Flamefur's POV:

After Shinewing let out a shocked yowl, announcing that Nutwhisker had fainted, cats immediately crowded around the two medicine cats with curious murmurs and mews. Flamefur stayed back, with a slight sigh. We all heard Nutwhisker yell NoName. She must be trying to mess with him again.

Suddenly, Flamefur felt movement in her stomach and she tensed up in surprise. Was the mouse she ate somehow still alive? She glanced down at her belly, scolding it, as a stab of uncomfort surged within her.

"Are you okay, Flamefur?" Bluesnow asked, edging closer to her.

"I'm fine." Flamefur hissed, gritting her teeth as the kick returned. "I think the mouse I ate earlier was bad." Without another word, she started towards the dirtplace tunnel, but stopped short when a thought occured.

Ever so slowly, Flamefur glanced down at her stomach again, and she noticed with a start that was, in fact, bigger than usual. A sick feeling made its way up her throat and Flamefur bent down to stop herself from being sick. She heard Bluesnow padding up behind her and felt a flash of fear score through her. Just as Bluesnow opened her jaws to ask again if Flamefur was okay, she took off at a fast run out of camp.

Flamefur's heart pounded in her throat as she dashed over the many piles of debris in the direction of the beach.

I can't be pregnant! Not now! Flamefur tripped on a dead bramble bush and she went sprawling over the mess of leaves and branches around her. She yelped as her body skidded over a thorn bush, her fur getting caught in the thorns. Once she finally grinded to a halt, Flamefur let out a small mew of agitation. Mouse-brained water. Foolish Metalclaw. Fox-hearted Tigerstripe. Fish-brained bramble bush! There was another kick in her stomach and Flamefur snarled. "Stupid kits!"

For a while, Flamefur lay still in the tangle of damp plants, staring hopelessly up at the calm blue sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight. Was Metalclaw watching her? Was he laughing at her? Did he even care? Or was he too busy following NoName's commands?

With a quiet sigh, Flamefur climbed back to her paws. She glanced at the bush she had fallen into, grimacing when she saw tufts of her orange fur left behind on the sharp thorns.

The flame coloured she cat blinked her eyes, looking back in the direction of camp. She didn't want to go back, not with the constant reminder of death and grief around her. The scent of her clan mates' grief would choke her to death. Instead, Flamefur turned to look at the sea. The water was back to its original position, calm and rippling in the breeze. How can something so destructive also be so calming?

Flamefur picked her way over the debris, heading closer to the water. She hissed as she passed the already-rotting carcass of a fox and trotted hurriedly away from it. Even away from camp she couldn't escape death. It truly was everywhere that morning.

Dawn had long passed and the sun was nearing its highest point in the sky. Flamefur sighed as she felt the warm rays of sunlight soak up the sick feeling within her. She was still shocked that she was expecting kits. There was no time to be stuck in the nursery. She had to be there to fight for her clan.

Flamefur stopped abruptly when her paws splashed into the water. She hadn't realised she was so close to the lapping waves. There was a drop of fear still swirling around her stomach as she stared down at the water by her paws. Would another huge wave come back and swallow her whole? Why did she dare come so close to the source of death and destruction they had experienced only hours ago?

Another sigh escaped her lips, the soft sound drifting away from her as the breeze took it elsewhere. "Metalclaw... Come back to me." She breathed, settling down on her side. "I'm so lost. Do I really belong to Lightclan? Or is it my destiny to join you in the Dark Forest, serving under NoName?" She received no reply, of course, and laid her head on her paws with another sigh. Perhaps I can dream my way back to him... She thought as she closed her eyes, forcing herself to drift asleep.

Instead of a dream, Flamefur was simply met with calm, inky blackness.

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