Warrior Cats x Reader

Longtail x Reader ~ Salvation

For MyNamesPeace and  frogdog9506. Spoilers ahead! 

The forest was lush with growth and thriving with prey for the first time since the last green-leaf. Naturally, you were out searching for it. The trees came alive with the chirping of birds, and the undergrowth rustled as small creatures scampered about. Your own steady steps were muffled by the moss under paw.

You parted your jaws, tasting the air for fresh scents. Both recent and stale traces of prey bathed your tongue. The mingling smells were difficult to distinguish when combined with the permeating aroma of new plant growth. You pricked your ears, relying on the sounds of the forest to guide you. 

It didn't take long to pick up on the trail of a squirrel. You followed its tracks and the sound of clattering nut shells. When it was finally in your sights, you paused. The squirrel was chewing on an acorn at the base of a thick oak tree. One unexpected noise or movement could send the potential meal up the tree and out of reach. You had to be precise.

The muscles in your hind legs tensed as you wiggled your haunches, preparing to pounce. Your claws flexed, digging into the soft, newly-melted ground. The squirrel lifted its head but returned to turning the nut over in its paws. This was your chance. Three, two, one... 

Your patience went unrewarded as a piercing, anguished wail interrupted your preparations. The sound reverberated between the trees and amidst the undergrowth, sending the squirrel running and a shiver down your spine. You snapped to attention with pricked ears, forgetting your disappointment in a heartbeat. 

Another pained yowl split the air, sending birds flying from their nests this time. You followed suit and took off in the direction of the ear-splitting cries. Brambles pulled at your fur as you tore through thicket after thicket. It didn't faze you. 

Now little more than feeble whimpering, the sound grew louder as you drew closer. Out of breath and panicked out of your mind, you finally burst onto the scene. Your breath hitched at the sight before you.

Longtail laid there half-limp, head tucked between his paws. Blood splattered the grass, rabbit pawprints led away into the undergrowth, and a steady trickle of blood dripped from his claws. His body shuddered with a muffled moan of pain.

"Longtail!" you exclaimed, leaping to his side before stopping just short; you had no idea what to do. His ears swivelled in your direction, and he stammered your name, sounding afraid and unsure. "Yeah, it's me. I'm here."

Slowly, he lifted his head from beneath the cover of his paws; blood poured over his eyes from several deep gashes and streamed down his muzzle. Your heart rate began to climb as your mind raced. You were no medicine cat, but this was not good. You needed to get him back to camp. 

"Oh, Great StarClan..." you mumbled, trying to think rationally and failing miserably. There was no way you could carry him on your own, but he was bleeding so heavily that you weren't sure help could get there fast enough. 

He let out another weak mewl of anguish, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Hey, hey, you're going to be okay," you tried to comfort him, though the tremor in your voice was unconvincing. You laid your tail across his shoulders for good measure. "We have to get you back to camp. Can you walk?"

"I-I think so," he answered, immediately wincing as he moved to sit up. You lunged forward as if to catch him, letting him lean against your shoulder. Slowly, he managed to get to his paws. 

The two of you limped back toward camp, but his condition was slowly worsening. As you were forced to prop up more of his weight, you began to doubt whether you'd make it. By the time you reached camp,  he collapsed completely. 

You howled frantically for the medicine cat but burst into the den anyway. Thankfully, Cinderpelt handled the situation with far more composure and quickly had Longtail moved inside. You followed like a lost, helpless kit, refusing to leave even at Cinderpelt's suggestion.

As she treated Longtail's wounds the best she could, you sat close by with your tail gently resting over his. He was still unconscious. You just prayed to StarClan you had made it back in time. 

You must have fallen asleep, because the bustle of the camp awoke you at sunset. The pale, fading light streamed through the fern tunnel; you were still in the medicine cat's den. 

"Longtail..?" you whispered tentatively, voice still soft and raspy from sleep. To your relief, you laid eyes on him beside you as you lifted your head. Your tails were still loosely entwined. 

His ears twitched in recognition of your voice. He lifted his head too, but his eyes remained closed--covered in cobwebs and herb pastes. 

"Yeah, I'm... I'm okay," he meowed, but it was obvious that it was just for your benefit. Then his voice softened, sounding almost disbelieving. "You stayed?"

"Of course." You shuffled closer until you were side-by-side, draping your tail comfortingly across his back. He flinched slightly in surprise before relaxing into your touch with a sigh. "Your eyes... I'm so sorry." 

For the first time since the incident, he did something with full confidence: he shook his head.

"No, don't be," he insisted. It was your turn to flinch as he encircled your haunches with his tail, as if to pull you closer. "You saved my life."

"Oh... well, I don't know if I--"

"Thank you."

You swallowed the growing lump in your throat, feeling strangely uneasy at his sincerity. Any Warrior would have done the same; you were doing your duty and no more... right up until the point you waited by his side all day. Alright, maybe you were embarrassed for a different reason.

"It's getting late, I should probably go..." you mumbled awkwardly, feeling as if fire were ablaze beneath your pelt. As you moved to get up, he placed a paw atop yours to stop you.

"Wait!" he meowed intensely, desperate not to let you slip away. The sound echoed softly against the rock walls, halting you in your tracks. You cocked your head at him curiously. Then your heart melted as he whispered, "Stay."