Chapter 38
Storm's P.O.V.
I barely noticed anything now when Fox was around. His eyes always brightened my day; a cool dark blue that made my heart flutter and dance.
I knew the kits were constantly staring at me, whispering. Anytime I passed by them, they'd move away so I didn't touch them. Either it was really rude or polite.
I took it as rude because I knew they were afraid of me. 'Yet they never do the same to Thorn? It doesn't make sense.'
Yet, I tried not to let to get to me. They were kits. I also still had no idea what I looked like now. I kind of didn't want to know, but I did at the same time.
'Oh I did it again. Maybe the river would let me see my face?'
Fox had went for a hunting patrol not a long time ago. He had said bye in the dreamiest way, yet my heart ached for him. A ball of emotion was lodged in my throat and I had to try to keep him out of my mind.
I looked around. Not many cats were here. Snow was out battle practicing with Thorn and a few others, - including Dagger - trying to get into shape.
I stalked quickly away, out of camp and to the river. With the rain still coming down - but less vicious - it was harder to see the reflection on the river.
I creeped closer, frightened with what I'd see. I raised a paw just above the surface, but you couldn't see anything really.
I stood up and trotted to the Gathering Pool's entrance.
The Gathering Pool was much more calm; a small trickle of water coming from the ceiling. I looked over the edge to see myself. It didn't even look like me anymore.
A gash that wasn't yet healed covered my jawline and some of the side of my face. My eye - luckily - wasn't touched. The stripes on my forehead were the same but my grey-tipped ears were torn.
I examined my jawline, turning my head sideways to see my neck. My neck was a bit scarred but not much. I noticed, too, that my cheek was torn where my mouth opened.
It made me look like I was always smiling on that side.
I sighed. "No wonder the kits are afraid of me..." I sat down, suddenly very depressed. 'What do the others think of me? Weak? Does Fox really like me? What if they all think I couldn't take it and gave up?' I wondered, looking away from the reflection.
The waterfall drowned out my thoughts and calmed me down. In the corner of my eye, I spotted a cat coming toward me. I stood up, alarmed, and relaxed when it was only Lily.
Her stomach swayed, heavy with kits. Her eyes were soft and welcoming, pelt fluffier then Snow's, grey with white patches.
"Storm, what are you doing here?" She mewed, approaching me slowly and calmly. I looked away, looking at the water again.
"I saw you walk out and I followed you. I guess you got curious, eh?" Lily soothed me by putting her fluffy tail on my spine. She talked so slowly and calming I started to seem fine again.
I shrugged finally, realizing I hadn't answered. I wasn't sure if I could talk yet. And I wasn't going to figure out the hard way.
Finally, after heartbeats of awkward silence, Lily stood up. "We should head back," She mewed and I nodded, standing to follow.
She gave me a soft smile and purred, "I see you and Fox are getting along. Seems to me like he likes you?"
I smiled briefly. I hadn't smiled in so long. Lily sometimes acted like my mother nowadays. The way she teased reminded me of my mother.
"Those neighbours sure seem to check you out!" She'd purr, "I noticed them checking me out too, have you noticed?" I remembered her walking around I'm an attractive way, swinging her tail around and fluffing out her long grey fur.
Lily was already heading out by the time I came to my senses. I padded along.
I missed her. My mother - Eroura - was so funny. She was caring toward me and Dagger, too. Snow... Not so much. She was more of a fat outcast to Eroura.
Snow usually played with the Twolegs anyway. They loved her.
Quickly, I hurried to catch up with Lily. "How's your mouth? It looks really good!" Lily mewed, her eyes welcoming. I just wanted to cuddle up like a kit with her fluffy fur and big stomach.
We padded into camp again and a few cats had come back. Fox was one of them. He was chatting with Blossom; Blossom's ankle was twisted still and she had to sit awkwardly so she didn't step on it.
I padded up to Fox. He had barely noticed me, even though he had seen me. I didn't want to disturb their conversation, so I kept quiet.
Blossom immediately stopped talking to Fox when I came over. "Storm! Hey, your um... Gash, it looks like it's healing well!" Blossom tried not to be mean by not saying my face, I could tell. I let it slip by.
I dipped my head and sat in beside Fox a bit.
He seemed... agitated. 'Am I disturbing you?' I wondered, sizing him up. He avoided eye contact and stood up.
"I have to... Go see Venom," Fox mumbled. 'What? Is he avoiding me?' I have him a stare, eyes narrowed. He gave me a brief look and then padded away.
"Weird..." Blossom murmured, watching him stalk away. I nodded, turning back to her. "I never thought I'd see him just... Walk away. He'll apologize sooner or later." Blossom reassured, giving me a look of comfort.
I couldn't help but look bothered by it, so I looked to my paws. I shuffled my paws awkwardly. I stood up again, suddenly really uncomfortable.
I padded to the medicine den, and sat down with a huff. Leaf looked up from restoring herbs. Mixtures of sweet and bitter scents clung the her pelt as she came closer. "What's wrong?" She murmured, grabbing a few leaves from the edge of my nest.
I brightened the look of my eyes and shrugged. 'He's probably having a bad day? Maybe he witnessed something he hadn't in a long time while on patrol? He'll come through, I'm sure.'
"Obviously there's something on your mind. Try speaking, I think you're ready." Leaf mewed, patting the leaves neatly. 'They reorganize those herbs way too much.'
I opened my mouth and prepared for pain, but only a bit came when I tried my jaw out again.
"Now tell me what's wrong," Leaf ordered, sitting down. She was as frail as a dead leaf.
I shrugged, replying dryly, "Fox avoided me. I think he just needs some time to himself." Leaf narrowed her eyes and mumbled something to herself, but I didn't dare ask what.
My throat was dry and my voice had cracked. "I thi-ink I'm going to go get a drink then go for a nap." I murmured, backing out I'm a rush.
I moved backwards quickly and headed to the river, turning around as the edge of camp came. I ducked out and came to the river as quick as I could.
Fatigue washed over me like a waterfall had drenched my mind. I fluffed out my pelt and took a few gulps of water before turning away again. I let my pelt stay fluffed out as I entered the medicine den again.
I circled the nest and cuddled up to an imaginary Fox. I nuzzled the nest a bit before finally falling asleep.
I woke up to blood running from the waterfall, first just a bit, then as if death had occurred there several times in heartbeats. My paws trembled as I took steps back into camp.
I backed into camp and a battle was broken out between the Clans and Tribes. Only that there were Jagged Rocks warriors were joined into the clash.
Something in my mind told me they were in our Tribe. I only noticed a few.
I recognized a few: Ocean was among them, Coal, too. The rest were Rotting Skulls.
Fox wasn't there.
I panicked. "Fox!" I called, but my voice echoed like I was in a cave. 'Where is he? Is this the future? Or am I just distraught?'
I ran around, avoiding the clash of cats. There were fewer Tribe of Rotting Skulls warriors then there had been before. 'Are we all going to die? Is this our final battle? What does this mean?' I wondered, examining the bloodthirsty cats.
There were more then just ThunderClan cats and WindClan cats fighting. Another Clan maybe? They were covered in stardust and some were half transparent. They were like The Tribe of Glittering Stars!
The Tribe of Rotting Skulls was being beaten badly, the wounded and weak falling only to bleed out. Strike was the only medicine cat trying to heal them; Leaf was no where to be seen.
"Leaf died too... This has to be the future." I whispered to myself.
I ran quickly out of camp and to the WindClan border. Nothing. The breeze swayed the small bits of grass around the boulders as if nothing was going on.
Suddenly, I was pulled away. Darkness yanked the scenery away.
I floated in silence. Such a silence that it rung in my ears. It seemed to deafen me. I tried to walk but it was almost like I was flying in mid-air.
Stars formed in my vision, coming closer. I looked down and finally a ground came to my feet.
Softly, the ground met my back and I laid there for a hertbeat, stunned.
The stars formed to cats and the surrounded me. Quickly, I scrambled up to stand in the center of the cats.
I spun around, alarmed. 'What will they do? Are they going to hurt me? Am I dead?' Questions swirled my mind and I was overwhelmed.
"Storm." A white cat with black patches padded up, his voice deep.
"We haven't been able to get to Venom or Leaf, or even Strike. It seems like everyone is being blocked off. I need you to warn my Tribe that death is coming. More then Venom can handle." Ordered the white and black tom.
A grey she-cat stepped forward. "Something terrible is coming. They tried to keep it cool, but revenge has made them colder then ever." And finally, a brown cat stepped forward.
"They want every cat in this Tribe dead, and we need you to warn Venom and Leaf. This is crucial that they know. The Tribe of Jagged Rocks didn't get our message in time and they collapsed," the brown tom informed me, fear glazing in his eyes.
"I fear it is too late. Keep the names from their deaths before death comes to them." The white and black tom announced, voice low and dangerous.
The three cats faded and I felt my body go weak as if I were fainting.
'What could this mean?' I wondered. I tried to wake up, but I was stuck in sleep. 'Are the Clans out for revenge? Why did they trust me with this message? I only just came to Rotting Skulls! What do I tell them? What did their message even mean? What if it truly is too late?'
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