Chapter 24
FearClan/Lion
In the passing days the coyotes had fought back, viciously. The fragments of BloodClan soon regathered their lost strength and were combining their forces into the massive and proud Clan of fighters that they once were. The plan was to fight them head on before they became a bigger nuisance on the cats who were struggling in the Twoleg Place. Lion had witnessed it all and on the no-moon night would the final confrontation begin. Moth hadn't been able to stay by her side as Quail continued his advances on her. When newleaf came and they returned to the FearClan camp, things would have changed drastically.
Berry was gone, killed by a dog during a fight in the tunnel-like alley. Not to mention, the leader of the fragment had become fond of her and was willing to prove that he would keep his word in return of her own. Twitching her whiskers, she wasn't so sure. The coyotes were much, much bigger then them, more then twice their size, yet in numbers they could swarm them like rats. Her skin crawled beneath her leafbare thick pelt. She disliked the thought of being like rats, but she supposed it was the best they could do. Glancing to the dusky brown tom, she kept her eye on him even as she felt his pelt brush hers.
She felt no feelings for him, yet she was willing to give up everything to prove that FearClan, a fallen Fragment in their eyes, can be saved from the threat of Clan-cats. Loud mews spoke ahead of her, her amber eyes latching onto the first cats she could see. Moth was speaking with Breeze and wishing her luck on the future hunt on the coyote's scent markings. The sooner they relocated them, the sooner they could plan an attack once more. They were hiding in the Twoleg Place and to make it safe for the Fragments, they had to find them and fast.
"Those mange-pelts have been picking us off one by one." Quail grumbled beside her, "But now that we are working together, they can't possibly pick us all off to death."
"I wouldn't put it past those things." Lion admitted, ignoring how the Fragment leader's tail curled around her body. "They act like dogs, but somehow less dumb and clumsy."
"They're wily," Quail conceded, "but we are just as wily."
"Think we will get a lead on them soon?" Lion asked, flicking her amber gaze to his golden ones.
"Soon enough." he promised, warmth in his mew. "No need to worry, we will be back to FearClan before you know it and I will ensure you will be treated fairly as you deserve."
His gaze was so intense, it made her fur prickle. A love that she was using for her own gain, yet it felt somehow nice to be loved so fiercely. The last time she ever seen a gaze this intense was from her mother, Finch. Her yellow eyes flashing into her mind briefly, their fierce love being what guided them to FearClan in the first place. Guilt clawed at her heart. Would her mother even approve of how low she had sunk? Would she think she had betrayed her group by admitting all those wrongs?
If she did, she would be saying that Moth and Berry did no wrong, that not even Pounce had done wrong. She thought bitterly, shaking out her fur a bit. I'm no traitor, I am doing this for the good of all cats in FearClan. Yet, it felt like a lie she was telling herself. She was doing it for herself and Hawk, the abuse they were suffering had brought them misery and pain. Soon enough, her mind drifted again to the long haired dark brown tabby she-cat. Those pale green eyes glittering with worry when she agreed to go against her own will.
"Something on your mind?" Quail asked gently, seeming to be concerned.
Lion flicked her ear closest to him. "Just overthinking." she admitted slowly, "Nothing to worry about though. I believe we can truly do this."
"I know we can, we just need one good lead..." he trailed off as paws thrummed the grass. Lion looked up, spotting a mangy black and cream tom with brilliant blue eyes appear before them, gasping for air. "Mud, is your Fragment in danger?"
The tom looked up at him, nodding grimly as he spoke between pants. "The Old Twoleg-Den Fragment is under attack by some pesky Twolegs. They look young, but those strange red and orange petals appeared!"
Lion felt the air leave her lungs. "Fire." she whispered, looking to Quail.
Quail lashed his tail. "We will be there to help bring whoever can make it out alive." He raised his head. "Giant Garden Fragment, we must save the Old Twoleg-Den Fragment. They are on fire! Follow Mud and quickly!"
Mud nodded, turning and racing away, soon every cat old enough charged after him, willing to lead them to their camp. Some bringing damp moss to give the cats something to drink while others brought prey or came empty-pawed. As the urgency raced through the cats, other fragments began to appear, running along the fences and stony grounds. Loud wails cried through the Twoleg Place walls, piercing Lion's ear fur as flashing fake-suns lit the night.
They raced against time, a few blindly running onto the thunderpath, causing monsters to screech and skid to a halt with a blaring yowl. Yet, they ran like they were fleeing danger. They had to be swift to save whatever cats they could and bring them to safety before the Twolegs captured them. Voices of Twolegs yowled and cried up ahead as they soon approached the blazing den. Mud had stopped, gasping for air in horror. There was too many Twolegs to get to the cats trapped within.
Quail stared in dismay for a moment, seeing Twolegs in dirty yellow pelts fighting the fire with a long snake that spat water. Others were coming out of the blaze after busting down a wall, the stench of singed fur and burning flesh filled the air. Cats yowled in pain as another Twoleg brought them out, they were badly scarred and burnt. Eyes wild with fear and pain. They were too late to save them, many were perishing and the fragment was being taken away before their eyes.
Mud blinked slowly, looking to Quail. "As far as I know the youngest and a few of the older ones ensured their escape. I don't know how many stayed behind to try and save prey if there was any."
"It's alright, we will just have to find the stragglers before those coyotes do." Quail told him gently, taking the lead. "Everyone follow me and stay quiet. No need to let the Twolegs know we are here."
Lion nodded along with the other cats and followed his lead. In a wide berth, they avoided the gathered Twolegs who were worried and concerned, others with scorn in their voice or even anger. Lion ignored their strange meows, knowing she wouldn't be able to understand a thing. Flicking her tail from side to side, she followed uncertainly. In the bushes lay a young white dappled tan kit-mother with three kits barely born two days ago. Her yellow eyes glistening with loss as she looked to the kits who were suckling to either feed or pacify themselves from how scared they were.
"Speckle, is everything alright?" Mud asked, catching her attention.
"I'm fine." she whispered, "They took me and my kits out first, then they went to get the leader and second-in-command. They were hurrying, but the fire spread so fast. Thorn went to get my sister, but something must have happened. Nobody else came out and I was so worried. I heard Wink crying out, but I haven't heard Thorn. Do you think the fire killed them or even the Twolegs?"
"We don't know yet. We will find out soon." Quail promised, looking to the burning den. Lion followed his gaze, her heart breaking as the flames were slowly battled into submission. The Twolegs were fast, but not fast enough to rescue the cats. Those who were saved, were taken away, leaving a kit-mother alone with them and Mud.
"I'm sorry for your losses." Lion began softly.
"We'll be fine. We just need to stay in a new Fragment." Mud replied despite how dark his blue eyes had become.
"You are all welcome to stay with us." Quail offered, "It will be a tough journey back, but it will be manageable."
"We can stop in case my kits get hungry, right?" Speckle asked.
"Of course, the young Shards are very important to us all. We will protect them and you with our very lives." Quail vowed.
Lion blinked, unsure, but nodded. "Not even a dog can stop us from keeping you all safe."
Speckle nodded, rising to her paws while her kits mewled in surprise. "Hush, kittens, we are just going to move again." She picked up one by the scruff.
Lion didn't hesitate and picked up the heaviest-looking kit by the scruff, a tom from the looks of it. Blinking her gratitude, Speckle looked to the others, hardly surprised that Mud picked up the last kit. Quail raised his tail as the cats prepared to move. With Quail in the lead, they escorted the mother and her kits back to the Giant Garden. However, Lion wasn't sure they were prepared for the treacherous journey ahead of them.
The thunderpath was full of monsters trying to go down their path, throaty growls filling the air as they bellowed and yowled. Acrid fumes making Lion glad for the scent of warm milk in her jaws. The kit wriggled, mewling in confusion and possibly the cold. Grayish-black snow caked the edges of the thunderpath, something she hadn't noticed during their mad dash to the burning Twoleg den. Speckle glanced to Quail with fear in her yellow eyes. Clearly hoping there would be another way.
Quail looked to her, his gaze unreadable in the light of the fake-suns. "Breeze, cross with Speckle. Make sure she makes it to the other side alive."
The pale tabby she-cat nodded, looking to the young mother. "Come, I won't let you or your kit get attacked by those monsters."
Speckle nodded, speaking around the kit-fluff in her mouth. "I'll do my best to keep up."
Breeze stepped out, looking up and down the thunderpath expertly. "They seem to be taking turns very slowly, we can cross safely without too much trouble here."
Quail looked to Lion. "I will cross with you."
Lion nodded numbly, watching as Breeze swiftly escorted the young mother to the other side. Soon Moth was crossing with Mud and Lizard. Altogether they were racing through the paws of the monsters who seemed to be grumbling to themselves about how slow things were going. Another monster flashed passed, the line of monsters crawling forward impatiently before Lion felt another cat flank her on the other side.
Glancing she saw Blizzard, the silver tom stared ahead, focused keenly on the monsters as his orange eyes gleamed. The fake-suns of the glowing eyes of the monsters lighting the grayish-black sludge of snow and ice. Quail spoke, his mew hard with authority. "Go!" Instinctively, she raced forward on his command. Her paws scrabbling against the slick grayish-black slush as she dove under the nearest belly of a monster. Paws scrabbled close behind her. Somehow, she was faster as she pelted out from under the monster and into the alley where the others were waiting.
Soon, the cats were regrouping in the alley. Spreading news and information as much as they could spare. Horror gripped her as she realized, the other fragments, even those who lived the closest, could only save the youngest of fragments who had panicked and escaped alone. A few had gone in, but debris engulfed in flames had fallen from the roof of the den, blocking the entire Twoleg-Den Fragment from being rescued. Their shelter that had once kept the rain and cold out was their demise.
Somewhere in the din of the alley, a tom spoke crossly. "Never trust Twoleg things, they can only bring harm to a cat!"
She padded to Speckle who looked to be in deep misery. Gently, Lion placed the kit at the curve of her belly, allowing the tom-kit to suckle beside his siblings. They shared a brief look, their gazes locking with uncertainty. Neither knew what would become of the cats the Twolegs took out. Would they survive such horrible injuries? Would the ones who managed to escape not suffer from nightmares or even the smoke sickness?
"Thank you, for everything." Speckle murmured, "I know not much could be done, but I am truly grateful for you carrying my kit."
"It's not a problem." Lion choked out, feeling an emotion fill her. "You have beautiful kits, I'm sure the father was so proud of them."
"They will never know their father," Speckle murmured sadly, "but I will share his wisdom and life through stories. So they can feel that they know him."
The reddish-brown she-cat felt her heart shatter. She was just like these kits. Never knowing her true father or recalling him outside of her mother's stories. Nodding, she stepped away to give the small family time to come to terms with what some dumb Twolegs had done. She rose her head, seeing Moth who looked as troubled as she felt, if not more. Blinking slowly, their gaze met for a brief moment.
At last, the bright ginger tom spoke. "You look like you need someone to talk to."
Lion looked away a moment, unsure if she could confide in him. He had caused a lot of her suffering. Held her back when her mother needed help most. Betrayed her as much as Heather had in the past. Pain raged beneath her pelt for many moons, yet now she felt defeated. With a sigh, she gave in to her needs. A need to feel validated, to make a friend whom she can trust with her very last breath.
"Those kits might end up just like me." she confided her worries.
"How so? They still have their mother." Moth pointed out matter-of-factly.
Lion felt the fur on her neck rise. "I grew up without a father. I have no memories of him. They will grow up without being able to know what he looked like. And that's if their mother survives. She could easily be killed without help. Especially in looking after those poor kits."
"The Giant Garden Fragment will look after them." Moth soothed her, casting a glance to Quail. "Isn't that right?"
"Of course, we would never cast out a mother of Shards." The leader promised.
Lion hardly felt comforted. "Even if she does wrong?"
"Even if she betrays us." his eyes grown hard.
At least, comfort found her. She could trust this leader, he had the eyes that told her of his experience. Something that was far more empathetic and compassionate than she was used to. In her eyes and mind, this was the leader she would follow without question. One she could trust to have everyone in mind. Looking to Moth more assured then before, she could see the hurt in his eyes.
Are you surprised I would find comfort through him? she thought, as the bright ginger tom looked away. He is the only high ranking cat who has actually listened to me and my pleas. He hasn't done me wrong. She froze, feeling doubt unfurl inside her heart. Neither has Hawk and I treated her like she was part of FearClan from the start.
Amends would have to be made, that much Lion was willing to do. Taking a steadying breath, she knew what must be done. She opened her jaws to speak, however Dog Chaser had rounded the corner with a few other cats who were the best trackers of the fragments. The small brown tom's eyes were gleaming.
"We found them! The coyotes!" he announced excitedly, "The moon is only half over, now we can work on defeating them!"
"Good, the sooner we can get home then." Moth grumbled, padding to the other tom.
Lion blinked, swallowing dryly. I suppose it will have to wait just a bit longer. She decided as Quail put together the patrols. Soon enough, the fragments of BloodClan would face the coyotes and hopefully chase them out of the Twoleg Place. Then, they could head back to FearClan and hopefully change everything for the better. By then, Lion hoped she could try to make amends with Moth, after all he had tried his best to be her friend for as long as she had been in FearClan.
Author Note:
Lion is a hard working girl and showing how desperate she is to find a place that feels like home. While her heart has found it, it seems Moth is in need of some talking to and fast.
Thank you for reading, have a lovely day/night. - NightSky
