The Weight of Living | warrior cats fanfic

𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 | 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭

Content Warning// dark themes, suicide discussion. 

eleven

will to protect

_________________________

Golden sunset light set ZephyrClan's hollow ablaze with color. New leaf had led into long days of Green-Leaf, and the camp had flourished with growth. Cottonpaw strode in proudly after Acaciapaw, his charge hauling in a large rabbit proudly. Cottonpaw had caught up to Acaciapaw's size— being half a moon younger, he had been a bit smaller than the she-cat the whole time he had been with her. Now at nine moons, he had finally reached the same height as her. Maybe I'll get even taller! Blizzardstream is big, maybe I'll take after him! He looked to his father lovingly, who was sitting with Aspenmist. The silver tabby queen was purring and chatting with her mate, and Cottonpaw had seen her take part in more and more patrols.

Camelliaheart pricked his ears as his apprentice dropped off the impressive catch, and wandered over. Acaciapaw closed  her eyes proudly as the ginger splotched tom assessed the rabbit and then the she-cat. 

"Very nice catch, Acaciapaw," he finally allowed the compliment out. Her tail swished high in the air. 

"I startled it a little early, so I started to run out of energy before I caught it. I got a second wind out of nowhere, which let me finish strong and catch it!" Her eyes gleamed as she spoke. Cottonpaw purred from her side, invisible but soaked in the praise as if it were his own catch. In a way, it was. He had sprinted just behind her and urged her on in the hunt, shouting at her to "keep going, you're right on its tail!" He had caught up in height, but Acaciapaw was still faster than him.

Camelliaheart dipped his head slightly with approval. "You're improving quickly," he meowed, voice even. "Your stamina is getting much better than it was last moon." This caused Acaciapaw's whiskers to twitch with smugness. His eyes moved to the nursery for a heartbeat before returning to her. Cottonpaw narrowed his eyes as he noticed the ginger splotched warrior hesitate for a moment, but smooth over his features before the less-perceptive Acaciapaw noticed. 

"Something's off, but I'm not sure what!" Cottonpaw prodded her with a paw, trying to get her attention. The she-cat seemed to register some semblance of perception from him, and her  head tilted to the side as she studied her mentor.

"What is it?" She meowed. Camelliaheart waved his tail nonchalantly, but then hesitated again. A soft sigh escaped him, and he gave in.

"Nothing bad... it's just— Hemlockwish had her kits earlier today. Two of them." Acaciapaw's signature slight narrowing of eyes returned to her face. Cottonpaw felt the tumbling sensation in his stomach which came from her. Any time Hemlockwish or Camphorwind were brought up over the past two moons since the announced pregnancy, she had this same feeling of pain, anger, and tension. "...I know it's a complicated situation. Do you want to train to get your mind off it? Or I can give you some time alone, if you'd prefer?" Acaciapaw thought for a moment before turning. 

"Left alone. I'm going for a walk," she turned without another word and head back out of camp. All of the pride, smugness, and joy deflated from her, leaving behind the simmering resentment she held in her heart. Cottonpaw ducked his head anxiously and scampered after her out of camp. They all knew this day would come when the queen announced her pregnancy, but how was he going to handle this?