So just to make some things clear that you didn't comment on earlier. Rushfall died. When I wrote this chapter I was listening to "When We Stand Together" by Nickelback. One of the best songs of all time. 3 Chapters left after this… so I decided that I will make a sequel… So can you help me with the main character? Tom or she-cat? Thanks! And get ready for some drama and action… lots of it too… Beware!
ScourgeXScarlet: It's okay that you didn't review! :) And poor Larchwing… poor poor Larchwing *evil grin for future events that won't be revealed, only foreshadowing* hehe.
Amberflame: Hi! This story gets updated about every week, or two weeks, or if I'm in a good mood and have nothing else to do, then sometimes in like a day :) Thank you so very much for reviewing!
Pengirl: Hi! Sorry for being so late about ASSOTAC! I feel awful! I will update as soon as I can and hopefully not screw it up this time! Hehe I will make a sequel, thank you for your input and all the support you've given me through this :)
Foxbracken: Thanks! I like your story too! :)
Starbomb: Hehe yes he did! Thanks for reviewing! :)
Chapter 35: Striking
Rosewater held her breath as she slowly followed her leader into his den. She pushed past the lichen that barraged down gracefully from the top of the cave until she entered a cozy dim-lit cave. The moss was soft on her paws. Oakstar gets to sleep here every night? She thought in near-disbelief.
"So Rosewater, would you care to explain what you were doing back there a moment ago?" Oakstar asked casually. His green eyes flickered in the darkness.
Rosewater could feel her heart beat up in uprising fear. What if he doesn't let me fight in the battle? "A moment ago? I was standing my ground." She said solidly.
Oakstar crinkled his nose. "You thought that I couldn't handle it." He accused with a small flick of his tail.
Rosewater sighed. "Look Oakstar, I know more about this whole WindClan thing than you do." She explained briefly.
"Do you Rosewater?" Oakstar meowed in a low voice.
"Of course I do!" Rosewater meowed. "I know everything that happens there! I know that they starve their warriors and kill their apprentices and kits! I know that even if they don't attack us soon then we must attack them and stop Adderstar!"
Oakstar's eyes narrowed. "Oh? And how do you know so much?" he asked.
Rosewater shuffled her paws. "I was there as a kit you know." She meowed dryly.
"A kit was a long time ago Rosewater." He sighed. "And so was it when I got a prophecy about you." He grumbled.
A prophecy! I know that prophecy already. Rosewater thought as she repeated it in her head. "Do you remember it?" she asked Oakstar gently.
Oakstar nodded his graying head. "Like a thorn from a rose, she will stop the wind from blowing further into darkness." He meowed, his eyes glazing over as he thought back. "I knew it was you from the moment I meant you, it had to be. With your courage and bravery I couldn't deny it, but I did." He meowed.
Rosewater sighed. "Tell me about it." She murmured.
Oakstar cracked a small smile but then snapped back. "Yes, sorry for how I used to act. In truth I was afraid of a misbehaving kit saving my Clan."
Rosewater grinned. "My misbehavior taught me some important life lessons." She said stiffly as she sat up a little straighter.
Oakstar rolled his eyes. "Back to business now Rosewater." He said his voice hard. He took in a deep breath. "I believe that you must stop WindClan from during their horrifying deeds. And I believe that the only way for you to do this is by killing Adderstar."
Those words caught in Rosewater's throat. "But… A real warrior doesn't need to kill to win his battles right?" she suggested. "You being leader of all should know that."
Oakstar met Rosewater's eyes, green fire blistering inside of them. "How else do you suggest we stop him?" he asked. "I've killed before. It was a merciless cat though, so it wasn't as difficult for me." He said tightly.
"I've killed once already though." Rosewater murmured her head dropping.
Oakstar's eyes widened in surprise. "Who?" he asked.
"Talonfox." Rosewater meowed. "The cat that killed my mother."
Oakstar parted his jaws, in clear awe. "You were only an apprentice then Rosewater! How in the name of StarClan did you manage to kill the WindClan deputy?" he asked.
"I… I was angry I suppose." Rosewater mumbled. "He had just killed Morningfeather after all." She added with a sigh.
"So perhaps you'll need that same rage." Oakstar suggested.
"It would be must easier for another cat to kill him, don't you think?" Rosewater asked desperately.
Oakstar met her gaze calmly. "Of course all will be trying." He meowed. "But you must try to and don't forget it."
"But I can't fight well… unless I'm angry."
"You hold plenty of resentment of Adderstar though, shouldn't that be enough?" Oakstar asked.
Rosewater shrugged. "I don't know myself as well as I'd like." She said lightly.
"He just killed Troutclaw you remember." Oakstar meowed, his voice cackling with grief. "And so many others."
"I know." Rosewater said with a sigh. "But… I feel like it needs to be in the heat of the moment." She meowed. "I tried to kill Adderstar with all my might when that happened, trust me, I did, but he got away." She meowed. "And I'm not letting any of my Clanmates die by his claw anymore anyways." Rosewater added.
Oakstar parted his jaws to speak but seemed to think about it more, so he closed them again. "I suppose I'd better go now, it's been about the longest day in my life. I'll talk with you tomorrow Oakstar." Rosewater meowed, her eyelids heavy with weariness.
Oakstar only nodded to her, seeming too deep in thoughts to speak. Rosewater exited his den to be washed over by the cool night air. She breathed in the crisp wind before heading to the warrior's den to curl up in her cozy nest next to Stonefang to sleep.
"Rosewater, wake up. We're going battle training." The dark cream she-cat slowly blinked open her eyes with exhaustion as she felt a paw prod against her side. Her blue eyes nearly scrunched shut with weariness; Rosewater got to her paws and looked to her side.
"Leafsparrow?" she meowed with recognition of the long-furred brown and white tabby she-cat. "But… why are we going battle training? That's something only apprentices do." She meowed with a tilt of her head.
Leafsparrow quickly bobbed her head. "Oakstar thought it would be a good idea." She explained briefly. "You know, with the threat of WindClan and all." The senior warrior shuffled her paws.
Rosewater nodded. "Of course." She meowed. "That makes since." Good to see that he is taking action. "Who else are you bringing?" Shea asked with a quick glance at Stonefang's empty nest. Already gone on a patrol I guess.
"Rockheart, Swanwhisker, and Ravenfire." Leafsparrow informed her with a flick of her tail. "They're out waiting."
Rosewater purred with amusement. "Sorry that I'm the lazy slug."
Leafsparrow just grinned. "I think it'll be fun to see how everyone's fighting skills are going." She commented as she flicked her tail. "Especially you younger warriors, see if old Rockheart and I can still beat you." She meowed.
Rosewater smiled. "We'll have to see, now let's go." She suggested. Leafsparrow nodded, turning tail to walk out of the warrior's den. Rosewater noticed Rockheart, Swanwhisker, and Ravenfire waiting by the exit of camp.
Hesitantly, Rosewater glanced up at the sky to see it faltering along the horizon line. She blinked with confusion. How long have I been asleep? She looked at Leafsparrow. "What time of day is it?" she asked.
"Nearly sun-down." Leafsparrow answered quickly. "You've been sleeping all day; Oakstar insisted that I not wake you up earlier.
Rosewater tilted her head curiously but continued along. She padded up to her waiting Clanmates, swishing her tail as she walked along. "So… battle training?" she meowed.
Swanwhisker nodded feebly. Rosewater remembered with a jolt that this was a cat that was just a few moons older than her, who had already nursed kits, now warriors. I'm not that old! Am I? Rosewater wondered. She took a sideways glance at Swanwhisker's muscles, a bit sunken in by their bone. She looked over her own shoulder. I'm definitely more muscular! She noted. But… will I ever have kits of my own?
She pondered her thought for a moment longer before pushing it away hesitantly. I have bigger duties to do. She thought with a shudder. That involves the death of Adderstar.
"Follow me," Leafsparrow meowed as she flicked her tail.
The tabby she-cat ducked away into ThunderClan territory, Rockheart tailing her. Rosewater fell into step beside Swanwhisker who had her son, Ravenfire to her left.
They padded away with odd silence, Rosewater mainly focusing on the sounds of the birds singing in joy as their season passed by. Leaf-fall is here. Rosewater thought. Soon the birds will leave and prey will be scarce.
"So… how are things?" She decided to strike up a conversation. She looked at Swanwhisker. The brown and white she-cat looked over her shoulder at her.
"Oh, hi." She blinked her green eyes.
Rosewater felt frustration build inside of her. And to think that Forestclaw would pick that mouse-brain over my sister… "So," she repeated. "How are things?"
"Oh… their great!" Swanwhisker purred. "Ravenfire, Leafshine, and Redstreak have grown up to be magnificent warriors!"
Rosewater nodded, her head hung slightly. She remained silent as they picked their way to the destination. Swanwhisker had a quiet conversation with her son. What was it with Swanwhisker? She was far too quiet for Rosewater's likeliness.
"Okay here we are." Leafsparrow meowed, drawing to a halt, Rockheart striding beside her. Rosewater trotted to catch up.
"Great!" She meowed. "So what kind of practice will we be doing?"
Leafsparrow blinked her green eyes and shuffled her paws as though embarrassed. "Actually, Oakstar said he wanted you to pick out what we did." She explained briefly.
"Oh," Rosewater mewed. She dipped her head in thought as her Clanmates watched her with expectation, their tails flicking slowly as if in rhythm. Rosewater parted her jaws to speak when a scent passed her nose. She closed her mouth and blinked with curiosity.
"Rosewater? Anything for us to do?" Swanwhisker asked lightly.
Rosewater ignored her as she tilted her head to the sky. The sun was crashing onto the edge of her vision, bleeding out in scarlet, pink, and ginger as it went. She took a whiff of the air and froze. Rotten blood so it smells… She let the scent pass her by momentarily; it surely was just a dead mouse, rotting as it lay forgotten in its nest.
She lashed her tail. Something was definitely off though. "Rosewater?" Rockheart spoke up, his deep voice gruff.
Rosewater lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Do you smell that?" she asked.
Rockheart's eyes darkened a bit. He parted his jaws to take in the scents. "Only rotten blood." He commented.
"No… there is definitely something more to it." Rosewater argued. She opened her mouth again to breath in the scents. One she recognized. The wind was blowing in the scent of fresh blood mingled with rotten blood, the scent also foul, like crow-food. It's Rushfall.
Rosewater blinked. She had heard that the black she-cat was killed before. "It's Rushfall." She breathed. She opened her mouth again, but the lanky black she-cat's was all that she could smell.
"Rushfall?" Leafsparrow repeated. "You mean the cat that was killed by Adderstar at the last Gathering?" The brown tabby looked baffled.
"Obviously she is not dead." Rosewater hissed. "Follow the smell of rotten blood, we need to find her." Rosewater snapped the order.
Ravenfire looked at her challengingly. "Why should we listen to you?" he scoffed.
"That's not important right now." Rosewater shot back. "We must find this cat."
Swanwhisker gave her a confused look but glided arrogantly forward, following Rockheart as he trailed the scent. Ravenfire went after his mother in clear reluctance. Leafsparrow took up the rear, her experienced nose catching anything the others might not have noticed.
Rosewater sprinted to the front beside Rockheart. Why in the name of StarClan is Rushfall here? She wondered. She kept her jaws spread as the followed the scent of the wind, her heart drumming rapidly at the thought that her friend may be alive.
After what seemed ages, Rosewater peered across the land, through the trees. Her blue eyes caught the flash of a black pelt. "There she is!" she called as she raced forward. Excitement nipped at her paws as she saw the familiar dark blue eyes of Rushfall.
"Rushfall?" she called, coming to a stop in front of the WindClan she-cat. She let out a gasp at the sight of her. Fresh and old wounds tore across Rushfall's entire body, barely any glimpses of her shining sleek black fur. And what was left of it was so very dusty it made her seem light brown, with dried blood caked on top of it. Her blue eyes were restless, exhausted and weary. They seemed to hang like her limp tail behind her.
"Rushfall!" Rosewater shrieked in alarm. Rushfall only scarcely lifted her head in acknowledgement.
Rosewater skidded around to see her Clanmates racing up to her. Swanwhisker's fur was stuck out. "What is this WindClan cat doing on ThunderClan territory?" she hissed.
"Put a mouse in it Swanwhisker." Rosewater hissed her tail lashing with fury. "Can't you see she's in harm?" her eyes snapped to the black tom. "Ravenfire, go get Petalwind or Iceblossom."
"Why should our medicine cats use their herbs on an enemy warrior?" Swanwhisker sniffed.
Leafsparrow spun around to face the younger warrior. "If you don't shut up this instant then I swear that I'll make you an enemy warrior, my daughter." The brown tabby shot back. Swanwhisker recoiled in fear and silence of her mother.
Rosewater tilted her head at this. Leafsparrow and Swanwhisker had never had the best mother-daughter relationship; you'd forget they were even related if it wasn't for Swanwhisker's coat color matching her mother's. Leafshine was even named after Leafsparrow in hopes of improving their friendship. Redstreak however had seemed to inherit more of his father's level-headedness and Leafsparrow's wisdom.
Rosewater's eyes flashed to Ravenfire. "Go. Now. Get Burningheart while you are at it." She commanded. Without opposition, Ravenfire turned tail and sprinted away in the direction of camp.
Rosewater then leaped over to Rushfall's side. The she-cat's breath was shaky. "Just lay down." She insisted. Weakly, Rushfall's legs crumpled beneath her as she fell to the ground. Rosewater noticed Rushfall opening her jaws to speak but only grunts of exhaustion came out.
"Don't speak." Rosewater said softly. "Just wait, our medicine cat will be here soon." She insisted.
"No!" Rushfall gasped. A trace of blood slid from her mouth and onto the grass. The she-cat released and outbreak of coughing for breath. "You must know!" she hissed.
Rosewater opened her mouth to speak but no words came out at the horrific scene of Rushfall. "Tell me." She whispered.
"I died." Rushfall gasped. "But Thornpaw brought me back…. She said I needed to go…. Though I pleaded her to let me die." Rushfall winced as more blood poured from her open wounds.
Rosewater's head snapped to Rockheart. "Place your paw against the bleeding. We must prevent it while we can." Rockheart did as she said wordlessly.
"I had to come back." Rushfall quivered. "But when I did Adderstar was outraged. He told me better off dead and attacked me." She shuddered. "He clawed me until he was sure I was dead, but Bramblebreeze and his new apprentice Runningleaf saved me. They told me to run and I did. But not before hearing Adderstar's plan." She hacked up some more blood.
Rosewater looked desperately in the direction where Ravenfire had disappeared. "Adderstar… they're attacking." Weakly, Rushfall raised her head to meet Rosewater's gaze. "Today." She rasped before an outbreak of cough erupted her and blood pooled around where Rockheart's paw was placed.
Leafsparrow looked at Rosewater, her eyes wide. Rosewater shuffled her paws with nervousness. How quickly her world had become spiraling downward.
"Rushfall!" At the rustling of a few leaves, Rosewater snapped her head up to see the long ginger pelt of Burningheart as he raced to his fallen love.
"Burningheart." Rushfall grumbled, her eyes lighting up.
Burningheart buried his nose into Rushfall's fur. "Oh don't worry Rushfall, don't worry, we'll make it through this." He reassured her.
"Step aside Burningheart." Rosewater looked over to where Iceblossom was pushing her way through, her jaws enclosed around a leaf that held all of her herbs. "And no more talking." She added as she set down her leaf.
"Rosewater… go… tell Oakstar!" Rushfall gasped.
"Enough." Iceblossom snapped. "No more out of you until I say." She continued.
Rosewater turned away from her friends. "Stay here and keep an eye on things." She whispered to Leafsparrow. The brown tabby nodded with understanding.
Rosewater sighed as she turned away, starting off at a full sprint, the cooling wind blowing through her fur. What a beautiful sunset it was, and a gorgeous night it would be. Too bad it was the night doomed for destruction.
Rosewater sighed as she ran, ran as fast as her feet could carry her. The day was ending soon, who knew when Adderstar was planning on arriving? She had to get to Oakstar and soon, though Rushfall's appearance had shaken her a little bit, but she still had to hurry.
An awful scent shook her to the core as she skidded to a halt in front of her camp's entrance. WindClan. They're here! Rosewater cried. She cringed, hearing screams erupting from the hollow. Oh Stonefang! I hope that he's alright! Quick as a rabbit, she pushed her way through to a horrific scene.
Blood splattered the grass, everywhere. A screech erupted from the nursery; she could hear yowls in the medicine cat den. And warriors were tangled in a mess between WindClan, ThunderClan, and blood.
Rosewater didn't have time to think as a large body shoved against her. She was sent sprawling into the clearing. This didn't stun her though; she jumped up onto her paws and whipped around, her fur fluffed out to see her attacker. It was a tortoiseshell she-cat; muscles rippling underneath her torn and stinking pelt, Rosewater recognized her as Eveningbreeze.
Rosewater released a hiss of fury as she bowled into the she-cat. Eveningbreeze was caught off guard for a heartbeat which Rosewater immediately took advantage of. The cream she-cat raced up, her ivory claws unsheathed as they batted and tore at Eveningbreeze's ears.
Eveningbreeze didn't seem to be evaded by Rosewater's attempts to get the WindClan she-cat to retreat. The tortoiseshell drew her lips up into a snarl. "Coward!" She spat. "A true warrior will fight to the death! What a mouse-brain you are to think that I'd retreat!" She growled as she lay out a vicious barrage of clawing against Rosewater's muzzle. The ThunderClan warrior growled in alarm as she used her weight to knock into the starving she-cat.
"Rosewater!" The dark cream she-cat raised her head at the sound of her name. Her blue eyes flashed in confusion.
"Oakstar?"
Suddenly, the old brown tabby was on her attacker, ripping Eveningbreeze into shreds. Rosewater gasped in alarm. The ThunderClan leader looked up for a moment, his green eyes raging and fresh wounds tearing across his shoulders.
"Rosewater! You must take Featherfoot, Goldenkit, Petalwind, and Squirrelfang away! Take them on the hill by the Moonpool! It's too dangerous here!" Oakstar grunted.
"But… I need to stay and fight!" Rosewater argued.
"You will go!" Oakstar's eyes flashed with anger. "That's an order!"
Frustration built up inside of her like a dam. "Fine." She snapped. She turned away from her leader, her eyes scouring the camp. She peered over at the nursery to see Firestripe fighting off the WindClan deputy, Bloodwhisker.
Quickly, she pushed her way through the enraged cat. Rosewater couldn't help but let her eyes search over the chaos for Stonefang. StarClan let him be alright! Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. In a moments time she reached the nursery. Firestripe was clawing at Bloodwhisker, his eyes sparking angrily.
Silently, Rosewater struck forward, her thorn-sharp teeth enclosing around the WindClan tom's furry red tail.
Bloodwhisker shrieked, he whipped around ferociously, his crazed green eyes glistening with rage. Firestripe leapt forward at this, landing heavily on Bloodwhisker's back to tear into his flesh. Rosewater cast him a grateful look before she pelted into the nursery.
"Whose there! Get out!"
Rosewater cringed at the cold harshness of Featherfoot's voice. She padded forward, closer to see four cats huddled in a corner. Squirrelfang and Goldenkit were pushed to the back, Petalwind stood after that and Featherfoot stood in front, her claws unsheathed and her eyes wide with fear and fury.
"Oh… Rosewater… it's you." She murmured, her head lowering a fraction.
Rosewater nodded gently. "Yes, it's just me." She meowed. "I've come to get you, I will take you to a safer place." She meowed reassuringly.
Featherfoot's posture still seemed as though she was trying to appear frightening, and her eyes gave away all her emotions. "What of Goldenkit? If we go out the main entrance a WindClan warrior will surely nab him." She growled, Goldenkit slipping underneath her.
Rosewater sighed. "There's a hole in the nursery." She meowed shyly, flicking her tail towards the familiar exit where she used to slip out with Stonefang when they were kits. She ducked her head. "I used to escape through it while I was a kit."
Featherfoot's eyes flashed to the hole. "But it's much too small for one of us to get through." She argued. "And he can't go alone."
Goldenkit peered up at her. "Yes I can!" he squeaked. "I'll go there and hide in the brush until you come and find me!" he said.
Rosewater couldn't argue with the young kit's idea. He was smart enough for it to be safe. She looked to Featherfoot for approval.
"Fine!" The silver she-cat appeared easy, though buried deep in her eyes, Rosewater could see fear and worry. "But you stay right there you promise?" she said, her voice rising.
Goldenkit nodded. "Of course! Just hurry or else I'll get bored." Quickly he padded over to the hole, ducking his small head in soon followed by his body until the tip of his ginger tail disappeared.
Rosewater looked to the other she-cats who looked at her. Squirrelfang gave her a slight nod to signify her readiness. "Alright." Rosewater murmured. "Follow me closely and we can go." She spun around to push her way out of the nursery.
"Swanwhisker! No! Swanwhisker!"
Rosewater jumped at the caterwauling cry of Forestclaw. Her eyes snapped to where she saw a brown and white pelt lying awkwardly on the ground, a pool of blood underneath her. Forestclaw sat hunched over the body. Firestripe knelt beside her too, Swanwhisker was his sister.
Rosewater took in a sharp breath. As many grudges that she held against Swanwhisker, it was very difficult to see the Clanmate that she'd known her whole life lying on the ground, dead beside her. She looked back at her followers who stared at Swanwhisker, their jaws open and eyes clouded.
"Come on." Rosewater whispered. "Now is the perfect time of heading out." She slipped through the gathering cats until she reached the exit. "Hurry now." She hissed, snapping her tail at each as they pushed through quickly. She went last, with one look over her shoulder at Swanwhisker's limp body.
With grief heavy in her heart, Rosewater turned away at a fast pace, taking the lead ahead of Featherfoot, Petalwind, and Squirrelfang. "The exit of the nursery is this way." She meowed.
"StarClan let him be alright." Featherfoot pleaded with a look up at the pink sky.
"Such a lovely evening." Squirrelfang murmured. "One Troutclaw would've enjoyed.
Rosewater cringed at the sound of Troutclaw's name. "Now is not the time for grieving." She said darkly. "We need to get to Goldenkit right now." She murmured.
Featherfoot's eyes flashed. "He's right there." She meowed, pointing her tail to the golden pelt that stood out fiercely.
Lucky no WindClan warrior came by here. Rosewater sent a silent thanks to StarClan.
"Featherfoot!" Goldenkit cried, bounding over to her, his fur ruffled.
"Oh Goldenkit! Look at you!" Featherfoot scolded. She grabbed him by the scruff to pull him closer to her and then began to lick the tangles out of his fur.
Rosewater couldn't help but purr with amusement. Featherfoot would serve as a good 'mother' for the former RiverClan tom. "Keep going." Rosewater encouraged. "We'll be there soon."
She spotted the side of the hill that could easily be climbed quickly. "We'll climb over there." She told them, pointing at it with her tail.
Featherfoot nodded, holding Goldenkit in her jaws. He hung squirming. "Please, I can do this by myself." He meowed.
Rosewater shook her head. She padded over and grabbed Goldenkit by Featherfoot. She was surprised by how heavy the kit already was. He'll take after Lionfire in that way. She figured. Featherfoot looked at Rosewater quizzically as she took Goldenkit from her. "You're expecting kits fairly soon." Rosewater pointed out.
Featherfoot nodded in slight understanding, though Rosewater could tell that she was reluctant to let go of Goldenkit. Rosewater began to uphill climb; it was rather steep, though with her young muscles, she could easily climb it.
The other cats followed slowly behind her, their pace slowly lagging, except for Petalwind. The young medicine cat pranced up right next to Rosewater. The cats eventually made it to the top of the hill, the tall yellow grass swishing in rhythm with the wind. Rosewater made her way to the edge of the cliff, setting Goldenkit down before she looked off of it. Quite a precarious fall it was.
"Why did Oakstar order us to come here?" she asked openly.
"No one would expect it." Squirrelfang answered quickly. Rosewater admired the she-cat's cleverness.
"I suppose so, though isn't it rather dangerous?" She asked.
The mood stiffened almost instantly. Rosewater was just peering down from the long fall that would result to tumbling into the rolling river below.
"Rosewater… somebody is here." Petalwind meowed quietly.
Rosewater turned around. "How do you tell?" she asked. The wind wasn't blowing in their favor; she couldn't get in any good scents of what might be coming.
Petalwind blinked. "I… I can just tell." She answered.
"Then everyone, get down and hide in the grass." Rosewater hissed. Goldenkit tucked underneath Featherfoot, his eyes fearful.
Rosewater scourged the land beyond her. There was nothing there. She felt her fur relax. "It's okay, nobody is here." She turned back around to face the dizzying heights, though not dizzying to her. She found it beautiful.
"Rosewater!"
The cry was too late. Rosewater felt a hard body slam against hers. With a yowl, Rosewater was sent tumbling over the edge. She flipped her body around in an instant to see the smug face of Adderstar above her. With a final effort, she lunged upward to hook his leg with her paw.
She pulled him off and in her grasp they screamed and clawed at eachother with fury as the bloody day turned into night.
Falling….
Falling…
Death ensured.