Post by Fawn on Aug 18, 2016 23:08:44 GMT -5
15 Moons. Tom. NightClan.
⇒And my carelessness left you in the dark⇐
The rigorous battle-training Dimstar had subjected him to two suns ago was still punishing him. With sore muscles and aching bones, he was even less likely to rise when dawn started prodding cats away with pale, yellowy rays. Undisturbed for much of the morning (NightClan cats, as a rule, were more active after the sun had reached its peak and began its descent), it was the soft familiar voice of Palebreeze in the cavern entrance that finally stirred the white tom from his nest.
”Well if you’re going to sleep all day, lazybones, then I’ll just have to ask Thornflame to go hunting with me instead.”
Bonepaw uncurled, ignoring the way his legs trembled in protest for the first few seconds while he rose to his paws. Palebreeze—pretty, pretty Palebreeze who was only a couple moons older than he was—stood in front of him with no attempt to disguise a smirk.
Lazybones. Yeah that nickname wasn’t sticking.
With a matching smirk of his own, he made a show of stretching, pearly white teeth revealed in a gargantuan yawn. ”If you’d rather listen to Thornflame grumble about how annoying the rest of our Clanmates are, be my guest,” he mewed back coolly, remembering with a thrill of his heart that he and Palebreeze had made plans last night to spend a bit of time together.
He wasn’t a kitten anymore, and it was about damn time someone noticed.
Palebreeze, with her peculiarly folded ears (he liked them. It was a surprise to him too), chuckled and flicked the end of his nose with a paw. ”You’re awfully cheeky for a cat who’s still an apprentice.”
“Any day now,” he answered, stepping around her to lead them both to the steep incline marking NightClan’s entrance. ”It’s just a matter of time before I get to put my nest next to yours.”
”Don’t get too cocky, Bonepaw!” She outpaced him to the entrance, her pale fur illuminated by the evening light just behind, spilling orange across her almost unnoticeable tabby stripes. ”I think Dimstar might keep you an apprentice just for a laugh!” Palebreeze winked at him and disappeared around the boulder.
Bonepaw felt a surge of energy, both to prove her wrong and to catch up with the pretty feline, enjoying their playful banter more than anything else in recent moons. Except for maybe the Gathering. Now that had been fun. Up until that fishfaced RainClanner showed up. What was his name? Puddlepaw? Pikepaw? Something.
”U-Uh… Bonepaw?”
Blue-and-yellow eyes sought out the speaker, and he frowned in surprise. ”What?” What does Coyotepaw want? Can’t he see I’m in the middle of something…
Coyotepaw winced, and not for the first time Bonepaw wondered if he was too harsh on his brother.
The lanky black tom cast an uncomfortable glance at somecat at the other side of camp, and when he saw who it was, Bonepaw’s eyes narrowed.
”Hollystorm says I’m supposed to go with you.”
Bonepaw growled. ”What?” But—
”That’s what you get for sleeping in, Bonepaw.”
His sister’s mocking voice made him want to rip up something, claws instinctively unsheathing; Coyotepaw stood a little ways off, looking as unwilling as Bonepaw felt.
Bonepaw bared his teeth, hissing at his sister. She’d gotten so irritating ever since she’d been made a warrior! The past three moons had been almost intolerable.
”What are you gonna do, ‘paw~?” Hollystorm’s green eyes glittered, clearly enjoying the power she held over him. ”Attack a warrior?”
Bonepaw spat on the ground between them.
”Why can’t he go with Sunpulse today?” He forced the words out through gritted teeth.
“Because I said so, that’s why.” She seemed to realize that he was close to raking his claws right across her stupid smug face, because Hollystorm added casually, ”Sunpulse and I are going on patrol.”
If he’d been less furious with her, he probably would’ve noticed that she meant just the two of them.
”Come on then!” He snapped, turning on his white paws and climbing the slope with aggressive strides, pelt prickled as if he’d passed through a thorn bush on the way out. Sometimes he hated having siblings. Why couldn’t he just be an only kit? The pressure from Blackwolf to succeed would be suffocating, but for StarClan’s sake—at least he wouldn’t have his obnoxious sister and his pathetic brother constantly bugging him!
This sucks. He didn’t want to have to explain to Palebreeze that Coyotepaw was going to be tagging along for their hunting trip; it was easier just to make Coyotepaw explain it, but as he approached, and Palebreeze gave him a slightly confused expression, that he relented to just get it over with.
”He’s coming with us.” Tone flat (he wanted to make it clear that Palebreeze didn’t think he wanted Coyotepaw to be here), he glanced at his brother, the other tom hanging his head as if in apology.
It wasn’t Coyotepaw’s fault, but Bonepaw couldn’t stop the flare of frustration rushing up inside of him all the same.
”Let’s spread out, then. Cover more ground.” Palebreeze caught his eye, and right before the trio of cats parted, Bonepaw understood what her plan was.
We’re going to ditch him, said the twinkle in her eye.
Bonepaw suppressed a smirk. Perfect. Coyotepaw could catch a few frogs and head home—tell Hollystorm that he couldn’t find them, for all he cared.
Contrary to StoneClan or RainClan’s territory, their dark forest was by no means flat. As Bonepaw stood on the ridge overlooking a copse of dense, dry pines, he felt the world threaten to fall away, his paws finding purchase on the smooth grass, bracing himself against the warm rushing breeze. It took some of his frustration away, but it wasn’t until he met up with Palebreeze after a bit of hunting on his own.
He’d just delivered a killing bite to a grackle when the pale tabby stepped out, a mouse dangling from her jaws by the tail.
”Nice catch,” she mewed once she’d set her prey down.
Bonepaw rewarded himself with a vain couple of licks to his chest fur, proud. ”Not bad for a ‘paw.”
Palebreeze purred, stepping close enough that he could smell the lavender she must have rolled in before finding him. "Not bad at all.”
He could see the clear, almost watery blue of her eyes, and his heart quickened. She was just close enough to lick her cheek…
A terrified ululation shattered their moment, and Bonepaw looked around with wild eyes, his fur on end. ”Coyotepaw? Coyotepaw!” He shouted his brother’s name into the woods, Palebreeze calling too.
”Bonepaw HELP!”
The white tom charged forward, running with all the strength he could muster towards the sound of his littermate’s voice, the offensive stench of fox crashing into him just as he scaled the hill he’d traipsed down earlier. Their prey was forgotten as the blood-chilling sound of vulpine snarling seemed to fill up the forest.
Coyotepaw’s terrified face was glimpsed briefly as the black tom tried desperately to climb one of the pines. The bark was tough, and he was doing a better job of tearing his claws than he was getting away.
The fox jumped up, teeth snapping and nearly catching Coyotepaw’s leg.
Without thought, Bonepaw threw himself on the fox, audibly cursing under his breath as he collided clumsily with the ginger-pelted venom. ”Foxdung foxdung foxdung foxdung foxdung!”
”Stop talking and kill it!” Palebreeze yowled shrilly, and he dug his claws in, his heart sinking deeper as the fox’s head whipped around, trying to take a considerable bite out of his flank.
Coyotepaw abandoned his escape route into the trees, the tom looking as if he’d been struck by a stray lightning bolt—his fur stood straight up all over his body. Even his whiskers seemed to have straightened.
”Bonepaw!” He mewed, anxious but courageously trying to scratch the fox on the muzzle.
”Coyotepaw don’t—” just run! His brother’s claws landed, and the fox turned, this time lunging and knocking the black tom right off his paws, shaking Bonepaw loose in the process.
He hissed and clung on, but he’d lost his purchase, landing awkwardly beside the fox while his brother screamed under the fox’s teeth.
No!
In a blur of pale tabby fur, Palebreeze leaped upon the fox’s head, scratching at its eyes and ears, hissing as if she had all of TigerClan at her back for support. Bonepaw—his muscles twinged from the hard landing—sank his teeth into the back of the fox’s leg, biting deep enough that he tasted blood and cut through the pelt with his fangs. He would cripple this stupid fox for hurting his brother!
Palebreeze screeched as the fox got a hold of her, Coyotepaw limping away with little progress, his body shaking from the assault.
Bonepaw saw stars as the fox kicked out, his jaws snapping shut so hard he nearly blacked out from the pain, mouth bloody as he almost bit through his tongue. Bits of fox fur mingled with the white fur on his chest, but he barely noticed. Darting forward, he stood protectively over Coyotepaw, silently urging his kin to safety while they still had a chance.
Where’s Hollystorm and her stupid patrol? If ever there was a time for his obnoxious sister to jump in and save the day—now was that time!
Bonepaw saw Palebreeze’s eyes widen in horror. ”Look out!”
He barely turned around when a smaller ginger shape hurtled out of the bracken and bit down on his tail. Bonepaw howled, blind with pain as the second fox—a cub out with its mother, most-likely—tried to shake him mercilessly until his spine snapped. In a whirl of color, Bonepaw shut his eyes and whirled upon his attacker, this time fighting for his right to live.
It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, and the most he’d ever tried.
Coyotepaw was moaning softly, nearly trampled underpaw by all of the fighting.
Bonepaw bit savagely at the fox cub’s face and the creature let go, sent screaming back into the forest with its tail tucked between its legs like a dog.
Crack.
Before he could notice he’d won, there was a suspiciously subtle sound behind him, and one less angry snarl added to the cacophony of battle. Bonepaw spun around, his eyes wide with horror as he saw Palebreeze dangling—limp—from the fox’s jaws.
Oh no no no StarClan no!
He didn’t know if he had the strength to avenge her. Why hadn’t he been faster? Why hadn’t he been stronger?
The fox tried to charge away with Palebreeze’s body, battered as the creature was, but Bonepaw hissed and blocked its path.
”Let her go!” He snarled, shaking with stress and rage. He didn’t care if the fox listened to him or not; if the fox didn’t, then he would make the fox let her go. Palebreeze…
Hollystorm’s battle screech rattled in his ears, and two cats, one black, one bright ginger, fell upon the fox like a raging whirlwind of fur. They brought it down with ease, and Bonepaw swayed on his paws, nudging Coyotepaw frantically.
Don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead too. Please. I’m sorry.
Everything else became a blur. Supporting Coyotepaw between them, he and Sunpulse hauled his littermate back to camp, leaving a trail of blood as they half-sprinted, half-dragged the lanky tom to safety.
Hollystorm carried Palebreeze’s body behind them, her pace slower. She did not need to rush, though her steps were quick out of concern for Coyotepaw, the she-cat’s green eyes still wide with fear for both brothers.
Bonepaw wanted so badly to blame this on Hollystorm, but he knew that it was his fault…
If he hadn’t ditched Coyotepaw, none of this would have happened—or it would have gone differently.
Sick to his stomach with guilt and worry, he nearly collapsed when they reached Smokefur’s den, numb to the shocked growls and cries of Blackwolf and Ghostlight as they converged on him and Coyotepaw.
The rest of the cave was a hive of noise, and he was vaguely aware of Hollystorm giving a shaky report to Dimstar, who sent Sleekshade, Hollowcry and Blackwolf out to finish off the fox cub. Three was overkill, even he knew that, but he also knew his father…
Better to assign Blackwolf to the killing patrol than tell him to stay behind, when he’d just go anyway.
Bonepaw trembled, watching shaky breaths as Smokefur hurried back and forth with cobwebs to patch up Coyotepaw with. He looked bad.
You have to be alright. You have to. Grasping at anything that might help, he squeezed his eyes shut and prayed. Please, StarClan. Let my brother live and I’ll—I’ll be a better warrior. I’ll be a better brother, anything. Just let him live.
He meant that with all his heart.
⇒And the blood may wash away, But the scars will never fade⇐
Word Count: 2134 Words
Tags: Insidious , @poptart, BlooRey DVD
Notes: Song Lyrics - Mark the Graves by Linkin Park