Chapter 36: The Accused
Emberpad sat next to Scarletbreeze's nest in Lunaclaw's den all night, numb and expressionless. Scarletbreeze's eyes were wrapped with heavy cobwebs, and even though they had been changed very recently, a stain of crimson was already seeping through. Lunaclaw padded up to Emberpad, beckoning him aside with her tail. Emberpad nodded, getting to his paws and going to Lunaclaw's actual den, a room in the back of the medicine den.
"Emberpad, there is nothing more I can do. She's losing too much blood. It's not clotting.-"
"No." Emberpad closed his eyes tight, as if he was just in a bad dream, trying to wake up. "There has to be something…"
Lunaclaw gave a long exhale and shook her head. Emberpad let out a soft gasp, choked and strangled-sounding. Lunaclaw's tail rested on his shoulders. "It's the best thing for her. You don't have to watch if you don't want to."
"No. It's ok." Emberpad struggled to keep his voice from cracking, unsuccessfully. Lunaclaw nodded, heading back toward Scarletbreeze. Emberpad followed on shaky legs. When he sat next to her, resting his tail on her side to comfort her, Lunaclaw whispered something to Star, but Star wasn't really listening. Emberpad noticed he gave Scarletbreeze and him a funny look, and Emberpad returned with an angry glare. Something was up; Emberpad could sense it.
Star nodded and left the den. A heart-beat later, he returned with Colddusk and Flamewhisper. Colddusk was as emotional as a rock, while Flamewhisper was crying so hard, her tears might have flooded camp.
Lunaclaw set some poppy seeds in front of Scarletbreeze, more than the normal amount, and Scarletbreeze licked them gingerly off the leaf. Her head slowly came to rest on her paws, and the rising and falling of her flank became slower and slower. He heard Flamewhisper step out of the den as she let out a little wail of sadness, and Colddusk followed, murmuring words of comfort. Emberpad lay down next to her, placing his head right next to the dying cat, pressing his tear-stained cheek against hers. It was like someone took Bloodrock and smashed his heart.
"Sc-Scarletbreeze. I…I love you so much. I'm so sorry." He began to feel tears well up, blurring his vision.
Her breathing slowed, and she spoke in a whisper on her last exhale. "It means….I…love you." Her flank fell still. Emberpad let out a choked sob, letting it shake his whole body. Lunaclaw nudged him to his paws as he let out a wail. She herded him outside, where Flamewhisper softly trembled as tears flowed down her face. Colddusk saw Emberpad and gave a small nod, then helped Flamewhisper back into the medicine den to say their goodbyes.
Lunaclaw sat him down, where he quivered as his breaths came in quick gasps for air as he grieved. The she spoke with incredible calmness for watching one of her clanmates die. "It was for the best. She was in a lot of pain." She paused, watching Emberpad's sobs turn into whimpers. Finally, he controlled himself and just warm, salty droplets splashed to the ground. "You know, Emberpad, the whole clan's talking about you, and not in a good way."
"But…but I didn't-"
"I know. The Dark Forest is deceitful. But don't you think it would be a little odd of you were found alone, now with the gift of sight, while Scarletbreeze was laying bleeding from her eyes."
"But what about Ravenpaw?"
"No one else saw Ravenpaw. You and me were the only ones. Starclan can only make themselves visible to whom they wish." Emberpad nodded slowly. He took a deep breath and looked up from his paws as Lunaclaw continued. "I bet Scarletbreeze is with him now, up in Starclan. She has no reason not to be."
Emberpad remembered the words Scarletbreeze whispered to him before she died.
"Emberpad?" Emberpad looked up at Scarletbreeze. He looked around, seeing Lunaclaw disappear in her den with Star to talk about Scarletbreezes' condition. Emberpad scooted a little closer, bending down to hear her rasping voice. "Yes? I'm here."
"Can you see?"
"Yes, sadly."
"Don't be sad, Emberpad. I would have gladly given up my eyesight for you. I was told so. Someone said 'Someone must lose in order to gain'. I lost my eyesight."
"What did you gain?" The tom asked.
"Well, I gained-"
She was cut off as Lunaclaw interrupted, asking Emberpad if she could change her bandages. Emberpad nodded, telling Scarletbreeze he'd be right back. He had waited outside while she did, and that was the last bandage change she'd had.
Emberpad took a shaky breath, swallowing hard, as if the memory was a piece of fresh-kill that wouldn't go down, that was stuck in his throat. Suddenly, Darkshard's booming voice rang out. "Let all cats old enough to kill dogs gather." The newly named Elites, Patch, Tiger, Owl, Tangle, and Twilight, joined the older Elites for the first time. Colddusk and Flamewhisper came out of the medicine cat den. Between Colddusk's teeth was the scuff of Scarletbreeze. He carried her to the middle of the clearing, then stepped back into place next to his mate.
"Unfortunately, Scarletbreeze could not be saved, and she has passed. May the Dark Forest shelter her." Cats repeated 'May the Dark Forest shelter her', dipping their head as they chanted. Then the looked up at their leader, expectant.
"Emberpad, you have been accused of murder." Gasps filled the clearing, but the loudest was his mother and father. He could feel Chill's cold, satisfied eyes burrow into him. He looked up at his leader with shame. As he looked at Darkshard while she rambled on about what was reported, he saw a flicker of movement, a shadow. Suddenly, ice-blue eyes appeared, and Emberpad felt himself bristle. The eyes narrowed themselves at Emberpad, before Scrouge disappeared into Darkshard's back. Darkshard's eyes changed somehow, and she stiffened, continuing as the gathered cats started agreeing with his 'treason' and a few cried out for punishment.
"And as punishment, and prevention of a Darkraven occurrence, Emberpad, I hereby sentence you to death!" Cheers erupted from the cats, and above all the noise, a scream sounded out as his mother struggled against the Elites. Russet held her back as well, and Emberpad could see the pain in his eyes from doing so. Soon, his mother turned and buried her face into Russet's chest fur. Emberpad looked away and back at Darkshard, who wore that same evil grin as the black tom with the white paw.
"Chill, put the little traitor into his den for the night." Chill leapt swiftly down from Bloodrock, charging at the little tom. Emberpad flew as Chill barreled into him. He was yanked roughly off his feet and he felt himself numbly flying through the air. He slammed into the back of the Twoleg Kittypet holder as the roar of the crowd continued. The door rattled the cage as it was slammed shut, and Emberpad felt his head throb rhythmically as his vision faded to black.
Wahhh! NOT LITTLE CUTE EMBERPAD! DX
Anyone notice the new bio? Hoping it'll attract more readers and followers/favorite-ers. :D
Emberpad: I'm going to die? I don't even care anymore. At least I'll be with Scarletbreeze.
Shatterbreeze: -superhero pose- Not if I can help it!
Me: Stop it! You're spoiling the story! Review!
