Chapter Text
Chapter forty-three
The night of the vigil had been long, but she supposed that was alright. It was only a reflection of the time spent as kits and apprentices, yearning for the day you finally earned your warrior name. WolfWillow thought it made sense that they had to sit through one last endless stretch, when their whole lives up to that point had felt as if the day would never arrive.
All six cats did well to stay silent. She had expected ShortFoot or SpeckleFur to start talking, but they never did. Everybody sat in their own little word, heads to the sky our staring out across their home territory. She pictured OspreyTalon, sitting with MartenClaw, during his own vigil, and wondered if he had thought of her. It was likely, she presumed he thought of her a lot. Which was an educated guess as well as something he had admitted to. It was comforting, knowing there was a cat out there, past the rolling hills of heather and stone, down in the forest, that would keep her on his mind even when the going got tough. And out there, scattered across a moonlit lake, there were four cats who were able to understand her, four cats that would think of her in the dark hours of the night where no other cat could comprehend what was happening to them.
She kept her gaze on the stars, and wondered if StarClan was truly looking back at her.
The fall of the moon was a slow one, and as it began to bob below the dark caps of the western horizon, the sky opposite it began to glow. It was a faint slither at first. Stars began to blink out, the shade of ebony night turned fainter, like dusky indigo. And then the sun peeked over the eastern hills, and the sky faded into pale blue.
Beside her, ThistleBash yawned. She had used the big, fluffy she-cats, excessive fur and body warmth to her own advantage in the depths of the night when her own short pelt did little to protect against the cold. On ThistleBash’s other side, SootFall sat up straight, alert yet tired.
There was a rustling of gorse, and RobinStar appeared through the camp entrance.
“Congratulations, you six. You get to go to sleep now.” she told them, nodding for them to follow her back into camp.
“Oh, thank StarClan.” WolfWillow heard ShortFoot say, followed by a mutter of agreement from HoundRunner and SpeckleFur. WolfWillow got up and stretched, following ThistleBash back into camp. Cats were beginning to wake as the sky lightened. A dawn patrol consisting of WildClaw, FerretFlash, SmokeSong and AshenSpring was heading across the camp towards the exit. WildClaw gave them a warm smile as they passed, and ThistleBash and SootFall returned it. However, AshenSpring simply gave a nod, and that was it. Their relationship as mentor and apprentice was over, they both knew.
“I can't wait to get to bed.” ThistleBash yawned. “I thought I was used to pulling all-nighters, but sitting and doing nothing makes it harder.”
“That sounds like the opposite of what's meant to happen.” SootFall pointed out. Ahead of them, ShortFoot and SpeckleFur ducked into the warriors den, just as HareStalk pushed out. She paused for a moment, and HoundRunner stopped in his tracks. WolfWillow watched as he stared at his mother, who glanced at him, and then pushed past him, heading towards the prey pile. He stared after her, desperation in his amber eyes, and WolfWillow almost felt a twinge of pity for him. She had practically forgotten HareStalk’s existence. Including her dam in any way in her warrior ceremony would have made it worse, not better. But still, even as a warrior, HoundRunner had not learned that lesson. He relinquished, stepping inside the warriors den, looking dejected.
“Youch.” ThistleBash muttered, having paused so she did not walk into the scene before them. “That was a hard watch.”
“I know.” SootFall breathed. “I can't believe she still treats both of you like that, even after your warrior ceremony.”
“I think that would make her treatment worse, actually.” WolfWillow pointed out. “We’re not her responsibility anymore. We have no reason to talk to each other.”
“Doesn't that make you sad?” SootFall asked her, his eyes round.
“No. I don't need her. And HoundRunner needs to learn that neither does he. He’s just hurting himself, pining after her approval.”
“He’s never gonna get it.” ThistleBash observed, glancing at HareStalk as she sat down next to ShrewFang, sharing a bluetit for breakfast.
“I know. Let's stop thinking about it. It does us no good to marvel at HareStalk’s head.” WolfWillow decided, leading her friends towards the warriors den. Inside, most of the warriors were already sitting up in their nests, if not already awake. The den was built on two different levels, the entrance was sheltered by gorse, and had fewer nests, and the bottom was dug out under the rocks that surrounded the camp, creating for a deeper, more sheltered sleeping area at the back of the den. SpeckleFur, ShortFoot and HoundRunner had found nests on the outskirts of the den, just next to AmberStorm, RussetClaw and PalePelt. RussetClaw was awake, whispering something to SpeckleFur as she settled down in the nest closest to his. ThistleBash glanced about, but the only unclaimed nests were the ones right in front of them, just next to the den entrance.
“You three will sleep here.” a new voice cut in. MistClaw stood behind them, nodding with her head at the three empty nests near the entrance. “New warriors sleep on the outskirts of the den, and seniors get their pick.”
“When does that rule stop applying?” ThistleBash asked.
“When BrindleFlower’s litter becomes warriors.” MistClaw told her, turning away and heading off across camp to talk to someone else.
“Or when someone dies.” SootFall informed her, and ThistleBash looked thoroughly unimpressed.
“Whatever. Let's just get some sleep.” ThistleBash took the nest most directly in the path of the draft. WolfWillow thought she would prefer sleeping on the outside of the den, anyways. Less chance of someone else’s tail straying into her nest as they slept. She settled down in the wool and bracken, her eyes heavy, and she curled up on herself in a tight ball, the way she usually slept. SootFall was next to her, partially curled up with one forepaw sticking out, looking content. ThistleBash faced them, her eyes already closed. And WolfWillow let herself drift off for the first time in the warriors den.
It was wake in the afternoon when she woke. A dreamless sleep had her well rested and content, the stroke of luck felt like divine intervention as she slowly roused. Her nest was soft and warm, and for a moment she was quite happy to just lie there. And then someone shifted in the nest next to hers, and she blinked her eyes open. Warm, orange light was filtering in from the den entrance, flecks of sundust floated in its beam, contrasting with the murkiness of the gorse and stone den.
SootFall had sat up, stretching out and yawning in his nest, before sitting down and tucking his paws under him, surveying the new den quietly.
“Afternoon.” WolfWillow muttered, stretching her forelegs the same way he had.
“Oh! Afternoon, WolfWillow.” SootFall hummed. “How did you sleep?”
“Fine. yourself?”
“Like a rock.”
Around them, the rest of the den was empty, aside from SpeckleFur, ShortFoot and HoundRunner, who all slept on the other side of its entrance, and ThrushFeather, who was asleep on the other side of the upper-level of the den. The sound of voices sounded from the camp, and the sound of excited kits shrieking as they played drifted into the den, possibly one of the things to have woken the new warriors.
“It feels weird, sleeping in the warriors den.” SootFall told her. “But I like it. It also feels right.”
“We’ve earned it.” WolfWillow told him. “Should we wake ThistleBash and go for a hunt?”
“I'm awake.” ThistleBash muttered from the nest next to theirs. She was sleeping with her forehead pressed into the nest, her paws covering her face. Silly, but ThistleBash was one of the cats who preferred to sleep in strange positions. She unfurled from herself, blinking open her bleary violet eyes. “Are you sure we can’t get away with doing nothing?”
“It's our first day as warriors! We have to do something.” SootFall insisted eagerly.
“We caught like- a lot of prey yesterday. I'm sure we can get away with doing minimal work.” ThistleBash pointed out.
“You’ll never become deputy with that attitude.” WolfWillow deadpanned.
Suddenly ThistleBash got to her paws, all tiredness forgotten. “Fine. Let's go hunt.”
As they left the warriors den, AmberStorm looked up at them from where she lay at the foot of Tallrock, sunning herself. “Nice name, ThistleBash!”
ThistleBash’s ears pinned and she glanced at AmberStorm, but that was it. AmberStorm looked almost confused for a second, before shrugging it off and laying back down, closing her eyes. SparrowKit, RainKit and MoonKit were all playing moss ball in the centre of camp. MistClaw was sitting by the prey pile with RobinStar and Lake-Eyes, the three of them sharing a small rabbit. ThistleBash bounded over to ask them for permission to hunt as WolfWillow sat down beside SootFall, giving her fur a quick clean before they left.
Tonight she’d be meeting OspreyTalon. She was grateful for the good rest she’d gotten before she went out all night, she just hoped the ThunderClan tom would be alright, since it was unlikely he’d have had any decent sleep as of recent. Perhaps it would be her turn to look out for him, or maybe he’d be more than willing to pull an all-nighter. Either way, he was about to learn her new name, and that was exhilarating enough.
WolfWillow wondered only briefly if it would be acceptable to just get up and walk out of the camp entrance now that she was a warrior. SandBlast was on guard duty for the night, and he was a perfectly forgiving cat who would likely understand her desire to go for a night walk after being asleep all afternoon. So, for the first time in her life, she didn't have to sneak out behind the apprentices' den. She pushed through the gorse barrier, and SandBlast startled a little.
“WolfWillow.” he smiled, dipping his head. “Going for a night hunt?”
“Just a walk. I can't get to sleep after lying in all day.” she told him.
“Alright, just be safe while you're out. And don't expect MistClaw to go easy on you if you can't wake up in the morning!” he called after her jokingly, and she chuckled.
“I’ll have a nap in some heather if it comes to it.” she told him, and he purred as she disappeared down the path towards the lake. She couldn't do that every night she snuck out, only every once in a while when she had a good excuse, but she still felt sneaky either way. He hadn't even questioned her intention. It was jarring, how quickly her clan-mates had changed up in the way they treated her. But she didn't mind. More respect only made things easier for her.
She was early on the way out, so she figured she’d be able to catch OspreyTalon on his route across the shore. As she reached the bottom of the moors, gazing out across the glittering, black lake, she could see the shape of a cat moving further down the shore. She hurried through the tallgrass, watching his unaware silhouette move ever closer, until she could make out the shape of his body illuminated by the moon, and his brown tabby patches across a pale pelt. She ducked down quietly as he padded closer, until she could make out the details of his yellow eyes as he passed. His face was calm, contemplative.
And then WolfWillow darted out of her hiding place and he whirled around, arching his back with his eyes wide.
“WolfPaw!” he gasped. “Don't do that to me, you creep!”
She chuckled, moving to touch her nose to his as he forced his fur to lie flat. The shock in his eyes was exchanged for affection, and he returned the gesture.
“What name did you get?” he asked, grinning.
“WolfWillow.”
“WolfWillow.” he echoed, as if trying the name on his tongue. “It's beautiful.”
“If you say ‘just like you’ I'm going home.” she deadpanned, making him laugh.
“Then I will refrain from saying anything else, WolfWillow.” he purred, turning and twining his tail around hers, walking along the pebbled shore with their pelts brushing, his warmth shared with her own.
“How did your assessment go?” he asked.
“Good. I won a spar, and caught two quails, a rabbit, and a whinchat. The warriors said my catches were rather impressive.”
“I'm sure they were. What names did your friends get?”
“They’re called SootFall and ThistleBash now. SootFall requested his name after his mother, PlumFall.”
“The cat that was killed by StormPelt.” he reminded himself, sounding a little melancholic or guilty, she wasn't entirely sure. “Well, I like that he did that. I’d have probably done the same, if BrightNose or CloudSkip had been killed.”
WolfWillow snorted. “I’d have never done that for HareStalk. I doubt she’d have paid any mind if I'd been killed, either.”
“Did she not even congratulate you on becoming a warrior?” OspreyTalon checked, his eyes round with concern.
WolfWillow shook her head, and he growled. “Well, your mother is a real bitch, I wouldn't pay it any mind.”
WolfWillow purred a laugh. “I know. It didn't bother me. She’s been out of my life ever since the day I became an apprentice. It's HoundRunner that still wants a relationship with her. This morning, after our vigil, she walked past him as he entered the warriors den and didn't pay him any mind. He stood there and waited for her to say something, and when she didn't he still managed to look disappointed. I don't understand him very much.”
“Is he still giving you shit about us?” OspreyTalon checked.
“Not really. Not since two gatherings ago. How about MartenClaw?”
OspreyTalon snorted. “He’s too busy bossing everybody around now that he's a warrior. LarchPaw is sick of it. Even PearFur- and she’s been a full medicine cat longer than he’s been a full warrior! She should be the one bossing him around.”
“Has LarchPaw not got her warrior name yet?”
He shook his head. “Nah, she and her littermates are getting her assessment tomorrow. She’s pulling out her own fur over it.”
“SootFall was the same.” WolfWillow told him. “Do you think CootPaw and FirePaw will be getting their names soon?”
“FirePaw’s getting his in a week, he told me on a border patrol the other day. I haven't heard from CootPaw.”
“I'm sure MartenClaw would be proud if he still knew you were fraternising with outsiders.” WolfWillow teased, and OspreyTalon purred.
“WolfWillow?”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve was going to ask…” he started, glancing away with a bashful grin that was so unlike him and yet so himself. “Since we’re both warriors now… does that make us anything different from what we were when we were apprentices?”
“Oh? What brought this on?”
“The comment about MartenClaw’s approval of my relationships.”
“Hmm.” she paused, considering his words. “Were we not already mates?”
“We were?” he spluttered, eyes wide. “I mean- of course we were always kind of together! But we never really talked about it. I just… should we wait? Until this is over? To give us a label?”
“Why wait?” she smiled. “We’ve been seeing each other for moons, not to mention sharing a nest. Now that we’re both warriors, the only step next would be to have kits.”
She felt a playful purr rise in her chest at the idea, and OspreyTalon beamed back at her.
“I suppose it would be.” he breathed, and then he pressed closer to her, nuzzling his nose under her chin as he did so. The purr in his chest was loud in her ears, but she was purring, too.
A few moments later, when he pulled away, he was grinning cheekily. “Our kits would be beautiful.”
“They would be, wouldn't they?” she agreed. He was a particularly handsome tom, and she had been told, by him and by others, that she was a beautiful she-cat. If only they had been from the same clan, they would have been the perfect couple from the outside looking in. They were both capable, competent warriors. He was charismatic, confident, beloved, where she was quiet, smart, and calculated. He had no trouble showing her all the affection he wanted, and she, surprisingly, had no trouble taking it.
But maybe that was just what love felt like.
“How many would we want?” he mused as they continued walking, still pressed close against her.
“At least one.” she joked.
He laughed. “That is how having a litter works, is it not?”
“Yes, OspreyTalon. Good job.”
He purred again, his eyes had this far away look, as if he was imagining what it would be like. “Three? Four?”
“Four is too many. Three sounds more like it.”
“Three.” he echoed.
“For a kitten with your coat, I'd name it AssKit.”
He laughed. “Maybe you wouldn't make such a good mother.”
“Sure I would. I’d do everything HareStalk didn't.”
“So… is it official?” he questioned, seemingly having circled back. “Can I call you mine?”
she smirked. “I already confirmed that, didn't i?”
“I didn't hear a yes.”
“Yes, OspreyTalon. I would like to be called your mate.” she told him, and the joy in his face was almost indescribable. Once again, he leaned forwards and touched his nose between her eyes. She closed her eyes against his touch and drew in his scent and his warmth.
“I love you, WolfWillow.” he breathed.
“I love you too.” she whispered.
And she had never imagined something so perfect could come from those dreams. And yet, here she was.
WolfWillow woke with a start. She was at the Great Oak, under the branches and nestled beside OspreyTalon. For a moment, she tried to remember the dream that hard startled her out of sleep, but nothing came. The last she could remember was arriving to the gathering island with her new mate. The things they talked about, the things they did. It had been perfect. It had been beautiful.
And then the dread chased it as she looked about.
The moon above looked back at her. It would witness the crime and do nothing about it.
The sound of the shores around the island were so familiar, and yet nothing alike her own world. The clouds that circled the moon were nothing to the untrained eye, but to her, she knew they were not her own.
The world was tinged with grey and blue. The leaves rustled, but no night creatures sang. The shadows loomed in placid and dark spaces. Like a patch of the world that would swallow you whole. The places atrocities were best hidden, where no star could see.
She was back.
She turned and looked down at OspreyTalon’s sleeping form. His face looked peaceful, tired, content. She reached out a paw desperately, to shake him awake or cling on to him, she wasn't sure. But her paw passed through his body, he felt like light cobwebs.
Her heart picked up. This couldn't be happening. Not after such a night. Not after she had felt happy. Truly unburdened, for the first time in a long time. She had slipped from a sunset nap into cold waters, and now couldn't claw her way back to the surface. All around her, the air felt constrictive as she gasped it down. She turned in a big circle, and as she did so, the body of her mate under the roots of the Great Oak disappeared. Leaving only a dull moss nest in its wake. This couldn't be happening.
“Bravo, WolfWillow.”
She froze. Her breathing stopped, her tongue tied a knot. The song of that familiar voice was sweet, melodic, but her ears pinned to try and block it out. She didn't want to turn around. She knew exactly what would be there.
“You can't fight destiny, but you will still try.” it- PoppySpots- the curse- whatever it was- told her. “Like a bird rides the storm, it tears you apart, in the end.”
“What do you want.” WolfWillow growled, turning around to face it.
The shadowy figure stood at the other side of the clearing. Still, unmistakably, a cat. But the inky details of its figure were not outlined by any moonlight, no matter how artificial that moon may have been. Two blue eyes gleamed back at her, unreadable.
“To help.” it repeated. The same line it always had.
“To help?” she snarled. “You-! You’ve watched me die so, so many times. Ever since I was a kit- you’ve seen it happen and you’ve done nothing! Why should I ever listen to you?”
“There's nothing I can do.” it told her, almost gentle. “It's up to you now to make the right decision.”
Erskine’s words rushed through her ears. It sounds to me like a warning. Trust no one but your instinct. It's the only thing you have on you for sure.
“Do you trust StarClan, WolfWillow?”
“Of course not. They let me rot here.”
“Then why don't you trust me?”
“Y-you-! Because- you know why! You’re a curse, you’re a liar! You want to trick me, you want me dead!”
“We all die eventually. Of the five cats, one will outlive the others. And the curse will become whole. StarClan has seen it.”
“That's not true!” WolfWillow snarled. “We’re working together. We’re going to figure out how to stop this.”
“Your proximity will drive you apart. There's only so long you can last before StarClan’s madness becomes yours.”
“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” WolfWillow snarled. Suddenly her veins became fire and she flew forwards, claws outstretched for the figure of the curse. But she never got there.
She was knocked out of the air and crashed to the ground. Suddenly, claws were in her flesh, pinpricks of blood drawn out of her shoulders and spine, and she gasped. Looking up into familiar, yellow eyes.
But they weren't his. The silhouette was his. The eyes were his. But he had never looked at her with such ice. She gasped and kicked out at the figure, but he didn't even flinch. She tried to roll away, but he dragged her backwards. She had never been able to escape.
His grip on her shoulders tightened, blood began gushing from tear-wounds. She tried to dig her claws into his forelegs, but he didn't react. No blood was drawn. She kicked out with her hind legs, and he didn't even budge. Teeth glinted, and jaws extended towards her exposed throat. She yelled out and covered her neck with her paws- and the bone of her leg crunched under unbelievably strong jaws. With a wail, she battered at his face over and over as he sunk his teeth in deeper. He was going to bite her leg off. He was going to bite her leg off. She was sure of it, there was no way he couldn't-
And as the bone broke, he spat it away, and her paw fell limply against her chest. Gasping for air, it only constricted her lungs further. Hot with the stench of sudden rot. The shadow of OspreyTalon once again placed his claws down on her chest. Slowly, they dug in. deeper and deeper, scraping the bones of her ribcage. She screamed. And he didn't react.
It was slow. The whole thing was slow. He dragged his claws down, down towards her exposed belly. Skin and flesh and fur was split open at a snail's pace. She felt everything. Every nerve cried at her to get away, but she couldn't. She was pinned to the earth. She was going to die. Once again. She was dead.
And then he reached the soft skin of her stomach, and it looked like nothing to him. As intestine and stomach spilled out of her own body, she had to watch it. She could hear her own screaming. She begged for him to stop. And he didn't. He continued, slow and deliberate and calculated. And blood flowed freely from the vivisection of her torso. It pooled in the grass around her. It glinted off the light of the moon. The feeling of air rushing against her organs almost caused her to throw up, but blood had blocked her throat.
“There's a reason all this is happening, WolfWillow.” the voice sang, seemingly from nowhere. “But it doesn't have to.”
She tried to form words, but she could hardly even think past the fire in her body. She gasped, and gasped, and tried to breathe. But she was dying. Her life was stained on the land beneath her. Seeping away as the shadow of OspreyTalon slowly finished his gutting.
She looked up, and he looked down at her. Yellow eyes. Just like his. But they showed nothing.
A sob wracked her open chest. It worsened the agony. Tears stung her eyes, but she was too weak to cry. Too weak to tremble.
“It doesn't have to.”
Her vision faded. Spots of black clouded out the strange world of strange shores and skies. She couldn't focus. As her hearing began to fail her, and her eyes began to close, the last thing she saw was his yellow eyes. Staring down at her.
Yellow. Just like his.
All at once, air rushed back into her lungs. Oxygen flooded her brain as she bolted up. Her chest heaved, gasping. She touched a paw to her belly. It was soft, untouched. As if she had never been torn open. Gutted by her own mate. She was still gasping. Her heart was still pounding. Adrenaline and the urge to flee forced her to her paws and she stumbled a few feet, her hind legs gave out and she raised her head to the stars.
How could you let that happen?
“WolfWillow?”
She froze as the familiar voice spoke. He brushed against her gently, and she leapt away, disgusted. She whirled around to face him, and looked back into those yellow eyes. They were the same eyes.
She's screwed her eyes shut.
“Hey, WolfWillow, it's me. You're alright, you're safe now…” he soothed.
“No.” she breathed. “No. That's not true.”
“Of course it is, see? I'm not going to hurt you.”
She heard him take a tentative step forwards, and her eyes snapped open. He looked alarmed as he took in her expression, but his brows quickly dropped and his yellow eyes looked sympathetic. But she couldn't feel it. She couldn't see it. It didn't matter.
“Yes you are.” she spoke.
He looked horrified, heartbroken. His mouth fell open, he looked up at her desperately. “WolfWillow, it's me. It's OspreyTalon. You’re not back there anymore, you're safe now.”
She shook her head, gulping in more air. “Safe? Don't you get it? Safe? We’re not safe.”
“What did it say to you…?” he breathed.
“Ha!” she barked. She got to her paws and turned away, storming off straight for the treebridge. “Wouldn't you like to know!”
“WolfWillow, wait!”
That only made her move faster, her body stiffer. His pawsteps sounded after her, and she whirled around, teeth bared. She hadn't touched him, but the look on his face as he halted looked as if he’d been speared.
“Please, WolfWillow! Why are you doing this?”
“Why is any of this happening?” she shot back, her skin crawling. “Why do we kill each other in our sleep? Why us?”
“I dont know!” he cried, taking a step forwards. “But we’re in this together, please, you know that! We’re all in the same situation, you can't give up hope yet. Things will get better, there's a solution for what's happening to us! You know that!”
A growl rose in her throat. He was only making her angrier. She whirled around and raced up the slope, leaping onto the treebridge. A few moments later, he was scrambling after her.
“WolfWillow, don't go! Please! I'm not going to hurt you!” he begged.
Her panting picked up again. It felt like no breath was enough for her. He was on her back. He was behind her. He followed her across the treebridge. “Leave me alone.”
“No, we’re mates! I'm not leaving you like this! I'm not letting you suffer alone.”
“Leave me alone!” she snarled. The panic was picking up. Why was he still following her?
“Please, just tell me what happened! I want to know how to help you!”
She leapt down on the shore, and started off back towards camp. The sky was turning light, a trace of dawn in the sky. She needed to be home soon.
And then he shot out in front of her, blocking her path, desperation and tears in his eyes. “WolfWillow, please! You can trust me! We’re in this together!”
And that was when it clicked.
You can trust me.
But she couldn't. She never could. Not any of them. Not SilverThorn, not CootPaw, not FirePaw. All along, from the very beginning, she had seen a warning and she had ignored it. How many times had she danced with death? How had she done it, trusted cats who had killed her so many times.
They had got the dreams for a reason. That reason was still unclear. But as WolfWillow stared at him, a lot began to make sense. And suddenly her whole life of living in darkness shrivelled up like morning mist, and she knew what she had to do.
It was her life. Or it was theirs.
And she didn't want to die.
“WolfWillow-”
His words were cut off by a surprised grunt as she raked her claws across his cheek, he stumbled away, towards the shore, and she flung herself forwards. She slashed his face, his chest, his shoulders, and he continued stumbling away. He ducked under her claws, finally, and tackled her by the middle. Panic exploded within her as he pinned her to the ground. His yellow eyes met hers.
“What are you doing! Stop this, please, WolfWillow! You can trust me! I’d never hurt you!” he pleaded, tears slipped down his cheek, his words caught in his throat, but she could never trust him again.
She growled and kicked him in the stomach, making him stumble away.
“Don't you get it?” she growled. “This whole time, didn't you see?”
“What are you talking about…”
She rushed forwards again, he tried to dodge and she raked her claws down his flank. Then she reached for his throat- her claws graced his skin, but he pulled away in time.
“WolfWillow, stop it!” he begged. “I'm not going to fight you!”
She flew at him once again, her claws dragged down his face, he yelped, stumbled backwards with a splash into the lake. She grasped for his throat with her teeth, but he fell backwards, desperately trying to block her with his paws. She gasped, wrestling with him as the water lapped at his body.
“Please, just listen to me!” he sobbed.
“I can't.” she rasped. “Don't you see, OspreyTalon? It's me or you.”
“No, it's not. We’re together. We’re mates. We can fight this together.”
“I'm sorry, OspreyTalon.”
He hiccuped a sob, kicked her off him with his hind legs and tried to leap away, but she grabbed his flank with her claws and dragged him back. He whirled around, trying to push her away as he lost his balance and fell into the lake. She wrestled with him, his claws scraped her shoulders, her’s reached for his throat. He tried desperately to shove her off. Water splashed all around them, glinting golden.
He managed it, he weasled away. And as he got his balance, she did it.
She slit his throat.
His eyes went blank with shock. So yellow. Just like they always had been. He glanced down, blood flowed down his white chest. He looked back at her. There were tears there, as well as loss. She panted, disbelieving, and he fell onto his side. And the life was gone from his eyes.
So yellow.
Blood seeped into the clear, cold water. It flowed out around his neck. His jaws were open, an expression of shock had died on his face, and now his eyes stared blankly at nothing. Forever lost.
Her ragged breathing slowed, as she finally realised what she did. The air was cold here.
She looked down at her paw, the one she had struck him dead with, and it had already been washed of all death. The lake lapped at both of them. His wounds spilled open, hers dripped down. The sound of the waves was all that filled her ears. Gentle, against his body and against the shore.
His eyes were still staring. He’d never look at her again.
Finally, her breath was caught. She looked up, out, across the lake. The sun was rising. The trees of distant territories lit up, every shadow deepened by the long light of dawn. The warmth of the sun touched her pelt. It kissed the lake golden. The light reflected off its ever rippling surface.
Out there, over the golden and scarlet lake, there were three cats. She didn't know how long ago there had been four. Out there, there were three cats. And if they didn't die, she knew she would.
It was unfair. It was cruel. She hadn't asked for this.
But she had always been strange. She had always been cruel.
And now that it came to it, she would not live for cats that would see her die.
The curse would not take her.
And that was not her fault.