Username: Thunder.Collects
Cat Name: Swiftbird
Gender: Female
Rank: Warrior
Age: 34 Moons
Clan: CreekClanPrompt: (1,122 Words)
Dark, forbidding clouds forced away the sun, casting the cats in dark shadows. The rain was on the wind, threatening to fall from the sky at any minute, but that didn't stop the large party of cats that trekked through the forest, heading for the creek. A chocolate and white she-cat was among these warriors, determination and fury clear in her green eyes. She wouldn't leave this battle until she was victorious.
A rogue group had settled in the woods across the creek, partially in CreekClan's territory. They didn't believe in StarClan and didn't have clan morals, so the way they used to the territory was dark and bad for the land. It smelled like rotting prey and the animals on that side of the water didn't come out as often, forcing the rogues onto CreekClan land, spoiling the forest for them too. This was something Harestar and Koiberry demanded to be dealt with, so a party was sent a few moons ago asking the rogues to leave or fix their ways. Of course, they denied, so Harestar had to come up with a new plan. Today was the day that plan was being carried out, finally.
Today, a small party of warriors, including Swiftbird, would attack a patrol of rogue cats. They weren't to kill unless necessary, but Swiftbird was angry and she didn't truly mean those words when Harestar asked for her promise. Today she would defend her clan, no matter the cost.
The patrol of CreekClan warriors included Swiftbird, Koiberry, the clan deputy, Shrewbelly, Cloudrunner, and Owlfrost. Harestar didn't want to send a group much larger than this, hunting and border patrols still needed to be carried out, so he assigned the group a smaller task for now. A war may be necessary though, and Swiftbird knew and hoped of that chance.
Ever since her mate, Cherryblaze, died, she had become angry and isolated herself from others. She didn't get attached to friends or family anymore, including her adopted daughter, Songpool. Swiftbird wanted to change that sometimes, she could see how damaged Songpool was at being left alone after Cherryblaze's unfortunate death, but Swiftbird wasn't ready. One day she would be able to tell the sweet she-cat that.
Swiftbird shook her head roughly, clearing it of the thoughts. An internal battle was the last thing she needed when she was about to fight a real one, it would distract her from the task at hand. Songpool was a strong cat and could handle things on her own, Swiftbird would speak up to her when she was ready.
Tail lashing, Koiberry demanded that the patrol stopped as they reached the creek's side. The water was flowing fast, but the cats could all jump it easily. At the deputy's command, the party of warriors leaped across the fast-flowing stream, continuing their journey into the woods. There was no scent of rogues, instead, there was a sharp and disgusting scent of the dying forest. It made Swiftbird so angry, that the rogues could simply abuse the land like this. This territory was what provided for every cat, and by killing it, they were slowly dying themselves.
Swiftbird's ears pricked as she heard a noise, a shuffling from behind her, but before she could call out anything to Koiberry a body was on top of her, pushing her face into the grassy floor. A large boom of thunder sounded above her, and cats suddenly flung out at each other. 'I wonder how long they were behind us,' Swiftbird thought, using all of her strength to push the heavy rogue on top of her off. It was a large muscular ginger tom with a heavily scarred face, and Swiftbird recognized him as the rogue leader, Ace.
While she was catching her breath he flung himself at her again, but Swiftbird swiftly dodged, her small and lithe body helping her in this clearing. Ace was heavier and stronger but she was smaller and faster. She would tire him out first before landing any actual attacks. She played a defensive strategy for many moments and before she knew it the rain had started, chilling her body and rinsing the small wounds on her body from when Ace had actually caught her, and the same from him. Her ear was torn, and his body was scratched. He was panting now, and it was finally her turn to attack.
The small she-cat lunged forward, knocking herself into the tom's chest, pushing him over. She pressed a paw on his throat, holding him down and glaring down at him. He was too tired to fight back. "You came to our land and ruined it," the she-cat spat, glaring down at him angrily. "You killed our forest, so now we must kill you." The battle waged on behind her, but it was toning down as cats started to retreat. "You must pay for your sins," she growled, leaning down to stare him in the eyes, muzzle to muzzle. "You are going to die Ace."
She stood up and raised her other forepaw, but before she could take a slash she was pulled away by a strong force. She thrashed, thinking it was a rogue trying to attack her, but it was simply her clanmates. "Relax Swiftbird," Koiberry commanded, dropping the she-cat on the floor. "We gave you a command not to kill, only to attack." Fury was obvious in Koiberry's eyes, but there was some sympathy. No clan cat was happy about the rogues leaving peacefully if they left at all.
Koiberry turned to the rogue leader who was being held down by Cloudrunner and Owlfrost. "Leave now, with your group, or CreekClan will return and we won't have as much mercy." Ace hesitated, ears flattened and teeth bared before getting to his paws, turning, and walking away from the battle. He was defeated and didn't have any choice. If he stayed he would be killed.
Shrewbelly, Cloudrunner, and Owlfrost nodded respectively to their clan deputy before walking back towards camp, their bodies wounded. They were young and strong though, they'd manage. Koiberry looked at Swiftbird, sadness in her eyes. "I know you're angry and grieving over Cherryblaze, but you can't completely ignore my orders. I'm your deputy, and we have to work together. I want the Swiftbird I grew up with back, connect with your clanmates again. Connect with your old friends and your daughter, Songpool. She needs you Swiftbird." Koiberry was begging, pleading for her clanmate to be okay again, but that would be very hard for Swiftbird. She couldn't be normal, not with Cherryblaze dead. She lowered her head in defeat though, walking past Koiberry.
Songpool didn't need her, she was probably better off without her anyway.
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