Larkfoot's Choice (Warrior Cat Fanfiction)

Chapter One

The wind howled, carrying with it the screeches of fighting cats. Blood stained the clearing as claw and tooth met fur. A large grey cat stood upon a rocky ledge, surveying his clan. There was a clattering noise and he spun around. There crouched a faded ginger cat, teeth bared in anger. "Why hello Howlstar." She meowed, creeping toward him. "What do you want Flare? Why have you attacked my clan?" He growled, unsheathing his claws. Her eyes narrowed. "You know why I'm here." Flare took a step closer. "Why wouldn't I be here?" Her green eyes glowed in the hazy night. Howlstar cast a glance behind him. He was running out of room on the ledge.

"I haven't done anything to you!" He meowed, face expressionless. "Haven't done anything?" She hissed, her voice strained. "You've done plenty!" Flare cried angrily, moving closer. "Can't we just move on?" He asked her, digging his claws into the thin layer of dirt that rested upon the ledge. "Move on? Do you know how hard it is to move on? Do you know how hard it is to forgive and forget?" Flare's voice was steady, although Howlstar could tell she was upset.

He blinked at her. "I know it is hard but this is in the past now. You're better than this Flare." Howlstar muttered. "No! You say I'm better than this but you're acting like you're the better one. Nothing in this world will make me forgive you for what you did to him! For what you did to Flint!" She yowled, her meow echoing around the battlestained camp.

Cats all around paused to watch the scene unfold. "You and that shecat..." Flare choked out, tears beginning to spill out of her piercing eyes. "You killed him!" She was shaking now but still standing. "Sure he did some terrible things but things ended up okay! Look at me! I'm okay!" She sobbed, her tears puddling on the ground. "My mother was fine. My siblings are fine. But he" Flare sniffed. "He's not fine because of you!" She lunged at him with a snarl. Howlstar's eyes widened in surprise but he took her on. The two opponents fought, signaling for the other cats to continue. Flare raked her dagger-like claws across his face.

"I'm going to make you pay for what you did to my father!" She screeched, pushing him backwards. Howlstar lost his footing and fell, only to discover there was nothing to fall onto. He tumbled through the air until his grey body hit the hard ground with a thump. All was still. Then Flare let out a victorious cry and the attacking rogues began to retreat.

The Mintclan camp was more than half empty now. Cats began to emerge from their dens, comforting their clanmates and searching for wounds. "Howlstar?" called a shecat named Cherrymoon. Fear struck her as she noticed the unmoving body laying there. Cherrymoon rushed forwards, sticking her muzzle into his fur. "Please be back. Please be back." She whispered hoarsely. 

Thrushheart poked his head out of the nursery. His gaze clouded in dismay as he ran to Cherrymoon's side. "Brother!" He murmured with a sad glance at the shecat. "I-is he gone?" Thrushheart asked quietly. Cherrymoon shook her head. "I don't know! How will I live without him?" She meowed, turning to Thrushheart. Cherrymoon's tail was curled around her stomach. "What if he never meets his kits?" She asked, not expecting an answer.

It began to rain. Droplets pelted from the darkening sky, washing away the blood. Within a few minutes, it was pouring. Icy water began to flood the dens. The sheer coldness awoke Howlstar. Coughing overtook him for a moment, before he looked over at his mate and his half brother. "I'm alright." He meowed shakily. Thrushheart's gaze lit up. "I wouldn't just leave you" Howlstar said to  Thrushheart. "Life's been hard for you. I'm not one for abandoning family."

A pang of sadness struck Thrushheart as he remembered how his mate had died during kitting, leaving behind five beautiful kittens. Panic pulsed through him as he remembered his offspring. Thrushheart had left them alone in the nursery. A large river of water now divided the camp. Thrushheart watched in horror as the apprentices den was swept away, taking Silverpaw with it. 

He swam across the river in great strides, making it to the other side just barely. The nursery was dark and filled with water. "Dad?" called a tiny voice from the other side of the den. In the dim light, Thrushheart made out some tiny figures floating atop a mossy nest. The nest was caught on a stick, preventing it from being dragged away. Thrushheart went to his kittens, counting them. "Okay. Lakekit, Birchkit, Copperkit, Swallowkit." He stopped abruptly. "Where's Larkkit?"