literature

Frozen Secrets-Chapter 10

Deviation Actions

ShadowNightMist's avatar
Published:
777 Views

Literature Text

Birchpaw flipped onto her back as she snuggled deeper into her nest. She breathed a sigh of defeat. I won't be sleeping anytime soon. She thought. Catching a flash of movement at the back of the den, Birchpaw craned her neck to see Milkpaw who was wide awake. Her friend stared into the darkness of the den, brown striped tail swinging idly behind her. Quietly standing up, Birchpaw beckoned for Milkpaw to follow her outside.

The two apprentices basked under the light of the moon as they sat outside the apprentices' den.

"I can't sleep. The battle is making me nervous." Birchpaw whispered.

Milkpaw sighed. "Me too."

"I hope we do okay. We have to teach WindClan a lesson." Birchpaw meowed.

A sudden rustle in the medicine den made the apprentices freeze. They crawled into the shadows as they watched Streamwing exit the medicine den and hurriedly enter Cloudedstar's den, several herbs clamped in her jaws.

"Do you think Cloudedstar's alright? Streamwing looked pretty scared." Birchpaw whispered, eyes wide with fright.

"I'm sure she's fine." Milkpaw replied though the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her worry. "Come on, let's at least try to get some sleep."


Cloudedstar dug her claws into the ground and gritted her teeth as another ripple went down her flank. "Where's Streamwing?" she growled, resisting the urge to scream.

"I'm here." Streamwing said, her reply muffled by the herbs in her jaws as she entered the clearing.

Creekdrop stroked Cloudedstar's flank gently with her tail. "Everything's going to be alright." She soothed even if she knew that what she was saying was complete lie.

Cloudedstar closed her eyes tightly and was about to draw in a sharp breath but gave a mangled scream instead.

Around the three cats, the forest was still except for the occasional chirping of crickets.

Cloudedstar's flank gave another ripple and the leader gave a wail of pain.

"Okay, they're coming now." Streamwing mewed, placing her front paws on her leader's belly. "Creekdrop, go fetch some moss." She said, addressing the deputy hurriedly.

Creekdrop nodded and scurried away hastily into the dark forest.

Streamwing grabbed a stick lying on the ground and gave it to Cloudedstar to bite on just as another ripple went down the leader's flank.

Cloudedstar let out a gasp of pain and bit down on the stick. She gave a shudder and the first kit slid out, coupled with heavy bleeding.

Streamwing gasped as she saw the heavy flow of blood. This isn't right. She thought.  There's something wrong.

The stick in Cloudedstar's jaws snapped as she bit down again. Letting out a strangled scream, she dug her claws into the ground. Pain filled every fiber in her body as she struggled to stay conscious.

Creekdrop burst into the clearing and dropped to wads of moss at Streamwing's paws.

"Good. Now lick the kit." Streamwing said, using her tail to point to the small bundle of fur beside Cloudedstar.

Creekdrop obediently began to lick the small ball of fur as she worriedly watched Cloudedstar continue to bleed heavily.

Streamwing growled softly as Cloudedstar's flank gave another shudder. She's not done kitting yet. How much more blood does she deserve to lose? She thought. The medicine cat shot a quick look at the sky. Is this punishment from StarClan?

Cloudedstar hissed violently as she felt pain course through her entire body. It gripped her like cold claws raking down her flank. More blood poured out as she felt the second kit slide out.

Streamwing had passed the second kit to Creekdrop before pressing the moss against Cloudedstar in an attempt to stop the bleeding. In only a few heartbeats, the moss was dripping with blood. Streamwing quickly tossed the moss aside and struggled to keep her leader awake. "Stay awake, Cloudedstar. Don't close your eyes, you have to stay with us." She urged.

Cloudedstar began to pant as she feebly tried to keep her eyes open. But… I feel so… tired. I just want to curl up and… sleep. She thought. Her eyelids fluttered shut and her paws gave a small twitch.

"Cloudedstar!" Creekdrop wailed, clearly distressed. "Stay awake! Don't sleep; you have to stay with us." The last part of her sentence became nearly inaudible as she hung her head.

"She's losing a life." Streamwing said numbly. She felt terrible letting her leader slip away.

Cloudedstar gave a sharp gasp as her amber eyes opened. Realization struck her not long after. "I-I lost a l-life." She stammered.

Streamwing nodded sadly. "Yes, you did." She murmured inaudibly.

"We have to get the blood cleaned off your fur then head back to camp after." Creekdrop whispered weakly.


Cats filled the clearing as they started to prepare for the battle with WindClan. There were a few questioning murmurs as some of the cats spotted Streamwing enter camp, two kits dangling by their scruffs in her jaws. The medicine cat entered the nursery before emerging from the wall of leaves a few minutes later. Streamwing eyed the crowd through narrowed eyes before speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I was gathering herbs just before dawn when I found those kits abandoned on our territory. Their mother was probably a passing rouge who didn't want them which I why I decided that bringing them to the camp is better than leaving them for any foxes. I have decided to name them Lightningkit and Fogkit and Sunnycloud will be nursing them." Streamwing announced before padding into her den.


Birchpaw padded alongside Milkpaw at the end of the battle patrol which consisted of Blackstorm, Ebonymoon, Flowerflare, Batfang, Hailfang, Orangepetal, Tigermoon and Solartail.

"We have to be ready for anything WindClan might throw at us." Birchpaw mewed.

Milkpaw nodded gravely. "WindClan will learn that we're not a bunch of kittypets who don't know how to defend their territory." She replied.

Orangepetal slowed her pace until she walked beside the two apprentices. "Promise me you'll both be careful. I don't want either of you to get hurt." She mewed quietly.

"I promise." Birchpaw replied.

"I promise." Milkpaw echoed.

Orangepetal looked at them with a strange wistful look in her blue eyes. "Once the battle is over, I can finish telling you my story." She purred before padding ahead.


The patrol halted near the WindClan border, the scent of the enemy stronger than usual.

"They've marked the territory beyond the border." Blackstorm snarled.

"Let's cross it so we can challenge WindClan then." Ebonymoon muttered impatiently.

"It's too late for that." A voice growled.

A patrol of WindClan cats emerged from the bushes. It consisted of Crowfeather, Heathertail, Breezepelt, Sunstrike, Boulderpaw, Furzepaw and Ashfoot.

"If you're going to start a fight, you might as well be prepared to lose. You're outnumbered." Flowerflare said haughtily.

"Our patrol doesn't have to be equal in number as yours, kittypet." Breezepelt snarled. A clear sign of his hunger for bloodlust shone in his amber eyes.

"You can't possibly believe-" Flowerflare began, but was abruptly cut off as Breezepelt flung himself at her, thus beginning the battle.


Milkpaw nimbly stepped to the side as Blackstorm rolled on the ground beside her, tussling with Heathertail. She then felt a heavy weight crash into her before she was flipped onto her back. She looked up to see Boulderpaw pinning her down. Milkpaw bared her fangs at him and snarled. "Get off me you stupid furball!" she tried to claw him, but was kept immobile by the tom's firm grip. It was only then did she realize that Boulderpaw's claws were sheathed. The tom looked at her with something close to embarrassment in his light blue eyes.

"I never got to thank you properly for saving me from that dog the other day." He coughed before continuing. "So, thank you."

Milkpaw's amber gaze softened for a moment before turning cold. "We're in the field of battle, Boulderpaw." She said, her voice like ice. "As far as I'm concerned, that never happened." She then kicked the tom in the gut, sending him sprawling into a few bushes nearby. The cream she-cat then crawled away.


The sky had darkened and it was beginning to rain. Birchpaw panted as she glared at Furzepaw. The gray and white WindClan apprentice looked back at her with something like amusement clear on her face. Lightning flashed followed by a rumble of thunder.

"What's the matter, Birchpaw?" Furzepaw taunted. "Are you scared of a little thunder?"

"Shut up!" Birchpaw roared, launching herself at Furzepaw.

Dodging quickly, Furzepaw tackled Birchpaw as she fell to the ground. She pinned down the brown and white apprentice from the back of her head, claws slowly pricking the skin on Birchpaw's neck. "You fight like how you look." She chuckled darkly. "Weak." She applied more pressure into her hold, her claws sinking deeper into Birchpaw's neck as she forced her head closer into the ground.

Birchpaw could feel blood starting to trickle down her back. She bit back a growl of pain. The scuffle she had with Furzepaw earlier had left her slightly worn out while the WindClan apprentice didn't seem like she fought at all. Birchpaw had only managed to lay a few scratches on Furzepaw whereas her pelt was already covered in gashes made by her foe. Suddenly, the weight on her back lifted as she heard Furzepaw's gasp of surprise. Standing up, Birchpaw whirled around to see Milkpaw tackle the WindClan apprentice to the ground.

Recovering quickly, Furzepaw scored a blow on Milkpaw's jaw. The cream colored apprentice stumbled back a few steps, stunned by the sudden hit. Furzepaw took the opportunity and raked her claws down Milkpaw's flank, drawing blood.

Birchpaw leaped and slashed at Furzepaw's ears. The gray and white she-cat screeched with pain before biting down on Birchpaw's tail. Blood splattered the grass as Birchpaw dug her claws deeper into Furzepaw's ears before pushing the she-cat away.

Milkpaw got ready to leap to the aid of Birchpaw but her friend blocked her way.

"Go, I'll be fine." Birchpaw said.

Milkpaw shook her head. "No, I'm going to help you."

Birchpaw head butted her friend lightly. "I said go!" She said more forcefully. "Fight someone else."

Milkpaw hesitated, but upon seeing her friend's glare trotted away. She glanced back and saw Birchpaw beginning to fight Furzepaw again. Walking forward, Milkpaw noticed Sunstrike standing nearby. The tortoiseshell she-cat was looking in all directions, fur bristled. Milkpaw crept behind the she-cat, careful not to give away her presence. She sprung but Sunstrike was ready. The WindClan she-cat met Milkpaw in mid-leap and managed to tackle the cream she-cat onto the ground. Milkpaw squirmed as Sunstrike pinned her down. The WindClan warrior dug her claws into Milkpaw's shoulders.

"Well," Sunstrike drawled. "I guess you'll learn not to mess with warriors, kit." She growled the last word and watched Milkpaw's reaction with a sneer as she dragged her claws slowly down her flank.

Milkpaw cried out in pain as she felt her blood begin to drip down her flank before bristling at the insult regarding her small size. Retaliating, she bit one of Sunstrike's forepaws, effectively forcing the WindClan warrior to release her hold.

Sunstrike stepped back, her forepaw raised and her lips curled into a snarl. "Wrong move, kit."

"Never," Milkpaw growled as she bared her fangs. "call me a kit." Ignoring the pain on her sides, Milkpaw lunged at the she-cat and slashed her muzzle, splattering the ground with blood.

A gray blur knocked Sunstrike onto the ground and Milkpaw gasped as she realized it was Tigermoon. She shot her father a grateful glance before stumbling away.


The rain seeped into the scratches and slashes on Milkpaw's flank, causing them to sting. She stood still momentarily to catch her breath. Breathing in, her amber eyes scanned the dark moor until they landed on two figures locked in battle on top of a small hill. Blinking against the rain, Milkpaw realized it was Orangepetal and Breezepelt. Rushing blindly across the moor, she leaped onto Breezepelt's back and sunk her claws into his shoulders, distracting him from Orangepetal.

Breezepelt tried to shake Milkpaw off but she kept her grip. She sunk her teeth into Breezepelt's ear. Yowling, the tom rolled onto the ground. Milkpaw felt herself get crushed as she was unable to spring away in time.

"Milkpaw!" Orangepetal screeched. She turned to face Breezepelt angrily before she smacked him across his face, her claws scarring his cheek.

Milkpaw lay in the mud; the rain soaked her fur and made her blood run into the ground. Her vision began to swim as she tried to stand. She took a wobbly step forward before she fell to the ground again. Through her rapidly blurring vision, Milkpaw managed to make out Breezepelt leap onto Orangepetal fiercely before she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.


Birchpaw clawed Furzepaw's flank and dodged as the apprentice tried to head butt her. Furzepaw snarled and Birchpaw watched with satisfaction as the gray and white she-cat bolted away. As Birchpaw continued to keep an eye out for enemies until she heard a painful wail sound over the pouring rain. Limping, Birchpaw headed towards the direction of the cry.
Spotting her Clanmates standing on a small hill, Birchpaw hurried her pace. She joined her Clanmates in facing the cats from WindClan evenly.

The cats from each patrol had slashes and wounds on their bodies ranging from shallow to deep, most still oozing blood.

Birchpaw narrowed her eyes at the look of triumph in Breezepelt's amber eyes.
Ashfoot waved her tail. "Let's go. We're done here." She meowed before leading the patrol away.

A grim silence hung in the air and each of the remaining cats wore a look of grief on their faces.

Why are they so glum?  Birchpaw thought. It's only one loss. We'll beat them at the next battle. Then she noticed Milkpaw's face was buried in one of Tigermoon's forelegs while his other paw was on her back. Following each sad gaze of her Clanmates, Birchpaw felt her breath catch in her throat and her body became numb with cold.

A few fox-lengths away from the patrol, Orangepetal's body lay unmoving. The she-cat's orange fur was splattered with mud and blood while her blue eyes were glazed over and stared sightlessly at the raining sky. Her neck was twisted at an odd angle.

Birchpaw vaguely felt herself fall onto the ground and her eyes widen with shock. She somehow felt far away and it seemed like she couldn't register anything happening to herself or anything around her. Her body began to shake and only one thing seemed to make sense.

Orangepetal is dead.
Well, sorry for the late post.^^; I got so busy I couldn't post it earlier. But don't worry, I'll probably be able to post another chapter after Christmas. Though I'm not so sure. I'll try my best to though.
----------
What an angst-y chapter. The battle ending with such a sad note.
Dark Forest trainees. Never go against them when you're inexperienced.

Anyway, just wanted to say, Milkpaw is smaller than Birchpaw. She's smaller than the average apprentice. But no, she's not as small as a kit. That would be exaggerating.

Well, I don't have much to say about this chapter other than :cries: and :iconheartbrokenplz:.
-----------
Next: [link]

Previous: [link]

First: [link]

:icondonotuseplz::iconmyartplz:
© 2012 - 2024 ShadowNightMist
Comments12
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
kimchichu's avatar