Mothwings was simply tired. Of everything. Two sunrises ago, Ochreheart had disappeared. Before that, whitecough had left her a mess. She had already recovered, but it felt like her sickness had only worsened.
Today was a different feeling, though. Instead of hopelessness and depression, it was tension and a hint of fear. She remained where she had been spending most of her time, the sunbathing rock, but nothing felt right. She couldn't even enjoy the sunlight that always soothed her.
Hawkfeather noticed her, even more sad than usual, and approached the rock.
"Mothwings? Is everything alright?" She asked, worried.
"No," she replied, sighing. Mothwings repositioned herself so that she faced her mother instead of the reeds. "It's been terrible recently, but today it's just… worse. More fear than sadness."
"Oh, little flower…" Hawkfeather said. She came closer and nuzzled her daughter. "I just wish I knew how to help."
"No, it's fine, it'll pass…" Mothwings said. Then, she reconsidered. "Will this pass?" She thought.
"I know it's hard that Jayflight is gone, now Ochreheart as well, but you must stay strong and faithful," Hawkfeather said.
"Mother…" Mothwings started. She couldn't continue, though. A sudden wave of terror hit her like a thunderbolt, and she closed her eyes tight, her teeth grinding together.
"Mothwings!" Hawkfeather gasped. Then, she felt claws dig into her back. She heard hisses and hard paw steps. The claws were removed, drawing blood, and suddenly the camp that was quiet just moments before was thrown into chaos and disarray.
There were at least two dozen newcomers attacking the cats of RiverClan. Mothwings launched herself off the rock and onto the nearest unfamiliar cat, and bit hard into her shoulder. The cat screeched and retaliated with a hard blow to her face. She stumbled, then tackled her with a mighty leap.
Mothwings pinned the cat by the shoulders and dug her claws deep into her stomach. She let out a pain-filled yowl, then shoved Mothwings off and retreated.
Mothwings leaped at the tom pinning Hawkfeather, shoving him off and clawing his side. She stood up and the pair went for him together, Mothwings diving for his legs, and Hawkfeather leaping onto his back. He yowled and struggled for a bit, then managed to heave Hawkfeather off. He bit hard into her back leg, and Mothwings clamped her jaws around his tail. He screeched and dashed off.
Mothwings caught her breath for a moment while she observed the fight. The cats of RiverClan were fighting hard, but the attackers were fighting harder. However, RiverClan outnumbered them by a significant amount. If they tried their best, they would win.
As time went on, Mothwings forgot how long she had been fighting. She just threw blows at the enemy, then moved on to the next cat.
One such encounter was not that simple. Mothwings launched herself at a large tabby tom, digging into his back with all four sets of claws. The tom didn't seem to mind. He ducked down, then shoved her off with a mighty push of his legs. She landed harshly, and the tom rushed over to pin her. He pressed one paw down on her throat, and Mothwings felt her windpipe being crushed.
"He's going to kill me!" She tom pushed harder every time she breathed out, not allowing her to breathe back in. She could feel her life being drained out, then the pressure on her throat was lifted, and the tom was gone. Mothwings gasped for air. She didn't know who saved her but was extremely grateful to no longer be suffocated.
Mothwings felt herself being dragged by some cat, but the sounds of the battle were beginning to die out. Her vision blurred, then faded into blackness. The pain from the wounds melted away, and the world slipped into an endless midnight sky.
...
Mothwings awoke in the medicine den. Her wounds stung, and her body and throat ached, but the battle was long over. She shifted into a sitting position, looking around slowly. Threelegs was tending to a badly injured warrior, the river was trickling quietly, and cats conversed nearby.
She wondered about the outcome of the battle, since she was unconscious through the end of it.
"Threelegs?" She asked.
"Yes?" He replied without turning his head.
"What happened?" There was a pause. He seemed to be piecing words together, then he spoke.
"RiverClan narrowly won, and a few of the strongest remaining cats drove out the rogues who hadn't been killed or had already retreated. They swore they would return, but Silverstar is certain they were lying. They lost nearly half of their cats to the battle," Threelegs spoke slowly. Mothwings was surprised. She knew death on both sides was inevitable, but she had never thought that half on the enemy side would be killed.
"RiverClan was hit hard as well. We've lost four and many more are injured. Two's injuries are so severe, I'm not entirely sure they'll survive," he continued in a sad tone. Mothwings was relieved the loss wasn't any worse, but four dead and two on the brink was more than she would have been expecting from the rogue's relatively small attack force.
"Let all cats old enough to swim the rapids gather around the Ripplestone for a clan meeting!" Silverstar called. Mothwings tested how much it hurt to move, and when she discovered that the only pain she felt was a bit of stinging from poultices, she exited the medicine den and looked for Hawkfeather.
Her mother had just returned from a hunting patrol. She deposited her catch, a rainbow trout, at the pitiful fresh-kill pile, and joined Mothwings. They sat down, facing their leader and waiting until every cat had gathered.
"RiverClan was successful in the invasion from the rogues, but not without cost. Longpaw, Yellowtail, Rainpelt, and Troutsplash have all sacrificed themselves for the prosperity of the clan. Tonight, we will hold vigil for them, and we wish them well in StarClan," Silverstar announced solemnly.
"Troutsplash! My former mentor!" She thought. Mothwings dipped her head in grief and respect for the cat who had taught her everything she knew about hunting and fighting.
"The rogues have left their mark on our camp as well. Bluefin and I will be organizing repairs throughout the next few sunrises," Silverstar continued. After a pause, he finished.
"You are dismissed." Silverstar leaped down from the Ripplestone, and Mothwings headed to the sunbathing rock.
"The clan is happy, even through all the death and destruction," Mothwings thought.
"I only wish I could share that happiness."