Warriors: Echo of Darkness

Chapter 25

My eyes widened with fear as I bolted down the slope. Her fur was wet and her eyes were closed, but I could see a faint breath escape her mouth. I quickly started licking her fur the wrong way to warm her up, "Feather... Feather are you alright? I'm so sorry I never should have let you go alone!"

As I pressed down on her chest, more water escaped her mouth. She coughed and sputtered then looked up at me weakly, "I guess I'm in your debt, yet again."

I felt like a badger's weight had just been lifted off my chest, "Thank SoulClan you're alright."

I continued lapping her fur, she let out a weak purr. After several minutes of silence, she jolted up, "The others! They're fighting the rogues! We need to make sure they're alright!"

She struggled to her paws, I pressed my side against hers, "They're fine, we took care of them. I-I killed a cat today."

Feather's eyes filled with sorrow, "I'm so so sorry Nightmare... If I hadn't gone off I wouldn't have gotten captured." she whimpered. 

"Don't fret," I comforted, "LunarClan cats are compassionate, anyone would fight for you in a heartbeat."

"We only met recently..." Feather meowed, "I never thought any cat could be as trusting or kind as you, Nightmare."

As I grew flustered, my pelt warmed. She pressed against me, "You're nice and warm now." she purred. 

"Let's get back to the others, they must be panicked. I thought I lost you, I didn't know what I would do if you died." I buried my muzzle into her fur. I froze, a familiar scent lingered in her fur. It was almost too familiar, and too impossible, "That's Lunartail and Tigerlily's scent!"

"A-Are you ok?" she meowed, "You seem distressed."

"I'm fine," I conceded. I felt sick to my stomach, I had killed a cat, but that wasn't why I was sick. I was so getting so used to death, it hardly fazed me anymore. I didn't want to be like my father, uncaring if a cat lived or died. I had thrown Axe into the gorge during my desperate attempt to save Feather. 

We met up with the others, Tails still had Snake pinned. My tail twitched angrily, "How dare you try to kill my healer! Over some stupid vengeance plot!"

Snake chuckled, "Might as well kill me, my comrades have fled, or at least I thought they were my comrades."

I raised a claw in anger, my cats stared at me, expressionless. Enek seemed hesitant, was he going to stop me. I let out a low growl, but Feather limped in front of me. I stared at her surprised, "What are you doing? This cat tried to kill you."

"He was driven by grief, I can help him! I just need some thyme. He is a good cat Nightmare, I can feel it." Feather meowed.

"No no no...." I said bluntly, "We are not letting that thing live with us!"

"Please! You know what its like to be blinded by grief Nightmare, you're doing it right now. Don't let your anger cloud your mercy." Feather meowed. 

I fell silent, I stared intently into Snake's yellow eyes. He met my gaze fearlessly, it was the look of a cat that didn't care if he died. I recognized the gaze, it was the gaze I had when I was ready to die and see Tigerlily again.

Tails padded past the rest of the cats, "I think we should let him stay with us."

"Tails..." Crystal murmured.

"Haven't we all done something we have regretted in our lives?" Tails meowed looking at everyone. "I know I have, Snake I swear I never meant to kill Splotch. These cats need to know that you won't harm them anymore. We are like a family, we take care and love each other. You can be apart of it, join us."