Warriors: Darkness In The Clans 3: Melt

Chapter Seven

Berryfrost's dream wasn't a pleasant one. He was being tossed around by Snaketooth, and each time he landed in his jaws, chunks of fur were torn out. Blood splattered on the ground, his flesh torn. "Please stop!" He begged, his brown eyes wide.

"No." Snaketooth replied simply, throwing him high into the air. Instead of him being caught by Snaketooth, he fell onto a burning patch of dead leaves. His skin and pelt burned, and Berryfrost wondered if this was actually reality. It hurts so much! He screamed in agony. Snaketooth watched him, satisfaction and glee glimmering in his green eyes. Cats raced around him, but Berryfrost saw they were all Snaketooth's current or former supporters. Iciclecrash, Eggfeather, Foxtuft, Flowerpetal... their eyes glowing in the darkness as they ran past. Even my own sister hated me at some point. He wailed, collapsing to the ground as the last few bits of his fur being burned and turned to ashes and the fire began licking at his skin.

With a jolt he awoke, his heart drumming madly. The sun was rising slowly as he emerged from his den. He tried to forget about his dream, but failed. Surely, it was linked to what Batwing had shown him. Batwing's starry outline emerged from the warrior's den, as though he had been sleeping there. His eyes brightened as he saw Berryfrost, running over to greet him. "Good morning, sunshine! Is something wrong?" He added worriedly, noticing his expression.

"I had a bad dream." Berryfrost whined. Batwing gazed at him sympathetically, licking his head softly. Batwing's love radiated from his fur and made him temporarily forget about his dream. Berryfrost purred contentedly, his eyes brimming with affection.

"What was it about?"

"Snaketooth kept throwing me around... and threw me into a fire. Cats saw me, but didn't do anything about it." Berryfrost explained clumsily. He didn't want to relive his dream. Fear made his fur fluff up, but it was quickly smoothed by Batwing's tongue.

"It was just a dream, don't worry." He mewed comfortingly. Berryfrost's heartbeat slowed, and he entwined his tail with Batwing's, his tail transparent and showing off parts of his fur. He rubbed his muzzle against his neck, Batwing's paw wrapped around him, similar to what twolegs did to showcase affection.

Hollystar walked past him from behind, her fur bristling. "You smell like Batwing!" She breathed disbelievingly.

"So?" Berryfrost tilted his head to look at her. Batwing giggled.

"Gee, I wonder why." He added good-humoredly. Berryfrost twitched his whiskers in amusement.

"He's dead. How could you smell like him?" Hollystar wondered. Berryfrost snorted.

"How could you smell like fox-dung all the time, even after you groom yourself? Life is a mystery." He responded. Batwing rolled over, purring loudly with laughter. Hollystar's neck fur bristled, but she said nothing in response. She rubbed her eyes with a paw, slipping back into her den. Berryfrost rolled his eyes. Crazy old badger! He licked a paw.

"So, Snaketooth is gone, right?" Batwing mewed once she left. Berryfrost shrugged.

"He's not in the clan anymore, but I'm not sure if he's still around." He responded, trotting hungrily to the fresh-kill pile. His eyes locked onto a plump squirrel. Picking it up, he sat with Batwing behind the medicine den, alone with him.

"What are you going to do about him?" Batwing's eyes grew wide with panic, "I don't want him to kill you!"

"He won't. And even if he does, we'll be together forever. I wouldn't mind dying." Berryfrost chewed his prey, then burped loudly. Batwing's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"I want you to live a full life, though. For both of us." Batwing embarrassedly shuffled his paws. Berryfrost's heart ached with love.

"I'm sorry. I will survive." He mewed determinedly. Batwing's eyes gleamed in the darkness.