Thunderpath Thursday
"Morning, sweetness!" Softpetal woke to her father prodding her playfully in the side with a hefty paw. "what have you done to deserve sleeping in till sunhigh exactly?"
"Gerroff." Softpetal swiped halfheartedly at him. "I had a night watch. what do you want? go away and annoy someone who deserves it."
"now is that anyway to speak to ones sire?" Ermineclaw purred. "lets go hunting."
"a patrol?" Softpetal rolled onto her belly and peered up at him. Lizardstone was no where in the den so he must have gone on duty ages ago.
"no, just the two of us. I've seen nothing of you. what with patrols, watch, and now you're preoccupied with that hideous mate of yours, I feel rather ignored by you." his whiskers twitched. "you wouldn't begrudge me your company would you? not when I love and adore you as my favorite daughter-
"Alright, alright." Softpetal got up and butt him with her head, pushing him back a few steps. she couldn't keep a soft mrrow of amusement out of her voice. "you've convinced me. but help me wash would you? I'm probably scruffy and covered in moss."
****
"So... I do hope you don't plan on making me a grandfather too soon." Ermineclaw wrinkled his nose. "I think I'm a bit too young for the title."
"Aren't we supposed to be quiet when hunting?" Softpetal tasted the air for any trace of nearby prey. she wanted to deflect from the fact that she actually was, in fact, more than likely expecting Lizardstone's kits... but she wanted to tell her mate first.
"I am quiet." Ermineclaw shrugged.
"so did you just invite me out with you to interrogate me? I'm hurt." she put on a sad look. "I thought you wanted to spend time with me. was that favorite daughter spiel... a lie?"
"of course not!"
she dodged a swipe aimed at her ears, and snorted as he swatted her nose instead with his tail.
"Just don't tell your other sisters-”
"Hey, get down!" Softpetal signaled with her tail and Ermineclaw obediently dropped to his belly. Softpetal flicked her ears in the direction of a squirrel.
by some twist of fate, it hadn't noticed them- though maybe because it was chewing so loudly on a hard shell of a walnut.
slowly, she crept her way towards it, determined not to make a sound. she waggled her haunches, and leapt-
but she'd misjudged the distance.
The squirrel was off like a shot, nut forgotten as it sped in the direction the the thunderpath.
Softpetal cursed in frustration, but Ermineclaw was streaking ahead.
"I've got him!" he announced cheerfully. "watch the master at work!"
Softpetal sped after him. "in your dreams you old mangepelt!" she'd shot back good-naturedly.
She overtook him easily as the squirrel had reached the road.
***
The crack of the monster striking her father's skull was a splintering, ear-shattering sound.
He hadn't died instantly. he'd lay, gasping for maybe minutes as blood bubbled in his mouth and nostrils, but it had felt far too long, too excruciatingly long to watch.
she'd been too scared to move him, afraid of hurting him more. touching him had been frightening…
"Ermineclaw? come on... let's get you back to camp... you need to see the medicine cat." she'd babbled like a tiny kit. convincing herself the damage was fixable... that he could just get up and go home.
"Daddy... daddy I'm sorry... I should have caught the squirrel in the first place.. it's all my fault... please get up. we need to go home." she'd pleaded. her father's chest heaved in a last, painful spasm, before he'd gone still, and quiet.
(Calling this Thunderpath Thursday because it seems like everyone's Clangen characters were dying on the Thunderpath today shoutout @fallenclan and @ranchclan)
