This is nearly 8000 words long... omg... (plus that doesn't include all the notes oof) This is technically the More to Me challenge, though it's also a personal project for me, since this is for a new story that's in development! It features the parents of one of the main characters and their story. While this is a story that is clearly still in development, and the plot is riddled with errors, OOC moments, and even a character that only exists to die (though her name is ironically fantastic), I hope you enjoy.
With the beating of Spottedkit's heart came a flood of emotions so strong it was like the river had returned, bringing with it a surge of branches, mud and debris from the parched land.
It was her.
Tumblepaw wasn't just pretty- she was an absolute vision, a cat Spottedkit couldn't keep his eyes off of. Though she never once glanced in his direction, Spottedkit hoped that one day she would, and her eyes would hold as much affection as his.
Miragekit took one look at her moony brother and gave him a shove. "Whatcha lookin' at, brother?"
Spottedkit snapped out of his daydream. "Nothing, sister."
"Ah, so the infamous Tumblepaw is nothing, I see." Miragekit sneered. "She's not even that pretty, y'know."
"No way!" Spottedkit burst out before he could restrain himself. "She's the most beautiful cat in the entire camp!"
Miragekit only laughed.
Before Spottedkit knew it, the day came when he and Miragekit were to be made apprentices. Finally, he'd train by Tumblepaw's side and prove his worth. She had to notice him now, with his shiny new apprentice name.
Duskstar was so old he could barely speak, let alone stand, but his deputy Cleverstripe stood close to his side, lending her support lest the leader lose his balance. The entire clan sat in the dry riverbed, washed with silver moonlight.
Spottedkit knew StarClan was close that night and prayed silently for their blessings to fall upon him and Miragekit and make them the best apprentices this clan had ever seen. Their matching sandy-colored pelts were like silver stars side by side.
Miragekit became Miragepaw, and was assigned Saltwhisker as her mentor, while Spottedkit became Spottedpaw, receiving... Stonegaze. Stonegaze was very stern and a formidable warrior. The dusty brown tom stared down at Spottedpaw, eyes unreadable. Stonegaze leaned forward until he was nose to nose with Spottedpaw. Spottedpaw was frozen. Then Stonegaze sighed.
"You know, it's traditional to touch noses with your mentor, kit."
Oh.
"E-excuse me. Sorry 'bout that." Spottedpaw stammered, shoving his muzzle forward. The contact was less than pleasant, and Stonegaze shot back, rubbing his muzzle with a paw.
Whoops.
Tumblepaw would definitely notice him now. Around him, a few warriors snickered. Then his breath hitched as his gaze met Tumblepaw's. On her face was a look of pure contempt. She had no pity for this ridiculous apprentice.
Spottedpaw pelt burned with embarrassment as the clan began to chant his and Miragepaw's names. He tried not to start crying right then and there- he didn't need Tumblepaw thinking he was an idiot and a crybaby. He let the chanting consume him, letting it brighten his pelt and fill his chest with buoyant energy.
He was apprentice. His hopes weren't crushed yet.
~~~~—~~~~
The Time of Fading Green (along with the Time of Heat) were Spottedpaw's favorite seasons. The Time of Fading Green was when he began his apprenticeship, and now it was the Time of Heat. Both of the seasons were dry and hot, but it meant that WadiClan (1) completed most of their duties at night.
Spottedpaw loved the night. While Miragepaw complained all the time about dangers of the open desert at night, Spottedpaw couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought of the darkened landscape. Sure, there were roaming hyenas and jackals, scorpions that ventured from their crevices, and even the occasional pirate (2), there was just something about the moonlit desert and the vibrant starry sky that moved him. The stars were spread out and Spottedpaw felt connected to StarClan, like he could just talk out loud and they'd respond.
They never did, but Stonegaze always said StarClan didn't speak the ways the living did. They spoke in omens and the rhymes that were passed down from generation to generation, prophecies from medicine cats passed that might not come to fruition for a few lifetimes. (3)
Stonegaze had actually turned out better than Spottedpaw thought. Not only did he teach Spottedpaw the fascinating legends WadiClan held, but he also seemed to genuinely care about Spottedpaw's progress. He was hard to please, but Stonegaze made sure Spottedpaw knew it when he got something right. The day Spottedpaw managed to briefly gain the advantage when sparring with Stonegaze by using his small frame and speed, Stonegaze had only given him a nod mid-battle, but it sent Spottedpaw soaring.
If only Tumblepaw had been there. The light brown tabby she-cat never spent time with the other apprentices since she was so far ahead in her training. Even Wishpaw and Brightpaw, who'd began their apprenticeship at the same time, weren't so far ahead. Her mentor Blinkfeather said he'd never seen an apprentice with such skill. She had the elders talking. Everyone was in such a frenzy about this gifted apprentice that Spottedpaw almost felt jealous.
But that was nothing compared to Miragepaw's fury. According to Miragepaw, Saltwhisker never challenged her enough, while Blinkfeather always gave special attention to Tumblepaw. She was progressing nicely, but she was painfully inferior.
"It's always 'Tumblepaw this' and 'Tumblepaw that.'" Miragepaw growled quietly on one of the night patrols. If Tumblepaw had been on that patrol, Miragepaw would have kissed up to her like every other apprentice, but without her presence Miragepaw's true opinion of the prodigy came to light.
"She is really good at what she does, though, you have to admit." Spottedpaw replied while his stomach did somersaults. He was replaying in his mind what happened earlier that evening: when Tumblepaw beat Wishpaw in a spar before she could even blink and caught then caught Spottedpaw's gaze for the briefest of moments. Spottedpaw's heart fluttered at the thought that she cared he was watching.
"That's what everyone says! And I'm tired of it. I hope she becomes a warrior soon, so they don't have to talk about what a 'prodigy she is' anymore." Miragepaw sniffed, then her demeanor brightened as she trotted beside Spottedpaw. "Do you think she's started paying more attention to you?"
Spottedpaw relayed that evening's events to Miragepaw happily. Miragepaw sighed.
"You know you don't have to go head over heels trying to please her all the time. If she's not interested, she's not interested. I don't want you to get your heart broken."
"Wh-what?" Spottedpaw stopped short. Miragepaw's reaction confused you. "I thought that her looking at me could only mean something positive."
"Argh!" Miragepaw put a paw to her face in agony. "She wasn't looking at you like you thought she was looking at you- you were just imagining the 'undying affection' you saw in her eye's 'amber depths.' She probably was wondering why 'that weird mole-brain keeps staring at me like a lost kit.'"
Spottedpaw immediately slumped over, depressed emotions raining down on his pelt. His paws scuffed in the dust, and if he could bow his head lower, he would. Miragepaw's pelt started to bristle in dismay.
"Spottedpaw, hey I know it's hard, but someone needs to tell you. You have no chance with Tumblepaw. You might as well find some other cat, like Wishpaw or Brightpaw."
"I could never feel the way I do about Tumblepaw about Wishpaw or Brightpaw." Spottedpaw sighed dramatically. He flicked his tail in the camp's direction, where Tumblepaw was, probably continuing being her irresistible self. "Tumblepaw has always been different. I don't know why- I just admire her. I want her to like me as much as I like her. I want to get to know her, her favorite prey, her favorite battle move, her hopes and dreams- "
"Okay okay, that's enough." Miragepaw stammered. "Just… just don't get your hopes up, okay? That cat's on her way to greatness, and she thinks cats like us will just slow her down."
"You'll see." Spottedpaw was confident again, his green eyes aglow. "I won't slow her down. She'll realize I'm exactly what she needed in her life."
He galloped ahead to catch up with the rest of the patrol, while Miragepaw shook her head in despair.
~~~~—~~~~
The clan was well-fed for the first time in moons. The Time of Opening Flowers had yielded less than satisfactory amounts of prey, but the birds and small creatures returned full force once The Time of Ripening Fruit arrived. Somberpelt was pleased that his herb stores could finally be replenished, and he petitioned Cleverstar to send some able-bodied warriors or experienced apprentices to help.
It had been a harsh few seasons leading up to the Time of Ripening Fruit, including the death of Duskstar. Cleverstar received her nine lives at the Highest Spring, as it was traditional for all leaders to do so and had adjusted well. She was experienced after all, from practically running the clan as Duskstar's health declined.
Spottedpaw and Brightmuzzle flanked Somberpelt on either side, while Miragepaw lingered behind. Ahead, Tumblesand led the patrol confidently. Spottedpaw could barely contain himself, forgetting to keep watch for danger as he marveled at being in the presence of Tumblesand herself.
After she got her warrior name before even Brightmuzzle and Wishheart, the apprentice den had felt so empty. It only felt worse once Brightmuzzle and Wishheart left.
Wishheart was really funny and kind- the white she-cat had taught Spottedpaw and Miragepaw that they could put non-poisonous scorpions in their enemies' nests as a prank. Brightmuzzle and Spottedpaw had actually become good friends throughout their apprenticeship, and the older tom even offered advice on winning Tumblesand's affection.
"This is your prime opportunity," Brightmuzzle had whispered in Spottedpaw's ear as they prepared to leave for the patrol. "I made sure that Somberpelt knew you were one of the handiest apprentices with upside down fruit, and he was all for including you. Even managed to get Miragepaw recruited."
"You're amazing, Brightmuzzle." Spottedpaw had mewed gratefully, making the white tom redden from head to tail.
"Only the best for my friend." Brightmuzzle had responded.
Now Tumblesand was right in front of him. He just had to get her when they had some privacy, just like Brightmuzzle advised, and start slow. Ask about what interests her. Nice day, huh? How's being a warrior treating you?
Brightmuzzle had mentioned just to start with those types of questions, (muttering something about Spottedpaw being too wholesome too desire something else) then listen. Brightmuzzle said this was very important, but Spottedpaw knew he'd have no trouble. He could listen to Tumblesand all day. Whenever she gave advice or her opinion on clan matters, Spottedpaw would hang on her words, straining his ears from across the clearing to catch every single one.
Somberpelt stopped short, a grin decorating his features. "Here we are. The upside-down tree." The patrol stopped short, staring at the medicine cat. Somberpelt squinted at them. "Well, are you going to start gathering fruit or not?"
"Oh of course!"
"Right away!"
Ducking his head in embarrassment, Spottedpaw hurried after Tumblesand, sniffing the air. The sharp but sweet scent of upside-down fruit hit his nose, and he searched among the fallen fruit, looking for one that was the correct ripeness. Somberpelt had said that there should be an even balance of both smells- if either scent overpowered the other, it meant that it was too ripe or underripe. (4)
A few tail-lengths away, Tumblesand sniffed a particularly promising-looking fruit, and she roughly seized it in her mouth. Spottedpaw could see it squish in her jaws.
"I think that one might be overripe." Spottedpaw told her, an awkward smile plastered onto his face.
Tumblesand spat out the fruit, wrinkling her nose. "I can see that." She sniffed again, resuming her search.
It's a start. Spottedpaw convinced himself. He just had to keep going.
"Y-you go on fruit patrols often?" Spottedpaw meowed, trotting over to Tumblesand's side.
"Not usually." Tumblesand couldn't sound more disinterested. But Spottedpaw refused to be discouraged.
"Haha, me neither." Spottedpaw tried to add some swagger to his voice. "I like the border patrols way better. Y'know, risking your life for the clan… fighting pirates… yeah…"
"Mmm." Tumblesand pawed at a fruit half-heartedly.
This was wrong. Brightmuzzle said that he had to listen, and Tumblesand wasn't even talking at all. A feeling of hopelessness washed over Spottedpaw like an unwelcome rain, when the territory was already green, and it was too cold to hunt. But it would rain anyway, drenching his clanmates and drowning them in misery.
He was helpless to do nothing but watch her walk away. Then he felt a tail on his shoulder. Miragepaw looked at him sympathetically, saying nothing, but her simple gesture meant the world. She may not agree with his hapless romantic pursuit, but in that moment Spottedpaw knew she'd always be there for him.
"Come on. Let's find some fruit." Miragepaw meowed softly.
~~~~—~~~~
Somberpelt's eyes were round when he saw the results of the search. Almost every member of the patrol had a jaw full of fruit. Spottedpaw and Miragepaw each snagged two fruits, while Brightmuzzle and Somberpelt had a whopping three fruit. Tumblesand grumpily lingered in the back, with only one miserable fruit to show for her efforts.
Spottedpaw caught Miragepaw's smirk- she was pleased that she'd finally beat the talented Tumblesand at something. It may have been fruit gathering, but it was still a victory in Miragepaw's eyes.
The sun was setting, and the shadows was already starting to stretch across the dunes. And along with the darkness came the cold. Spottedpaw shivered. They better hurry, before they froze. And before the predators emerged.
Hyenas and jackals were oblivious to the cold, preferring the night's concealment over their hunts. The only trace they left behind in the morning was a splatter of blood, or a singular feather from a poor bustard (5) they'd taken down. Spottedpaw imagined their gigantic jaws snapping shut and winced.
"Stay close, Somberpelt." Tumblesand was calling to Somberpelt, who stood ahead on top of the dune confidently. "It isn't safe to stray too far."
"The sun has barely begun to set." Somberpelt replied. "We have plenty of time."
A sharp bark made the medicine cat freeze. Immediately every member of the patrol was on high alert. Spottedpaw swiveled his ears, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound.
There.
A head with pointed ears popped up on top of the dunes behind the patrol, followed by two more. The yipped to one another, licking their jaws. Jackals.
Thank StarClan they're not hyenas at least, Spottedpaw thought as he spun around to face the threat. The battle cry came from his mouth unbidden.
"WadiClan! Attack!" He yowled, charging forward. Miragepaw, Tumblesand, and Brightmuzzle flanked him, and the with an ugly snarl, Spottedpaw clashed with the largest brute.
Squeals and yips filled the air like a flock of sandgrouse, ringing in Spottedpaw's ears and making his blood curl. The jackal snapped at Spottedpaw's neck, but he shoved it away, baring his teeth. Spottedpaw didn't hesitate to spring onto the jackal's back, digging his sharp claws into the loose skin around its neck. Its head spun around, and it tried in vain to bite at its enemy. But instead, it got blinded by Spottedpaw's claws.
It screamed again, and Spottedpaw leapt off, rolling with the landing. The jackal howled as it fled, churning up sand in its wake. Spottedpaw puffed out his chest. He never felt so exhilarated. And his clanmates were having similar luck. In huge numbers, jackals were dangerous, but when they were outnumbered, they were huge cowards.
Soon the other two jackals fled after their leader, whining pitifully.
"Haha! Too easy!" Miragepaw sneered, spitting in the fleeing jackals' direction. She smiled at Brightmuzzle. "Thanks for tag-teaming it with me."
"Of course! We showed 'em." Brightmuzzle agreed. Tumblesand licked her shoulder; the jackal must have given her a scratch. Then, to Spottedpaw's surprise, she walked in his direction.
"Good job back there." Tumblesand told him with a small nod. "I've never seen you fight before. You did well."
Spottedpaw wanted to do a backflip, or leap like an oryx (6). But instead, he resigned himself to just a simple nod back. "Thanks. You did well too."
"They're just jackals." Tumblesand sniffed. "In case we ever fight anything bigger- do you want to train together sometime?"
Spottedpaw thought he might explode from happiness. And behind Tumblesand, he could see the huge grins on Brightmuzzle and Miragepaw's faces.
~~~~—~~~~
Spottedlion carried the gecko over to the acacia tree, where Tumblesand, Brightmuzzle, and Wishheart waited in its shade. It was the rare moment in the Time of Rain when the sun peaked from behind the clouds and shone onto the desert. Spottedlion thanked StarClan for the warmth and for the prey, settling beside the other young warriors to begin his meal.
From across the camp, he spied Mirageclaw speaking with Cleverstar, her confident voice echoing across the clearing.
"Trying to get herself an apprentice." Brightmuzzle remarked, noticing Spottedlion's distraction. Meanwhile, Tumblesand's frown grew deeper, and Spottedlion noticed she hadn't touched her mole.
"What's wrong?" Spottedlion asked Tumblesand, feeling uneasy. As he and Tumblesand had grown closer, he had learned a lot about her. She was ambitious and wanted to achieve the highest successes a WadiClan cat could possibly achieve. That probably included deputy, and eventually leader.
But Mirageclaw always seemed to be one step ahead. While Tumblesand took the time to spend with Spottedlion and the other younger warriors, Mirageclaw had grown distant, even from her own brother, opting to instead become closer to Cleverstar and Lonelyshadow, the deputy.
Spottedlion also felt concerned about Mirageclaw's change in character. It happened soon after they became warriors. They still talked, but Spottedlion felt their relationship had devolved into something only acquaintances had. Spottedlion missed their talks.
But now he had Tumblesand. Not only did they train together, but they also shared their hopes, dreams, and ambitions, just like Brightmuzzle had said they should. Granted, Tumblesand did most of the talking, but Spottedlion was always happy to listen.
Tumblesand didn't immediately answer Spottedlion's query, instead staring at her dusty paws.
Wishheart smirked. "Don't worry Tumblesand. Mirageclaw may be a dirty betrayer for leaving us behind, but you shall always have our approval."
"She's not a dirty betrayer!" Spottedlion exclaimed. "She's just… busy." The words died on his lips. Even Spottedlion knew he couldn't keep making excuses for Mirageclaw forever. She'd abandoned them in favor of her ambitions, and it stung worse than any physical blow.
"Busy my tail." Wishheart responded. "She thinks she's too good for us."
"Doesn't matter anyway." Tumblesand growled. "Cleverstar is fond of her. She may be… lacking in certain skills, but her tongue's silver as a snake's."
"Jealous that Mirageclaw is better than you at something?" Brightmuzzle laughed.
"Whatever. Come on Spottedlion. I wanna work on your sprint tackle. Needs some work." Without even touching her mouse, Tumblesand sprang to her paws, not even glancing back to see if Spottedlion was following. With an apologetic glance at Wishheart and Brightmuzzle, Spottedlion followed Tumblesand to the training area, a sandy patch further down the riverbed.
The elders said that during The Time of Rain a river used to run through the center of camp, but now it was only limited to further down the riverbed, a small stream that wound around the training clearing.
Tumblesand was already positioned in a battle crouch, sending blows into the air in quick succession.
"Tumblesand…" Spottedlion mewed quietly.
"Come on!" Tumblesand hissed. "Show me what you got!"
Spottedlion sighed but obeyed. Perhaps it would be good for Tumblesand to get her anger out by fighting. Spottedlion dashed in Tumblesand's direction, lowering his head like a charging elephant. Claws out he rammed into Tumblesand, who growled and shoved him away as if he weighed nothing.
Spottedlion paused to wipe dust from his muzzle, then he sprinted toward Tumblesand again. This time he aimed for her legs; his plan was to into them with his skull. But Tumblesand leapt out of the way at the last moment, and Spottedlion felt the whoosh of air from her ascent.
"See what your problem is? I can see exactly where you're aiming." Tumblesand explained. Her tail was twitching a little in irritation, but no more than usual. Spottedlion smiled. She had automatically switched into her teaching side, patient as she explained the schematics of battle.
"You need to be less obvious where you're looking, to trick the enemy." Tumblesand concluded. "Now try again."
Spottedlion nodded, taking a deep breath. Here we go. You can do this. He decided to run toward her straight on. Tumblesand braced herself, stance going wide.
Perfect.
At the last moment, Spottedlion leapt into the air, twisting his body in the air. He snagged Tumblesand's shoulder, and as her paws flailed in the air, he pulled her down into the dust. Her back slammed onto the ground, and her startled amber eyes stared into Spottedlion's green ones.
With a huff, Tumblesand squirmed out of Spottedlion's grip, shaking herself haughtily.
"Not bad," She admitted. "But not exactly a conventional sprint tackle."
"You said my strength was more with agility and swiftness than brute force anyway." Spottedlion responded with a twinkle in his eye.
"I did." Tumblesand meowed with a hint of a smile. Then her expression grew serious. "But it's also important to improve in other areas.
"Now try again."
~~~~—~~~~
Like every WadiClan cat expected, when Lonelyshadow suddenly grew ill and died a slow a painful death from her sickness, Cleverstar chose Mirageclaw as the deputy. During the ceremony, Mirageclaw's apprentice Skippaw stood by proudly as his mentor was called to Cleverstar's side. His littermates Beetlepaw and Risingpaw looked proud for their brother, but Spottedlion was sure they were a bit jealous as well.
Beside him, Tumblesand stood stiffly, eyes unseeing as Cleverstar touched her muzzle to Mirageclaw's head. Mirageclaw puffed out her chest.
Then suddenly, Mirageclaw glanced in Spottedlion's direction, giving him a small, uncharacteristically shy smile. Spottedlion nearly did a little dance of joy.
Despite changing so much over these past moons, Mirageclaw still cared. Spottedlion wanted to talk to her after the ceremony. Maybe he could join her in training Skippaw. Share advice he'd learned from training with Tumblesand.
But then, he looked to the angry Tumblesand by his side, his elation fading. When he looked back, Mirageclaw had looked away. The brief moment was gone, swept away like dust. Like the short season of the Time of Open Flowers that was nearly upon them.
"As your new deputy, I hope to usher in a new season of prosperity for WadiClan," Mirageclaw meowed, her golden eyes narrowed with determination. "I promise I will try my best to do as well as Lonelyshadow, may StarClan rest her soul."
The clan took up the cheer of Mirageclaw's name. Spottedlion caterwauled as loud as he could, noticing Tumblesand's half-hearted cheers beside him.
Soon the clan dispersed, returning to their duties. With the rainy season coming to an end, many warriors could finally look forward to a well-earned rest from the relentless hunting that defined the other seasons. Spottedlion wasn't quite in the mood yet.
He needed advice. And that meant talking to Brightmuzzle.
He found his friend speaking to his apprentice Risingpaw, and to Spottedlion's concern, they seemed to be arguing. Risingpaw bristled, scoring his claws into the earth before turning tail and stalking across the clearing. With one last lash of his tail, the apprentice disappeared into the apprentices' den.
Brightmuzzle let out a frustrated sigh, letting his head droop.
"Everything alright?" Spottedlion mewed hesitantly. He touched his nose to Brightmuzzle's.
"It's nothing I can't handle." Brightmuzzle replied with a dismissive flick of his tail. "You need something?"
"Oh, no, I'm just fine." Spottedlion said quickly, a little taken aback by Brightmuzzle's lack of openness. Well, you have to respect everyone's boundaries I guess. Tumblesand, Mirageclaw, and Brightmuzzle all had things they wanted to keep to themselves. And no matter how much Spottedlion wanted to help, sometimes the only thing he could do was be a good mate, brother, and friend.
StarClan, it was frustrating. But it was all he knew how to do.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Spottedlion asked. "The elephant trunks are in prime condition for claw sharpening." Elephant trunks were an oddity among the desert plants. They stuck awkwardly out of the desert floor as if the rest of the elephant was buried beneath, holding out a bouquet of yellow flowers and leaves in an odd but friendly gesture. But they were also rough and spiny, perfect for sharpening claws. (7)
Brightmuzzle looked like he was about to refuse, but then something seemed to lift off of his shoulders, and he gave Spottedlion a weary smile. "Of course. Let's go before it gets too cold."
The moon was already climbing in the sky, and the last orange hues of the sunset were fading to a rich indigo. Spottedlion shivered as a slight breeze blew throughout the practically empty camp. As the desert darkened, the heat of the day vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by a gnawing cold that drove most warriors into their dens.
But Spottedlion had always been a creature of the night. Brightmuzzle, not so much. But the tom would go with his friend anywhere.
Spottedlion bounded out of the camp, hearing Brightmuzzle's footfalls close behind. His paws scrabbled on the stony side of the dry riverbed, finding the well-worn path in the darkness. There was also the longer way out of camp if you followed the riverbed directly into the desert, but this way was faster for more experienced warriors. It was a little annoying have a young apprentice due to this, since they weren't strong enough yet to attempt climbing this path.
At the top of the hill, Spottedlion glanced down at Brightmuzzle, waiting patiently for his friend to catch up. He was barely out of breath, but he could hear Brightmuzzle panting heavily.
"How in the name of StarClan are you not exhausted from that?" Brightmuzzle gasped. "You're like an oryx."
"I've always been light on my feet." Spottedlion replied, bouncing on his toes. He flicked his tail with amusement, striding forward. "Still up for the trek to the trunks?"
Brightmuzzle flexed his claws. "Um, yeah?" He joined Spottedlion's side, and the two of them matched one another stride for stride across the shadowy desert. The moon peeked from behind a few wispy clouds, but the stars were hidden by a darker layer.
The night felt just like a dream, like Spottedlion was leaping through a cool void. His fur felt like it was weightless, he felt as if with each step he were drifting like a ghost or flying low on a soft air draft like a bird.
In the distance, the elephant trunks stood up on the horizon. They almost seemed alive, like watchful figures waiting for the pair's arrival.
As they slowed to a trot, a thoughtful silence came from Brightmuzzle, and as they walked side by side, a shiver went up Brightmuzzle's spine.
"What is it?" Spottedlion asked curiously.
"Just a weird feeling." Brightmuzzle responded, sounding perplexed. "Like, Deja vu? I don't know where it came from."
"You've been to the elephant trunks before, haven't you?" Spottedlion meowed.
"Yes, but never at night." Brightmuzzle admitted. "It's very eerie."
Spottedlion laughed. Then he charged forward, weaving among the trunks easily, avoiding their tough spines. From trunk to trunk his gaze went back and forth, until he stopped in front of a promising specimen. He tested the trunk by scoring his claws across it.
"This one looks pretty good." He called. Straight away he got to work, lifting one paw then the other, falling into a rhythm. Brightmuzzle soon joined him, and the only noise was the ripping of the trunk's bark.
"Spottedlion? Can I tell you something?" Brightmuzzle said suddenly, his voice quiet.
"Yeah, go ahead." Spottedlion answered. He carefully worked one of his claws out of the bark where it had gotten stuck.
"I…" Brightmuzzle stopped sharpening his claws, staring at the ground. Then he took a deep breath, meeting Spottedlion's eyes. "I used to have a crush on you, you know. I thought you were so cool, and brave. You were the nicest cat I'd ever met."
Spottedlion could see Brightmuzzle blush in the darkness.
"I mean, you were totally into Tumblesand, and I knew I never had the chance. I-I… it's just… I wanted you to know. Even if you and Tumblesand never had ended up together, I just wanted you to know that you're a really awesome cat, Spottedlion." Brightmuzzle was silent again, then broke off into embarrassed stammering.
"I don't really know where that came from, s-sorry. I just couldn't, you know… not say it. I know you're with Tumblesand now, and I'm totally happy for you, and, ummm…"
Spottedlion shook himself out his shock. It… it may have been a surprise that his best friend had feelings for him, but Spottedlion knew if he ever talked to Mirageclaw about these things like they used to, she would have said it was obvious. Before succumbing to her ambitions, she and Brightmuzzle used to talk all the time. Spottedlion had assumed they were just good friends, but maybe they had been also talking about him.
But never mind that. Poor Brightmuzzle was probably assuming the worst since Spottedlion still hadn't said anything.
"Brightmuzzle…" Spottedlion meowed, putting a paw on his shoulder. He hoped that wasn't too awkward. "I… thanks for telling me about that. I know that was probably hard to say. Yeah." His voice grew more solemn. "I may be with Tumblesand, but the one thing I can promise you is I'll always be your friend." He smiled broadly. "And you'll find a mate who loves you for the amazing tom you are. I'm sure of it."
Brightmuzzle returned Spottedlion's smile weakly. "Th-thanks." He looked a little disheartened, and Spottedlion felt a little worry creep up in his chest, but he dismissed it. Everything would turn out alright.
Maybe he and Mirageclaw had grown apart, but he and Brightmuzzle had been friends for almost as long. And close friends could share these things with one another.
The pair returned to camp, a companionable silence between them. (8)
~~~~—~~~~
Spottedlion woke up in a cold sweat in his nest, panting. Next to him, Tumblesand stirred, then looked at her mate in concern.
"Something wrong?" She mewed.
"Huh? Oh, I don't really know. Some sort of dream…" Spottedlion trailed off, racking his mind for what the dream could have been about. He still felt the residual fear. He'd cried out, something terrible had happened. But he couldn't remember anything.
"It was just a bad dream." He concluded, touching noses with Tumblesand as he rose to his paws.
The clearing was just growing lighter with dawn, painting the surrounding hills a dull rusty orange. The air still felt cold, but as the day progressed it would gradually warm up. It was the Time of Rain. Just along the horizon, the day's deluge was swiftly arriving with the coming clouds.
Spottedlion stretched in the morning sunlight, vowing to savor the last sunny moments WadiClan would probably have for days.
"Spottedlion! Want to lead a patrol?" Mirageclaw yowled from across the clearing. Spottedlion would have been disappointed had it not been for the fact that Mirageclaw was actually addressing him directly for once.
"Why does she want you to lead a patrol?" Tumblesand growled beside Spottedlion. She seemed equally surprised by Mirageclaw, though her reaction leaned more toward suspicion.
Spottedlion sighed. He still wanted to believe the best of Mirageclaw. He forced a patient smile onto his face. Though at this point, he'd been doing it for so long when it came to Tumblesand and Mirageclaw's rivalry it came easily.
"Maybe I'll go ask her." Spottedlion meowed lightly, holding his tail up high. Tumblesand's shoulders sagged, and her beautiful amber eyes stared into Spottedlion's.
"Just… be careful, alright? It looks like rain." Tumblesand touched her nose to Spottedlion's cheek. "I- "
"Spottedlion!" Mirageclaw yowled, beginning to sound impatient.
"I'll be careful," Spottedlion promised, calling to Tumblesand over his shoulder. He noticed her look unusually concerned, and he wanted nothing more than to go back and nuzzle her worries away, but Mirageclaw's gaze would surely burn a hole in his pelt if lingered a moment longer.
"What took you so long?" Mirageclaw asked, tilting her head curiously. From her tone it was almost like old times: teasing, instead of reprimanding.
"Y'know, Tumblesand had to say goodbye." Spottedlion replied casually. "But I'm here now."
"Never knew Tumblesand to be sentimental." Mirageclaw snorted. She and Spottedlion eyed one another, and Spottedlion thought he detected a hint of emotion- sadness? Regret? Nevertheless, it was gone in a flash, and his sister straightened, staring across the clearing.
"How about you take… Brightmuzzle, and… Blinkfeather. As well as Smallblossom. She hasn't been on a patrol in a while. You'll be patrolling the outer desert border, so no apprentices this time."
"O-okay." Spottedlion responded quietly, knowing it wouldn't matter if his response was heard or not. Mirageclaw was already distancing herself, caught up in being deputy once again. Waving his tail in farewell, Spottedlion padded across the clearing, paws scuffing the dust dejectedly. Well, a few kind words were better than nothing, right? One small step at a time.
Spottedlion could imagine that one day, they'd all get along and things would go back to the way they were, but better. Tumblesand wouldn't passive-aggressively talk behind Mirageclaw's back. Mirageclaw wouldn't act so high and mighty all the time, and Spottedlion could hear about her experience with Cleverstar, and what it was like training Skippaw. He wanted so badly to talk with her like he used to again.
He sighed. The only thing to do was to keep waiting.
"Hey! Brightmuzzle!" Spottedlion called. "We're going on a patrol!"
"Cool!" Brightmuzzle responded, bounding over. "Should I bring Risingpaw?"
"No," Spottedlion said, remembering Mirageclaw's instructions. "We're apparently patrolling the outer desert boundary? No inexperienced apprentices allowed that far, so."
Brightmuzzle dipped his head. "That would probably be better anyway." He confessed sheepishly. "He's angry at me again."
Spottedlion's eyes widened. "What this time? I thought you two were on good terms."
"We were until I accidentally insulted his catch." Brightmuzzle groaned. "I swear, the gecko was just a little messily caught, and I was just trying to help him improve his capturing techniques, but he freaked out and now it's like this."
"Maybe he feels like he's a terrible hunter and just wants to impress you." Spottedlion suggested gently. He knew what it felt like to try to win the approval of someone and feel like he was constantly failing.
"I've been the nicest cat in WadiClan ever since I got Risingpaw as an apprentice." Brightmuzzle grumbled. "It's like nothing I say is right."
"We'll talk more about it on the patrol." Spottedlion responded, realizing they should actually leave camp before Mirageclaw noticed and got annoyed. "I'm going to get Blinkfeather and Smallblossom."
Soon the four of them were running on top of the rocky plateau that surrounded the clan's camp. It stretched out for a decent distance, until it gradually gave way to the pale sand dunes of the outer borders. Spottedlion sometimes wondered why WadiClan had such a huge swath of territory in the claws, but he considered a privilege to have so much territory to explore. And of course, extra space meant extra prey.
A rumble in the distance made all four cats look up briefly. The oldest of them was Blinkfeather, and he sniffed the air with a frown. Spottedlion recalled that he'd mentored Tumblesand.
"This one's going to be a doozy, isn't it?" Smallblossom commented breezily. "My kits'll be frightened." But by the indifferent tone of her speech, it seemed she wasn't concerned.
"How are your kits, Smallblossom?" Brightmuzzle asked, slowing down so that he was now running by her side. "Nearly apprentices, right?"
"I would hope so, otherwise Mirageclaw wouldn't have sent me on patrol to the outer boundaries." Smallblossom laughed. "Wouldn't do young kits any good if their mother went and died on them."
"Bad luck to speak like that." Blinkfeather growled from beside Spottedlion. He turned his head to look at Smallblossom sternly. "I pray to StarClan that we all return safely from this treacherous trip."
"Twas only a joke." Smallblossom mewed coyly. "I mean no harm in it."
"Doesn't matter if there was ill intent or not." Blinkfeather muttered, half to himself, but loud enough for Spottedlion to hear him. "Ill words spoken aloud into the universe spells ill results."
Spottedlion flicked his ear, an uncomfortably familiar feeling washing over him. There was something he was missing here, like he was on the verge of remembering something, but it just wouldn't surface into his mind. He didn't really believe in bad luck either, but there was something about what Blinkfeather said…
Spottedlion let out a yelp as he nearly tripped at the sudden incline.
"Look out, mole-brain!" Smallblossom exclaimed. "It's dunes from here on out. Welcome to the outer borders!" She guffawed again, her harsh laugh ringing in Spottedlion's ears.
Spottedlion shook himself, regaining his composure. "Right! Yeah. Everyone, follow me." Trying to appear confident, he began climbing the first dune. Sand shifted beneath his paws, and his pelt rippled uncomfortably. He'd could count the number of times he'd been to the outer borders on one paw. It was dangerous for inexperienced warriors, and he wondered if it had been the best decision to make him lead this patrol.
Mirageclaw… you mole-brain. There. He allowed himself the one insult. She'd never hear it aloud anyway.
Finally, his head reached the top of the dune, and his fur bushed out. Before him lay an intimidating sight: row after row of dunes, glittering oddly in the light. Gray clouds rolled overhead, making the air feel stiff and stagnant, as if everything was going to crash upon them at any moment.
"Storm's a-brewin'." Smallblossom hissed. "Maybe we should call it a day and go back. My kits will miss me."
Spottedlion would not be the one to point out how unbothered she'd been about her kits only a short while ago. But he couldn't help but agree.
"There's definitely nothing amiss," Spottedlion responded, looking at his fellow clanmates one by one. "All in favor of returning home say 'aye.'"
A chorus of ready 'ayes' met his ears.
"Aye it is then."
As the patrol half slid, half walked down the dune, Spottedlion suddenly felt the wind pick up.
"StarClan no," Brightmuzzle whispered, halting immediately. He was a few tail-lengths behind Spottedlion.
"Sandstorm." Blinkfeather and Smallblossom meowed at the same time. Smallblossom had lost that bold look, her eyes instead wide with dismay.
Meanwhile, Blinkfeather seemed to be assessing the situation. "If we run for it, we may be able to find shelter." He commanded. Spottedlion did not mind at all that the older warrior was taking charge. He'd never been through a sandstorm before.
"Follow me!" Blinkfeather yowled loudly. "And stay close. We cannot lose one another!"
Spottedlion felt Brightmuzzle press close to his side, and he laid his tail comfortingly on his friend's back. Brightmuzzle was stumbling as they ran, his breaths coming in anxious bursts.
Spottedlion wasn't sure why he wasn't more than mildly panicked. It was as if he'd already experienced it before. He leapt onto the rocky ground at the base of the dune, waiting for Brightmuzzle to regain his breath. The wind began whipping around them like a rabid hyena, assaulting them with a vengeance. Sand swirled at his paws as he started running again, barely hearing the pounding of Brightmuzzle's paws behind him.
There was a great howl, and the sandstorm was upon them.
"Blinkfeather! Smallbloss-" Spottedlion couldn't finish, getting a mouthful of sand in his mouth. He coughed, and squinted, trying to find any sign that he was going in the right direction.
"Where are they?" Brightmuzzle whimpered, pressing so close to Spottedlion that he could feel how badly he was shaking.
"I don't know." Spottedlion replied, cringing at how distraught he must sound. He needed to stay calm. That was first rule of surviving a sandstorm. Never panic.
"Let's just keep moving forward." Spottedlion suggested. "We'll have to run into something eventually."
But hopefully it would be shelter, and the not the edge of a cliff. That was how many died, wandering off cliffs in the middle of a sandstorm, too blinded to see the edge.
The pair pressed on, ducking their heads as the ever-strengthening wind buffeted their pelts. One paw after the other, Spottedlion stretched all his senses to the limit to make sure they wouldn't go down the wrong path. They were still on the rocky plateau; he could feel the hardness under his paws…
Then sand. Soft, shifting sand.
Hyenadung! Spottedlion stopped, and Brightmuzzle skidded to a halt beside him.
"What is it?"
"We're going the wrong way." Spottedlion hissed. "This is more sand, we're supposed to still be on the plateau…"
"And there's no way we're wandering the open desert in a sandstorm." Brightmuzzle finished. It went unspoken that it also meant certain death to wander the desert in a storm.
"How about we follow the sand's edge?" Brightmuzzle suggested after a moment, while Spottedlion continued to stand there, trembling. His voice quivered, but he was trying to be strong. "That way we don't wander off a cliff nor go into the desert."
"That's a better idea than none." Spottedlion relented. He let Brightmuzzle take the lead, his paws dragging on the ground.
Why did he feel like he'd done this all before?
Spottedlion didn't realize it was night until it started to become cold. The sandstorm distorted all light, and the howling in his ears made him forget his surroundings. He was lost in a screaming void without color or meaning, with only Brightmuzzle to accompany him.
His thoughts had wandered first to Tumblesand, then Mirageclaw, along with Blinkfeather and Smallblossom. Had they survived, finding shelter? Or were they wandering the desert like them, calling in vain to the wind?
Did Tumblesand realize she'd probably never see him again? Did Mirageclaw know when she assigned him to the patrol that she had almost certainly spelled out his doom?
Spottedlion was weighed down heavily with emotions, the heaviest of which was sorrow. He wanted to keep hoping, just as he always had, but it was hard. He closed his eyes.
He just wanted this to end.
Ahead of him, Brightmuzzle halted, delicately lifting his nose into the air. His tail shot up.
"I think… I think the storm is starting to stop!" Brightmuzzle exclaimed. His eyes were crusted with sand and tears, but they shone like stars. "I think we're going to make it!"
"R-really?" Spottedlion croaked, then cleared his throat, which felt caked with sand. It probably was. "You think so?"
But Brightmuzzle didn't need to say more. The howling was starting to die in his ears, and it no longer pained him to keep his eyes open.
"Thank StarClan." Brightmuzzle meowed, giving Spottedlion a nudge. "Now just need to find out where we ended up and go from there."
The pair of them looked around the hazy landscape, which was dotted with small rocky hills and piles of sand. Most of their territory did look like this, but maybe if they could find a familiar landmark, they could trace their way home.
A distant rumble sounded in the distance, and Spottedlion's ears shot up. He looked over toward Brightmuzzle to see if he'd noticed, but the tom was still scanning the landscape with half-lidded eyes.
The rumble came again, much closer, and Spottedlion's pelt prickled. It wasn't quite a rumble, it was… more like a roar.
"Brightmuzzle!" Spottedlion hissed urgently.
"Wha? What is it?"
"Did you hear that?" Spottedlion jerked his head in the general direction of the roar. It came from the dunes.
"No…" Brightmuzzle started, but he fell silent as the roar came again. "What in StarClan's name was that?"
"I'm not… sure…" In the back of his mind, there was something screeching at him to wake up, that this was important. There was something important that he was missing.
His eyes widened. "This was just like my dream," He whispered in awe. "There was something roaring, and-"
He trailed off, seeing a horrified expression on Brightmuzzle's face. He followed his friend's gaze, seeing something standing on top of the dune.
It was still hazy, but it stood on all fours, and its tawny fur blended in perfectly with the sand. Even at that distance, Spottedlion could tell it was huge.
"It's… it's a lion." Brightmuzzle stammered. "A real lion…"
His words were lost as the lion roared again, and it was soon joined by two more lions, staring down at the two cats.
"That roaring…" Spottedlion realized. "It's like a hunting cry."
"What do you mean?" Brightmuzzle's eyes were round. Shocked.
"Brightmuzzle. Run." Spottedlion heard the ferocious roars sound behind them as they turned tail and fled toward the rocky hills. He squeezed his eyes shut.
He knew without a doubt that they wouldn't make it.
The earth shook as the lions closed the distance between them and their prey.
It wouldn't be long now.
Life is full of regrets, but Spottedlion never realized how many regrets his life held until now. He'd never tell Tumblesand that he loved her again. He'd never hear Brightmuzzle tell him a joke. He'd never see Mirageclaw become Miragestar, a leader, nor would he ever see her return to the way he once knew her.
I'm too young to die. He thought desperately. There's so much I still have to do.
Too bad his life was so incomplete; he'd really thought in retrospect it would look a lot better.
One final roar.
Then the world became a haze, as he was swallowed by the storm for the final time.
This story requires footnotes because I have a feeling some of the terminology may be confusing.
~In general, WadiClan and deserts observe different seasons, named after key events. The five season are:
Dry Season (encompasses late newleaf to leaf-fall)
Time of Open Flowers (Begins in wet season, extends into early dry season): Flowers are blooming (such as the upside down tree and scale trees) providing extra prey. Starts out cold, but starts to warm up during the end of this subseason.
Time of Ripening Fruit/Time of Bitter Cold: Gets extremely cold during this subseason, but this is also when fruits ripen. It's mainly for prey again, though upside down fruit is useful to medicine cats, and desert melon also ripens. Below freezing at night. Cats go out more often during the daytime. Still green despite rain ending.
Time of Fading Green (goes into wet season until the rains begin): Things start to warm up, but the green starts to fade. During the end of this season, clouds begin to be more frequent.
Wet Season (emcompasses leafbare to newleaf)
Time of Rain: Rains arrive, temperature drops but everything green comes to life. In recent moons the rainy season has been worryingly much shorter.
Time of Heat: Extremely hot. Only come out during the night. Downpours in the afternoons used to be common. This is when the story begins. Time of Open Flowers comes after this.
1 - A wadi is a dry riverbed, and it fitting since the camp is in one. Though yes WadiClan does sound silly.
2 - A pirate is what clan cats call a rogue. Somewhat relevant, loners are called nomads.
3 - Kind of self-explanatory, but StarClan doesn't really appear anymore. They just memorize prophecies orally and pass them down from generation to generation. However, I'm not really sure where they got them initially if that's the case.
4 - The upside-down tree, aka the Baobi tree, is native to the Namib desert in Namibia, Africa. It produces fruit that have a lemony powder inside that can cure most common ailments. The Namib desert is also where WadiClan lives.
5 - A bustard is a large terrestrial bird that wanders grasslands and steppe terrains. It can be brought down by multiple cats (or a single hyena) and provides bountiful prey.
6 - An oryx is a type of desert-dwelling antelope characterized by its long, straight horns and pale fur with contrasting dark markings.
7 - Elephant trunks aka halfmens are succulents that can reach the size of a tree. The are round and somewhat resemble cactuses. They have reddish yellow flowers.
8 - I am somewhat betraying my story but I definitely ship Brightmuzzle x Spottedlion more than Spottedlion x Tumblesand. Sorry Spottedlion.