't shrieking at her deputy.
"Nightstar and I have decided..." Mosslight began, and Nighstar finished her sentence, now more calm, breathing heavily. "To give you a chance to explain. So?"
"So, why did you not come back after Nightstar sent you for a quick look out for the foxes?" Mosslight implored. Give us a good reason so Nightstar won't exile you!...
"Oh umm... I don't know." Foxflame muttered. Mosslight's heart sank. That reason wouldn't be good enough.
Nightstar stiffened, a cold, blazing rage in her eyes.
"I'm just busy ya know," Foxflame mumbled.
"Like.. What do you mean, busy? Too busy to take care of your clan?" Mosslight asked.
"Well, yeah. I just have, you know, things to do." Foxflame repeated. "Really important things."
"More important than your clan?!" Nightstar spat. "Where did you go?!"
Foxflame shifted her paws. "Well, I, uh... I did go see the foxes like you asked me to. They're in our camp.."
"And that took you seven sunrises?" Nightstar hissed.
Foxflame sprang to her paws, speaking in a rush, "I just can't! I can't hurt foxes, it's not right; they are lost, looking for a home, a place to raise their young! Can we really deny them that? They are animals just like us! They aren't brutal or mean, it's like we kill mice and rabbits for food, or drive out badgers or rats for our homes!"
"Oh you won't hurt foxes but you don't care about those badgers or rats do you?" Nightstar spat. "How very equal you are to every animal."
"I love foxes! I was named after one that led my real mother to my foster parents, it was sick and dying but led my mothe-"
"A very touching story but that fox didn't 'lead' your mother there your mother just followed it right?!" Nightstar turned away from her. "Don't try to soften me with sappy stories!"
Foxflame was lashing her tail, "My original name was Jay. But my foster parents re-named me Fox after the fox tha-"
"You aren't going to convince me like that!" Nightstar raced out of the bush.
Mosslight had stayed stunned and silent throughout the whole exchange. She looked upwards to see the sun had almost set, sky turning a deep purple-blue, with orange streaks glowing from the sun. Clouds were turning pink, and the forest looked calm.
Far from calm was Nightstar. A cold fury seemed to have taken over her head.
"Every cat gather 'round!" Nightstar yowled. Foxflame padded slowly out, heading to the grey tabby. Mosslight and Sparkflight went up to their leader as well.
"Foxflame, if you'd like, you can just rid yourself of these burdens and jobs." Nightstar glared at her.
"Okay?..." Foxflame meowed uncertainly.
Nightstar continued on, "you have lost the privilege of your warrior name, you are a loner, a rouge, a kittypet, a fox or whatever you call yourself, but you are no longer our clanmate or a warrior."
"I, Nightstar, leader of NightClan, exile you, Fox, from my clan." Nightstar yowled. "She has betrayed us by breaking many codes and turning away from us to be with her little fox friends!"
"Fine." Mosslight could tell Foxflame, or, Fox as Nightstar had stripped her of her warrior name, was trying hard to sound casual and uninterested, but was really still anxious and worried.
"You, are a rouge, a loner, kittypet, a fox, whatever, but not. A. Warrior."
Foxflame stood up. "Fine. I'll be Foxflame and I'll be a fox then."
Nightstar bristled. "NO! You have lost the privilege of a warrior name you are Fox, only Fox! NOW LEAVE US YOU FOX FRIEND TRAITOR!"
Foxflame looked around at every cat, not moving from where she stood.
"I'll... I'll be living around the Sparkling Willow. If you cats... You know... Want me agai-"
"Why would we want you again?" Nightstar snarled. "You are no use to us Fox! Now leave or we will chase you out!"
Foxflame gritted her teeth. "Fine. Bye." She whipped around- Mosslight almost thought she saw a flash of tears in the blue and brown eyes- russet fur ruffling in the wind, she raced out of the camp, leaving the undergrowth waving in her wake.
• • •
Mosslight felt absolutely miserable. She had basically lost one of her friends. Sparkflight also wasn't looking too enthusiastic.
Three more sunrises had passed since Foxflame's exile. Nightstar hadn't named a new deputy. The whole three days she spent in her den, curled up and not reacting to Mosslight or Sparkflight when they came in to check on her, only getting up to take a bite of freshkill they brought for her.
Sparkflight was distancing herself from the clan, disappearing for long periods of time in the day before showing back usually before sunset. Mosslight was a little concerned, but Nightstar seemed so shut out from the rest of the world she didn't want to disturb her.
Mosslight was laying down, paws tucked under her, on her nest. Sparkflight was, again, not present. Nightstar was presumedly still in her den, near the bush where Mosslight and her had discussed about Foxflame's exile.
Something brushed past the medicine cat, flashing at the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw a black feather, ripped, fall to the forest floor.
Not more of these... Mosslight stared at it, each detail of the feather coming into view as she continued to look at it.
Mind drifting, she wondered where Foxflame was now, what she felt about all this. I wonder how Nightstar feels about all this. Happy? Sad? Not caring?...
Pawsteps made Mosslight snap back into reality. She realized the feather had gone, most likely blown away by the wind when she had been daydreaming.
Looking up, she was surprised to see Nightstar padding to the small pile of rocks where she had announced Foxflame's betrayal.
"Nights-!" Mosslight's meow was cut off by Nightstar's yowl of "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around!"
But... There's only me in the camp... Mosslight went over to her friend uncertainly.
Nightstar raised her head to the sky, which was a deep orange, fading out to a darker blue away from the sun. She opened her mouth to speak when Sparkflight raced into the camp, leaves flying from the bush as she flew passed them. "I heard! You, calling!" She panted.
Nightstar gave a sharp look at her before returning her gaze back to the sky.
Sparkflight looked, bewildered, at Mosslight for explanations but Mosslight simply shook her head and motioned for her to sit.
Nightstar spoke, clear and calm. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice."
A deputy ceremony! Mosslight looked at Sparkflight. But Sparkflight is the only warrior, is it really nesscary to have this ceremony?
"The new deputy of NightClan is..." Nightstar hesitated.
The silence dragged on. Sparkflight shifted her paws. "Uh..." She muttered. "Nightstar?..."
Nightstar's eyes were glazed, still staring at the sun which was disappearing under the tops of the trees.
A raven feather, ripped, floated down, landing near the pile of rocks. Mosslight glanced at it. Sparkflight was still looking at her leader, and Nightstar was still staring at the sun.
That's the second feather today.
"The new... Deputy is of NightClan..." Nightstar spoke again, speech muddled.
"Mosslight."
• • •
What?!
Mosslight stared incredulously at her leader. Nightstar stepped down from the pile of stones and headed to her den, slipping behind the bush.
"Wait Nightstar! But I'm medicine ca..." Mosslight trailed off as she realized Nightstar wasn't listening, she was already curling up in her nest.
"Congratulations. So... I'm so happy for you!" Sparkflight smiled, patting her on the shoulder with her tail.
By the strain in her voice and rather awkward smile, Mosslight could tell Sparkflight was disappointed and if not a little jealous.
"Yeah... Thanks..." Mosslight replied blankly.
But... I want to stay medicine cat... I don't want to be... Deputy, or a warrior for that matter...
Sparkflight went to her nest which was in the crook of two roots. Mosslight remained at the pile of rocks, staring off into the darkening forest.
Medicine cat or deputy? Clan or rouges? True friend or... A cat I never really knew?...
• • •
Nightstar curled up tightly in her nest. The last half-moon was a blur.
Mosslight is deputy... Foxflame is a traitor... The cats I thought who were my best friends hate me... How did we get here?
I feel like suiciding again...
Nightstar shoved the thought to the back of her head but it lingered, flicking back to her mind as she drifted off to sleep.
• • •
"Hey Nightstar!"
Acornfur was meowing a friendly greeting to her. "Acornfur!" Nightstar purred. "I love you. You're a great cat and... I want you to know that."
Acornfur brushed his pelt against hers. "I love you too."
Tails twining together, purrs growing louder, Nightstar felt joy and contentment rush through her.
Foxflame leaped out of a nearby bush. "Nightstar you traitor! Acornfur loves me more!"
"What?!" Nightstar widened her eyes at the sight of the russet deputy, her brown and blue eyes blazing.
"Yeah, Acronfur deserves better than you!" Sparkflight sneered.
"My brother will never stay with a weak crying kit like you!" Rosewind spat.
"Where did you even come from?!" Nightstar cried. Tears were streaming down her face. Acornfur disappeared from her side in a whirl of shadow, reappearing beside Foxflame, licking her lovingly.
"Why did I even consider liking you? I've made a big mistake but now..." Acornfur gazed adoringly into Foxflame's eyes. "I've found a stronger, more beautiful she-cat."
There was a flash of brown fur. "Mosslight!" Nightstar yowled despairingly. "Please! Help me!"
Mosslight stared coldly at her, not moving. Foxflame sprang at Nightstar, scratching and drawing blood. It flowed from her wounds while they stood there, laughing.
"Nightstar, so weak! Can't defend yourself from my strong mate!" Acornfur crowed.
"No! Please! Stop!" Nightstar shrieked as Sparkflight, Rosewind, Foxflame and Acornfur all began biting and clawing at her, blood pouring from her injuries.
"MOSSLIGHT! PLEASE HELP ME! MY BEST FRIEND, PLEASE!" Nightstar screamed.
Mosslight continued to look at her, not moving from where she stood. There was no pleasure, or pity or sadness in the green eyes. Only blank, cold gaze.
The attacking cats withdrew, watching her bleed on the grass. "Pathetic weakling!" Acornfur snarled. "You are nothing."
The cats all turned away, padding off together in a group.
"No! Guys! Don't leave me! PLEASE, COME BACK!" Nightstar shrieked, watching her only friends leave her behind, bleeding in the clearing.
"No... No... Please... Don't leave me..." Tears streamed down her face.
Only Mosslight remained. Her first friend, her best friend. Stayed standing, unmoving, still staring at her coldly.
"Mosslight..." Nightstar rasped, voice cracking. "Please..."
Mosslight didn't move. After a couple heartbeats, she finally spoke. "You are not my best friend. I hate you. Go die. See if I care."
Ahaha I like writing dream sequences they're fun :P
Check out my other Fanfiction Tigerstar's Hatred!
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