Dark Sky

Chapter eleven

Birdclaw was running through the forest, anger burning under her pelt.

What Aspenstar said that night outraged her. How dare he insult her best friend, call him a faggot and a murderer when he was just defending his clan, and wishing he had died instead of his brother he was still grieving?

She cursed Badgerstripe outloud. Why did he held her back? She dreamed of sinking her claws in the leader's pelt, hurt him like he hurted Fernflower.

In the chaos of the end of the Gathering, she had seen the red tom leap down the big tree and run in the forest. Now, she was following him. She didn't see him anymore, but his scent was clear and she could often see some of his fur stuck in thorns. When she reached a small clearing, his scent disapeared, drowned in a horribly strong stench.

Fox! Almost as strong as the fox's, fear scent. She scanned the clearing and her fur bristled at what she saw. Cornered by brambles, a red tom was facing the fox, his whole body shaking with terror. Fernflower!

She ran to him and jumped on the massive fox threatening him. She was small, but surprise was on her side. She bit in the fox fur, gagging as her theet sank in the tender, stinking flesh. The fox shook himself to tried to make her fall, but she held on. She climbed to the fox head and aimed a blow at its eyes, but she fell, unballanced on three paws. She immediatly leaped back to her paws and attacked again, as fast and sly as a snake, raking the fox side with her claws, biting its tail.

Just when she thought she was winning, the fox slammed its paw on top of her. Birdclaws legs buckled under her, and she tried to protect herself, but she was weaker and weaker with every blow the fox gave her.

Finally, she felt her mind spiral away. I'm dead, she thought, and darkness swallowed everything.

Shadefeather was pacing at the entrance. She wanted to hear the Gathering's news. They were later than usual.

What had happened? She got her answer quickly. The stench of blood hit her tongue even before she heard the gathering patrol coming back.

Who's hurt? What happened? her thoughts were interrupted by the patrol walking into the camp.

The apprentices raced to their dens to gossip about the events of the night, but the warriors stayed clustered among the entrance, where Briarstar seemed to give orders.

"Move to the left a little. Be careful! Lower! Okay, now walk". Shadefeather couldn't restain a gasp of horror when she saw from where all the blood came from.

Badgerstripe and Yewclaw were carrying a small lump of tortoiseshell fur on their back, while Vinefoot followed, making sure it wasn't falling. Ravenleaf had ran to her den to fetch cobwebs and healing herbs. The cat was so covered by wounds you could barely identifie her, but Shadefeather saw her familiar face and immediatly recognized the cat. It was Birdclaw! A wail rose in her throat. "Is she breathing, is she going to survive this?"

"I don't know. Carry her in my den, quick", said Ravenleaf serioulsly. "She lost a lot of blood, and fox bites can easily turn sour. It's a 50/50 chance she survives."

---

Birdclaw opened her eyes in a big clearing, lit by moonshine. The stars were brighter than ever, and she wondered where she was. She had never seen this place before.

At the clearing's edge, a cat padded out of the trees. It had the same tortoiseshell fur as Birdclaw, and the same glimmer in her amber eyes.

"Mom!", the warrior cried, and ran to the other cat, burying her muzzle in her mother's pelt. "You're here with me!", she said, then realised what it meant.

"You are dead, but I can see you. Does that mean I am too?", the sentence came out as a wail.

"Oh, my sweet little bird, it all depends on you. You still have your role to play in Skyclan's destiny. But, you are badly injuried. You might not be able to hunt and fight again, if you even survive your wounds"

"I want to go back, I mist go back, even if it means I'm injuried for the rest of my life, even if I see them only to say goodbye", Birdclaw said, determination welling in her belly. Whatever challenges were coming, she would face them.

"You should go back to your clan now, little bird", her mother said.

"Goodbye. Thanks for letting me choose, I will never forget it", Birdclaw swore, the icy claws of grief gripping her heart.

"I love you!", she heard her mother call in the distance.

As she walked in the forest, mist started to swirl around her paws. The deeper she went, the thicker it was, and soon enough she couldn't see her own paws.

She felt numb and tired, and the mist clinging to her pelt made it heavier. She decided to lay down, to take a break for a heartbeat. Slowly, she closed her eyes, and the dark swallowed everything.

Hello! In this chapter, we'll play spot the Hamilton reference! Comment what you found!