Random Short Stories

The Fury Within [❄️]

(Note: This is somewhat of a vent fic as well and it gives away a bit of why I went on hiatus for a period of time.)
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The moon rose high above the sprawling landscape of the forest, casting a silvery glow that danced through the canopies and shimmered on the surface of the tranquil lake.

The night was indeed very peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm swirling inside Glacethrash's heart.

She lay in the shadows of the ancient oak at the edge of the territory, her brilliant white fur blending almost seamlessly with the snowberries that had started to bloom, a gentle reminder that even in the harshest winters, life could find a way.

But tonight, life felt like a burden.

Glacethrash, warrior of SnowClan, had always been a beacon of chaos and energy for her clan, known for her sharp instincts and unwavering resolve along with sassy wit.

Yet here she was, lying quietly, overwhelmed by the tide of memories that crashed upon her like relentless waves, eroding the confidence she had built over countless moons.

The chilling whispers of betrayal echoed in her mind, each one sharper than the last—a chilling reminder of the past she wished she could forget and bury six million feet below.

Her mind wandered to the cats she had once called friends, allies even, who turned their backs on her when she needed them most. Torn by greed, ambition, or influence, they had marched away into the night, leaving her with nothing but scars of their treachery.

Each betrayal felt like a cut, reopening wounds she had fought to heal. A shudder ran through her as her heart thudded heavily against her chest, filled not with the warmth of trust, but the icy grip of despair.

With a ragged sigh, Glacethrash buried her face in her paws, the weight of her burdens pressing down hard upon her like a fallen tree upon a hapless sapling.

Only a few pawsteps away, Jaggedcliff, her best friend and the medicine cat of SnowClan, had been keeping watch, his amber eyes reflecting the moonlight as he observed her from a distance.

Unease gripped him as he noticed her stillness. Instinctively, he knew something was terribly wrong; Glacethrash was usually completely unable to keep still.

"Glace?" he called softly, his voice barely above a whisper, yet firm enough to break the spell of her silence. The faint twitch of her tail was all that answered him.

Padding closer, he could see the tension in her shoulders, the subtle tremors that belied the chaotic, robust front she often held. "Glace, it's late. What are you doing out here all alone?"

"I just... I just needed some air," she replied, her voice wavering as she tried to sound casual. But Jaggedcliff could hear the cracking edge of her tone, the cracks in her brave facade, and his heart ached for her.

"Let's talk, shall we?" he suggested, his tone gentle yet insistent. "You can't carry everything inside alone." He settled beside her, aware that this conversation held the potential to unveil the depths of her turmoil.

The white she-cat flinched at his words, unable to suppress a shuddering breath. The walls she had so carefully constructed began to crumble, and the floodgates broke open.

"You don't understand, Jaggedcliff!" she burst out, emotion spilling forth like a torrent. "Don't you see? I can't risk being hurt again!"

Her cry was laced with desperation. "I had to keep my heart guarded—yet I can't help but let them in. I thought they were different! I thought they cared! But when it mattered, they chose their own desires over our friendship."