#myrtlealder

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Doubts and Confusion (short story)

“I’m reading into this, aren’t I?” Myrtlewing asked, his tail sweeping across the den floor as an attempt to alleviate his thoughts, that hadn’t stopped racing since Aldereyes licked his head earlier that day. It was night now, with the only sound being the distant chirps of crickets and croaks of frogs. 

Well, there was a closer sound. Hickoryskip was gasping, little more than silent wheezes. Myrtlewing lay roughly a tail-length from where he was struggling to breath. His mentor had retired long ago. It hadn’t even been Myrtlewing's doing!--though if he had been in position longer, it probably would have been. It had made Myrtlewing’s….activities help go unnoticed. Afterall, it was hard enough to believe one’s medicine cat could hurt their Clanmates, but that his mentor never noticed? Impossible!

If Myrtlewing ever ‘needed help’ healing a Clanmate, he would seek Hickoryskip’s advice, and in doing so strengthened the trust his mentor had in him. Then, if anyone would inquire into Myrtlewing’s hobbies, old Hickoryskip could vouch for him.

But again, Hickoryskip had retired long ago, meaning that Myrtlewing had been in his Clanmates’ deepest trust for just as long. He didn’t need the old tom anymore, so there was no point in saving him now as he choked on simple herbs. There was also the matter of Hickoryskip’s own mentor, Gorsedaisy, but no one really listened to her these days anyway.

“Grooming is commoner than purring! It’s a whole part of the day even. But this was different, wasn’t it? It wasn’t settling down and sharing tongues. It was a quick thing, and the way he left was so strange. Like something awkward had just happened. What do you think?”

Hickoryskip only stared at him from wide, blood-shot eyes and gasped some more.

“Hmm,” Myrtlewing responded. “It’s not like I’m afraid to ask him. But he’s the only cat in this whole Clan actually worth caring for. I don’t want to risk losing my only source of enjoyment outside of killing. There must be some other way to know for sure that he meant it in a…non-platonic way. But how?” He sighed. At the same time, Hickoryskip stilled, slumping against the floor. “I guess I’ll just have to pay attention to his next move.”

Then he stood and le let out a panicked yowl.

—--------------------------------

Initially, Aldereyes wasn’t sure why he had licked Myrtlewing, or what his reaction meant to himself. But when it came to two things: not being with Myrtlewing romantically and the opposing choice, he relied on his body’s reaction, seeing as his thoughts could not make up their mind.

When he thought of the former, his chest felt cold, like his heart was bleeding freezing water, while his gut constricted as though it had been hit. The latter made him feel warm, buzzing energy flowing through his every muscle. It still felt like an odd choice to make, but it was a choice he was going to make: he would be with Myrtlewing. 

As soon as he made that choice, doubts began to creep in. This time, it was not of his own reaction, but of Myrtlewing’s. What if he really had just meant the flower as a ‘gesture’ of some sort that wasn’t romantic? The seconds Aldereyes allowed himself to gauge Myrtlewing’s reaction after licking the fur between his ears had shown him that Myrtlewing was surprised. But that didn’t necessarily mean the approach was unwanted, only unexpected.

So he had to let Myrtlewing know that he reciprocated his feelings, but not enough so that if he was wrong he embarrassed himself and, worse, damaged the relationship they already had going on. Myrtlewing was the only one in the Clan that seemed to really see Aldereyes as who he was, and not just as another Clanmate you’re inherently supposed to bond with. The only exception might be Hootpetal, but that was way too early to say.

The obvious would be nicknames. Now that he and Myrtlewing were–possibly–courting, he couldn’t call the medicine cat an idiot anymore. Not all the time, at least. It wouldn’t be right. 

He also couldn’t refer to Myrtlewing as ‘sweetheart,’ ‘darling,’ or something of the like. No, he had to find something else. Something affectionate, but also not necessarily romantic–in case Myrtlewing didn’t want to be such or to avoid some of their Clanmates from bothering them about their relationship. A second buzz of excitement whirled through Aldereyes at the idea of their bond being secret, though he wasn’t quite sure why. He assumed it was the same reason apprentices sneak out at night, the idea of doing something looked down on and not getting caught fun. 

But that could wait for another time. Now he had to decide on a nickname. Myrtlewing….myrtle was a tree….Tree? Aldereyes shivered. Nope, too close to his mother’s name, too weird….Wing……..Birds have wings….Bird? 

He imagined himself saying it. ‘Hey, Bird.’ ‘How’s the Bird feeling?’ and, when and if their relationship becomes surer, he could potentially add ‘my.’ ‘My bird, join me for a hunt!’ 

At the back of his mind, a happy swirl warmed him some more. He wasn’t very conscious of it, but the idea of calling Myrtlewing ‘my,’ of the tom belonging to him in a way that was permissive and trustful over possessive, deepened his resolve to reciprocate the feelings.

Yes! That is what he will use. 

Then a panicked yowl sounded from the medicine den.

============================

--Reading can mean different things, so for this case let’s assume Myrtle means it as ‘watching something carefully’ and not the human action of it.

--Their Clanmates might look down on the relationship because Myrtle is a med cat, not because they’re both toms.

[residences-of-the-darkforest]

Rainstar’s brother / MyrtleAlder victim!

—

ref by turukhan

[meowstival]

Hey, would you mind doing an artwork for me? You're definitely good at it and I am falling a bit behind on the 'MyrtleAlder story being told with art' thing and would love the help.

I can give you more information if yes (and give you a thank you story perhaps, if you want one)

No worries if not! Just wanted to ask, and keep up the great work with your characters!

Sure thing homie whatchu need bro, feel free to message me abt it

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

I still think my Twigtail chimera is funny as hell bc can you inagine there’s this giant, majestic golden tom and then he’s got a scrawny lil tail like a rat

hear me out: scrawny tail doesn't come from Myrtle. He purposefully stripped it bare so that when he marks it (one claw mark for each victim), everyone can see it well

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Meadow Disappointment (short story)

Aldereyes marched forward at a pace that almost had him tripping over his own paws, as though if he moved fast enough, he wouldn’t be able to turn around. At the small Thunderpath, he looked both ways for monsters–not that he expected any, being abandoned and all–and then ran across, all before Myrtlewing could catch up. 

When the medicine cat did, he poked roughly at Aldereyes’s side until the golden tom stopped. At this point, they had entered the long, yellow-shaded grass, and it blocked their view of every direction.

“What?” Aldereyes hissed lowly.

“You need to know. I don’t just…hunt. I play with my food. But if you’re not comfortable with that–”

“You torture cats, too?” Aldereyes practically yelped. “Starclan, Myrtlewing, how horrible are you?”

“Shh! You’ll scare him off! Unless that was your plan?”

Aldereyes pushed forward. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He shoved the new knowledge that Myrtlewing wasn’t only a killer, but a sadistic one, to the back of his mind–then returned it to focus. He was going to watch as Myrtlewing killed someone. Whatever he thought about it should be the focus right now, no matter what he felt about it. And of course Myrtlewing was sadistic. He was about to kill someone he had just met. Aldereyes was just too used to thinking of him as a clumsy, foolish, well-meaning cat with a good heart. Apparently, he was none of that. Yet, somehow, Aldereyes’s feelings for him were just the same.

Myrtlewing began to lead the way now, following the tom’s scent so well that he didn’t even have to peek over the grass. Then the grass rustled ahead, and a moment later a grey tabby head poked through, nose a whisker from  touching Myrtlewing’s. “Oh, hey! I thought I scented some cats here. Am I in your way?” He stepped to the side.

Myrtlewing glanced back at Aldereyes.

Aldereyes dipped his head.

Myrtlewing sat. “No,” he said with a smile, “we’re just on a stroll. But we are having some trouble finding mice. Have you had any luck around here?”

The tom shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, yeah, lots of luck. I caught thirteen mice just this morning. It’s not hard at all.”

Aldereyes could feel the brow Myrtlewing raised from his spot behind him. This tom wasn’t the best liar. 

“Really?” Myrtlewing asked, feigning interest. “We haven’t eaten anything since dusk. If it’s not too much to ask that you retrieve one for us?”

The tom stuttered. “Uh, not at all! It’s just…I gave them all to my mother, and she’s not the sharing kind.”

Myrtlewing frowned. “Oh, well I’m sure you’re skillful enough to catch one more, right? We’re really hungry.”

While the tom searched for a reply, Myrtlewing rubbernecked to look at Aldereyes. “How long do you want me to keep this up?” he whispered.

“Do whatever you do,” Aldereyes answered, surprisingly steadily. His heart was thrumming so loudly in his chest, it was a shock that this tom didn’t hear it, scent it, or see from his eyes that something was wrong with the cats he was talking to. And he had a mother. That fact, Aldereyes did push to the back of his mind.

“Oh, yeah, it’s just…the mice are probably all sleeping now.”

“Right,” Myrtlewing nodded with a tilted head. “Your mother–does she help you hunt?”

The tom straightened, clearly caught off guard. “What? Of course she–uh, yeah–no, I do all the hunting.” There was something in the tabby’s eyes. Aldereyes couldn’t identify it, but whatever it was, it seemed to draw Myrtlewing’s attention. 

He redirected the conversation. “It’s nice you still live together. I know I miss my mother. Oh! I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Nettle,” he swept his tail to gesture at Aldereyes, “and this is my friend, Wheat. You are?”

Wheat? Nettle?

“Polaris,” the tom responded.

“Tell me, Polaris, do you only live with your mother? It seems hard doing all the hunting when you have two mouths to feed. I know this great big lump–” 

“Hey!”

“--can hardly feed himself, but he pulls his weight. You must be tired!”

“I have a father and brothers. Four of them.”

“Do you have to feed them all?” Aldereyes broke in, amazed. He didn’t doubt that this tom didn’t hunt thirteen mice in one morning and fed them all to his mother, but he was out here, and where was she?

“Just my mother. I left to live on my own, which was great, but she got lost and found me. We’re living together until we can find the other toms.”

“You don’t seem too happy about it,” Myrtlewing observed.

“I…she…” Polaris looked away. “I prefer my father.” He suddenly glared, as if he had just realized he was saying too much and was angry at Myrtlewing and Aldereyes–or Nettle and Wheat–for getting him to talk so much. 

Myrtlewing wasn’t deterred. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he sympathized. “I’ve run into cats with cruel mothers before, the stories they tell are never a fun listen. I hope she isn’t mean to the paw that feeds her. You seem too kind for such treatment.”

Polaris gazed down at his paws. “She’s not cruel, I…I don’t like living with her. She can be a lot.”

“I understand. If you could leave, would you take the chance?”

Aldereyes’s heart began to pound louder than ever. 

Polaris chuckled. “Sometimes I think about running when she’s not looking, see how easy she finds living on her own.”

“Yes, then?”

Polaris chuckled again, becoming more joking. “Yeah, I would leave her in a heartbeat.”

Myrtlewing rose. “Good.” Without warning, he surged forward, knocking Polaris to the ground and presumably the breath out of him. 

Aldereyes knew he was only here to watch, but the sudden violent movements, the screech of pain that split the air as Myrtlewing–oh Starclan–ripped out a chunk of Polaris’s ear, it was so much, too much, and yet as much as his body was telling him to move! move! He was frozen to the spot, eyes wide and never leaving Myrtlewing’s teeth that sunk into flesh, or his claws that tore at skin. His ears pricked and swiveled with every gasp of pain, every cry for help. 

The worst part came with the silence. His attention slowly, almost begrudgingly, pulled from the scene of the mangled body, and returned to himself–after pausing to stare at Myrtlewing standing blood-stained and crazed above the corpse. That is when he realized that the moment the crying stopped, he was disappointed.

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

It’s interesting, too, when you remember that Alder’s mother died from birth-related complications

and Myrtle left an in-labor mother to die

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

possible design for the cat Myrtle and Alder see

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Last Chance (short story)

Aldereyes stuck to his promise.

His heart beat so quickly he began to worry that it would burst. At the same time it felt like it already had, splattering with a cold blood that coated his ribs and drowned his lunges. But he refused to say anything that might make Myrtlewing change his mind. He had to see.

He followed closely behind Myrtlewing, who too casually padded through the pine trees and onto open grass. 

Every so often, Myrtlewing would ask him if he wanted to turn back, and everytime, Aldereyes had to tell him ‘no’ quickly enough so that his trepidation didn’t answer for him first and cause him to race back to his nest in the warriors’ den.

He had never been part of someone’s murder, not deliberately or with planning. He was going to allow Myrtlewing’s killing of a completely innocent cat, he was going to watch and do nothing. He was going to allow someone’s life to end, someone who might have a family expecting them to return home, just to calm his own thoughts.

He should be revolted with himself. He should need to vomit at simply seeing his own reflection in a puddle for what he will be allowing to happen. But in spite of the anxiety, it didn’t feel that that was the case at all. If anything, it almost felt like….excitement. 

Aldereyes pushed that thought away as soon as that word entered his mind. No, it was just an unfamiliar feeling that he wasn’t used to, so his brain is trying to put a name to it. 

He was walking with Myrtlewing, something they had done again and again for moons, but it was so different now. Then, he didn’t know the horrors the medicine cat was capable of. Then, he was only his goofy, well-meaning, clumsy friend. Then, he hadn’t watched Myrtlewing walk, knowing that he had the intention of killing someone. It almost felt as though he were walking with a completely different cat. Every movement he made, the soft way his paws landed on the ground, his gentle breathing, the quiver of his whiskers, were all the movements of a killer.

But this was still Myrtlewing, and even though a large part of him is vastly different than the Myrtlewing in Aldereye’s head, he still somehow manages to be the closest thing to a friend that Aldereyes has in the Clan. He is the one, when the camp is attacked, that Aldereyes checks first to make sure he’s okay. He is the one, when Aldereyes gets hungry, that he wants to eat with. He is the one that Aldereyes goes to first when he’s upset, he’s the one he drags on hunting patrols or training sessions even though Myrtlewing is a medicine cat and doesn’t technically need to fulfill those duties, because it’s Myrtlewing and Aldereyes always wants him there with him and no one else, even if Aldereyes was never able to admit it to himself until that damned flower.

It was that flower that caused Aldereyes to realize just what he felt for the stupid medicine cat, but now that he had come to terms with his own feelings, it felt right. There was no other way to say it, wanting to be in a romantic relationship with Myrtlewing caused his body to feel grounded and allowed his soul to fly above the clouds.

Then he found out what he did.

He wished so badly that he could feel differently, but even knowing–even seeing–he still felt the same way. That’s what makes it all the more harder.

“Earth to Aldereyes!” Aldereyes jerked up to see that Myrtlewing had stopped and was now facing him.

“What?” Myrtlewing gestured ahead. Aldereyes joined his side. A holly bush blocked their path. “We’ll have to find a way around.” 

Myrtlewing shook his head. “No. Look over.”

Giving Myrtlewing a confused look, Aldereyes raised onto his hindlegs and peered over the bush. About two tree-lengths away was a small, probably abandoned Thunderpath. Beyond it was an open grassy field, and–oh Stars–a cat.

They were too far to see if they were a tom or a she-cat, but close enough to see that it was a grey tabby, and that the butterfly they were chasing through the long grass was purple. Aldereyes decided to focus on his breathing and not on the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. Lowering himself down, he noticed a gap in the leaves at the bottom of the bush that he and Myrtlewing could crawl through. Taking a deep breath, he began to crawl under.

“Hey!” He hissed when his tail was pulled. Whipping around, he glared at Myrtlewing.

Myrtlewing met his eyes, a shadow over his own. “You know what’s going to happen to that cat. I won’t judge you for wanting to go back, or hold it against you for judging me for wanting to stay. You can go back to camp, and take me with you if this is too hard. Last chance.”

Aldereyes began to speak, but no words came. This time, he allowed for the full implication, for the full everything, to soak in. Did he really want to see this? Did he really want to be part of this? Even if he didn’t take part in the murder himself, he was still allowing it to happen. 

He looked back to the bush. “Whoops, chance gone.” With that, he slipped underneath.

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

since I’ve been adding more stories (Grouse, Hoot, Perch, etc) to the MyrtleAlder storyline, I’ve considered changing the name

https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll4786797xefBb4d15-148

“Sprouting Thorns” because it’s the beginning of everything for them

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Aldereyes picked restlessly at his claws. With Myrtlewing away at the Half-moon meeting, he didn't have anyone to complain to. Or complain about to. Or smack around. He liked his other Clanmates...to an extent, and he would never admit to himself how much he grew to care for the clumsy idiot. But right now he was gone, which meant Aldereyes was stuck in boredom.

"You could go on a hunt."

Aldereyes flinched, not noticing his father had padded over to stand beside him. His presence felt looming, his shadow covering Aldereyes's body like the snapping teeth of a predator. Stormstar's eyes betrayed nothing, warmth nor anger. "Make yourself useful, instead of laying uselessly around your working Clanmates."

"I wasn't–" Aldereyes began, but cut himself off. He knew Stormstar hated nothing more than cats arguing with him–other than non-Shadowclan-blooded cats. He also knew that pointing out that it was night would only anger Stormstar more. Many of their Clanmates were still up and working to repair dens or collect moss for the elders.

"He was waiting for me," a new voice piped up. Hootpetal hurried over to join Aldereyes, nudging his shoulder. "Sorry it took so long for me to get ready. I had a bur on the back of my neck I couldn't quite reach. Ready to go?"

"Uh.." Aldereyes looked at her, then to his father. When she nudged him again, he returned his gaze. "Yes! Yes!" He stood up quickly, dipped his head to Stormstar, and led the way hastily out of the camp. When they were out of earshot, he turned to Hootpetal. "Thank you for that."

Hootpetal grinned mischievously at him. "For what?"

They took a few steps into the trees before Aldereyes realized, "we should catch something. Really sell the story."

"How much will Stormstar expect?"

"From me..probably the whole forest."

Hootpetal blinked sympathetically at him. Aldereyes looked away. He didn't need to feel like a sniffling kit. "How about a competition, if you're up for it?"

Hootpetal's eyes rounded with intrigue. She tilted her head. "What would it entail?"

Aldereyes thought for a moment. "We split up. Whoever catches the most prey by...." he looked up at the sky. The moon was just beginning to lower. Myrtlewing likely wouldn't be back until dawn. "Dawn? Wins."

Hootpetal's eyes seemed to glow in the night light. "Sounds fun!"

"Good. See you then." Aldereyes darted off before she could react, laughing into the cold and feeling nothing but warm.

—---------

His legs were aching by the time he brought all the prey back to where he and Hootpetal had started their race. But it was a good ache, reminding him of the hard work he had done whilst distracting him of why he had done it.

He managed to catch four froglets that were trapped in a shallow pond, not quite ready to jump and escape it. He carried them in his jaws by their half-tails, alongside two voles. On his second trip, he brought back two crows and a magpie, and on the third, puffing, he carried a fat lizard, and two newly hatched ones it had been guarding.

Hootpetal didn't do too bad either. After several back and forth of her own, she had a collection of three mice, four lizards, and, most impressive, a snake. She didn't seem at all disappointed in her loss, only smiling and saying how she had fun, and the Clan would benefit.

Aldereyes nodded. He thought to himself how this would certainly shut his father up, then realized to his surprise that he hadn't thought of Stormstar since the competition began. He blinked at Hootpetal, taking her in for what somehow felt like the first time as she picked up some of her catch. He noted how while Myrtlewing helped him talk and extinguish what bothered him, making him feel in a way seen, Hootpetal was good with keeping such thoughts away from his head at all, instead allowing him to focus on things that made him happy.

And now, even with thoughts of Stormstar returning, it couldn't keep the spring in his step down. Picking up his own catch, he followed Hootpetal into the camp.

===================================

I’m working on making art for the MyrtleAlder story (starting with Alder’s pov), but because of all the school work and studying, I didn’t have much time to work on it and felt bad. 

Luckily, the lovely @umbranoxs​ was able to help out! They drew this scene for me, and honestly I could not have asked for a better way to do it! Their expressions, especially, are spot on! You can just tell that Alder is a bit absent while Hoot is in the moment.

Also, this is the first chapter where we get to see Alder and Hoot’s relationship! Get ready to see more in the future!

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

OBSESSED with Myrtlewing and Alderstar. I have a question which of them is the little spoon?

Thank you!

hmm...I actually don't know for certain. I have an idea, but why not see what the people think?

https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll4700801x11444619-147

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

remember how I said that Alder discovered Myrtle’s little hobbies shortly after their courtship began?

guess what’s coming reeeaal soon!

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

okay another thing I love about Myrtle/Alder is that Alder literally changed his whole view on death and killing and his loyalty to his Clan because Myrtle was more important. His first murder was subconscious, on instinct, and that instinct is to protect Myrtlewing. It was likely shoved constantly into his mind by Stormstar that he has to do everything for his Clan, all he is is what he can do to keep the Clan going, and instead he kills them because Myrtlewing, and he begins to love it, and they get together and they’re so loyal to each other. Myrtle could have killed him at any time and literally struggles to care about others, but he LOVES Alder

at the same time, Myrtle could sneeze and Alder would tell him to shut the fuck up

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Tell The Clan (short story)

Myrtlewing could only stare back into Aldereyes’s eyes while his mind searched for the best solution to this surprise predicament. He had considered what he would do if he were ever caught, and the answer was simple, he would kill anyone who saw him. 

But not Aldereyes, the one and only one in the entire Clan that he genuinely cared for. Losing him could very well mean losing part of himself. Meeting Aldereyes’s horrified gaze, repulsed by Myrtlewing, was bad enough. Myrtlewing couldn’t imagine the guilt at having to kill him. 

So he didn’t move, only stood with the blood clinging to his wet chin, its warmth emphasizing how he must look. It was truly amazing how quickly he had gone from excited thrill to cold stillness as Aldereyes and Fallendust crashed through the undergrowth.

Fallendust was another problem, another witness to his crime. She was shouting, calling him horrible things and saying how he would be punished. She didn’t dare near him though, likely too frightened, and obviously waiting for Aldereyes to make the move. 

“We’ll kill you!” she snarled. That was likely true, but he wasn’t afraid, didn’t much care, really, whether he was alive or dead. What he wasn’t okay with was the fact that Aldereyes knew, that he was seeing him for what he truly was and clearly didn’t like it at all.

He didn’t have much time to contemplate this, however, as, with a snap so sudden, Myrtlewing was sure he had imagined it, Aldereyes twisted and stood, biting into Fallendust’s throat while she gasped weakly. He blinked, then blinked again, then a third time, to be safe. His eyes were not deceiving him, and he was sure this wasn’t a fantasy created by his mind. Aldereyes had killed Fallendust.

Was it on Myrtlewing’s behalf?

By the look of even-more-horrified on Aldereyes’s face, he guessed that whatever Aldereyes’s reason, it was subconscious and entirely unplanned. He dropped Fallendust quickly and spat out the remaining blood still pooling in his mouth. Other than the swift kill, his eyes had never left Myrtlewing’s, and they stared, exchanging so many thoughts, yet not knowing at all what they wanted to say or what the other’s next move would be. 

Then Aldereyes shifted, rising as though he had been asleep and just woke up. “Come on,” he said, picking Fallendust up and hauling her onto his back. 

That certainly was a surprise. Myrtlewing blinked a few more times, not moving. Aldereyes could tell, but he had also just killed Fallendust. What was he planning? It was also possible he wasn’t planning at all, that his mind had gone blank and he was operating subconsciously. Would he snap out of it when they got to camp? Would Aldereyes turn on him then?

“Now’s not the time to be useless!” Aldereyes barked, harshly.

Myrtlewing joined him, helping settle Fallendust across his back before he placed Waspheart onto his own. Aldereyes began to march back to camp, and wondering if he should, Myrtlewing followed. There was a chance Aldereyes wasn’t going to tell. Myrtlewing didn’t want to flee if he didn’t need to just yet. 

Aldereyes didn’t talk, didn’t so much as look at Myrtlewing. He kept silent all the way back to camp, expression blank. 

When they entered the camp, Briartalon stopped midway through sending the dawn patrol out to rush over, yowling “what happened?” 

“Fallendust?” Echofoot screeched in dismay. “No! My kit!” She rushed over to Aldereyes, who gently laid their Clanmate onto the grass.

The commotion was enough to wake the rest of the Clan, who came rushing out of their dens, freezing and gasping at the sight of their two dead Clanmates. Gorsedaisy stepped out of the elder’s den only a foot, then with a dark shadow across her features, returned inside.

“What happened?” Stormstar demanded above the cacophony, pushing past the warriors that made a circle around the two bodies. He turned his attention to his son. Myrtlewing did the same, glancing sideways at his golden, red-splattered companion. What did happen? What would he say?

“We were ambushed,” Aldereyes explained, his voice surprisingly clear. But by the look on his face, it wasn’t his mind speaking. No, his mind was hiding right now, away from this situation and everything it meant. He was talking absently, but luckily for the both of them, he was good at it.

“By whom?” Stormstar questioned. “Who sent you out?”

“Windclan,” Aldereyes answered. “Fallendust and I couldn’t sleep, so we left the camp to hunt. We met Myrtlewing gathering herbs, Waspheart was helping him. We decided to patrol together as it would be safer. That’s when they attacked.”

“Could you not protect them?” Stormstar accused. “Your medicine cat has scars to show that he tried, where's yours?” 

Myrtlewing could hardly be thankful that Waspheart’s claw marks now proved his innocence, but he could only hold back a growl as Stormstar glared at his own son. “We were taken by surprise,” Myrtlewing explained. “Fallendust was killed before we had time to even realize we were being attacked. We all fought as hard as we could–as you can see by the blood in his mouth, Aldereyes didn’t hide from the fight–but there were too many of them, and Waspheart was lost as well.”

“But..But he…No!” Owlfang wailed, collapsing against his brother’s supporting shoulder. 

“I’m so sorry,” Aldereyes murmured, staring blankly at the ground. 

“Something must be done about this,” Stormstar decided. “For now, we grieve. Bring Fallendust and Waspheart to the centre of the clearing so that we may honour them with a vigil.” 

Owlfang and Echofoot were the ones to drag them along. Myrtlewing and Aldereyes touched their noses to their fur, then Aldereyes padded away in the direction of the warrior’s den. He didn’t look at Myrtlewing, made no indication that he was even thinking about him. As Myrtlewing began to pad in the direction of his own den, he could only wonder what would happen when Aldereyes returned from his trance.

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--Echofoot is Fallen’s mother, Owl Wasp’s father!

--It does say that Myrtlewing only cares for Alder even though Hoot is also a Clanmate. He does come to care for her deeply as well (thought obviously not as much or in the same way), but right now he barely knows her anymore than their other Clanmates.

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

wait

I never really thought about it before, but MyrtleAlder and GorseEmber, the two couples with the highest kill/victim count, and one half doesn’t regret what they did at all while the other half does VERY much

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

I will still be doing Fallen’s, but that was for the next victim ref, and since I’m doing something with Storm, he was next!

Remember how I said he looks like Thistleclaw?

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ref by Turukhan