Darkness In The Clans 1- Frost (warrior cats)

Chapter Eight

Berryfrost stared blankly at Batwing's old nest. It had been around a moon since his death, yet he still felt as though it were yesterday. He pressed his muzzle on it, wanting to smell his scent one last time before it faded away. But it wasn't there anymore. He hadn't slept in it for a while. He hated Snaketooth. He finally pulled away, padding outside to look at the clan. They had quickly believed his little story. Even the deputy had been swayed. He licked a paw. He had been neglecting himself, not even fully grooming himself. He occasionally licked his paws or chest, but the majority of his pelt was ragged and dirty. Batwing used to groom his fur while he told him small things happening in his life. Now he was gone. Berryfrost curled up on a rock, the warmth of the leaf-fall sun doing nothing to warm his fur. I wish Batwing was here.

He noticed Hollyheart staring at him worriedly. Berryfrost growled, turning away from her. She wasn't his mother! His fur bristled with anger. She wasn't Batwing! Her worrying about him did nothing for Berryfrost. Hollyheart padded towards him with some fresh-kill- a mouse. "Here." She placed it next to him. He stared at her. He didn't deserve to eat. He wanted to starve. But she was staring at him back, so he leaned down and took a small bite. Batwing loved mice. His heart ached with pain. Everything seemed to remind him of his friend. He missed him.

Hollyheart pressed her muzzle to his flank. "It's gonna be okay."

He pulled away from her, hissing. "I don't need you to comfort me! I want Batwing!" He wailed like a kit. Hollyheart blinked sympathetically, and he lashed his tail. She was treating him like an apprentice! He stomped away from her, finding a nice shady corner nearby. He purred, then froze. He shouldn't be purring now that Batwing is dead! He felt furious at himself for not caring so much.

He spotted Iciclecrash and Snaketooth nearby, murmuring and cuddling with each other. Iciclecrash was expecting his kits, and the pair couldn't stop acting lovey-dovey around each other. Berryfrost wanted to puke. How could they have kits when they just killed Batwing? He also noticed Sugarglow's kits playing roughly nearby. Skystar watched them with interest. She leapt onto her rock, yowling. "Let all cats gather around the gloom-rock for a clan meeting!"

Sugarglow led her kits to the front, mewing and licking them furiously. Firekit mewed in protest. Berryfrost's eyes were cold. As long as Snaketooth isn't mentoring one of them, I'm fine. He sat upright, fixing his posture, yet stayed away from his clanmates. "Firekit, Caterpillarkit, Swarmkit, step forward."

The kits stalked forward, their eyes shining. Sugarglow watched anxiously. I looked at Batwing like that during his warrior ceremony. Even though it was for a different reason, it made his heart hurt. Berryfrost sighed unhappily. "You three have reached the age of six moons, and it is clan tradition to make you into apprentices when you have. Firekit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Firepaw. Morningsun, you have yet to have your first apprentice. I trust you will teach all that you can onto Firepaw." Firepaw and Morningsun touched noses, their eyes shining. Caterpillarkit was next. "Caterpillarkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Caterpillarpaw. Eggfeather, you are young, but I trust you will teach Caterpillarpaw as much as you can. Swarmkit, from this day forward, until you recieve your warrior name, you shall be known as Swarmpaw. Mushroomglow, you have been mentor to Petalfur, and I hope you will pass on the same skills you did to her onto this apprentice." The new apprentices and mentors touched noses, and the clan cats yowled.

"Firepaw! Caterpillarpaw! Swarmpaw!"

Swarmpaw ducked his head shyly while the other apprentices puffed their chests out, feeling prideful. Berryfrost snorted. Snowpaw pressed forward to congratulate his adoptive siblings, eyes shining. The sight was too much for Berryfrost to bear. How could these cats celebrate when Batwing is dead? He slipped out of camp, his fur bristling. He looked for the thunderpath, forcing himself forward. He tasted the air, the bitter reek of the path wafting onto his tongue. Hopefully there'll be monsters around. He followed the scent, now standing at the edge of the thunderpath. He wanted to join Batwing.

He wanted to feel the sweet relief of death.

Snowpaw ran into him, pinning him to the ground. "No!" Snowpaw cried, "I won't let you!"

"Let me go." Berryfrost hissed, though his mew was empty. He didn't make any attempt to kick him off. He was too weak, weak with grief. Snowpaw shook his head, eyes glimmering.

"Don't do it. Batwing wouldn't want you to do this." Snowpaw mewed. Berryfrost hesitated. "Let's head back to camp. Hollyheart was worried when she saw you leave." Hollyheart. She was too involved in his life for his liking. Why couldn't she leave her nose out of other cat's buisness? Berryfrost growled. "Redtuft needs your help, too." Snowpaw added.

Berryfrost simply nodded, his eyes betraying nothing. He had no will left to argue. He followed Snowpaw, unable to feel even the ground beneath his paws. He didn't want to go to his clanmates. They didn't understand what he was going through. Batwing was dead. The cat he had loved so much was gone. Forever. He let out a wail, surprising Snowpaw. "I miss him so much!" He cried out.

Snowpaw blinked sympathetically, pressing his muzzle against his shoulder. Berryfrost hardly felt his touch. Batwing was gone for good. He sobbed, covering his eyes with a paw. Snaketooth was so cruel! He was willing to kill a kit, and later his friend- his crush- because of a simple hatred. He risked the lives of man for a personal quarrel. He growled.

Snowpaw rasped his tongue against his face, licking his tears. Batwing did the same thing. He let out a louder wail, loud enough that he was sure the whole forest heard him. "He shouldn't have died! He was only trying to help his clan. It's not fair! I want him back here! I want him to be with me again!" He almost expected Snowpaw to say something like life wasn't fair, but was surprised as Snowpaw murmured softly.

"I miss him too. I know how happy he made you. He was such a nice cat." Snowpaw's eyes glistened with emotion. "I liked it when you were happy. It made me happy. But now he's gone."

Berryfrost nodded shakily, grief hitting him like a wave. At least Someone cared about Batwing. Unlike Snaketooth, or Iciclecrash, or Redtuft, or anyone. He hissed. "Nobody talks about him. It's as though they forgot about him." His fur bristled in rage. Snowpaw nodded, his eyes burning with anger. "At least some cat cares about him."

Snowpaw said nothing, but headed off to camp. Berryfrost hesitated before following him. The chilly air ruffled his pelt, and he sneezed. "Bless you." Snowpaw mewed automatically. Berryfrost turned to thank him, yet he realized how big Snowpaw was compared to him. Batwing was around that size when they had first bonded in the medicine den. Berryfrost held back tears. If he ever saw those foxes again...

His thought soon became a reality.