Nightfeather's eyes widened as she took in the scene in front of her. The foxes were snarling, but they didn't make a move. Their gazes were glazed over and misty. She bunched her muscles and unsheated her claws, ready to pounce. Her Clanmates all mirrored her. A russet she-cat suddenly padded out from behind the creatures, her cold blue eyes smug as she scanned the cats in front of her.

The cats of ShadowClan all seemed to freeze at once at the sight of her.

"Rosestar," breathed Nightfeather, claws digging into the ground.

She chuckled, chin high. "Hello, ShadowClan. Enjoying my little... present?"

Nightfeather felt her heart begin to race as she stared into her eyes. They looked so, so much like hers. Lilyheart was right. They shared the same cold look, the same frosty intelligence.

Shadestar's growl sounded through the air. "Rosestar! Why are you here!?"

Rosestar smirked and unsheated her claws. She raised a paw to study them, gaze lazy. "That is for me to know," she turned around with a flick of her tail. "And for you to find out."

Nightfeather narrowed her eyes and let out a snarl. She wouldn't get away this time. The black she-cat leaped forward, eyes wild as she landed behind Rosestar.

In a flash of russet fur, a sharp pain filled her face. She drew back with a gasp. Rosestar's claws dripped with something dark. Nightfeather winced as blood from her cheek clouded her vision.

"Nightfeather!" Came Sparrowwing's scream.

Rosestar grinned. "You fool." She whispered before lifting her paw again. Nightfeather could barely react as another set of claws was slashed against her shoulder, scoring deep wounds. She crumpled to the floor.

"No! Nightfeather! "
Nightfeather glanced backwards. Sparrowwing was being held back by Echowing, Mistflower, and Addertooth. His eyes flared with rage and desperation as she writhed in his Clanmates' grasp.

Rosestar grinned at the struggling tom. "Foxes, looks like I found you some prey."

The four foxes all began to growl, sinking into battle stances. Shadestar gave a battle cry and launched himself at them, followed by his warriors. Nightfeather's eyes widened as she turned back around, just to find Rosestar gone.

Pain filled her cheek as blood blinded her. Nightfeather felt a paw prodding her and looked up. Fawnfur was gazing at her, eyes round with worry.

"Nightfeather-" Was all the white-speckled she-cat could say before she wad thrown across the clearing by a large red paw.

Nightfeather felt her heart stop as she gazed at her mother's unmoving body. A wail was ripped from her as she struggled to get up. "Fawnfur! Fawnfur! Don't worry! I'm coming!"

She watched as the clearing exploded with battle. Shadestar was meeting one of the foxes blow for blow. Sparrowwing, Rainheart, and Echowing were all grappling with one of the creatures. Nightfeather desperately began to stumble across the clearing, eyes wide and pleading. "I'm coming! Hold on!"

Fawnfur's body gave a last shudder, than laid still.

"NO! FAWNFUR!" Nightfeather screeched, leaping forward. Pain seared through her shoulder as she sat over her mother's dead body, eyes flashing with horror.

Fawnfur's usually bright eyes were glazed over, reflecting the stars above. Nightfeather felt tears begin to drip down her muzzle. She prodded her mother's body, hoping, praying that her flanks would move again. But they remained lifeless. She brushed her tail agaisnt her flank. "Fawnfur," she murmured, a sob at the edge of her throat. "Please wake up. Please. I need you." Her voice cracked. "I love you. I can't go on without you."

Nightfeather gave a tiny yelp and lifted her head to stare at the night sky, tears dripping into her chest fur as pain seared through her heart. A scream of anguish filled the air, and it took a moment for her to relaize it was coming from her.

》》》》》》》》》》》》》

Nightfeather closed her eyes as she buried her nose in her mother's cold fur. Her scent. Her wonderful, sweet scent was gone. Nightfeather ached to see her one more time, to speak to her, to just be in her presence.

Quiet sobs snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked up. Leaftail. The brown she-cat leaned in to her best friend.

"We were going to be elders together," she whispered.

Nightfeather felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her and stampeded upon. Her vision blurred, and she screwed her eyes shut, ynableWhy? Why had StarClan done this? Revenge? Is that what they wanted?

Nightfeather brushed her tail against Leaftail. "She was wonderful," was all she could muster. She bit back a sob.

Leaftail lifted her head from Fawnfur, eyes dull. "But she didn't think so," she whispered. "She would always tell me how much she hated herself for Duskpaw. How she wished she could apologize for not being the mother he deserved. And now, she can."

Nightfeather swallowed and gave her a wordless nod. She gently placed a paw on her mother's fur and began to smooth it, grief clouding her thoughts like a blizzard. Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt a tail inch around her shoulders and looked up. Foxfang was staring down at her, eyes clouded with grief as well.

"Eat this." Foxfang muttered before pushing a clump of herbs towards her.

Nightfeather dipped her head to sniff at them. They had a pleasant, calming scent. The black she-cat chewed them to a pulp before swallowing them.

Foxfang gave her a weak smile. "And this. Blazefur is leaving for the moon pool, so he wanted me to give you these now. The vigil's over." She used her red tail to point towards the sky.

Nightfeather followed her gaze. The sun was just beginning to rise, milky pink hues dancing across the sky. She gave a defeated sigh and bent down to consume the poppy seeds as well.

》》》》》》》》》》》》》

Nightfeather stuck her head out of the medicine den, eyes dull as she scanned the clearing. The fresh kill pile was more empty than usual. Cloudpaw and Thornpaw were battle training with their mentors. She watched, gaze blank as Thornpaw scooped Cloudpaw's legs from under him. The tom gave a hiss of outrage and ran at her, only to be smacked onto the ground from her paw.

A voice sounded from behind her. "Remember what I said before? You're letting it-"

Nightfeather whipped around with a hiss. "Just leave me alone! I didn't let Ashcloud die! I didn't let Fawnfur die! I don't let anything happen!"

Blazefur looked stunned for a second, eyes frozen. The tabby tom dipped his head, tail twitching. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Nightfeather frowned. "I'm sorry, Blazefur. I'm just... tense right now."

The medicine cat weaved around her, giving her a tap with his tail. "I know," he murmured. "But it'll get easier. Don't worry."

Nightfeather gave him a nod. "Yeah," she said, voice cracking.

Blazefur sat down across from her. "Why don't I tell you a story?" He purred, voice rumbling through the overhang. Addertooth and Echowing had used one of the trees to form a temporary shelter. Many of the cats who had fought against the foxes were snoozing quietly in the back. Snowstripe was among those most injured. Nightfeather tried to force a smile, but it turned into a strange grimace.

"Alright then. Back when I was just an apprentice, I had a mentor named Ripplepool. He was a wise medicine cat, but he was old." Blazefur began, wrapping his tabby tail around his paws.

Nightfeather cut him off. "What happened to him?" She froze and blushed when she relaized what she had done. "Sorry."

Blazefur smiled. "It's fine. He died of greencough. I tried my best to save him, but I couldn't. A moon after that, we had a few border skirmishes with RiverClan. They claimed Ripplepool gave Berrytail poisonous herbs so he could sabotage their Clan."

"What?! That's so...so..." Nightfeather gasped, trying to find the right words.

Blazefur rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement. "I know. It was pretty obvious they just wanted an excuse to attack. Anyway, they did. They ambushed us in the middle of the night. We nearly lost, but we eventually chased them out. However, Echowing's mate, Mudsplash, died." His voice took on a darker tone. "I tried my best to save him, but it was too late. He died the next day. Foxfang had loved him so, so much. She was heartbroken for moons. From that day on, she pledged she would do everything in her power to heal cats so the same thing that happened tk her father doesn't happen again. So she became my apprentice."

Nightfeather studied her paws. "I didn't realize."

Blazefur chuckled. "She can be quite heroic if she wants to."

Nightfeather frowned. "Isn't she siblings with Dawnpaw?"

Blazefur flicked his tail. "Yes, they are. Though Rainheart and Sparrowwing were adopted. Why? You didn't know?"

Nightfeather stared at him, shocked. She thought Sparrowwing told her everything. She knew she did. "No."

Blazefur nodded. "Rainheart and Sparrowwing's mother, Skyflower, passed away when they were young kits. They grew up under the care of Echowing. She's a good mother."

Nightfeather avoided his gaze, unsure of how to react. Betrayed? Sympathetic? Instead, she shrugged it off. She would just have to ask him later. "Okay. Thanks, Blazefur. Can I leave now?"

Blazefur got up as she was leaving, whiskers twitching. His eyes flashed with an emotion Nightfeather couldn't quite put her paw on.

"Hold on." He started, tone serious. "Nightfeather. When I was at a moon pool, StarClan showed me the Dark Forest. I saw you. Nightfeather, I know that isn't you. Promise me you won't go back to that place."

Nightfeather opened her jaws to respond, but found no words. She clamped them shut.

"I know it isn't you," Blazefur repeated, his tail curling around her.

Nightfeather's eyes flashed in the darkness as she pulled away from his grasp and turned around. "Than maybe you don't know me as well as you thought." She whispered.

GASP! The suspense is killing you, isn't it? ;3

I've recently noticed that the views on my chapters keep getting lower and lower. :( Is my story uninteresting?

Comment how I could improve it! :3

~feather ♣