𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (BOOK 1) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 11

When the third 'sun' rose, things were starting to tumble down. The land was now slowly being consumed in darkness, and the smell of burnt wood spread to all territories. The heavy clouds in the skies shared the color of dark bronze and gray. 

Fortunately, MurkClan is getting better with the sickness, although three clan members did not make it, Flood'fall, Toad'hop, and Pine'leap had passed. 

This was devastating. Not only those two beloved members had passed, but one was a father, Flood'fall expected kits, now his mate wails for him as his floating body departed to the waves. 

River'lily just sat there, her body exhausted after endless days of just working constantly. Her body looked malnourished; she wasn't even taking care of herself. Even neglecting her duties to fulfill the prophecy, and now she feels useless. Medicine cats were meant to be respected in their own right, and yet Marsh'star hasn't seen her potential, but only for her to obey and do all the work for him. 

Mushroom'paw sat behind her. His eyes stared at the bodies of their fallen clanmates floating endlessly towards the cloud of darkness. He was just as fatigued as his mentor; his fur was unruly and mattered. He still tries to make the best of this horrible situation.

When the vigil had finally passed, Marsh'star turned to his deputy. "Pond'hollow, bring the others back to camp." He commanded before glaring at River'lily, disappointingly. "You, stay."

River'lily expected this. She knew that the leader had something to say about her recent performance. 

Pond'hollow briefly gazed at River'lily before nodding her head, now leading the others to camp. Mushroom'paw's heart dropped when Marsh'star glared at him, and he quickly ran off, lowering his head. The seas are calm. It was only River'lily and Marsh'star. The tension of the loud silence is only heard by the she-cat's constant beating of her heart.

"Your recent performances are disappointing." Marsh'star stared at the tense waves. His eyes turned slightly to stare at the medicine cat. "Despite MurkClan barely surviving the black cough, you were starting to get on my nerves. Your laziness is unbearable. You haven't even taken care of yourself. Just look at you." He turns his head in disgust. "This isn't how a medicine cat lives. Our clan's success will never shine with you slacking around."

River'lily's chest was starting to ache, her heart erupted in flames hearing the scolding of her leader, treating her like some kit. "I work for the clan day by day, even at its weakness, and I'm the disappointment here?" She took offense of his words, her body tensing from the burst of anger. Her fangs bared at the leader. "You haven't looked at a pond's reflection and see the waters turn black, have you not seen yourself?"

"This isn't about me, River'lily. This is about you!" He hissed, now moving closer. His eyes stared her down. "The weight is on your shoulders. Your old mentor chose you because of your hard work and gratitude. You've wasted your blessings. I believe that you are not fit for this role, I may choose another who is better with herbs and organizing." 

"You can't do that!" She spat. "You can't demote me in your own right, I would have to see StarClan in my chance of retiring. And what will my apprentice do without no mentor on his side? Nothing!" The medicine cat was bold enough to shout against the leader, Marsh'star disapproved of her defiance. 

"StarClan is no more!" He exploded, his paws thumping against the ground in attempt to silence her. "Our connection is off the waters! If I have to demote you from this position I will! What do those cats above the skies mean to us if they have no control of our suffering!?" 

River'lily scoffed. "Talk about those 'blessings' you made in the gathering, and now you're speaking against their honors. What kind of leader says that!?" She stepped closer, her blazing eyes gave a scowling look at the 'leader'. "You're no warrior." Her voice is low, her anger reached into a place of no hope. "And you can forget me naming you a 'leader' when you've put your own clan into danger's footsteps by becoming allies with Ice'star. I feel no honor with this territory I call broken." 

She stepped aside, leaving Marsh'star into a shocked mess. He watched as she padded off. 

"I am quitting. I wish the worst of you." The she-cat spoke to him for the last time, leaving a cold remark at the end. 

River'lily heads off from the beach, leaving the clan life behind her, now that they've proved her point, although she couldn't say anything for ignorance when she was distracted of her overworked nonsense. 

The dry grass cracked below her as she took her first step to freedom. However, she is only stopped by the rustling of a bush behind her. Mushroom'paw's arms peeked from the leaves, his head was now shown, and his eyes seemed to be worried. He couldn't say anything or make his mentor relive what had happened to her, he just gives her a bow, fearing he couldn't see her anymore.

River'lily's eyes fell into sorrow. For the first time, she felt sympathy. She couldn't bear leaving Mushroom'paw in a clan like this, it would've been dangerous. So, she sighed. "Come." She spoke. "I will not leave you here to die."

Mushroom'paw's face lit up when he heard of her approval. His loyalty led him to instantly jump from under the bush, ready to join his mentor till the end. 

Now she has a chance to redeem herself, to find what the prophecy truly means for her. Soon, she and her apprentice will finally live their lives at peace.

River'lily brushed her muzzle against his forehead before pacing off, her apprentice following her from behind. 

Now that Marsh'star had lost his only medicine cat who had been loyal for moons, he had to brush it off. He exhaled and continued to look out in the waves. The bodies of his warriors were now gone, and that, he rose from his spot to leave.

He smells something unfamiliar though. The scent of a mountain cat, lingering above. He moves his head to sniff out the smell of raw fish from the tall trees. What appeared to be is some copper-colored eyes staring down. 

A dark-gray, mackerel cat leapt from the trees pinning Marsh'star down. His claws unsheathed, clawing the throat of the leader. "NO!" Marsh'star swiped a paw at the tom's face, his voice became distorted from him choking on his blood. 

"Nice and easy..." The tom spoke in a sinisterly pitch of his voice. "You sure lack survival instincts." The CavernClan cat knead him down with his claws sinking into his throat, causing him to lose his seventh life and down to the last of his original life moons ago. Marsh'star stopped breathing as he was placed on his back. Another cat, who is tortoiseshell loomed over the body of Marsh'star, Kestrel'shade had a look of satisfaction.

She then unsheathed his claws to blind both of the leader's eyes in hopes of disabling and forcing him into a vulnerable state. 

The two cats then carried to temporarily dead tom back to the mountains, leaving a track of blood throughout the marshlands.