Title: Memories
Challenge: Whispers in the Dark
Word Count: 813
Brambleshadow shook her head in disbelief, turned, and began to run. She can't be dead! She can't be! Her paws began to carry her towards the only pine tree in RiverClan territory. Brambleshadow suddenly realized what the result of seeing the Pine Tree again would be and tried to backpedal, but it was too late.
The gray she-cat laughed at her dark tortoiseshell friend. "You'll never catch me, Bramblepaw!" Bramblepaw growled in faux anger and batted her friend off of her branch with sheathed claws. Jaypaw tumbled off the tree, still giggling.
Bramblepaw immediately took the chance and darted up to take her friend's place. Locking her hind claws into the soft wood, she reached down to swipe at Jaypaw's ears. Jaypaw jumped back, blinking her jay-blue eyes innocently. "Hey, that's not nice," she chided playfully. Neither of them noticed the fox poking its head out from behind the tree.
With a loud bark, it snapped at Jaypaw. Bramblepaw launched herself at it. "Get help!" she screeched. Jaypaw shook her head and dove in to claw at the fox's legs. The fox cried out, and the russet jaws bit down-
No. Brambleshadow forced herself out of the memory. Using all of her willpower, she backed away and ran towards the WindClan border. Sunclaw had asked her to be his mate there; maybe the happy memories would help. Jayflight's voice had seemed so real in the vision by the tree. She needed to clear her head.
The trees thinned out to an occasional willow, and Brambleshadow slowed to breathe in the relaxing scent of willow leaves. Closing her eyes, she blindly stumbled into a tiny stream. Gruffly she shook off the water and looked at her surroundings. She was near the mossy clearing. Oh no, no, no, no...
Jayflight laughed at Brambleshadow's face. "You still need to look more surprised." Brambleshadow calmed her features, then widened her eyes. "Better."
"I hear something," Jayflight hissed, then slipped into the shadows.
"Brambleshadow?" Sunclaw's voice was quiet. "I have a question."
Brambleshadow nodded and sat down, forcing her fur to be smooth. "Will you be my mate?" The dark tortoiseshell nodded, trying not to let the screeches of excitement tumble from her mouth. Sunclaw got up, looking overwhelmed, and licked her ears before disappearing.
"I told you," Jayflight purred, and Brambleshadow stuck out her tongue good naturedly.
Brambleshadow covered her ears with her paws. The voices sounded so real. The most recent battle with ShadowClan had taken the most important cats in her life, Redspark, Sunclaw, Jayflight-
"Brambleshadow?" A male voice cut off her thoughts. "Do you mind if I talk to you? I mean, Jayflight was your best friend, and I know you tried your best to save her. You were certainly more useful at saving her life than I was." Applestripe, Jayflight's mate, ended his lament bitterly. Brambleshadow processed his words, then winced. Please, no...
"Jayflight!" Brambleshadow shrieked and raced across the muddy field. Sunclaw pounded behind her, suddenly disappearing in the throng. She looked for him, but couldn't find him. Jayflight was rolling around with the ShadowClan leader, Duskstar. The vicious tom was too much for the gray she-cat. With a fierce wail, Jayflight was thrown to the ground. Duskstar stood over her, his paw raised for the death blow-
Brambleshadow shoved cats out of her way, friend or foe. She could see Applestripe racing from the other side, his focus the same. He tripped and fell, and Brambleshadow slammed into Duskstar a second too late. His claws had already ripped out Jayflight's throat. Applestripe cannoned into the tom, and Brambleshadow turned and heard Jayflight gasp out, "Applestripe-"
The dark tortoiseshell spun and leaped to the tom's defense as Duskstar slammed him to the ground. Applestripe's eyes, wide with fear, opened wider when he saw Jayflight and he scrambled up. Brambleshadow wove back and forth, taunting Duskstar. "Pick on someone your own size!" The ShadowClan leader let out a roar of frustration as Applestripe finished talking hurriedly to Jayflight and stood shoulder to shoulder with Brambleshadow.
"Retreat!" he screeched. ShadowClan cats turned, dragging their injured away. In their wake they left a wave of the dead and dying.
Brambleshadow stood up shakily. "Are you okay?" Applestripe meowed. Brambleshadow nodded, shoving his offered forepaw away. She turned and stumbled into the woods, sinking down onto soft grass.
What will I ever do without you? she wondered. Jayflight's voice came again, louder now, and without the gateway of a memory.
"Join me," she called. Her voice was clear and steady, twined with Sunclaw's. With a sigh Brambleshadow stood up. "Join us," Jayflight repeated. Closing her eyes, Brambleshadow nodded and soaked in the voices, knowing the stars would soon surround her and take her away.
