Thunder and lightning crashed over the heads of the three mollies as they tore through the forest towards their camp, but Goldnendapple couldn't hear any of it over the sound of her paws hitting the ground and the blood roaring in her ears. Oh Great stars above, please let this matter be solved quickly and peacefully. Rained poured down on them, making the ground slick. Yewspots was breathing harshly, her eyes wide in fear. Moonpatch had her eyes narrowed, rain drenching her thick pelt.
Goldendapple saw the ravine, but they weren't near the opening. Oh stars, we're near the top! Skidding to a halt, she grabbed Yewspots by the tail. The red and black molly yowled in surprise, noticing the large opening. Moonpatch slid to a stop, her eyes open wide in fear as she slipped, her hind legs getting so close to the cliff that a couple of stones underneath it crumbled and tumbled down the side.
"Hurry! We have to get around!" Moonpatch took off, Yewspots hot on her tail. Goldendapple looked over the cliff, hardly able to see any of the cats below. But, even with the rain, she could see a bright white pelt. Shellstar! She tore after the fading scents of the other mollies, running down the slope towards the dirtplace tunnel. She pushed through the brambles, tufts of gold and tan fur getting torn out in the process.
She ran into camp, where her clanmates were gathered. She noticed a pale ginger tail Sticking out of the nursery, and she could hear some high-pitched cries over the storm. The kits are here. What horrible timing. She padded closer to where the rest of the clan was gathered, a bristling and hissing mass. She pushed herself towards the front, her fur spiked in fear. Spiderstar stood there, facing Shellstar. Both leaders were bristling, Shellstar's large canines barred and snapping. Goldendapple pricked her ears, straining to hear what they were saying.
"I'm telling you Shellstar, our clan cannot spare the herbs that you need!" Spiderstar hissed, her eyes wide and her tail twitching. Shellstar snarled. "You lie! Your forest is sheltered and lush! Your clan, while small, is healthy. We have sick elders and kits! We need those herbs more than you do!" Spiderstar shook her head, rain splashing off of her tattered ears. "Your courage to heal your clanmates is admirable Shellstar, but-" Shellstar cut Spiderstar off, "Do not show pity to me wench! Give us the herbs that we need, lest you want us to cut down your clanmates to get them!" Goldendapple's clanmates snarled at the threat, clawing at the ground and snapping their fangs in the air. Spiderstar drew herself up once more, baring her fangs and growling. "If you truly cared for your clanmates, then you would back off." Shellstar smoothed his pelt and yowled. "Clanmates! Show them your strength!"
All around Goldendapple, cats surged forward, pushing and shoving. Riverclan cats flowed into the camp, snarling and leaping into the fray of enemy warriors. The thunder overhead sounded quiet in comparison to the sound of the cats below, snarling and tearing into flesh. Lighting lit up the sky, shining off of the claws and fangs of every cat. Goldendapple was thrown back, shock over taking her.
She watched as Burnpaw and Oatpaw launched themselves at a tan tabby molly, Burnpaw took her ear in her mouth and tore at it, shaking her head wildly while clawing at the tabby's shoulder. Oatpaw grabbed the molly's tail and sunk his teeth into it. The molly snarled in pain, shaking her head and clawing at Oatpaw's flank. The tabby threw her head back, finally wrenching Burnpaw off of her. But with Burnpaw went her ear. The tabby shrieked in pain. She turned tail and ran right past Shinecloud and Frosttail. Shinecloud clawed at the Riverclan deputy, but she smoothly dodged, and clawed his cheek. The silver tom yowled, turning and snapping his jaws onto the paw of the molly. She yowled and bit into his scruff, pushing him over. They disappeared into the battle, tussling underneath the throng of warriors.
Goldendapple carefully crept along the side of the camp wall,hearing screeches by the elder's den. Quickly, she bounded closer, seeing a small dark cat taunting Sorrelspot. The blind elder was striking out at the cat, but the opponent was quick. The smaller cat flashed out a paw and struck Sorrelspot on the nose, yowling their victory, "What, you can't hit me, you old bag of bones?" Are they seriously attacking a blind elder? Fueled by her rage, Goldendapple surged forward, grabbing the cat by the scruff. The black cat under her hissed, striking their paws out widely. They caught Goldendapple's leg, and hissed in satisfaction. Goldendapple reared back, and the black cat turned to face her. Even with the rain, Goldendapple could see the cat was a young molly. She can't be more than a half moon older than our apprentices. Snarling, she threw herself forward, catching the young molly by surprise, and clawed at her shoulders, holding her firmly to the ground. She leaned down, and snarled into her ear, "Didn't anybody teach you to respect your elders?" then bit the apprentice's scruff. The apprentice yowled and hissed, clawing at Goldendapple's shoulders. But her fur was too slippery for the apprentice to get her grip. Deciding that it wasn't worth it, the young molly turned and bolted out of camp.
Goldendapple snorted in satisfaction. Good riddance. An Apprentice shouldn't be here. She turned her gaze back to the battle, seeing that most of the battle was clustered around the medicine cat den. Bonepaw, though a healer, was proving to be an admirable fighter, as he clawed at a young tan tom. Snowberry was spitting at a ginger tom, feebly lashing out a paw at him. Shadeblaze threw himself at the tom, barreling over into the clearing, where Shellstar and Spiderstar were interlocked. Spiderstar was on top of him, lightning flashing above her, showing her blazing green eyes and her muzzle drenched in blood. She pummeled her back paws into the tom's belly, tearing out bloody tufts of fur. Shellstar yowled below her, clawing fiercely at the dark tabby's shoulders, her fur slick with rain and mud.
Goldendapple heard a shriek behind her, and turned to see Yewspots and Sunnose tearing into a young silver molly, their eyes blazing in fury as they twisted their heads and gnawed on her pelt. The molly snarled and lashed out a paw, catching Sunnose on the cheek. He flinched, allowing the molly to twist out of Yewspots grasp and run, her silver pelt smeared with mud. Sunnose and Yewspots snarled at her tail, then reentered the nursery.
Are we winning? Goldendapple looked around the clearing, noticing that while a lot of Riverclan cats had retreated, there were still plenty of them left. And it seems to be their strongest warriors. Goldendapple winced when she saw Frosttail, who had been cornered by Brownbirch and Hailmouse. Lightning flashed, revealing a gored out hole where her eye was meant to be. She clawed at Hailmouse, catching his ear and ripping it. Brownbirch leapt forward, biting down on the silver molly's paw. The deputy pulled her paw back and latched onto Brownbirch's back, tearing out tufts of her tabby fur. Hailmouse leapt forward, clawing at the silver pelt of Frosttail.
Something else caught Goldendapple's attention. Eyes were flashing from the warriors den. That must be where all the injured cats have retreated to. Rain made it difficult to see who was in there, but Goldendapple could make out Sparkstripe limping towards the den, Shinecloud resting on his back. Oatpaw tore past them, wailing as a brown spotted tom clawed his flank.
Goldendapple charged forward, yowling as she bowled over the tom. He snarled, clawing her muzzle. Goldendapple shrieked, tasting her own blood in her mouth. She tore at his belly, and felt satisfaction when she felt warm blood pour out, hardly feeling the sting of one of her claws being pulled out. The tom raked his paws over her shoulders, leaving shallow scratches. The tom drew his hind legs in, and before Goldendapple could register it, he kicked her chest, throwing her off of him. Goldendapple snarled as she hit the ground, feeling winded. She slid across the muddy earth, stopping when she hit the wall of the camp. The tom ran forward, his claws tearing up the earth. Goldendapple tried to get to her paws, but the ground was slick and she landed chest first into the muck. Oh stars, She prayed as she braced for the impact, please let him miss my belly.
"Newtpelt, stop!" Paws splashed across the clearing, stopping in front of Goldendapple. Goldendapple opened her eyes, shock plain across her face. Lighting lit up the sky, revealing a certain drenched pale grey tom, his beautiful pale blue eyes that Goldendapple adored narrowed in determination. The brown warrior skidded to a halt, his tail raised and his eyes blazing. "Stonefrost, move aside! That cat is the enemy!" Stonefrost took a step forward, facing his clanmate. His ears were pinned back and his voice was gentle, yet loud enough to be heard over the storm. "This cat is beaten. You have won. But the clan still needs its victory. Hurry now and try to get to the medicine cat den. I will follow." Newtpelt looked past Stonefrost and spat at the crouching gold and fawn molly. He then turned and charged across the camp.
Goldendapple slowly stood up, but nearly slipped again. A solid grey shoulder caught her, helping her regain her stability. Stonefrost pressed his nose to her ear. "Oh stars, what are you doing out her fighting, my sweet honeycomb?" Goldendapple stepped back from him, and faced him, her ears pinned back. "Stonefrost, what are we supposed to do?!" She wailed, "Thunderclan barely has enough herbs, and now our clans are killing each other!" She clawed at the ground, frustration clouding her mind. "How in starclan's name will I join Riverclan after this? Your clanmates will hate me!" Stonefrost stepped forward, his eyes glowing even in the midst of the darkest storm that Goldendapple had ever seen. "It's okay my love. You will join at the next gathering, and by then some of the tensions should cool down. And we are warriors." His eyes blazed as he looked at her, "We don't kill to win. Our clans will thrive after this, and they will make it through leaf-bare." He nuzzled her neck, purring. H-he's right, Goldendapple thought, her heart calming down a little bit. It's all going to be okay. As if to solidify that remark, the rain overhead started to wain, becoming more gentle. "I'll trust you, my love. For the sake of our kits." Goldendapple purred, but then stopped when she noticed that Stonefrost had stiffened. Pulling away a few paces, she looked at him, cocking her head in confusion. "What's wrong love?"
"Love?!" Goldendapple whipped around, her heart stopping as she laid eyes on a shock Moonpatch. The dark molly stood there, her mouth agape. Her ear was torn and her shoulders were littered with scratches. Lightning flashed in the sky, lighting up Moonpatch's white spots and making her sage eyes burn with hurt. "You betrayed your clan with a riverclan tom!?"
Goldendapple's tongue felt heavy in her mouth. Stonefrost took a few paces forward, "I-it's not what it looks like." he mewed feebly, a lie so obvious that even a newborn kit would have seen right through it. "Not what it looks like!?" Moonpatch's white paw flashed out, catching the grey tom on the nose. He staggered back, his tail pressed against the wall of the gorge. " You save her from your clanmate and then nuzzle her, telling her how much you love her right in the middle of a battle, and you expect me to believe that!" She molly screeched, her voice louder than thunder to Goldendapple. She saw the whole thing. Moonpatch swung her head towards Goldendapple. "How long?" her voice was low and harsh, like she had thorns in her throat. "How long have you been seeing him?" Goldendapple shifted her paws nervously, "S-since we were apprentices." she whispered. Moonpatch growled, her fur spiked and her fangs on full display, flashing with the lightning. "You disappoint me." Something in Goldendapple snapped.
"I disappoint you?" The gold and fawn molly whispered. "I disappoint you?" She growled louder. "Who are you to have any sort of expectations from me?!" She snarled. "All our lives, you've hated me. Hated me! So I learned to hate you. I fought to make sure that I was better than you, but you still beat me! You became deputy." Goldendapple's eyes were lit with a cold fire, "But soon enough, I won't have to think about you anymore." Goldendapple stepped back, standing side by side with her mate. "I'm leaving in only a half moon. Keep your jaws shut until then, and I'll be out of your fur." Stonefrost pressed himself close to her, his pelt cold and soaked. Moonpatch looked between the two of then, her gaze disbelieving. She opened her mouth to say something that Goldendapple would have ignored, but it was drowned out by a crackling noise overhead.
Time slowed for Goldendapple. She looked up, her green eyes wide and catching drops of rain, watching as a crack spread through the very top of the gorge. Lightning flashed, showing just how deep the crack went. Small pebbles and rocks tumbled down the edge of the wall, cascading with the rain. Goldendapple stood still as the cliffside began to crumble, unable to move as the rocks and the mud came closer. She hardly registered the paws that pushed her forward. She tripped, right into Moonpatch, who had closed her eyes. Goldendapple screeched, fear clouding her mind. She could hardly comprehend what was happening.
Suddenly, time caught up. Rocks quickly tumbled down behind Goldendapple as she struggled to untangle herself from Moonpatch. Oh stars, thank you for not letting me get crushed. She staggered to her paws, feeling slightly bruised.
"Oh no." Moonpatch was crouched low to the ground, her eyes wide. Her fur clung to her body, making her seem no larger than a 7 moon old kit. Thunder crashed over head, but Goldendapple was able to hear a groan behind her. Oh stars. She turned on her paws and with the help of lightning, she was able to see Stonefrost. His head and one grey leg was visible, but the rest of him was covered by rocks. His beautiful pale blue eyes glowed with pain. Goldendapple ran forward, falling to her paws. "Oh Foxdung! Stonefrost, love, we need to get you out!" Goldendapple stood, grabbing his leg and pulling with all her strength. Stonefrost groaned in pain. "Honeycomb, stop." He pulled his paw back, gasping for breath, "Please. We both know that this is it."
Goldendapple stepped back, her eyes brimming with pain as though someone had struck her heart with thorns. " Don't say that!" She shook her head wildly, her gaze pausing on Moonpatch. "Moonpatch, you have to help me! We need to get him out of there!" Moonpatch shook where she crouched, staring at the soaked molly, hardly able to make out anything more than her shape and her burning green eyes. She said nothing, only shaking her head. Goldendapple pounced forward, grabbing the smaller molly's scruff. Moonpatch screeched, but Goldendapple couldn't hear her. She's got to help me!
Spitting the molly out of her mouth, Goldendapple folded her ears back. "Please Moonpatch! We have to do something!" Turning her back on the molly, Goldendapple pressed her nose to Stonefrost ear. "Don't worry, love. We'll get you out. I promise." Her voice was cracking, as Stonefrost looked at her, his eyes wide, pain and fear pooling in his pale blue eyes. He coughed, his breath wheezing heavily.
Goldendapple almost didn't feel a tail rest against her back. Moonpatch shivered beside her, the small molly's ears flat against her head. "Goldendapple." Moonpatch turned her gaze towards the tom below them. "I think it's time that you say goodbye."
"No! This can't happen now!" Goldendapple laid down, tucking her head underneath Stonefrost's. "Please Stonefrost. You have to get out." Goldendapple pressed her muzzle into his cheek, struggling to choke out the words. "Remember the plan?"
"Go-goldendapple" Goldendapple lifted her head quickly, her ears upright. Stonefrost looked to the storming sky, his gaze blank and unfocussed. "Yes Stonefrost?" She whispered, unsure if he had even heard her. " The marsh… is full of buzzing." He drew in a breath, but it caught in his throat. "Her fur is dripping honey." His pale blue eyes lulled back and his head dropped into the mud.
Goldendapple nosed his cheek fur. "Love?" She breathed out. Stonefrost didn't move. Goldendapple rose to her paws, her breathing coming out rapidly and raggedly. Moonpatch met her eyes and looked away. Goldendapple spun around, only barely noticing that Shellstar was leaving the medicine cat den, his jaws clamped around leaves. We lost. Goldendapple couldn't bring herself to dwell on the thought as she ran forward.
Shellstar noticed her and bristled his pelt, kinking his tail and baring his fangs around the stolen herbs in his mouth. Goldendapple skidded to a halt in front of him, crouching down to the ground.
"Sir, I won't stop you, but i-it's Stonefrost! A part of the cliff fell a-and he saved me! Please, we have to get him out!" Shellstar stared at her. "Is he alive?" Goldendapple couldn't bare to say the words aloud. Shellstar looked at her, understanding shimmering in his tired and bleary eyes. He pinned his ears back and shook his head. "He was a brave cat. Selfless." The large tom mumbled around his mouthful of herbs. Lifting his head, he flicked his tail out. A few of the remaining riverclan cats that were trying to leave noticed him and gathered around their leader. Shellstar beconned a smaller cat forward. He dropped his bundle of herbs in front of them. "Go Carppaw. Take these home." The apprentice nodded and grabbed the herbs, running out the Thunderclan camp. Shellstar turned to the rest of his cats."I know that you are tired, my clanmates, but one of us has fallen. We must take him home to rest." Shellstar nodded to Goldendapple. "Where is he?"
Goldendapple rose on shaking legs and turned, hardly aware of the stares that were boring into her pelt. As she reached the edge of the camp, she noticed that Moonpatch had already started digging. The storm above their heads had silenced and the rain had lessened to a drizzle, yet Goldendapple still closed her eyes. I don't want to see what he looks like now.
Beside her a cat wailed, their voice a hollow song of grief. Goldendapple opened her eyes, watching as the riverclan cats swarmed the landslide, digging furiously at the pile. Rocks shifted around them as they came loose. Shellstar stepped forward, grabbing Stonefrost now visible scruff and pulled. Stonefrost body came loose, and Goldendapple cringed at the sight of his back legs. They were flattened.
The riverclan warriors swarmed around the body, each of them shaking their heads. Shellstar lifted the dead warrior onto his back and headed for the camp entrance, his tail dragging in the mud. As he left, Goldendapple watched him go, feeling sick to her stomach. As soon as his tail disappeared, thunderclan cats emerged from every corner of the camp.
"I can't believe it!" Some yowled.
"We lost!" Cried many more.
"Where's Spiderstar!?" Hailmouse's yowl rang out. All of the clan slowly turned their heads towards the clearing. Clouds had begun to shift, letting moonlight shine through and bathe the thunderclan camp with silver light. And right below the highledge, lay Spiderstar.
Caterwauls and screeches filled the air. Snowberry bolted forward, and laid a paw on her leader's chest. "She's still breathing! Quickly, we must get her into the medicine cat den!" Hailmouse ran forward on three legs, favoring his front paw. Carefully, he grabbed his mother's scruff and dragged her to the medicine cat den.
Cats jostled around in the clearing. Goldendapple was aware of too many things. She was aware of the joyful cries and mewling from the nursery. She was aware of the hisses of pain from Oatpaw as Bonepaw applied herbs to his wounds. She was aware of Sorrelspot's wailing. She was aware of Sparkstripe's prayers to starclan as he groomed Shinecloud's pelt trying to keep his dearest friend awake. She was aware of Moonpatch's tail resting on her back and the pitiful gaze that the small dark molly gave her. And she was all too aware of the feelings in her belly as she felt the first stirrings of her kits.
Well, that was fun! I've been building up to this part for awhile. Funny enough, the reason that I started writing out this fic was because I wanted to practice writing angst. But I think that I've nailed it. But, I feel like the style is messy. I'm really only used to writing in first person, so if anybody has any suggestion, please do tell me. Also, this story is labeled as a hurt/comfort. We've got most of the hurt out of the way, now we just need a little bit more so we can get to the comfort part.
Question of the chapter- What is your favorite background relationship? This goes for friendships or romantic relationships. I personally like Shinecloud and Sparkstripe's interactions.
