purrfect. wrote:
omg sorry babe! i missed you too!! <3
anyway, here's a small story about sageclan's diminish, i'll get my first post for the new sageclan up on the main thread soon
Life was hard after Smokeclaw left. He disappeared in the midst of the cold winter months after leaving on one of his frequent walks and was never seen again, his scent hidden by a thick falling of snow. It broke Cloverheart's heart, and every day he seemed to get more and more lonely. Smokeclaw was his brother, his best friend, the only cat he could trust and since he was gone, probably dead, he felt empty without him. Foxtail and Ashpaw were the next cats to disappear. Like Smokeclaw, not a trace was to be found. Applestar reluntantly decided that Wrenflower should be deputy and she accepted this promotion with pride, although most cats grew anxious quickly.
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"Hey!" The skinny body of a shaggy ginger tom spun, claws unsheathed to confront whoever had rammed into his side as he sat on guard outside camp, although his eyes quickly softened. "Leafclaw! it's only you. Sorry, I just thought-" "You thought I was a dog, didn't you, Flamestripe" Leafclaw gazed at her friend and crouched down beside him. When Flamestripe failed to reply and instead stared blankly into camp, she just sighed, pressing herself against him, "We all know there's dogs nearby. We've heard them, they've chased our prey away too. We're slowly starving, but Applestar is persistant we can't move sites. I'm just as scared as you are, Flamestripe, but we have to get through this together, like when we did when we were apprentices," Flamestripe heaved out a breath and pressed his side onto Leafclaw's, he admired the she-cat deeply and they had been friends ever since she joined the clan. They were best friends and nobody could change that. After a while, Leafclaw spoke again, "I know we haven't talked in a while, and we're not as close as we used to be, but I need to tell you something, Flamestripe," The ginger tom turned his head to the side slightly, still not uttering as much as a word. When Leafclaw's helpless eyes met his and burned into them, he couldn't help but melt on the inside. He loved her, and she knew it. Memories of when before the prey became scarce, before all the cats left flooded into his mind, of that day when he confessed his love to her and she returned his feelings. They stayed up all night, talking and laughing. He wished they were still like that. They hadn't spoke to each other since, "Flamestripe, I'm expecting your kits," This took Flamestripe by surprise. His mouth gaped open and he stared blankly at his mate, "They're due in less than a moon," She added quietly and Flamestripe knew he had to be there for her. He let out a gruff purr before pressing his nose to hers, "The clan has been speculating for moons! I've always loved you, Leafclaw and I never expected this day to come-" The sound of muffled voices and quiet pawsteps made Flamestripe pause, Leafclaw must've heard too, because the next moment, she was on her paws and trotting in the direction of the noise, "Leafclaw, wait!" Flamestripe clambered to his paws and bounded after her, noticing her tail disappear behind a bush, he picked up his pace to catch up with her, but he was not expecting what was behind that bush. A large group of cats had crowded around her, with a dark brown tom having her pinned to the ground, a gash through her stomach, "n-no, the kits," Was all Flamestripe could murmur before he felt a large weight on his shoulders and his face fell into the mud, beside Leafclaw. His eyes met hers- desperate and tear filled and he let out a whisper, "Our kits would have been beautiful- I love you Leafclaw, I really do," His whispers were met with sniffles and whines of pain from Leafclaw before her eyes glazed over, an emotional pain worse than any physical pain struck Flamestripe in the heart and he was so lost in mourning that he didn't even feel the claw pressing into his throat.
Minutes later, the rogues had found their way into camp. Claws flew in a flurry as the clan cats tried desperately to protect their home. Smudgecloud was sunbathing behind the elder's den with her two kits, Honeypaw and Sparrowpaw. It was too hot of a day to be doing any training and they found this spot was a secluded place of relaxation, perfect for family bonding time, most of the time. "Watch it you crazy furball," Sparrowpaw spat, swatting at Honeypaw's tail as it waved in front of her nose, "Sorry, I didn't notice you, I'm trying to clean," Honeypaw mewed simply, "Trying to look good for Owlpaw? Nice try sister, but he's mine," Sparrowpaw hissed under her breath sourly, hoping her mother didn't hear as she washed nearby. Honeypaw just cast an annoyed look over her shoulder, "At least I can get myself a tom,". Sparrowpaw sighed, Owlpaw had been her crush ever since she was a kit and she always tried her best to attract his attention, but nonetheless, he always paid more attention to Honeypaw, even though she never did anything for him. It wasn't fair. Sparrowpaw let out a furious squeal and lunged at her sister, scratching and biting as Honeypaw cried for their mother, but Smudgecloud wasn't listening, she was too busy peeking in at camp from behind the den. Moments later, the tortoiseshell warrior spun around, "Leave camp, now." She whispered urgently. Sparrowpaw stopped swiping at Honeypaw and resigned to a sitting position, "What's wrong, mum?" She asked, "Something bad is happening- you need to leave, go through that hole in the bracken wall, now!" She demanded, "Why can't you come with us?" Honeypaw asked, "Protecting you two and the clan is my first priority, now go!" She hissed more urgently. When the two sisters didn't move, she glared at them, "Go!" She screamed. The kits had never heard their mother so agitated in their lives, and without another word, Honeypaw scrambled to her paws and ducked into the bracken, quickly followed by Sparrowpaw. When they reached the other side, Sparrowpaw peeked through the hedging and could just make out the figure of their mother struggling on the ground against a jet black cat. The calico cat turned to her sister, "Run." She cried, before speeding into the bushes, not checking to see if Honeypaw was following.
The cats were eventually rounded up, each one was pinned on their belly by a rogue in a circle, one paw pressed on their neck, the other by their side. Applestar was in the middle, a look of defeat on his face who was pinned by a dark red she-cat. One of the rogues had been killed and a couple others were injured, but they stilll had won the battle. The dark red she-cat, who had Applestar down seemed to be the leader and she nodded towards a dark brown tom who had Froststep, a blind white she-cat who was crying in pain pinned to the floor, "You are all going to die at the same time, since you are all foolish traitors. Rogues, you know what to do," She ordered, before there was a couple moments of silence. Cats tried to meet eyes with each other, exchange last glances of empathy, of love. Even Cloverheart and Raggedthorn exchanged amicable looks at each other. Without warning, an ear-splitting yowl broke the silence and each rogue dug their claws into their victim's neck, slicing it open without mercy. All apart from Applestar. The dark ginger she-cat, who he had learned was called Harley and he assumed to be the leader of these rogues flipped him onto his back and leaned close to his face, "Your clan is worthless, every last cat you have ever loved, fought for, is now dead. How does that make you feel?" Applestar didn't reply, he just gazed blankly ahead, a broken expression on his face. Then with a furious yowl, Harley slammed her claws into Applestar's stomach, watching with satisfaction as the life was ripped out of him, nine times over.
