Alright! This is my first challenge for Fallenclan, a forum that you should go check out! It's hosted by succulentsofa. This is about Snakefang and Hollyclaw, two characters from my story Ignition. You don't have to read Ignition in order to read this though!

- Mossy

He had tormented her out of jealousy. She was just so perfect and he hated it. His mother had been sick with whitecough when he was one moon old. His brothers, Elmkit and Twitchkit, both had greencough. Twitchkit was the first to go. He coughed until he could cough no more. He had been the biggest kit in the litter, but by the end he was a sack of skin and bones. Elmkit passed on later that same day. Snakekit turned to his mother in this time of loss, but she was broken. Foxberry grew weaker until her whitecough turned to greencough as well. She was dead within the next half a moon.

So, there was the two moon old Snakekit, with no family to speak of. His father, Elmwhisker, had died before he was born (he was Elmkit's namesake). He watched Hollykit play with her living brother, Briarkit, and snuggle up with her living mother. Clawstorm was a doting mother, always showering her kits with affection. He took turns nursing from her and from Twigflight. Twigflight's daughter, Sleekkit, was very nice and fun to be around. Of course, she was best friends with Hollykit. Hollykit's father was the deputy, Bramblefoot. She was adored by all who met her, except Snakekit.

They often bickered at called each other names. He called Hollykit "Dirtface." Her nickname for him was much crueler.

"Hey Lonekit," she would sneer, "Why don't you just run along to someone who cares about your problems. Wait, that's right! No one cares about you!" Snake would hiss and try not to show how much his new name stung.

…

He put a thorn in her nest once and she woke up covered in scratches. He was never caught, but she knew it was him. He could tell by the spider in his best the following morning. He really shouldn't have let her find out his worst fear. If only he hadn't been yelling in his sleep.

When he saw the spider he jumped and ran for his life and barreled straight into Onepaw. "Watch where you're going!" the apprentice snapped, lashing his ginger tail. Snakekit was a little stunned by the impact, but he could make out Hollykit whisper to Briarkit.

"Our plan worked perfectly," she smirked, "Snakekit is so predictable." Snakekit flattened his ears in embarrassment and tried to disappear.

…

When they became apprentices, there was a shift in their relationship. Snakepaw and Hollypaw weren't just enemies, they were rivals. Hollypaw, of course, had to be naturally good at everything. Before long she was one of the best fighters and hunters out of the apprentices. Briarpaw did not has his sister's talent and his skills were okay, just not very impressive. Snakepaw trained secretly every night, hoping to catch up to Hollypaw and eventually surpass her. Right now, he hoped that extra training would pay off, because he and Hollypaw were facing off in a battle training session. Snakefang's mentor was sitting there just glaring at his apprentice, like he normally was. Snakepaw swore that Barktooth was always mad about something. Hollypaw's mentor was Gorsenose, a go-lucky, fun tom who actually gave constructive criticism.

Snakepaw bunched up his legs and prepared to spring at Hollypaw. He would finally beat her and show her who the superior apprentice was. He jumped at Hollypaw and felt the wind rush past him. She smirked at his, and dodged his attack. He landed in the dirt, and was spitting grass out of his mouth as he got up.

"What's the matter Lonepaw? Can't catch me?" she said in a sickly sweet voice. Snakepaw's ears twinged red with embarrassment and he let out a hiss. He would show Hollypaw that he was better than her, he would! He was stronger now. Snakepaw glared daggers at his rival, and then he charged. Snakepaw leaped and tried to grasp Hollypaw's scruff with his mouth, but she twisted out of the way and put her fangs on his throat. Barktooth looked angry and Gorsenose had a proud gleam in his eyes.

"Good job using your opponents rashness against them," he smiled at Hollypaw, "Your dodging has improved tremendously. Snakepaw, next time try not to let your opponent get to you. If you had kept your cool, you may have won."

"Don't talk to Snakepaw like he's your apprentice," Barktooth hissed, "Snakepaw, that was an embarrassing display and you disappoint me and your clan!" Snakepaw sat there shaking with anger. Barktooth was always so harsh and he hated it.

Hollypaw walked up beside him and whispered, "Predictable," in his ear. Snakepaw let out a frustrated hiss.

…

He was on a hunting patrol with Hollyclaw. Something about Bramblefoot "wanting them to get along for once." She told him to chase a rabbit toward her and he refused.

"Why are you being so difficult?" she cried, her tail lashing.

"Why are you suddenly in charge?" he retorted.

"Look, Snakefang, I know you don't like me, but we need to catch prey for the Clan."

"Not until you stop being so bossy, Dirtface," he smirked. It was fun watching the perfect, golden Hollyclaw struggle to keep her composure.

She sat there sputtering and hissing until she exclaimed, "Snakefang, grow up! It's not my fault that you're angry and miserable. I didn't kill your parents and littermates! You're just jealous because I have friends and a family who loves me. Don't blame all your problems on me."

That stopped him. She had him all figured out. When had that happened? He turned and stared at her.

"You don't know me at all," he lied. He was trying to hide the broken cat underneath his sarcastic exterior, but what was the point? She had already peered in through the cracks in his shell. He turned around and ran away.

Around camp they avoided each other. How had she known what he felt? She had put the feelings he had moled over for years and just stated them plainly. Now they were out in the open and that scared him. She made him feel vulnerable, cracked him open and peered inside, and he hated it.

…

One night, Clawstorm got sick, really sick. Briarshade, as usual, was nowhere to be found. He and Hollyclaw had been drifting apart. He used to always be by her side but now he was rarely in camp and it hurt Hollyclaw.

Hollyclaw had no one to turn to and Snakefang knew her pain. He understood how she felt. He realized he could be the one she turned to in her hour of need. Sleekfur was there for her friend, but she didn't know the same pain. She was also busy with her new apprentice, Scorchpaw. Snakefang could emphasize with Hollyclaw, but did he want to? This was the cat who he had disliked since they were kits. But watching walk around camp broken, with her usual spitfire attitude nowhere to be found was horrible. That's it, someone had to help Hollyclaw and that someone had to be him.

It was awkward at first, talking to her. But she was so desperate for someone to understand that she opened up rather quickly. Bramblefoot was a wreck with his mate in the medicine cat den. After Clawstorm's eventual death, he died of grief. He noticed when Hollyclaw wasn't hesitant to cry on his shoulder. Their relationship had shifted from rivils to something else. He was still picking apart the storm of emotions he felt when he thought about Hollyclaw. Then, one day when they went hunting together he realized that Hollyclaw, with her golden fur shining as she stood on the moor he green eyes glinting in the sun was beautiful. Snakefang was in love with her ever since.