YAY! #7 Challenge for SOLARCLAN! whoo!
Anyways, this one is a What If? story. In this case, it's "What If Bright Stream didn't die?" Read on to find out ;)
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Bright Stream fell from the hawks talons, some fur torn out, but mostly uninjured. The eagle flapped off unsteadily, blood dripping down its leg from the deep cuts where Bright Stream had clawed at. Clear Sky rushed over, covering the pretty she-cat in licks. Grey Wing held back, unsure of whether to go or not. Turtle Tail rushed past him, delighted that Bright Stream had not been carried off by the eagle. Only then did Grey Wing pad forward, murmuring some words of relief and comfort to the she-cat. Bright Stream had evidently not heard; she was pressed up against Clear Sky, her tail curled protectively around her swollen belly.
Grey Wing felt a sting of guilt. What would have happened if she had not escaped from the eagles grip? She and her unborn kits would have perished, and it would have been his own fault. Grey Wing looked at his brother apologetically. Clear Sky was starting to sob in relief. Grey Wing's own heart was tied up into knots, his love for Bright Stream was beyond the limits of his own heart. As he watched Clear Sky draw her closer, Grey Wing pressed down the growing jealousy churning in his stomach. Grey Wing whipped around, unable to take it anymore. He stomped back to the cave, gaze trained on the ground, with Turtle Tail staring after him, anguish in her green eyes.
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Grey Wing ran his paw over the smooth pebble, contemplating. He looked at the two snow-white pebbles placed close together in the 'Leave' side of the circle. They were Bright Stream's and Clear Sky's. Grey Wing's gaze turned to the 'Stay' side, where Quiet Rain's pebble lay, amongst multiple other rocks. Grey Wing shifted his rock a bit closer to the 'Stay' side, knowing his mother needed him, and so did the elders who had all decided to stay. He turned to the cats gathered behind him, and looked back at the circle. He moved his rock to the very edge of the circle, on the 'Stay' side, before with a pang of uncertainty, shoved it to 'Leave'. Grey Wing gritted his teeth, and stepped away. Turtle Tail took his place at the circle, and placed her pebble in the 'Leave' side confidently, before padded back to the group of cats, next to Bright Stream, who smiled at her happily. Grey Wing's gaze flitted over to the light grey tom standing tall next to Bright Stream- Clear Sky.
Clear Sky was standing protectively around Bright Stream, his stare penetrating Turtle Tail as if she had done something wrong. Turtle Tail and Bright Stream were chatting softly, and Clear Sky looked over the duo, nose wrinkled up. He was getting very protective of the she-cat, if Bright Stream moved even a mouse-length, he would stiffen. Grey Wing padded away from his brother, and sat next to Jagged Peak, who was visibly angry that he could not cast a vote. Quiet Rain licked his ear softly.
"I'm proud of your decision," she purred.
Grey Wing did not say anything. The only reason he had joined the leaving group was so that he could look after Bright Stream. He did not want to admit it, but he still clung on to that thin thread of hope that Bright Stream might not love Clear Sky, and instead, him. He wanted to be there if it was true. Grey Wing felt foolish that he believed such a thing, but love knew no bounds, and that rule applied to his love for Bright Stream.
Grey Wing had tried to remove her smile from his mind, but it was impossible. As he left the camp, following Shaded Moss and the others, he walked at the back, right behind Clear Sky and Bright Stream, watching them murmur to each other, twine tails, share prey together, chat, gossip, talk about kits…
Grey Wing could hardly take it once they got to their new home. Outside, he was grinning, happy to be in a new place away from the hardships of the cave, but inside, he was seething with jealousy. Turtle Tail padded up, smiling at him happily.
"Grey Wing!" she purred. "Don't you love our new home? It is the most wonderful place I have ever seen, so full of prey! We won't have to starve for moons to come!"
Grey Wing could not help but grin at the tortoiseshell she-cat. Clear Sky brushed past him, whispering in Grey Wing's ear," I see kits, Grey Wing," before bounding back to Bright Stream's side. Grey Wing blushed at his words, and Turtle Tail did too. She had obviously heard Clear Sky's comment. Grey Wing stepped beside her.
"Want to go hunting?" Grey Wing asked her, pushing Bright Stream out of his head and focusing on Turtle Tail. It was unfair to her that all he did was fawn over Bright Stream while Turtle Tail fought for his attention. "We should catch some prey to fill the group's empty bellies."
Turtle Tail beamed at the offer. "You know I will, Grey Wing."
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"Bright Stream!" Cloud Spots hissed. "Breathe!"
Bright Stream writhed on the ground, belly rippling. Two little kittens already laid at her belly, but there was still one more to come. Clear Sky stood at her head, licking her head feverishly. Cloud Spots gasped as the last kit was born. Clear Sky licked the kit's fur quickly, and placed it at its mother's belly. Cloud Spots surveyed the kits, before turning to the mates.
"Two toms and one she-kit. Congratulations!"
Bright Stream gazed at her kits, smiling proudly as she took in every detail.
"The she-cat can be Whispering Wind," she purred, laying her tail on the fluffy brown-and-white she-cat. "And the black-and-white tom can be Raven Storm."
"I know this name is going to be strange," Clear Sky began. "But it's our kits. They're special." Clear Sky nosed the fiery ginger-and-white tom. "This one is going to be Thunder."
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Hope you liked it! :)
-Cloud(y)