In the Blink of an Eye (Closed)

Fernpaw had been in a sour state of mind for quite a while now; her training felt as if it was going nowhere, she was surrounded by cats that believed avidly in the most stupid things, and her sister...  The sleek she-cat curled her lip disgustedly as fury-inducing thoughts flooded her mind, seeing her sister agree to peddle even more of that StarClan nonsense by being their so-called 'messenger' made her want to just whack the she-cat across the face, maybe knock some sense back into her brain.  Alas though...Mintpaw was her sister, and only living close family member...she could never hurt her.  As much as her choice confused and angered her, she loved her sister dearly, even if she hadn't showed it much lately.  She just didn't want her to continue to be seduced by these stupid lies...  Their loved ones watching from the night sky was a comforting though, but....but it wasn't real!  When cats die they just die, their eyes close and their body is left to be mourned over and buried, returned to the earth.  Nothing more to it!

What truly matters, is what you do in life, the impression you make on others before you die!  Were you brave and strong, or a coward?  Were you beloved and honored by your clanmates, or is your name spat like an insult?  Were you kind to others, and selfless; or were you selfish and mean, tearing others down to make yourself feel better?  That is what matters!  Not this whole, 'be good and maybe you'll get a front row seat in the stars' thing!  Be brave, be strong, be kind...for you.  Fernpaw had grown up on stories told to her by Rippedsky and many others, stories of her mother Pansyface.  They always praised her as all of those...courageous, popular, kind-hearted...along with being rebellious, snarky, and independent.  When they said that Fernpaw was just like her mother though...which side of her did they really mean?

As she thought about all these odd things, the brown tabby and white she-cat had been padding through the rocky forest of her territory, alone.  Usually apprentices were chaperoned by a patrol, or their mentor, but Fernpaw preferred to have some time to herself to explore and experience the world without other cats ordering her around all the time.  Their voices always grated in her ears; Go hunt for the elders, change the kit's bedding, you're on the dawn patrol...she yearned for the day when those voices would be her own, with her full name, ordering the lower ranks around.  That little voice in the back of her head whispered to her though; but is that what you really want?

The bi-color she-cat's indirect path was leading her closer and closer to the Thunderpath that marked the border with ShadowClan, not that she really cared.  She kind of liked it there, despite the terrible smell the place held a feeling of danger and excitement she craved.  As she pushed her way out of the snow-covered underbrush to stand on the thin stretch of grass the ran alongside it, she gazed out across the gritty black surface into the piny marshland beyond.  It was said that behind ShadowClan's territory lay another Twolegplace, like the one next to ThunderClan territory...and beyond that, what?  There was so much world out there, and the clans only took up a small speck of it!  Crouching down at the edge of the path, her pristine white belly touching the oily grass, she gazed out ahead and contemplated the very thought, unaware that danger loomed very, very near...

Crowstar was out doing a border patrol by himself, taking the time to gather his thoughts about the current events happening within the clan, and with other clans. While Skyclan was generally peaceful with everyone, Ashstar still disliked his clan, and he wasn't even sure about Magpiestar. There seemed to be some tension coming from the Shadowclan leader but he didn't quite understand why.

The tom was a few tail lengths from the border when he noticed Fernpaw's scent heading for the border. What was she doing? Did she have a secret friend or mate? Or was she crossing the border to cause trouble. The tom followed the apprentice's scent and crouched down in the brush right before the clearing. His yellow eyes resting on the she-cat close to the Thunderpath, and the area around it. Just what was she doing? Did she plan to cross?

Unaware of Crowstar's presence nearby, Fernpaw's murky green gaze lingered for a few more moments on the land across the path, before she began to grow bored.  The Thunderpath stunk as bad as rotting fresh-kill, and what use was it to just dream about being somewhere strange and different?  As much as she yearned to make her own rules and go where she wished, she was still under the rule of the clan, and had to abide by their markers and borders.  With a contemptuous snort, she unfolded her crouched limbs and was about to turn and pad away back into the trees when...she heard something.  Brown tabby ears instantly pricked, the young she-cat scented the air and rose up onto her tip-toes to gaze down the Thunderpath towards ThunderClan territory, where the strange noise was coming from.  It sounded like a monster, but much louder than all the other ones that usually traveled down the path...and it was approaching fast.  Feeling curious but uncertain, Fernpaw began to back up a bit, but still watched.  What in the name of the Clans was this thing?

Before she could even twitch her tail, a shiny, very bright colored monster hurtled down the path at an unbelievable speed...but it wasn't going straight.  It was swerving back and forth erratically, like a hummingbird in flight, and before her very eyes it left the Thunderpath, jumped onto the grassy barrier between Twolegs and cats, and came rushing directly towards Fernpaw.  Her mouth opened wide in a soundless wail, the apprentice's ears were flattened against her head and her eyes stung from the acidic fumes that came off the approaching monster in waves.  Her world moved in slow motion, the beat of her heart rang loudly in her ears; was this really...the end?

Crowstar heard the roar of the monster, he watched as Fernpaw got up and stretched to see the creature better. She should have been backing up. Even if she wasn't on the path itself, and the monster didn't stray from the path, she still should have backed up. Crowstar stepped out of the bushes a bit more to get an eye on the coming monster. The black leader felt fear grip his heart as soon as he saw the monster go off it's usual path.

His eyes went back to Fernpaw. She hadn't moved. The leader jumped out of the bushes and raced in front of the apprentice. They didn't have time to get out of the path together. He wouldn't be able to carry her either at least fast enough to get out of the path. The leader shoved the apprentice out of the monster's path and into the cushion of the brush.

The leader felt the wind get knocked out of him as the Monster stuck him, he could feel it's sheer weight crush him. Part of him tearing from the friction on the grass and between the monster. Soon dark consumed him before he could feel anymore pain. The monster shortly after hitting him, swerved back onto the road and continued on it's path.

Fernpaw let out a scared, startled cry as she felt herself being flung away from the oncoming monster, the clods of oily grass and soil she had been gripping for her life being torn up along with her paws.  Landing sprawled in a patch of brambles, she barely felt the prick of the thorns as adrenaline continued to rush through her body, and she jumped to her paws.  Who had pushed her out of the way?!  She hadn't caught sight of them, and frantically whipped her head around, searching for the cat...and she found him.   Oh...no...  "CROWSTAR!"  Her paws slipping on the grass in her haste, she rushed to her leader's side, wide eyes shifting rapidly as she took in his injuries.  "No..no, Crowstar!  WAKE UP!"  Fearful tears beginning to form in her murky eyes, she desperately shook the large tom's shoulder, her breath coming in fast gasps.  She knew though, deep down, that it was no use.  His flank was still.  "No...no no, please no!"  This is my fault...my stupidity killed our leader!  What am I going to tell the clan...what am I going to tell Rippedsky!?  They're all going to hate me, or...or kill me even!  A kit-like whimper rising in her throat, she watched her leader's body through glazed eyes.  "I..I'm so sorry!"

Crowstar took in a gasp, and flung his eyes open as Starclan claimed another life from him. He took in raspy breaths, trying to get his breathing even. Soon a cough escaped him as he coughed up some blood from his healing internal injuries. Soon he was finally able to get everything together and under control. He pushed himself up onto shaky legs and looked around, his eyes landing on Fernpaw.

He moved over to her, getting off the Thunderpath. "Are... Are you alright?" He asked Fernpaw.

Tears were beginning to form in the she-cat's eyes, her head bent respectfully over her leader's dead body as she contemplated what to do when suddenly...Crowstar let out a loud gasp.  Her eyes widening as round as the full moon, the brown tabby apprentice sprung back a few fox-lengths, her paws trembling from fear as her heart raced at the speed of the monster that had just killed the leader.  Wh...wh..what was that!?  She had heard of cats taking a 'dying breath', but...he had already been dead!  To her utter astonishment, Fernpaw watched as the tom's yellow eyes opened back up, and he gasped for air, like a cat recovering from a long run.  She remained in a crouched, defensive position, deeply disturbed while also exceedingly confused.  W..was I mistaken?  No, he was dead!  I couldn't hear his heartbeat, he wasn't breathing...  Rendered speechless, she could only watch as Crowstar heaved himself to his paws, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth, and walked back over the border, like nothing had even happened!  As his gaze fell onto her she visibly flinched, and couldn't stop herself from shrinking back a pace.  His question rang clearly in her ears, yet she couldn't seem to understand it.  Am I okay?  What about you?!  "Y..y..y...you...but....C..Crowstar you....you just died!"  The she-cat was visibly shaken, her whole body trembling and face twisted with a dumbfounded expression of horror.  For a moment she wondered if she should go get Mintpaw or Rippedsky, but before she could she began to recall something that had been pushed back into the very farthest depths of her memory...

The leader's chest was still heaving as the energy had been sapped from him to heal all of the wounds the monster had caused. Blood still clung to him from the old wounds but most of them had closed. "Starclan took one of my lives. I have died six other times before this one, so I'm used to it. I just want to make sure you are okay seeing how you only have one life." He expected the others to be shaken by him dying in front of them but this was more extreme than the others. "Are you okay?" He asked once again.