Warriors: Poisoned Loyalty {COMPLETED}

Chapter 34

Dusk's heart shattered as they saw Poppypool's body crumple. For a moment, they were frozen, staring in horror as the blood pooled around her, seeping into the earth. Then, reality hit them like a storm, and they were by her side in an instant, frantically nudging her, pleading, "No, no, no– Poppypool, you're going to be okay! Stay with me!"

Tears streaming down their face, they pressed their paws over the bite on her neck, trying to desperately prevent the inevitable. "Reed! Help me!" They threw a frantic glance at him, their voice cracking. "Put your paws here– press down hard!"

Reed knelt beside them, shaking but obedient, pressing his paws to her chest with as much pressure as he could manage. His eyes, wide and full of shock, flicked between Dusk and Poppypool, his own emotions storming in his eyes.

Poppypool's eyes fluttered open, weakly, but with a soft smile that broke Dusk's heart. Her voice was barely a whisper, rasping with each shallow breath. "Dusk..." She managed, her gaze settling on them, warm and caring. "You've... you've grown so much. Into such a strong cat..."

Dusk's heart twisted. "Don't talk like that! You're going to make it!" Their voice was raw, desperate. "We'll get you back to camp, and Newtflake will fix you up, and everything will be fine– please, Poppypool!"

Poppypool's eyes softened, a sad smile flickering on her face as she shook her head faintly. "I... I made so many mistakes," she whispered, her voice growing fainter. "But... bringing you to the Clan... it was the best choice I ever made." She paused, gasping, but forcing herself to keep speaking. "I'm... so proud of you."

A broken sob escaped Dusk as they tried to press harder, as if they could force her life back into her with sheer will alone. "No, you can't leave us! You can't leave me! I still need you, Poppypool– we all need you! Newtflake, Hawkflight– they need you. Please, don't go..."

Poppypool's eyes began to dim, but she managed to lift a paw, reaching it up to Dusk's face. Gently, she touched her nose to theirs, a soft, fleeting moment that held all the care she had for them. "Even... if you can't see me," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I'll be there, Dusk. Watching... from StarClan."

"No, don't say that! You're not leaving me yet," Dusk sobbed, tears spilling down their cheeks as they tried to keep her with them, paws shaking with desperation. "Please, Poppypool, stay... just a little longer..."

A shadow of a purr escaped her, a sound that was both a comfort and a goodbye. "I'm so proud of you... don't ever forget that."

And with that, her body relaxed, the last flicker of life fading from her eyes as she slumped against the ground, still and silent.

A strangled cry tore from Dusk's throat as they buried their face in her fur, sobs wracking their body. "No, please... please don't go..."

Reed reached out, pulling Dusk into his embrace, letting them cling to him as they broke down, the weight of the world pressing down on them. His voice was soft, his touch gentle, offering comfort as best he could.

"I'm so sorry, Dusk," he murmured, his own voice thick with sorrow. "I'm so, so sorry."

Dusk's sobs echoed through the blood-stained clearing, a heart-wrenching lament that seemed to pierce even the stars above. For the first time in moons, Dusk had found a proper family, a place they belonged, only for it to be stripped away from them by the brute who killed their mother.

Dusk was numb, staring at the body of the cat who'd given her a chance, when they heard the thrumming of pawsteps approaching. It was Hawkflight, his eyes widening with horror as he took in the scene. He staggered to a halt, his gaze fixed on his sister's lifeless form, devastation written across his face.

"No... Poppypool...no..." he whispered, his voice cracking. His grief quickly morphed into fury, a rage that burned with an intensity Dusk had rarely seen.

Dusk's voice was shaky as they tried to explain, "She went after Gravel... she fought so hard, Hawkflight. Hickorytree was with her, but... he killed her."

The agony in Hawkflight's gaze sharpened into a fierce resolve as his head snapped up. Across the battlefield, Gravel loomed over a battered and bleeding Hickorytree, ready to deliver the final blow. Hawkflight's claws unsheathed, his eyes flashing with unrestrained anger. "Gravel!"

Without another word, Hawkflight charged, his powerful muscles propelling him forward like a storm. Reed, who had been comforting Dusk, leapt to join him, his eyes dark with determination. Gravel's head snapped up, surprised, but before he could react, Hawkflight's claws were already tearing into him. Reed struck from the other side, and together they overwhelmed the rogue leader, claws and teeth flashing in the moonlight.

Gravel fought back savagely, but he was already weakened, and the combined strength of Hawkflight and Reed proved too much. With one final strike, Gravel collapsed to the ground, defeated. His body lay still, and silence fell over the battlefield.

Dusk stood motionless, watching as Hawkflight and Reed took a step back, their fur bristling, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Hickorytree, though badly injured, managed to stagger up, his face weary but relieved.

"It's over," Hawkflight rasped, his voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with an undeniable finality. He glanced back at Dusk, his expression softening as he saw the young cat standing over Poppypool's body. His eyes were filled with a sorry so deep, it seemed endless.

But as Dusk's gaze drifted across the camp, they saw that not all of the rogues had fled. Ridge, Scorch, and Snarl lay among the fallen, their twisted expressions frozen in death. But three other rogues– Vine, Flint, and Pine– stood huddled together, their bodies covered in scratches and bites, staring around them with hollow eyes.

The Clan cats closed in, ready to finish the fight. Dusk stepped forward, heart hammering as they called out, "Wait!"

The warriors halted, turning to look at them in confusion, but Dusk's focus was on her former rogue-mates. They took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Look around you. Look at what's happened here. Is this the life you wanted?" Their voice shook with emotion. "Fighting, killing... taking from cats who did nothing to you?"

The three rogues exchanged glances, uncertain, but Dusk pressed on. "Gravel told you that this was the only way, but look at where it led. Poppypool showed me a different life. She took me in, showed me kindness, gave me a chance even when she had every reason not to. The Clan she loved– GlacierClan– they're not your enemy. Gravel was wrong about them."

Vine shifted on her paws, looking uncomfortable, but something in her expression softened. "But... where do we go now? We have nothing left."

Dusk's voice grew steadier, firmer. "Come back with us. The Clan is... it's nothing like anything Gravel told you. There's loyalty, but there's also trust, support, and strength without violence. You don't have to live this way, always looking for the next fight."

Flint looked uncertain, his gaze flickering between Dusk and the Clan cats surrounding them. "But... can we really just leave all of this behind? What if we're not accepted?"

Dusk stepped closer, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "I wasn't sure if I'd be accepted, either. But I took a chance. They gave me one, and I know they'll give you one too. If you're willing to change, to stand beside us rather than against us, there's a place for you in GlacierClan."

For a long, tense moment, the rogues were silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Vine stepped forward, her eyes hardened with resolve. "If there's a chance for something better... if Poppypool believed in you, they maybe we can believe in you too." She nodded, glancing at Flint and Pine. "We'll come with you."

Dusk's heart swelled with relief as they gave the slightest nod of gratitude, murmuring, "Thank you."

The Clan cats relaxed, their hostility melting into a cautious acceptance as they stepped aside to allow the rogues to join their ranks. Dusk felt a pang in their heart as they looked back at Poppypool's body, but their spirit felt just a bit lighter. They had saved these rogues and brought them a chance for something better– a small victory, but one Poppypool would have been proud of.

And with her memory guiding them, Dusk knew that they would keep fighting for that brighter future.