Challenge: Cat and Mouse

Word Count (min. 500): 3,397 words

Rating: T for mention of blood and violence

Tale as Old as Time

Mini-Prologue

Once upon a time, long ago, there lived a young apprentice named Duskpaw.

He was your average apprentice; young, adorably foolish and eager to learn. But, he had a dark side... He was arrogant and selfish. He cared only for himself. He refused to give elders and kits his prey—instead, he'd eat it straight after he caught it or give it to pretty she-cats who already had mates. Once he had refused to give Cloudedsky and her two kits, Finchkit and Whitekit a robin, claiming that they didn't deserve it because they just sat around uselessly while he caught the prey.

But when Sparrowstar tried to punish him, he would just ignore his warnings and threats.

He was downright unbearable.

One day, he strayed further away from his hunting patrol. Noticing a plump squirrel, he crouched down. His back foot brushed past a fallen leaf and the squirrel perked its ears up. Noticing him crouching there, the small red creature ran. Duskpaw bounded after it and once he had caught up to it, he trapped it behind his paws and killed it with a swift bite.

He laid down next to it and prepared to eat it before the patrol started to wonder where he had gone. But something— or rather, someone— caught his eye.

A pale grey she-cat stood in front of him. Her shining, bright blue eyes contrasted against her dull, matted pelt. Her rotting teeth held a single red rose. A very beautiful one.

"Excuse me, young one," she rasped, "But, can I share that squirrel with you?" A hoarse cough interrupted her and rattled her old bones. "I haven't eaten in days... I'll give you this rose in return..."

Duskpaw scoffed. "No way!" he retorted. "I caught this squirrel, so I'm going to eat it! And besides, what would I use a rose for? To eat?"

Laughing at his 'joke', he took a bite of the plump, juicy squirrel and chewed it slowly, dramatically and sadistically in front of the old she-cat.

Growling, the old grey, cat dropped the rose in front of her. "You heartless monster!" she hissed. "If your own mother died, you wouldn't care! You only love yourself!"

With a blink of her eyes, a blinding light engulfed the she-cat and the rose. The small ball of light that was once the rose, flew towards his camp. But the old, grey she-cat had disappeared. Instead, stood a beautiful glossy black she-cat. Her blue eyes flashed with anger and her pelt was speckled with small, shining stars.

Duskpaw gasped. This cat was from StarClan! "I'm sorry!" he cried. "I didn't know who you were!"

The black Star-Clan spirit ignored him and flicked her tail dismissively. "Too late," she growled. "You, Duskpaw, are a heartless tom who cares about nobody except yourself! You judge quickly and you are an arrogant and egotistical pain in the tail."

The small dusky-brown tom flinched at her words.

"By the power given to me by StarClan, I now give you a new name," she hissed. "Duskpaw, from now on until you learn to love another and prove that you do know how to love, you will be known as Brokenheart."

A burning sensation from his chest caused Brokenheart to wither in pain. Scars appeared on his body, sending a separate pain every time one appeared. His claws grew long and they bent at a painful and rather terrifying angle. His brown fur grew long and it matted with the dry blood from his new scars. He was hideous.

"Please don't do this!" he cried again, "I'll be a better cat! I'll give the elders this squirrel!"

"The rose I offered you will stop blooming at its twenty-first moon," the she-cat warned. "If you have learned to love another she-cat by then and earned her love in return, then you will return to normal."

She took a deep breath and glared at him. "But if you do not... you will remain a beast forever."

With that, she faded away leaving Brokenheart alone with his thoughts.

Not thinking clearly, he ran. He didn't know where he would go, but he needed to get away. Away from the Clan and the taunts and the jeers. He couldn't go back and face anyone now.

The distinct scent of BreezeClan tempted his senses, teasing him, telling him to go back, but he pushed on, ignoring the scent of his Clan.

He noticed an old badger set just off the border hidden by ferns and jumped into it. He would be safe here...

.

As the moons passed, Brokenheart fell into despair and depression and he lost all hope.

After all, who would ever learn to love a beast like him?

.

Actual Story

.

"Rosefang!"

The pretty white she-cat jumped at the sound of her name. A brown tabby tom ran towards her, panting heavily.

"What's wrong, Finchstep?" she asked. Her adopted brother took a breath, fear in his pale green eyes. "It's Oakleaf!" he wheezed. "He's been taken captive!"

The fur on her back bristled. "By who?" she quickly asked.

"I-I don't know..." Finchstep panted. "One minute he was chasing a sparrow out of the camp border, then, the next minute, a...a... a beast attacked him and dragged him away!"

"I have to go save him!" she meowed briskly. She nosed the squirrel she was eating over to Finchstep. "You finish this; you look exhausted."

"Wait!" Finchstep cried. "You can't defeat that beast!"

"I'll do anything to save our father," she responded. With that, she bounded out of camp.

Her thoughts wandered as she ran towards the border.

Even though Oakleaf wasn't her real father, she knew that she had to do something to protect the tom who had practically raised her.

She didn't know her real parents. She had been told that a beautiful black rogue she-cat had dropped her to the camp, asking them to call her Rosekit. As Cloudedsky was the only queen at that time, she looked after her, albeit grumpily that she had to nurse a rogue kitten.

Oakleaf had taken a shine to her and he treated her as if she was his own daughter. Even though he'd already had two strong sons— Finchstep and Whitetooth— he loved her more than anything and anyone. She was his little girl.

All of the cats of BreezeClan thought that she was a little odd and generally avoided her, but that didn't faze her. Well, almost all of the cats...

As if she had conjured him up herself, the one cat she didn't want to see showed up.

"Why, hello, Rosefang," the muscular dark brown tabby purred. "What are you doing out here? It's not safe for a pretty she-cat like you to be out here alone."

"Hello Thornstar..." she groaned. His apprentice, Smallpaw, trotted behind him carrying prey. He'd obviously been hunting with the small black tom. An idea popped in her head. "Say, Thornstar?" she asked. "You haven't seen Oakleaf by any chance?"

"No," he answered absentmindedly. "But, I have seen a wonderful little spot where we could sit and get to know each other. I want to talk... about our future..."

"I-I'm sorry Thornstar," she meowed quickly, "I have to go."

She ran past him, hissing insults under her breath.

.

As the scent of BreezeClan hit her, she slowed down to a cautious walk. She breathed in and could scent the faint and still-lingering smell of Oakleaf.

"Please!" a voice cried. "I'm sorry! Just let me go; I'll never come here again!"

Rosefang's ears pricked, Oakleaf!

She followed the sound of his voice into an old badger set. There, she saw the cowering figure of her father behind a large monstrous tom. It was a cat, but she had never seen this cat before.

"Please, listen to him!" she cried.

"Rosefang! Leave!" Oakleaf begged her.

The beast turned to face her; his fiery orange eyes softening at the sight of her. "He is my prisoner," it growled. "He trespassed on my territory and now as his punishment, he will stay here forever."

"No! There must be some other way!" she argued. "He'll never do it again!"

"It's too late."

Looking at Oakleaf, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "...Take me instead then."

The tom's eyes widened. "Done," he quickly agreed.

Grabbing Oakleaf by the scruff, he picked the shaking tom out of his den.

Rosefang heard the beast tell her father to go and never come back.

Soon, he returned. "Who are you?" she asked forcefully.

"I am known as Brokenheart..." he growled.

Intrigued, Rosefang looked at him. So, he was a Clan cat. Maybe he'd been exiled...? Poor cat... Sourly, her conscience reminded her that he had taken her father away from her and trapped her here away from her family and Clan. He didn't deserve her sympathy!

"Well, Brokenheart," she sobbed. "You didn't even let me say goodbye! I'll never see him again and you didn't even let me say goodbye!"

With that, she turned her back on him and refused to talk to him for the rest of the day.

.

Purring, Rosefang glanced at Brokenheart shyly.

As she had gotten to know him, she had realised that he wasn't so bad. He was sweet and kind and he was gentle. He always had left the den and caught her a squirrel— her favourite piece of prey— before she had woken up each morning. It was like she wasn't a prisoner, but a friend. She had already been here for 2 moons— she was almost 21 moons old.

...And as much as she hated to admit it, she could feel herself falling for him.

He was nothing like Thornstar— he wasn't arrogant and self-centred. And he didn't judge her like the rest of the toms in the Clan.

...He was... different... like her.

She averted her gaze shyly when she noticed him looking at her.

Maybe there was something there that wasn't there before...?

"Rosefang?" he asked.

She looked up at him. His big orange eyes gazed at her and she felt a purr rumble in her throat. "Yes?"

"A-Are you happy here... with me?" he asked.

"Of course I am..." Her voice trailed off as she thought about her family. "But I just wish that I could see Oakleaf and Finchstep again. I miss them..."

Brokenheart looked at his paws. "Then go," he sighed.

"...What did you say?" she asked.

He let out another sigh. "You are no longer my prisoner. You may go."

Rosefang felt conflicted. On one paw, she wanted to see her father and her siblings, but on the other paw, she didn't know if she could leave him. She thought about it for a second then looked at Brokenheart.

"Thank you!" she gushed. "You have no idea how much this means to me! I promise that I'll come back one day and visit you!"

She gave him a small lick on the side of his face and ran out of the old badger set. She was free!

Behind her, Brokenheart stood watching her leave. He almost regretted his decision to let her go, but he loved her, so he no other choice. He wanted her to be happy. He loved her.

If only she felt the same way...

.

"Oakleaf!" Rosefang purred as she saw her father's tabby pelt.

He turned around. Glee filled his dull green eyes. "Rosefang! You're still alive! How did you escape?"

Nuzzling her father, she thought about to answer. "I... didn't escape; he let me go..."

"Rosefang!"

Another voice filled the air, making her groan. A dark brown tabby padded towards her. Thornstar...

"Everyone's been looking for you," he purred. "We've all been wondering where you had gone. Crazy, old Oakleaf told us that a beast had captured you."

He let out a purr of laughter. The crowd of cats who had gathered around her copied Thornstar.

"It did!" Oakleaf insisted. "He was huge! The biggest tom I've ever seen! His long fur was matted with the dry blood of his enemies! His orange eyes sparked with anger! He was terrifying!"

The crowd of cats purred with laughter.

"Silly old tom," a ginger and white tom purred. He looked at Thornstar. "We should send him to the elders den. He's gone mad!"

"Oakleaf isn't crazy!" she hissed, her fur bristling. "He was right! I was captured by a beast!"

Curiosity flashed in Thornstar's eyes and she instantly regretted what she had said. Gasps of surprise rippled around the camp.

"Will he take our kits?" a queen gasped hysterically.

"No!" she reassured them. "He's really nice once you get to know him! He's kind and sweet and... He's my friend..."

"So," Thornstar purred dangerously, "You're saying that you have feelings for this rogue, this beast, this monster?"

"He's no monster, Thornstar," she hissed, "You are."

"She's just as crazy as her father!" the dark tabby leader cried. "This beast will take our kits! Our food! Our warriors! We can't rest until it has been slain! Kill the beast!"

"Kill the beast! Kill the beast!" the warriors chanted.

"No, Thornstar!" Rosefang cried. "I won't let you do this!"

"If you're not with us, you're against us," Thornstar hissed. With a sadistic glint, he unsheathed his claws and struck the white she-cat across the face. Not expecting the blow, Rosefang fell to the ground in pain and shock. She could feel the sticky, red substance flowing down her cheek.

"Rogue," Thornstar spat.

With a flick of his tail, the brown tabby and his warriors stalked into the dark forest, only lit with the light on with only one goal: to kill the beast.

Rosefang felt a pain in her chest. Odd... He had only struck her face...

"Are you okay?" she heard Oakleaf ask.

"This is all my fault!" she sobbed. "Now he's going to be killed!"

A thought crossed her mind. A picture of Brokenheart lying still on the ground. Blood puddled around a wound on his throat. His bright, intelligent, fire-coloured eyes would no longer see the light of day... It made her shudder and she lifted her head stubbornly. She would not let this happen to him! Even if it was the last thing she ever did!

"I have to help him!" she called over her shoulder as she ran out of camp. "I need to help him!"

Oh, I hope I'm not too late!

.

"Kill the beast! Kill the beast!"

Yowls echoed around his makeshift den.

Normally, he'd go out and fight, but what was there to fight for? Rosefang had gone and he'd never see her again. He had learned to love, but she did not love him back; he was to remain a beast, an outcast forever...

"Aha!" a tom cried. "I've found the entrance!"

"Do we kill it?" one cat asked.

"No," the tom replied with a hiss, "Do what you want to him. Chase him out, but do not kill him...That's my job..."

Yowling battle cries, Brokenheart heard the cats enter his den, being led by a strong dark tabby. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, he watched as they all wandered aimlessly, trying to find him.

One cat brushed up against him and he gave a snort. The cat looked up at him and, wailing, ran right out of his den.

A couple of warriors followed him after seeing his face. The dark brown tabby sent threats and insults their way every time a cat ran out of the den. He was obviously their leader.

Soon, four cats remained. Two of them nipped at his feet and his tail. Another scratched his sides, but he could barely feel it due to his thick, matted fur. Still depressed, he allowed them to chase him out of his den.

The moonlight shone, barely lighting up the dark and ominous forest. The leader sent the other cats away, telling them that he would finish him off.

Mouse-brain, Brokenheart huffed inwardly, Egotistical mouse-brain.

The tom scratched his side and Brokenheart let out a sad groan as he felt the tom's claw draw blood. He laid on the ground.

"Get up!" the tom yowled, "Get up you beast and fight!"

The tabby leader lunged and grabbed hold of his ear, dragged him onto his back and stood there fuming. "Fight!" he growled. "Or are you to kind and gentle?" he added teasingly.

"Brokenheart!" a voice yowled, filling his ears with the sweet sound of a voice he never thought he'd hear again. "Thornstar, leave him alone!"

"Rosefang..." he whispered hoarsely as he noticed the beautiful white she-cat run up to him.

The sound of her voice gave him new life and as Thornstar brought his claws down towards him, Brokenheart rolled and jumped out of the way.

The two toms fought for a bit before Brokenheart pinned Thornstar to the ground, his claws against the dark tom's throat.

"Please!" Thornstar begged, "Let me go; I have a Clan to lead. I'll do anything! Anything!"

Brokenheart leaned forwards and whispered in Thornstar's ear: "Get out."

He loosened his grip and let the whimpering leader go, and he watched as he disappeared into the dense undergrowth of the forest he once called his home.

He had won. Rosefang had come back. Life would be perfect.

The white she-cat padded over to him, then, without warning, fell to the ground in pain.

"Rosefang!"

.

The she-cat opened her eyes and saw Brokenheart's orange eyes staring at her with worry.

"...B-Brokenheart..." she whispered.

"Shh, save your breath," he told her softly, "Everything will be okay. You're just tired."

"N-No, Brokenheart..." she answered. "I'm not okay. It was m-my fault that they came and attacked y-you. I'm s-sorry."

She was dying and she knew it, but she had to apologise. She just had to.

"It's okay," the tom assured her. "Just rest. Tomorrow, I'll catch you the biggest squirrel in the forest."

"No, Brokenheart," Rosefang wheezed. "You can't. StarClan is calling me..."

"No, no, no, no!" Brokenheart sobbed. "You can't leave. Everything will be okay; you'll see. I'll find you some herbs that will make you better. You can't leave me!"

"At least I got to see you... o-one last time..." Rosefang purred, softly. Her eyes closed for the last time. "I-I love you..."

Her head fell down and she became limp. She was dead.

"No!" Brokenheart wailed. "You can't! Please, Rosefang! You can't go! I love you! You can't go!"

Sobbing, the tom put his head to her pelt. She was dead. He would stay a beast for a thousand moons if it just meant that she would stay with him. "I love you..." he whispered.

He laid down next to her.

Suddenly, a black she-cat appeared next to him, her pelt flecked with stars.

He let out a growl. "If you've come to take her away, you'll have to go through me first!"

"Relax Brokenheart," the she-cat purred. "I have seen that there is love in your heart. You love this she-cat enough to do anything for her; even fight a StarClan cat. By the power given to me by StarClan, I now give you your true name. Brokenheart no longer shows who you are and I will name you Duskfang for the undying love you have for Rosefang."

A light shone from his paws. The scars disappeared and his fur went down to its normal length. His broken heart became full again.

"Thank you!" he gushed.

"No need to thank me yet, Duskfang," the she-cat purred. "You haven't even seen the best part..."

.

Rosefang took a breath.

I-I thought I had died...

Opening her eyes, she saw a large, muscular brown tom.

"Rosefang!" the tom purred. "You're alive!"

Who was this tom? She looked around. Where was Brokenheart?

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Rosefang, it's me," the tom answered, his orange eyes sparkling.

The white she-cat let out a gasp. She only knew one tom with those beautiful orange eyes!

"Brokenheart!" she purred as she embraced him, "It is you!"

"I'm Duskfang now," he whispered.

"It suits you," she answered back playfully.

.

And that is the end of Rosefang and Duskfang's tale.

The two stayed there in the den, soon joined by Oakleaf and Finchstep. Their lives were perfect because they had each other.

And they lived happily ever after.

The end.