Briar's Regret (Unfinished)

Something that I started back in 2019, but never got around to finishing. Briar's Regret is the third part of The Foursome Tragedy, following Rosepaw's Sorrow and Snakefang's Grief. It would have been followed by Fierce's Shattered Hope, one which I never started on and the events of it still remain unclear.

## Briar's Regret

Briar stalked through the undergrowth, following her victim’s scent trail. Yes, she had definitely gone this way. Briar flexed her claws in anticipation. She would have her daughter back soon, and that was all that mattered.

A coldness gripped her heart, and she made sure to hold on to it, at least until the deed was done. Surely Fernclan wouldn’t miss /one/ measly apprentice?

\*\*\*

Briar stumbled as another stabbing pain hit her, and she convulsed, gasping. She couldn’t go on like this. She had traveled far in such a short time, and the kits couldn’t wait any longer. She could only hope Slash and his search patrols were far enough behind. Briar slumped down at the base of a hollowed out tree trunk, clenching her teeth to stifle her cries. She couldn’t give away her position, not now. Not after traveling this far.

The sun was beginning to set, casting shadows across the forest floor where Briar lay, gazing down at the four little bundles of fur in the curve of her belly. Two toms and two she-cats. An exhausted purr rose in Briar’s throat. “What beautiful kits you are. Kits deserving of a proper name,” she murmured weakly, touching her tail to the first she-kit, a cream colored kit with a white tail tip. “Fern,” she decided, moving on to the next kit. A tom kit, his colors much resembling his father’s. Briar frowned slightly. If only Slash could see his son, maybe he’d decide to spare them. “Peak,” she mewed slowly, decisively. She moved on to the next kit, a striped dark brown tom kit. “S-Shard,” she murmured, emotion overwhelming her as she thought of her brother. She wouldn’t be here if he were still alive. Shaking her head, she moved on to the last kit. A mottled brown and gray tabby she-kit. Her back leg seemed to protrude oddly to one side, it looked almost… twisted. Out of place. Briar’s eyes narrowed. This kit was weaker than the rest. "Tangle," she mewed softly. "Yes… Fern, Peak, Shard, and Tangle.”

\* \* \*

The scent grew stronger. Briar slipped into a nearby holly bush to wait. Soon, she would have the apprentice within her reach. She'd make it quick-- then return to the rogue group with her offering. Her gaze clouded. Such a heavy price, but it had to be paid. She longed to hold her kit close once more, to ask her forgiveness, to explain her wrongdoing. "Oh, Tangle. If only you could understand…" she whispered softly.

\* \* \*

Briar woke with a start to the sound of low murmurs coming from nearby. She must've dozed off, forgetting to stay on watch. "The scent definitely leads this way, we must be getting close," the first voice hissed. "Remember the plan, just leave the kits to me," the next cat growled. A chilling fear filled Briar from ears to tail tip. Slash. He was after her kits! She stared down at the four bundles of fur, beginning to panic. She couldn't carry them all to safety, it was too late for that. She'd barely escape with her own life, much less be able to save all of her precious kits. Briar winced, her heart breaking. Tangle and Fern were the smallest, weakest kits of the litter. Besides that, she doubted Tangle would ever walk correctly. She turned her gaze to the toms, wincing again at the striking resemblance between Peak and his father. "I'm sorry my kits… I'm so sorry," Briar whispered, feeling as though her heart were breaking into four tiny pieces. Gingerly, she reached down and picked up Shard by the scruff. She didn't look back.

\* \* \*

The sound of pawsteps thrumming on the forest floor startled Briar out of her thoughts. Rosepaw. She was coming. Briar unsheathed her claws, eyes narrowing to slits. This wasn't just for Tangle. It was for all her kits. She knew they'd forgive her, just as Tangle would.

At last the reddish ginger apprentice came into view, her paws carrying her swiftly towards camp. Within moments, she was in position. Briar didn't stop to think. She leaped from the bush, claws outstretched. Rosepaw let out a deafening shriek, just before Briar's claws met her throat. The young cat's cry was cut off, and Briar released her claws. Rosepaw slumped on the ground, and did not stir. Briar quickly snatched her scruff, beginning to drag her across the forest floor. She'd bring the body to Frozen Heart, and he'd send Tangle-- well, Fierce-- to live with her. "B-briar?" A strained mew sounded behind her. Briar turned, eyes widening as she spotted the familiar flecked apprentice. "Snakepaw, what--" she stammered in confusion. "I trusted you!" Snakepaw spat, "murderer!" With a roar he sprang at her, claws aimed for her face. "N-no, Snakepaw-- this isn't what it looks like--" Briar cried, backpedaling. Pain shot through her face as Snakepaw’s claws tore through it, but the apprentice didn’t stop there. He threw Briar to the ground harshly, his gaze alight with fury. He screamed, claws digging into her neck as he aimed a killing blow. “Please--” Briar choked out, tears welling in her eyes. Snakepaw, so much like Shard-- if only things had turned out differently.

\* \* \*

“No! I won’t let you have him!” Briar cried, crouching in front of her last surviving son. Slash stood before her, along with three of his best cats. They had chased her into this twolegplace alleyway, and there was no way out. A large wall blocked her escape. Briar could never make the jump, not with Shard in her jaws, and not in her weakened state. Slash’s face twisted in a cold fury. “I trusted you Briar,” he snarled, “betrayal does not go without punishment.” He turned, nodding to his cats. “No,” Briar cried, anguish filling her mew, “no!” Slash’s cats leaped forward, throwing her back. They tore through her pelt without mercy, and Briar was helpless to defend herself. She writhed, struggling to fight back as she watched Slash approach her son. */Their/* son. “Please, don’t do this,” she wailed desperately. “I’ll do anything!” Slash whipped his gaze to glare at her, a wicked grin stretching across his face. “Let this be a reminder to you- no cat betrays me and escapes unharmed. Justice will be served,” he raised his claws, preparing to bring them down upon the kit. “This isn’t justice, this is murder!” Briar screamed. Slash paused, hesitating. “No Briar, this is what I must do. Killing you would be much more merciful. But this will cause greater pain than you’ll ever know; to live on knowing that you have failed to save this life, and the lives of your other kits. This is your punishment for betrayal.” With this he turned to his cats. “Finish her,” he commanded.

Briar let out a wail, feeling teeth meet her scruff. She was dragged back, and thrown harshly against a hard object. Her world spiraled to blackness.

When Briar awoke, she found herself lying in a pool of water, rain beating down on her pelt. Her shoulder ached, and as she feebly raised her head she discovered a deep gash running across it. With a groan, she forced herself to her paws. Shard, where was he? Her gaze drifted to the fence, her breath catching in her throat. Her kit lay motionless, seeming smaller now as his wet pelt stuck to his tiny frame. “Shard!” she cried, stumbling towards him. As she approached she realized it was already too late. “No,” she whispered, collapsing. She threw her paws around her kit, holding him close. “What have I done?”

\*\*\*

Briar gasped as she felt the claws release from her throat. Snakepaw stumbled away, his gaze widened with horror as he crouched over the body of Rosepaw, gingerly digging his teeth into her scruff. Briar lay still, knowing that another move may provoke more violence from the tom. She silently watched as he stumbled away, dragging Rosepaw along behind. Briar felt a deep sense of grief claw at her.