Chapter 45
BushClan/Tumbleheart
The moment the barrier had stopped rattling, the camp erupted into chaos. All around her, their voices mingled with excitement, worry, and stress. The preparations had been all for this moment. Every cat was expected to fight, even the blinded queen, Minteye, had her head thrown back with a roaring cry. Twilightsky beside her in an instant, promising to stay by her side so she would never be alone even into these few final moments. Morningstar and Blackdapple were huddled close together as though until the full moon they would never see each other again. Tumbleheart felt her heart ache as she looked to Rubypaw and Crowpaw who already looked haunted from the thought of this challenge. She wanted so desperately to tell them it would be alright, go and tell them it was not the end. However, she could not find it in herself to even move or speak. Leaftail, her mother, had died because of these wars. Anything she said could only make the horrible ache inside her burn with even more pain than ever before.
The quarter-moon passed slowly. Every day they worked on fighting to prepare the apprentices and themselves. It was the hardest they ever worked in all the moons combined. All of the peace they had finally crumbled away, the stress and anxiety had finally come to the highest peak or any tree. Day in and day out, the skies drizzled and rained leading up to the day. Thunder rumbling in the distance as they hunted, trained to fight perfectly, and rest. When the day finally come, the forest seemed eerily silenced, the birds had been hushed and prey didn't scramble through the undergrowth. A bitter cold had taken hold so early in leaf-fall that it had frosted every last twig and leaf that had yet to fall. The sun hidden by the clouds as the icy claws of leafbare tried to drag itself to come early. It wouldn't, as far as Tumbleheart was aware, but it was still alarming as the sudden chill descended upon the spindly forest. It was as though everything around them knew about what was to happen. Mothers coddling their kits one last time, loved ones sharing a final meal as the sun began to set. With full bellies, they waited as the last of the twilight faded and the moon slowly began to rise.
The stars began to twinkle in the sky as each cat rose. Tonight, BushClan camp would be empty as every cat went into war. Tumbleheart looked to the younger apprentices, seeing how they were helping Icepath, Jasminepetal, and Poppyclaw with carrying bundles of herbs. Clearly, all of them were going to work together for what could be the last time. Tumbleheart swallowed dryly as she padded into the line. Morningstar taking his time to walk into the open, heading to the line ever so slowly. His golden eyes looking each cat over with an emotion that she couldn't name. Fear? Worry? Sadness? It was hard for her to tell what it was exactly as he stood in front of them. A single look hushed them as their leader began to speak, final words that they would ever know.
"Long ago, BushClan and it's leader, had been part of what FearClan once had been. Many of us remember those days, remember the blood we shared with those cats, those who felt wronged to their very core. One of us shares more then blood, but a bitter memory. I remember the day Cedar had promised war and bloodshed for what Bushstar, then Bush, had ever done to her. He stole Jaggedcloud from her, her first born, as a final act of defiance of her anger towards him following the path StarClan had set out for him." Morningstar mewed, the bitter cold all around them growing stronger and stronger.
"That was before Applemist and I were born, wasn't it?" Foxgaze spoke up softly, his amber eyes round with awe.
"That it was." He replied back. "I was only a kit back then, I barely survived honestly."
"That may be true," Talonshine whispered, his blind green eyes seeming to be staring down his eldest son. "But we have become hardened warriors. Those moons are far behind us, Morningstar. You and Minteye were raised as Clan-cats, just as any of them have been. We all have done our best to follow those rules, we have broken one rule over and over. We are to not kill another cat, but we have had no choice when they go for our kits. With the nursery empty, do we fight as warriors or as rogues?"
"Warriors!" Minteye snarled. "We must fight as warriors, no matter what!"
"But even a warrior must kill when it might be the only way to end the conflict." Morningstar reminded them. "I am not asking any of you to kill any cat, but if you feel there is no other choice, then do it. None of us, not even the stars, would see you any different. This is for the survival of BushClan. We may never win this battle, but we must survive to win the war. Now, fight like warriors and if you must, fight like them. It's in our blood and it's the move we can do to ensure our survival."
Poppyclaw was next to speak up, the dark ginger tom having his head raised. "For moons I did my best to not raise a claw in battle if I can help it. After all the grief and pain we suffered, I would be honored to fight like a young tom again."
Tumbleheart blinked warmly, he was the tom who raised her mother and Minteye as though they were his own kits. Teaching them how to be proper and good cats. The very cat that Applemist and Foxgaze turned on for things that was not his fault. Leaving the stark white medicine cat to be on her own, her frosty indigo eyes seeming to glitter as those eyes focused on their leader. It was almost as though she could see him. She was at the back of the long line so she could remain in cover and mostly hidden from FearClan. Her green eyes flicked back to the pale cream tom, his gold eyes taking in each of their pelts as though it would be the last time he would ever see them.
"Whether we win or loose or any cat dies today." Morningstar meowed solemnly. "It was an honor to work alongside all of you, to lead you, and to have grown up with all of you. May StarClan light our paths."
"May StarClan light our paths." Tumbleheart echoed along with the Clan, a shudder rippling through them as they realized they were saying goodbye to one another.
At last, Morningstar took the head of the massive patrol and began to lead the way out of the camp. Silently, like they were stalking for prey, they slipped into the undergrowth, falling into familiar smaller patrols that were chosen that morning by Blackdapple. Their paws barely crunching on the leaflitter as they padded into their small groups. Eyes wide and ears swiveling to and fro. Tails kept still and low as they did their best to conceal themselves. Close beside the brown and tan tabby she-cat was her apprentice's russet fur. The larger tom was like her shadow, keeping pace with her as they wove between ferns and branches. Slivers of the moons pale face glowed between the naked and bare branches, it's silver glow growing stronger and stronger to paint each of their own pelts as silver as the moonlight.
Tumbleheart followed the faint rustles of her Clan-mates and padded in their wake. The brush twitching and waving slightly from the small movements they had done. The icy frost making her ears and paws feel colder then they would in leafbare, but the cold snap would fade by the sun's first light on their thin-tree forest. Until then, they had to deal with the cold night and approach the Twoleg Bridge that they would have to fight on. It would be dangerous with the river running beneath their paws, but it was just something they must handle, even for a moment. Her heart was pounding as she panted as softly as she could, her breath billowing in soft clouds as they slowed to a stop. Movement was on the other side of the river and bridge. Their enemies must have been waiting as they crept into position. Somewhere behind her, Icepath and her helpers were getting her herbs prepared for any injuries. While ahead, the reeds and rushes moved ever so slightly.
Morningstar stepped out bravely with Blackdapple, their fur puffed up to intimidate as a large muscular dusky brown tom appeared. His yellow eyes watching coldly as he padded onto the bridge with confidence. Beside him a white she-cat with pale gray stripes padded a step behind him. Her gait long and languid as her eyes searched the undergrowth lazily. They clearly believed they had nothing to fear and that they would always be too small of a group to fight for their lives. Tumbleheart sank her claws into the earth, her fur rising along her shoulders in irritation. They were not afraid of these cats. They could never be! They have to make them pay for taking so much from their Clan. They could have easily left them alone, but instead they chose violence. With a silent snarl, she let her fangs show in the shadows.
"So you have finally arrived." The deep rumble of the dusky brown tom reached Tumbleheart's ears.
"Yes, you have taken so long, we thought you would never bother showing up." The white she-cat with pale gray stripes cackled. "I swear upon my mother's nest that we had to go into your territory to find you ourselves."
"There is no need." Morningstar meowed calmly despite his posture. "We are here."
"And you think we want to talk about peace?" The large tom bellowed out a laugh.
Blackdapple lashed her tail against the bridge, making a meaty thud. "We already know your intentions. Our Warriors will not move until told. What about your pathetic cats?"
The white she-cat sent a glare to the black dappled white she-cat. "Are you challenging us?"
Before another cat could say a word, the massive brown tom slammed into Morningstar, wrestling with with flashing teeth and claws. A yowl split open the air as Tumbleheart's stomach dropped. Lightpaw and Amberpaw must be horrified to see their father being attacked so suddenly. Blackdapple raised her tail erect as she bowled over the pale gray striped she-cat. The battle had begun. Cats streamed from across the bridge and from Tumbleheart's own side. Rubypaw stuck close to her while Amberpaw and his mentor Foxgaze attacked the dusky brown tom with everything they got. Dragging him off their leader and pummeling into him as much as they could as he swung out his large meaty paws to knock Amberpaw back. She wanted to race into the fray to fight the big bully of a tom, but claws were sinking into her haunches. She whipped around ferociously, her green eyes flashing with horror as she saw an unfamiliar white tom. She flashed her claws out, raking them over one of his eyes. He let out an ear splitting wail of pain and fury, his own claws slashing into her pelt, sending flares of pain that made her eyes water.
He had rose onto his hind paws, about to crash down and flatten her with all of his weight, but Rubypaw was faster. He headbutted into the tom's stomach, knocking him off balance and letting Tumbleheart pounce on top of the white rogue, kicking with her back legs to tear off clumps of snowy white fur. Rubypaw was slashing away, her blood was boiling in her veins, roaring in her ears as they fought against the white tom. His pelt turning red with his life fluids. More cats began to slam into them, so they fought them off as well, kicking with their powerful legs to knock the air out of their attackers and slashing with experienced blows on around the attacking cats ears. Her ears were flat as she let out loud hiss, watching the cats race away blindly. Some had leapt onto the edges of the bridge only to topple over and be swept away by the rushing water beneath their paws.
The heat of the battle faded from her as she felt her paws become rooted to their spot. Cats who vanished beneath the river's surface would never be able to be put to rest beneath the earth. They would never be found by StarClan and walked to their starry hunting grounds. She looked around wildly, a stone seeming to settle in her belly as she realized that she couldn't find her apprentice. The tom who had protected her, travelled beside her, and had begun his training with her. Fear filled her as she began to run, shoving past battling cats and tripping over a mound of dark fur. She thudded onto the ground, a familiar scent tainted with blood and the sour scent of death wreathed around her. She stared as glazed over gold eyes stared back. She recoiled and jumped to her paws. It was Shadewhisker and he was already dead with blood pooling around his neck and countless other wounds that seeped dark red.
She looked around and spotted Talonshine's motionless body not too far away, his face twisted in a snarl of defiance while his blind eyes stared blankly ahead. The light of life was gone from them, obviously having been fighting side by side as they promised to. Tumbleheart looked around, searching for Rubypaw's russet fur. She could see other cats fighting as she started to hurry through the throng of yowling and screaming cats. She stumbled as she found her apprentice, the tom reared on his hind legs in a wrestle beside the edge of the Twoleg Bridge, the small dark brown tom's eyes shut from the blood trickling over his eyes. He looked impossibly small beside Rubypaw's larger and sturdier frame. With a swift swipe of his paw he slammed his claws across the toms face with a snarl. The smaller tom lost his balance and tried to stop his fall, only to tumble into the river with a panic-stricken yowl. Tumbleheart hurried toward her apprentice, swamped with relief before something heavy crashed on top of her. The stinking breath of the rogue filling her breathing space as their familiar deep mew made her blood turn into ice.
"Running to a loved one, aren't you she-cat?" His claws sank deep into her pelt, pure panic filled her body as she let out a blood curdling screech. "Scream all you want, not even your leader will save you!" He snarled, raking his back paws along her spine.
Russet fur charged toward her as she squirmed in pain. Rubypaw roared above her pain and fear as he tackled the larger tom off of her. "GET OFF HER!" Tumbleheart jumped to her paws, feeling weak in her legs as she looked to the toms battle. Rubypaw hitting blow after blow until the larger tom slumped over gasping for air as the ferocious russet tom slammed his paws onto their throat with all of his weight. Without looking back, her apprentice gave an order. "Go to Icepath, you need her help. I'll find Morningstar."
Tumbleheart wanted to argue, but she placed her faith into him and turned back to try and escape the battle. She was panting as a cat let out a thin wail that shattered the noise of the fight. She slowed, looking over her shoulder slowly and spotted Lightpaw at a mound of white fur patched with black. Their deputy was dead and there was a grieving young cat in the middle of the fray. In an instant Jaggedcloud was by her apprentice's side, keeping watch while panting her yellow eyes flashing with deep seeded pain and horror. With heavy paws, she barely made it to the undergrowth where Jasminepetal ushered her towards where Icepath was tending to wounds. She collapsed there, wondering just how much further this war would go. Everything they ever had known were being destroyed in a matter of heartbeats.
Blackdapple, Shadewhisker, and Talonshine needed to be put to rest. As sleep slowly overcame her senses, the gentle rasping of her old friend's bright pink tongue soothing her nerves. Her pelt felt hot and sticky with blood, but with her friend caring for her she felt ready to sleep for moons upon moons. She begged the stars to let them keep their leader at least. To allow them to keep a deputy for a longer time, or at least for peace to finally come. She never realized she murmured it in a slurred mew of pain. "Please... let peace finally come..."
"It will." The soft and warm mew of Icepath whispered in her ear between licks. "It will, I can feel it."
I wish I could believe you... She thought as her thoughts finally fell into darkness.
Author Note:
The battle has come with a small history lesson as every cat says goodbye in their own ways.
With battle are the sacrificed lives that make even I wonder if this story was ever worth it.
Thank you for reading, have a wonderful day/night! - NightSky
