Warriors: The Feat of Four - Crashing Ties (On Hold)

Chapter 23: Sorrelpaw

It was the morning after the Gathering. It was more eventful than usual, with more shocking news, but none could shock her more than the death of her father, Shadowstep.

Sorrelpaw couldn't believe it. After a talk, he simply disappeared and died mysteriously, with no sign of his body anywhere.

Sagewish, her mother, was distraught. Sorrelpaw decided to leave her alone as she seemed too upset to talk to anyone at that moment.

Surprisingly, Snappaw made no comment. In fact, he usually ignore her completely those days.

The morning felt colder than usual, and Sorrelpaw shivered. She felt empty, knowing that Shadowstep was gone forever within a blink of her eye. She regretted not spending more time with him.

She wanted to cry out, yowling to StarClan that it was unfair, loosing her father after she talked with him that night.

Sorrelpaw was glad that Icefang left her alone that day. He was leading a hunting patrol and mentioned that she should do some apprentice chores to keep herself busy.

The brown she-cat padded out of camp, planning to look for some moss to replace the old bedding.

Maybe somewhere near the marshland have some moss, Sorrelpaw thought. It should be moist enough for moss to grow.

When she arrived at her destination, the marsh looked more gloomy than usual. She spotted a patch of moss near a tree trunk and walked forward to collect it.

Carefully slicing off a good amount of squishy moss, Sorrelpaw laid the moss down on a dry stone and pressed on the moss lightly to squeeze out the water.

She repeated the process a couple of times and got enough to replace the bedding in the nursery. The two newest kits, Featherkit and Breezekit were growing up well and started to become more mischievous.

Once they stole moss from Flailstar's nest, but the old leader was simply amused and let them off. Softstep gave them a stern warning later.

Sorrelpaw decided to concentrate and began to carry the moss in her mouth. It felt fluffy and Sorrelpaw struggled not to sneeze and drop the moss.

Sorrelpaw reached the camp entrance and headed straight for the nursery. Inside, Softstep was watching her two kits closely.

Featherkit spotted Sorrelpaw first and bounced up and down in excitement. "Softstep, Breezekit, look! Sorrelpaw is coming to play with us!"

"Actually," Sorrelpaw mewed. "I'm just changing the bedding."

"I will move out of the way then," Softstep meowed, rising to her paws. "Come on, kits, please do not distrub Sorrelpaw."

"Okay!" Featherkit mewed. "Breezekit, let's go out and play!"

"Can we go out to play?" Breezekit asked, blinking.

"Go ahead," Softstep mewed. "Just stay in camp and avoid disturbing others."

The excited cries of the kits gradually fadded into soft murmurs as Softstep watched Sorrelpaw change the bedding.

Sorrelpaw didn't mind the queen watching her as she sorted out the fluffy moss into a nice and comfortable bedding.

Without a word, Softstep walked towards her. "Do you need help on that?" she asked. "I know that apprentice chores can be boring."

"It's fine," Sorrelpaw responded. "Why don't you check on your kits?"

"Yes, I should," Softstep mewed, more to herself than Sorrelpaw. After the queen left, the BrambleClan apprentice finished up the new bedding quickly.

As Sorrelpaw began to head out of the nursery to collect more moss for the bedding in other dens, there was a yowl.

Firewing rushed in, her fur ruffled and bleeding from long scratches along her flank. "Flailstar!" the flame coloured she-cat called, desperate. "Our patrol was ambushed by a pair of foxes! We need help immediately!"

Flailstar appeared out of his den, looking rather confused. "I'll lead the patrol," he mumbled.

"Flailstar, respectfully, I believe that you should stay behind," Icefang mewed, who just came back from his hunting patrol.

"I agree," Grasswind, the BrambleClan medicine cat, mewed. "You need to be here for the Clan now. Some cat else will have to lead the patrol."

"I will," Icefang volunteered. Before Flailstar could speak, the white tom turned to Firewing.

"Lead me to your patrol," he meowed swiftly. "Shadestorm, come with me. Bring your apprentice too."

"Me?" Snappaw mewed, surprised.

Shadestorm nodded his approval. "You are going to be a warrior soon, so I don't see why not."

"Let's go," Icefang mewed.

The patrol of three left the camp, and Sorrelpaw could only hope that it was enough to deal with the troublesome foxes.

~~~~

It was tense, waiting for the patrol to return. Sorrelpaw stared at the vole that she picked from the fresh-kill pile, too nervous to eat.

Finally, the patrol returned. The members of the patrol were battle tired, each one having at least an injury.

Sorrelpaw's eyes fell on a motionless body that Shadestorm and Icefang were carrying.

There was a gasp and Sorrelpaw realised that it was Rushingflower. As Grasswind began treating the members of the patrol with Mintpaw's assistance, Treefall, who was bleeding heavily from his nose, explained to Flailstar what happened.

"The foxes put up a fiece fight," he mewed, wincing as Grasswind applied some horsetail to his wound. "I will never forget Rushingflower's bravery to protect the patrol."

Sorrelpaw listened, stunned that the BrambleClan deputy died so suddenly.
Flailstar heaved himself onto the High Stump and began to speak. "Losing Rushingflower was a tragedy," he mewed mournfully. "But according to the warrior code, a new deputy must be chosen by moonhigh."

Out of the corner of Sorrelpaw's eye, she saw Icefang shifting his paws somewhat nervously.

"I say these words before the spirit of Rushingflower and StarClan, so that they can hear and approve of my choice." Flailstar looked directly in Icefang's direction. Sorrelpaw knew what was coming and she couldn't help but feel a jolt of dread.

"Icefang will be the new deputy of BrambleClan."

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Votes and comments are greatly appreciated! It motivates me to update more frequently. :)

What do you think of BrambleClan's future now that Icefang became deputy? Will it cause trouble or bring BrambleClan more benefits?

I would love to hear your opinion about it!