The Setting of Dusk ~~ Duskwillow on Her Own

My breath wheezed in my chest as I hauled myself out of the river I had just crossed. My black and white tabby fur was plastered against my showing bones, freezing water streaming from my tail and whiskers. Coughing and shivering, I dragged myself into the ferns. I then glanced over my shoulder, gazing across the river. The thick trees seemed dark and hollow, much more than they used to before my exile.
Memories suddenly flashed into my mind.
"Duskwillow, you are exiled from IvyClan."
My blood froze under my fur. Orchidstar's words cut through me like claws. For what? I wanted to wail. What did I do to deserve this? Already, I felt isolated from my Clanmates, their horrified gazes piercing through me. My foster kits, Hiddenkit and Skykit, looked up at me with round, sorrow-filled eyes. Shadowclaw and Riverpool huddled close to them, the rest of my Clanmates staring at me with shock in their eyes. Only Darkshadow stayed by my side. "I'll stay with you, no matter what happens," he murmured.
Frostfang and Orchidstar stood where they were, their fur smooth and their gazes held firm on me. "Maybe you'll learn not to speak against your leader after this," the diluted calico she-cat meowed, her eyes narrow. I never meant to hurt you! The words burned in my throat but my mouth stayed shut. Orchidstar took a step forwards. "You may leave now," she dismissed me, flicking her tail coldly.
Salty water burned in my eyes and I took a sharp breath. I squeezed them shut and whirled around, darting away in the trees, Darkshadow running close behind me. How could this happen? I cried in my mind. Why does everything want to hurt me? I didn't stop running, neither did I check to see if Darkshadow was still following me.
I finally stopped as soon as the ivy-covered trees were out of sight. Darkshadow stumbled to a halt beside me. I slumped to the ground and I let out a wail, my heart shattering into splinters. "How could she do this to me!" I cried.
Darkshadow pressed close to me, his eyes closed. "I don't know," he whispered. “But I’m here for you.”
We sat with no words after that, the stars dim in the night sky. My body shook as I sobbed.
Even with Darkshadow beside me, I had never felt more alone in my life.
My legs gave way underneath me as the memory broke apart, and I slumped to the ground, taking shaky breaths. I wished so deeply for Darkshadow's pelt pressed close to mine now, his reassuring words whispering softly into my ear, his warmth and love soothing me into sleep. But the air was cold against my soaked pelt, and I felt nothing against me but the sharp pricks of grass and brambles.
I closed my eyes, curling tightly around myself.
More memories crowded my mind.
The badger's snarl was all I could hear, it's beady eyes flashing in the sunlight. I was backed up against a short cliff. Darkshadow stood against my flank, his ears pulled back and his claws unsheathed, standing in front of me defensively. The badger bellowed and swiped a paw at us. Darkshadow shoved me out of the way, ducking just in time to avoid the blow himself.
His eyes flashed, sharp with alarm, and nudged me back up. I gasped as the badger dove again, crashing between us. I was shoved aside by the massive shoulders and Darkshadow hissed as he was pushed in the opposite direction. "Darkshadow!" I screeched, trying to claw my way towards him. But the badger stood firmly, it's striped head looming over me as it pinned me down.
My eyes stretched wide as it's claws cut through the skin of my left side. Pain seared through the wound. I gasped, my vision blurring as I felt blood pulse out of the deep gash. Suddenly I heard a screech, and a streak of black fur shot into the badger. "Get off of her!" Darkshadow yowled, digging his claws into its shoulder.
I felt the massive weight lift off of me, and I took a sharp breath as I stood up again. I whipped my head around to see Darkshadow writhing with the badger, claws and teeth flashing as the two fought viciously.
Blood spattered on the ground. Horror froze me to where I stood, my wounds scorching my side. I watched helplessly as the badger bit into Darkshadow's leg and flung him across the clearing.
His shriek filled my ears.
Suddenly, energy surged through me, anger bursting in my chest. I let out a furious yowl and launched myself onto the badger, digging my claws into its fur and sinking in my teeth as hard as I could. The badger bellowed and leapt up. It eyes were filled with pain and thick fear, it's black and white fur plastered in blood. It staggered back and lumbered away, letting out cries of pain.
I watched it for a heartbeat more, then whirled around and limped hurriedly over to Darkshadow. Blood trickled from his mouth and he lay motionlessly. Icy horror rushed through me. "No! Darkshadow!" I wailed, shaking him with my paws. His eyes slowly opened, revealing a brilliant green shine, soft and shallow with pain.
He looked up at me, barely moving, his black-and-gray pelt smeared with blood. His head slumped back onto the ground, eyes half closed and hazy. I shook him again, harder this time. He glanced up and smiled weakly. "Duskwillow . . ."
Water brimmed in my eye lids. "I'm here," I whispered. "I'm here."
He kept smiling, his eyes soft and warm. "You saved me from that badger." His purr rumbled softly, his body shaking with effort. "You've always been so brave."
I shook the sadness in his voice out of my head and pressed my cheek against his shoulder. “No…” I murmured. “You will be okay. I won’t let you leave me…”
He pulled me close to him. I could tell it took a lot of his strength away just to wrap his paws around me. I buried my muzzle into his chest fur, not caring about the blood seeping into my pelt.
He rested his head next to mine, and murmured, "I love you. Don’t ever forget that, Duskwillow. I’ll watch over our kits in StarClan." He pressed his forehead against mine, and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping desperately that this moment would last forever.
But Darkshadow’s grip loosened from around me and he let out a sigh, his paw slowly slipping to the ground and his head tilting against the cold stone. His breathing slowed, then stopped. His body felt cold.
I sobbed, cuddling close to him. I nudged him, trying to wake him. “Darkshadow…” I held my breath, hoping, just hoping that he would look up at me again. But he wouldn't move. Grief tore through my heart, and I released the air in my lungs in a shrieking wail.
His paws still lay next to mine.
I blinked my eyes open, clearing the sleep from them, and lifted my head. Sunlight glimmered through the trees, dappling against my pelt.
It was morning.
I heaved myself to my paws, my unsettled rest bringing some strength back to me. I raised my muzzle above the undergrowth, taking in the smells of the unfamiliar forest. I sniffed harder for any sign of prey. As soon as I caught the scent of mouse, I crouched in the ferns.
I closed my eyes and imagined myself back in IvyClan's territory, out on a daily hunting patrol with my Clanmates. In my mind, Lilymoon and Stormtail worked together in stalking a rabbit while Breezerunner peered up at a starling in a tree. I opened my eyes again, dropping back into the damp forest I was crouched in. I sighed and continued creeping up on the mouse scent.
I spotted the mouse a tail-length away and after a moment’s hesitation, I leaped out with claws unsheathed. Catching the prey under my paws, I killed it with a swift bite. Silently thanking StarClan, I crouched down to eat.
Again, I imagined myself back in the IvyClan forest, this time by the fresh-kill pile. Hiddenkit and Skykit bounced at my paws, playfully tugging a fat vole between their paws, fighting over who will get to eat the juicy prey.
Darkness fell over my vision and the scene faded. I opened my eyes again to stare at the mouse laying in front of my paws. I took a slow bite. Crouched in the ferns, I continued to eat, not one soft pelt of my Clanmates brushing against mine, no soft mews of conversation going sounding between the trees.
Just me. Alone. Forever.
I finished the mouse and looked up at the sky. Rainclouds were gathering over the trees, covering the sun and releasing cold rain drops over the forest. I sighed, feeling hollow and empty. Closing my eyes, I let my head hang miserably over my dirty paws.
The rain was my only friend now.
~Duskwillow
Category:Cats
Category:Stories