Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 15

(Cat above is Leafshade)
"So Shatteredkit is her name then".

Leafshade nodded "Interesting name isnt it?" he sliced a leaf in two with a single claw "It's weird how creative queens can be". The tiny brown and white tabby she-kit the patrol had found in the woods has been named Shatteredkit and adopted by Willowfur and her only surviving kit, Starkit.

Foxgaze and Leafshade were sitting in the medicine cat den. The deputy had just gotten off her dawn patrol and wanted to watch him cut herbs for store. She watched as he chewed some raspberry leaves into a poultice. Spitting it on a maple leaf he turned towards Rabbitpaw. The bouncy apprentice had stepped on a bee during the patrol. The apprentice's normally slim paw was swollen from the venom.

"I have a bad feeling about today Leafshade but I cant tell what it is" Foxgaze said in an uneasy tone. When she was out on the patrol, prey seemed unusually scarce...and not because leafbare was coming in. Everything seemed to be hiding from something that wasn't the cold. StarClan don't let it be foxes.

Darkpaw padded in through the entrance. Her deep blue eyes kept looking at the floor as she mumbled "Um... Firefur wanted me to ask you when Rabbitpaw will be ready to train again".

Leafshade purred at the shy apprentice "Tell him that I would say she'll be fine after a few hours". Giving a tiny nod the black and white apprentice padded out of the den.

"I remember when I was like that" Leafshade chuckled as soon as Darkpaw was across canp "Shy and as nervous as a rabbit".

"Believe me Leafshade, I know" Foxgaze purred. The medicine cat's leafy green eyes made her pelt feel prickly and hot. She looked at her paws and scolded herself Stop it Foxgaze. You cant...like him I mean, he's a medicine cat and you're the deputy that could become leader at any time. Gah! Why does everything with me have to be so difficult!

"What makes you think something bad will happen?" Leafshade mewed. His tail flicked at Rabbitpaw "Does it have to do with her?"

"I have ears you know" Rabbitpaw grumbled. She winced as her swollen paw shifted it's weight. Judging from her weight and size, she should be a warrior soon Foxgaze thought to herself.

Foxgaze shook her head "No. I don't think so. It had to do with prey".

"Well whatever it is I'm sure we'll figure-" Leafshade began. He was interuppted by a loud screech.

All three cats in the den whipped around to look for the source of the noise. Foxgaze saw Hawkbreeze yowling as he was chased by a flash of russet fur. Foxes.

A wave of dread crashed over Foxgaze as memories of what happened to Adderpaw so long ago. His shrieks of pain and lifeless eyes floated across her vision. Then fury flickered in her heart and turned her fear into anger. Brightmoon hissed in her ear What's the matter Foxgaze? Too scared to fight? Hah! Some deputy you are.

Shut up you demon! Foxgaze hissed back. Screeching in fury, she threw herself at the nearest fox. The beast yelped as it was smacked across the face by Foxgaze's unsheathed paw. She landed beside the fox as it stumbled to regain its balance. It's glaring yellow eyes were full of hate.

It was the same fox that had killed Adderpaw.

"You!" Foxgaze hissed. As if saying Yes Foxgaze the fox snarled and turned to her. Her legs were shaking from the urge to kill "Y-You ruined my life!" she said in a barely audible hiss "You murdered him!"

"Foxgaze! Behind you!" Leafshade shrieked. A loud crunch and a snarl made Foxgaze whip around. It was the second fox and in its mouth was Foxgaze's tail. She shrieked in pain as the fox bit down harder and yanked on her tail. Clawing at the ground she desperately tried to get away from her attacker without hurting her tail any further. The first fox didn't do anything except watch her with cold eyes.

Giving one final tug the fox yanked Foxgaze in the air and sent her flying. Screeching in fear and pain she hit the HighRock hard. Stars flickered across her vision as she slumped to the ground.

It isn't your time yet Foxgaze a tiny voice inside her said You can still fight. Tails don't fight, claws do.

She wrenched open her eyes and saw only dusty, blood splattered ground. Gritting her teeth to dull the pain, it felt like the base of her tail was on fire. Soon after she saw the reason why. Her tail was gone, leaving only a bloody stump.

She heard a bark and whipped around to faxe the fox. The second fox, blood still dripping from its jaws, was making its way towards the nurserey. Foxgaze could see Willowfur screeching in fear as she curled around her kits.

That moment, something inside Foxgaze snapped. Something that had been bent and mangled but had always been hidden. She ignored the burning pain and heaved herself to her shaking paws.

"You will not destroy me!" she shrieked as she launched herself forward. Yowling in fury she rammed into the fox's side and sent it crashing through the thorn barrier. The fox snarled and snapped as Foxgaze dug her claws into its neck but it then retreated into the woods, tail between its legs.

Foxgaze ran back through the thorn barrier and saw the first, larger fox chasing Pebblefur. She yowled "Scratch at its nose, they hate that!"

The dappled grey tom nodded and dug his claws into the nose of the fox. The russet beast yelped in pain and jumped away. Its yellow eyes were filled with rage as it saw the cats surrounding it. In the corner of her eye she saw Dawnstar racing up the High Rock.

If you have a plan Dawnstar, do it now! Foxgaze heard a screech and a dark form seemed to be falling from the High Rock. Her stomach seemed to drop as she at first thought the shape was Dawnstar but it soon came to her relief that it was a falling boulder. She turned away as she heard a chilling scream and a muffled crunch.

Oh StarClan, could it be? She turned to see the boulder and a fox tail and paw sticking out from underneath it. After wanting revenge for so long, her enemy was dead. Adderpaw, you have been avenged were Foxgaze's last thoughts before her legs crumpled beneath her and she fell unconscious.