So I basically wrote this in one sitting so I could get it out to all you wonderful reviewers. Whew. Very fun and difficult to write. Hope you enjoy!
Note: I left out whose POV it is. Hopefully you can understand by now. Half of it is Mountainkit's POV in present day, which I'm thinking is like early September. The other half is Sanddune's POV flashback, currently five moons earlier, so around April.
Still open to new title names! Tell me if you think of one!
Chapter 2
"Beautiful…" Dewkit whispered.
Mountainkit stood beside her, his light brown paws sinking into the muddy ground.
A rocky cliff rose from the forest floor, its misted rocks covered in thick moss that dripped with vapor. Water cascaded down in clear, twisting ribbons that broke into a million pieces when they hit the rocks below. Most of that water continued down a substantial stream to Mountainkit's right, but a rock split a tiny section off that formed the creek that had been their continual friend. Its cold water meandered away from the larger stream to Mountainkit's left.
Sanddune stood beside the two kits on the muddy piece of land in between the flowing water. When Mountainkit looked up at him, he saw tears ringing his awestruck blue eyes. He watched his mouth move and heard the tiniest of whispers escape his lips.
"Water vapor."
.
"Riverbend, could he have followed you?"
Sanddune answered for her.
"Yes."
Riverbend whirled around, her pale blue gaze instantly meeting her brother's. Shock, worry, uncertainty… They churned in her eyes like a whirlpool.
"Sanddune…"
Sanddune padded slowly closer but was too hurt to reply. His throat had completely closed by now.
Autumnleaf stepped protectively closer to Riverbend, his light brown fur pressing against hers.
Riverbend spoke again. "Sanddune, I-"
"You lied to me."
"I didn't-"
"You lied… to me." Sanddune shook his head, blue eyes desperate. "I'm your brother! You tell me everything!"
Riverbend took in a sharp, shaky breath. "I couldn't tell you!" she cried, "You had warned me against it. You told me not to. I couldn't tell you!"
"When?" Sanddune demanded.
"When what?"
"When did I lose your trust?"
Riverbend instantly look down to the ground. She couldn't meet his eyes. "I didn't-"
"Did you think I was going to tell Northstar?"
"I-"
"Did you think I was going to tell everyone so that your reputation would be ruined and you'd lose the love of your life?"
There was a moment of silence as both Riverbend and Autumnleaf's eyes widened. "You're not going to tell?" Autumnleaf asked in disbelief.
Sanddune paused, more out of hurt anger than hesitancy. "No," he stated, his eyes hard.
Riverbend stepped towards him. "Oh, Sanddune…" she murmured, relief in every syllable.
"Oh, you actually trust me now?" her brother inquired in a low, dangerous growl, "Well, this is quite a change of heart." Then he turned away, hurt building with every thump in his chest.
.
"Almost there, Dewkit. You can make it."
Mountainkit looked down from the top of the rocky cliff at the small gray she-kit. She was one leap away from the where her brother was standing and her breath was coming in short gasps. Sanddune, continuing to murmur encouragement from further down, picked his way up the steep rocky slope. He had lifted the kits over the highest leaps but would wear out if he carried them the entire way. He wasn't the most solid on his feet anyways. He also was panting heavily.
"You can make that jump, Dewkit. Your brother could."
Dewkit nodded, determination filling her tired eyes. She bunched up her muscles and with her last bit of strength, pushed off with her hind legs. For a split second, Mountainkit felt she was going to make it but, as time slowed, he realized that she was falling short.
Mountainkit thought fast. There was a gap between the rock Dewkit had leapt off of and the edge of the cliff, meaning that if she fell, she would fall into a gaping hole of unforgiving rock. Even if she didn't die from the impact, there was no way she was getting out.
Dewkit's forelegs were the only thing to reach the cliff's edge and Mountainkit grabbed for them, digging his claws into his sister's skin to get a good hold. There was another moment that time seemed to slow down. Dewkit's back claws scrabbled at the stone and the scratching sound echoed in Mountainkit's ears. Sanddune was shouting. He felt his grip loosen and he dug it deeper. Warm, red drops of liquid oozed around his claws. He thanked the stars that he was larger and stronger than his smaller sister. Once his own back claws found a hold on a patch of hardy grass, he was able to pull backwards. His sister's head appeared over the edge, her blue eyes wide with fear. Then came her head, her legs, her fluffed-out tail; her entire body slumped on the dusty ground, heaving with each breath. Safe.
Sanddune appeared moments later, worry bursting from his every seam. He collapsed next to Dewkit, licking her over and over again. "You're okay. You're okay. You're okay," he whispered over and over again.
Finally, her breath slowed and Sanddune stopped long enough to look at Mountainkit. His wet blue eyes were brimming with gratitude and pride. "You were so brave, Mountainkit," he murmured, "You saved her life."
Mountainkit felt like he should only be worried and relieved after such an incident, but his cheeks started to burn with pride at the praise.
Sanddune's warm gaze lingered only for a moment longer before it turned back to Dewkit. He quickly looked over her for injuries. One of her back claws had been torn out on the stone, but that would heal quickly with a few days of rest. "Okay. That's okay," he whispered as encouragement to himself. His gaze traveled further up the body. Her chest was settling into even breaths. Her face was unharmed. He froze when he saw her forelegs.
On each, four claw marks steadily oozed dark red blood. They were thin but deep and extensive. As Mountainkit had been pulling, his claws had slowly sliced through her skin. The result was gouges that extended down the third middle of her forelegs. On a rested adult with a practiced medicine cat, it would be fine. But on a small kit… especially one that hadn't gotten all of her mother's milk, milk that boosted the immune system and helped fight infection... and no medicine cat…
"I don't know herbs. I don't know herbs. I don't know…" Sanddune's voice grew steadily louder and more desperate. "I didn't risk everything for her to die from infection!" he screamed. "StarClan! Tell me the herbs! You let my Clan die! You owe me! You owe these kits! Tell me! Send me a sign!"
Mountainkit was whimpering loudly by the time Sanddune finally stopped screeching to the dusk sky.
"I'm sorry, Mountainkit. I'm so sorry. I'm so… so... sorry. I'm sorry…" Sanddune continued on in an attempt to keep from breaking down himself.
.
"Leapingflames." Sanddune prodded the creamy white side of his friend. "Patrol."
Leapingflames cracked open an amber eye. "Is Waterpaw-?"
"He's waiting outside."
Leapingflames gave an impressive yawn and got to his paws. He stretched, his rusty-tipped tail curving like a hook from his raised bottom.
"Take your time, Sunshine," Sanddune said over his shoulder as he left the cave.
A stiff breeze buffeted his sandy brown fur as he emerged from the dark of the den. Outside was another chilly spring day. The sky matched the pale blue of his eyes and the high white sun was weak in warmth.
Sanddune padded towards Leapingflame's apprentice, Waterpaw, who was waiting at the camp entrance. He had long, silky gray fur that flew around wildly in the wind.
"Sanddune," Waterpaw greeted him, dipping his head. Sanddune could hear how forced his voice sounded and see the glint of superiority in his misty blue eyes. He had been an apprentice for hardly two moons and he already felt better than everyone else.
"Waterpaw," Sanddune responded, the same grit in his voice. He wasn't stupid. Like his sister had said the night before, he noticed everything. Every other she-cat apprentice may drool over those 'dreamy blue eyes' and every other warrior may congratulate Leapingflames on such a fast-excelling, skilled apprentice, but Sanddune knew better. He saw the ambition in Waterpaw's every move: every tail flick of annoyance when he saw Northstar emerge on the Highledge, every bloodthirsty glance when the other Clan passed near the border at the same time he did, every lift of his chin in superiority of any cat he deemed unworthy of being in the Clan.
Leapingflames stepped up beside Sanddune. "Hello," he managed before another yawn overtook him. He looked from his apprentice to his friend but didn't register the hostile looks. Instead, he only noticed that there were three of them on the patrol. "This is it?"
"Cats are still recovering from greencough," Sanddune replied.
"Oh…" Leapingflames murmured, "Well… shall we?"
Waterpaw gave Sanddune one more scowl before turning away and padding out of camp after his mentor. Sanddune followed behind more slowly. At least it wasn't a hunting patrol. He couldn't stand the look of victory in Waterpaw's eyes when he caught more than a seasoned warrior.
Sanddune had been clumsy all his life. It's why he had never had an apprentice… or any respect. He had watched a cat over a moon younger become a warrior before him. He had had to remain strong when he would come into camp with a meager kill and his Clanmates would shoot him annoyed, or even worse… disappointed looks. Cats respected brute strength or lightning-fast agility. They never noticed intelligence.
They never notice anything.
"Sanddune!" a voice called out.
All these thoughts had lasted no more than a couple steps through the camp entrance. Leapingflames and Waterpaw, only a few paces in front of him, turned to look back. Sanddune didn't follow suit. His annoyance with oblivious cats changed to a hard anger. It was his sister's voice.
"Sanddune!" Riverbend called again.
Sanddune kept walking, even though his patrol companions were looking back at him expectantly.
"Sanddune!" Riverbend repeated once again, exasperated. She was only a few steps away now. "We need to talk."
Sanddune felt his throat tighten. He hated confrontation. Without turning back, he growled in a voice that would give anyone second thoughts, "I have nothing to say to you."
Riverbend instantly stopped and Sanddune stalked on, reaching the surprised Leapingflames and Waterpaw, and pushing past them.
Sanddune just felt frustration at everything. His sister had lied to him. His friend didn't notice what was right in front of him. His Clan didn't respect him.
I feel so alone.