𝖋𝖆𝖜𝖓𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖕'𝖘 𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖍 | 𝙬𝙘 𝙛𝙖𝙣-𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

xiv

ready as ill ever be.

Fawnleap woke up to the familiar pelt brushing against her forehead, nudging her back to consciousness.

"What?" She groaned, her mind still whirring as she gathered her surroundings.

"Snailstar is leaving now." A voice gently purred, and Fawnleap looked up to see a friendly face: Cougarclaw. "Oh." She breathed, slowly - but surely - remembering the war.

He liftes his head, flicking his tail in signal for Fawnleap to follow him. She lifted her hackles and slowly dragged her paws to meet her companion. Fawnleap whirled her eyes to look up, seeing familiar pelts gathered in front of the clearing, with Snailstar in the lead and Falconstrike closely behind her.

"You ready, Fawn'?" He gave her an affectionate lick. She sighed, but then gave a sharp inhale. "Ready as I'll ever be, Cougar'." The tom gave her a smile.
They both could die this morning.

"Snailstar is getting everybody in line." Reported Freckleface, bounding her way out of the mob of RigidClan cats. "Great." Fawnleap said bluntly, her ears flattening.

"You three." A stern voice called, Fawnleap's fur bristling to see the deputy. "Get in line. Snailstar wants us all ordered for the ambush." A tint of hurt rumbled somewhere in his flat voice, shaking as he spoke, as if it was going to snap at any given moment. Does he even want to battle? Fawnleap thought, squinting.

"Sorry." Cougarclaw mumbled, walking past Fawnleap as he made his way into the crowd. She followed behind him, Freckleface brushing alongside her as the wedged theirselves within the mob. It ached Fawnleap's heart when she saw the apprentices standing in line. Burdockpaw was practically shaking, but Goatpaw was practically jumping in excitement - never having the experience or what it felt like to be in such a harsh bloodbath.

"Goatpaw, you're stepping on my paw!" Spottedpaw hissed, causing the tom to shrink back. "Sorry." He apologized.

A tug pulled at Fawnleap's leg, causing her to flinch as she looked down. Mistletoepaw.

"Are cats going to die?" The sweet cat breathed, her eyes practically watering with her scent smothered in fear. Fawnleap didnt know what to say, she was trapped. Surely she couldn't tell such a young kit the truth. She glanced at Freckleface to help, but she was busy chattering with Pearlwhisker. Fawnleap's fur bristled with jealousy, before checking back with Mistletoepaw.

"Be brave, okay?" She dodged the question, praying to StarClan that the apprentice wouldn't push the truth out of her. Mistletoepaw looked back, paws shaking. "Okay." She stammered, voice shattering. Fawnleap's heart broke.

"Cats of RigidClan!" Called Snailstar, voice strong and mighty. "We will meet up with ForestClan and MeadowClan before attacking. Be brave, warriors! We will drive out GorgeClan once and for all, and have full bellies again!" Cheers - mainly from apprentices - clambered the clearing, barks of triumph peeking through them.

"Freckleface.. can I tell you something?" Fawnleap awkwardly uttered, finding her again. "Sure thing." She chirped. She's so pretty. "Listen.. I.. we could both die today. And - and I just want to say.. I love you, alright?" Fawnleap clenched, wishing she could just disappear right then and there.

Freckleface's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. Her mouth hung agape for a moment, until she shut it and smiled. "I love you too, Fawnleap." She purred, causing the cream-and-black molly to fluster. Freckleface comfortingly pressed her flank against Fawnleap's, her heart thumping.

The she-cat awkwardly shuffled her paws, before she heard Snailstar's paws thud against the flooring, exiting the forest. Falconstrike followed behind her, and before Fawnleap know it, she was being shoved by the cats behind her to move forward. Luckily, she picked up her paws quickly and swerved in front of the cats ahead of her, due to her speed quickly gaining faster than others.