Elemental Claws: Cliff's Perspective

Sacrifice

As cats panicked, I looked up towards the camp. It didn't take long to find the source of the fire. As the elder's den burned, cats evacuated down to the lake. It didn't take long until I saw Nathan and Saige come out of the smoke. I sat and waited, knowing there were others still making their way out. Soon Juniper and Ghost emerged. Juniper looked weak, like he had ingested something poisonous. 

Nathan and Saige insisted on going back in to get Aster. I couldn't move, my mind was too overwhelmed with all the information it was receiving. After they went back in, Juniper followed them. I began to worry, and sent my shadow demons in to watch over them. If something happened, I would rush in to help. 

As I viewed the world through my shadows, I watched my friends frantically search for Aster. It didn't take them too long to find him. He was weak from inhaling so much smoke. Saige helped him up and turned to join Nathan and Juniper back to the lake. 

A large pile of rocks crumbled and fell between the two pairs. Nathan began to grow weaker and weaker as the trees around him burned. I began to panic. There was no way for me to safely get to them. All I could do was watch helplessly. 

Saige called for Nathan to take the others to safety, but he refused to leave without her. Juniper refused to leave until Nathan would leave. 

"Whatever happens next, please just promise me that you'll take care of Nathan," Saige pleaded to Aster.

"I will," he reassured her. 

Saige boosted Aster over the rock pile and shouted, "Take him to safety! I'll find another way out!"

Nathan and Juniper assisted Aster down to the lake. Once they joined us, we looked up at a cliff side and saw Saige standing there. She appeared to be looking for a safe escape. As we called out to her she waved back at us. 

Our cheers of hope that she would make her way down were cut off as a large tree collapsed, blocking her from our view. We couldn't see if it had fallen in front of or on top of her. Nathan let out a gasp of pain. Emotionally, from witnessing that; and physically, from the tree dying. 

The fire quickly subdued and we rushed up to see the damage. Nathan dragged Saige's charred body from the ashes. The fallen tree was covered in a fire suppressing chemical; Saige had used her nuclear powers to stop the fire to save the rest of us. We all circled around and watched as she died in his arms. Her dream about being a wandering spirit was finally fulfilled. Nathan sobbed over her lifeless body and refused to be consoled. I watched her spirit drift away, not able to bear the sight of us mourning. 

We cleaned the camp, clearing out fallen trees and sweeping away the ashes. Once this was done, we held a proper ceremony for Saige's sacrifice. She never did like me, but it was still a shock to lose her. Nathan retreated into himself and I felt helpless on how to confront Juniper. My life felt like it couldn't get any worse. 

I wasn't right about that, but at least I gained two new cats who brought a little brightness to it.

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