Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 10 ]

Fallowstep gently brushed her head along Frecklesky's chin, thrumming a worrisome purr.

"Be careful for me, okay?" She mewed. Frecklesky could scarcely see worry shining in her eyes as she pulled away, her pale ginger pelt dark under the shadows of pre-dawn darkness. "I don't want you getting hurt too badly."

Frecklesky smiled softly—a look reserved for Fallowstep, and Fallowstep only. "When do I ever get hurt? I'll be fine, I promise."

Fallowstep's nose quivered. "I don't know what Larkstar is thinking," she rambled. "We're nearly out of herbs. If Heronwing didn't insist we go on that big harvest last moon, we'd be fine! But now we have nothing, and if you—if you get hurt—"

Frecklesky pressed her large paws against her sister's chest. "Stop it," she hissed. "The only cat you need to worry about is yourself. You ate your traveling herbs, right?"

Fallowstep's whiskers twitched. "You don't even know what they're made of."

"But I know you need them for your journey."

Fallowstep opened her mouth for protest, but Heronwing padded over. He dropped a bundle of measly herbs to the ground. Their scents were strong and fresh. "Fallowstep, it's time for you to leave. Say your final goodbyes."

Fallowstep nodded curtly, her eyes shining with tears. "Okay." She turned to face Frecklesky one more time, her nose quivering. She thrust her neck forward, burying her head in her sister's fluffy chest. "Please, promise me you'll be careful."

Frecklesky blinked in surprise, a sigh expanding in her chest. "Okay, I promise," she murmured, gently nuzzling her sister's head.

Fallowstep smiled, stepping away. She met Frecklesky's gaze for a moment longer, waved her tail slightly in farewell, and turned to run off. The white tip of her ginger tail disappeared through the camp entrance.

Heronwing rested his tail carefully on Frecklesky's shoulder, and she whipped around, baring her teeth at him, before crumpling slightly under his intense gaze.

The tom shrugged her off and gestured towards the camp entrance where warriors were gathering. She padded over, heaving a rattly sigh as the patrol padded out of camp. She always felt nervous when Fallowstep left the safety of ShadowClan's hunting grounds, even though she knew that she was safe under the eyes of StarClan. She tossed her head over her shoulder, looking at the eastern horizon where WindClan territory resided, and beyond her line of sight, Highstones.

A slight pink glow painted the darkness as sunrise chased away the shadows of night, warming the damp air.

The stink of the thunderpath greeted Frecklesky's senses, and moments later, she emerged from the tall grass. The hard, dark surface began only a few tail-lengths ahead, stretching far to the trees on the other side. Larkstar flicked her tail as the Clan crept carefully to the edge of the rancid path, fear scent overwhelming anything that escaped the stench.

A monster rolled by, and Larkstar led the warriors into a ditch and towards another tunnel. She slipped inside, and the warriors followed quietly. A shrill monster squealed above the surface, and Frecklesky gritted her teeth at the piercing noise. The cats ahead of her picked up the pace, sloshing muck all over their bellies until at last, fresh air greeted the warrior's nose.

Frecklesky breathed a heavy sigh of relief, shaking her pelt slightly, but allowing some of the turbid liquid to linger. It would help her blend into the forest a little better, though she was sure the odor would have the opposite effect.

The warriors pushed through the forest, creeping carefully among the foliage. The ground was strewn with leaves and branches, crackling noisily under their careful paws. Her nostrils flared in distress. ThunderClan territory was impossible!

A light gasp burst from the underbrush ahead, and Frecklesky's eyes sharpened at the sight of a black and white apprentice, scrambling quickly backwards.

"Coalstep!" She wailed, sprinting away.

Frecklesky burst forward with means to pursue, but Larkstar stopped her and the few others who'd begun to move as well. "No, let her be. We're not here to terrorize kits."

Frecklesky swallowed and nodded, falling back into place with her Clanmates. Unease swallowed her as she kept her hackles raised slightly. The trees blotted out the sky. Was StarClan unable to watch them from under the cover of branches? Was ShadowClan alone in this battle?

She shook the foreboding thoughts away, instead focusing on the uneven ground.

The sound of their crackling footsteps subsided as she caught the sound of fur brushing foliage. She pulled to a stop. Larkstar had noticed, too, and indicated her Clan to a halt.

Silence choked the air until finally, Brightstar emerged from the underbrush, his head held high. Frecklesky's claws sank into the dappled earth as she saw pelts rippling behind him, the ThunderClan warriors bunched together behind their leader.

"What are you doing here, Larkstar?" The black tom growled, his startling green eyes flitting across the line of enemy warriors.

Larkstar hesitated, and kept her voice cool, "You killed one of our cats and destroyed our herb store. I'm here to request your payment, Brightstar."

Brightstar's eyes flashed. "Payment?" He hissed. "I agreed to no such thing." He lifted his tail and swayed it through the air, his warriors fanning out behind him and forming a line.

A growl lifted from Larkstar's chest, and she stepped forward. "This is your final chance, Brightstar. Bring us payment, or you will face war."

Brighstar bared his teeth. "War it is, then. ThunderClan, attack!"

Frecklesky's heart thundered in her ears as for a moment, deafening silence befell the forest. Then, with earsplitting caterwauls, the ThunderClan warriors charged forward.

In the moments she had to spare, Larkstar faced her warriors. "ShadowClan cannot afford to lose! Go, now!" She screeched, lashing her tail as her warriors plunged into battle.

❀

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Thank you for reading! ~ Kitten