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Chapter Three
❝Old Beginnings❞
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The blood flashed across their vision like a lightning storm, screams of agony and grief forever ringing in their ears, and bloodstained paws running into the shadows. Never to be found again. They looked down at their own crimson paws, shivering in fear and regret as they reminded them of the cat who drove them to do it. To murder. Am I a monster too? They wondered, but quickly shook their head in disgust, rapid and desperately. N-no, I'm doing the right thing! Th-they d-don't deserve to live just like-

"Hey, are you alright?"

They turned and met the concerned golden gaze of their uncle, something in them flickering with fear. They hadn't realized they were talking out loud, it simply became habit and many of their clanmates avoided them because of it. "I'm fine," they said, bright white fur being excessively smoothed once more. Feinting a smile that only came off as sinister, not quite meeting their eyes. "I just went out on a walk."

Their uncle hesitated and then nodded. "Well Sandstar wishes to see you in her den...she sent me to come get you."

"Is that all?" The uncle flinched as their voice was under toned with something akin to irritation and an icy coldness like the ocean.

He nodded and hurried away.

༺༻

Nightowl grew worried for his sister Dappledrose, as she tended to spend more and more time out of camp. If she wasn't assigned a patrol by him she would go out and hunt anyway, and although it was good for the clan's prey pile, it wasn't good for her.

"When's the last time you've rested or even eaten?" He asked her. It had been seven sunrises since Duskpaw's body was found, the camp still sullen with the cloud of lament.

The dappled molly shook her head. "Don't worry about me brother, I simply want to focus on providing for my clan instead of..." As his sister trailed off the conversation died with it and Nightowl dipped his head with grief.

"As long as you're making sure you're taking care of yourself."

Dappledrose didn't asnwer and instead walked back out of the camp entrance. The heir of SongClan let out a deep sigh before spotting Sunfeather, his eyes lit up with glee as he padded over.

As she spotted him, the golden warrior smiled, one that reached her eyes and caused them to sparkle. "Hey Nightowl, was there something you needed?"

He shook his head. "No...I just wanted to know-uh...did you want to go fishing with me? I mean, umm, the fresh kill pile is looking a little low." He said sheepishly, tapping the tip of his claw against the densley packed earth beneath him.

"Well of course!" Sunfeather giggled, nudging the side of Nightowl's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "I would love to go hunting with you, I mean, the fresh kill pile really does look like it needs tuning up."

Nightowl knew as well as the next cat that thanks to Dappledrose the clan wouldn't be running out of prey anytime soon, but he appreciated her for playing along. Avoiding his humiliation. The black tom led them out through the rock entrance and toward the sea, saltwater and wind swirling tantalizingly through the air. There was a long silence that seemed to last a lifetime, with nothing but the push and pull of the waves to fill its void. He was relieved when Sunfeather made the first move,

"I've always liked the ocean. I come here sometimes when I want to clear my mind."

Nightowl looked at the golden molly, grinning to himself as he admired her fur shimmering in the light. As if the sun itself had descended to come and speak with him. "That's nice I...like the ocean too."

Sunfeather giggled before she turned and stepped into the sea. Her sleek, dense pelt kept the chilliness at bay. He observed quietly as she froze in place, slowly raising her right unsheathed paw, and then dove in for the kill. A silver-scaled fish lay hooked at the end of her ivory talons.

"You're really good at that."

She beamed. "Thanks. That...means a lot coming from you Nightowl."

The ebony feline felt the blood rushing to his cheeks and he looked away. Silently gesturing to the plump fish. "I don't think either of us have eaten yet, care to share?" He was right to assume, fot he didn't smell any fish on her breath.

"I'd love to share with you, my heir," Sunfeather joked and set it down a tad out of reach of the frothing waves. Sunlight shone down at just the right angle on the ocean to reflect into Sunfeather's majestic amber opticals. Green flecks becoming visible to him.

He let her take the first bite before saying, "You have beautiful eyes."

Sunfeather almost choked on the prey and made the most adorable expression Nightowl had ever seen. "No one has ever told me that before, you're the only one..."

"Then everyone else is blind."

Sunfeather laughed aloud before her eyes widened, realizing he was serious. But before she could respond she broke into a coughing fit. Coughed and coughed and wouldn't stop, Nightowl was afraid she had acquired green-cough somehow. But then blood seeped from her mouth and she collapsed.

In a pool of her own blood.

The veins pulsated out of her face and neck, they were a bright viridian. Panic set in, tears welled behind Nightowl's eyes and his breath quickened. He didn't know what to do except pray to whoever listened.

"Please don't leave me..."

The ebony tom rapidly shook his head with wide eyes and tear stained cheeks. He yowled out in depsair at her seemingly small and crippled form, she looked so weak compared to the brave warrior she was before. He didn't know what he would do if he lost her. Luckily a hunting patrol had heard his call and ran over, struggling through the sand to get to them.

"W-what hapened?" asked a panicked voice. Nightowl looked up and realized it was Sunfeather's brother, Moonwing. Even then he could see the furious eyes behind that mask.

"She ate a fish she caught from the ocean and then started coughing up blood," the heir quickly explained, "We have to get her back to camp and checked out by the healers!" The patrol hesitated for a heartbeat, unsure of whether to believe his story or not. The malevolent plague twisted over his heart, thinking how dare they imply he would ever put Sunfeather in danger. "NOW!" he snapped.

And finally they broke away from their daze and carried the unconscious molly back to the SongClan camp. Where everyone would stumble upon a rude awakening.