Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 34

This chapter will be focused on Olivenose and his thoughts.

          Olivenose woke up to find Lilymist still curled up beside him. He purred softly and licked her ear before leaving the den. The camp was a long way from being repaired, so everyone was working when they could. Olivenose stretched outside the den, his muscles rippling under his long gray fur. He looked around for his brother. He spotted him exiting the leaders den, which was being used as the nursery. Sunfrost happily trotted towards Olivenose with a mischievous smirk crossing his face.

"Hey Olivenose! Should I prepare a nest in the nursery for you and Lilymist?" Sunfrost snickered. Olivenose heard laughing behind him as Adderblaze and Lionscar approached the two toms. He felt his ears burn and playfully hissed at Sunfrost.

"Oh you shut up you fishbrain!" He swatted the golden tom's nose. Sunfrost stared back in mock horror. Olivenose laughed and pounced on his brother. The two rolled around batting at each other's ears.

"If you have nothing better to do that fight like a couple of kits, we should put that energy to some good use." Appleglow yowled at them from across the camp, where he was sharing tongues with Swanshine. Sunfrost rolled his eyes and called back to his father.

"What do you want us to do Applestar?" He called playfully. Sunfrost earned a stern look from his father and an order to help the medicine cat. Olivenose purred when Sunfrost starting grumbling about how it wasn't a job for a warrior.

"Have fun!" Adderblaze called to the older tom. Sunfrost grumbled in reply. The two purred and laughed as Sunfrost sulked away.

"As for you three, Lionscar I want you to go check the borders with Snowbreeze and Reedpaw. Olivenose I'm putting you in charge of making sure the camp runs smoothly while I'm gone. Adderblaze you come with me, we're going to take the apprentices to try and find moss." Grayheart ordered. Olivenose dipped his head and waved his tail in farewell to his friends. If I'm going to be stuck here all day, I should go check on Silverdust. Olivenose quickly cleaned all the dust off him from playing with Sunfrost. He walked into the leaders den where Silverdust was sleeping.

"What do you two think you're doing?" Olivenose asked the two kits trying to creep up on the sleeping elder. Stormkit jumped up and squeaked while Hailkit ran towards his nest.

"We were practicing our stalking." Stormkit whined. Olivenose looked at the two kits thoughtfully. It sounds like something Sunfrost and I would do.

"You should let her sleep. Why don't you two go check on Brightcloud. I bet she'd want to see you." Olivenose told the two kits. They scampered away and He followed them out of the den. He padded over to the fresh kill pile where there was only a small sparrow left. He picked it up and carried it into the temporary warriors den. He walked over to Lilymist's nest, where she was already awake.

"I brought you some prey." He told her nudging the bird towards her. She sniffed it then took a small bite.

"Thank you." She purred gratefully. Olivenose watched as she quickly finished the small bird.

"Did Icestar announce the deputy yet?" Lilymist worriedly asked. Olivenose shook his head and sighed.

"Icestar said that Grayheart and Rainwhisker would be acting as deputies for the time being." Olivenose explained. Lilymist closed her eyes and deeply breathed.

"It's not right. Grassheart should be out there, hunting, patrolling and fixing his Clan. He's not there because of me, if I had remembered the kits he'd still be alive." Lilymist opened her eyes and he saw they were clouded with fear and guilt. He shuffled closer to her and placed his tail on her shoulder.

"You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened. It could have been anyone who was in that situation, it could have been Berrysplash, Echomist or even me, but it just happened to you. You were a victim. You didn't start the fire." He softly meowed. She buried her head in her paws and mumbled to the ground.

"It was me. I could have taken his place if I could. I would have taken his place six times if I had to. The sound of his screams... They'll haunt me forever. My mother's cry of sorrow will never leave my mind and poor Lichenkit, that scar on her nose will never go away. That is why it is my fault. If only I had died, it would saved a lot of trouble." Lilymist sobbed. "I wish I had died." She whispered through the tears. Olivenose was in pure shock. What is wrong with her? I've heard of this before with Mintfur, it's a sadness that doesn't go away!

"If you died it would be Grassheart grieving for you. Rainstorm and Lionscar would be broken. Pixiepaw adores you. Brightcloud would miss you. So would Sparrowleaf, Snowbreeze, Swanshine and Sunfrost. I would miss you." He meowed and licked her ear. Lilymist lifted her head off the ground and looked at him.

"Thank you, but that won't soothe my grief." She rasped. She sounded like she gave up on life.

"Just promise me you won't do anything irrational. I can't afford to lose you." He whispered, gazing into her dull blue eyes with his dark green eyes. She looked at him momentarily before looking away.

"Fine." She mumbled. Olivenose wasn't convinced by her promise.

"I can't lose you. I've seen the pain that Sunfrost went through when Owlheart died and I can't let you just throw your life away. I need you." He desperately meowed, hoping and praying to StarClan that she would understand what he was trying to say. She did, and looked momentarily shocked, but then it faded into consideration.

"I'm not sure now is the right time, but I still hope you will think that way of me when I'm ready." She awkwardly explained. He felt his heart shatter. Stupid! This is what happens when you show your weakness! They attack you where it hurts most.

"Yeah... Ok I'll um talk to you later. I have duties to attend to." Olivenose mumbled, hoping that his heartbreak won't show. Lilymist sat there in confusion as if she didn't know what was going on.

"Just make sure you keep your promise, Lilymist." He choked out before exiting the den. He looked back at her with defeat shining in his eyes before turning away.

"I will." Lilymist quietly vowed. "I promise I will."