The Winds of Winter [PLOT FINALE]

Goldeneye rushed to meet with Leopardstar and Birdflight, pressing her shoulder against the wounded warriors. "I've got her Leopardstar, return to the battle. I assure you she is in capable paws." She ordered swiftly, guiding the she-cat up to where she had made the medical station. Goldeneye signaled Birdflight to settle under the underbrush as she swept to her rapidly depleting herb-storages. Concern made her chest tighten as she bit into the petals of goldenrod, her paw twining over cobwebs as she whisked over to Birdflight. Pushing the polituce she was chewing to the side of her cheek she licked the Thunderclan warriors eye clean, it was still steadily oozing blood but she clotted it with the paste of goldenrod. Pushing it into the wound with her tongue she tightly wrapped cobwebs around her eye, keeping the healing mix in place.

"Settle down now, Birdflight was it? You won't be fighting anymore with that wound, Amberpaw will clear you a space to rest with the other wounded." Goldeneye ordered, pointing out the medicine cat apprentice as she turned her gaze back to the clearing.

Duskpanther soon saw a few Windclanners battling an exile. The she-cat decided to help them out. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her and tackled Stonepaw to the ground. The Riverclan warrior stood back and smirked. She was kind of liking this. It was fun to ram into others.
--------------------------------------
Duskpanther used run-and-tackle, dealing 11(8+3) damage and using 10 stamina.

Duskpanther:
32/40
75/120

Stonepaw:
19/100
210/280

Barleytuft:
21/45
110/160

Elmpaw:
15/15
30/50

Lionpaw:
20/20
55/80

A swift glance back to where Goldeneye stood told Dustcloud everything she needed to know. Leopardstar had gotten Birdflight to safety, and she was going to be alright. Hopefully. As blood leaked from the place where the she-cat's ear used to be, she tried her best to assess the situation. She still wasn't completely sure what had happened. She could think about that later. Now, one thought dominated all others. Dustcloud was mad. So many innocent lives, lost. That couldn't be undone. She was at fault for one of them, but she didn't care, not at that point. She lifted her gaze to find Lichenmask, atop the Great Rock. He was shoving some SkyClan she-cat's face into the stone, chanting something towards the sky. Then he was... Hugging the air? She didn't know. She didn't care. Up the Great Rock, she went.

The fire lapped at her fur, a constant reminder that scaling the ancient stone would be made that much harder. The smell of burning flesh and fur filled her nostrils, making it harder to breathe past the thick smoke that had already accustomed itself to her lungs. With one leap, she clawed her way up to the top to meet the few cats that had already gathered there before her. Without a second thought, she used the opportunity given to her to catch Lichenmask while he was distracted. She lifted her back legs, unsheathing her claws and raking them across his flank.

Dustcloud used Back Kick, dealing -17 Damage and using -15 Stamina Points.

Dustcloud:
87/100 HP
225/280 SP

Tigerleaf
45/45 HP
95/160 SP

Lichenmask
51/100 HP
230/280 SP

Fernpetal
8/45 HP
145/160 SP

Jaystar
60/120 HP
270/300 SP

Condorshade hissed when Mottledpaw went down. The warrior speedily slid under the opponent, raking her belly in the process. The tom then tumbled out and stood tall. His piercing gaze narrowed as he got ready to attack again.
---------------------------------
Condorshade used Half-turn belly rake, dealing 11 damage and using 20 sp.

Condorshade:
45/45
110/160

Pumapaw:
16/100
255/280

Hailpaw:
20/20
50/80

Orchidpaw:
20/20
60/80

Agony ripped through Falcongaze's chest. Though it wasn't due to the blow of the RiverClan she-cat that had run over. The entire world tilted and jarred as the soft clump of blood soaked fur absorbed all of his vision. His eyes glazed with tears as he took a slow ragged step forward. Jaysong. No, she had to be alright. They were going to be together for much longer. They were going to live in the new SkyClan. Bring a new destiny to cats that deserved it, bring back honour to a worn down code.

One that had failed their first, their only living kit. His chest tightened, a harsh ragged thump in his chest as he dragged his paws forward one last step, until a passing cat pushed him over. He looked over the tail lengths to his beloved's body. Praying for a breath, that she might rise up at any second. To take revenge upon the tom that had hurt her. The shriek from earlier rang in his head, it echoed between his ears with crushing waves of agony. If he had paid attention... if he had just stayed by her side. He could have protected her.

He could have saved her.

The unnatural stillness sank into his mind as he watched her body without so much as a blink. If he blinked, he knew the tears would fall. His eyes might not reopen, and he couldn't risk that. He needed her, like he needed breath. Yet his eyes burned, yellow mingled with red as a trickle of blood from a wound on his head flowed into his sorrowful gaze. His jaws parted, but no smart retort came. No hateful speech was uttered. Instead, the agony that consumed his body echoed out into a hollow sound. Chest rattling with the broken effort of the wheezed word as his world faded into darkness. Leaving the broken body of a young tom, driven by devotion.

"Jaysong..."

The leader did not make his rival wait. With strong hind legs, Jaystar leapt over the shortest of the flames. The fire was a hair away from reaching his skin but he could still feel the burning heat as a reminder of his recent death. The anger and betrayal he felt that was against Ivystar, he turned it to Lichenmask. The large tom landed on one of the sides of the rock and he dug his claws into the cold stone, even if it hurt. Jaystar climbed the rock and emerged from the smoke, looking even bigger as he reared on his both hind legs and slashed the face of the former Riverclan warrior, making sure to rip part of his face and ear flesh.

Jaystar used Rear-up to Slash on Lichenmask, dealing 20 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Jaystar
60/120 HP
255/300 SP

Lichenmask
31/100 HP
230/280 SP

Dustcloud
87/100 HP
225/280 SP

Tigerleaf
45/45 HP
95/160 SP

Fernpetal
8/45 HP
145/160 SP

---

Silverfang saw how her leader once again climbed the Great Rock. She wanted to join him but there were still Exiles who were fighting. If the war was to end, they had to be finished off.

The scarred warrior approached fastly one of the most wounded enemies that were still on their paws and she smacked her face with her claws.

Silverfang used Rear-up to Slash on Pumapaw, dealing 17 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Silverfang
100/100 HP
215/280 SP

Pumapaw
KO'd/100
255/280

Condorshade
45/45
110/160

Hailpaw
20/20
50/80

Orchidpaw
20/20
60/80

Thornleap was taken care of, but the battle had yet to be over. The flames were leaping ever higher now. Beneath the turbulent storm clouds, they crackled and roared and danced their jubilee. Harsh firelight tinted the sky a pinkish shade. The air was thick with the scent of frying fur and flesh. It was not, in the least, a pleasant smell. As Scorchclaw plunged through the battle field, he couldn't help wrinkling his nose in disgust. Tufted ears drew back against his head. Where was Adderfeather? Pale-green gaze swept from side to side, trying to make out the familiar molly in the battling cats. The still, bloody bodies of the defeated Exiles stood out all too clearly. He felt no pity upon catching sight of their corpses, but the thought of someone dear to him meeting the same fate churned his stomach. At the corner of his vision, Goldeneye rushed to Brindlestar. He saw the medicine cat speak, but he could not make out her words. The fluffy deputy paid the scene no second thought. Neither Adderfeather or Jaystar were in sight, a realization that terrified him. But there was no time for that. The only thing he could do at that moment was hope that they were all right.

It did not take him long to stumble upon Mottledpaw's prone body. Scorchclaw promptly let out a hiss of dismay and anger. The apprentice was still alive, but he was unconscious. His torn body was a painful sight to look at. The Exiles had given him these grievous wounds. He needed to be treated, and as quickly as possible. Gently taking hold of his scruff, the fluffy deputy carried the younger tom over to the medicine cats. Fury raged within his blood. It was nothing to be surprised at, but knowing did not make things right. Lichenmask had done all this.

Watching as the RiverClan warrior finished off his own clanmate, the tiny leader couldn't help but wince and look away. The potent scent of blood consumed the air around every-cat, which brought a sickening feeling to his stomach. Seeing such an amount of blood spilled in one battle... it was a truly horrid sight. The scarlet red liquid stained his once white paws and swallowing a growing lump in his throat, he looked around. Numerous bodies from those who were once their clanmates laid motionless on the ground, some from battles whom he'd contributed in. Most of his clanmates seemed to be doing alright, which brought him great relief and he internally prayed that StarClan would continue to protect them, seeing as though no one knew what was to come after the battle was finished. Hopefully the sun would return...

~~~~~~~~~~

Slashing at the Exile's muzzle with unsheathed claws, Daisyflame let out a yowl of anger as he sought his revenge on the tom. Even if it wasn't the exact cat, they all were still horrible and had to do with his parents death in some way, and he would never forgive them for what they'd done to him and the clans.

Daisyflame used Front Paw Strike, causing 11 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Daisyflame
HP 60/60
SP 170/200

Hillfire
HP 17/100
SP 240/280

Sparkpaw
HP 20/20
SP 50/80

Icepaw
HP 20/20
SP 70/80

Flamewish
HP 4/45
SP 140/160

~~~~~~~~~~

Muscles weak and breathing heavy, Rockjaw's soul still had fight in it, though his physical composure clearly did not. Looking up with wide eyes, he watched as the deputy's paws were brought down onto his head and for a few moments, everything went black. Was this it? Was this his end? No... he could still hear the nearby yowls and screeches of battling cats, this surely wasn't what death sounded like.

Prying open his eyes, every lift of his lungs felt as if the weight of the sky was being pressed down upon him. He couldn't stay down, he had to get up, he just had to. But with every movement of his muscles, his body screamed at him to stop. All that he'd done for Lichenmask... had such a death been worth giving his life away for some RiverClanner? Maybe... but who knew anymore.

Looking up as the form of a cat loomed over him, he closed his eyes as the cat lifted its' paw. This was it, his final moments in a dark world. Filled with regret and fear, it wasn't anything like he'd imagined, but in the end, he supposed that he deserved such a fate. 'Oh StarClan, please forgive me,' he begged, though unsure if they were even able to hear him or would accept his apology. With an overwhelming wave of regret and shame crashing over him, Rockjaw's life was taken from him in a swift blow.

Gingerstripe leaned into his mate's fur, but then almost immediately flinched at her words, feeling a wound open up inside him. Was she... calling him a murderer? Had she forgotten the epithets he'd been forced to bear for half his life? Did she- the tom forced himself to calm down. Of course she didn't mean that; Dewshine was the nicest cat he knew, probably the only one who didn't believe him to be a murderer. He was being irrational, and she was just distraught, was all. He looked her in the eyes. "Dewshine, you're not a murderer. I'm not a murderer. Shade- he is a murderer. Killing him wouldn't be murder, it would be ridding the forest of a menace. He isn't a cat, he's a monster. Thoughts to protect your family don't make you a murderer. Intent to kill others in order to cause pain, does. Intent to send that fox-heart to where he belongs and spare the forest even more pain does not make you a murderer, or even a killer. Only a warrior." He pressed his nose against hers comfortingly, burying his own pain deep inside and hoping to lessen hers. "No true warrior wouldn't feel that way against Shade. If you hadn't wanted to end his reign of terror, I may have been concerned." Half a smile touched his face. "Don't beat yourself up, all right? I've already done that enough for both of us. We have a war to win here." He smiled in thanks at Fallowpaw as she came to try and mend some of his wounds. "Thank you, Fallowpaw... but I'm not done yet. There's still a wrong here that needs to be righted." His eyes saw Lichenmask atop the Great Rock, and narrowed. "Several wrongs."

--

Brushgaze felt a tiny bit of satisfaction and a tiny bit of pain and regret as her father was down, laying bloody on the ground, looking up at her with anger and not even a little bit of love. Then, immediately, the other two toms attacking her opened up even more wounds. She hissed in pain, feeling herself growing steadily weaker. She still wasn't completely recovered from birthing her five kits, but these toms had no intentions of playing fair, or giving her any sympathy at all. She responded accordingly, slashing at the "leader's" face with her sharp claws. These cats who had abandoned her would not get their paws on her kits!

Brushgaze used Rear-up-to-Slash on Scorchfang, dealing 17 damage and costing 15 stamina

Brushgaze
28/100 HP
235/280 SP

Scorchfang
103/120 HP
260/300 SP

Froststone
83/100 HP
230/280 SP

Scorchfang spat in pain and fury and reared up to strike Brushgaze in the face as well.

Scorchfang used Rear-Up to Slash on Brushgaze, dealing 20 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Scorchfang
103/120 HP
245/300 SP

Brushgaze
8/100 HP
235/280 SP

(OOC: At work, will edit later.)

Amberpaw registered that her friend had called back, but she knew she had to stop the bleeding in his other wounds or else his leg might not matter. At least, that was what she told herself. She simply didn't know what to do when it looked so... strange. She kept as steady a pace as she could mending his wounds until suddenly she felt a presence and saw that Fallowpaw had arrived. Amberpaw tried not to sigh with relief as she delicately patched up a large wound on his temple - likely the final blow that had knocked him out.

She listened carefully while Fallowpaw finally spoke, patted down the cobweb and then looked up as the RiverClan medicine cat apprentice began to explain what she needed to do. Both fascinated and horrified, unable to look away, Amberpaw watched with wide eyes as Fallowpaw positioned her paws and, with a sickening click, the limb was back in place. The golden tabby she-cat flinched. She'd never heard a sound like that before - she hadn't even imagined a body could make that sound! However, 'Lightstep' had barely even stirred, so the apprentice forced herself to look back at the white RiverClan warrior; sure enough, his shoulder looked like normal, if not a little swollen.

Amberpaw found that she was trembling but she looked up to meet Fallowpaw's eyes and nodded a bit numbly at the fellow medicine cat apprentice's calm request. The other she-cat's next words, however, were lost as Amberpaw heard her name from somewhere else nearby. Immediately the she-cat turned to see Goldeneye, and something much more horrifying: a she-cat with blood pouring out of her eye. As she drew closer, Amberpaw realized with horror that the blood was her eye - or rather, there was no eye anymore. Only blood.

Almost immediately Amberpaw turned away from the one-eyed she-cat, who Amberpaw heard was named Birdflight, to clear a spot and make as good a nest as she could in as little time as possible. Mouse-brain! she reprimanded herself inwardly, but even her inside voice squeaked with fear and anxiety as she thought, She's already afraid - don't make it worse! You're a medicine cat! Amberpaw tried to take a deep breath, but she found that her lungs wouldn't seem to expand as far as usual, and her body trembled fiercely.

As soon as the nest was gathered up, Amberpaw tried to steel herself to face the injured she-cat. Birdflight seemed as terrified as Amberpaw felt, and she felt a sharp stab of guilt at how anxious she felt. Unable to find her voice, Amberpaw merely approached Birdflight from her uninjured side and laid her tail across the other she-cat's shoulders, guiding her to lie down in the small nest she'd created. Almost as soon as the she-cat had settled in, the sound of another body dragging in the dirt caught Amberpaw's attention.

By now Amberpaw's eyes were wide, and she was breathing quickly and sharply. She hadn't expected this! She had treated a few cuts, and some splinters and thorns, but she had never imagined so much torn fur, so many hanging pelts. There would be so many scars, even with all the medicine cats in the forest. Amberpaw stood frozen, staring at the RiverClan apprentice, Mottledpaw, and the RiverClan deputy carrying him with a wide, frightened gaze. Clear a nest for him, her thoughts urged, Go meet him where he is. Take him to a nest. Clean his wounds. Treat them. Do something! But her paws didn't listen.

---

Barleytuft had felt empowered with his Clanmates beside him, but through the flurry of claws and fur the tom missed which blow caused his former mentor to fall. Barleytuft immediately pushed forward to leap protectively in front of his fallen Clanmate and deputy, rearing up to lash forcefully at Stonepaw's face and ears to force him backwards. The sandy tom had heard Stonepaw's anguished cry, seen the grief as the other tom spotted a fallen Exile, and snarled, "All of these deaths were unnecessary - Lichenmask caused this and you and your friends blindly followed an evil cause!"

With speed Barleytuft didn't know he had, he lashed fiercely at Stonepaw's front legs, trying to force him backwards even further - maybe to encourage him to run, though he wasn't sure why. "You don't need to die, too!"

Fernpetal screamed a combined wave of fear and fury flooding over her as Lichenmask ignored her words and tackled her to the ground, lithe body landing hard against the rock.  Hissing furiously, she struggled for a moment before...wham!  Her head hit the stone with such force that she felt as if it had cracked over...and maybe it had.  Vision spinning sickeningly, the sound of the bi-color she-cat's beating heart was amplified in her ringing ears, and against her own interests, it seemed her sense of reality was trying to leave her.  Forcing her eyes open, she tried to lift her head and growl, but claws sunk into the soft skin of her face, and her cry was muffled as her face was once against pressed down against the rock.  She knew something was different about the tom now...he moved as if his body was not his own, continuing to smush her face deeper and deeper into the too solid surface.  Flutterings of pure panic grew in her chest; was she going to die at the claws of this wretched tom?  The reason unknown to her, the image of Silentwhisper's kind face emerged from her memory, and she suddenly wished she had bid him farewell before leaving...

What are you Fern?  A warrior or a helpless mouse?!  Get up and defend yourself you idiot!  Her odd self-encouragement managed to melt away some of the panic, but just as she was about to kick out with her hind legs...he let her go.  Murky green eyes widening, she looked up at Lichenmask; he was standing on his hind legs, reaching out with his forepaws to the bloody sky...waiting for something.  Not taking long to question it, the SkyClan she-cat kicked out with her hind legs and raked them down his exposed belly with as much power as she could summon, before leaping back to her paws.  At once, the world swayed dangerously, and her paws stumbled as she struggled to find her balance.  Uhhg....my head hurts so bad...but...I need to keep going!  I need to defeat him, and prove, that he's not who he says he is!  As she swayed through, bile began to rise in her throat, and the sounds of other cats rushing forward to attack the Exile leader just further confused her.

Fernpetal used Belly Rake on Lichenmask, dealing 10 damage and costing 10 stamina

Fernpetal:
8/45 [HP]
135/160 [SP]

Lichenmask:
21/100 HP
230/280 SP

Pumapaw had been powerful, but there were only so many opponents she could handle at once. It was a shame, the Exile had been defeated all too quickly. Gingerly running her tongue over her fangs, Hailpaw gazed down upon the fallen she-cat. Disdain and disappointment mingled within her bright yellow gaze. It would have been great if the two of them had been able to fight one on one. The ThunderClan apprentice should have been thankful for the others' aid, but she could only feel a hollowness within her heart. The excitement had fizzled out all too quickly. "It wasn't a fair fight, was it?" She asked softly. Whether Pumapaw heard her, she didn't know. The stocky she-cat was already bounding off, searching for another opponent.

A blood-spattered ball of white fluff launched through the air and tackled Brushgaze to the ground. Driven by impulse, Hailpaw didn't even recognize the two other warriors that had been locked in battle against the Exile. With a violent thud, the two bodies tumbled to the ground. The cracking of bones might have been muffled by Brushgaze's thick fur. Hailpaw had the feeling that she was going to be very sore the next day. Ever since the battle had started, she seemed to have been tackling enemy after enemy. It was a little overused for her, but it worked, so there were no problems. Lifting her head, she only then noticed ShadowClan's leadership standing to the side. "Oh, hello!" She greeted them cheerfully.

Hailpaw used Run and Tackle yet again, this time on Brushgaze. It deals 9(6+3) damage and costs 10 stamina.

Hailpaw
20/20 HP
40/80 SP

Scorchfang
103/120 HP
245/300 SP

Froststone:
HP: 83/100
SP: 230/280

Brushgaze
0/100 HP
235/280 SP

Brushgaze is KO'ed.

---

"Are you just going to stand there?!" Scorchclaw had succeeded in carrying Mottledpaw over to the medicine cats. The almost full-grown tom was undoubtedly heavy, but in the heat of the moment, he barely noticed the weight. The number of badly wounded cats was high. With ThunderClan's and WindClan's medicine cats pretty much nonexistent, the remaining three had their paws full treating the injured. When a ginger tabby he recognized as SkyClan's medicine cat apprentice merely greeted him with wide eyes, his words slipped out sharply. Trudging up to her, he lowered Mottledpaw to the ground. "Do your job and help him." He growled, green eyes clashing with Amberpaw's amber ones. He had no time to linger around. Once the young she-cat had taken over, he returned to the battle field.

A group of young cats were engaged in battle with an Exile. Despite the power up he had received from Lichenmask, the apprentice was gradually being driven back. It was a pity, really. They were young--if they had not chosen to follow Lichenmask, they would have had a bright future ahead of them. Announcing his arrival with a ferocious snarl, Scorchclaw lashed out with his hind legs. Unsheathed claws glinted in the firelight before they connected with the side of Stonepaw's head.

As he gazed down upon the gray tom, Scorchclaw's features were devoid of expression. "Run away." He ordered. His voice was surprisingly calm, but it belied the wrath that was bubbling beneath the surface. "Lichenmask isn't worth fighting for at the cost of your life. If you refuse to flee, I can end this right here."

Scorchclaw used Back Kick on Stonepaw, dealing 16 damage and costing 15 stamina. Stonepaw is KO'ed.

Scorchclaw
100/100 HP
230/280 SP

Barleytuft
21/45 HP
80/160 SP

Elmpaw
15/15 HP
30/50 SP

Lionpaw
20/20 HP
55/80 SP

Stonepaw
0/100 HP
210/280 SP

Flecks of ash drifted heavily within the heat-simmering night air, carried upon the stagnant gales of scorching wind like a peculiar fresh snowfall. Brittle tendrils of lifeless foliage fed the flames that roared ravenously around the Great Rock, effectively shielding the bloodied party from what atrocities transpired below. Viscous droplets of filmy scarlet blotted Lichenmask's gaze, yet not a single remnant of agony could work its way through his taxed system- regardless of whatever futile wounds were clumsily inflicted, the copious amounts of adrenaline and ecstasy that poured throughout his veins rendered him blissfully numb, void of anything but savage glee. It was almost amusing how foolish they had become in their state of desperate rage, how utterly blind they were. Did they truly believe it would be this easy? The absent reflection resonated within his roaring mind, coupling with a devious realization. Did they truly believe themselves to be important enough to strike him down? They were nothing but faceless names, scarcely of any value in the unfathomable scale of existence. Hardly a single cat would care about such pitiful creatures, regardless of whether or not he tore conscious existence from their futile grasps. Slackened head still drunkenly upturned towards the roiling night sky, the shrill shrieking that resonated through the night sky stirred to life once more, awoken by his plight. Even above the roaring chaos of the battle and the horrendous screaming of the night, the whispers had arisen one final time.

Even as the Exiles were sentenced to be slaughtered amidst a meaningless death and as Shade fled like the useless scrap of brainless flesh he had always been known to be, Lichenmask's delirium only heightened. All these useless cowards would soon be lost to time- they would think themselves victorious, only to bleed out or have their blood curdle within their veins from infection. The long night comes, an exalted sigh bubbled past the tom's bloodied lips, soon all would be well. Judgement day would come, regardless of what was done to try to appease the darkness. Lightning, illuminating the dingy smoke in a terrifying flood of muted light, began to coil within the night sky with a frenzied sense of urgency, electricity prickling the blood-soaked pelts of those who dwelled within the forsaken clearing. The tremendous strength still radiated from Lichenmask with a frightening intensity, unyielding even as the opponents continued to build and build around him. Hundreds of voices, unheard by the mere ears of the many battle-preoccupied ordinary cats, shrieked and caterwauled a simple command. Now! The scene was rapidly becoming eerily reminiscent to what had previously overcome him just several days earlier, the intensity burning even greater- white hot energy scorching away at the wounds, blood, and exhaustion that hung heavily upon his being, until nothing but the flames themselves remained. The agonizing howling arose into a single voice whose pitch was practically deafening. You must do it now! Time has run out, only moments remain. Abandoning the pursuit of luring down whatever fate was currently descending upon him during this eve, Lichenmask's jaws went slack as his eyes rolled up into the confines of his skull.

Suddenly, all those who were currently engaging in battle against Lichenmask were sent tumbling into the air high above, only to be scattered across the clearing of Fourtrees itself. Strength had been received through blessing one final time, as he was finally drawing towards the enticing prospect of an endless sleep. Mother, please hurry, I grow weary.



Lichenmask has evolved; new moves have been unlocked!
Lichenmask used StarClan's Wrath, Dealing UNKNOWN Damage & Costing UNKNOWN Stamina.

LICHENMASK
N/A

FERNPETAL
K.O.

JAYSTAR
K.O.

TIGERLEAF
K.O.

DUSTCLOUD
K.O.

A monster... Dewshine thought over the words carefully, though she found she could not disagree it still felt terrible. Like Crow-food in her belly to admit it as she forced herself to collect her emotions. The thought of going back into battle, of harming other cats made her ache. Though as she looked over the battlefield she was relieved to see that most of her clan seemed to be alright. The corpses that littered the forest floor made her close her eyes. Then reopen them, seeking desperately the familiar paled coat of her son.
"..Right..." She whispered. Trying to shove back the flood, to stop it from consuming her once more as she brushed her muzzle against Gingerstripe's. "Be safe." It was a soft demand, but her blue eyes spoke of tones she couldn't convey. Looking over the wounds on his cheek with concern, though Fallowpaw had been kind enough to cover them with herbs.

Suddenly, her attention was diverted. She turned in time to see a massive light, the bodies of cats flung from High-rock. Among them, Jaystar. The leader who had taken in Gingerstripe and given her family a chance to exist. The idea of attacking another cat still churned her stomach, but... Jaystar.