Nightfeather gave the WindClan cats around her an uneasy glance. Ever since the patrol had moved out, the moor cats had completely ignored her.

"What are you staring at?" Snapped a she-cat.

Nightfeather gave her a sweet smile and turned around, eyes narrowed. "Ah. They finally speak." She muttered.

A hiss sounded behind her, but she ignored it. WindClan had been bitter ever since they had set out. She guessed that not every one was onboard with the idea of supporting another Clan, but this was pushing it a little too far. Nightfeather looked around. They had been trekking through RiverClan territory for quite a while. It was strangely silent.

Too quiet.

Nightfeather pricked her ears, eyes widening when she heard the unmistakable sounds of a battle going on ahead. Screechs ripped through the air, many of them laced with pain. She glanced at the rest of the patrol, and by their shocked faces, they heard it too. She dug her claws into the wet ground, crouching low in the reeds.

Shadestar mirrored her actions and began to slowly move forward. She followed after him, making sure her paws didn't get caught in the sucking mud.

Nightfeather opened her jaws and tasted the air once the camp was in view. The scent that hit her almost made her heart stop. It was the putrid scent of death. She almost gagged as she clamped her jaws shut.

"What...is that ?" Nightfeather choked out.

Shadestar's muffled meow rose above the screeches. "Just go! Move out!"

Nightfeather watched as the WindClan cats leaped forward to rush into the camp. Her own paws reluctantly moved after them.

Nothing could have prepared her for the sight in front of her. Dead bodies were strewn across the camp, rotting away. Flies flitted around one particular heap. Kits and apprentices created a pile, bones visible beneath their pelts. The cats of ShadowClan werw fighting with those of 'RoseClan', and it wasn't a pretty sight. Most of them seemed to be rogues.

Nightfeather turned her head away and vomited, the scent too much to take. She looked up to see that her patrol had already leaped into the midst of battle. Suddenly, a shape flew at her, and she was knocked to the ground. She writhed in their grip, but the weight on her chest ensued.

Nightfeather looked up, desperately trying to catch her breath. She immediately recognized the cold blue eyes looking down at her as Fern, the she-cat that had killed Dustblossom.

Nightfeather managed to let out a gasp. "Get off me."

Fern smiled her signature grin and shook her head, voice frighteningly sweet. "Oh, no, no, no! See, Rosestar wants you."

Nightfeather felt her vision begin to darken.

"Alive."

In one fluid motion, the black she-cat surged forward, using what little strength she had left. Nightfeather panted loudly, her vision going back to normal. Claw marks were scored into her shoulders. She winced as the adrenaline began to slowly disappear and her wounds burn

Fern cackled, eyes filled with glee. "You'll never escape the wrath of RoseClan! Kill me! Kill all of us! It'll never make a difference."

Nightfeather backed away. "You're insane!" She growled, unsheating her claws.

Fern giggled. "Enough talk!" She cried before leaping forward.

Nightfeather narrowed her eyes and darted away heartbeats before the crazed she-cat touched the ground. She whipped around, claws flashing as she scooped her paws from under her.

Fern struggled under her grip. "Hey!" She hissed. "Let me go, mange-pelt!"

Nightfeather rolled her eyes and slashed a set of claws across her back, scoring deep marks. As predicted, the silver tabby she-cat hared away. She turned back around, a bit relived to see the battle was almost over. Mistflower's patrol was finishing off the last of the cats, and Blazefur and Foxfang had appeared.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Growled Mistflower.

Nightfeather murmured quiet agreement. There had been something... off about the whole battle.

Foxfang suddenly gave a cry. "I found some RiverClan cats!"

Nightfeather immediately whipped around, eyes widening as she spotted a group of RiverClan cats huddled by the medicine den. Berrytail was among them, along with Icestar and a pawful of apprentices, warriors, and one queen. No kits were to be seen.

Berrytail's bones were visible under his pelt. "Please," he rasped. "Please, food. Icestar is down to three lives."

Nightfeather gasped. "Go!" She cried. "Get them something to eat!"

Most of the warriors immediately rushed away to gather prey and water.

Foxfang gave her a worried glance. "Blazefur's attending to Shadestar, so I need to take care of them by myself. I need a leaf that looks like this."

Nightfeather gazed intently at the strangely-shaped leaf and nodded. "Where does it grow?"

Foxfang flicked her tail. "Just look by the stream. Go!"

Nightfeather bounded away, heart racing. She frantically skidded to a stop by a small stream of water and used her paws to part the reeds.

"Come on, come on..." she murmured, grinning when she finally found it.

She dipped her head to gather a large clump in her jaws and began to sprint back to camp, paws slapping against the strange mud floor.

Foxfang looked relived when she spotted the black she-cat. "Yes! You found it!"

Nightfeather nodded breathlessly and placed the herb on the ground. She closed her eyes and panted heavily.

Blazefur approached the two. "I gave most of them thyme. Foxfang, do you have any poppy seeds left?"

Foxfang nodded. "Yeah."

Blazefur turned to Nightfeather, his eyes glittering. "One of the WindClan messengers arrived already. Rosestar and her..." he trailed off, as if searching for the right word. "Clan have been exiled already."

Nightfeather flicked her tail. "That's impossible! It feels like they lost on purpose." She murmured.

Blazefur shrugged. "Intentional or not, we have taken back our camp. Your patrol has gone to secure the territory."

Nightfeather nodded grudgingly. "Did they bring any food back for RiverClan?"

Blazefur avoided her gaze. "A bit, yeah. Mistflower's patrol are clearing out the gathering island."

Nightfeather nearly jumped out of her fur when Blazefur laid a tail on her back. "Are you still having those dreams?"

Nightfeather shook him off, eyes narrowed. "Get off me," she growled. "That's none of your concern."

The medicine cat's eyes flashed with hurt. "Fine." Was all he spat before stalking away.

Nightfeather stared after him, rage bubbling in her throat. She couldn't even begin to comprehend why the tom felt the need to always stick his nose in her business. So what if she was still having those dreams? The black she-cat gave a strangled hiss before turning away to join Foxfang.

The red she-cat looked up when she entered the reed den. "Nightfeather, thank StarClan." She gushed. "They didn't touch any of the herbs."

Nightfeather dipped her head. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Foxfang nodded eagerly. "Yeah. You see that queen over there?"

Nightfeather followed her gaze to a sobbing she-cat. Pity rushed over her and she nodded.

"Talk to her. Console her." She ordered before turning back to the small pile of prey.

Nightfeather felt a bit awkward as She padded over to the pretty brown tabby. "Hi," she whispered, sitting next to her.

The tabby she-cat didn't even look up. Instead, she gave a quiet wail of grief. Nightfeather pricked her ears and caught what she was murmuring.

"StarClan, why? Just take me now. Take me, take me, take me!" The last of the phrase turned into a scream.

Nightfeather lowered her voice. "What's your name?"

She just shook her head. "Otterstream," she wailed.

Nightfeather reluctantly leaned in and began to lap at her ruffled fur. It seemed to work, because the grieving queen quieted down. Sobs shook her frail build as she turned around.

"My kit," she whispered. "Quietkit."

Nightfeather nodded in understanding. She must have lost her family to... RoseClan. The name felt so foreign, even in her mind.

"I miss them," she hiccuped. "I loved them so much. They were my whole world." A sob escaped her jaws as she began to shake again. "Why? Why us?"

Nightfeather wrapped a comforting tail around her. "I don't know." She murmured. "StarClan will guide you."

Nightfeather gave her fur a final lick. "Don't worry. RiverClan will grow once again."

Otterstream ducked her head between her paws, blue eyes trained on Nightfeather. "StarClan let this happen to us," she whispered. "They hate us."

Nightfeather shook her head. "They don't." Was all she managed.

Pattering sounded from behind them, anf Foxfang dipped her head to lay a clump of herbs in front of them. "Great, Nightfeather. Thanks."

Nightfeather gave her a small smile and got up to leave. She felt a small tug on her tail and looked down. A tiny kit looked up at her. Her eyes widened. She could have sworn she didn't see any.

"Hello." She meowed softly. "Do you know where my mommy is? She pwomised me I would see her again."

Nightfeather felt tears begin to blur her vision and blinked them away. "I'm afraid not," she whispered.

》》》》》》》》》》》

Hello peoples!

Another chapter is here X3

What do you think about Sparrowwing?

10 votes= new chapter

COMMENT

VOTE

~♣