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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 11, 2020 19:09:58 GMT -5
Nightpaw leaps forward, pinning Firepaw, she let out a high-pitched shriek and fought to get up, to go back. She was strong, he thought, but she was also very small, and he managed to pin her down. “Sootpaw is right.” He panted. “We saw him kill Cowstar and I think...I think he’s killing Adderleaf right now. He’s not who he says he is.”
“Let me go!” Firepaw shrieked, clawing viciously at Nightpaw. “Let me go! You don’t understand! We can...we can fix this! We can stop it!”
Rabbitsong was watching as the apprentices entered. It took them only a moment to grasp the situation, and then they were gone, weaving their way up to Cowstar’s den and slipping inside.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 11, 2020 20:56:12 GMT -5
Blazeclaw, having heard the commotion, nearly crashed into Rabbitsong on her way down the cliff from her den.
"Rabbit?" she said, ears pricked intently forward as she tried to see what was going on. "What in Silverpelt..."
--
Crowfur limped through the forest, all too aware of the blood soaking through his pelt and matting his long fur. All too aware of the blood he was leaving in each of his pawsteps, which were growing more painful with every move he made.
All too aware of the cuts and gashes Adderpaw had left on him before he'd slit his throat.
"Who do you think you are...damaging it like this..." he muttered to himself through gritted teeth, tail lashing as he made his way towards the river. "All of you...worthless...tainted...enough, enough, enough, ENOUGH!"
He snarled, digging his claws into the ground, and slammed his head into a tree, pressing his forehead unblinkingly against it, bloodshot eyes wide and full of rage. "I see now...the whole lot of them....there is nothing left...nothing left at all to save. Worthless. What a cruel joke this is...after all this time..."
He kept walking, continuing his march through the forest until finally, the treeline opened up to reveal the clear water below - finally, the river. Calm swept over him as he looked over the edge - he could feel the lifeforce of it, pulsing just beneath the surface. This wouldn't take long.
Beginning to chant to himself, he raised his paw and dragged it across a jagged rock, unflinching as the surface cut into the pad of his paw. Carefully, he limped three-legged over to the edge of the river, sat down, took a deep breath...and held his paw over the edge.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 11, 2020 21:11:40 GMT -5
Rabbitsong followed the blood. It was easy, too easy. Adderleaf must have put up a good fight. That, and they were a scout. This was what they did. They stopped, ears pricking at the sound of movement up ahead. Their eyes narrowed, and they moved forward again, staring until they could make out the large tom’s form up ahead.
They listened, putting it together. They observed, quietly, as the other bigger cat found the river.
There were two options here, and what they did next could decide the fate of their entire clan.
So what was the right one?
One, two, three....
They darted forward, claws unsheathed, body silent and poised as they threw themself at him. If they aimed right, he would be dead before he knew what hit him.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 12, 2020 20:55:56 GMT -5
A half of a heartbeat before Rabbitsong made contact with Redwhisker, a drop of blood fell from the pad of his paw, and hit the surface of the water. As it did, Crowfur leapt aside with a speed and agility that was unnatural considering his current state, and whipped around, tilting his head as he processed his attacker.
"Oh, it's too late for that now," he said, his eyes wild with triumph as he stared down the other warrior. As he did, the single drop of blood began to spread through the water, at first slowly, and then with more urgency, lapping red and frothy over the many stones and outcroppings until, in a matter of minutes, the entire river had run blood red, as far as the eye could see in both directions.
"Better warn them before it's too late," said Crowfur, a hoarse laugh bubbling in the back of his throat. "Go on. Better hurry."
Then, with the abruptness of a praying mantis striking at its prey, a paw shot out of the water and slammed down on the riverbank, translucent claws digging into the grass, red-stained fur soaked and flat against them as whatever was rising from the water tried to keep its grip on the bank despite the river's speed.
--
Cloudstar crouched down by the river's edge, closing her eyes and allowing herself to revel in the coolness of the fast-moving water. They were only hours from reaching RoseClan's borders now - soon, they would be back in their ranks, and considering what Halfpaw had said....
She wasn't sure she believed them. Still -
"Ah!"
Suddenly, she jerked back, eyes flying wide open as she realized the clear water had begun to change - at first gradually, then in a quick, snaking pattern, until...
"What in the name of the moon..." she whispered hoarsely, as cats all around her began to jerk back or stare in similar astonishment, or horror, at the otherworldly sight unfolding in front of them.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 12, 2020 21:21:52 GMT -5
Rabbitsong skidded to a halt, rearing up on their hind legs to avoid crashing down into the river as it fritter and reddened. They stared, horror flashing across their wide, pale eyes, and then they turned to stare at Redwhisker - no - Redwhisker’s body. “I see.” They muttered, and they failed to hide the fear in their gaze as they stared at him. What had he just done? What have you done? They didn’t hesitate. Killing Redwhisker could have stopped this, if they had run a little bit faster. Been just a little stronger. Now? Now they needed their speed, not their strength. They turned and ran for camp like a pack of dogs was on their heels, their rat-like tail snaking out behind them, they hadn’t been fast enough to stop him. Maybe they would be fast enough to warm their Clan. No. Their family.
Halfpaw sat still, their tail curled nearly around their paws. They flicked an ear, watching the cats all around them with a sort of mild interest, their moon eyes taking in their surroundings like a river; smoothly and without stopping. They flicked their ear again. As the gasps rang out around them, they didn’t move, just sat still and watched the movement ripple through the camp.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 12, 2020 22:19:05 GMT -5
"Rabbitsong."
Blazeclaw met the scout at the entrance to camp, her eyes wide and scared behind her determined pawsteps. "The apprentices are saying Redwhisker - Crowfur - " She paused, shaking her head. "Did you find him? We need to get to him before he kills anyone. Else. Anyone else."
"Rabbitsong went after him," said Rainpaw, watching the movement at the front of camp as thunder rumbled overhead, signaling the meaning in the darkening sky and the couple of raindrops already staining the dirt around them. His tail twitched restlessly, and he turned to the others, taking a small breath to steady himself. "It looks like the dream, doesn't it?" he said sadly, images of a violent storm overhead of a bloody battlefield all too fresh in his mind.
"Yeah..." said Sootpaw softly, wrapping his tail tightly around his paws as the larger apprentice's words brought the images he'd already been seeing more sharply into focus.
--
"It has already begun."
A few pawsteps from Halfpaw, the silvery, slightly translucent shape of a large cat sat still, head turned in the direction of the river.
"They are running out of time."
And then, as fast as they'd slipped into visibility, they were gone.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 12, 2020 22:39:23 GMT -5
“River.” Rabbitsong gasped, their breath coming in fast and shallow as they tried to catch it again. They didn’t have time, they didn’t have time for this. “It’s too late.” They added quietly, straightening up to look Blazeclaw in the eye. Horror and fear shone behind their pale eyes, but there was something else there too, something dark and hard to read, “it’s too late, Blazeclaw. He’s already done it. They’re coming.”
Firepaw sat apart from the others, crouched close to the ground, her small body shivering even though it wasn’t cold. She looked up at the approaching storm, then at the other apprentices, her eyes very wide. They could have stopped it. They could have stopped this, It’s too late,
-
Halfpaw flicked their ear. They didn’t move for a very long moment, listening with their head tilted as the spirit spoke. Then they stood up and slowly walked towards the river, slipping through the crowd of cats until they were standing right beside their leader. They looked up, their expression a mask. Cloudstar was afraid of the water.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 12, 2020 22:41:59 GMT -5
"Who?" said Blazeclaw sharply, lashing her tail at Rabbitsong. "For the love of Silverpelt, now's not the time to be vague. Who's coming, and when, and what do we do?"
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 12, 2020 22:47:19 GMT -5
Rabbitsong straightened, some of the fear in their eyes fading at the order. “Cats,” they said, their ears flattening against their head. “From in the river. He did something with his blood and he said...he told me to run. To warn you. Redwhisker isn’t Redwhisker, the apprentices we’re right. I think he’s from the other side.” They stared at Blazeclaw, and then they tilted their head slightly. “As for what we should do...Cowstar is dead, Blazeclaw. I believe that choice belongs to you.”
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 12, 2020 23:00:36 GMT -5
Blazeclaw flinched at that, drawing back as if she'd been clawed in the face, but recovered quickly. Well, they were right, weren't they?
She took a short, shuddering breath, and leapt back to the top of her den, turning to face the clan just as the first bolt of lightning struck overhead. The wind picked up at the same time, nearly pushing her too far forward, but she stood still, the emotion fading to a simple line of practicality as she looked out over the cats below.
"RoseClan," she said, shouting to be heard over the wind that was now howling through the trees, driving the rain closer and closer to camp. "Listen to me. Cowstar is dead."
Shock rippled through the camp at this announcement, but she held up her tail, silencing it. "She was murdered by Redwhisker - who is, evidently, not who he seemed to be."
Lionstrike stiffened, eyes widening. "What??" she called, incredulous, but Cowstar ignored her, pushing on. "I understand some of you will not have memory of this...maybe most of you, at this point, but Redwhisker is an old enemy of ours, having disguised himself for the second time in our Clan's memory. His true name is Crowfur, and I cannot stress enough that he is capable of far more than any of us can possibly imagine. According to Rabbitsong, he is approaching right now with some kind of force - I can't know the details, and for that I'm sorry, but of this, I can be certain. We will defend our home. We will not run away or allow ourselves to be chased out." She took a breath, her voice softening a little from the harshness she'd been maintaining. "That being said, I cannot guarantee our survival. Anyone who wishes to leave should do so now, or be prepared to fight and die for this Clan. Is that understood?"
Stunned silence followed her words - despite the noise of the wind and the thunderclouds overhead, the air hung thick with it as no cat seemed willing to be the first to break out of it.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 12, 2020 23:12:35 GMT -5
Rabbitsong watched as Blazeclaw took control. That was all they could ask her to do, really. They stayed near the back and took up watch near the entrance. If anything came... They wouldn’t fail a second time.
Silence rang out loud and true. Well, not quite. The storm shrieked overhead, the wind and rain giving its harsh reply to Blazeclaw’s question. It alone seemed sure of itself, it alone seemed unafraid. No cat spoke. No one stepped forward. For a long moment, it seemed likely that Blazeclaw would be fighting this battle alone. Then a tall, spotted shape with bright eyes and a long tail padded forward. Otterfrost stared up at the cat who was now his leader. He was afraid - obvious to anyone who say him, in the way his legs trembled, in the way his ears flicked back nervously. But the warrior spoke, and his voice carried. “I’m RoseClan.” He called, staring up at Blazeclaw. “I already made my choice when I first said those words. You have me.”
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 13, 2020 9:06:06 GMT -5
After a moment, Rainpaw stepped forward as well, moving to stand beside Otterfrost as the warrior, very unexpectedly, was the first to take a stand with their new leader.
"So am I," he said, turning to look at the others. "Come on. Did we really lose so many cats crossing the mountains just to run away again? What did they die for, then?"
The combination of Rainpaw and Otterfrost seemed to stir something in the others - Lionstrike moved slowly forward to join them as well, a glazed look in her eye, and the rest of the kittypets followed her, followed by most of the rest of RoseClan.
"Splashpelt, Spiderpaw," continued Blazeclaw, leaping down from the cliff to move over to them now that the time for speeches was over. Now, they needed to plan. "We have no kits, no elders. My plan is to leave camp and meet whoever's coming for us halfway in the forest - Rabbitsong knows it well, so we at least have a small advantage, unless Redwhisker has trained these cats in it as well. But in any case, camp will be close quarters and I think it will lead to casualties. All that to say, I need one of you to stay behind, so we can send serious injuries back here where our herbs and cobwebs are, and I need one of you to come along to be the one running injured cats back to camp. Does that make sense to you?"
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 13, 2020 9:43:28 GMT -5
Nightpaw padded forward to join his brother. “We’re stronger than this,” he insisted, turning to face the crowd, his expression earnest. “We’re strongest together. We can’t let them drive us apart. We have to prove here and now what we are, who we really are, and why it matters.”
Lionstrike, Lionstrike... Rabbitsong watched the other cat move forward. How hard must this be for her? She had finally found someone she trusted with her heart, only for them to tear it apart right before her eyes. After this was over, who would bury the body? Who would send it back to where it came from with a blessing and a curse? Rabbitsong shook their head, focusing again on the forest. That was when it was over. They still had to survive the night, first.
Splashpelt nodded, understanding what his leader was saying. “Spiderpaw.” He said, turning to look at the younger cat. “I think you should stay behind. I’m bigger and stronger, I can carry more cats by myself. I also have a better chance of surviving if I’m attacked.”
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Post by <Raintalon> on Nov 14, 2020 9:14:09 GMT -5
"Alright, it's settled," said Blazeclaw. "Let's go."
--
The walk through the forest was tense and eerie - Blazeclaw was all too aware of her Clanmates jumping at every shadow and every clap of thunder - it wasn't good to go into a battle like this. They needed to find the enemy and start the fight, or this tension was going to boil over into panic.
Then, she heard it.
"Wait!" she called, her tail shooting up to signal a stop. Several of the cats behind her nearly scattered at the sudden motion, but they held their ranks, craning their necks to see what she had stopped for.
Then, very slowly, a cat wandered into sight, walking in a strange, wobbling sort of stagger until finally it stopped, and fixed the cats in front of it with a wide stare.
Half of one, anyway. One of the cat's eyes was rotted out of its skull, the grisly remains of it still hanging in the reddened fur on its face.
"I can't do it..." muttered Daisyleap, from the back of the line, too quietly to be heard by anyone but the cats immediately next to her. "This is too much....this is too much....I can't, I can't..."
"Daisyleap," said Blazeclaw tersely, not taking her eyes off the creature. "Hold your position. I'm telling you as your lea - "
"NO!" With a horrified scream, Daisyleap leapt backwards and tried to run, scrambling on the wet leaves and tripping several of the cats behind her.
The creature grinned. Then, in an instant, it leapt forward, aiming straight for her.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Nov 14, 2020 9:51:17 GMT -5
Firepaw was near the outside of the group, walking with her tall held straight up pointing at the sky. She felt the panic growing in the cats nearby, of course she did. It was too much, this was more than many of them had ever asked for or accepted. They had promised safety, they had promised family, and this... Was it worth it? Wasn’t it better to run away? She glanced at Sootpaw. He wasn’t running. He wasn’t going to run, either, she knew that much about him. He never knew when it was too late, when it was time to cut your losses and get out, just like her brother had done. Sometimes it was just too late to save everything. “Sootpaw.” She murmured, her gaze steady and very sad. “I-“ She was so focused on her brother that she didn’t even see the thing. Because it wasn’t a cat. Not anymore. She drew in a sharp inward gasp as Daisyleap ran, and she nearly bolted too, but she didn’t. She stood still, frozen to the ground, and waited to watch Daisyleap die.
Otterfrost was scared. No, that was a gross understatement. He was more than scared. His heartbeat was quick in his chest, his entire body tense and ready for battle. He was watching Blazeclaw closely, and copying her movements, pretending this was just pretend, it was just a game they were playing to hone their skills. No stakes. No way they were all going to die before morning. He stopped. “Oh, no.” He managed, his eyes wide with horror at what he saw. This was so wrong, this was all so wrong. “Daisyleap!” He leapt forward without thinking, aiming to meet what was left of the cat in the air, his long claws outstretched and desperate to stop the thing from hurting Daisyleap.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Dec 22, 2020 9:40:32 GMT -5
Chaos broke out instantly.
As soon as Otterfrost made contact with the first cat, ten or twenty more leapt out of the bushes, screaming and howling as they leapt on the other cats, some still wet and dripping from the river.
"RoseClan, attack!" screeched Blazeclaw, and battle erupted throughout the forest.
--
Rainpaw faced off with a small calico she-cat, her face half gone as she stared at him, pacing back and forth as she searched for her opening to attack him. He hissed at her, the hair standing up along his spine as he waited, trying to keep his face to her.
--
Daisyleap was down, screeching and hissing as she sparred, locked in combat with another one of the monsters. She felt claws rip at her skin and knew she couldn't stop, or else she wouldn't make it out of this alive.
--
Blazeclaw turned around, baring her blood-soaked teeth at another one of the monsters as she dropped the limp body of a rotting gray tom at her feet. "Come on!" she taunted, her breaths coming in slow gasps. "You scared?"
--
Sootpaw raked his claws across the nose of a huge ginger tom, trying to fend him off so he could think of an opening. His training was keeping him alive...but what about Firepaw? She didn't have the benefit of a Clan upbringing. Was she alright?
He flinched back, blood splattering his nose as he sneezed, caught off guard by the enormous claws raking across his own face. Mouse bile...he had to pay attention.
--
"They are losing their war."
The voice came from behind Halfpaw, and the silvery cat danced behind them, their feet light on the ground as they ran in effortless bounds to keep up with their pace.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jan 18, 2021 11:13:05 GMT -5
Otterfrost hit the thing that wasn’t a cat and rolled, clawing at it, using his brute strength to knock it away from Daisyleap. He knew this fight was happening whether they wanted it or not, and he couldn’t help wondering whether that was on him, for making the first move. No time to think about it too hard, though, as claws raked across his side and he shrieked, then dove forward and attacked.
Rabbitsong ducked and dodged, spinning in place and slashing at multiple attackers, keeping their feet somehow even though they should have fallen long ago. They didn’t hiss or scream or anything at all, they focused every last drop of energy on fighting the three cats attacking them. Until a blow caught their leg and they fell, immediately covered in the things that were not cats,
Firepaw was hiding. She was hiding and for once in her life she just wanted to be a kit. She wanted to act her age and not have to deal with this, she wanted so badly to go home. You lied. She snapped at herself as she watched the fight, panting. Now you have to deal with the consequences. A second. Two. Then she darted forward and leapt on the back of a creature, digging small, needle sharp claws in and biting down as hard as she could.
Halfpaw nodded a little. Then they sped up, until they were walking next to Cloudstar, ignoring the fact that an apprentice was not supposed to do that. “Hurry.” They murmured, looking up at their leader, eyes huge and very serious. “They’re losing.”
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Post by <Raintalon> on Feb 2, 2021 10:05:06 GMT -5
"Rabbit!" Lionstrike whirled around, realizing she'd lost sight of them. Where had they -
Then she saw them, their rat tail sticking out as they tried to fight off a massive horde of the things. Unhesitatingly, she leapt forward with a screech, hurling herself into the fray and trying to dig them out. "Get off them!"
Rainpaw circled the calico, his ears pinned flat as he waited for her to make a move.
"Scared, little living one?" she hissed, a grin highlighting the gaps in her teeth. "You won't last a second in Silverpelt."
"Yeah, maybe," admitted Rainpaw, lashing his tail. "That's why I'm gonna send you there instead."
The two leapt at each other, and Rainpaw focused, darting back and forth, slashing and kicking as he tried to keep her teeth away from his throat. He flinched back, screeching, as she raked her claws across his face, and shook his head, momentarily blinded.
--
We're losing.
The thought flashed through Blazeclaw's mind, and she pushed it stubbornly back, cutting down another of the creatures and pausing for a second to pant, her blood-soaked fur heaving with effort.
We're going to lose this war.
Gritting her teeth, she turned, trying to see who all was down. Most of them were still alive - although the bodies of many of both sides littered the ground, most of them were RoseClan. Most of them were cats she knew.
She took a deep breath, preparing to call out their final retreat. Cowstar, I'm sorry...
"RoseClan - "
A familiar black and white shape came streaking through the trees, bowling into the nearest monster and disappearing in to a screeching, tumbling whirl of fur and claws.
MOONCLAN, ATTACK!"
Cloudstar charged into the clearing, leading her Clan behind her as she, too, immediately threw herself into the fight. She didn't allow herself to feel horror at the sight she was seeing - didn't allow herself to pause. She and Blazeclaw locked eyes as they passed each other, and she gave a small nod, which the other cat - Cowstar wasn't here, was she dead? - returned.
"Take them down!" she howled, her cry echoing through the trees.
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