A/N: Alrighty y'all. This is the last chapter before my hiatus. I don't know how long it's going to take, but I'm hoping no later than a month or two (it will get a little difficult since my next school quarter starts in a few weeks, but I have high hopes). This also marks the end of the Stormclan arc, and I can't be happier with the results. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.
Thanks to The Empress Rosalie for following and adding this story as a favorite!
Reviews
reading at 3am is normal- It's all good lol. Life is a jerk sometimes. Two-in-one is always nice. Thank you, I'm hoping it doesn't take too long. A lot of people predicted it and it warms my heart haha. The City fights were a lot of fun, I look forward to more. I wanted them leaving to be less of a sad thing and more a step into another adventure. Smile through the tears lol. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in regards to them. Ah yes, the beginning of Sootboi's spiral. What fun (not for him). Oof, that sounds like it really sucks and I wish you the best of luck with transportation.
Hissing Mist- I feel like that would be a fun scene (but also probably heartbreaking? Who knows). Windy is always a personal favorite for me to write. To an extent, yes, Windy does find it more concerning if raindrop is calm- but more so if she's extremely quiet about something. Cause… yeah, chaos usually comes after it. I just had to give Drippingpaw a proper goodbye with her sister. We'll just have to wait and see (I know, loosely, how the rest of the story is gonna play out, and boy you guys aren't ready). Things seem to be working out for them for once, but it is still sad that it had to come to them leaving. Flarekitty and Sootboi really just took a hit in the last chapter and I apologize to them lol. So close again, his name is Shroud XD. Here's hoping the hiatus doesn't take too long!
Songmistle (Guest)- I've made you speechless. Accomplishment for me lol. That'll be a cool idea, but the downfall with that is since they're both really high ranking, the rest of Forestclan won't be too kind about it. Leafstar can only break the rules so much- they were willing to be a little lenient with Darkblaze (and even then, you guys saw the fuss they pulled). Good luck with school! I know this year is gonna be rather strange in regards to school because a lot of people are allowed back on campus. Nope, my next quarter starts on the 20th, so I have a bit of relaxation until then. You should totally do it lol.
The Empress Rosalie: I'm just gonna dump all of your reviews together in one haha. Aww, that's sweet you made an account just for this story lol. Road trip! Road trip! Yep, they're gone lol. Thanks, I like this club :). Okay, this is getting ridiculous lol. My email is "Wolfcreations18 (at sign).com". Hoping that works lol. Group hug everybody, come together. Jokes on you, Cloudstar can swim in a lake XD. My life's jam-packed with stuff, but I love it. One… One hundred books? Ah hell nah, I'm staying away for sure now lol. I don't even have time to read proper books anymore, only very rarely. Alright, who's been throwing cookies into the black hole. Was it you, Sootblaze? I told you to stop. Random questions, hooray; reviews usually vary per chapter, sometimes I'll get to the double digits, sometimes I'll get 6, it really alters. But yes, I do try to answer every single one of them (unless they are from, like, really early chapters, I won't answer them in the newest chapters). I don't really get a lot of time to watch TV shows or watch anything in general (I don't have a tv in my room and I don't really like watching it), but I do have Netflix and some of my personal favorites are; Wynonna Earp, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Lucifer to name a few. And my all-time favorite show is RWBY (in case that wasn't clear lol, but I think that counts more as a web series/western anime than anything). (I do like ATLA though. I have yet to watch The Legend of Korra, but it is on my list so I might get to it soon.)
Guest- We may very well jump into a Forestclan arc next, so keep an eye out for it! I could make an updated allegiances/info if you would like. I'll just make a note of that, but if I forget, feel free to remind me after I come back. Fingers crossed for our boy Sagepaw.
FrostedShadowx- Hey, welcome back! Yes, I remember everybody who's left a review here. Not dead yet, just really hurt lol. It's gonna be rough for him if he gets through it. I think I have an obsession with angst and I can't stop, send help XD. Cherry has been doing a lot of reflecting lately (and she's not liking what she's seeing), but we'll get to see what she does about it in the upcoming Forestclan arc. I've been waiting for Ixora to rejoin the plot ever since I introduced her- and immediately took her away lol. So excited for what's to come next. Those were some of my favorite fights too. Raindrop vs Sun was such a pivotal part of her character and it really set the path for basically a huge chunk of this story- and I do really enjoy those fights that have a bit of cruelty in them (because… come on. It's a fight, of course there's gonna be some semblance of cruelty in them). And the Flarepaw vs Windpaw sparring match was just a whole lot of fun (and I think one of the first scenes where we actually see Windpaw "fighting" if I recall). I really hope I can have some one-vs-one fights with Windy in the future. One day. One of the things I want to be really careful with is that Flarepaw is not invincible. Sure, in Blazeclan, she's a big deal- but that's only a limited number of cats. There are clearly others out there that are just as strong and just as capable of her. Yes, she is strong and whatnot, but in no way is she the strongest. (Even in her own clan, Gingerpaw and Emberpaw can easily match up to her.) Bluepaw and Drippingpaw, huh. We'll see, we'll see haha. And I don't want to spoil anything coming up, but I really hope you like how the Nightstone arc plays out with everything involved. (Side note: those are great metaphors. Sootblaze fits the role of the shield, and Nightstone is the blade. Both want to protect the Commoners/Low Ranks and both have different ways of doing so- but they are equally as important.) And the rouge/main arc is what I'm most excited about since we are steadily making our way to the main conflict here. It's so close I can taste it. Nice predictions and some really cool fights you have in mind. We'll see what happens :). Good luck in boarding school, and depending on how long my hiatus takes, you might not miss that many chapters. Huh, I didn't expect anyone to have Nightstone as their favorite, but I'm glad you like him! (Sagepaw's not dead XD Why do you think I'll just kill everyone that quickly? *don't look at all the graves*)
KyubiMaster9- That was honestly amazing XD. I loved it. Write a fic. That's all anybody ever has to do with their problems: channel your inner Windpaw. Works every time. And yes, Cloverpaw is technically the only viable option left since she's the only remaining Royal apprentice (Specklepaw was killed). I just meant a sad moment in this story in general. Oof, yeah. Cinderfrost's death was something else. I plan on making the rest of the story bigger and better since we're in the lead-up to the ending. Here's hoping the hiatus doesn't take too long.
Thanks to everybody who reviewed, followed, and added this story as a favorite!
Now for the last time in a while…
Let's get started!
…
Blazeclan
…
Flarepaw couldn't sleep.
Despite how much her body had been begging her to do so since surviving the attack from the Stormclan apprentices, sleep was now the last thing on her mind. Basic needs became rather detrimental when your world was falling apart.
Sagepaw…
She knew it. She knew she should have been more careful, should have gone after him, should have convinced him to stay right by her side the entire time so they could be in the battle together. She knew Wildfire had been out to get him, and instead of warning him as she should have, Flarepaw kept it to herself. Convinced that she could have been enough to protect him.
How naive she had been.
As if she could ever beat Wildfire in anything.
A hiss of pain built up in her chest but never found freedom as Sootblaze did his best to be gentle and clean off the blood from her pelt. Time was blurred together here and it could have been minutes since she stopped crying or it could have been hours. She didn't know which one she wanted it to be. Which one would be better; if Roseberry or Hollypaw came to update her minutes after she saw them or hours after.
Probably hours. It would mean they spent longer trying to help him and he survived for that much longer. (Or maybe it meant they didn't know how to tell her.)
Regardless, she was here now, staring down at her useless claws as they intermittently pricked at the moss nest beneath her. The sting from her many wounds had become meaningless as well and she suffered the agony in silence. Cause though she would not be able to drift off to blissful rest, she was still tired.
Flarepaw was just surprised she hadn't crashed yet, her body having enough with all of this and wanting to clock out.
Sagepaw…
He looked horrible. There were more slashes and bite marks and tears on his pelt than there was anything else. More scarlet telling of his life force than familiar grey. If she hadn't already been anticipating it, she probably wouldn't have been able to recognize him.
But, no.
She knew her brother.
Even inches away from death and entirely mutilated, she knew what he looked like.
You failed.
Surprisingly, that didn't hurt as much. Failure was commonplace with her and she knew the taste of it like blood on her tongue, thick as paste and difficult to swallow. But she managed, she always did. She accepted her failures and moved on because what else was there to do?
She learned as much as she could with each loss and it still wasn't enough for her to protect everyone.
What good are you?
I don't know.
Another draw of Sootblaze's tongue near one of the slashes against her side made her jaw tighten, swallowing thickly and wanting to shy away from his tender touches. She didn't deserve them… and what's more, he was probably forcing himself to remain here. Out of obligation? She didn't truly know. He had said before he didn't want to be a part of this anymore, so why-
"You don't have to stay here," she found herself murmuring, just loud enough to be heard by her own ears. It hurt her throat to speak and she wondered just how forceful her sobs had been earlier. As though her grief and sorrow and all those negative emotions had gained a mind of their own and had tried working in unison to tear her apart from the inside out to find freedom.
He stopped mid-way on another swipe and pulled back. She could feel his gaze on the side of her face but she couldn't find it within herself to meet the burning sunset. Perhaps it was out of shame. Maybe it was guilt.
Possibly out of weakness.
"I know Roseberry probably ordered you to stay here," she elaborated, "but you can go."
Flarepaw couldn't overrule a Medicine Cat's order in this place, but still. She didn't want him to be here if he had somewhere else to be.
"Do you… not want me here?" Sootblaze mumbled in question and the press of his body against hers, however light, was both painful and soothing.
This was the first they had spoken in a while. After the built-up tension from the impending fight breaking. After quite the bloody battle. They never truly hung out one-on-one anymore, always with one of the other Commoners or Whiteshadow as a buffer.
The most they did was occasionally sleep in her nest together, but that was rare and she had seen it as less of a desirable thing and more of a necessity. It had calmed the both of them down and distracted them from the upcoming battle.
But the battle is over now.
He didn't have to be with her anymore.
"I don't want you here if you're only here out of guilt or pity."
She didn't want that. She never wanted that. Not from him. It would be equivalent to someone being with her for admiration and status. None of it was because of her. Not because they wanted to be with her, but because they felt some sort of responsibility.
Grand Royal Flarepaw, the strong one; if we are with her, then we'll be popular.
Flarepaw, the weak one; if she's left alone, she'll crumble to pieces. Best to make sure that doesn't happen.
"I'm not," Sootblaze muttered and finally drew her eyes to him.
"No?"
"No."
It made her let out a weak laugh, "Then why else?"
"Because I…" He paused, looking away from silver, shifting his weight between his paws. He bit the inside of his cheek- his familiar nervous habit- and for just a second, she thought he was truly going to take her up on the offer and leave. Surprisingly, he steeled himself with a deep breath and met her gaze again, "Because I care about you."
"Then where have you been?" It came out like poison and blood and the sentence left a foul taste in her mouth.
Her words seemed to strike a nerve and he grimaced, his ears falling flat, and it's definitely out of shame this time, "Not here."
"...I wanted to be there for you, but you didn't let me."
"I know," golden-yellow held silver-blue steadily, "I couldn't. But I want to be here for you now."
"And what if I don't want you here? What if I can't have you here either?" It's a test, not the truth. Flarepaw was always going to want him here, even if he didn't want her in return. There were things they needed to work through and now was not the time, but…
Honestly, she could use the distraction. Anything to keep her from marching her way back to her brother's side (or sprinting on the warpath to her father). A tense conversation could work just fine.
"Then say the word and I'll leave."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"...What if I want you to stay?"
Sootblaze leaned forward gently, his muzzle pressing into the side of her neck. His actions were soft, cautious; not afraid to break her, but afraid of aggravating her wounds even more. There were countless apologies in the way he pressed into her… and there was endless forgiveness in the way she pressed into him in return.
"Then say the word and I'll stay."
It sounded like a promise- and through the horribleness of her current situation, of Sagepaw's life in the balance, that gave her just enough strength to take in air. With breath came fresh exhaustion and she wondered if the guilt would let her sleep for once. (it didn't, but one could hope.)
It was a start. A step in the right direction.
She just wondered how long it was going to take to match up to all the terrible missteps they've taken thus far.
Probably an infinite number of lifetimes after this one.
"Sootblaze," she murmured, tired, absently wondering when was the last time she was allowed to say his name like that. "Were you the one who found him?"
He paused again from where he went back to finish cleaning up her pelt, letting out a breath of a sigh; "Yeah. I did. It was between going after you and checking on him and I went after him and… Then you show up like this."
"I'm okay," she reassured quickly, unbothered. Better than him. If Sootblaze had gone after her instead of Sagepaw… She would have definitely lost her brother. The Commoner gave them time, and in this world of theirs, it was equivalent to giving them life. "Thank you for saving him."
"Don't thank me, I- Flarepaw, what happened to you?" Sootblaze scooted closer to her, as though afraid she'd vanish then and there. "I've never seen you like this."
"Nothing. I'm fine, Sagepaw isn't. Don't worry about me."
"I can worry about everyone just fine. Including you."
Everyone but yourself. She kept her mouth shut.
"I just had an altercation with three friends," she shrugged and immediately stopped when that sent a flash of pain through her. Stars, she needed to rest or stay completely still. Any subtle movement pushed her out of the numbness that came with nonmovement. "No big deal. I got away."
"And what if you hadn't?"
"I did," her ears fell flat, eyes remaining at the entrance of her den. Half of her wanted to force her way back to witness it all, to be there for her brother like she was supposed to, but the other half really just wanted to stay away from it all. She'd only get in the way of the Medicine Cats. "Sagepaw didn't. What did you see when you found him?"
"You're really not going to tell me what happened to you?"
"I don't care about what happened to me. I just want my brother to be okay," the muscles in her body stiffened, claws digging into the moss more fiercely than her absentminded movements of before. "And I want to rip Wildfire apart."
"Well, you can't do that in the state you're in," Sootblaze sighed and must finish with what he can in regards to her pelt. He settled down beside her instead, keeping an eye on her wounds to make sure they didn't bleed all over again. "I didn't see Wildfire there. He was already in camp by the time I got back. The battle at that border had been over for a while if I had to guess, and the only one who was there was Rowanpaw."
Rowanpaw…
Yet another cat that she had to save from Wildfire.
How many were under threat from her father? How many of them were forced to be his pawns, lest they suffered as well? The Royal apprentice was one of them, and some part of her desperately wanted to get him out of that situation as well.
But be that as it may, she was up to her neck in troubles and struggled to keep herself afloat.
(She just got air back into her lungs. She didn't want to drown again so soon.)
"I think…" Sootblaze shifted again, uncomfortable. Either from the topic or because of his wounds, she couldn't tell. "He said Sagepaw had been thrown into the river. I think he was supposed to never be found… Rowanpaw got him out though. I don't know exactly what happened or how much Wildfire played a role in it, but if anyone could tell us, it would be him."
There was a moment's pause before he added, "Well, tell you. Rowanpaw won't tell me anything."
And some part of her wanted to say screw it all and just go straight to Wildfire on the matter. To risk it all- her rank and her life and her everything- just to get rid of him. To take him out of the equation entirely. If he wasn't alive, then he couldn't hurt anyone else.
But would Flarepaw be capable of such a thing?
She wanted to believe she would be… but she knew she wouldn't.
To end her own father's life…
It would make her no better than him. Wildfire, who had no qualms when it came to hurting his own family to the brink of death. To stoop to his level would be no victory.
But then again, maybe honor had no room in a world like theirs.
What has being honorable given her? A dead mother, one brother gone, another forced out of the clan and into the safety of another, and yet another about to join the stars as well. It's given her scars on her underbelly that she has hidden from the world, handed her multiple masks for her to don to keep up appearances for the rest of the clan, has left her heart vulnerable and seconds away from giving out all the time.
And what has being dishonorable given Wildfire? Victory after victory after victory.
Maybe it was only cats like him that truly get anywhere in a life like this.
No. She can't do that. Not to herself, not to him, not to the world. What would be the point of everything she went through if she became like him? What would be the point of all her growth if she reverted to becoming exactly what he wanted her to be- just like him?
Wildfire's true victory, his one task that he was so vehement on, was making her the perfect heir. A replacement for him when he was gone. A warrior to be feared and respected simply for their bloodline with enough skill to back it all up. A possible Grand Royal to restart the lineage and destiny intended for them.
She could not give it to him.
You are not him. If she was, she would care less about Sagepaw and the Commoners and Sootblaze.
(Maybe that's the problem. You are not him.)
"Ravenflight," Flarepaw spoke up after a long moment, not entirely knowing if Sootblaze had been speaking the entire time. He mustn't, he didn't pause mid-sentence, half dozing off and half alert of everything going on. Silver found its way to golden-yellow, a frown to her lips. "Is she okay?"
She had to know she did something right tonight. (Today? She didn't know anymore. Time was meaningless.)
Sootblaze blinked at her, emotions difficult to read with her exhausted mind, but his lips twitched in some semblance of a smile.
It was the greatest relief when he said, "Yeah. She's fine. All the Commoners are."
"Good." She didn't need another thing on her conscience. Sagepaw was more than enough. (Sagepaw shouldn't have happened if you just-)
"They're worried about you," he said quietly, bumping into her vaguely with a slight tease. "I think they like you."
Despite it all, it brought a smile to her face. Weak and small and barely there, but it was a miracle it could be there in the first place. The stress of everything had reached its peak upon arriving here and now her mind was busy wrapping around it all, settling down. Guilty, always guilty, but without word from the Medicine Cats, all she could do was wait and hold her breath.
Sootblaze made for a wonderful distraction.
"Even Ravenflight?" She shot back, voice quiet and croaky. Not wanting to fall asleep. He must have sensed that. "I find that difficult to believe. She likes no one-"
"Except Swiftleaf," Sootblaze finished with a chuckle. (Strained as well. And now it just felt like they were playing a game of pretend. Pretend that everything was alright. Pretend that Flarepaw didn't almost die. Pretend that Sagepaw wasn't seconds away from dying as they spoke. Pretend that this wasn't the first true conversation they've had in a while. Pretend, pretend, pretend.) "You should have seen them fighting together. I've never seen anyone so in sync with each other before."
"They're partners," Flarepaw shrugged. Only one shoulder, the other one killed her to move it. "In more ways than one. Sometimes you're lucky enough to find that one cat you just work with. They try pairing us up that way in the beginning, but it never usually works."
"Who were you paired up with?"
She wanted to laugh. Of course, he would ask that, curious as ever.
Stars, I've missed you.
He made her world just a little brighter, colors sharper and more vibrant. She didn't realize how dull everything had gotten until he was no longer a constant part of her every day.
"Gingerpaw."
"Is that why he's so protective of you?" Sootblaze grumbled, moving closer to her and licking at another wound to prevent it from bleeding onto her pelt. "I swore he was going to rip me in half."
"It's perhaps the only way he knows how to show he cares."
"I can tell," he paused for a beat before adding, "I can see why they paired you though. You two… look good together."
Those words drew her eyes back to him. For just this moment, the world faded away. The wounds on her body weren't there, the wounds on his were absent. They weren't in the Medicine Den, waiting on bated breath for news on Sagepaw.
It was just the two of them.
She desperately needed this moment of peace.
"Are you jealous?"
"No," he protested, glancing aside. She found it mildly adorable.
"Good," Flarepaw brushed her muzzle against the top of his head for a second. Only allowing a brief moment of contact. It would do neither of them good to immediately jump to what they used to have. "You don't need to be."
He looked back to her, his features softening. It looked like he wanted to ask more questions- perhaps in regards to who her partner is now, (him, him, only him)- but chose to keep quiet instead. Sootblaze let out a heavy sigh that carried with it as much exhaustion as she felt and it was her turn to want to tell him to get some rest. To ask what happened in the main border while she was off nearly dying to the Stormclan trio. To ask how it ended without anyone else being critically injured in the first place.
Had Leafstar put a stop to it?
What a missed opportunity. She would have loved to see that.
All of her questions and all traces of conversation, however, came to an immediate halt when a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye made her head snap back in that direction, the breath escaping her lungs immediately upon spotting Hollypaw there. The black-furred Medicine Cat appeared as tired as everyone else, a bit of red staining near her maw that she would have to clean up later. Nothing on her face gave anything away.
"Flarepaw," not fireball. She didn't like that. Hollypaw never truly called her that. "Roseberry is asking for you if you're up for it."
"Is he…" She couldn't even finish her sentence, attempting to push herself up but her body decided it wasn't going to cooperate in that regard right now. A huff of air escaped her, frustrated and tight, and Sootblaze seemed to understand her plight. He helped her to her paws and it was significantly easier to move with him there.
Always helping her up, he was.
Hollypaw didn't answer the unsaid question, simply tipped her head aside and motioned for them to follow. Flarepaw gave herself a second to draw in air, a deep breath to bolster herself. It didn't work. Anxiety ate at her heart, fear keeping a tight grip around her throat, guilt weighing her down, down, down.
How far into the ground will it bury her?
Sootblaze trailed the tip of his nose against her ear, catching her attention. If he was as worried as her, he didn't really show it. His face was stoic, steady. Giving her the chance to feel these shattering emotions and be the source of strength she needed.
With his help, they made their way back to the main area of the Medicine Den.
They passed Flame along the way, who gave her a glance and a best attempt at a smile. He was awkward but kind; and if she didn't know any better, she would say that he was fitting nicely with the Medicine Cats here. If he kept it up, perhaps the clan could forget he was a rogue and treat him with as much respect as Hollypaw and Roseberry.
But then again, maybe not.
The clan hardly cared for outsiders.
The path wasn't long and she wanted it to be longer and shorter at the same time. To allow time to prepare herself, but also wanting to get there as fast as possible. Two sides ripping her in half.
At last, they arrived, her eyes immediately falling to the wounded tom on the nest-
And just about sobbing seeing that his flank was still moving with breath. Weak and exhausted- tired tired tired- but moving nonetheless. Roseberry sat off to one side of the nest, keeping her eyes on him carefully even as they entered the cavern. Hollypaw stood on the outskirts of it all, letting out a slow sigh.
"I did my best," Roseberry began after a moment, not moving her gaze- as though afraid the second she looked away, things would go downhill again. "We managed to stop the bleeding, but these next long hours are going to be critical. If he can survive the night, his chances of pulling through will increase. As of now, there is nothing more I can do without the risk of aggravating anything. It's up to him and how hard he fights. But for now, he's alive and-"
Flarepaw didn't need to hear anymore. Somehow finding the strength to move away from Sootblaze and make her way over to her kin's side, all but collapsing into her in a fierce embrace that only showed a mere sliver of her gratitude. Tears formed and fell before she could even think of stopping them and a whimper escaped her lips as she buried into her shoulder. Roseberry held her back carefully, worn out but just as tight.
"Thank you," she gasped, trembling. "Thank you, thank you."
Roseberry pressed her muzzle to the top of her head lightly, inhaling slowly and exhaling raggedly. Perhaps just as scared as Flarepaw of it all. (How hard was it for her to work on her sister's son? To be the only thing preventing him from dying as well? She can't imagine the pressure.)
"Don't thank me," the Medicine Cat murmured. "Would you like to stay here with him? It could help to encourage him to fight harder. Hollypaw will be here to keep an eye on as well. I… need some rest."
"Okay. Okay, I-" Flarepaw sniffled, pulling back and smiling. "Go get some sleep. You deserve it."
With that, she turned toward her brother. So wounded, so broken, so fragile. She had never seen him like this before. He was always the steady one, her rock. The one to help her regain her footing after losing Willowflame and Flamepaw. The first cat she ever showed pieces of her true self to, the first one to ever encourage her to stop following Wildfire. The one to introduce her to the idea of a life where she wasn't his puppet.
She had failed to protect him as much as he protected her.
And though he had a bit of a chance to get through this after all, the horribleness of it lingered in her mind.
She so very carefully, settled in the nest alongside him, getting as close to him as she dared to without wanting to disrupt anything but also wanting to feel some of his warmth. A surefire sign that he was still here, alive and breathing.
He was always so warm.
Vaguely, she could hear Roseberry tell Hollypaw to update her immediately if anything changed before going to her personal den.
A presence at her side made her take her eyes away from Sagepaw, meeting the benevolent sunset as Sootblaze settled beside her with a relieved smile. Sure, things still weren't the best, but right now, they'd take any sign of good news. She returned the smile before turning back to her brother, settling down and carefully watching him.
Wildfire- or whoever he had made attack Sagepaw- had been quite vicious. No part of him had been truly spared, and even his face and jaw were scoured over with deep claw marks. How much pain had he suffered before he fell into unconsciousness?
It made her anger rise, a burning flame at the pit of her stomach, and it took everything within her not to give in to it right that instant and hunt down Wildfire. For one, she was quite injured and didn't trust she'd be able to handle him properly. And two, he would probably be expecting her and would find safety in numbers with the rest of the High Ranks.
Not that they would be able to stop her.
She'd tear him apart right in the middle of camp given the chance.
But doing that would entail leaving Sagepaw's side and she couldn't bring herself to do that right now.
Not now.
Wildfire could wait. Revenge could wait.
Right now, she had to be by her brother's side. And with Hollypaw sitting off to the side, watching over him as she was assigned to do with a meticulous eye, Sootblaze on her other side on the outside of camp was a comforting presence…
She could convince herself things were going to be okay.
"Everything feels like it's just one step from falling apart."
Well, that step has been taken, and now…
"All we can do is take that step and do damage control for when it inevitably goes wrong."
Now, it was time for damage control.
She rested her head against her paws, keeping silver eyes on her brother's chest to watch the faint rise and fall there. Anything to focus on the way he was breathing, not wanting to pay attention to the wounds covered by the last of the herbs. Ignoring the stinging of her own wounds, most likely going to leave terrible scars now that there was no medication to close them faster. (Oh well, she can live with scars.)
Wildfire.
You better watch your back.
Because you have taken this a step too far now.
I'm coming for you.
…
Stormclan
…
Bluepaw was nervous. Only a little, really.
...Okay, maybe a lot.
"You know, we can't stay right here forever," Drippingpaw spoke up from beside him and he let out a slow sigh. Dark green eyes never strayed from the distant horizon. Where his sister and his best friend disappeared too. If he squinted, he swore he could still see them somehow.
But no.
They were gone.
"You can go back," he murmured. "I'll be there soon."
"Are you going to cry on your own?"
"I thought you said you were the nice sister."
Drippingpaw chuckled at that, staring off into the distance as well with a smile on her face. She didn't seem to be taking it as bad as him. But then again, she and Windpaw weren't as close as him and Rainpaw.
He only knew Drippingpaw and Windpaw were sisters because of their father. Windpaw had never introduced them until now.
Which made sense, in hindsight. Drippingpaw was younger than them and a new apprentice, where they were almost done with their training. A moon, give or take. How strange.
He never expected the running to end like this.
It didn't feel like a proper victory, but it was the victory given to him.
"...Are you sure you can handle Cloudstar?"
Bluepaw let his eyes fall shut, finally. Cloudstar. So many scenarios were running through his mind at the moment and none of them were good. If it came down to a fight right now, he didn't know if he could actually survive it. Flarepaw had done quite the number on him, and he doubted Cloudstar had been part of the skirmish at all.
"I'm sure."
"How can you be sure?"
"So curious, you are."
She made a good point, though. How can he be sure he can actually do it? How can he be sure the clan wouldn't actually turn against him instead of the other way around? How can he know if they'll accept what happened?
Windpaw may not have been the most popular- of the two, he had a better standing with the rest of the clan- but for her to just leave like this… Would they blame him?
No.
He could make this work.
Spin the tale and throw the blame onto Cloudstar- because, in actuality, it was the Grand Royal's fault. He had pushed them too much, too fast, too soon and they reacted accordingly. Just… not in the way he wanted them to.
He wanted their blind obedience and instead, they made their own decisions.
"Drippingpaw," Bluepaw opened his eyes and looked at her. "I… If I fail and things go terribly wrong, what will you do?"
"What do you mean?" She tilted her head, confused.
"I mean, worst-case scenario, I either become a prisoner of the clan or I am executed. Either way, I'd fail, the clan will be stuck with Cloudstar and most likely Cloverpaw afterward, and everything will devolve to chaos. Will you stay or leave if that happens?"
"Oh. I'll leave."
"Just like that?" His brows rose in astonishment.
"Just like that," she giggled.
"Huh," Bluepaw hummed to himself, curious, observing. He gave a sad smile, "If only it could be that easy for us."
"I'm not like you," she explained, tail flicking this way and that. A nervous habit of hers, he figured out. "I'm only the next generation- the unimportant generation. I was born at the wrong time and I'm only useful as another Royal warrior whose only importance comes from if I have kits or not. I don't have strong ties here. Don't get me wrong, I like it here. Stormclan is home, but it is not family." She jerked her head toward the open space, her gaze remaining out there with a smile. "Windpaw is family. So, if it does come down to it, I don't care if I leave from here."
"I think some part of me envies you," he sighed heavily. So very tired all of a sudden. As though all the weight of his new responsibilities were coming for him now. "To not be seen as important or special just because I was born at the right time. No one expects anything out of you then."
"No," Drippingpaw acquiesces, her excitable nature dimming a little as she gives a small shrug. "But it's lonely. There are no other apprentices my age besides the Low Ranks and they don't trust me because I'm a Royal."
"I thought you were friends with Creekpaw?"
"I think she just feels sorry for me," Drippingpaw mumbled before clearing her throat, shaking herself out as though to shrug off the sadness. The smile returns to her face, sitting taller. "But I'll be fine. I just have to keep going, and maybe someday, I'll make actual friends."
Bluepaw only offered another hum as a response, turning his eyes back toward the prairie. Is that what Rainpaw had needed? Friends? The only ones who were brave enough to be around her were Bluepaw and Windpaw, and while they were probably enough, one could never have too many support systems.
Then again, his only friend had been Windpaw, and even that was a stretch.
Maybe we're all just lonely.
Maybe that's why everyone stuck together so strongly. Not out of loyalty, but out of fear of being alone.
"Grand Royal Bluepaw."
His ears flattened immediately before he took in a deep breath, sitting straighter, putting on his mask of a proper High Rank at the sound of Sagesplash's voice. At his side, Drippingpaw stiffened, the fur along her spine bristling. He frowned before turning around.
It wasn't just Sagesplash.
A small patrol of him, Riverspiral, and Carpshadow were there. Searching for him.
Seems like they left right on time.
(Sagesplash hardly even spared a glance to his daughter.)
"The Grand Royal is requesting your presence," the warrior spoke in that deep voice of his, searching his face carefully. Bluepaw held himself steady, not wanting to give any sign of weakness away. (But then again, with the number of cuts on his body, it was probably a futile effort.) Light blue eyes focused on him, and it promptly made him miss Rainpaw's light blue gaze already. "Where are Grand Royal Windpaw and Royal Rainpaw?"
Here it is.
He could lie, throw off their trail, just to make things a little more difficult for Cloudstar. Or he could tell them the truth, reveal the consequences of their leader's actions and decisions.
Not like they would actually leave clan territory to hunt them down. No one was brave enough.
The choice was made.
"Gone."
Carpshadow and Riverspiral grimaced in confusion, glancing at each other, and a spark of something appeared in Sagesplash's gaze as he raised a brow.
"What do you mean gone?" The leader of the impromptu patrol questioned.
"Exactly as I said," Bluepaw shrugged, attempting to show his carelessness. But his body was tense, prepared to spring to his defense should they choose to attack for whatever reason. Drippingpaw faced the patrol as well, cowering a step behind him. He stepped in front of her to keep the focus on him. "They left."
"What?" Carpshadow wrinkled his nose. "They can't do that."
"They did."
"It's no time to joke, Grand Royal Bluepaw," Sagesplash narrowed his eyes, irritation in light blue, his tail lashing once in warning. For a second, his gaze shifted over to the open plains, and Bluepaw could pinpoint the exact moment he pieced together what happened.
Just to open the wound even more, Bluepaw gave a sad smile, "I'm not joking. They just left. You missed them."
"But- They-" The only noble there stuttered, Carpshadow seemingly having difficulty wrapping his mind around it all. "Grand Royal Windpaw can't do that. That… That's treason!"
"It's survival," Bluepaw let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Cloudstar pushed too much when he really shouldn't have. Now, these are the consequences."
"It's not Cloudstar's fault Windpaw is a weakling," Sagesplash huffed, but even that sentence felt forced. The anger in his eyes was insurmountable and it looked like he wanted to race across the prairie just to drag his daughter back.
Not that he'd be able to catch up.
Windpaw was faster than him. (Windpaw was better than him.)
"She's not weak," Drippingpaw stepped out of her hiding spot, fangs flashing and fur bristling all the while. "She's the bravest!"
"Is that why she ran?" Sagesplash tilted his head in challenge.
A challenge that his daughter took up, "It's why she chose to stop being a puppet to the Grand Royal. But I'm sure you wouldn't understand that."
Bluepaw wanted to laugh, withholding his snickers at the outrage that morphed across Sagesplash's features. Yep. Definitely Windpaw's sister. (She would be so proud of her.)
"What's done is done," Bluepaw stepped in then, moving aside to head back in the direction of camp, making sure to stay between Drippingpaw and her father in case he tried to do anything. "I'll tell the Grand Royal myself. But perhaps he'll be too deep into his madness to care."
"The Grand Royal is not mad," Riverspiral spoke up then, but she seemed rather uncomfortable. Uncertain. "He is hurt."
"Aren't we all?" Bluepaw questioned, "Losing Specklepaw hurt… but look at what it cost us because of his decisions. A lost battle we had no time to prepare for. Many wounded and not enough herbs to guarantee recovery for everyone. And a Grand Royal apprentice leaving. What a shame."
The other remained quiet, Carpshadow and Riverspiral glancing at each other. And with the heat of battle and the freshness of a dead Stormclan cat settled, with everything calming down, their heads were clearer. And they could face the truth.
Something told him they didn't like what they saw.
Good. He flicked his tail, motioning for Drippingpaw to follow, not waiting for the others to escort him as he began taking the lead like the Grand Royal apprentice he was. Carpshadow and Riverspiral were the best cats he could have asked for to find him.
They were both big gossipers.
Within seconds of arriving back to camp, the news would spread and the whole clan would know what transpired. Chaos would ensue and sides would be chosen.
He just had to hope there would be more cats on his side than not.
(He didn't look behind him, but Sagesplash remained by the border for longer than the others, staring. A blank expression on his face. As though his whole world had come crashing down.
The spark of regret in light blue eyes was satisfying.)
…
"Bluepaw, finally!" Cloudstar scowled from his nest as the apprentice entered the den. And immediately, he asked, "Is it dealt with? Is Flarepaw dead?"
It made Bluepaw want to laugh. To think that was his main concern.
Not Are you okay?
Not Where are the others?
Only Is Flarepaw dead?
He doesn't care, he doesn't care!
Bluepaw already knew that, but it surprised him that it could hurt a bit. To think, the one cat he used to look up to as a new apprentice could be so twisted and hell-bent on his own idea of 'justice.' (It was quite sad.)
"No," he answered honestly, settling down with a languid sigh. Trying to come off as relaxed as possible, careless. He had the cards, he just had to play them right and make sure nothing fell to the leader. Bluepaw adopted some of Windpaw's rash nature in his stance, as though nothing in this world could touch him- or if it could, he dared it to try. (He always secretly admired that about her.) "We decided not to kill her."
Cloudstar blinked at him, nonplussed. Perhaps convinced that he hadn't heard the apprentice correctly.
"What did you just say?" The Grand Royal stopped in his pacing, his entire body going still. Bluepaw watched him carefully, prepared to spring away at a moment's notice because it looked like Cloudstar was about to pounce on him.
"I said," he began, keeping his voice even despite his pounding heartbeat, "We decided not to kill her. So, we didn't."
"You must be joking," dark blue eyes narrowed dangerously. "You best be joking."
"You and I both know I'm not a jokester, Grand Royal," Bluepaw allowed a smirk on his face and- okay, now he knew why Windpaw had such fun with this kind of attitude. "It's as simple as it gets. We did not agree with your decision, so we made our own."
"And just who gave you the right," Cloudstar spoke through gritted teeth, his claws peeking out, "to decide that?"
"Our self-respect."
"You…" the Grand Royal stood up then and Bluepaw fought with everything he had not to cower away. Stay strong, stay strong. He could do this. He just had to be careful. "You are playing a dangerous game, Grand Royal Bluepaw."
"You decided that yourself the moment you told my sister to kill someone," Bluepaw stood up as well just to match him. It satisfied something within him to know he wasn't that much shorter than Cloudstar was. "She was not a slave to you. We are not a slave to you-"
"I am the Grand Royal!" He took a step forward and Bluepaw held his ground, jaw clenching tightly. "My word is law."
"And ordering us to kill an innocent clan cat is against our code."
"Have you forgotten that they started it?" Another step, Bluepaw felt his desire to back away rising. He bit it down, swallowed heavily, took in a breath to puff up his shoulders. Cloudstar didn't seem to find him intimidating. "They are the ones who killed my Royal!"
Bluepaw stared at him for a few moments before deciding to take the plunge, "Who was it?"
"What?" The leader bared his teeth.
"Tell me," the apprentice pressed on, a growl rumbling in his chest, "Who did they kill? What was their name?"
Cloudstar stared at him… and remained quiet. The aggression he displayed tempered as he leaned away, his ears flicking back as though to flatten. And for half a second, the uncontrollable anger in dark blue vanished just enough to reveal the beginnings of guilt.
Because he didn't answer. The silence stretched on and it was all Bluepaw needed.
He let out a small, breathy chuckle.
"You don't care about the clan," he shook his head slowly, disappointed. "All you care about is evening the score against Blazeclan. Do you even know how many of us were injured because of this? How long it's going to take for all of us to recover? Are you aware that Ripplewave has no more herbs to work with because he was running low before you decided to start this battle?"
The more he spoke, the more Cloudstar backed away, the vitriolic hate and violent anger fading more and more until he was sitting down, staring blankly at nothing with an unreadable expression. Bluepaw was left standing, staring down at the tom before him with his own anger sparking in his chest. Defensiveness.
The clan did not deserve to suffer beneath a tyrant's paws.
"Don't you see, Cloudstar?" He was desperate to get his point across. "You go too far every time. And the clan can do nothing but trail behind you as you lead us to needless violence.! We could have talked with Blazeclan, get an explanation, let the Medicine Cats converge, and mutually come up with something that doesn't involve a full-on battle during the thaw of all times. Instead, we suffer yet another defeat, our clanmate is not avenged by any means… and you are the reason a Grand Royal apprentice has left."
Cloudstar focused back on him then, brow furrowing, "What?"
"Windpaw is gone," he said, claws digging into the ground beneath him, the start of tears burning in his eyes. "And so is my sister. They left because they rather face the unknown than be here anymore because of you."
"You're lying," the Grand Royal shook his head, but the denial was a weak one. "You're…"
Bluepaw went in for the kill, taking another step forward to get right in his face as he uttered, "What is the clan going to think of you knowing you chased off a Grand Royal apprentice at the end of a running, the first one ever?"
"It's her fault," the leader bristled, "She couldn't handle it."
"Or perhaps she knew leaving was better than following you," he took a step back, part of him knowing he won. "Who knows, maybe it'll be best to join her instead? For everyone to leave and follow her example."
"No one would dare," Cloudstar held himself a little taller. "The clan rules don't allow it."
"They also don't condone murder," Bluepaw narrowed his eyes, "and yet, the infallible Grand Royal of Stormclan ordered just that. What would they think knowing you turned your back against the code?"
"Blazeclan committed murder first," the tom pressed on, "I was simply trying to return the favor."
"Then perhaps you should have done it yourself instead of ordering someone else to carry that blood on their paws," he tilted his head, a hint of a smirk to his lips. "Is Grand Royal Cloudstar incapable of handling matters on his own and leaves it up to a couple of apprentices while he hides in his den and does not even show his face in battle? My, that's a weak leader. Surely the clan would notice that you are the only one without any injuries."
Cloudstar remained absolutely silent, simply staring at him. Trying to read him. Bluepaw kept himself stern, unflinching. Eyes narrowed and posture ready for a fight despite how many wounds were on his body. Unable to heal properly without the use of herbs. There will be countless scars on everybody's body.
Everybody but Cloudstar's.
For all his talk, the Grand Royal never fought his own battles.
"Do not test me, Bluepaw," the leader spoke eventually, voice sharp as the claws that had scoured across his pelt. "This is not a battle you will win."
"I was actually going to say the same thing," Bluepaw shot back. "Would you like to go outside and hold judgment on the clan's only Grand Royal apprentice now? Imagine the uproar."
"I could just choose another."
"And break tradition?" He gave a dramatic gasp. Would Windpaw be proud of him right now if she saw him? "Well, you've already forced that with Windpaw leaving. Go ahead, I'd like to see what the clan has to say about that."
"The clan follows me," Cloudstar growled, lips pulling back. "They will do as I say."
"I'm not so certain about that," he gave a one-shoulder shrug. "Perhaps before this battle, that would have been true. But you screwed yourself, Grand Royal. No one wants to follow a coward who can't even join the fights that he starts out of a temper tantrum."
"A coward, am I?"
"The glossiness of your pelt proves it," Bluepaw snickered. "While we were off fighting, were you grooming yourself?"
"A Grand Royal doesn't need to join a battle."
"Not front and center, but he should at least show that he cares enough to leave the den."
"Don't-"
"Threaten me all you like," Bluepaw took a step back, scoffing. "I know you're not brave enough to go through with any of them. Not unless you're absolutely certain the clan will back you up… and right now, you're wavering because you know I'm right."
Once more, Cloudstar's only response was silence. His nostrils flared, his agitation returning, but Bluepaw felt like that was enough. Let the Grand Royal stew in his failure.
It's not like he'd actually do anything to him.
Bluepaw had nothing to lose, after all. His rank was secure because tradition mandated it- and for as much as the clan aggravated him, he knew the one thing they would never break was tradition. His life? Well, it would be a shame if he was killed, but so long as Rainpaw was safe and far away from here, he could rest easy. His sister was gone and he didn't care for his father.
Deciding he was done with this conversation, Bluepaw turned and began making his way toward the exit, giving Cloudstar plenty of time to call him back, to strike some sort of deal, to attack him then and there. He had little doubt the leader would win if they fought that instant- there was only so much damage he could take at the moment- but that would only further the clan's animosity to him.
Cloudstar would not risk it.
And he was right. The white-furred tom did nothing to stop him as he sauntered his way to the den's entrance.
He paused before leaving, glancing over his shoulder.
"Her name was Specklepaw."
With that, Bluepaw didn't give his leader time to respond as he left the den. The darkness of the approaching night made him let out a sigh from the tense day. And though Riverspiral and Carpshadow probably shared everything to the others by now and rumors were probably already floating about, everyone must have been too tired at the moment to truly react to it.
It was the quietest he had ever seen the clan be.
He enjoyed it.
…
It took the rest of sunset for him to return to the border where he saw them off. A handful of hours with them gone and he already greatly missed them.
While some part of him regretted not going with them, the bigger part of him wanted to make Stormclan safe enough for them to come back to. He'd change this place for the better and make it acceptable for his sister to be here without the threat of having to kill anyone else looming over her. He'd make it so Windpaw could freely love Rainpaw without scrutiny or worrying about her rank. He'd make it peaceful so no one will have to hurt each other for the slightest things.
He'd make it better than it was now.
But that was going to take a while.
The prairie looked even more mysterious at night. It was rather beautiful, in all honesty. The silver moonlight painting across the open plains of endless possibility. How far did they make it today? Did they find a comfortable den to rest in or were they going to travel through the night?
Please, he blew out a slow breath, a sad smile on his face, don't run into any trouble you two.
I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you.
Maybe he should have gone with them. For the three of them to just set out and start a new life elsewhere and turn their back on the clan. Leaving was always the easier option.
But…
He had things to take care of here.
(Including…)
"You know you don't have to sneak around, right?"
"Darn," Drippingpaw cursed from somewhere behind him and he snickered to himself. "How did you notice me? Windpaw never did."
"Did you stalk her around often?"
"No. Just during her hunts."
"So that's why she's been failing her hunts recently," he looked over his shoulder at her and the she-cat laughed.
"Guilty as charged," Drippingpaw padded over to join his side, staring off to the prairie as well with a relaxed sigh. "I'm going to miss her."
"Yeah…" Bluepaw mumbled, resuming his staring. "I am too."
"But," dark blue examined him out of the corner of her eyes, "you know they're going to be okay, right? I mean, our sisters are strong. Especially put together."
"I know."
"The two of them will watch out for each other, I'm sure of it."
"I know."
"You say that a lot."
He gave her a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile to his face as he said teasingly, "I know."
Drippingpaw let out a breath of amusement before shaking her head, looking up toward the sky, and drawing in the night air as much as possible. The calico looked so relaxed and he wished he could have at least half of her ease. The idea of them being gone scared him, but not her, apparently.
"They'll be fine," Bluepaw said and found himself starting to believe it. No matter what dangers they will face out there, he knew in the deepest parts of his heart that they were going to be okay. Rainpaw was a survivor and Windpaw was a fighter.
Nothing could harm them so long as they were together.
"We will be fine as well," Drippingpaw nudged his shoulder gently, ever aware of their wounds from the day. "I have faith in you, Bluepaw. You won't let us down."
Dark green found its way to the stars above, searching. Which one of them was his mother? Would Snowstrike be proud of him?
(One of the stars glittered brighter for a second and he smiled just as bright.)
"I won't. I promise."
He was going to turn this clan around no matter what.
Of that, he had no doubt.
…
A/N: *Ugly crying in the corner* I can't believe we reached the end of this arc. I have so many feelings I don't even know where to start.
And as much as I hate going on hiatuses, I'm afraid this one is rather necessary. While I have the loose outline- aka, just chapter names and one or two sentences of notes- for the rest of the story, I really do want to flesh out major events and important scenes before jumping into the rest of it. I will say that we are reaching the end of this story overall. I want to make sure everything is in order so the pieces can fall in line and we don't have to head to another hiatus after this one.
So, as of now, I don't entirely know how long I'll be gone. I'm hoping for no more than two months, but it might take longer (before outlining, I do want to read over my own story and take careful notes of possible things I want to clear up before the end).
At the most; I can guarantee that I will definitely be back at the start of next year at the latest. Hopefully before then, but I really don't want to rush this.
I hope you guys can understand- I apologize in advance for this hiatus at all- and I hope to see you all when I come back!
…
Question of the Day
(This can help me with the outlining process to make sure I tackle everything before this story is over :). I want to be as thorough as I can and leave as few loose ends as possible.)
What are you most excited about in regards to the rest of the story? What would you really like to see, and are there any conflicts in mind that I haven't addressed?
Bonus question one; Are there any characters you would really like to see a backstory to? I might include those too.
Bonus question two; Just for fun: Who do you think isn't going to make it to the end of the story? (Who's on the chopping block lol?)
…
Again, thank you all for your support and understanding. I shall see you guys later!
…
Please review, favorite, and/or follow!
Let me know what you think of the story and give constructive criticism where you see fit.
Thank you and peace out!
~Wolfcreations21