The five Warrior Clans are going extinct. Gatherings and Moonpool visits are inacessable, with leaders falling left and right. The lake territories are being wiped out to the brink of extinction by new, large predators that have migrated into their...
A blanket of body heat was settled across the bramble-walled warriors den. The cats stayed awake and conversed for awhile longer. Cheetah wandered across the dark den and up to Rainpaw.
"Hello! Your fur is cool. It's like lake-blueish gray. Do you think mines cool? My grandcat says we have special fur."
"Uh- thanks." Rainpaw sat down as she answered the exuberant spotted she-cat.
"It's cool... and where is she?" The Skyclan apprentice looked around with a vague expression, as if she expected to see a cat like Cheetah in the small crowd.
"Oh, she's not here. She lives on the edge of Twolegplace about a day's travel from here." Cheetah was loud and expressive as she said it, tail waving.
"Her name is Caracal and she has a darker spotted pelt than me. Most of the time she's really fun and lively for a grandcat, so that's why I love her" she overshared.
This time Crescentpaw was embarrassed for her. Thankfully, though- none of the older cats seemed to be listening. Only Trufflefur and Rainpaw were facing toward Cheetah.
Emberfawn and Racoonstripe chatted together in a corner of the denspace. Houndspots groomed his short brown-and-white fur. Lagoonstripe whispered next to Alpinefog, while the Skyclan leader Jadestar and her deputy Sootface sat aloof.
Hail began to smack down on the den roof and walls. Crescentpaw saw a few tiny pellets hit the ground and roll in through the entryway. All of the cats kept their outstretched tails far away from it, grateful that they weren't outside.
She doubted that any wolves would approach Riverclan's camp tonight.
That young one must've been on its way back to its den, wherever that is.
"So we didn't lose anyone to the wolves while I was gone.. but are there any injuries?" She asked the eldest Riverclan warriors after they paused in conversation.
"We were attacked at pre-dawn, on the night that you stayed in Thunderclan's camp. Three warriors have light injuries, but only one is life-threatening."
Houndspots has severe bruises and a laceration on his belly."
"A laceration?" She asked, concerned.
"It's a deep bite wound that opened up his stomach," Quietdew fretted. "When he walks, the skin tries to open and expose the wound. The bleeding has been difficult to stop. And we can't keep it closed."
Alpinefog's green eyes were distressed as well. "He's been off his warrior duties since then. But he's still determined to train Tinypaw instead of letting us handle the mentoring. "
"I can do it myself," the brown-and-white warrior riposted with a superior heir. Crescentpaw felt her eyelids growing heavy as she listened.
I can't stay awake for much longer. Dawn isn't far off now.
"We need to decide our next course of action." Jadestar's voice was commanding, as she lifted her head to look over all the cats in the den.
Several pairs of eyes turned toward the Skyclan leader.
"That's true, but not tonight. It's late and Crescentpaw and Oatkit are exhausted," Alpinefog declared in an inarguable tone.
The tabby-and-white apprentice glanced around until she found Pepperpelt's crouched figure. Oatkit's eyes were already closed. He shivered as he huddled behind his demoralized mother. The queen's gaze was slitted.
Pepperpelt seemed to be far away, her mind reliving something.
He's right. We are tired. Her head was swaying, and she didn't bother trying to hide it. It didn't matter anyways. It was so near-black in the warriors den that hardly any cat could make out another.
"You can go to sleep, Crescentpaw. Here, get into this nest just to your far left." Cheetah urged her into a bracken nest, which looked like it had been newly prepared for the returning clan warriors.
"I'll take your prey-bones out after the hail stops."
"Thank you," she said sincerely as Tinypaw shifted to put a paw over her flank.
A few of the warriors strode to their nests, intent on returning to sleep. Quietdew grouchily shoved her nose into her tail, trying to rest on the quietest side of the den.
Cheetah didn't lie down. Instead she strutted over to Jadestar and meowed "What's Skyclan like? Is your prey the same as Thunderclan's? Why are you guys big like Riverclan, but not thick-furred?"
Crescentpaw didn't listen to the leader's answer. I need to rest. I can't give myself much time for pause. I've got to push myself harder, do more, make more things happen.
Tinypaw settled into the same nest, her flank touching Crescentpaw's. A rumble of thunder shook the skies outside again. Hail pelted down on the den roof, creating a resounding white noise that soothed the cats inside.
Tomorrow I'll start thinking about step two of restoring the clans. Maybe I can do it right this time.
Crescentpaw drifted off to sleep with her dual-colored eyes closed. She felt safe beside Tinypaw.
Cloverkit, Hillflower, I hope you feel safe up in Starclan too. A cool breeze blew in through the dark den entrance, smelling of wet bracken and peaty earth.
The last thing she heard was Tinypaw's purr in her ear.
"I know none of the other cats said it, but I'm proud of you, sister. Sleep well."
_______________ Tinypaw
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