|
|
Post by shiningheart on May 26, 2008 15:09:53 GMT -5
The fear inside her small body made Shiningkit stay where she was. She tried to force one of her paws to release the branch and reach out for Frostflash, but the fear battled her orders to her body back. Shiningkit felt a growl build in her chest. She would not let fear conquer her now, even though it pretty much had. Shiningkit sheathed one of her paw's claws, but reclung to the branch when her other paw gave way a bit. The water, because of the slip, was now engulfing her entire leg hungrily.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on May 29, 2008 14:35:59 GMT -5
Heart pounding so loud that she could hear it even over the rush of the river, Frostflash grasped Shiningkit's paw. The dark water lapped barely a whisker-length from her paws. sudenly a surge of spray sent a shower of water across her hind legs. She gasped, pulling back but not letting go of the kitten's paw. The water felt as cold as the heart of a glacier, and her eyes watered from the shock.
Now what do I do? she asked herself. Should I ask Shininfkit to let go, so I can pull her to safety?
She considered that a moment, eyes flickering rapidly. Okay. I think that will work. Praying to StarClan that this was the right choice, she called to the small kitten, "I've got you! You can let go now..."
Stormpaw stood frozen on the riverbank, staring blindly into the depths of the water. A roaring sound filled her ears. Was it the river, or the blood racing past her frantic heart?
The grey apprentice shook her head, trying to shake off the fear with it. But it clung to her fur, as thick and gooey as spilled oil.
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on May 29, 2008 16:04:29 GMT -5
Shiningkit stared at Frostflash. At first, the words didn't register. But then they clicked. Shiningkit took a deep breath, but coughed when water sprayed in her face. She shook her head to clear it as much as get the water off. Shiningkit prayed Frostflash had a good grip on her and let go of the branch.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 1, 2008 18:21:49 GMT -5
Shiningkit was usddenly a heavy weight in Frostflash's paws. Staggering slightly, she tilted forwards. The dark water lapped implacably at the riverbank, barely a stride away. One wrong step, and they would both tumble in.
Frostflash pulled backwards hard, swinging the kit to the relative safety of the tree roots. Her heart was beating as fast as the wings of a startled thrush.
Stormpaw slowly broke free of the paralyzing grip of fear. I have to save Shiningkit- that's what's important! She raced towards the bank, searching for a glimpse of her friend's white fur.
For a few heart-stopping seconds she couldn't see anything, but then she found it- much lower than she had expected. Frostflash had pulled the kit to safety.
While I stood here dithering, she thought bitterly.
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 1, 2008 21:05:54 GMT -5
Shiningkit swung forward as the deputy thrust her towards the tree roots. She scrabbled to get a purchase on the bark, and winced. Her claws hurt from clinging to that branch for dear life. Shiningkit looked up and saw Stormpaw. Standing. With a bitter look on her face. She thought she knew what that look meant at once. She got it all the time. Stormpaw hadn't wanted Frostflash to save her. She wanted Shiningkit to die. Her eyes narrowed. 'Fine, be that way.' She thought. Shiningkit threw herself to the bank as hard as she could. She just hoped her momentum wouldn't throw Frostflash off.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 3, 2008 7:28:33 GMT -5
Frostflash stumbled backwards from the force of Shiningkit's leap forwards. Her back paw slipped, and suddenly it was in the water. Icy cold seemed to grip it like fangs. She reeled on the edge of the bank, flailing wildly as she tried to keep her balance.
A few seconds later, she was trotting up the bank, her fur still ruffled slightly. That was close. One paw left small wet marks on the dirt, but other than that there was no evidence that she had nearly fallen into the river.
Stormpaw raced towards her friend as she saw Shiningkit leap to safety. She felt weak at the knees with relief, and her paws still trembled slightly. "You're okay!" she meowed, licking the kitten's ear. "I was so worried about you..."
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 3, 2008 13:49:22 GMT -5
Shiningkit glared at her, her eyes cold chips of ice. She gave a contemptous snort. "Sure you were. You're just like the rest of the Clan! You don't care about me. You probably hoped I drowned!" She snarled.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 4, 2008 8:22:27 GMT -5
Stormpaw blinked in confusion at Shiningkit's cold demeanor. "What did I-" But before she could finish the sentence, the kit cut her off.
"You're just like the rest of the Clan! You don't care about me. You probably hoped I drowned!"
The grey apprentice stepped back, aghast. "What?!" She had no idea where this accusation was coming from. Why would I want her to drown? We're friends, aren't we? "I... I..." she stammered. "What are you talking about?"
Frostflash started towards the two cats, ready to start lecturing them for being so careless around the river. But she stopped as she saw Shiningkit's bristling tail, and how she was glaring at Stormpaw. Uh-oh...
Deciding that it would be best not to interrupt, the deputy sat down, wrapping her tail around her paws, and waited.
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 4, 2008 13:48:15 GMT -5
Shiningkit stepped back, her lips drawn back in a ferocious snarl. "I saw that look. It was full of bitterness and hate. You don't care anything about me. And to think I thought you were my friend!" She snorted and turned back around, going in the opposite direction of camp. Her next words were soft and ringing with sadness. "Why should I care about a Clan that doesn't care about me?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 6, 2008 15:34:48 GMT -5
"I saw that look. It was full of bitterness and hate. You don't care anything about me. And to think I thought you were my friend!"
Stormpaw's eyes widened. Wait, that's not what I- I- I was mad at myself, not at her! She leaped forwards, but the kitten was already stalking away.
"Why should I care about a Clan that doesn't care about me?"
"Wait!" the apprentice called, conflicting emotions nearly choking her. Anger, fear, sadness, relief that her friend had survived... and loss. "Come back! I thought we were... friends..."
Her voice trailed off weakly, and she hung her head. A single tear flashed like a star in the corner of a sapphire-blue eye.
Why do all the friendships I make in my Clan never last? Heathersky is a medicine cat now, not an apprentice; Dewpaw's acting strange and doesn't talk to anyone anymore; now Shiningkit's leaving me, too...
She shook her head furiously, and a single drop of water flew through the air, to splash next to her paw like a raindrop. Oakpaw's my only real friend. Through narrowed eyes, she watched Shiningkit hurry away. A single word formed in Stormpaw's mouth but died before it could escape, choked into oblivion by the rising tide of sorrow.
Why?
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 7, 2008 14:30:31 GMT -5
Shiningkit's walk became a trot that soon broke into an all out run. Something in her; her Clan loyalty, probably; yearned to go back. But her own words rang in her head. Why should I care about a Clan that doesn't care about me? She wouldn't give them her loyalty. No way in StarClan did they deserve it. Shiningkit didn't want to go back, and she wouldn't.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 16, 2008 9:39:20 GMT -5
At this point, Frostflash decided that it would probably be wisest to intervene. She didn't want to intrude on a private quarrel, but this looked to be more serious.
The deputy got up and hurried after the kitten, ignoring Stormpaw for the moment. The whisper of dread in the back of her mind grew louder as she saw Shiningkit start to run.
"Get back here!" the grey cat called, now very worried. "I need to talk to you!"
Stormpaw didn't even blink as Frostflash raced past. What did she care if Shiningkit got in trouble.
It's over.
Walking slowly, calmly, the grey she-cat turned and walked away along the riverbank. Her steps were delicate and deliberate, and she looked for all the world like she was on just another hunting patrol.
No one knew her well enough to see the anguish burning in the depths of her eyes, or hear the silent scream that arose from her heart.
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 17, 2008 13:40:09 GMT -5
Shiningkit whirled around at the deputy's call. Her eyes were smoldering with rage, anguish, hurt, and above all, self-loathing. "NO!" She yowled loudly. "Why should I listen? You're the deputy, you have to put your Clan first! I'm just a filthy half-clan piece of foxdung! I'm nothing but a waste of space and fresh-kill!" Her voice lost it's ferocity and she looked down, tears burning in her eyes. "Why should I go back? No one will miss me, and it would look better if StormClan had only pure-blood cats." Shiningkit pressed herself to the ground and covered her face with her paws. "I don't...I can't go back to that...Those faces of hatred and sneers and....and...." Shiningkit broke down. Tears leaked down her face as the kit wailed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cinder on Jun 17, 2008 15:04:43 GMT -5
Frostflash's jaw dropped. I... She's... A sad smile spilt her face. I'm half-Clan, too. Does she know that, I wonder? She shook her head quickly. Of course not. Only Blazestar and a few others know that.
She walked forwards slowly, delicately. She didn't want to startle the kit into running away again. Though she knew she should be angry that Shiningkit had treated her with such disrespect, the sharp words wouldn't come.
"Half-Clan cats aren't a waste of space," she said softly, not knowing if Shiningkit would hear her or not.
Stormpaw's ears twitched as she heard shouting in the distance. She had expected the deputy to be the one doing the yelling, but the frantic voice that drifted along the river was Shiningkit's. For one frozen second, she almost turned back towards her friend. But then her heart hardened. She doesn't want to be my friend anymore. Why should I help her? She probably thinks she's too good for me. Talking about only being half-EmberClan- hah! At least she's got pure Clan blood, not a rogue's...
Her face twisted bitterly, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She sent a silent phrase singing back to Shiningkit through her tortured mind.
I hate you.
|
|
|
|
Post by shiningheart on Jun 18, 2008 14:58:04 GMT -5
Shiningkit stared up at Frostflash, anger and sorrow battling in her eyes. "How would you know that?" She sniffed and staggered up, her breath coming in gasping sobs. "You're a pure-blood, you're the deputy. You have to give every cat a fair chance. But no one else in the Clan wants me there. Stormpaw sure doesn't. I bet she was planning on my falling in the river!" Shiningkit glared at the ground. "My first friend, gone within a day of gaining her...Or at least, I thought she was my friend."
|
|
