[open]Horrid Nightmares

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny was at Barley's Barn with her brother. Her parents were out hunting in the forest. Boulder was asleep while Tawny played with a ball of hay. Suddenly, she heard an ear splitting yowl and bolted out of the barn. Her parents were running toward her but faded when they got to her.Tawny was confused.

She looked back in the barn to see her brother was gone as well. Tawny started to panic. She suddenly couldn't breathe. She was in the river and she felt like she was being pulled by a very strong current. Then she felt her body slam into something sharp and go limp. The air now knocked out of her. Blood changed the water to red as Tawny's vision went black. The last thing she saw was a starry figure, watching her die.

Tawnypaw's eyes shot open as she jumped up to her paws, nearly bumping into the sleeping cat beside her. Her fur was standing on end and her fluffed out tail made her seem bigger. Her black claws had slipped out and her unusual ice blue eyes were wide in horror and shock. She dashed out of the apprentices den and looked around camp. It was still dark and the only cat out was the guard. She went toward the dirt place and slid away and out of camp. She had hoped no one had saw her.

Tawnypaw didn't know where she was going but anywhere but there was fine by her. Who was that starry cat? And why was it watching me and not helping? she thought. Tawny stopped at the Sunningrocks to think. The dream had left her scared, confused, and a little on edge. She shook her head to clear it and sighed. She walked up to the river, which was only half frozen and flowing violently. She backed away instantly at the memory of the dream, to a rock and sat on it while trying to figure out what her dream had meant. Was that a StarClan cat? But..if it was, why would it just watch me die? She shook her head. Her whole body shaking.

Tawnypaw twitched her cut ear and layed her head down sadly. She didn't want to go back to sleep in case the nightmare came back. She looked up at Silverpelt and yowled, "Why did you watch me die! Why not help me!" Tawny shook even more.

Finally Tawny gave up. She looked up at the sky to see it was dawn. Then looked in the direction of camp, twitching her ear. Maybe I should hunt for a bit. That way, I'll have an excuse for being out of camp early. Tawny padded over to the river to catch a few fish. She walked a little ways on the ice so she could get a clear view. She waited as a silvery shape came closer. She splashed her paw into the water, hooking the fish and flinging it all the way to the rock that Tawny was just lying on.

She got ready to turn around to go get the fish and finish it off as it bounced on the snow when a sudden cracking sound broke the air. Tawny froze instantly and looked down at her paws. Oh no.. Nooo! Tawny's eyes grew wide in fear. The ice was cracking beneath her. She was about to jump off the ice when when it gave way and her body fell into the river. "Aaahhhh!" Tawny yowled at the top of her lungs before plunging into the ice cold water. She fought for air as she splashed her paws around. The river current was too strong for her to swim it. Everything went black as her head disappeared into the water.

[Deleted]

Lynxkit lifted her head, blinking away the sleep. The scent of Tawny flooded the nursery and she got to her paws and looked outside. Tawny was just leaving through dirtplace. She watched her disappear and narrowed her eyes. Why was she sneaking out so late? It was something Lynx just had to know. She yawned before she sprinted silently across camp and out dirtplace. She followed Tawny's smell to Sunningrock's. She hid in the bushes and watched her.
"Why did you watch me die! Why not help me!" She heard her scream. Lynx didn't move. Her smell was gone from the other night. She twitched one ear at the burn of her newly found scar but she ignored it. Finally, Tawny leaned down to fish. She caught a fish but it leapt back into the water. Lynx smiled. Suddenly a sound like thunder split the air. Tawny's eyes went wild as the ice cracked and she fell into the icy water.
Lynx was immediatly at her feet and at the river's side, searching frantically for the tawny colored apprentice. There! She plunged into the water and was pushed under the ice. Cold water filled her fur. It tugged at her from everywhere but Lynx swam against. She brushed against something. Tawny! She opened her mouth and clasped it around Tawny's scruff. She dragged the apprentice back to the ice hole with such an effort she felt she might pass out. It felt like moons before she reached the hole. Air flooded her as their heads broke free of the torrent. She pulled Tawny onto a large rock that dipped to the water and onto the sandy ground.
Lynx turned away and coughed up mouthful after mouthful of cold death. She was alive! SHe sighed, heart pumping and burning like never before. Suddenly she realized what had just happened. She had saved a loner. She snarled at herself before smiling. I want to save her injuries for myself, she convinced her mind. She nodded in satisfaction and sat beside the cold fur beside her. Right now, she had to keep Tawny alive for later.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny, who was now deep in the flowing river, felt a small tug at her scruff. Her head broke to the surface but she couldn't see anything. She felt her limp body being pulled on to solid ground. Tawny coughed up mouthfuls of river water and tried to open her eyes. Her vision was blurred and she could hardly breathe as she choked out more water. Tawny felt like ice. She couldn't move anything now and her vision started to black out. Before her vision completely blackened she whispered, "Are y-you...happy n-now..S-starc-clan?!" fury in her hoarse voice. The same starry cat appeared in front of Tawny. It pawed at her side, which now had a big bloody gash in it after hitting a rock. The starry cat was smiling, like it had in her dream when she hit the rock and bled to death, then disappeared. Tawny's eyes closed and her body went limp as her breathing quickened violently. Though her heart beat calmed to a normal pace. A cold breeze ruffled Tawny's nearly frozen bengal colored pelt and blood oozed out of her wound.

Note: Tawny is not meant to die. So don't kill her Lynx... She's just majorly wounded. :[

[Chewpaw ♥]

Chewy woke up later than others, as usual. He wasn’t exactly an “early bird” and e didn’t “catch the worm”. The truth is, Chewy was a horrible hunter so far in his training. He wasn’t coordinated or anything. Just trying and failing over and over. He wanted to go to the Sunning Rocks. He wasn’t sure why, just his heart drew him. Maybe it was because he loved the Sunning Rocks. He loved the warm they gave him during Greenleaf. He began to leave the clearing. He smiled at passing warriors and apprentices. Giving them a sweet hello. As he approached the Sunning Rocks, he heard two cats in panic. The first voice was Lynxpaw and he thought he heard Tawnypaw. His heart stopped. It could be her. He sprinted to where they were. Tawny was on the ground bleeding. He ran to her. “Tawny, you need to stay with me, can you do that?” he spoke to her gently. “Lynxpaw, you need to get Mintheart, now,” he ordered his fellow apprentice. “I will stay her with Tawnypaw,” he added. He couldn’t believe his eyes. His sweet love dying before him.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny was in a dark den. The ground was hard and she had red brick walls on either end of her. The only thing she could see was a small light at the end of the hall. She approached it and was startled at what she found. The same StarClan looking cat appeared in front of her with a snide grin of his face. Tawny could see more of him now. His starry fur was dark tabby and his eyes were amber. He had an evil look in his face as he turned and ran off. "Wait!!" Tawny yelled but it did no good. The cat was gone. And everything faded.

Tawny could hear voices but she couldn't quite make them out. She was freezing and hurting all at once. She opened her eyes into slits and saw her frozen and bloody matted tawny fur. She felt like she got hit by a monster. She angled her ears to the voices and tried to figure out who they were. Lynxkit? Chewpaw? She opened her eyes wider when she heard Chewpaw talk to her. He was speaking gently to her. She opened her mouth to speak but was only able to cough up freezing water again.

She couldn't think clearly. Many thoughts were in her head. She was so lost now she didn't know what to say. Her breathing quickened as she spoke the horifing words, "D-d-dark t-tabb-by.... St-tarClan c-c-cat... d-dreams-s... e-evil gazes-s..." She was yowling and speaking very fast now and her eyes were shut tight. She felt as if that horrid cat was haunting her now. Giving her pain. She spoke again, a little lower this time and opened her eyes. "H-h-help m-m-me.... sssomeon-ne." Tawny felt horrible.

[Deleted]

Mintheart had been out looking for some herbs. She walked around the forest, smelling the forestry scents, and the scent of prey. She was nearing Sunning rocks now. Oh, how she loved the warm rocks and the sun heating her fur!

Walking quickly now, she heard voices, and picked up the scent of a hurt cat. "Oh no!" rang Mintheart's shocked meow, as she spotted Tawny lying on the ground, wounded and wet. She ran as fast as she could to her, as soon as Mintheart got to her she examined the wounds. Blood was coming out quickly, and the wound was big and could get infected. That means I need marigold for infection, comfrey to sooth the wounds, and cobwebs to stop the bleeding! she thought. Unfortunately, they were far from camp, and there wasn't enough time to go back to get herbs! Maybe there's some out here... Mintheart thought, quickly scanning the trees and bushes for the familiar plants. Breathing a sigh of relief, she saw a tall plant, with one flower on it. "Goldenrod, perfect!" she said, happily, as she ran quickly toward the plant.

Mintheart teared off the one yellow flower, chewed it into a pulp, and padded quickly back towards Tawny. Carefully, she applied the pulp to the wound. It was one of the best herbs for healing wounds, but the flowers are rarely found in LeafBare. Thank StarClan Mintheart thought, as she spotted a huge web. She teared down the cobweb, and wrapped it around Tawny's wound. Too bad there's no marigold here, I'll have to apply it once we get back to camp. "Lick her fur the wrong way" Mintheart instructed to the other apprentices, "she's freezing!" Mintheart sat down next to Tawny, licking her fur the wrong way to get her warmer. "It's okay," she meowed quietly, "you'll be fine."

[Deleted]

Lynxpaw snorted in disgust. She was a mere shadow to the other two cats now here. They neither thanked her nor asked if she were "OK" as she had jut been in the river too. Like always she wasn't there. She glared at Chewpaw and Mintheart before turning away and walking back towards camp. Her fur felt frozen and she felt like an icicle, inside and out. Her newly found scar burned through her eye like fire. She clenched her teeth and ignored the pain. The medicine cat hadn't even glanced at her. She hadn't been treated yet and the cut felt like it was getting infected. It hurt.

The young apprentice felt close to tears. She had never really been noticed or cared about. Everyone just accepted that she was there. She felt forgotten and sad.
Why can't they ask how I feel? Why not see if I'm "OK" too? Why can't they see what's right in front of their faces?
They young cat felt almost too hurt to care. But she did. Extremely. That was surprising. She had learned in her past experiences that feeling sorry for yourself, in other words "self pity", never worked. It only made you feel worse and it seemed to make others forget you even more. It just didn't work.

A crackle broke through the air of an oncoming storm. The apprentice looked up as the first drops of rain fell from the sky and landed on her nose and cheeks, making her blink.
Like StarClan's tears. She thought, Do they feel sorry for me? Do they know I'm here? SHe hissed at her own foolishness. Probably not.

[Deleted]

"Okay, now is anyone else hurt, or cold?" Mintheart asked once the wounded cat was treated. Then she saw Lynxpaw walking away silently. "Lynxpaw?" Mintheart said loudly enough for the retreating apprentice to hear. "Are you hurt?" she asked, taking a few steps towards her. But the apprentice didn't look back. Mintheart sighed, she hoped that Lynxpaw didn't have any, or hardly any wounds

A sudden crack of lightning made Mintheart jump, then the rain started pouring down. "Mouse dung!" she spat, as the rain soaked her pelt completely wet. Maybe the snow will melt from all this rain! she thought cheerfully, walking back over to Tawnypaw. "Are you fit enough to start heading back to camp?" Mintheart asked her, hoping she was so they could get out of the rain.

[Tawnypaw]

Tawnypaw heard yet another cat. She couldn't tell who it was. Then she felt something go onto her wound which made her do a tiny yelp of pain. Then more voices came like someone was instructing another to do something. Then a little warmth came as she felt tongues lick her frozen bangel fur. Moments passed and she heard the soothing voice again of a she-cat as a loud crackle split the air and rain fell. "Are you fit enough to start heading back to camp?" Tawny opened an eye into a slit and finally saw the cat. They were Mintheart and Chewpaw. There had been a third cat but Tawny couldn't tell by the scent yet. Tawny struggled to her paws and felt an instant stab of pain and squeeked in pain. Her eyes were watering and her body stayed frozen. It didn't want to move. She lowered her head so the others wouldn't see her cry in pain. She didn't want others to see her like this.

[Chewpaw ♥]

Chewy heard Tawnypaw’s yelp of pain. He flinched. He felt as if he too was in pain. He took a deep breath. He liked her fur the opposite was as Mintheart told him too. He saw Tawnypaw open her eye. There was hope! He smiled at her when she did, but he didn’t believe she saw it. He wished she did. Maybe it would help her pull through. Maybe just seeing the faces of her loved ones would give her the strength to live. He went back to licking her fur. He tasted her blood; he hated the taste of blood. The iron metal in the blood made his nauseated. He tried to calm his stomach by reminding himself what was at stake here. Tawnypaw’s life was.

[Deleted]

Mintheart examined the wound again, it was starting to get infected. "Mouse dung!" she spat quietly, "you're not fit enough to go to camp, so we can't get any marigold." Mintheart looked at Chewpaw, who was gently licking Tawnypaw's fur the wrong way, to warm her as Mintheart instructed. "Chewpaw" Mintheart said suddenly, an idea forming in her mind, "could you quickly head over to camp, and get marigold?" Chewpaw doesn't know what marigold looks like! she thought, frustrated. I wish Peachpaw was here! "Marigold is a bright yellow or orange flower." Mintheart explained, hoping Chewpaw could find the right herb. "It's near the front of the storage, on the right side."

[Chewpaw ♥]

Chewpaw stopped licking Tawnypaw's fur and looked up at Mintheart. He listened carefully to her words. He stood to his feet and headed back to camp. It was like second nature, he didn't have to remember what directions to go, or what to avoid. He was just going. there was too much on his mind to worry about the trees and the snow that was sinking him to his neck. He could see the clearing up ahead. He padded quickly into the Medicine Cat's Den. He went straight to the storage. Yellow flower, yellow flower, he repeated in his head as his eyes scanned the storage. There was a yellow flower and an orange flower. He quickly picked them both into his mouth. Hopefully these were the right herb. He quickly padded out of the den, pass the clearing and back into the snow covered woods. He quickly made his way to the sunning rocks. He saw Mintheart quickly and dropped the herbs infront of her.

[Deleted]

Mintheart smiled wide as she saw Chewpaw come back with the correct herb. When he placed the bright flower down in front of them, she said. "Very good Chewpaw, that's the right herb! Thanks." Then she carefully picked the herb up, and began applying it to Tawnypaw's wound.

"There you go." Mintheart said happily, once she finished applying the herb a few moments later. "That will stop infection, so the wound will feel better soon. And the bleeding has stopped now." The rain still fell down, but it was quieter now, and there wasn't as much rain as before. "Whenever you feel like you could get up and head back to camp, just say so." she meowed, settling down beside Tawnypaw.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

It felt like moons had passed by as Tawny sat in silence. Mintheart had put marigold on her and Chewpaw was beside her. Tawny felt a wave of heat flow up into her face at the mention of Chewpaw. Tawny opened her eyes once more. Her side still hurt but only a little. Her fur was still wet from the rain but she wasn't as cold as before. Tawny got up slowly to her paws, not wanting to hurt herself more than she already was. She looked up from her paws and looked at Mintheart and Chewpaw. She nodded to say she could make it to camp but didn't dare speak. Her thoat stung. She smiled a little when she saw Chewpaw then got ready to set of the Riverclan camp. Wonder if anyone missed me. And who was the cat who saved me? Tawny thought to herself.

[Deleted]

Lynxpaw continued towards camp. She muttered curses under her breath in an angered tone. She wanted to cry out like a lost, and motherlesss, kit when her foot caught on a fallen branch and she tripped, landing in a puddle. Maybe she was a lost and motherless kit. She sure felt like one. SHe went limp and lay dully in the water, letting it seep into her fur, soaking her. She was sure to catch greencough this way.

Lynx closed her eyes tight, curling into a soggy ball in the puddle, and tried to shut out reality. She had finally become a mentorless apprentice so she trained herself in battle brilliantly. Her battle moves were unique and complicated, way more advanced than the usual basics. Every time she trained she could feel power run through her veins. She actually felt as if she belonged somewhere when she fought. A gruesome memory flooded her mind of the day she had sliced her eye. Now, a raw and red scar flashed through her right eye.
It burned with a regular passion of merciless pain. Lynx had thought that just one clanmate would notice and call for the medicine cat, but not one cat had even glanced at her, much less cared for her. The medicine cat had hardly acknowledged her there. Someone could compare her to a blade of grass; unnoticed, uncared for, unimportant. Not something to make a fuss about.
'Like Tawny.' she thought bitterly.

Then there was Chewpaw, over on Sunningrocks with Mintheart, the medicine cat, and the poor and injured Tawny. Chewpaw had raced over the instant he had found out. Not a nod of appoval, a kind word or touch, had been aimed at Lynx. He had merely pushed her aside to get to his Precious. He had ignored her like others. Hadn't even thanked her!

Lynx's body went numb with cold as she lifted her head to glance at the three figures on top odf Sunningrocks. Tawny was standing now, Chewpaw at her side, and Mintheart ready. For a second, Lynx was lost in old memories. Her and Tawny had been friends. No, best friends! But that was history. Now Lynx was friendless and alone to care for herself.

Her head dropped and her eyes closed as sickness overtook her. She felt to weak to get up and manage her way back to camp, to curl up in her warm, dry nest and fall asleep there. Her body went limp and her breathing shattered into ragged and quick breaths,. Her body, not curled anymore, was stretched out, paws phony.

'Let me die,' she prayed, 'see what they'd do. I doubt they'd even notice–'
She never finish her thought, she was gone. Not dead, gone.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny sighed out the thought of others missing her back at camp. Maybe two cats would miss me... she thought. My two best friends, Peachpaw and Lynxpaw. Tawny started a slow walk toward camp. She didn't know if the others were following or not. She just wanted to get into a nest and sleep for moons on end. Her throat still stung so she didn't bother to speak still. Her side was aching again at her movements but she didn't stop. She sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent and pricked her ears. She now had one mission to complete before she was to rest... I gotta find Lynxpaw... and thank her, Tawny thought. Tawny now figured out that unfamiliar scent that had swirled around her when she was in the water. She cocked an ear back. She hadn't even noticed Lynx that whole time... She had been so confused with the scents around her and the flashes of her nightmare, to even realize the cat who had saved her pitiful life. Now she was hoping that Lynx was in camp. I hope she's not mad at me for completely buzzing her off like a bee. She flattened both ears in sadness at the thought of losing her best friend over her drowning. If she's mad... maybe i should have drowned...

[Deleted]

Lynxpaw wakened moments later. She lay unmoving in the muddy water as rain poured on her. She was wet, cold, and hurt. Her vision blurry, her head aching, she was sweating but not hot. It was all signs of sickness. She doubted anyone would notice, though. They never did. No one, not even her best friend, well, Tawny, had noticed her burning scar that offered no mercy. It seared with pain daily and did not want to be forgotten.

And now, in her hot sickness, she knew it would be no different.

Finally, she carefully got to her paws, ignoring the pain. I mean, she was used to it, right? It's not like she never felt unmissed and alone. Or hurt. She was a shadow, a Nothing. She missed the old days when her and Tawny would beg Ginger for a bit of training, or when Peach, Tawny, and her would all race from one end of camp to the other. But they were lost and forgotten, like her, and would never again be resurfaced to reality.

Like she always said:
'You could compare me to a blade of grass; unnoticed, uncared for, and unimportant.'
Now she could add one more thing to the list, something that had been confirmed by Chewpaw, Tawny, and Mintheart. She was unwanted.

Lynx limped slowly towards camp, head down, ears flat, fur soaked, and paws weak. It was harder than usual,a labor that she had to make to survive in her cruel world. But she didn't really want to survive, she wanted to leave it behind and be lost in her own happiness and joy. Her only happiness and joy: fighting. Her claws unsheathed as she staggered along, but she never noticed.

She reached camp and slipped in unnoticed, as always, and dragged herself into her nest. She collapsed and willingly let sleep overtake her. What she didn't know was that death had to. A death that awaited her long sufferings. Her sickness grew stronger as she slept and when she awoke, minutes later, she didn't have the strength to lift her head or open her eyes. So she lay there and waited for sleep to come again.

[Chewpaw ♥]

sorry it took me so long!

Chewpaw saw Tawny stand. There was hope. Tawny didn't speak, he wanted her to say something. She looked determined. Determined on what. He walked close behind her. Ready to catch her when she falls. He sniffed. Her beautiful scent was hidden by blood and mud. He sniffed again. Another cat's scent was on her. It wasn't Mintheart, or his own. He sniffed once more. Lynxpaw. Lynxpaw saved her. Chewpaw had always had a hard time with Lynxpaw. He got off on the wrong foot when Lynxpaw was a kit. He felt bad all of a sudden. He wanted to go apologize and ask if they could start over and be friends, but as he searched the woods, she was no where to be found. "Lynxpaw?" he meowed into the distance.

[Deleted]

Mintheart walked beside Tawnypaw, letting her lean against her shoulder. She still seemed to be very weak and exhausted, poppy seeds would help numb the pain while she slept back in the apprentice's den in camp. Tawnypaw really did need a good nights sleep.

I wonder who saved Tawnypaw? Mintheart wondered. Tawnypaw was probably terribly exhausted when she was almost drowning in the river, she couldn't have got out herself. The blue waves were just too wild and the current was too strong for a weak or injured cat to swim in.

[Tawnypaw]

Note: Okay, I am now closing this thread. If you want to continue writing, I have made a thread in the Medicine Cats' Den where Tawny is recovering.