[Justice]

Leaf-Fall Day 17 Valley Year 5.
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Honeysong

We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold

70 Moons, Warrior Queen of TreeClan

It was very gusty out today, and she'd decided that today would be the day she'd move to the nursery and prepare for the arrival of her kits. But first she wanted to walk down to the brook for a drink. She knew Falconstorm didn't want her on her paws while she was pregnant, that it was dangerous and she could still theoricially lose this litter, but it wasn't far and she was so tired of drinking from moss. And she wasn't even going to go alone, she picked a warrior to attend her. That way if she went into labor, or hurt or slid or anything at all happened she could send him back for Falconstorm and Lionstar. Honeysong sighed and rolled her eyes at their good natured smothering of herself. They all wanted this to go well, and she finally felt as though it would. Surely there couldn't be anything bad happen to her for a short trip to the sparkling brook and back?

Dunefang was attentive as they made their way from camp, asking her every so often if everything was okay and generally being amazed anytime her visibly pregnant belly shifted with the movements of the kits. He was a sweet little tom, and she was glad he'd lived to see adulthood.

Word Count // Fawn // Famous last words, more action next time.

[Fawn]

LionstAr

blinded by the light of a new sun
take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem

It seemed like he divided his time between keeping after Honeysong and making sure the Clan was functioning normally. There was only so much hovering he could do before she'd bat him on the nose and tell him not to worry so much, though. So this morning, he had made the decision to lead a hunting patrol into NightClan's forests, to the edge of TreeClan's new scentmarker by the branch trail. Thornpaw had gone with him, and the young tom had done well. Though he was still growing, he was behaving more and more like a full-fledged warrior each day.

He returned with a young raven, placing the black bird with the gleaming feathers on the fresh kill pile, just as his kin approached.

"Lionstar."

The pale-coated warrior looked even more serious than usual, Sprucefur's expression seemingly set in stone. Lionstar quickly discovered why. "We've scented Grayowl in TreeClan territory, near the shallow marsh."

A chill raked icy claws down Lionstar's spine, but he shook off the sense of foreboding, replacing it with anger and action. "Alert Gorsetail. Tell Falconstorm to watch over Honeysong until we know for sure he's gone. I want him found." He had not seen her since his return, but he trusted his mate to be in camp somewhere. Unusually long claws flexed into the dirt, furrowing it under Lionstar's wide, tufted paws.

"What do we do when we find him?" Asked Sprucefur. They understood how serious this was.

"Bring him to me." Lionstar strode powerfully out of camp, the drum-beats in his chest ushering him into a more war-like mindset. Grayowl had come to gloat, perhaps. To taunt him. To remind Lionstar that the grace period had ended and the ash-furred menace was still very much alive.

Not for long, if Lionstar had his way.

Yet as he paced through the forest, devouring the earth under a long, strong stride, Lionstar grappled with knowing what he had to do versus what he was comfortable with. If he killed Grayowl, this problem would go away permanently. However... Lionstar's gut twisted at the thought of sullying himself with Grayowl's blood; he was no murderer. Taking lives would never be an easy thing to do - traitors or not.

"Grayowl!" Lionstar shouted as he entered the marsh, raising his muzzle in defiance, detecting the tom's scent but unable to pinpoint where it was coming from. "I know you're here."

A cold, condescending chuckle came from one of the low elm boughs hanging over the marsh. In the shadows cast by foliage was a pair of golden eyes, burning as they always did. Lionstar hadn't forgotten the reaction he had to those eyes; the rush of loathing that crawled up his throat like bile.

"Are you sure I'm the one you should be worried about?" Said Grayowl coolly, safe in his perch.

Lionstar growled, about to climb the tree to shove him bodily out of it - when those words sunk in like daggers. Honeysong. Had he seen her at camp? Fear flooded through his system, washing away the loathing as his priorities shifted back to where they should've been all along. Lionstar barely spared a second to hiss venom at Grayowl before he was running through the dense woodland, paying no heed to where or what he stepped on in his haste to reach his mate. If something happens to her--I'll--I'll--

He ran harder. If he had to run his paws bloody to make it there in time for whatever Grayowl had planned, this was a tiny price to pay for Honeysong's safety. And the safety of their unborn kits.

leader of TreeClan

581 Words | Justice Phoenix (Gorsetail mention) Insidious (Grayowl!!) | notes

so alive | background image | table by phoenix

[Justice]

Honeysong

We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold

70 Moons, Senior Warrior of TreeClan

They had managed to safely make it to the brook and both of them got a drink, before she heard the hissing sound from the young tom that was accompanying her. "Dunefang, what's wrong?" The younger cat's fur was stood on end, spine arched slightly and claws unsheathed. He was ready to fight, and she put herself behind him so that it would be easier for him to protect her. She could fight, but this heavy with kits it wasn't a good idea.

"Well, well, well, look at what we have here." A voice drawled out the words and Honeysong's heart constricted inside her. She knew that voice, and it caused old tremors of pain deep within her soul. Dustburrow. He'd been her mate once, then betrayed her because she'd gotten pregnant when he was already done with her. He'd never loved her, she knew that now after falling in love for real with Lionstar, but that didn't make what he did to her any less painful.

"Dustburrow." She hissed as the black and white tom sauntered in, two rogues on either side of him. They were outnumbered and trapped. She would have to fight, there was no way Dunefang could beat them all on his own. Fight or run, if the chance presented itself. "You're trespassing."

"None of that now, my dear." The drawling tone of his voice made her pelt crawl, and she shifted so that she could see them all. Hopefully none of them were stupid enough to try and cross the brook in this cold. It wasn't yet leafbare, but it was cold enough for the water to be unswimmable by all save the cats of RainClan.

"What do you want, rogues?"

"With you? Nothing at all. See, she's who we've come for. I have unfinished business with that she-cat behind you. Now, be a good kitten and move aside."

Instead Dunefang lunged forward, pouncing right on the larger tom and starting to claw at him mercilessly. "Be careful!" The other two rogues had her pinned in, and she couldn't fight both at once. So, she did the only thing she could think of; she called for help.

"Help! Help! Someone help us!" She made the most racket she could, yowling at the top of her lungs and hoping either a patrol or someone at camp could hear her. One of the rogues stopped that halfway by smacking her across the face with his claws, knocking the expectant queen to the ground.

"We're sending Lionstar a message from Grayowl. Don't worry, little queen, it'll only hurt for a second."

Word Count // Fawn // Run faster Lionstar!

[Fawn]

LionstAr

blinded by the light of a new sun
take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem

"Help! Help! Someone help us!"

His mate's cry for help poured fire into his blood, charring his heart and burning his lungs as he ran as quickly as four paws could carry him. With a savage snarl, Lionstar burst into the scene unfolding - Dunefang grappling with a black-and-white tom, and two mangy rogues were circling Honeysong like vultures. Recognition struck his thoughts just as his claws found their hides; Dustburrow.

Golden eyes blazed. They had struck Honeysong. One of these filthy pieces of crowfood had dared lay their claws on her. Leopardyowl and Petalfall. Their pelts hugged their ribs, and it could only be desperation that forced them to follow cats like Grayowl and Dustburrow. The ex-RainClan cats attacked him at once, their movements synchronized; he braced himself for the impact, his ears flat against his skull, pelt ruffled, mane nearly doubling in size around his neck and shoulders.

Leopardyowl's claws grazed his throat and muzzle, but only for an instant. Lionstar pinned the skinny RainClan cat to the ground, ignoring the stinging dig of Petalfall's claws on his back from where she hung on. It was the first time in a long time that Lionstar had fought with fear. Fear for the lives of others; he always fought to protect his Clanmates, but this time, he was confronted with cats who would willingly kill a pregnant queen - and Dunefang - just to send him a message.

What if there were more? What if Honeysong had already lost the litter? She had been on the ground when he'd arrived. Grief blinded him, and the pounding rush of blood in his ears wasn't enough to block out the sound of Leopardyowl's screeches as he shredded him. Petalfall bit savagely at the back of his neck, and Lionstar rolled over, crushing her beneath him. Leopardyowl lay twitching where he had fallen, bleeding from copious wounds. Rounding on Petalfall, the enraged Clan leader charged forward to give her the same treatment as her mate, but Petalfall turned tail and ran for the border.

He didn't pursue her.

Dustburrow. The bastard was wearing down Dunefang, who had been fighting valiantly throughout. Seizing his chance, Lionstar pounced. "Protect Honeysong!" He rasped to the young warrior. Dustburrow is MINE.

leader of TreeClan

387 Words | Justice | notes: RAWR!

so alive | background image | table by phoenix

[Justice]

Honeysong

We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold

70 Moons, Warrior Queen of TreeClan

She was terrified, and her kits were squirming inside of her. As if they too were scared even though they had no idea what was going on. Was she going to lose this litter too? Was StarClan going to give her kits in her belly again just to take them away once again? Why? What had she done wrong this time? She loved a StarClan chosen leader, she was loyal to her clan and devote in her beliefs. What had she done wrong? Or was it, perhaps, a test of some sort?

The world was spinning, and she hurt from falling to the ground. She curled into a ball, rolling her body so that her belly was on the ground and she could protect her unborn kits. Blood obscured her vision, telling her that the rogue tom had caught her across the face near her eyes. It took the sounds of battle to really rouse her, and she started trying to get up. But her body screamed, her sides heaving and stress making her worry for her kits. Was she in labor? She let out a low yowl of pain, confused and scared. 'Please, StarClan, don't make me lose these kits. I want them so much. Please, please let me keep them. I beg you.'

"Lionstar..." She knew her mate was there, the battle was shifting too much for just the young Dunefang to have turned the tide. She yowled again, feeling the pain in her belly that made her wonder if there was something wrong. She needed to get back home, to camp and the medicine den. Falconstorm would know what to do.

Dunefang leapt back when he was bellowed at, scrambling over and planting his paws wide so that he was between the battle and Honeysong. "Hold on Honeysong, everything will be okay. Lionstar's here, he'll handle these rogues." The young tom's fur stood out on end, making himself seem larger. Despite her pain Honeysong felt proud for the young tom. He was being so brave.

Dustburrow had several shallow slashes along his side from his fight with Dunefang, just enough to show he'd been hurt but not enough to slow him down. He was also a good weight for having not had the protection and provision of a clan for so long. He obviously wasn't having any trouble living the life of a rogue clan cat.

He leapt back when Lionstar lunged for him, laughing darkly the whole time. "Can't say I'm impressed, Lionstar." And then he threw himself into the fight again.

Word Count // Fawn // Notes

[Fawn]

LionstAr

blinded by the light of a new sun
take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem

The fight was over quickly, and Dustburrow's death was more merciful than the scum deserved. Black and white fur stuck to Lionstar's stained muzzle as he unclasped his teeth. Dustburrow's neck was open, watering the grass with rogue blood, scratched body sprawled at an unnatural angle where the tom had been pinned.

There had been no chance Lionstar would lose such a fight. Honeysong's terrified yowl had struck his soul, turning it to iron so that he could do what must be done.

His own aches and pains were ignored. Lionstar ran, lurching to a stop over his mate's prone figure, frustrated at his helplessness. "Honeysong! I'm here. I'm right here. Are you alright? Dunefang, get Falconstorm!"

The young warrior would be tired - but Honeysong couldn't move. Lionstar, even as his much larger frame trembled with fear, licked the blood from her face. "Stay still, Falconstorm's on his way."

StarClan, was she losing the kits? His heart seared with grief. It wouldn't matter if he killed Dustburrow or not; if their precious kits died, then what was the point? Of anything?

He wanted to curl beside her and promise that their offspring would be okay - but he couldn't. He had power from StarClan, but not over this. The wait for Falconstorm’s arrival was agonizing; it was as if every heartbeat that ticked by was the one where everything that could go wrong would go wrong.

Zephyrfang and a pawful of warriors burst on the scene; he hissed, realizing Falconstorm wasn’t among them. They must have heard Honeysong’s cries for help. Lionstar gave orders to secure their territory and drag the rogue bodies out. He felt himself speak, but couldn't recall the words. A few glances were sent in the direction of the lilac queen on the ground, and Lionstar closed his eyes, blocking the sight of his own worries reflected back in everyone’s faces. All his being was focused on Honeysong, and how - if possible - he could relieve some of her pain.

If he could fight this battle for her, Lionstar would do it a thousand times over.

leader of TreeClan

343 Words | Justice | notes

so alive | background image | table by phoenix

[Justice]

She wasn't watching when the battle ended, having managed with gentle prodding from Dunefang to slip onto her side so that her belly no longer had the weight of her body against it. Her eyes were clenched shut, little whimpers of pain coming from her every so often. She felt the slightest nuzzle from the little tom before she heard Lionstar's voice tell him to go get Falconstorm.

"Right away! Hang in there Honeysong!" And he was off like a shot.

She mewled again, body giving spasms as pain rolled through her. She had to be still, she was too stressed out. "Lionstar, I'm scared." She shivered, cold starting to seep into her pelt down to the skin. She finally opened her eyes, staring pleadingly up at her mate, begging him with her eyes to make it all better. Lionstar could do anything. She believed absolutely in him.

"He wanted to kill me." A queen, a heavily pregnant queen. "Why? Wasn't it enough he hurt me this way once?" She felt tears clog her throat and fought them away. "I want my kits." She mewled, not realizing she'd spoken aloud. "StarClan please don't take them away again."

A patrol arrived, but she didn't care. She was cold. Time seemed to move slowly, and she closed her eyes against the worry on everyone's faces. Was she going to lose her kits?

Rapid pawsteps echoed in the leaf strewn clearing, and the sound of someone sliding to a stop. She kept her eyes clenched shut, and focused on her breathing. If she could just focus on that Lionstar would take care of everything else.

Falconstorm had arrived. His blue eyes swept over the entire scene, evaluating it rapidly before springing into action. "Moonfeather, put down the herb bundle I had you bring. Sit with Honeysong. You've been a queen, soothe her. Lionstar, go to the same side as Moonfeather and lie down. This chill will make things far worse. Please have the patrol move back, they're making her more upset than she already is." He took a breath and nuzzled the she-cat's head. "It will all be okay now, mother. I've come to help you. And Lionstar is with you, you're safe."

His tone was gentle, low and coaxing as he muttered to the distressed queen. He remained calm, trying to calm both Honeysong and Lionstar by extension. "Deep breaths, slowly in and out, both of you. The scratches are superficial, so lets get your pains under control." He gave her one of the herbs, instructing her to chew it while he kneaded at her tense belly with gentle motions. He even started up a low purr to soothe her, anything he could do to help with this. "We'll need to wait before bringing her back to camp. Like this she can't be moved." And he needed to get them all back to camp, where he had his herbs at his disposal. What he'd brought would be enough for now, but he didn't want Honeysong walking home.

He finally gave their leader a look over and winced. He'd have told the other to go wash the blood off in the brook, but at the moment their priority was Honeysong. Once she was calm he'd start triage on the rest.

Fawn

[Fawn]

LionstAr

blinded by the light of a new sun
take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem

The fear he felt for his mate had robbed him of most of his senses; Lionstar hardly felt the cold, and he had blinked numbly at Falconstorm for a half-beat, then quickly laid himself down around Honeysong. The adrenaline was still lurching through his bloodstream, flooding it like a brook after newleaf rain, but the fight was no longer in his paws. It was in Honeysong's. It was in Falconstorm's. Lionstar pressed himself tighter to the whimpering, pregnant queen, and wished with all his heart he could do something. Anything. Anything.

"Dustburrow will never hurt you again. I promise." Lionstar whispered, pressing his muzzle to the soft fur on her cheek - and flinching back when the filthy rogue's blood dyed the ends of her fur brown. Lionstar's ears flattened, and he wiped his jaws before licking any remnants of blood from Honeysong's face that had been put there by accident.

There was blood that had nothing to do with Lionstar, as well, and he cleaned this too. A growing sense of dread and failure encased his heart, iron-tight, squeezing so hard it hurt. "I should have protected you. I never should have left your side, Honeysong. Forgive me." StarClan, don't take our kits. He was not so numb to his surroundings that he did not recognize (and value) the presence of Moonfeather and Falconstorm doing all they could to make Honeysong more comfortable.

Falconstorm's orders were loud and clear. She was not to be moved. Not until the stress faded - or something happened. Lionstar watched her flank intently, as if expecting to see the first few signs of stress-induced labor, but he was soothed by her steadily normalizing breaths. The guilt did not recede so quickly (if it ever will), and he bowed his head, shouldering it all. If he had been faster, stronger, if he had been smart enough to stay by her side always, this would not have happened.

Lionstar's distressed gaze found the body of Dustburrow, where the patrol was dragging it out of TreeClan's territory. If sinking his claws into that tom a second, third, even a fourth time would fix this, that old phantom from Honeysong's past would be in pieces. Again, the ineptitude of the situation threatened to choke him. Lionstar's jaws tightened, and he waited at his mate's side for the storm to pass.

leader of TreeClan

400 Words | Justice | notes

so alive | background image | table by phoenix