Crimson Stains

Chapter 6

I am running, fast, away running from my dead mate. She chases me. Fast. Towards me. I keep running. My paws freeze under me. The stone feels like ice. I can't move. She catches up. My late kits haunt me. Their voices. Screaming. My mate runs, catches up. I gasp as she bites my leg. Mangles it. I cry out and awaken.

The sun rises, warming the mid leaf-bare snow. I look around the den wearily and realize no one is sleeping any longer. All the other warriors must have gotten up already. I stand and shake out my pelt, loose fur sprinkling the nests. Quincefall walks into the den with authority.

"Hey Scamperstep, we've spotted some rougues around the edge of the border, and I thought it would be a good idea to send you and Lizardstripe out to investigate. Be back before sun high, and please, be safe." She dips her head to me, a hint of worry clouding her face.

I nod and shake out my fur again. "Who will watch over Auburnkit?" I ask, concerned.

"I've got her covered, don't even worry." Quincefall smiles with tired eyes. *I smile back and push my way out of the den, searching for Lizardstripe. I find her by the entrance of camp staring mournfully at the ground.
I nod to her and we head out, making light conversation.

"So how have you been?" I question.

"As good as I can be I suppose" She looks away.

I pause for a second, "I get it. It's hard."
A few moments pass, I could almost hear our heartbeats. "You know, I keep having these dreams."

She looks at me, "The whole camp knows, mousebrain. You keep screaming." Her blunt words sting a bit.

I look away. I catch the smell of something oddly familiar, a stench I recognized from right before the conflict happened. My fur stands on end. "They're nearby." I hiss to Lizardstripe. She looks away, seemingly unfazed. My claws unsheathe as I spot movement in some bushes. We're not even that far from camp!

A dark brown tom steps out of the bushes calmly, looking at Lizardstripe with a bit of surprise. I hiss, ready to attack. I lunge at the cat as if he were the one to kill my mate. My kits. I claw desperately, ignoring the pain of claws digging into my pelt. Horrid agony tears through me as he reopens the newly healed wound on my leg.

I don't care

He must pay for what he did. They all must pay.

I throw myself at any cat that tries to get me off of this one, but there are too many, they overpower me, pin me down. I thrash and hiss at them, fluffing up my fur and bearing my teeth.

"Someone calm him down! He's injured Crow!" I hear someone yelling. The cats holding me down sneer, "what? Can't rip us to shreds? You clan cats are so violent." They laugh, not bothering with their claws digging into my skin.

I wriggle from their grasp, using my sheer size to my advantage. As I look around, Lizardstripe is already gone. That foxheart left me to die! I think to myself, k icking the cats off of me.

I dash through the forest, trying to get away. I hear the other cats slithering off into the bushes. I'm almost able to hear the disappointment in their voices as they grumble about letting me get away. I don't care.

I flee through the forest back to camp in record time, going straight for Inkstars den.

"Inkstar! The rogues! The ones who attacked our camp!" I feel warm, fat tears drilling through my fur. I want to push them away, to feel rage.

"They're by the cluster of oaks! We need to do something!" The words spill out of my mouth. My claws dig into the cold stone of the leaders den. They must pay.

"Woah, Scamperstep, it's okay. I'll take care of them. I was already made aware by Lizardstripe. Did she just leave you there?"

With reluctance, I reply, "yes. But I can't handle myself. I'm just glad she told you." I look down, my face burning with embarrassment.

Inkstar pads up to me, his face sympathetic. "Just go see Dustedrose for all those scratches, and get some rest." He smiles. I nod and walk slowly out of his den. The stinging of my wounds an unfriendly reminder of the close proximity of the rogues.