Minnow

This is my entry for the Monthly contest

This book is not for everyone, as it has gore, blood, and murder, thoughts of depression through the first half-ish

Quotes

6. Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about. -Marilyn Monroe

7. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. -Steve Jobs

## One

I remember the night my mother screamed for me to run, to run faster than a cheetah and to be smarter than a fox. We were running from my father, the once kind tom who was now filled with rage, hatred, and malice. His name was Dragonfang, the deputy of ShadowClan. My mother was a loyal warrior of ShadowClan, she wouldn't betray her clan at any cost. She was strong, loyal, brave, and kind, no one held anything against her. But that night...was the last night I saw her.

*My mother's pleas for help rang through my head as I stayed hidden in a raspberry bush, I was doing what I was told, but my siblings, they never listened. I watched as they burst out of the bush and bowled into our mother, she had pure terror in her eyes as he snatched them up. A second later their bodies lay still a tail-length away from me, blood pooling from them.*

*'Echokit! Mistykit!' I wanted to burst out into tears and cry their names to the starry sky, but that would only end with me dead too.*

*"Where's the third?" Dragonfang hissed, eyeing the bush as if waiting for me to press myself into my littermates cold fur. That's probably why he tossed them there, as a lure. "She must be here somewhere."*

*"What are you going to do with her?!" My mother cried, of course she was crying, she wasn't as strong as me. That's what she always told me.*

*"I'm going to raise her. Properly." His hiss silenced her. I knew what she was thinking, 'he went through all that killing just to raise* one *of his daughters?!' I couldn't believe it either, but I promised her not to make a sound, so that I'll go on living...without Echokit or Mistykit, even if it hurt to say, all I can do is smile and follow along like nothing happened.*

*And then she let out a high pitched scream.*

*This pushed me over my limits. I burst out of the bushing and ran right into her fur, snuggling closer as Dragonfang approached me. "Leave me alone! You can take me after I've said goodbye!" I cried.*

It was the last time I was ever able to show anyone my emotions, my real emotions, not just a fake smile and 'I'm fine'.

.............

My ears flicked as the barrier rustled softly, Silverpelt gleamed up ahead as I peered through the needles of a pine tree. A lightly dappled she-cat crept into the camp, her tail nervously flicking behind her. From here I could catch the sharp scent of fish mixed with river-water and a hint of pine sap, which must have been caught in her fur on the way back. My fur bristled with fear but I stayed silent as she slipped into the warriors den.

I didn't want to think much of it, honestly, but I couldn't just ignore it, that would be impossible. For now though, I crossed my paws and rested my head down before flicking my tail towards me.

I opened my eyes as sunlight filtered through needles and got to my paws, I curved my back upwards, stretching. I leapt down from the tree, gracefully placing my paws down in the sand. The clan was almost empty, besides me and Dragonstar. I approached him, dipping my head slightly in respect as I settled half a tail-length away from him.

"What is on your mind?" He asked, blinking his ice blue eyes.

"Nothing." I replied, smiling softly as I turned my head to him.

"You don't have to lie to me, my sweet Honeypaw, you can tell me anything." He ran his tail along my back. I hesitated for a second, but eventually gave in and pressed against him.

"I saw Mossypelt sneak back from camp last night, she was meeting with the RiverClan tom. Again." His eyes darkened as he looked away from me and rose to his paws. I quickly got up to, worry wormed in my belly. 'Please don't hurt her,' I almost whimpered, but I stopped myself from saying anything. Instead I said, "Where are you going?"

He turned to me, his eyes dilated. "It is against the code to have a mate in another clan, we must punish those who break the code that badly. Come with me"

I followed him, placing my paws down lightly on the sandy ground, letting them sink in each time and pick them back up, enjoying the feeling of it running through my fur. I used to do this while Mistykit and Echokit played moss ball with Dreamheart, of course, that was long ago. "Mossypelt!" Dragonstar's voice broke me from my thoughts, I looked over, letting the dim mist in my eyes clear up.

"Yes?" She asked, poking her head out of the den before sitting down in front of him. I saw her tail twitch and her fur bristle in fear.

"Did you cross the RiverClan border to meet a tom...your mate perhaps?" He asked, his fur flat and his voice smooth. Her gaze slid to me, horror in her eyes. My breath caught in my throat, but I lifted my muzzle and hardened my gaze. My heart shattered as she gasped, slightly stumbling backwards. "I'll take that as a yes." He hissed, narrowing his eyes.

"I won't do it aga-" Her plea was cut off as he raked his claws across her throat, her body feel to the ground and she went still before she could even cry out. I stood there, unmoving as blood pooled from the gash in her throat, the thick red goo ran through my paws like a stream. I whispered a prayer, hoping Mossypelt would find safety in StarClan.

I forced my legs to moved, ignoring the chill in my bones. I grabbed her body by the scruff as Dragonstar walked away, dragging her into the centre of the camp in order for everyone to sit vigil. I licked her fur clean and covered the gash, I walked into the Medicine cat den, past the sleeping Mallowtail, and grabbed a mouthful of lavender and mint. I rubbed it on Mossypelt's body, remembering what Mallowtail had taught me the first time something like this happened.

It had become my job since then to prepare bodies for vigils, it made sense, I had grown up with death, the death of my family, and the death in the current war. Everything.

I looked over to Dragonstar, he was sitting on the cliff that overlooked the camp, disgust plastered on his face. I turned back to the pool of blood in front of the warriors den, debating on whether or not I should clean it up. I decided not to.

*I'll go hunting, Dragonstar won't mind if I'm only out for a little.*