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fawnclangen · 2 months ago

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A Rogue Problem

Moon - 1

Age - 0

Warm rays filter through branches and warm the forest below. Fresh dew trickles off of large leafy ferns and moistens the grass. Shadows stretch and warp around trees and tangles of plants. damp paws rumble through the undergrowth as the dawn patrol bursts through the foliage and further out into Fawnclan's territory. Thankfully, only the smell of decaying plant matter and mud reaches the patrol's nose and scent glands. Lizardspots, the deputy entrusted with this mission, was comforted by the familiar smell. Rogues had been muddying the border recently, coming and going as they pleased. The thought alone caused a growl to build in Lizardspots' throat.

The other cats shared similar determined expressions except for Cinderpaw, a speckled dark gray she-cat apprentice with lighter gray around her muzzle and paws. Her expression was unreadable but her unsheathed claws dug into the dirt with each stride. She followed closely behind the patrol as they bounded deeper into the forest, branches and large leaves dragging against all their pelts as they swiftly entered and exited elaborate trodden down and carved through paths taken by countless patrols before.

The rhythm of their strides, leaps, and bounds only ceased when Lizardspots skidded to a stop. The sharp tang of blood practically slammed into the roof of her mouth and assaulted her nose. She raised her tail to signal for the patrol to stop as if they already hadn't.

"Why have we stopped?" A low voice in what was nearly a growl practically sounded booming in the startled silence. "It's just blood. A battle took place here some time ago."

The cat who spoke up was Froststripe, A long furred black cat with light gray stripes and a matching colored mask pattern. His piercing light blue eyes burned into Lizardspots, awaiting her response.

"Because this battle was recent. A time we didn't have patrols out." Cinderpaw spoke up indignantly. Alarmed eyes landed on Cinderpaw, then gazed to Lizardspots. An apprentice speaking over her mentor was a bold move, but Lizardspots only dipped her head to Cinderpaw. "Excellent observation."

Froststripe felt a growl building in his throat, but Lizardspots spoke first. "Fan out everyone, look for stragglers. Drive them out!" The cats fanned out as commanded, quickly trotting away from the situation except for Froststripe, who slinked away into the dark undergrowth. Cinderpaw's dull green eyes fixed on him before she bounded after him. At the possibility of battle, claws were unsheathed and the atmosphere became thick with anticipation.

Traces of blood were splattered in the grass haphazardly, chunks of stained fur found caught in plants and tangled in foliage, and a stray claw that had been ripped from its owner's paw were all found and reported, but no reports of rogue cats. Only their muddy scents stained the area. Lizardspots was ready to return to camp empty pawed when Froststripe trotted up to her.

"Lizardspots! Cinderpaw has found something."

"And why hasn't she reported it herself?" Lizardspots asked curiously. Certainly Cinderpaw would take pride in appeasing her mentor, she thought.

"I don't know." Froststripe admitted with an annoyed tone. "Better go and see her though." He grumbled, turning around to lead Lizardspots back to where Cinderpaw was. He didn't even bother waiting for an answer or looking over his shoulder. Lizardspots was following him though, he had no need to check if she was behind him.

He led Lizardspots to a secluded spot where the foliage became dense and pulled at her pelt as she tried to squeeze through. The sharp scent of blood assaulted her the strongest here. Her eyes laid on Cinderpaw, who was laying with her tail covering something leaning against her belly. Looking up, Lizardspots saw a sight that made her gasp. A cooling body of a cat was desperately fully outstretched on the ground, the paws and toes outstretched as if trying to grab someone or something. The face was twisted into a rage with the lip curled back and the eyes wide open. Their black pelt riddled with torn open wounds and stained even darker with drying blood.

"Cinderpaw! Get away from there!" Lizardspots' hackles raised and she hissed loudly. Beside her, Froststripe unsheathed his claws, ready to attack at a moments notice if any cat jumped out. But, the apprentice only slowly blinked at Lizardspots before her gaze fell on whatever was between her body and tail.

"Cinderpaw!" Lizardspots spat.

"I can't do that, Lizardspots." The apprentice spoke slowly. "They'll get cold." Her tail smoothly moved back behind her and revealed some kind of wet black ball against her stomach. Lizardspots barely had time to register what Cinderpaw was revealing before she spoke again.

"The cat back there is a rogue she-cat queen. She smells of milk. She must have been attacked while giving birth." Cinderpaw's eyes wandered back to the little wet ball. Lizardspots felt an uncomfortable sensation shake her spine. The little ball was a kit. He was so still and quiet that Lizardspots had mistaken him for some kind of fur tuft. Her mouth dried. What kind of monster would attack a queen? Especially during such a vulnerable, important moment!

"Is it alive?" Froststripe's voice spoke the thoughts that Lizardspots didn't dare speak.

"Yes. The chest is rising and falling. Breathing." Cinderpaw's expression was unreadable yet again, and Lizardspots wondered what goes on behind the apprentice's eyes during moments like this.

Lizardspots spoke before her thoughts could finish. "Stormsmoke! Icefeather!" She called. A she-cat with a pale gray pelt with pale ginger twisting through her fur quickly fought her way through the tightly woven plants and appeared with a wide-eyed expression. Her white belly fur was stained with dirt.

"Yes, Lizardstripe!" Icefeather reported for duty with twigs and thorns tangled in her fur. Shortly after Icefeather's arrival, Stormsmoke, a black smoke she-cat with white underfur and a black chin pressed through the thick leaves of the fern. She looked at Lizardstripe curiously, awaiting instruction. Lizardstripe looked at both of them in turn.

"Has Bluelight recovered from her kitting?" She asked.

"I don't know." Icefeather answered first. "Her birth was-"

Froststripe interrupted with a growl. "You can't be thinking of taking this kit back and giving it to Bluelight. She lost a lot of blood with her kitting, you heard Sunheart! She's in shock and has been for days!" His tail lashed aggressively.

Stormsmoke sighed. "Froststripe, we all care about Bluelight, your defense of her is honorable, but the warrior code says we can't ignore a kit in need."

Froststripe turned his gaze to Stormsmoke. "And we can't ignore a sick queen. Besides, the kit has rogue blood." His nose wrinkled.

Stormsmoke tilted her head. "Why don't we let Bluelight decide if she wants the kit."

Hope swirled in Lizardspots' chest. "Yes, Froststripe. I'm sure Bluelight will take the kit." She said quickly. "But."

Everyone's attention turned to Lizardspots. "Cinderpaw will carry the kit back and will help Bluelight with raising them." She announced. "As Cinderpaw seems so intent on being attached to them." Her gaze rested on Cinderpaw, who nodded solemnly.

Lizardspots turned back to the direction of Fawnclan's camp. "We return to camp Immediately!"

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