Alright, here's a random one-shot, please enjoy and read!
- Mossy
Featherclaw stood in front of his clan, looking around at the bodies strewn about him. His mouth was stuck open in complete and utter horror. He had never expected Thunderclan to attack in the middle of the night, though he should have.
Why, why did you kill Nightflower, Gorsedawn? Featherclaw looked at his former apprentice. He had known it was an accident. Gorsedawn had been as kind and sweet as could be, but Nightflower had been aggressive in that border patrol all those moons ago. Nightflower has always hated her half-sister. It was known that Nightflower had hated her half-clan heritage. She had always been jealous of the younger Gorsedawn, her father's second daughter by his second mate.
Featherclaw let out a small sob as he looked at Gorsedawn's father, and the former deputy, Hareleap. He was dead now, killed defending his pregnant mate in the nursery. Nightflower should have never been deputy of Thunderclan. He didn't know what Berrystar had been thinking, picking his unstable, impulsive mate.
The new deputy of Thunderclan was a meek, quiet young warrior called Juniperfoot. Featherclaw hissed at the name. Perhaps if Juniperfoot had a spine, he could have prevented this tradegy. Berrystar had ambushed them as vengeance after Graystar had refused to give him Gorsedawn.
Featherclaw saw Hareleap's mate hunched over his body, he belly swollen. Now, her kits would have no father. Featherclaw continued to survey the damage, until he saw- No.
Brokenfrost laid towards the edge of camp, a determined look of battle still on his face. Featherclaw's eyes filled with tears.
"Hey Featherclaw, what she-cat catches your eye?" Brokenfrost winked at his best friend. Featherclaw laughed uncomfortably and hoped Brokenfrost wouldn't notice his bright red ear tips. Brokenfrost totally did.
"Holy smokes, you're blushing!" his friend exclaimed, "It's not Gorsepaw, is it you sly dog?"
"What? T-That's my apprentice!" Featherclaw sputtered. He wasn't sure how to tell Brokenfrost that he was the reason Featherclaw was so on edge, with his dark, amber eyes that reflected the sunset perfectly or his sleek gray fur with the one black, jagged stripe that resembled a crack. The stripe that had given him his name.
Brokenfrost had always hated his name, stories of Brokenstar still swirled around the lake, especially in Shadowclan. Featherclaw would always reassure Brokenfrost that he would never end up like the old leader in the legends. Brokenfrost was too kind, too gentle and Featherclaw could never see him hurting anyone.
Brokenfrost had ended up dead, like so many of their clanmates. Featherclaw collapsed beside him. "Brokenfrost, please get up," he whispered, nudging the gray tom, "Please, please!"
He knew Brokenfrost wasn't going to respond, he never would again. "No," Featherclaw wheezed, "Brokenfrost, why you?"
He looked over and saw Gorsedawn not far away, her back at an old angle. That was how the battle had ended, with Berrystar snapping the young warrior like a twig. How Featherclaw had screamed, but now he only felt numb. He heard gasping on the other side of camp. He rushed over and saw that Graystar had returned from losing a life. "Graystar," Featherclaw gasped, "Graystar, are you alright?"
"Featherclaw," the leader coughed, "How many survived? Where is Hareleap?"
"He didn't make it," Featherclaw whispered, trembling, "So many didn't make it…"
Brokenfrost.
He shook his head to clear it. "Well," Graystar rasped, standing up, "We need a new deputy."
His voice was hollow with grief, "Featherclaw, will you be my deputy?"
"Me?" Featherclaw gasped, and looked at Brokenfrost and Gorsedawn, "I can't sir… I couldn't even protect my friends."
"But you tried your best," Graystar told him and placed a paw on Featherclaw's shoulder, "You are a loyal warrior, and I know you would also do your best to defend the clan. As long as Berrystar is leader, we need someone like that."
"Do it," a voice whispered, "You always did hesitate to much when it came to getting what you wanted."
"Brokenfrost?" Featherclaw mumbled, tears falling, "Is that you?" There was only silence.
"I'll do it," he told Graystar, "I will serve as the deputy." He swallowed hard, things would be difficult in the upcoming war with Thunderclan.