This one-shot is a birthday gift to my friend, Rainstorm (Cascade of Raining Ice is her username as of now), about her OCs, Brookstep and Swiftstrike. If you don't understand some of the stuff in this story, that's fine, because this is for her.
She's filled me in on their complicated history, and I see some points where I can fit some of my own creative writing in. So here it is:
If Only I Could See You Now
"Good," Cloverfrost meowed, satisfied. "That's all for tonight, Swiftstrike. Be sure to come back tomorrow."
Like I have a choice, Swiftstrike thought, then quickly wiped that thought to the back of his mind. Of course he wanted to keep coming back. No matter what these cats wanted him to do with his fighting skill, he would use it to protect his sister, his only surviving sister... "I know," he responded, turning around.
Cloverfrost's gaze seemed to settle on his back, boring through his fur and into his flesh. "One more thing," she whispered, then hesitated. "I know you've suffered loss, and I don't want you to go through that again. I have seen a disturbing omen: an apprentice without eyes would be the death of Brookstep."
Swiftstrike didn't have much time to ask any more of her before a mist clouded his vision and he was sent toppling down the side of a cliff, into the black river. It twisted and bent but was somehow comforting as he was swept downriver by a strong dark current.
"WindClan, attack!"
Brookstep tried to shield her eyes against the blinding sun as an enemy warrior leaped at her, claws outstretched. She hissed, unsheathing her own and slashed out to meet him, twisting at the last second so that he was flung to the ground. She quickly spotted Thistlewing being pummeled by another WindClan cat- Flashcloud, she remembered- and rushed to help him when something caught the corner of her eye.
Scarred.
Disfigured.
Pink, furless flesh grown over hollowness.
Hollow...
Eye sockets...
Heart pounding wildly, she screeched in both surprise and anger and lashed out with both paws blindly, clawing and biting and slashing every moment she got. Blood dripped down onto the ground in thick rivulets. Claws sinking into flesh, ripping out fur, snapping her jaws shut on anything she could find... something heavy barreled onto her, but Brookstep didn't care, she was going to end this apprentice if it was the last thing she did, or otherwise-
Wet droplets began clumping to her pelt... both blood and water. Someone was digging their own claws into her back, but she didn't know if the eyeless apprentice was dead yet, couldn't let go, couldn't step away... slash, rip, bite, water rushed over her paws. Slash, dodge, claw, she felt herself falling-
"Welcome to StarClan," a gentle voice murmured.
Brookstep opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry at first, but as her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, she looked to her right and saw that Flashcloud was lying right next to her. I'm really in StarClan? I couldn't have died, I just had some minor wounds, I couldn't have died, I couldn't have...
"Swiftstrike," she growled, getting up onto all four paws.
"You lied to me!" Swiftstrike roared at Cloverfrost. "You lied, you lied, you lied-"
Cloverfrost stared up at him, eyes clouded. "Indeed I did," she meowed. "It looks like even your stupid sister wasn't able to finish Maplepaw off."
"You wanted Maplepaw to die?" Swiftstrike growled, eyes widening. "You're evil." He backed off, glaring at her. "You're evil, you're evil, you're-"
Finally losing her patience, Cloverfrost pounced onto him and whipped out her claws, holding them against Swiftstrike's throat. "Stop it!" she commanded. "You don't know what's it's like to watch everyone you ever cared about walk away, even your own daughter-"
"Because you're evil," Swiftstrike said simply.
Cloverfrost didn't respond after that. Without another word, she turned around and raced into the underbrush.
You don't know how much I regret.
If only I could see you now.
Not in my best writing mood today... but here it is!
