Challenge, for APC.

Ivyclaw tossed and turned in her nest, restless. Her wild green eyes scanned the den, as she sat up, giving up on sleep.

Her sister, Whitefeather, always the calm one, was peacefully sleeping. Why can't I sleep so heavily like her? She stared wistfully at the white she-cat's slumbering form. Their other denmate, Thistlefoot was snoring loudly and frowning. Typical. If anything, that old grump is probably dreaming about clawing some cat's eyes out.

Ivyclaw turned her gaze out to the sky, clouded and moonless, looming over the ShadowClan camp.

The mottled grey she-cat sighed softly. Maybe a walk would calm me down. Just a quick one, not too far. She stood, padding out of the elder's den and into the cool night. A breeze ruffled her unruly marbled pelt and she grinned contendly, feeling like an apprentice again. Oh, those good old days...

She began a brisk trot out of the camp, and into the dark territory.

And they say us elders can't be out and about. StarClan, maybe I'll catch a lizard! That'll show them we're more than storytellers.

She stopped for a moment, to stifle a coughing fit. "Thistlefoot's darned perpetual cold is spreading again." She shook her head with a wheeze, the dry cough cracking the silence of the black night. Ashheart better have some of that flowe- ah, who needs the stuff. I'll be fine.

Ivyclaw stood there for a while longer, thinking, before she remembered her goal. "Sleepiness, not ponders and prattles," she chided herself.

After walking in a semi-circle around the ShadowClan territory, Ivyclaw began her trip back to the elder's den. She was, to her disappointment, unable to hunt and catch any prey.

But something else had been hunting, preying upon her.

"Mm. I do think I'm ready for sleep now," she murmured to herself, as she brushed through the pine trees that sectioned off the camp. But as she pushed through the branches, a snuffling stopped the marbled she-cat in mid-step.

"Thistlefoot, are you—" she started on a snarky comment, but then her eyes landed on the source of the sound. Her heart froze, sending a shockwave of cold though her body, and she gave a silent scream in her suddenly dry mouth. This was no Thistlefoot.

It was an angry-looking fox, though in the dark of night, it looked even more intimidating. It was foaming at the mouth, something she'd never seen before. StarClan help me... Ivyclaw's pulse raced, as she stared the fox down. Heart pounding, she backed away. I should've never come out!

The fox bared its yellow teeth, as Ivyclaw stepped on and bent a pine branch in her attempt to get away.

The broken branch snapped back, slapping the fox in the jaw. It lunged forth in anger, and Ivyclaw could only run, the adrenaline powering her steps and bounds. The fox, unfortunately, was right on her tail. It slashed at her backside fiercely, and the elder let out a cry of fright.

She turned away from the camp, determined to protect her Clan. This fox that I angered shouldn't be able to prey upon my Clan. The fox still gave chase, and it was gaining on her. Ivyclaw could feel her chest constricting and wheezing, but the flow of fear though her veins gave her a little boost. "Come. And... Get it!... you darned fox!" She taunted breathlessly. The fox growled and lunged again, foamy spittle flying from its jaw.

Ivyclaw ran as fast as she could, but her old body was weak with age. No.. No it's going to get me! It'll kill me! I can't outrun this fox, I'm just a sickly old elder. Realization dawned on Ivyclaw.

This futile fight against a fox would be the end of her, she was sure of it.

Then, from behind, a shocked scream rang out. Ivyclaw looked back. Her sister and the rest of ShadowClan had been alerted to the situation. But they were too late. As the fox took advantage of the distracted Ivyclaw, snapping its' jaws and gouging her back, Ivyclaw—with one last burst of adrenaline—jumped into the river that they had come to.

I die or others die. Her fear was almost powering, but with one look at her terrified clan, she knew she would let herself be taken.

New-leaf season had just arrived, and the melting ice and snow had turned the calm water into a fast-flowing torrent.

The fox, focused only on its' prey, followed the bleeding, elderly Ivyclaw into the water.

Ivyclaw, exhausted, injured and shocked by the freezing water, sputtered and tried to swim and fight the current. But she was no RiverClan cat. She looked about wildly, for a rock or a branch, but nothing could change her fate now. I am going to die.

As the adrenaline faded and the marbled silver she-cat was thrown under the water for the last time, she thought, at least my sister is safe. At least ShadowClan is safe.

Good-bye.

Well this sure took a long time.

I'm really lazy.

Ah, poor Ivyclaw. I didn't think she would die at first... But my imagination took over.

Slowly(but surely), Clearly.