Warrior Cats: Beyond the Clans

Autumn's Promise - Chapter 4

Autumn held her head high for the first time since Emberstorm's death. Along with her brother, Sparrow had also passed away, and Sun's strength had been affected greatly.

"Autumn, can Flash and I go hunting?" Oak approached her.

"I don't care!" Autumn snapped. "If you want to go, then go! Why ask me?"

"I'm sorry, Autumn," Oak stammered. "It's just that Sand and Snow always-"

"Do I look like Sand or Snow?" Autumn sneered. "No. I'm not."

Emberstorm's death had been taking its toll on Autumn. Despite becoming deputy, she was always unhappy. Her dreams were haunted with Emberstorm's dead body becoming alive. Autumn would always rush to him, desperate to hear his voice again, when he would fall down, the light in his eyes dying.

Afraid to sleep due to the nightmares, Autumn had kept herself awake most of the nights. This resulted in her becoming unfocused and grouchy.

"Autumn, I want to talk to you," a voice called.

Autumn almost lashed out again, but she realized it was Sun. I wouldn't have lashed out if it was Emberstorm either, she reminded herself. She managed as much respect as she could and curtly nodded. "Alright. Let's go to our den."

Sun dipped his head, his yellow eyes dull and sparking with worry as he led the way to their den.

"Well?" Autumn whirled around once they got there, turning to face the ginger tom. His fur is the same shade as Emberstorm's.  "What do you want?"

"I've been receiving many complaints," Sun started. Autumn noticed that his fur was patchy and unkempt. Now, that's not like Emberstorm. He used to always keep his fur pristine.

"I don't care. I'm the deputy, I order them around," Autumn spat. But there should be a few more cats to order around.

"But Autumn, unless you can change your attitude a bit, I have to demote you," Sun sighed. "I had such high hopes for you..."

"Wait why? Why do you have to demote me?" Autumn hissed, rage filling her from ear tips to tail tip.

"Because I'm weak. Greencough never really left my body, and Storm cannot heal me." Sun explained patiently.

Wait. I get to lead if he dies. Sun doesn't deserve to live while Emberstorm had to die.

"That means I'll lead when you die." Autumn said bluntly. "And you don't want that."

Sun winced. "Yes, that's correct. It's not that I don't want it."

"Well fine!" Autumn swept her tail across the floor furiously. "Demote me!"

"Autumn, I'll give you a moon to decide." Sun mewed sternly.

Autumn glared at her leader before storming out of the den.

Pacing in annoyance in the sunlight, Autumn thought about what she had let herself become lately. It was true, her lack of sleep had changed her in a way that she didn't really want. And she had hurt Wild Wind...

If Emberstorm was there, he would've stopped me. If Emberstorm was there, it wouldn't have happened.

Guilt pierced her as she noticed she hadn't talked to Wild Wind since Emberstorm's death.

"Sun! Autumn!"

Autumn turned to see Fawn, Violet, Mountain and Sky marching a black tom with dark green eyes into the camp. Those green eyes look like Emberstorm's.

"What is it?" Autumn purred, trying to be kind but miserably failing.

Fawn eyed her with distrust and spoke to Sun, who had appeared behind her. "Sun, this tom wants to join us. His name is Night Sky."

"Hmm," Sun pondered the thought. "Very well. We are low on cats after all. Night Sky, come with me and Autumn to our den."

Autumn obeyed with a sharp glare to the stranger before following them to her den.

"Autumn, I want you to help with Night Sky's test," Sun declared.

"What? Me?" Autumn puffed out her chest. "Alright."

Sun dipped his head before leaving the den.

"What's your name?" Autumn questioned.

"Don't you know that?" Night Sky asked in confusion.

"Answer!" Autumn snapped, losing control for a brief moment and her claws unsheathed out of instinct.

"Night Sky," he stammered.

"How old are you?"

"9 moons," Night Sky answered quickly, afraid that she'd lose control again.

"Show me your best crouch," Autumn ordered.

Night Sky dropped into a crouch and pounced on a stick, snapping it in two gracefully.

Not bad. I haven't seen any cat under 12 moons do that before.

Autumn then observed his battle crouch. It was decent, though not as good as the hunting crouch.

"Fight me now." Autumn commanded.

Night Sky blinked at her before launching himself at her, his claws glinting in in the afternoon sun. Shocked, Autumn took a step back, unsheathing her claws as well. Night Sky swiped a paw over her flank, leaving bleeding claw marks. Angered, Autumn dived at him, clawing his ears and thrusting her muzzle towards his neck.

Night Sky spun around, knocking Autumn off. Surprised, she let down her guard for a quick second to take a breath. During that second, Night Sky used his weight to his advantage, knocking Autumn to the ground, exposing her belly. Autumn quickly rolled over so his claws scraped her back. She then kicked him in his belly, winding him. Already, she could feel herself tiring. She had to end it.

Before she could act, Night Sky was already on his feet, a wary look in his eyes. Autumn bled from several wounds while Night Sky's only injury were his clawed ears. His black fur suddenly shot towards her and his jaws snapped near her neck, grazing it.

"Good job," Autumn grunted, throwing him off. "Though I didn't expect you to have your claws out."

"Sorry," Night Sky meowed. "I've never fought with sheathed claws before. It was instinct."

Autumn inspected her wounds, feeling prickles of pain as blood trickled out. Shaking herself, she nodded at Night Sky. "Truth! Show me the way!" she yowled.

A white light flashed on Night Sky, respecting his fighting skills. Then, it switched to black. Quite like Autumn's test, it was as if Truth couldn't decide. Then, Truth decided on black.

Hunter.

"Congratulations," Autumn mewed with no emotion, feeling herself slip back into her silent and cold personality. "You're a hunter. Talk to someone else about the rules."

Autumn swept out of the den, wondering why she had let down her guard in the first place. Night Sky is an arrogant furball, she thought angrily.

Her wounds had begun to throb, so she headed to the medicine den. Shivering as she entered, her recent memories of this den took over. Autumn leaned on the den wall, feeling sick as she recalled how she had woken up here after finding out Emberstorm had died.

Emberstorm...How did I forget you? Ever since your death, I have constantly been thinking about you. How did I forget during the test?