-❂-

The moon sunk from its highest point in the sky, shadows growing and moonlight dimming. Paws stepped across the rocky surface outside of RidgeClan's camps, their shadows casted across the walls of the mountain. They lingered closer to the wall with every step, desperate not to flit their shadows through RidgeClan's camps. They moved as if they were bounding across clouds, their movements quick yet soft.

Lynxpaw kept at Hawkpaw's side, the apprentice finally lifting his gaze from the earth. She could spot a flicker of confidence dancing in his eyes, but still a shadow of grief and worry was casted over his face. Nightfrost and Fawnleap were standing before them, though Fawnleap constantly peered over her shoulder at her kits. Lynxpaw could not blame either of her kin for their anxiety, for they were about to make a decision that could lead to their final breath.

Flareheart and Leafdance eventually emerged from the camp, a wave of hope flooding over Lynxpaw. They approached Nightfrost and Fawnleap, several more cats emerging behind them. Lynxpaw peeked over to view Mottledpaw, Foxpaw, Redpaw, Daisytuft, Smokebite, Pebblestep, and even Shiverbee and her kits following after the two of them. Nightfrost's eyes lit up in approval of the gathering group, parting his jaws lightly to murmur to them.

"Is this all who wanted to come along?" Nightfrost asked Leafdance and Flareheart in a low whisper.

Flareheart nodded in response to Nightfrost, who's face twisted as if he was dissatisfied with the results. "These are the only ones who agreed to come along," the ginger tabby expressed. "The others either only turned away or they shared how scared they are to follow in our pawsteps. I wish they would all just come... I really do."

Leafdance flicked his tail over Flareheart to comfort his companion, who's head hung at their words. Lynxpaw knew Flareheart as an amiable feline, friends with nearly every cat within RidgeClan. They shared tongues amongst the oldest and the youngest of the clan, and almost always fit in. They had no family remaining within RidgeClan but Lynxpaw knew it still felt as if he was leaving most of his own kin behind.

"I know we worry for those who are not coming but we have to get ready to leave now," Smokebite spoke up from where he was pressed close to Shiverbee and their two kits. "Who knows if any cat is going to warn Cottonstar and if they do, he will be on our tail in a matter of a few tail flicks."

Leafdance turned to glare towards Smokebite, Lynxpaw noticing the tom's face shadowed over by irritation. Flareheart and Leafdance were close since they were apprentices and the fact that Smokebite was stepping over Flareheart's grief as if it was an obstacle irked the tom. Tension flickered between the two but Nightfrost instantly agreed with Smokebite, sharing a few words with Flareheart before he would begin their departure.

"Lynxpaw?"

The medicine cat apprentice blinked when the familiar voice of Hawkpaw muttered her name from beside her. She turned to glance his way, shuffling closer to him as she replied. "Yes?"

"Do you think this is the right idea? Do you think we'll be okay?" Hawkpaw questioned, his eyes glossed over with concern. "What if Cottonstar attempts to hunt us down and what if HeathClan refuses to help us? Where will we go then?"

Lynxpaw shuddered at Hawkpaw's questions. As much as she wanted to tell him that everything was going to go perfectly according to plan, she knew there would be thorns on their path. It was at these moments that Lynxpaw wished she was picturing the near future in the distorted images presented through her dreams. Lynxpaw wanted to gift her brother a promising yet truthful response, but she was left oozing meaningless words off her tongues.

"It'll be okay, Hawkpaw."

Hawkpaw glanced away at her response, his ears folded against the back of his head. Lynxpaw knew he wanted more than just a brief response from her, but the urge to lie was heavily rejected by her morals. All she could manage to tell him by not directly lying to him and uplifting his spirits only for them to shatter, was that it would be okay. Lynxpaw understood that in the end though, nothing would be as perfect as Hawkpaw prayed for it to be.

Her gaze skimmed back over to Nightfrost who finally turned away from Leafdance and Flareheart to address the group before him. "Alright! Let's-"

"Nightfrost!"

The tom instantly whirled around when his name echoed from the cavern behind him. Cottonstar emerged from the shadows, his slitted eyes locked onto Nightfrost with a few other cats trailing behind him. A few of them looked hesitant, one even being Redpaw and Foxpaw's father who glanced towards the two with shock written over his face. The others took Cottonstar's side in an instant, a growl rumbling from their throats and their claws unsheathed, silver in the moonlight.

"Where do you think you're taking my cats?" Cottonstar spat, acid spilling from his tongue.

Lynxpaw sucked in a breath and anxiety boiled in her stomach. She noticed how Nightfrost did not flinch away from Cottonstar though, Flareheart, Leafdance, and Smokebite taking his side. "Away from your monstrous rule," Nightfrost hissed back in reply, lifting his chin as if to challenge Cottonstar. "You have changed, Cottonstar, and murdering Heroncall was not right of you. I won't allow you to kill Hawkpaw and I won't allow you to take such a demanding lead over RidgeClan!"

Cottonstar's foggy gaze lit with rage fueled flames at Nightfrost's words. "You are doing far worse now by disobeying your leader."

Hawkpaw nudged Lynxpaw, the she-cat shocked when he stepped up to stand amongst the line of warriors beside Nightfrost. They all raised their shoulders and curled back their lips, taking a defensive stance alongside the medicine cat. Lynxpaw hesitated for a moment before she stepped up between Fawnleap and Hawkpaw, her pelt bristling as she realized the true trepidation of their situation.

Lynxpaw knew Nightfrost would not initiate a fight though. She kept her ears perked as she listened intently for his command to run. It was almost as if she could envision the near future once again, but this time she would act on it.

"You're not my leader," Nightfrost growled, his voice ice cold and his words now imprinted in his followers' minds.

Cottonstar was no longer their leader.

"Foolish foxheart!" Cottonstar snarled.

No cat had enough time to procress the events before Cottonstar lunged for Nightfrost, except for the keen-eyed Pebblestep. The molly pounced forward and blocked Cottonstar from reaching Nightfrost, an unsheathed paw lashing out towards the RidgeClan leader's face. He hissed out in agony when her claws scored across his cheek, flecks of blood raining to the rocky surface below them.

Shock reigned over the crowd as Cottonstar stumbled back and his followers spat angrily from behind him. Nightfrost seized the opportunity automactically though, Pebblestep falling back to his side as he called out to the group.

"Run! Now!"

The group turned swiftly on their paws and bolted for the pathway down the mountain. Tattered bits of rock shattered away from the rocks and rained down the side as they scurried away in a panic. Some of them even lingered away from the pathway and skidded down the side of the mountain until they reached a suitable ledge and leaped back onto the pathway. Cottonstar's group was quick to yowl out and pursue them, keeping right at their tails.

Lynxpaw fell in the rear of the group, Hawkpaw, Mottledpaw, and Smokebite at her side. Smokebite attempted his best to stay at Shiverbee's tail, the she-cat rushing down the hill with Featherkit swinging from her jaws. Thicketkit was carried by Flareheart not too far ahead. Smokebite would whirl around from time to time and swipe a paw across a pursuers face, working towards keeping a distance between RidgeClan and the fleeing group.

The medicine cat apprentice squeaked out in shock when her paws slipped on the edge of the pathway. She nearly tumbled over until a firm grasp took hold of her scruff. She glanced to her side to acknowledge Mottledpaw pulling her back to her paws, the slightly larger molly saving her from her possible fate. Lynxpaw exhaled out in relief when her paws found the rough surface of the pathway again, flashing Mottledpaw a thankful smile.

"Thank y-"

Lynxpaw was cut off by a clamorous yowl. A blue blur slammed into Mottledpaw, the apprentice crying out in shock as her and her opponent rolled down the side of the mountain. Lynxpaw's eyes widened and she pulled away from another nearing opponent, leaping down to a narrower pathway and hurrying after Mottledpaw.

No, no, no, Lynxpaw's mind flooded with worry as she followed after Mottledpaw's rolling form. She could only watch as the apprentice managed to roll on a ledge, her opponent above her but faltering in their steps. Lynxpaw recognized the warrior as Shadepetal and horror nearly suffocated her as she witnessed her fall from the ledge. Shadepetal let loose one final, agonized yowl as her body rolled further down the steeper part of the mountain, most likely to her painful death.

Mottledpaw remained frozen in position for a moment before the calico rose to her paws. Lynxpaw could spot the guilt in her bewildered expression, dazed yet regretful from the sudden events. The silhouette of horror from realization of what she had caused whisked through her gaze and she seemed rooted to the ledge beneath him.

Lynxpaw held her breath as the pathway came to an end. The cats ahead of her were now skidding down the remaining section of the mountain. She pounced over to Mottledpaw's side and instantly her heart dropped at the sight of the rough wounds that burdened the molly. Lynxpaw parted her jaws to express her concern to the apprentice until she released her jaw drop and her gaze turn to scan back up the mountain.

"Foxpaw!" Mottledpaw cried out.

Lynxpaw felt her breath flee from her body in a long exhale that seemed trapped in her throat for a few moments. She turned and followed Mottledpaw's gaze to spy the ginger apprentice struggling further up the mountain, the approaching RidgeClanners startling her. Foxpaw was unable to mantain her balance and the she-cat slipped from her position on the pathway, her small form rolling down the hill as if she was merely a pebble. Tossed around. Wounded and tattered. But there was still one difference.

She cried out for help, an agonizing screech that practically echoed across the mountains and into the forest. Her terror froze all of nature and everything remained still, the wind no longer blowing furiously and everything falling utterly quiet. They could only continue on with their desperate fleeing as the apprentice fell to her death, now swallowing back her cries and her fall ending with a loud thump.

Panic seared through Lynxpaw as Mottledpaw cried out beside her, the molly instantly beginning her way down the mountain. Lynxpaw choked on her sorrow but managed to push herself forward and follow in Mottledpaw's pawsteps. They scurried down to the surface and Mottledpaw rushed to Foxpaw's side, a sobbing Redpaw already at his sister's side.

Blood poured from the ginger she-cat's wounds, her paws twitching as she fought to cling onto reality. Her eyes were slitted and her lips stained crimson, mouth gaped open every so slightly. Her breathing was shallow and her gaze dimming as pain reigned over her battered form. Foxpaw's breaths were audible and hoarse, every gasp of air growing shorter as blood seeped from her open wounds. The apprentice was going to bleed out, and the simple fact stimulated Redpaw to glance back towards Lynxpaw.

His eyes pleaded for help and once again, another cat's life was left like a splinter in the pads of her paws.

"Lynxpaw! You have to help her!" Redpaw cried out, Mottledpaw peering over her shoulder at the frightened apprentice.

Lynxpaw's eyes widened and her gaze flickered between the crowd. She peered at Nightfrost who was checking on Featherkit and Thicketkit, though he swiftly glanced towards Lynxpaw and a frown burdened his expression. Lynxpaw then fixed her gaze on a pleading Redpaw, his eyes practically mirroring every shared, cherished memory he had with his sister who was now barely clinging to life. Finally, her gaze latched onto the sight of Cottonstar and his followers darting down the mountain, gaining on them.

She felt the words bite at her tongue but she knew the decision she had to make. Guilt gnawed at her stomach and her eyes reflected her grief as she met Redpaw's gaze, shaking her head rapidly in response to him. Lynxpaw could only watch as his face dropped, melancholy and realization crafting a dark shadow over his face.

"There's no time. We have to keep on running or we'll be killed," Lynxpaw reminded him, her voice low but audible.

Redpaw mirrored her, shaking his head in denial of her words. "No! We can still safe her and ourselves!"

Her eyes stung and she swallowed back a reply to the tom. She could only turn and race over to Nightfrost and the others, who were beginning to hasten their paces once again. Regret tugged at her pelt as if the Star Realm was begging her to turn around and help Foxpaw, but by the tom she peered over her shoulder Mottledpaw and Redpaw were escaping the clutches of the approaching, spitting RidgeClanners. Foxpaw's body disappeared behind their pursuers and Lynxpaw felt as if the small pool of hope within her began to grow shallow and dry.

'"You cowards!" She heard Cottonstar yowl after them as he pursued.

Her paws grew sore and her form pleaded for rest, but Lynxpaw continued to race forward. Mottledpaw and Redpaw lingered behind her with the rest of the crowd in front of her. Her heart pummeled against her rib cage and exhaustion tugged at her eyelids. Lynxpaw's body and mentality begged for mercy but she shoved it to the side, and it felt as if roots wrapped tightly around her chest. The urge to collapse and call out to the Star Realm was immense but fate pricked at her paws and kept the apprentice moving.

Lynxpaw was flooded with thoughts as they raced on, realization striking her like lightning to the tallest pine tree of the forest. She had allowed Foxpaw to drift away from her brother's paws with only a a moment of hesitation, and it crafted a storm amongst her mind. Once again she felt as if another cat's blood soaked her paws, leaving imprints of her path along the forest floor as she followed after the group.

Everything was occurring so fast, slipping from beneath her paws like how water dripped from the cavern ceiling. RidgeClan faded in the distance behind her, cats she once trusted and admired bit at her tail, and Foxpaw was left to bleed out until her final breath. She gaped her jaw and heavy exhales emerged from Lynxpaw as she struggled to keep on her paws, her thoughts spiraling and her bones crackling, nearly dissipating to dust. Her limbs throbbed and so did her heart. Her paw pads dressed in blood and thorns, Lynxpaw knew reality was truly faltering as she raced away with RidgeClan only other story to tell.

The group pushed through the undergrowth, finally gaining more distance between them and Cottonstar and his followers. They all nearly tumbled over their own paws or each other though when Leafdance skidded to a halt, Flareheart shocked by their companion's behavior and Nightfrost instantly turning to peer at the tom.

His gaze could tell a story, tied together by thin lines of a spider's web. He had lost it all within a matter of a few tail flicks, memories of home collapsing over Lynxpaw as she observed the frozen tom. Leafdance still held his ground though and lifted his chin, a warrior with an understanding of the story he was leaving with his own pawsteps. A tom with desperation to fix their reality and have no more blood spill before them.

"I'll stay back. I'll lead them away for as far as far as my paws can carry me," Leafdance breathed out. "I'll lead them away and you all must make it to HeathClan-"

"No!" Flareheart interjected, apprehension looming over the feline. "You can't! What if you don't make it?"

Lynxpaw understood the fear that haunted Flareheart, taking little chunks of their heart and burying them in a barren field. They feared losing Leafdance, their close friend who always perked his ears to listen to Flareheart's constant chatter or their little words of concern. Leafdance flashed his friend a faint smile though, the same fear visible in his eyes as he met Flareheart's gaze.

A fire could ignite between the two and never separate them, but now Leafdance simply turned away from his friend and reality truly felt as if it was altering for the worst.

Flareheart shook their head but whirled around, Nightfrost casting him a sympathetic look before the group continued on. Lynxpaw peeked over her shoulder at Leafdance who glanced out of the corner of his gaze after the group, but confidence still lingered over the tom. Lynxpaw could only hope he would return.

She didn't want another speck of blood painting her paw pads. Another mysterious murder to solve. Another brutal murder to witness. Another innocent, young apprentice to crumble before her paws and be unable to speak up for themselves as their own medicine cat turned away from them.

Racing through the forest, the shadows of the towering trees loomed over her. Silhouettes of her worst nightmares embodied the shadows, crafting imagery she could never forget. Memories of Galeflower shouting a warning after her as reality faltered beneath her paws and remembrance of when she could have saved Marshleap. Shadows showcasing Cottonstar leaping from his perch and ripping his claws through Heroncall, the deputies cried piercing the air like the dreadful call of a startled raven. Regret puncturing Lynxpaw as the silhouettes around her moved and symbolized the brutal fall of Foxpaw, her wounds crucial and her cries frantic.

All of them she could have saved, but now she felt as if she was running only to keep herself and her brother alive. To escape the agonizing terrors of the visions that warned her of RidgeClan's fall, but she knew they were forever imprisoned within her mind. Left there to rot and embed themselves into the depths of her memories.

Her heart ached and her paws swelled as shadows reigned over her exhausted form, yet Lynxpaw knew they were not the darkest presence amongst the forest.

-❂-

After a very fast-paced, headache of a chapter (especially to write) I decided why not incorporate trivia into this?

There will now be trivia at the end of every other few chapters :)

So here we begin!

➵ Waspbounce and Rosefall are Redpaw and Foxpaw's parents.

➵ Nightfrost is aromantic.

➵ Flareheart is non-binary (therefore why they go by they/them) and Leafdance's best friend. The two are inseparable and have been since they were apprentices. They first bonded over a hunting patrol where Flareheart could not catch anything for the life of them, so Leafdance was quick to assist them.

➵ Mottledpaw has no kin within RidgeClan, for she was taken in when her mother, Lona, was found amongst RidgeClan territory. Lona was severely ill though and only managed to survive until a quarter moon before Mottledpaw was apprenticed.

➵ Fawnleap and Heroncall used to joke how they should've been mates instead of Fawnleap and Finchspot, but sadly the treacherous actions of the tom separated the two. They grew closer again around the time Hawkpaw and Lynxpaw were apprenticed, and the truth is.... Heroncall has always been jealous and had a small crush on Fawnleap.

➵ Daisytuft never had kits of her own, never was interested in so. She had two mates at some point but lost them both, deciding afterwards to continue the rest of her life to herself.