" malice shall corrupt reality,
and turn blood on blood
for a rotting wait of revenge "
There is the Star Realm, a place for cats who have served out of pure loyalty and benevolence, and the Dark Realm, a resting place for those who served out of t...
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-❂-
The moon sunk from its highest point in the sky, shadows growing and moonlight dimming. Paws stepped across the rocky surface outside of RidgeClan's camps, their shadows casted across the walls of the mountain. They lingered closer to the wall with every step, desperate not to flit their shadows through RidgeClan's camps. They moved as if they were bounding across clouds, their movements quick yet soft.
Lynxpaw kept at Hawkpaw's side, the apprentice finally lifting his gaze from the earth. She could spot a flicker of confidence dancing in his eyes, but still a shadow of grief and worry was casted over his face. Nightfrost and Fawnleap were standing before them, though Fawnleap constantly peered over her shoulder at her kits. Lynxpaw could not blame either of her kin for their anxiety, for they were about to make a decision that could lead to their final breath.
Flareheart and Leafdance eventually emerged from the camp, a wave of hope flooding over Lynxpaw. They approached Nightfrost and Fawnleap, several more cats emerging behind them. Lynxpaw peeked over to view Mottledpaw, Foxpaw, Redpaw, Daisytuft, Smokebite, Pebblestep, and even Shiverbee and her kits following after the two of them. Nightfrost's eyes lit up in approval of the gathering group, parting his jaws lightly to murmur to them.
"Is this all who wanted to come along?" Nightfrost asked Leafdance and Flareheart in a low whisper.
Flareheart nodded in response to Nightfrost, who's face twisted as if he was dissatisfied with the results. "These are the only ones who agreed to come along," the ginger tabby expressed. "The others either only turned away or they shared how scared they are to follow in our pawsteps. I wish they would all just come... I really do."
Leafdance flicked his tail over Flareheart to comfort his companion, who's head hung at their words. Lynxpaw knew Flareheart as an amiable feline, friends with nearly every cat within RidgeClan. They shared tongues amongst the oldest and the youngest of the clan, and almost always fit in. They had no family remaining within RidgeClan but Lynxpaw knew it still felt as if he was leaving most of his own kin behind.
"I know we worry for those who are not coming but we have to get ready to leave now," Smokebite spoke up from where he was pressed close to Shiverbee and their two kits. "Who knows if any cat is going to warn Cottonstar and if they do, he will be on our tail in a matter of a few tail flicks."
Leafdance turned to glare towards Smokebite, Lynxpaw noticing the tom's face shadowed over by irritation. Flareheart and Leafdance were close since they were apprentices and the fact that Smokebite was stepping over Flareheart's grief as if it was an obstacle irked the tom. Tension flickered between the two but Nightfrost instantly agreed with Smokebite, sharing a few words with Flareheart before he would begin their departure.
"Lynxpaw?"
The medicine cat apprentice blinked when the familiar voice of Hawkpaw muttered her name from beside her. She turned to glance his way, shuffling closer to him as she replied. "Yes?"
