#cavernfur

Summer continued to drag on in the valley and life continued to be as boring as usual in the clan. That is until Scrubpelt caught the scent of intruders crossing into TallClan’s territory. This was to be expected. It wasn’t uncommon to see loners, rogues, and travelers passing through this part of the valley or making temporary camp here. However, that was back then when Stars’ Touch was a neutral territory between the clans. Now that a clan has settled down in the area, that would not be tolerated anymore.

Border patrols now had only one motive in mind: chase out anyone who shouldn’t be here.

This time, it was Marigoldflip’s and Bonebracken’s turn to patrol the border and so far, it has been dreadfully boring. No one has caught a whiff of intruders to the point that Marigoldflip wondered whether Scrubpelt had been mistaken. The senior warrior was really old now. Perhaps his age was starting to show. ‘Or maybe he’s always been bad at distinguishing tracks.’, she jokingly thought to herself.

Gossip was the only thing that helped kill time and fortunately for her, she had a lot to share. Well, most of it came from Scrubpelt. He had a lot to say about the comings-and-goings of their leader, deputy, and healer. He’s been yapping about it to any cat who would listen in the past moon or two. Everything Marigoldflip had been told was against her own free will, since no one stayed around long enough and Scrubpelt hardly bothered with Bonebracken. She had only been the older tom’s “apprentice” for the last moon of her training, but she guessed that was enough to get in his good graces. Only pro she found of this is that it made clan life more eventful.

“And that is what’s been going on between Icystar and Sapflow. Or what Scrubpelt believes at least.”

“Oh, that’s interesting…” That was all that Bonebracken said. His eyes were glued to the ground before them.

The two continued to walk. Unfortunately, in awkward silence.

“So, what do you think?”

“Oh? Uhm,” he stuttered as he searched for words, clearly caught off guard that Marigoldflip cared about his opinion, “I-I don’t really focus on stuff like that. Oh! W-weren’t you Mulberrystripe’s apprentice? Y-You know, when she was still a warrior? Have you talked to her about… all that?”

Now she was the one who didn’t know what to say. Her silence worried Bonebracken and he began to mumble an incoherent apology for stepping over a personal line.

“N-No, it’s okay! Don’t apologize!” Marigoldflip reassured him. “I needed a few seconds to think. Now that you mentioned it, I never thought about asking her. I-I don’t think I will, though. She’s been busy lately and so have I. Only times I’ve interacted with her so far since we came here is whenever I’m feeling ill or if she needs my help.”

Some of that was half of the truth. To be honest, Marigoldflip was avoiding her as best she could. The young cat hated to admit it, but she was still hurt that her former mentor had eagerly chosen to leave LogClan behind for TallClan. She didn’t even think about the apprentice she had spent so long training and bonding with. Had Marigoldflip not followed after her, she knew she’d be a quick forgotten memory. Perhaps that’s the reason why she has been tolerating Scrubpelt’s claims for so long. How could a cat so easily leave behind the clan they were born in and their family if not for something greater— love.

She didn’t want to think about this anymore.

“Anyway, enough about them! Tell me about you and Bluegale!”

“W-What?” Bonebracken replied, dumbfounded. His eyes darted around anxiously, as if expecting the mentioned Lead Mediator to show up at any moment.

“Don’t act dumb! I’ve seen how close you’ve two been lately! You’re practically prancing around her every day! And it looks like she enjoys your company too!” She teased.

Bonebracken’s face looked flustered.

“So? What about it? Any chance there’s going to be kits in the nursery?”

That was enough to get him to burst! Tripping over his words, he began to bashfully rebuke her claims, “H-Hey! It’s n-not like that! I don’t l-like her! I-I mean, I do! B-But— grah! Y-you know what I mean!”

Marigoldflip rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, that’s when she smelled it. “Wait! Do you smell—“

“AHHH!!!”

Bonebracken’s petrified scream cut her off. She followed his trembling, horrified gaze down to a rocky ditch their path was leading them to. Down below, propped against a boulder, was a cat, scarred and bloody all over. Without hesitation, Marigoldflip sprinted down the stone incline that led into the ditch to inspect the mauled stranger.

“A-Are they a-alive?” She heard Bonebracken whimpered, still frozen in place from where he stood.

Just as he said that, the cat wheezed and gurgled what resembled a grunt. It was then that Marigoldflip realized what exactly she was looking at. The cat wasn’t just propped against the boulder. Their whole face was smashed against it and to her utmost horror, their lower jaw was hanging loosely.

“Go get Mulberrystripe!” She yowled.

Bonebracken flinched, taken aback by the ferocity of her tone. He hesitated. His trembling body still stuck in place.

“Get Mulberrystripe!! NOW!!!” Marigoldflip ordered again, much harsher this time. Her claws dug at the ground, ready to push herself out of the ditch and fetch Mulberrystripe herself if Bonebracken didn’t move. Fortunately, he turned tail and ran. And that was the last time she saw him.

—

When help didn’t arrive as fast as she would’ve liked, Marigoldflip carried the injured cat on her back, similar to how one would give kits badger rides. If anything, she wished it could’ve been just like that. Although the adrenaline coursing through her body was the one thing that kept her standing, she could feel her aching legs trembling under the weight of the adult cat on her back. It didn’t help that the sun was burning down on them and all of her senses were clogged by the smell of blood.

She cursed Bonebracken’s name with what little strength she had left to speak. That foolish tom! She could already envision what must’ve happened when he arrived back in camp. He was too distraught for words. All he could say in between his ugly sobbing was just word vomit. At least his distress would send a patrol out looking for her and she was hopeful she would bump into them soon.

She should’ve known something was wrong when her arduous trek finally came to an end at the entrance of camp, where everyone was peacefully enjoying the last of the sun’s warmth before it set for the day. The panic and urgency only set in when they noticed who she brought with her. Her body and mind were too tired for her to notice that something was amiss and everyone else was too caught up in this new development in their relatively boring lives to notice it as well. It wasn’t until nighttime when the stranger was well-bandaged up, finally receiving the medical attention she needed, and Marigoldflip was explaining her unusual findings to Icystar when they realized.

“And Bonebracken? Where is he? I haven’t seen him since you two left on patrol this afternoon.”

Marigoldflip’s heart dropped.

“W-What do you mean? I-Is he not here?”

—

Maybe it would’ve been best if Marigoldflip had been the one to get help. Or maybe not. He wouldn’t have been able to live with the guilt if she died in his place. Then again, she wasn’t him. She wouldn’t have gotten lost in the territory, too petrified by fear and shock to see where she was going. Everything would have worked out in the end.

What would Daydream think of him? His heart ached when he suddenly remembered his former mentor. Sure, she only trained him during the last days of his apprenticeship and they hardly knew each other before that, but she had been the only cat in his life who truly believed in him without a doubt. Was she going to be mad? Ashamed? He sure knew that everyone back in GlintClan wouldn’t be surprised this was his end.

“Bonebracken?”

He flinched upon hearing his name. He didn’t know who was behind him, but he could guess why she was here— to guide him to StarClan. He didn’t turn around to face her. He didn’t want to.

“It’s time to go, dear.”

Tears fell from his cheeks, falling and vanishing into the pool of blood that laid in front of him. Just a few inches away laid his body, covered in several battle wounds, from head to toe. All the blood was coming out from a wound in his neck, the fatal blow.

“C-Can y-you give m-me just a f-few m-more minutes? P-Please?” He pleaded through his sobbing. “O-Or a-at least un-until s-someone gets h-here? I-I don’t want to l-leave m-me-my body here. I-I’m sc-scared n-no one’s going to f-find me. C-can’t I-I send t-them a message or lead them h-here?”

The sound of pawsteps could be heard heading their way. The usually quiet night air was interrupted by the sound of several cats calling out his name. Daydream’s stood out in particular.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”, the voice reassured him.

Now that he knew that his body wouldn’t be left undiscovered, the idea of staying here any longer made him anxious. He didn't want to see how everyone else would react. He wouldn’t be able to handle it. Especially not Daydream’s or even Marigoldflip’s reactions. He hoped the latter wouldn’t blame herself or be too mad with him. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and turned around.

FIRST

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