Chapter 12
So thank you again Keeper for writing chapter 11, it was amazing! So be prepared to feel a little emotion in this chapter, not heavy feels, but enough to make you frown sadly. I don't know, it will make say "AWE NO!" Anyway enjoy the chapter, and I hope you enjoy the chapters I made today, with Keeper's help! Thanks Keepy!
Pouncer let out a yawn as he padded out of the warriors den with Clawstrike. He saw that everyone was still confused from yesterday's argument. Zeldastar had abandoned them, and exactly when they needed her. Most everyone had suggested the Wolftail receive nine lives, but he refused, saying their rightful leader would come back for them. Pouncer shook out his pelt and walked into the nursery, where Foxflame was grooming Juniperfrost's kits, while Juniperfrost was sleeping. Pouncer watched Foxflame's bulging belly rise and fall as she exhaled. He raised an eyebrow and walked over to her.
"I wonder how many kits you'll have?" He said teasingly. Foxflame started grooming her belly self-consciously. "You look beautiful, when did you find out?"
"About a week ago," She gushed. "Wolftail is going to be so happy!" Pouncer nodded and cleaned the fur around her ears. Foxflame let out a little giggle and smiled at Juniperfrost. "Thornlight keeps trying to impress her, and now Grayfur won't stop glaring at him," She giggled.
Pouncer smirked. "I told him Juniperfrost was off-limits," He teased. Foxflame nodded and started at her belly. Pouncer had a feeling what she was thinking about. He set his tail on her flank. "Hey, Daisymist would have been so happy for you Foxflame. She may not have made it, but I'm sure she'd be very proud of you." He purred. Foxflame wiped her unshed tears with a ginger paw.
"Thanks, Pouncer," She whispered. He nodded and licked her cheek before walking over to Juniperfrost's kits.
"UNCLE POUNCER!" Blossomkit screamed. Her brothers and her started attacking Pouncer. "Surrender Terror!" She screeched while batting Pouncer with little paws. Pouncer pretended to die, but they didn't quite believe his act.
"I-Is he really dead?" Wrenkit whimpered.
"No you mouse! He's pretending… right Blossomkit?" Fogkit mewed nervously. Blossomkit shrugged and poked Pouncer in the cheek.
"Hello? Uncle Pouncer? Are you dead?" Blossomkit cried. Pouncer popped up and toppled all three kits.
"I ate all of you! YUM YUM YUM!" He pretended to eat them by nibbling on their paws. Blossomkit smacked him in face and glared.
"I thought you died," She huffed, but eventually started laughing when Pouncer tickled her. "I forgive you!"
"Ok, I have to go kits, but be good to your mother!" Pouncer called over his shoulder as he walked out of the nursery.
"WE WON'T!" They all said in unison. Pouncer purred and walked over to Clawstrike. Pouncer could tell everyone was trying to stay calm considering the situation, except for Regnantstorm, who was a mess.
"Want to hunt? I need some air." He said. Clawstrike nodded and followed Pouncer out of the tunnel.
"Zeldastar is a coward," He hissed. "How can she abandon us at a time like this?! Just selfish." Pouncer looked at his paws. An uncomfortable silence wavered in the air until Clawstrike shook out his pelt and meowed an apology. They walked side-by-side all the way to the forest, when Clawstrike stopped dead, sniffing the air.
"Him…" Clawstrike said darkly, unsheathing his claws into the soft earth. Pouncer looked at him concerned and realized who Clawstrike was talking about. "Sanguis, they're here. Terror, I can smell him," He growled, a growl so deep Pouncer felt vibrations in his paws.
"Clawstrike, hang on let's get Wolftail-" He was cut off when Clawstrike started running through the brambles towards the direction Terror was coming from. Pouncer ran after him, dread weighing down his paws.
"Clawstrike!" Pouncer yowled. When he bounded out of the brambles, he saw Clawstrike being held down by Terror, Canine and a black and silver she-cat. He heard Canine tell the she-cat, Dusk, something. "Let him go," Pouncer snarled at Terror.
"Make me," Terror hissed, digging his claws into Clawstrike neck, but not far enough to draw blood.
"No, Pouncer,mthis is my fight not yours," Clawstrike growled. "He's the reason Briarstar was killed, he killed her!"
"Briarstar is back with you! Let him go Terror! Clawstrike stop being stupid, if you don't stop talking, you won't see Briarstar for a long time," Pouncer said, a growl threatening to rise.
"NO! He killed Briarstar!" Clawstrike spat. He raised his claws and sliced at Terror's forepaws. Terror screeched and let Clawstrike go. Before Clawstrike could attack Terror, Pouncer grabbed his scruff and pulled him back.
"LET ME GO!" He screeched. Pouncer held him tighter.
"It's not worth it, we won't win! We're outnumbered!" He growled in Clawstrike's ear. Pouncer started to relax when Clawstrike started to stop struggling. Still a little nervous, Pouncer let go of Clawstrike's scruff and started backing out of the clearing, Terror and the two other cats watching him warily. "You made the right decision," He said quietly.
"I know," He grumbled. Suddenly breaking into a run, Clawstrike ran back to Terror and tackled him.
"CLAWSTRIKE!" Pouncer called. He watched, horrified, as Clawstrike and Terror wrestled and someone's blood splattered on the lush grass. Dusk tackled Pouncer spitting angrily until she realized it was Pouncer.
"Y-You're P-" Her sentence was cut off when Canine kicked Pouncer in the flank, which sent him tumbling into the ferns. Dazed, Pouncer say Terror bite down Clawstrike's neck with a sickening crunch, Clawstrike's eyes roll back, and his body slump onto the bloodied grass.
"Clawstrike!" Pouncer cried rushing to his side. Terror smiled and led his group away from the scene with a single warning.
"Be warned!" Were his words before disappearing into the ferns. Pouncer was too busy looking down on Clawstrike. He started running his paw over his wounds, the fur on his paws turned from gray to red.
"I-I knew your father Clawstrike, when I was a loner. He was a really good cat, he was always looking for you," He said, voice trembling. "Your father, Russet, he loved you. I h-hope you find peace and good hunting in Starclan." Bowing his head, Pouncer buried his face in his fallen friend's bloodied scruff. "Stay safe," He whispered.
Pouncer had dragged Clawstrike back to camp, heart heavy with grief. "Pouncer!" Briarstar called. "Pouncer where-CLAWSTRIKE?!" She yelped, running to her mate's side.
"Sanguis, w-we saw them, and Clawstrike attacked them! I tried to hold him back, I did! H-He wanted revenge," Pouncer cried, hanging his head in despair. "I failed him."
"Clawstrike no…" Briarstar moaned sadly. "Please don't leave, please," She cried. Pouncer watched as Skyflower whispered something in her ear. Whiskershadow and Moonfire soon appeared by his side.
"He was a good friend," Moonfire whimpered. Whiskershadow nodded and smiled sadly. Vitapool quietly appeared by her mate's side and nuzzled his cheek.
"We should prepare her body for burial," Vitapool whispered quietly. Whiskershadow nodded and licked Pouncer's cheek.
"Take care of him," Pouncer whispered. Whiskershadow nodded sadly and padded away. Pouncer pressed his nose to Clawstrike's forehead. "Enjoy Starclan, my friend," He whispered.
Wolftail soon took his place next to Pouncer. "Zeldastar would have known what to do, but for now I will take care of our clan. Clawstrike's death will not be in vain," He whispered grimly. Pouncer looked into Wolftail's blue yes, usually soft and full of laughter: now grave and deadly.
"I will avenge him one day," Pouncer swore. Wolftail nodded and touched his nose to Clawstrike's russet fur. "Check on Foxflame," he smiled softly. "She has something to tell you." Wolftail's eyes grew wide until he noticed Pouncer's smile, and bounded over to his mate. Suddenly, Regnantstorm and Moonfire's pelts filled his vison. Perking up his ears, he listened in on their conversation.
"Regnantstorm, please eat something," Moonfire said, voice pleading, while she leaned on his shoulder. He shook her off with a blank expression. It broke Pouncer's heart to see his daughter's sad expression and crestfallen look. "R-Regnantstorm," She sniffled, as her mate walked away, tears running down his cheek.
Pouncer felt a growl rumbling in his throat when he realized the tom's sister had just left, and he was bound to be broken. Poor tom… BUT IF HE HURTS MY MOONFIRE!
Sunpaw ran to her father, clutching his hind legs. "Daddy! Daddy I caught my first vole! Mudraven said I'm the best apprentice ever! Well not as good as Dapplepaw," She purred. Regnantstorm shrugged and Moonfire snuggled her daughter close.
"He's unhappy, love, leave him be," Moonfire said quietly, swallowing a sob. Sunpaw wailed and jumped onto her father, digging her claws into his pelt.
"Daddy, please stop! Don't be sad! I'll b-be a better daughter I swear to Starclan!" She wailed. Regnantstorm started at her sadly as Sunpaw's tears fell down her cream cheeks.
"Honey, you're an excellent daughter. I'm just sad that Aunty left," he said, his voice wavering. He got up and left after licking his daughter's head.
"Daddy please!" She cried, chasing after him. Moonfire let her head back and wailed into the dark sky. Skyflower ran to her side and led her into the warrior's den, cooing her. Pouncer scowled, narrowing his eyes at the tunnel Regnantstorm had left through, and Sunpaw was still wailing, desperately following her dad. I'll kill that tom if her hurts my family in his grief-forsaken mood!
Daddy Pouncer's a liiiiiitle overprotective of his daughters, fun fact! Pouncer threatened to kill each tom her daughter's liked in their dreams if he hurt his little babies XD