A/N: I fear that it's starting to get hot where I live and Imma die, so that's fun. Certainly doesn't help that despite it being around 78-80 degrees in my house, my mom still doesn't want to turn on the AC. And the heat gives me headaches (which I've been suffering through these past few days, end me now). Anywho, story! Things are gonna take a sharp downward turn, so hang on tight, yeah? Don't want anyone to get thrown off this ride.
Thanks to Pengu54324 and Animeloverdog for following and/or adding this story as a favorite!
Reviews
Hissing Mist- (I find it funny how you mention tongue-ripping). Anywho, I fully endorse Nightstone murder XD. You didn't hear it from me though. I want/need more of their fluff too. It's been a long time coming. Specklepaw's death was simply a casualty that needed to happen (according to the murderer). A means to an end that will have a lot of repercussions. I find it crazy how you guys can connect and remember so many past conversations and moments haha. Excellent note-takers you are. I'm glad you liked her :). Windy is contractually obligated as raindrop's girlfriend to tease Brother Blue like that. Now he's gotta suffer.
Songmistle (Guest)- Twilight is nice, although I don't usually stay up long enough or wake up early enough for it. Drippingpaw is the daughter of Sagesplash and Splashstorm. Sagesplash is Windpaw's father. Ergo, Drippingpaw is Windpaw's step-sister. It's fine if you're confused, I only mentioned it recently (because I may or may not have noticed it recently myself, whoops). Damn… I've been here too long lol. I've been steadily thinking about Wildfire's parents (and who the hell would possibly be mate's with Wolfstorm) and I think I'm getting nuggets of information that I won't reveal until his backstory. Teehee. You don't have to answer all the QOTDs lol. There is a lot. This chapter is called Fail. I think I've already done the book series question before, but thanks for the other two :).
The Unnamed Guest- Hey old friend, long time no see lol. Glad you're okay. Okay, I'll humor you. I'd have to go back and read through the reviews, but yeah I think you were one of if not the first to come up with that theory. As well as the Sootblaze-Redstar relationship theory. Nice job :). Oh boy, binge reading is my favorite thing to do, so I bid thee the best of luck. And as for the scent that Whiteshadow smelled on Wildfire once upon a time, it wasn't King. It was actually Phantom's scent (which is why he went kinda cray-cray there). Zero had been long dead by this point. I really don't know if his backstory would make him redeemable, but I suppose that's up to you guys to decide. Ah yes, pain and suffering. My lifeblood XD. Yeah, those parts were… really tough to write. Just personally speaking. It hurts to put the characters through this, but it's gotta happen. Oh, he's definitely gonna use it against her. He's petty and can't let things go. Making you guys feel conflicted about the characters is my jam. I never confirmed one of them wouldn't make it out, I think I said it was a possibility (that luckily didn't happen, hooray!) I think the entire cast needs therapy at this point for something or the other. The thing with Phantom not taking the throne for himself (despite not liking the current King) is because, in his head, he can't take it unless Father gave him the right. He wasn't the heir. And he isn't going to take that position. Yes, he does technically lead the Twelve though- but King can overrule him in the end. Phantom has a lot of power and standing, but in the end, he will always abide by King's word (might find a way to weasel out of doing it completely, but he'll still do it). Wonderful observations btw, you guys are great. Ahh, Umbra. I miss them. Rest in chaos, Umbra. You shall be missed. I like how we've reached the point where we're not even looking for a happy ending for some of the characters- we just want them to stay alive XD. Gotta love that relationship development. He didn't make her cry, he basically just made her freeze up entirely. (I think. It's been a while… I think I should go back and read my own story XD). I'm glad you liked it! I was worried my writing would suffer (I had COVID at that time, it was no fun) but I'm happy with the way it turned out. Especially for our boi. His name has like a triple meaning; it's the name of the clan, it's a homage to Thornblaze, and because of that fire in his golden sunset eyes. I do have Flarekitty's name picked out already- and the meaning(s) behind it- and I hope you guys like it. Redstar's backstory is still one of my proudest achievements. I honestly don't know how the next backstory is gonna top that. I just make all these lovely characters to kill them off XD Enjoy them while they last. Cinderfrost hurt to kill though. The biggest thing that it came down to in terms of her outsmarting the High Ranks was because they underestimated her. Her tenacity, and how carefully she thought things through. She was actually quite smart when it came to her 'pranks' and shenanigans. It can make the backstory difficult and easy at the same time, centering it around a theme/word like that. It's fun though and I really like fleshing out these characters. Fingers crossed for a future reconciliation between father and son. Fun fact; when GRs decide it's "their time" to go, they are supposed to head off to the Path to the Stars, go into the pool of water, and essentially, well, join their ancestors there. Feathersong is a personal favorite of mine. Making it be twisted was kind of the point. I will say that if Emberpaw ever dies, he'll definitely find it hard to recover from that. I will say that a GR has more influence and authority, but as for power, that's where it gets finicky (it's a yes and no situation in regards to them having more power). Another fun fact; Ginger is actually ace/aro. As for Umbra's group possibly having prophetic powers, who knows? Maybe they do, maybe they don't (not that anyone will believe them anyway). Spike and Berry are doing the best they can in their predicament haha. Nightstone is definitely self-taught (and asking about it with the Med-Cat, who freely shares info because she's eager and has never had a student before). Aye, good eye. He did want to be a Med-Cat, but because of the restrictions of his Commoner rank, he simply wasn't allowed the opportunity. Ravenflight is bitter toward High Ranks, I'll say that, but she wouldn't do something like what Nightstone is planning. The problem with telling Leafstar is actually getting to her XD Ain't anyone just gonna allow a Blazeclan Commoner into their land with those kinds of accusations. Everyone's out to get everyone else, is basically the basis of this story haha. Trust no one. Aww, I'm happy I can make you happy, and thanks for submitting the characters. I know I can make up plenty on my own (clearly) but I also like to give that opportunity for readers to submit their own because you guys are a part of this story just as much as me and the characters. I would be honored if you made me fanart, the first one was so cool. Thank you! It still blows my mind that we got 1k reviews, and now we're at chapter 100… it's wild. Thanks for deciding to review my story, it really means a lot to me. You guys have no idea how much it means to me.
FrostedShadowx- Well, I'm glad you like him, even if he is a villain. I just show you guys the best (or worst) of a character and it's up to you if they're a "good" or a "bad" guy. Revenge is a powerful and twisted thing that can be quite addicting. Drippingpaw was meant to come off as that kind of naive character, but she's got an honest heart. Happy you like her. Fingers crossed for a possible meeting of the half-siblings. (Sagesplash gets around, apparently XD) Side note; I'd love to read a spin-off Noir story where Blue and Wind are detectives solving murders (while also trying not to kill each other) lol. Lemme make it a little easier, the rogues aren't there anymore.
Echofire (Guest)- Nah don't worry, Berrypaw was already a Cripple before Nightstone started his shenanigans. She was crippled by a fox long ago. Yeah, he's kinda in a pickle with this knowledge (and upcoming predicaments ain't gonna make it easier, that's for sure). Thanks for reading!
reading at 3am is normal- Finals weeks prolly passed but I hope you did well :). (Luckily for me, I didn't have midterms for my classes for whatever reason, so hooray for me.) When I was coming up with names, I was like that. That sounds cool. Things are not looking so good with our forest friends, fingers crossed for them. I think we might be overdue for a clan meeting, but that ain't gonna happen soon. (It actually hasn't been a month since the last one, so we gotta wait a bit longer.) Gotta love that snarky sibling bonding. Let's hope Windy is more open with having a sister. Yeah, thanks for helping with the question haha. As for my ideal weekend getaway? I personally don't really like traveling to places and would rather have the house to myself. So my ideal weekend would be having everybody else out of the house for the day, peace and quiet for me to binge-watch whatever show/movie I wanna watch, have some junk food, maybe read some fanfiction if I'm feeling up to it, listen to music. Ugh, I hate the heat, and lately, I've been feeling very lazy and not wanting to workout (except going on a long walk, so I guess that makes up for it a bit), and it's starting to get hot where I live. Gotta love the Bay Area.
Rainbow Badge (Guest)- I think if Drippingpaw came with a warning, it would be: 'Careful, this one imprints easily.' She is rather adorable. Even Windpaw's like, trying her best not to like her, but come on. That's impossible. I still can't believe Grinch and Tony the Tiger fanfiction is a thing- but then again, there's Bible fanfiction so am I really surprised? Probably not XD. Drippingpaw is an adorable brat confirmed. Glad you like the side characters, they're always fun to mess around with. And Nightstone is, umm, a little bitter. Let's go with that lol. Gremlin Nightstone. (I'd say he's average size. Sootblaze is a little taller than him, but nothing too crazy haha.) I can just imagine Blossomleaf enthusiastically teaching him and inadvertently adopting him. I just adore the Blossomleaf and Nightstone interaction XD It's hilarious. Yeah, Mousepaw (rip) got to go to a Gathering and met the other Commoners of the other clans there. And Mousepaw and Nightstone XD Geesh, how do you come up with this stuff? I… I think you just made a new ship. Congratulations, you're the captain. You have the legal rights. I love your ridiculous headcanons. Yeah, nobody is too excited to be a main character in any of my stories XD They're trying their best not to win that race because they don't wanna be it. Too much pain. Cloudstar is the worst boss in existence, someone stop him. Also, I don't think beer gardens are a thing (I looked it up and that was just the name of some place, but not an actual garden that grows beer. False advertising at its best). I like to think that if this was a show- the sitcom side of it would be popping up in the background every now and then while the main cast is off fighting for their lives and facing Trauma. Murder! Specklepaw was seen previously as, like, Cloverpaw's (Cloverpaw? I forget my own characters and I'm tired lol) right-hand cat and yes gal. She was a Royal apprentice. That is indeed Shadepaw's greatest achievement XD Not being terrible is a really big deal in this world full of really terrible peeps. I love writing Blue and Wind banter, especially since they've gotten past the part of hating each other for absolutely no reason. No, it wasn't Mountain Dew XD That would have been hilarious though. Aww man, now he's forever stuck with that title. (He accepts it either way.) Yeah, Flarekitty made the pun, so feel free to bash on Wildfire again lol. Nah, you're not crazy. I think you were possessed as a child, just saying lol. Why… almonds? Of all things to steal and eat in a closet XD. Daylight is nice. I think I've only seen snippets of Rise of the Guardians, but never like. The full thing. I should probably get on that sometime. Thanks for reading!
Someone (Guest)- It's detective time (actually not though cause, well, you'll see). Dun dun dun… A good guess, but keep in mind that Commoners are… well. Still Commoners. Specklepaw was a Royal apprentice who had once been in the running for Grand Royal. She isn't as strong as our main cast, but against Commoners? She'll easily beat them. (The only way for Nightstone's little rebellion to work would be to weaken the High Ranks- hence, poisoning them slowly but surely- and he can't exactly do that for the Stormclan kitties.) *Le gasp* That's an achievement for Nightstone if I've ever seen one XD. To be hated more than Wildfire. I have definitely read the Hunger Games, one of my favorite all-time series. In terms of that final part, part of me is like, "yeah, have the Capital's children suffer like they had their whole lives," but the other part is like, "but you'll be just like them… Is that really justice?" I love it, all the conflicting emotions. Fun fact, Drippingpaw was actually a fan-submitted character. Unique name indeed, but I strangely like it. Why do you always think Imma kill off characters? XD I can be nice, you know? (Am I going to be though? We'll just have to wait and see.) Windpaw and Bluepaw are Rainpaw's bodyguards haha. Ugh, I hate sweating too. I just hate being hot in general (but then the heat is better to work out in so… meh. Still don't like it). Twilight is the time between sunset and dusk. Totally didn't have to look that up. I feel like there can be nocturnal humans, but uhh, as a society we don't typically do that haha. Who would be the best leader from all of the characters? Oh geesh. Hmm… Honestly? The best leader would have been Berrypaw. She is always open to learning more and how to improve herself, she's fair and just and even if she did have opinions on somebody, she wouldn't judge them on those alone (excluding Cherrypaw, because the brat likes to push her buttons constantly and there's only so much Berry can take). She's kind and protective and is always willing to work with others. She may not be the strongest, nor the best when coming up with plans, but she never gives up and is always trying to do better. Delightful surprises indeed, just you wait. Hold on to your helmets everyone.
Thanks to everybody who reviewed, followed, and/or added this story as a favorite!
Let's get started!
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Stormclan
…
Rainpaw felt like she was walking on air.
Well, more accurately. She was walking on a thin line far above ground where tipping to the right would lead her crashing into the frigid depths of the abyss and the gaping, open maw of the monster ready to devour her whole; while to the left was solid ground that would most definitely hurt if she landed there because of how high up she was.
This was the closest feeling she came to flying though, so she wondered if it was worth the possibility of certain doom on either side. (Certain doom, that how it felt like this was going to end. An inevitable demise for one or the other- the monster or the innocent- and in the end, it was always her. Always her who was lost.) Either way, it was a great feeling, which was not something she suspected at all.
Memories were… a strange thing.
She had repressed them for so long that it felt strange to actively seek to retain them now had left her rather nervous, to say the least. Nervous, but excited, and it felt a lot like playing with fire or standing in the middle of a torrential storm. Thunder crackled all around and she was deaf to everything but the long-forgotten words of sweeter times, lovely moments. Lightning flashed, and within the blue-white arcs, images wavered and formed and revealed themselves. (They always missed her, the lightning. She wondered what it was going to be like when one of them actually struck.)
Pushing past the horribleness of being abducted by Haze, of losing her mother, was rather tiresome. But doable. She almost felt like thanking the monster for conditioning her to be so used to death and devastation, because now she can think back on the lifeless, soft blue eyes of Snowstrike and hardly even flinch. That probably wasn't a good thing, but in hindsight, at least it didn't stop her from pushing further and giving herself a headache to ponder on her younger days.
Rainpaw didn't know whether it was a sad thing or not that she could not recognize the bouncing blue kit in her memories. It was like looking at a stranger that she so desperately wanted to be again and knew that no matter what she did, no matter how much better she strived to be, she would never be like that again.
That thought didn't make her as upset as she thought it would.
Because yes, she wanted to be Rainkit again, just like her. But alas, it was simply impossible and maybe that was for the best. Becoming exactly like her again would be an act of simply forgetting all of the horribleness she created, all the deaths she caused, all the blood on her paws- and she didn't know why, but she knew it was important that she didn't forget it.
It happened. All those fights, those killings, those mistakes.
Now she just had to make sure they didn't happen again.
She could never be exactly like Rainkit of before, but she could take snippets of who she once was on her mission to make herself anew. She could never be exactly like the monster either- she really didn't want to be- but again, maybe she could take pieces of who that was and place them into this new version of her.
Rainpaw didn't know who she was trying to be or who she deserved to be.
But she was eager to find out and it felt like walking on a thin line where one misstep led to death.
It was exhilarating.
And what wasn't fun was discovering all of these things and new desires and building herself anew when Specklepaw was dead. She wasn't an idiot. Windpaw was right; she was the clan's scapegoat now- and probably for the rest of time- and everyone was going to blame her. How convenient that she was the one to find the body. She can imagine their accusations now. (She was hesitant to keep moving forward on the thin thread because it felt like she was a second away from falling to the right.)
But alas, she had to take step after step and Rainpaw could not take her eyes away from the limp body on her brother's back. Bluepaw moved so carefully, not wanting to accidentally drop the dead, and it made her heart clench. She wouldn't have done that. She wouldn't be so careful. What was the point? Specklepaw was gone anyway, she wouldn't feel any of this.
Specklepaw is dead.
Her mind repeated it more times than she could count on their- admittedly slow- journey back to camp and she still couldn't wrap her head around it. Her brows furrowed, trying to remember and wondering if there was an instance where she blacked out. Did she do this?
No. She didn't think so, at least. Rainpaw had been heading to the river to… She didn't entirely know. Seeking closure? Wanting a moment of peace? Looking for answers? Whatever the case, it didn't matter in the end because the point was, she saw a body in the water and something had compelled her to jump in after it. Had she been trying to save whoever it was?
She liked to think she had been.
Her pelt had transitioned from soaked to mildly damp by the time they made it toward the land bridge that would lead them directly to the entrance of camp and a sudden sense of apprehension made her heart rate pick up. Rainpaw bit her lip nervously and felt incredibly self-conscious without the cobwebs on her face covering those scars. The light hurt her head and Ripplewave had said that was a positive thing because it meant she wasn't totally blind at the very least. She could tell the difference between night and day, dark and light. See vague shapes and shadows.
She couldn't see what really mattered in clarity- aka, Windpaw- and it was really inconvenient when it started to hurt her head. Like now.
It was comforting knowing that the uneasiness she felt traveled amongst Windpaw and Bluepaw as well. Without any of them saying a word or giving a signal, they all came to a stop right before stepping onto the bridge and Rainpaw could feel Windpaw looking at her, ever worried, but her eyes forever remained on the body. (Did I kill her? She didn't think she did but now she was starting to second-guess herself. Her body didn't have the telltale soreness of a fight, so she didn't think she had any scuffles lately.)
"Hey," Rainpaw turned at Windpaw's soft murmur and felt infinitely lighter. The warmth enveloped in her chest and the chill of the shadows and all her worries were steadily escaping back toward the depths of the black hole in her soul. It would take a while yet for all the cracks of her being to be fixed, but she liked to think they were filling in with the golden light she always felt when in the presence of her love. Windpaw took a step closer, just enough to brush her muzzle along the top of her head, a comforting touch. "Don't leave my side."
As if Rainpaw could even fathom the thought.
I just found you again and you just found me… Why would I ever leave?
"Would it be smarter if just one of us went in and got Ripplewave out here instead?" Bluepaw brought both of their attention to him, the tip of his tail twitching nervously. "That's probably a better idea than just walking in, right?"
"Oh, now who's having second thoughts?" Windpaw grumbled with a quiet scoff, her body tense where Rainpaw leaned into her side. The blue-furred apprentice pressed her head against her lover's shoulder, hoping it would do something to give her some peace of mind.
"I thought you loved being dramatic," Bluepaw retorted with a roll of his eyes, a thoughtful frown to his face, and he looked rather conflicted for whatever reason and Rainpaw liked to believe she knew why. Because half of him wanted to respect the dead, give the rest of the clan time to grieve for the one they lost because Specklepaw deserved that much respect at the very least. While the other half of him wanted to protect her from the impending accusations.
It was a heartwarming thought.
"Let's just get this over with," Rainpaw found herself saying with a sigh, taking half a step forward and twining her tail around one of Windpaw's legs briefly to touch her for as long as she was able to. "No matter what, even if we bring Ripplewave out here, he's going to tell the rest of the clan. We can't escape this."
She wanted to say I can't escape this but bit her tongue. She did nothing wrong. The clan could blame her, but until anyone had any proof, they couldn't do anything. (She hoped, at least. She hoped Cloudstar wouldn't just run with the false claims and make her a Prisoner. Or worse.)
(She liked to think that, even as the scapegoat, she was relatively safe from harm. Cloudstar still had use for her, and she was more valuable alive than dead.)
"Alright," Bluepaw blew out a heavy exhale through his teeth, his ears falling flat before he gave a shake of his head and held himself taller, making sure Specklepaw was secure on his back. "Alright, let's do this."
No turning back.
Through the bridge they went, steps uncertain and slow just to buy themselves more time. It was smarter that she faced this head-on, right? If she ran, she would look guilty for sure. I did nothing wrong.
The monster wouldn't let her forget about it if she really was the one who killed Specklepaw.
For once, this wasn't on her.
(Each step felt like walking to her own demise and she hated it.)
At last, they were there, Bluepaw walking in first. Rainpaw hesitated behind him, taking in a deep breath and looking toward Windpaw for reassurance. Copper eyes never once left her, sparking with that familiar look of protect and flakes of affection appeared within the mix. You're my soulmate. Windpaw would not let her down and Rainpaw would be damned if she failed Windpaw.
They stepped into camp together, a few seconds after Bluepaw, but already, the tension in the air was palpable and suffocating and it nearly made her want to turn back at once. Those that were littering around the area regarded them curiously before it dawned on them that there was a body on Bluepaw's back. Many mouths gaped open in astonishment as her brother moved quietly in the direction of the Medicine Den, his ears folded with a hint of sorrow. The whispers started, someone ran into the various dens to bring out the others and share the news.
Rainpaw shuffled her paws awkwardly, not really knowing where she should go. If she should stay at the camp entrance or run off toward Windpaw's den to hide this out. No. No, she wasn't running from this.
That wasn't her way of doing things. Rainpaw didn't run, she fought.
Maybe right now, she'd have to learn to defend.
Bluepaw didn't make it to the den before someone approached him. Their father, Streamrunner. Lead Royal. Rainpaw held her breath as the tom with the same pelt color as theirs stepped in front of her brother, his mouth opening and closing, at a loss for words.
"Grand Royal Bluepaw…" He breathed out and it was the first time in a while that Rainpaw heard her father sound so… shocked. In disbelief. (Afraid.) "Is that… Is that who I think it is?"
She couldn't see her brother's face, but she could imagine he was doing his best to keep a professional expression there. His soft heart was bleeding through, however, and Rainpaw wondered if her brother would cry now.
"It is," his voice sounded tight. "It's-"
"Specklepaw!" The cry pierced through the tense silence, making her jump at the sudden noise, as out of one of the dens came the dark brown blur of Cloverpaw. She sprinted faster than Rainpaw had ever seen her run before, somehow finding the time to skid to a stop as Bluepaw hastily and carefully laid out the body on the ground, taking a step back. "No, no, no!"
Despite not liking Cloverpaw whatsoever, Rainpaw couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. Her ears fell flat and her jaw clenched tighter, a sting of tears in her eyes that she blinked away because she didn't deserve to cry.
Was this what it was like?
Did the ones she killed have family, friends, partners?
Who mourned them?
That was not a rabbit hole she ever thought she was going to go down, but seeing Cloverpaw immediately break down into sobs, pulling the limp body of her dear friend close to her, holding her fiercely as though Specklepaw would return to her if she just held her tight enough, Rainpaw had the strange sensation of falling into an endless abyss. (She thinks she tripped and fell toward the right.)
Vaguely, she could register the rest of the clan beginning to cry as well, some still in shock and unable to process it all and others already beginning to look angry and vengeful. The Commoners looked frightened and the Artisans were shocked. The Nobles looked like they wanted to run out and search for whoever did this then and there while the Royals were moving closer to see for themselves that this was true. The apprentices gathered around, looking at each other nervously and full of disbelief.
It was a sad sight. And Rainpaw felt guilty.
Guilty for those that she had killed who had someone to mourn for them. She didn't stay long enough to see the aftermath. Guilty that she had ever come to enjoy the act of taking someone's life- taking someone away from someone else.
(Her gaze turned to Windpaw at her side and it was with a shock of sheer cold thinking about what would happen if someone did the same thing to her. What if someone, out of revenge against Rainpaw or simply out of spite or just because- some of her kills had been just because- took Windpaw away from her forever?
She thinks she might go mad. And if she was mad now… Well, the world hadn't seen anything yet.)
But most of all… She felt guilty because she wasn't sad.
Specklepaw had just been another clan cat, another Royal, another nuisance toward her. While she wasn't happy per se, she certainly didn't feel the need to cry for her. Just for the others, just for those still alive. Specklepaw wouldn't get to see this anyway.
And that's what was sad.
Bluepaw had gone in to get Ripplewave, bringing him out so the Medicine Cat could investigate the wounds and the cause of her death. The dark green eyes of the aging tom passed over the area, landing on her for a moment with a hint of a frown before he spoke softly to Cloverpaw, who would not let her friend go. Bluepaw had to pull her away, nearly receiving a claw to the face in the process, and it was Maplepond and Riverspiral who carried the body toward the den for Ripplewave to do his thing in private.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Cloudstar moving in the direction of the den, his stance stiff and stomach-churning fury radiating off of him. It made Rainpaw rather nervous and she couldn't exactly remember seeing her Grand Royal this angry before. (She briefly questioned if he would be reacting the same way if it wasn't a Royal. What if it had been one of the Commoners? Would he be angry then?)
(What if it was her?)
(Who would mourn for her?)
"Rainpaw," her ear flicked to Windpaw's whisper at her side, the grey-furred she-cat taking the smallest of steps in the general direction of her den. No doubt wanting to hide her away. "We should get away from here."
She wanted to turn around and run out of camp but knew that wouldn't bode well for anybody. Rainpaw took in a deep breath, giving a small nod in response to her words, before jerking her head for Windpaw to take the lead. Her love swallowed visibly, looking as though she wanted to brush her muzzle against hers but just barely refrained from doing so, turning and beginning the tentative journey toward her den.
Rainpaw waited a few seconds before choosing to follow, her eyes lingering to where Cloverpaw had all but collapsed against Bluepaw, who held her comfortingly (if a bit awkward and nervous, his eyes flicking toward her quickly and back again, murmuring quiet words of condolences). She moved, trying not to show any haste in her step, taking the long way around on the outside of the clan and hoping, wishing, praying nobody would notice her.
Unfortunately, the world never heard any of her prayers. (She didn't know why she bothered.)
It was a moment frozen in time as she cast a final glance toward where Cloverpaw was, an empty path opened directly to her… and the Royal apprentice opened her eyes, looked through her tears, and saw Rainpaw for the first time.
And oh did Cloverpaw go downright ballistic. Grief and anguish and now outrage bloomed in dark amber and it felt a lot like looking at a fire about to start.
And start, it did.
Here comes the blame. The scapegoat was ready.
"You!" The grieving Royal shrieked and managed to tear herself from Bluepaw's grip before he even had time to register she was gone. Cloverpaw raced toward her, the rest of the crowd parting and jumping out of the way at the sudden change of mood, from sorrow to anger.
Rainpaw felt her heart jump in her throat, the shadows spilling out from the abyss and tainting her blood with poison, and she watched the approaching danger with a twitch to her body in response. Fight, fight, fight. Cloverpaw was clearly out for blood and she had set her sights on Rainpaw- and Rainpaw oh so badly wanted to return the favor.
Her last fight had been against Umbra. It felt like so long ago now. And though her body had suffered from it, these past few days of recovery had built up her strength. (She never fought half-blind before, what was that like? She was excited to find out.) Adrenaline licked up her spine, electrifying fire, and she could feel the fight to be better quickly becoming a losing one.
Fight, fight, fi-
Something- someone stepped in her way, startling her out of her reverie, the suffocating venom in her veins freezing before retreating with a haste unlike any other, suddenly afraid. Rainpaw blinked in confusion before her gaze focused.
Focused just in time to see Windpaw completely shove Cloverpaw back, halting her sprint in an instant and sending her tumbling back. Perhaps just as shocked as Rainpaw was of someone getting in her way. The Grand Royal apprentice stepped forward, looking as though she was about to run forward and continue the job, before taking back that step and adopting a firm, defensive stance in front of Rainpaw. Defensive. Protect.
Half of her was indignant, wanting to push past Windpaw regardless and fight for herself because damn it, I want to fight. But the other half, wrestling for dominance, kept her in place and let the idea of someone protecting her wash over her with a warmth unlike any other. She normally hated it, she didn't need protecting. Whiteshadow had learned as much not to treat her as though she were weak.
But this was Windpaw. And, well… Windpaw protecting her was a different matter entirely.
Because though her love stood in front of her for that immediate moment, a second later, she backtracked until she was right by Rainpaw's side instead, ever protective as always. That never changed. She was protecting Rainpaw, yes, but she was also expecting Rainpaw to protect her as well.
They were protecting each other. Equals.
It made her smile.
"This is your fault!" Cloverpaw managed to shout once she gathered the air back in her lungs, getting to her paws and snarling, moving as though to run for her again before pausing upon realizing Windpaw was at her side and there were two of them. (Rainpaw almost wanted her to run forward anyway.) "You come back and all of a sudden she's dead?!"
"I didn't touch her," Rainpaw felt her shoulders begin to tighten with indignation, her nerves rising as the rest of the clan began turning their attention in her direction. Bluepaw hastily made his way over to join her other side.
Cloverpaw scowled, "You never liked Specklepaw!"
Her lip curled in a scowl, a dangerous smile, before she spat back, "I don't like many of you… and yet, you're still alive, no?"
Perhaps not the smartest thing to say, but Rainpaw was not about to take these baseless allegations without defending herself. She bit back making a remark about if she had done it, it would be difficult to tell it was Specklepaw at all. So, improvement?
Apparently, Cloverpaw didn't like her words, "Why you little-"
"She didn't do it," Windpaw cut her off with a warning growl, and despite feeling sorry for her, Rainpaw could not help but feel a flicker of satisfaction that the Royal backed down in some semblance of nervousness. Her love had done a terrific job at making so many of the clan scared of her. What a pair they were. "Specklepaw was already dead when we found her, Rainpaw jumped into the river to get her out."
"Exactly," Bluepaw's turn, the tom taking a step forward and addressing the rest of the clan as well with his words. "Grand Royal Windpaw and I can vouch for her. She was trying to pull her out. The wounds on her body seemed to be caused by claws, and we assume that's what killed her and not the drowning, but we didn't know for sure so we came here for Ripplewave to determine it."
His eyes turned back to Cloverpaw head-on, "Rainpaw was trying to help."
She kept her gaze surreptitiously on the clan, not really caring what Cloverpaw thought, and didn't know how to feel that they seemed to be uncertain. Not so willing to believe her brother's words, and all in all, regarding her with suspicion. Rainpaw had been expecting as much… but it surprisingly hurt.
She didn't know why a part of her still cared about what the clan thought of her.
(She blamed Rainkit.)
"As if we're meant to believe that," Cloverpaw wasn't done yet. She scoffed, and it was a wonder how she could even speak at all. Her tone was riddled with pain- Rainpaw wondered what it felt like to lose someone- and twisted with unyielding wrath. She wanted someone to blame and the only one suitable enough for it was Rainpaw. "The words of her brother," dark amber turned to Windpaw with disgust, "and someone who obviously has an infatuation for her. You're just defending her!"
Just kill her already. It was a passing thought that she, admittedly, spent more time considering than was probably appropriate. She gave a harsh shake of her head, hoping it was enough to chase off the monster hovering by her ears, digging its claws into her shoulders.
It was all she could do not to run up and attack. They want a monster, a killer- show them one.
No. No, she had to keep it together.
This wasn't her fault, she wasn't going to take the blame for it. And she wasn't going to give them a reason to blame her either.
Noise became muffled then. Uh oh. That was never a good thing. A faint ringing in her head made her eyes drift shut, squeezing, and the light was starting to hurt. Nausea stabbed at her stomach and it was very difficult to keep her breathing even. This isn't my fault, this isn't my fault.
I'm not going to make it my fault.
She could see lips moving, Cloverpaw taking another step forward and Windpaw copying her, the fur bristled along her love's spine and her tail lashing in agitation. She wondered if Windpaw would attack Cloverpaw before she could. She didn't know if she wanted that. Someone else opposing them joined the grieving Royal, and Rainpaw blinked many times before realizing it was Streamrunner.
Her own father. Of course, what did she expect?
Streamrunner was looking for any reason to cast her out. (Huh. Maybe he hadn't forgiven her for Snowstrike's death. She didn't understand how it was her fault.)
It made her… sad. Looking at how many of her own clanmates were ready to make her the villain in their story.
Well.. they're not wrong.
(Was it even worth it trying to change? They already saw her as irredeemable, so what was the point?)
(It would be so much easier to be the villain they saw her as.)
Rainpaw took in a trembling breath as she turned her gaze to either side of her. Windpaw and Bluepaw were not giving up, fiercely standing loyal. She wanted to ask how they didn't see her as the villain. How they could have so much faith in her when she hardly had faith in herself.
Certain doom was here and she almost just wanted to let herself fall. Either way, she would be gone.
"Enough!"
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt, as did the ongoing argument amidst the clan, and her head turned to where Cloudstar had suddenly made his appearance. Ripplewave was at his side, a deep frown to his features and concern shining in his eyes as he regarded both his Grand Royal and the rest of the clan with wariness. She didn't entirely know how much time had passed since it started. She probably should've been paying attention to what everyone had been saying.
Cloverpaw whipped in the Grand Royal's direction, and despite his order, she looked as though she wanted to keep fighting. For a split second, Rainpaw half-expected her to charge up to Cloudstar next, but no. Cloverpaw was a coward.
"Grand Royal, she-"
"Is not the cause of Specklepaw's death," dark blue eyes reflected the clan's namesake and Rainpaw wondered if this was the lightning that would strike her next. He raised his head higher, dominating the scene easily. "So stand down. Do not aim your anger at her."
"But-"
"I said stand down."
Cloverpaw kept her mouth shut, recoiling away and breathing heavily. Rainpaw wanted to ask what was going on in her mind but decided it probably wasn't anything good. The she-cat wanted someone to blame, to hurt, to get vengeance on, and now her one source had been taken away. Maybe her thoughts were targeting her now- and Rainpaw knew that never felt good.
"Ripplewave," Cloudstar's voice rumbled with barely restrained rage, "explain to them."
The Medicine Cat blew out a small, withering breath and Rainpaw felt sorry for him. Dark green eyes stared at the ground, helpless to do anything but listen to his leader, and whatever news he had to share must not have been good. (But for who? Who wasn't it good for?)
The tom took a few steps forward, standing beside Cloudstar and sending him a final glance, a silent conversation that nobody but Grand Royal and Medicine Cat were privy to. A warning, trying to get the leader to change his mind, advising him against whatever next course of action he had already decided.
"Wounds and scars tell a story," Ripplewave began with a hesitant voice, sheer reluctance in his tone and his posture. "After countless battles and the like, a lot of them become familiar. A… brand, of sort. A clan's particular fighting style can be reflected by the wounds they leave behind. And… through this, I can figure out- and speculate," he stressed the word and looked back at Cloudstar before continuing, "as to who may be responsible."
"Have you ever been wrong before?" The Grand Royal shot back rhetorically with a raise of his brow, a hardening of his glare. "My esteemed Medicine Cat, tell the clan which one of our neighbors did this to Specklepaw."
Ripplewave swallowed thickly and Rainpaw really felt sorry for him. That's what he must have been against. Because as soon as he said who was responsible, the clan was running on nothing but vengeance at the moment and a bloodbath was inevitable. An entire season without fighting had left them antsy and restless.
"My prediction is that somebody from Blazeclan did this," Ripplewave accepted his defeat, his eyes closing. "The wounds reflect the typical grappling style they fight with. Now, I could be wrong-"
But no one was listening anymore. They wanted someone to blame and they got it.
And though it wasn't Rainpaw, she found that she couldn't relax whatsoever.
Blazeclan… Whiteshadow is there.
He wouldn't have done this. Not for no reason at all, and Specklepaw was not one to pick a fight randomly, even with their rival clan.
"All High Ranks," the storm that Cloudstar embodied erupted and no one was safe. His teeth bared, fangs glinting in the light, as he suddenly began barreling straight for the camp entrance. "To me! We'll show Blazeclan what happens when they slaughter one of our own!"
A battle cry rippled through the rest of the clan as they turned and began sprinting after their leader, the call for blood ringing through the air and the thirst for vengeance and justice parching their throats with temptation. Rainpaw blinked in astonishment at how quickly everyone could… become just like her. It would have made her laugh if it wasn't so unsettling.
Wait, all High Ranks.
"We need to go," Bluepaw spoke in a tight voice, as nervous as Ripplewave seemed to be as he looked between the two she-cats. "It's required of us to be there."
"Why don't you stay here, Rainpaw?" Windpaw muttered as she watched their clanmates race away. Those required to stay behind began to pace restlessly, shouting at one another about their neighbors and how horrible Blazeclan was. "Stay in my den and we'll come get you when… when it's over."
A fight was coming, that much was certain. Rainpaw didn't think there was much the Grand Royal of the opposing clan could do to dissuade or calm Cloudstar. Once her leader made up his mind, there was no changing it. No matter how many casualties needed to be made.
The possibility of a fight always made her excited, but now…
Now, she was scared.
Not just for Windpaw and her brother, but also for Whiteshadow.
So much for Blazeclan and Stormclan learning to work together. After everything they've been through, she didn't want him to get hurt. She had yet to apologize to him for everything she did.
"No," she breathed out through the constriction in her throat, chasing off everything else with another shake of her head and setting her jaw. "No, I'm going with you."
"Rainpaw," copper eyes flashed with ever-growing anxieties and she wanted to apologize for that too. For making Windpaw so worried about her. (Honestly, if it came down to a fight, she didn't know how well she'd be able to keep herself together.)
"You told me not to leave your side," she tried her best at smiling and didn't really know if she succeeded. "So, I'm not going to."
Defeat sparked in Windpaw's eyes, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Bluepaw cut her off.
"We need to go," Bluepaw said in a firmer voice before he began to speed-walk in the direction of the camp entrance. "We have to be there."
Right. They were Grand Royal apprentices, and Rainpaw was just… there. Only a Royal by name, a Cripple by appearance. Cloudstar's puppet by circumstance and a monster by nature. A lost soul by design.
What a mess she was.
The three of them began trailing after the outraged High Ranks, waiting patiently for their turn to cross back over the bridge as the others ran by. They went at a slow trot, still enough to see the end of the patrol, and Rainpaw could feel their reluctance in the air between them.
What if a fight ruined any progress she made? What if it sent her flying headfirst into the abyss with the monster again? What if she failed at keeping herself in check, at keeping her brother and her love safe?
What if I lose them?
Above all else…
That thought terrified her the most.
(Maybe things have changed with her after all…)
…
Blazeclan
…
"Oh, Flarepaw," her father's voice echoed in her ears, making her teeth grind together, her next breath stuttering in her lungs. "If only that were actually true…"
"You want to keep playing this game?
...Then let's play."
"Flarepaw!"
Silver eyes blinked and it was nothing but instinct alone that made her take a desperate dive to the side, Whiteshadow's paw just managing to nick the tip of her nose and made her wrinkle it in mild annoyance. Rolling to her paws, she pushed herself back as the lead Royal continued his assault, managing to bat away at the last one and find a second to catch her breath as Gingerpaw took the attention away from her.
Her legs shook beneath her and threatened to give out, chest heaving for air and muscles aching- but she had to keep going. Keep moving, keep breathing. She took in another breath and raced forward to assist.
A sense of deja vu hovered in the air over them all and Flarepaw remembered, in what felt like a different lifetime now, their sparring session of the past. Her and her rival attempting to keep up and defeat the tom of unforgiving skill and impossible power. Before, they had been undoubtedly destroyed. She was convinced Whiteshadow had been playing with them.
But now…
They were beating him.
Even with his constant switching of tactics, his swift adjustments, and the way he shrugged off many of their attacks, his drive to keep going keep going keep going, they were wearing him down steadily. Sure, they weren't faring much better either- but Flarepaw, while tired, didn't feel like she was a second away from dropping, and Gingerpaw, though sore, could continue taking the hits through his impenetrable defense that had grown even better.
It was a surreal experience. And part of it worried her- because what if they were only able to beat him because Whiteshadow was tired? What if he still bore the injuries of his time in the City and it forever made him weaker?
Surely, that was the only explanation. One could say that the two of them had simply grown, stronger and better and faster and smarter, but it didn't entirely feel like it.
Flarepaw charged at his back, diving with the intent to tackle him, but just like once before, Whiteshadow seemed to be able to predict that and leaped straight up and just out of range of her attack. He twisted mid-air, his eyes gleaming and pale in the sunlight, a twitch of a smile to his lips that sat on the edge of a smirk.
Gotcha.
Gravity dragged him back to earth and Flarepaw could see him coming with both his paws in a downward swipe. Bunching her shoulders, she pushed herself out of his range, feeling the air rush by her and hearing the thud of his paws against the ground. Continuing with his momentum, he spun, his paw flying straight for her, victory in his eyes.
Her eyes narrowed, her lips pulling in their own smirk.
Not today.
Instead of backing away, Flarepaw lunged forward, ruining his range of attack so it hit her shoulder instead of her head, and she rammed her free shoulder directly into his chest. Sending him sprawling back…
And directly into Gingerpaw's line of attack.
Her rival waited for the right momentum before standing up on his hind legs, slamming his paws back down and directly onto Whiteshadow, successfully pinning the tom against the ground. Flarepaw panted where she stood, body trembling and screaming for rest now, but she kept her eyes trained carefully on the lead Royal. Expecting him to get back up and find a way out of Gingerpaw's unbreakable grapple.
But, alas.
Whiteshadow made no move to escape, signaling the end of their sparring match with a weak and dramatic groan.
"Ouch," he mewled in a winded voice and, despite it all, Flarepaw couldn't help but snort. "You a weigh a ton, Gingerpaw."
Her rival let out a huff, his only sound of amusement, before releasing the lead Royal and stepping a short distance back, sitting down heavily and inhaling deeply to start trying to take control of his breathing. She could just barely see a hint of a smile on his lips, proud and relieved, and the warmth in her chest reflected the emotions present.
We beat him…
She didn't think a day like that would ever come. From the start of her apprenticeship and even as a kit, Whiteshadow had always been the one to aim for. The indomitable lead Royal, beating everybody with hardly breaking a sweat. Everyone sought to have him on their side and nobody wanted him as an opponent. The rate at which the others challenged him for his rank had significantly slimmed as time went on and he only seemed to grow even stronger.
Yet, here they were.
"I'm gonna be so sore in a few hours," Whiteshadow grumbled as he managed to push himself to his paws, stretching his neck and his legs with a sigh. "Wasn't expecting that."
"We just beat you."
"Yeah, beat the life outta me," he chuckled, rolling his shoulders back with a small wince. "Did you two really have to try so hard?"
"You told us not to hold back," Gingerpaw spoke up with a shrug and Whiteshadow rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Congratulations," he gave a wide smile, eyes crinkling with mirth and pride as he said with a touch of flair, "You beat me."
"Are you sure you weren't holding back?" Flarepaw couldn't help but ask, and some part of her couldn't understand why she didn't just take the victory. (Perhaps she had grown used to failure, actually achieving a win felt… strange.)
Whiteshadow scoffed, "Now you're just insulting me, little one."
She blinked, feeling something within her chest tighten and squirm, nearly painful, and raised a brow, "Little one?"
"Sorry. Too much?" He grimaced, a spark of concern appearing in blue, and Flarepaw softened at his worry.
She shook her head and padded closer to him, bumping her shoulder against his with a smile to her lips, "No. It's fine. Just don't overuse it."
"You have my word," Whiteshadow swore with faux solemnness, bumping her shoulder back before getting to his paws with a refreshed breath. "Alrighty then. I dare say that you two are just about ready for your final assessment. At least in terms of combat."
It's almost over.
Her journey as a Grand Royal apprentice was coming to an end and she…
She couldn't wait for it to be done.
Her eyes found their way to Gingerpaw's, silver-blue and pale yellow. They hadn't talked much more about her doubts of being the next Grand Royal. She simply settled for the fact that she would give it her all when the time came, just as he asked, and if it just so happened to be enough to actually win, well…
She didn't really know then.
Would she be brave enough to decline the title in front of the entire clan?
Willowflame did. She so desperately wanted to ask her mother how she ever got the bravery to do it. To choose to have a family over being the leader. To work so hard for a title everyone bent over backward trying to reach and ultimately decide not to accept it.
Flarepaw didn't know what would come after it was all done. After her assessment, what would become of her then? Would her battle with Wildfire continue anew, even harsher than now? Or would she be brave enough to tear him down when she finally had her full name?
She supposed she was going to have to find out.
Gingerpaw opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something to her, before both of their ears twitched and silver and pale yellow were drawn off to the side. Footsteps. Fast approaching…
Very fast approaching, actually.
Flarepaw stood at the ready, as did Gingerpaw, and a second later, Whiteshadow as well. She glanced back at him for a fraction of a second, frowning at the way he suddenly went so tense, his paranoia ever-present in the shine of his eyes and the apprehension of his features. She moved closer to him, giving him silent support with a brush of their pelts, and he let out a heavy sigh.
Whiteshadow immediately relaxed upon realizing it was only Shadepaw.
"Shadepaw," she spoke up, sharing a glance with her rival upon noting that the Royal apprentice looked rather frazzled and panicky. His body was shaking, though whether that was because of the adrenaline coursing through his veins or the apparent fear, she couldn't quite tell. Flarepaw took a few steps forward. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"There's- A… I-"
"Catch your breath," Gingerpaw padded over to him, stern and steady where Shadepaw looked about a second away from collapsing.
The light grey-furred tom puffed and panted, wheezing, before he cleared his throat and took in an unsteady breath, blowing it out just as shakily. Light amber eyes bounced between the three of them before he nodded and spoke in a taut tone, "There's a commotion at the Stormclan border. All of you are required there."
"What's happened?" Whiteshadow took the lead and Flarepaw heard white noise in her ears.
Stormclan border…
Sagepaw's there.
"You want to keep playing this game? Then let's play."
"No time to explain," Shadepaw said before turning on his heel, the three quickly following behind him. "Things are really tense though!"
She didn't doubt that. Whenever Stormclan was involved with them, things were always tense.
I will not fail again.
Nothing will happen to you.
I swear.
They ran.
…
Things were tense indeed.
Even before stepping through the tree line and toward the river's edge, the first thing that stood out to her on her side of the border was the fact that all the High Ranks were present. It nearly made her pause then and there, but keeping up appearances, she moved undaunted through the crowd and slinked her way nearest the front alongside Gingerpaw.
Whiteshadow walked up behind his leader, sitting casually and even having the audacity to yawn despite the obvious threat across the waters.
Her blood ran as cold as the thawing river in front of her at the sight of Stormclan's forces. Silver eyes quickly passed over all of them, and just like them, only High Ranks were present there. She bit the inside of her cheek nervously, shuffling the weight on her paws and inhaling deeply, holding herself taller and donning that careful mask of professionalism. (She resisted the urge to turn around and look for her brother then and there, content with the idea that he was somewhere amidst the crowd and she was in front of him to face the danger first.)
The world was suspensefully silent, save for the rapid flow of the river dividing them. The ice that lingered creaked and groaned, threatening to break then and there, and Flarepaw doubted it would take much longer before it gave up. She wanted it to break. If the river was too volatile, then whatever was going on here wouldn't devolve into a fight.
Blazeclan didn't have enough herbs to afford a battle. Since the fiasco of Thornblaze and Mousepaw's deaths, there had been no opportunity to restock. Everyone- and mostly Roseberry- had just been hoping and praying that no other conflict would come upon them until they could safely gather more.
Perhaps that's why Redstar held himself with such obvious stiffness in his shoulders, the tip of his tail twitching where it lay on the ground. He was nervous and she could see it through the cracks in his being.
She had to remind herself to keep breathing through the constriction in her chest, a heavy weight that made it difficult to draw in air, passing over the gathered Stormclan cats again and again. They looked… angry. For a reason she couldn't quite understand. Some appeared to have been crying, but they were too far away for her to be certain of it.
Behind Cloudstar, Streamrunner stood. On his other side were Windpaw and Bluepaw, and unlike the others, they looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but here.
(For whatever reason, Rainpaw was on the outskirts of the group, her gaze unmoving from one spot in particular, and as Flarepaw followed it, her fur bristled upon realizing she was looking at Whiteshadow.)
"Cloudstar," the Grand Royal of Blazeclan began as calmly as he could, his ears flicking and wanting to fall back. Flarepaw let her eyes drift down to the roaring river and wondered if Stormclan was angry enough to attempt to cross it. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"
And for some reason, despite the gentleness of Redstar's tone, that only seemed to infuriate Cloudstar.
His lip curled to reveal a single fang, and if Flarepaw didn't know any better, she would've thought he would skip the pleasantries and charge straight ahead. Because that's how this was going to end unless Redstar could talk his way out of this. A patrol of that size was only here for one reason and one reason only.
Vengeance.
"You play obliviousness so well." The white-furred Grand Royal's voice trembled with restraint. Confusion filtered amongst the gathered Blazeclan troops, and Flarepaw shared a glance with her rival beside her and back again, carefully watching for the first sign of movement. Not that she would meet them head-on. If Stormclan wanted a fight, they would have to cross over to their land first. "It's insulting."
"Cloudstar, forgive me, but I do not know why you are here," Redstar looked at the Stormclan cats, his frown deepening. "Nor why you brought a patrol fit for battle."
"Don't act like you don't know!"
His shout reverberated through the Stormclan swarm, a few standing up and beginning to pace, tails lashing and growls trembling through the air. She felt the vibrations of it in her body, setting her teeth on edge, and behind her, the rest of her clan tensed even more.
How Redstar didn't flinch was beyond her, though he was probably used to Cloudstar's outbursts by now.
"I really don't," her leader sighed, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "Please, explain your ire to me. I don't know what we've done to cause such animosity."
"You have the audacity to say such things with a straight face," the white-furred tom scoffed bitterly, looking more and more by the second like he was going to find a way to run across the river. Forget swimming, this was faster. "After your clan slaughtered one of my own!"
"Slaughtered?" Redstar recoiled at that, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean, Cloudstar? I don't understand."
"Specklepaw," his tone quivered, rumbling with a deep growl. "One of your own killed her. Left her to wash up on my shore, bleeding and defiled. My Medicine Cat identified the wounds reflective of Blazeclan's methods. You're telling me you know nothing of that?"
Specklepaw...was killed?
Flarepaw had never been friends with the other she-cat. Had known about her, sure, just like she knew about all of the Stormclan apprentices who had been in the running once upon a time. As far as she knew, Specklepaw had dropped out of the race near the beginning of it and that was that.
Wounds reflective of Blazeclan's methods.
Her head turned now to look back at the rest of her clan, eyes narrowing. Would one of them really have killed Specklepaw? And for what reason?
"I have never ordered anyone to kill any of you."
"Liar!"
"Cloudstar, look at me!" Redstar snapped in return, making the agitation brewing on the other side of the river ever more toxic. Hazardous. Flarepaw wondered how it was possible to breathe over there. "Look at me. You know me. Would I ever order for anyone to be killed? What reason would I have to do that?"
"...You wouldn't," Cloudstar murmured, and at first, Flarepaw thought his anger would subside. But then those dark blue eyes moved across those at Redstar's back and it only grew. "But one of you did. And regardless, it is a Grand Royal's duty to keep his clan in check- and clearly, you've failed. The blame falls on you."
"I am sorry for your loss," Redstar sighed, his tail lashing once as he added, "but I can assure you that no one here would kill for no reason. Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding. A mistake."
"Are you saying my Medicine Cat is wrong?"
"I'm saying you shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly."
"Oh? Am I now?" Cloudstar stood up then, taking heavy steps forward, the spray of the rushing water hitting his legs as he snarled. Almost as if in response, the groaning of the ice grew louder and Flarepaw's eyes were drawn to it. The cracks were growing and it looked a second away from breaking… "You've hidden behind that mask of passiveness since the beginning, how do I know you aren't lying at this moment? I only seek the facts- and you know what I see now!? What I can't erase from my mind?"
Another step, another groan, another crack.
"I see one of my apprentice's dead and I want justice!"
Two things happened at once.
The first; the Stormclan cats simultaneously surged forward, fangs gnashing and tails lashing and claws unsheathed, each of them about to leap in and begin what would no doubt be a bloody battle.
But luckily, the second thing happened too.
The ice broke.
With a thunderous crash, as if responding to Cloudstar's roar, the splintering cracks grew too much for the remaining ice to handle and the water became ravenous. Sweeping by at speeds that made Flarepaw take a cautious step away from the shoreline, stomach twisting to the sight of such violent waves. Those by the river's edge copied her; having drawn closer with the promise and anticipation of battle, chased off by the fury of nature's veins. Water streamed by and she couldn't help but wonder how quickly it would carry one away.
Regardless of how nerve-wracking just seeing it was, Flarepaw couldn't help but let out a breath of relief. It seemed to be enough to stop the Stormclan troops from charging forward, a few scrambling away after having taken a step inside before they could be carded off into the unknown and to depths forgotten. The braver ones stayed right at the edge, snarling and leaning their bodies precariously over but not daring to jump in.
They would not fight today. It was impossible to cross the river.
But the water will calm- and when it did, the frenzy would begin anew. All they had achieved was a bit of time.
Cloudstar was done listening for today (he hadn't even been ready to listen at all). He gave a final glare to Redstar, ferocious dark blue with confused golden-yellow before he turned and stalked off, snapping something to his High Ranks along the way. A few followed after him, postures stiff and retaining their rage, while some remained there, pacing at the river's edge like caged beasts.
Well…
That's not good.
A fight against Stormclan was not one she wanted to happen, and if she had learned anything about Cloudstar, it was that he didn't listen to reason. If he wanted justice, then justice he would get. One way or another. This just put a pause on it.
"There goes any progress we had at working together," Whiteshadow spoke up with a harsh snort, a disappointed shake of his head before he stood up and turned to the Grand Royal. "What do you want us to do?"
"I need to talk him out of it…" Redstar's ears flattened, "We cannot afford a battle right now, Whiteshadow. If we fight, there will be many casualties."
"A fight is inevitable at this point. Cloudstar there isn't one to back down," pale eyes flashed with kindling anger, a scowl to his face. "And he hardly cares about casualties, so long as he gets what he wants. Look at what he made Rainpaw do."
Right. She had yet to ask about whatever bond or kindredness Whiteshadow had with the Stormclan apprentice, but it was obvious he cared for her. At least enough to be noticeable, and she didn't know how to feel about that.
"Grand Royal?" Gingerpaw stepped in his direction, his face ever neutral and apparently unbothered by this all. (She can see the stiffness in his muscles as he moved and knew he was just pretending to be passive. He was a good actor.) "Your orders?"
"Whiteshadow, assign a few warriors here to keep an eye on them," Redstar nodded his head across the way where the lingering Stormclan cats paced. "Should any attempt a crossing, give the signal for others to join."
The Grand Royal turned then, his eyes wandering over the group of gathered High Ranks, and Flarepaw could not remember a time he had ever appeared so furious before. The life returned to his dull gaze, anger in place of apathy, and his glare hardened.
"As for you all," she had never known him to be intimidating, but she could not shake the fact that he was now. "I will only ask once- and if I find out you're lying, or that you're protecting the one who did it, there will be consequences for all of you involved and a fate worse than death. That I can promise you- because now the rest of us have to deal with your mistake. Were any of you responsible for the death of that apprentice?"
She didn't think anybody would willingly turn themself in.
But that wasn't his intention.
He wanted them to rat each other out, to single out the perpetrator. Flarepaw looked at each face carefully, slowly, gauging their reactions and looking for any sign of guilt or worry. But they mostly seemed just as confused as everyone else. A few disappointed, seeking a fight and all, but nothing overt in that regard. Just their usual enthusiasm for battle. Others were concerned, ever aware of the clan's apparent vulnerability. They all knew of their lack of healing at the moment and it made each of them on edge.
Silver met the dark amber of her father, and everything within her wanted to blame him right away- but with no proof and only hate for him, that would just be a baseless accusation. Wildfire regarded her with a stony expression, focused on the matter at hand but not particularly enthused or bothered by it. She eyed his body, searching for any sign of a battle, any trace of blood or wound- but there was nothing. If it had been him, he was certainly careful about it and must have caught Specklepaw by surprise.
And even then-
The corner of his lips twitched in a smile, a gleam in his eyes before he turned away.
No…
Did he…
"I can assure you, I'm not going to hurt him."
But nothing was stopping Stormclan now.
Would he really go through all that trouble?
Who was she kidding? This was Wildfire. Of course, he would. He would go to any length just to get what he wanted- and what he wanted most was her obedience. And he wouldn't get that until she had nothing left keeping her from resisting.
"Royals, report to my den for a meeting. We must discuss the best course of action," Redstar sighed, defeated. "And if it does come down to a fight, we must plan the best way to reduce the risk of casualties."
With affirmatives, the clan began to disperse, some of the Nobles staying behind for the first watch by the border. The others trotted back through the forest, murmuring amongst themselves. Her brother was pulled along with the other Noble apprentices, reassuring them and discussing with them about what to expect from an actual battle. None of them had ever been involved in one and they were worried.
She so desperately wanted to race to his side and not leave it until this whole fiasco was over… but she had her duties to attend to.
Parting from Gingerpaw and letting him walk back alone, Flarepaw sped after Whiteshadow. The lead Royal took one glance at her and led the two off to the side, away from the main group for them to discuss in private but continue going.
"Whiteshadow-"
"Let me guess," the tom cut her off with a scoff, "this is his doing, isn't it?"
"It might be," Flarepaw blew out a heavy breath, a scowl of disgust pulling at her lips. "But would he… would he really kill someone just to get my attention?"
"Honestly?" Whiteshadow turned his eyes to her, scoffing quietly. "I'm just surprised it took this long."
That did nothing to calm her growing nerves. She had known her father to be cruel, but… to do this? Sure, it wouldn't be too far-fetched, but…
But, but, but.
Stop making excuses for him.
"I hate to admit," the lead Royal let out a rumbling growl, annoyance clearly written on his features as he shook his head. "But he's good at what he does."
"Covering up his tracks?"
"I was going to say being a pain in the rear, but that works too," he snorted and tilted his head back with a heavy sigh. "Even if Redstar did believe me- which he would because the Grand Royal isn't the biggest fan of your father either- it's the rest of the clan that wouldn't. Not without actual proof, and who knows who else is helping him amidst the High Ranks."
Ashtail for sure. Tigergaze and Foxear too? Russetclaw… maybe. Goldencloud…
It made her quite sad that she couldn't trust any of her clanmates. Not the High Ranks, so wrapped up in their admiration for Wildfire simply because of his lineage and silver tongue.
"So… there's nothing we can do but accept this?"
"I can throw him into a gorge."
"Whiteshadow," Flarepaw sighed, "be serious."
"Oh, I am. Completely, absolutely serious."
She chose not to entertain that thought for more than a second. Talking about killing someone so casually just… didn't sit right with her. Even if that someone was Wildfire, who apparently had no hesitations with taking another cat's life just to get back at her and-
"I think Sagepaw is in trouble."
"Is that your sister senses tingling?"
"No, I-" Flarepaw grunted and wanted to do something to release the festering nerves. Her claws itched and she found the idea of clawing at the trees strangely enticing. Anything just to get rid of her excess energy. "Wildfire's moved his sights to him now that Sootblaze has… given up."
"Ah," Whiteshadow hummed in understanding, "Now, that makes more sense. So he set it up so he could get Sagepaw alone. And with a battle, any damage to your brother can be placed on Stormclan."
"Can't fault Wildfire for his elaborate plans," Flarepaw scowled to herself. "It makes it difficult to track it back to him."
"Well, the damage has been done," the lead Royal paused for a moment, standing in her way with a reassuring smile. "Now we just have to do some damage control and make sure Sagepaw stays safe."
"I know," her ears twitched and fell back, "but I can't help but worry about the others too. The Commoners, Sootblaze. A battle is a battle, a lot of cats are going to get hurt and there's so many I want to protect."
She was stretching herself thin by this point. And so was Whiteshadow.
It felt like a grand failure was approaching and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
The damage was going to be irreparable.
"Hey," Whiteshadow stepped closer to her, resting his muzzle on top of her head and murmuring. "As you said, we fight together. We work together. I'll have your back and you'll have mine, and between the two of us, we'll keep everyone we want to keep safe, safe. Whatever enemy you may face is my opponent as well."
That's right.
Though things were going from bad to worse, from terrible to grave… She still had others on her side.
Whiteshadow had her back and she had his.
I won't fail.
She can't afford to fail.
Not again. Not ever.
…
A/N: In the words of Whiteshadow, "Everything's a right mess, ain't it?" Haha, this is going to be fun y'all. I hope you guys are excited for this approaching chaos, cause it's gonna… it's gonna get bad. Hold onto your helmets and strap yourselves in, the ride is about to go into freefall.
…
Question of the Day
(Question submitted by Songmistle. Thanks for the help!)
What is your favorite animal, and which one is your second favorite? And why?
(Obviously, my favorite animal is a wolf because I think they're majestic and beautiful creatures and I love their howls. My second favorite are horses; I've just always had a fascination with them and my favorite children's movie is Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, so blame that I guess XD)
…
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Thank you and peace out!
~Wolfcreations21