SO SORRY FOR LACK OF UPDATES. I was/am in school but I should have more time now. Chapter two of Ravenwing's Remorse is on the way but I really REALLY wanted to do this short after seeing in canon Frecklewish is in the dark forest. SO enjoy this super short one shot!

She could hear it clear as day over the pounding of water hitting the rocks.

Screaming….

Specifically the screaming and crying of Mapleshade and the three bundles of fur she had dragged herself out of thunderclan with.

It were so harsh and sharp that not even starclan could drown it out with the mix of thunder and downpour, The sounds attacked her ears and clawed at her brain.

Frecklewish poked her head through the bushes, eyes wide as she saw the four forms sink under the water multiple times. Each time remaining under the water just a bit longer then the last time.

She turned her attention towards the opposing side of the river. A riverclan patrol wouldn't be too far off now, if she called out-

She hissed slightly, digging her claws into the soft mud.

No….

Mapleshade didn't deserve her help, she didn't even deserve the fur on her back.

She stepped back into the bushes, eyes going cold as she looked back at the water, the churning waves… It felt familiar…. Had she been here before?

No...the waves were like this when Birchface had died. Her poor brother….

Mapleshade had spat on his name in more ways than one. She deserved this. The riverclan patrol would come soon enough and drag their sorry mangy pelts back to their camp. Their problem now… As for her? She had seen them off the territory her job was done. Frecklewish would go back and inform the clan that the filth was gone.

She turned and started walking back when she felt something slither over her paws.

What?

She fluffed up, rearing back at the adder that made itself known, looking up at her with its expressionless eyes before letting out a small hiss…..

And then there was another one to its left

And another

And another.

How had she come to snake rocks?

Frecklewish turned to run only to trip on another thick scaled body, landing chest first into the dirt…. Hadn't it been mud moments early?

More and more adders poured out of the rocks, like a waterfall in their slithering bodies….all making a bee line to her.

And then, out of seemingly nowhere, a cat appeared in front of her, staring down with cold hard eyes.

Mapleshade?!

Her fear of the snakes temporarily forgotten, she hissed, going to lunge at the traitor.

But it wasn't Mapleshade, it was Birchface.

She adjusted her position midpounce, hitting the ground beside him as she looked at her kin.

Erupting into purrs

"B-Birchface! How- I….we thought...you were dead!"

"I am Frecklewish…"

Frecklewish stopped, her tail dropping in confusion.

"And so are you."

Her heart stopped. She looked around, the adders hadn't left...instead they covered the ground in such a thick mess she couldn't even see the sand and grass….just scales.

"Frecklewish I tried… I really tried…..several times we put you back there…. All you had to do was yell, grab a branch….something!" Hurt laced his tone.

"A...And help them? Birchface! She lied to the clan and-"

"And the kits?"

"They aren't even kits! They're half clan vermin. The children of monsters!"

"Frecklewish, they still had blue eyes! They looked up to you! You ignored the warrior code when you let them drown!"

She hissed at the thought of those blue eyes looking at her in admiration, would they have turned green like Appledusk? How could she ever let his eyes look at her. Her anger halted as she paused to look at Birchface as he looked down at his paws.

"If….if I'm dead- where is…. Have you come to take me to starclan?" She said hopefully, her memories were still clouded but she trusted her brother.

"I'm afraid….you won't be-" The words pained him to say. "You won't be going there."

"...a..am I going back? But I don't have the nine li-"

"This was your last chance…. I'm sorry…."

She went to ask another question before pain, pain shot through her left back paw and she turned to look at the source…. An Adder had dug its fangs into her paw…. She reared back, trying to swipe at it in panic only to have another one strike and latch onto that paw. Soon she was fighting off the horde...each set of fangs sending another wave of pain through her body….

They ignored Birchface who refused to look, tail curling around his paws. Behind him several other cats watched. Some with indifference, others in anger….one or two in pity.

"H-HELP!" She turned towards them as her legs gave out. The snakes slither over her now, threatening to cover her entire body.

They all turned away.

Her shrieks were loud and harsh, hitting their ears and clawing at their hearts.

But eventually there was silence. The snakes went back into the rocks…..and there was nothing left of Frecklewish in starclans grounds.

She couldn't see right, not at first. Her eyes hurt…
And everything came rushing back, not just Birchface and her…..trial….. But her death, Mapleshade had.

She got up quickly, tail lashing as she looked around. The forest was dark, faintly lit up by mushrooms and a moon...but no stars…

She was….

A cold fear clutched her heart.

"BIRCHFACE! S-STARCLAN! I'M SORRY! I..I'M A GOOD CAT I SWEAR!"

But no cat responded.

And no cat ever would.