Sins of The Storm

Chapter Four-Do You Trust Me Now?

"Smoke!" The orange tom cried out in disbelief when he recognized the blue-gray she-cat. "What are you doing here?"

Smoke didn't even spare a look at him; she fluffed her fur out and snarled, shielding him from the enemy cats. "Saving your sorry butt!" She spat, slashing towards Acornfire who stuck her muzzle too near.

"You?!" The dark russet she-cat choked out, her eyes as wide as the moon. "What..."

But Smoke didn't let her finish; as fast as lightning, she smacked Acornfire on the chin and threw her back while she was stunned. The orange tom couldn't help but stare at the blue-gray she-cat in dismay, still in shock. She came here to save me after all the things I've said to her!

"Run, you mouse-brain!" He was snapped out of his thoughts by Smoke who smacked him a little bit too hard with her tail to get his attention. "I'll hold them up!"

He was about to drop a witty response, but nothing good came into his mind. He hated the idea of running away and leaving Smoke to fight five cats all alone, but he knew that it wouldn't do too much if he joined the fight. He was already battered enough.

With a grunt, he pushed himself away from the tree. The world went into a blurry spiral as he did so, but he tried to shake it away. I can barely even stand, let alone run! I'm the easiest target the world has ever seen! Still, he knew he had to try something if he wanted to survive.

"Go, you flea-brain!" Smoke urged as she barely managed to avoid a blow from Willowscar. But she wasn't saved with that; Dewshadow managed to hook his claws into her side, trying to drag him down. The orange tom tore his eyes away from the sight. A part of him wanted to stay and help Smoke, but the other part, the more rational one knew that he did the best thing if he ran.

So he turned around with a heavy sigh, and jumped out from behind the blue-gray she-cat's back, picking up a swift pace. The world was spinning around him, making him so dizzy that he almost fell over. Pain pierced his body, forcing him to grit his teeth and try to endure it somehow. Like the voice said, he thought as it became harder and harder to run with every heartbeat.

"Get him!" He heard Tawnydawn's screech from somewhere far away. He tried quickening his pace, but his muscles wouldn't obey him. In fact, he was only beginning to slow down. His lungs were burning from the lack of air, but he didn't dare to stop. He couldn't even hear if someone was following him because the blood in his ears pounded so hard.

So he just ran. He didn't know where, but that was the smallest of his problems. Right now, that didn't really matter. It will when he stops and finds that he was lost, but that was another thing. Let's hope that I won't get too lost, he thought. Tawnydawn and her allies surely know this place better than I do.

Just keep going, the orange tom encouraged himself when it suddenly became really hard to breathe. He felt like he was crushed under some kind of heavy weight that pressed down on his chest each time he tried to take a shaky breath of the cold night air. It's going to be okay, I'll just have to-

He was startled from his thoughts as a huge tree suddenly appeared in front of him. Cursing, he tried to slow down, but in vain; he crashed right into the tree with his already damaged head.

"Mouse-dung!" He spat as he fell on the ground with his face burning. "Who put this...stupid...tree here...?" He gasped desperately for air. The raindrops fell softly on his head, rolling down onto his face and cooling the wounds. Ah, this feels good, he thought gratefully, looking up at the storm clouds that covered the night sky. Opening his mouth, he let the rain flow into his throat, easing the burning feeling.

Perking his ears up, he listened to any pawsteps behind him. But there was nothing expect the sound of the pouring rain. The orange tom exhaled in relief. I managed to get away at last. He winced, all of his muscles hurting. Blood was oozing from his wounds, only for the water to wash it away. The rain washes away the blood, does it?