Tails From DesertClan

Tragedy

-This story takes place roughly a year after the formation of DesertClan-

"The river is frozen, you won't be able to catch the fish."

"Yes I can! This patch of ice is really thin. If I just..." Flamerock watched as Moonstar stuck her paw through the shield of ice protecting the river. "See! If I just widen the hole a little I can get it!"

"I don't think it's worth it. Your paw is going to freeze and you might fall in." The Desertclan leader was still standing on the shore, but she was stretched over the frozen river.

"The clan needs to be fed! Prey is prey."

"Whatever you say."

Flamerock sat back from the bank and stared out over the glittering expanse of the giant river.  Moonstar won't be able to catch any fish like this. She shivered. I hate leafbare!

Moonstar pulled herself back on to the shore and began pacing. "I can't quite break the ice far enough out. Can you help me?"

"I said this was a bad idea," Flamerock sighed, "But you are my leader. What can I do?"

"Come try to push this rock with me. Maybe we can roll it out onto the ice and break it."

The two cats pushed against a big rock on the shore. Straining, Flamerock pushed her shoulder into the rock. It moved very slowly. This isn't worth it for a fish. It's going to swim away as soon as the rock hits the ice!

Sighing, both the cats sat back down. Moonstar began to pace, the fur along her spine ruffling. "The clan needs to be fed! We haven't found any other prey!"

"Moonstar calm down! I'm sure we can find a few squirrels or mice in the brush closer to camp. Maybe if we dig around here we can even find some hibernating toads."

"Toads and a few starving mice aren't enough for the clan! The fish are all well fed!"

"We can't get the fish! Come on let's go look for something else already!"

Madness and fear flashed in Moonstar's brilliant blue eyes. "Don't talk to me that way! I am your leader! We need the fish! We don't have a choice!"

She leaped on top of the stone and her sudden weight set the rock rolling. She balanced on top, her claws digging in, as the rock crashed into the frozen river, breaking the ice and sending the DesertClan leader plummeting into the icy water.

"Moonstar!" Flamerock screamed as she rushed to the gap in the ice. She dove down into the icy water and instantly became chilled through.

She could see Moonstar trying to swim up a few tail-lengths away but she was away from the hole in the ice, and could not get back above the surface. Flamerock tried to call out to the panicked leader only for her words to be lost in bubbles. There's nothing I can do. I can barely swim. She looked at the leader again.

Moonstar stared back at her. Her eyes were wild but she had stopped thrashing and was slowly sinking. Bubbles rose up from her open mouth. I'm so sorry. You were only trying to feed the clan.

Flamerock swam back up to the top and scrambled on to the ice. She jumped back to the shore and turned to stare at the hole in the ice. She shivered, her limbs felt weak. Sadness welled in her heart.

She turned away and began trekking back to the camp. She walked and climbed through the rocky terrain, icicles forming on her soaking fur. The entrance of the camp grew into her view and Flamerock felt her heart sink. How am I going to tell the clan? Moonstar is the reason we are all here.

She pushed her way into the camp and collapsed from exhaustion. Her brother, Earthstrike, ran towards her, his green eyes bright with worry, "What's happened?! Why are you soaked?!"

"Moonstar is dead."

Flamerock closed her eyes and felt the darkness encroaching. She welcomed the rest. She was tired. The clan clamored and asked her questions, all of them shocked. Rabbitpad, the medicine cat, rushed towards her, as she lost consciousness, and the darkness consumed her.