World of Scars

Chapter 19 ~Tragedy~

~

I brink out of a small stream exhausted, I have been training with Coco'Pelt for hours now. "You've done well," Coco'Pelt said as he stood next to me, "I think you're ready. But! You will need your clan fighting with you, Crimsonclan has grown large... you won't be able to take them all..." he muttered. "So, what you're saying is a war on Crimsonclan?" I ask, "Indeed," he nodded, "and I can send a message to the other clans and have them assist you, but you are the only one that can defeat Echo'Moon..." Coco'Pelt said, "The prophecy will come true one way or another..." he said, "Now- go talk to Soot'Star about things," Coco'Pelt said before disappearing. I make my way bake to camp quickly. When I walk into the clearing, I'm greeted by Toffee'Cream, "Welcome back Mud'Cloud," he nodded, and I smile and nod.

~

I see Mud'Cloud walk into camp, and I rush over, "Welcome back Mud'Cloud," I nod, and Mud'Cloud just nods. They walk past me and over to Twilight'Dawn, I feel anger come over me, but then I hear whispers. I'm pulled out of camp by some strange force, a black cat stands before me, their eyes glow red as they tower over me, "You have all that anger built up... let it out, hurt the cause of all that stress," they said, "I don't want to hurt-" I begin, "not directly... take away what they care about most..." the black cat smirks slyly, my eyes widen as images of a dead kit play in my mind, "do this, I promise your anger will be dealt with..." the cat smirked.

~

I wake up feeling Skull'Fate against my back and my kits curled against my stomach, I smile as I lift my head, today is the day the kits are becoming appetence, I get up and stretch, and I notice one of the kits is missing, I look around to see Stream'kit talking to Cedar'paw and Dapple'paw. I also see Soot grooming himself as he sits in front of the wet rock, I walk over and sit down, "Tonight is the gathering..." I say sitting beside Soot, "We have to discuss our plans..." Soot sighed, "I'm sure everything will go smoothly," I smile, and Soot smiled back, "Good morning Soot'Star, Mud'Cloud," the ex-Stoneclan warrior said nodding to me and Soot, "O-oh! Good morning, Crow'Pebble!" Soot stuttered, "Good morning," I nod, "Oh, Crow'Pebble, Stoneclan is going to be at the gathering tonight," I say, "I'll still go, I don't really care if they judge me," he shrugged, "Alright, just wanted to let you know," I smile, "Glad someone cares at least," Crow'Pebble chuckled. I glance over at Soot to see he's frozen, "Soot'Star are you alright?" Crow'Pebble asked, "I-I'm fine!" Soot stuttered, "Dad! It's almost time for the apprentice ceremony!" Cedar'paw called, I look over to see it was just the two apprentices, "Wait- where's Stream'kit?" I ask, "he went on a walk with Toffee'Cream," Dapple'paw said, I glance at the camp entrance a bit nervously, "I'm sure they're fine," Crow'Pebble said noticing my nervousness. I sigh and calm myself, "I'm sure you're right," I smile. "So, Soot'Star-" Crow'Pebble began, "You can just call me Soot," Soot said, "Soot, your bi right?" Crow'Pebble asked, "Y-yeah..." Soot muttered, "Have you thought about possibly having another mate?" Crow'Pebble asked I smile goofily as I catch on to what was happening, "I mean- I have-" Soot mumbled, Crow'Pebble moved next to Soot so he could put his tail around Soot, "If a certain tom asked you to be his mate what would you say?" Crow'Pebble asked, "Crow'Pebble...?" Soot asked, "Soot'Star, would you be my mate?" Crow'Pebble asked with confidence, "Oh my Starclan- YES!" Soot squealed, Crow'Pebble smiled and nuzzled Soot, "Finally!" I say smiling, "Mud," Skull'Fate calls, I look over to see him motioning me to come over, and I pad over quickly, "They need some encouragement," Skull'Fate said, I look over to see the three kits just lying in the nursery, "Nervous?" I ask sitting down in front of them, they nod, "You'll be fine, your uncle will put you with great mentors, and everything will be fine," I smile, "No matter what you'll make me and your father so proud," I smile as Skull'Fate sits next to me, "You'll all do great," I smile. As I open my mouth to say more, I hear running, "Mud'Cloud!" Toffee'Cream called, "Yes?" I ask, "Stream'kit jumped into the gorge!" he yelled, "WHAT!?" I scream, I run out of camp I can hear Skull'Fate behind me, I stop at the edge seeing the small kits body washed up on Windclan's side of the gorge, I run to the bridge tears wetting my fur, I run to the tunnel and down the waters of the gorge crash against the rocks, but I run to my kit. I crouch down next to Stream'kit tears in my eyes, "my baby..." I cry, "Mama..." Stream muttered coughing up water, "Stream!" I cry, "I- I don't w- want to die..." he mumbled weakly, "Everything is ok... you'll be fine..." I cry trying to seem strong, "There are cats who will take care of you until I can join you..." I mutter, "I don't want to die..." Stream'kit repeated weakly, "I just want to go home..." he coughed, but then I notice bite wounds on his neck, "Stream... what happened...?" I ask, "Toffee..." he mumbled as his breathing slowed, I feel anger rise in my chest, but as my kit takes his last breaths sorrow hits me, "Stream...?" I mutter, Skull'Fate makes it down and freezes, he lays down next to me, I have my tail tucked between my legs as my ears are pinned, "My baby boy..." I cry. Skull'Fate helps me back to camp as I carry my dead kit, I set him down in front of the wet rock, but as I look up and see Toffee'Cream smirking, all my anger hits me in a wave, "You..." I hiss as my tail thrashes, "YOU DID THIS! YOU KILLED MY BABY!" I yell charging at him, Toffee'Cream pins me before I can touch him. Before I could react Skull'Fate nocks Toffee off of me and pins him, "MURDERER! I KNEW YOU COULDN'T BE TRUSTED! NEW CATS ARE EASY TO CORRUPT! I'm sorry Skull, but it's true..." I mutter the last part, "Loners and Kittypets don't understand so Dark Forest lures you in..." I mutter, "What is happening?!" Soot asked, "he killed Stream'kit..." I hiss, Soot looks to Toffee'Cream, "Leave... Leave and never return..." Soot hissed, Skull got off of Toffee'Claw and he took off his tail between his legs. "Chase him out... if he stops kill him..." Soot said to the warriors watching, they take off after him. I hear a scream; I rush over to see Dusty'kit backing away from Stream'kit's dead body, Twilight'kit is wide eyes and frozen, I can't tell what's going through his head, and Cloudy'kit shakes as he runs to me, "You can thank Toffee for that..." I hiss.

~

I run and run not stopping. My legs ache but I keep running until I find myself in some sort of abandoned twoleg place, I hide in a cave, "What have I done..." I mutter shaking, "Stupid!" I hiss. I lay on the cold stone defeated replaying Mud'Cloud's face, full of pure anger. "Well, well, well," a tom says, I look up to see the tom from before, "Nowhere to go?" he asked, "No-" I mutter, "I think I have just the place for you..." he smirked.

~

I smile as I watch the four kits run around, I look at the smallest curled up next to me sleeping peacefully. "Oh, Splattered I'm home," Echo called, I quickly hide the small kit with my body as the other kits run to me, "We have a new member," Echo smirked, "That's great!" I fake smile. A large tom walks in, it's the tom I saw when I ran into Mud, he looked nervous, but as he saw me, he froze, "Alright, get out," Echo hissed, the tom left quickly leaving me alone with Echo'Moon, he walked closer, the kits press into me as they shake, "What? Scared of your own father?" Echo asked, "Good," he smirked grabbing a kit, I freeze as he throws the kit against the wall, "Oak!" I yelp, but I quickly shut up my eyes widening as I look to Echo, "Oh, you named him after who?" Echo asked inching closer to me, "Nobody," I say, "LIES!" he hissed throwing another kit at the wall, I watch my eyes watering as their small bodies lie on top of each other, Echo wears a smirk as he watches the tears wet my fur, "You monster!" I hiss, "What was that?!" he hissed throwing another against the wall, "ECHO PLEASE STOP!" I cry as he grabs the last kit he knows of, "Kill it," he says, "NO!" I sob, "You don't want to be next, do you?" he asked inching closer, I freeze, and he tosses the kit in front of me, "I'm so sorry..." I cry as I grab the kit, I break the kit's neck crying the whole time, "Weak," Echo hissed, he turns to leave but then, "Mama?" I freeze as the small kit comes out, "Hiding this one, are we?" Echo asked grabbing the small kit, "NO! PLEASE NOT STORM!" I cry I watch as Echo pauses, he throws the kit at me and leaves, Storm shakes as he hides under my fur, I look over at the pile of kits crying. The new tom walks in and freezes, "Please... if you still care take Storm... keep him safe..." I cry, the tom looks at me and inches closer, "I'll keep him safe..." he muttered picking up Storm, "Mama!" Storm cried, "It's ok... he'll protect you from daddy," I smile weakly.

~

I carry the kit out, and the kit cries. When I place the kit down it just stays there crying, "It's ok..." I whisper, "I want my mommy!" he cries, "I know... but your mommy wants you to be safe," I say, the kit looks up to me his eyes sad.

~

My ears are pinned as the three kits sit with me; we watch as the elders burry Stream'kit, Skull puts a flower down and dips his head, "May Ember'Star find you, my son," he says his voice cracking a bit, "I'll guide him to them..." Coco'Pelt said, "Thank you..." I mutter, "Twilight'paw, Cloudy'paw, Dusty'paw... go back to camp please..." I mutter, "Yes mama..." they all mumble, once their sent is far enough away I collapse to the ground crying, "How could I let this happen!" I hiss, "It's not your fault..." Skull muttered, "I feel like it is... I feel like a failure..." I cry, "You're not a failure..." Skull says, "Twi! You don't understand! They were all I had to remember you! And now one is gone because I couldn't protect him!" I hiss, Skull paused, he lays down next to me wrapping a wing around me, "They all have your wings..." I mutter, "They all-" he starts, "Yes... each one..." I say looking him in the eyes.

-total word count: 1869-