Short Stories!

[ciitrus--fruitz]

Characters: Mossberry and Shrikefeather (mentions of Salmonlight, Hollysweet, and Dawnsparkle)

What They Look Like: They are both grey tabby and white. Mosspaw is taller and has considerably more white on him. Shrikefeather is extremely thin due to a liver problem that they don't know about. Moss has green eyes and Shrike ha amber.

Season: Leaf-bare

Setting: In the RiverClan Medicine Den

What’s Happening: Mossberry and Shrikefeather have a conversation about the future and about relationships.

Where They Come From: All characters are from RiverClan

Other: Salmonlight is the other medicine cat and used to be Mossberry's apprentice. She took over the main medicine cat dutues when he retired to take full-time care of his brother. Hollysweet is is deceased mentor and Dawnsparkle is Shrikefeatherks ex-mate, who he misses dearly. Shrikefeather and Mossberry are brothers. Shrikefeather is on the brink of death, and both cats know this. They will also most likely mention their other siblings, Frogspots and their only sister Shellsnap, at some point in there.

Mention Me: @TheNyanCatMinecart

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

It was time. Barleykit stared at the open moor, watching the blades of grass as they waved in the wind. It was almost as though they were saying goodbye to him as he prepared to leave his own life behind. Taking a deep breath, the tom-kit glanced back into the camp. It was mostly peaceful: cats talking, eating prey, and the deputy organizing patrols. Twilightstar sat outside of her den with her eyes fixed directly on him. They almost looked cold and menacing, as if they were telling him, Leave. You don't belong here. You wanted to go and I've had enough of you. What are you waiting for?
The silent taunt caused Barleykit's orange-striped fur to bristle, but he slowly shook his head to clear it and turned away. This would be his first step out of the camp, the one that would mark him leaving the Clan forever. ThunderClan seemed to be a much better home. One where he could relax and feel safer. He had always been an outsider among his WindClan peers who seemed to view him as nothing more than a troublesome kit, but they would never understand what he felt. Never in their life.
A bitter feeling rose up in his throat, making Barleykit taste bile. Swallowing, he took the step. A white paw thudded against the moorland. The sound felt magnified, almost as if somebody was calling him to leave. His paws felt stuck, and he had to be the one to let himself go. With narrowed green eyes, Barleykit pulled up his paw as hard as he could and it was free. Taking another step forwrd, all of his paws were free.
He took off, running as fast as a free-falling crow, away from the territory that wasn't his home. He might be considered a kit, but he was the age of an apprentice. Most of the tall grasses, which were barely beginning to die off as the colder weather began to cut into the end of greenleaf, came up to his chest and whipped against his fur. He barely noticed, pushing onward. He felt like an invisible force was chasing him: if he stopped, it would catch up and drag him back to WindClan, the place where he did not feel like he was home.
Eventually, the treeline came into sight. The Thunderglade, where ThunderClan and WindClan territory clashed, where looming trees overtook open moorland, was there. It felt like it was calling to him, barely heard over the wretched wind that howled in his ears like he normally did when he was upset. WindClan made him upset. And he didn't want to stay there anymore. If ThunderClan didn't take him in, then he would make them. His muscles burned, but he ignored it. He couldn't stay in WindClan. The scent of wind, heather, grass, and gorse was sickening.
Finally... finally, freedom! Barleykit stumbled past the scent markers made by cats who smelled unfamiliar, ones who smelled like the damp leaf mold and ancient oaks that rose from the forest. He nearly crashed into a tree and came to a halt, panting. The scent was fresh and welcoming to him, nothing like the old scent of WindClan territory. Shade dappled his pelt, making him feel much more comfortable. In WindClan, you were either too hot from the open air or too cold from the wind or from the lack of shelter. In ThunderClan, the trees were a haven.
Would Barleykit be accepted, though? The tom dug his claws into the ground, feeling the blood pulsing through his veins. He'd prove to them that he wasn't just an outcast. He'd prove himself by ripping through the pelts of his former Clanmates, by attacking those who spoke out against him. He'd train so viciously as an apprentice that nobody would doubt his loyalty. It would be the ideal life. There would be no tired leaders there to hold off his apprentice ceremony and he could bet that he'd get a great warrior name. Barleycry? Barleyclaw? Barleyslash? It would match his fiery temper.
Even though his instincts cried No! Barleykit looked back toward his old territory. The wind whipped fiercely across the moor, the grass rippling so violently that it looked like an ocean of yellowish-green. The heather flowers looked like they might be uprooted and in the distance, a warrior could be seen chasing a massive rabbit almost half its size. This wasn't a Clan that he would miss at all. Oh, no. Barleykit felt his claws sinking into the ground, his white fur bristling.
You'll regret this, WindClan, I promise. You won't be satisfied by leaving me alone. Oh, no, you won't. I'll become the best and the strongest ThunderClan warrior, the best that any of the Clans have seen. I'll even become deputy and then leader, and then we'll see who's in charge, Twilightstar.
A small grin spread across Barleykit's face. WindClan would pay for casting him out like that. Oh, yes, they would. He remembered Rosebriar's words as he had left the camp. How she had yelled at him for being a traitor, how she had thought that he was good enough, but then he had betrayed WindClan. His claws sunk deeper into the damp ground as he imagined her pretty little face. But it wasn't just her. An image of Twilightstar and so many others who had wronged him came to mind. It was like a bad wound: it might've healed, but it had left a scar.
WindClan would regret the loss of a great warrior, and he'd triumph. He'd conquer all of his enemies no matter what the others said. He didn't care if he didn't belong. He didn't care that his family had neglected him. They'd pay... with their lives one day. He could imagine himself, Barleystar of ThunderClan, sending his warriors into battle. They'd all respect and fear him as they should.
Turning away, Barleykit faced his new home and took a deep breath. Musty scents laced with the aroma of prey reached his scent glands and he closed his mouth, padding onward. Leaf mold crunched under his paws and at one point, he heard a mouse squeal and skittle away as he nearly stepped on it. He barely took a moment to trace the gray creature with his eyes before continuing onward. The ThunderClan leader would let him in, surely. He was a strong cat who hadn't been with WindClan very long.
Who cared if he had tainted blood? If they did, then at least he'd get to see theirs.

@Cougar

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

Originally Posted by mellifluentCurator

Characters: Mossberry and Shrikefeather (mentions of Salmonlight, Hollysweet, and Dawnsparkle)

What They Look Like: They are both grey tabby and white. Mosspaw is taller and has considerably more white on him. Shrikefeather is extremely thin due to a liver problem that they don't know about. Moss has green eyes and Shrike ha amber.

Season: Leaf-bare

Setting: In the RiverClan Medicine Den

What’s Happening: Mossberry and Shrikefeather have a conversation about the future and about relationships.

Where They Come From: All characters are from RiverClan

Other: Salmonlight is the other medicine cat and used to be Mossberry's apprentice. She took over the main medicine cat dutues when he retired to take full-time care of his brother. Hollysweet is is deceased mentor and Dawnsparkle is Shrikefeatherks ex-mate, who he misses dearly. Shrikefeather and Mossberry are brothers. Shrikefeather is on the brink of death, and both cats know this. They will also most likely mention their other siblings, Frogspots and their only sister Shellsnap, at some point in there.

Mention Me: @TheNyanCatMinecart

Okay, I'll start that soon!

[ciitrus--fruitz]

Originally Posted by TheNyanCatMinecart

Okay, I'll start that soon!

Thank you!

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

Shrikefeather curled up in his nest of woven reeds in the medicine cat's den, his tabby tail wrapping around his body. Even he could feel the protruding ribs that stuck out from his tabby fur, the ones that were the cause of this whole problem. His stomach cried for food, but he didn't feel hungry. Tiredly, he rested his gray-and-white head on his front paws, his glazed-over amber eyes staring forward. His brother had gone to get them prey, but would he be able to eat it? He glanced down at his shrunken stomach, a pang of pain causing him to flinch. That hadn't been from hunger.
Not too long later, another tom entered the den. The two looks almost identical except the newcomer was taller with more white on him and donned green eyes instead of amber. It was the retired medicine cat and his brother, Mossberry. In his mouth, he carried an herb that had a light green stem, oval-shaped leaves, and purple flowers that sprouted from the end of their spiky stems. Shrikefeather had seen this plant many times since he had first been diagnosed with the unknown illness: watermint, which was normally used for bellyaches, as he had learned.
Mossberry carefully put the herb down and trimmed off the spiky areas before putting them into his mouth, chewing with precision. Shrikefeather watched, hardly interested and feeling a little crestfallen. They had done this so many times, but it hadn't worked. And where was the prey? He guessed that herbs were more important, but he felt like he was starving. He had grown so skinny from this mystery disease and he just wanted there to be a cure. However, even he had to admit that his time was nearly up.
Not long later, Mossberry spat out the pulp and shoved the chewed-up mess of dark green and purple toward him. Normally, Shrikefeather would object to eating plants chewed up by somebody else, but this was a former medicine cat. He had to take his treatment and not complain. Leaning forward, he lapped up the poultice, barely tasting it. His stomach felt a bit soothed afterward, and his lips were stained with the juice from the leaf and flowers once he was done. Licking his lips, he turned to look up into the concerned green eyes of his brother.
"Salmonlight will be bringing you some prey in a moment," Mossberry promised, giving his ailing brother a gentle lick on the head. "It'll be carp, your favorite."
Shrikefeather gave a simple nod and rested his head on his white front paws, his eyes half-closed. Salmonlight had been his brother's apprentice and was now the full medicine cat of RiverClan. Looking up, he scanned the medicine cat's den tiredly. Had it grown since the last time he'd been here, or had he shrunk? The border of the thorn bush suddenly seemed massive, stretching across like a wall of sharp claws, while the washed-away ground and the pool somewhere in the den seemed to have expanded even though there hadn't been much rain recently.
Mossberry seemed to notice that his brother was staring at the pool. "You can talk, you know," he meowed gently, his voice tinted with a mixture of concern and amusement. Then his face grew more serious even with the gentle air still hovering over it. "If you can't, well..." His voice trailed off. "I'll just get you some water." He began to head over to the area near the back of the den where most of the moss was stored, which wasn't a lot since moss wasn't normally used for nests in RiverClan.
"Did you regret retiring from your position early?" Shrikefeather asked suddenly. It had been the question that had been held off for too long, stuck in the back of his mind like a pesky bee. Before, he had just enjoyed his brother's company while he could and worried about the future. His future. But he had to ask now.
Mossberry had been about to pick up a clump when he straightened in surprise, turning to look at his brother with handsome green eyes. He looked like he was struggling for words and Shrikefeather felt a bit anxious. His brother had loved the duties of a medicine cat and had retired to take full-time care of him as he ailed.
"Of course not," Mossberry exclaimed after a few flustered moments. "Salmonlight is a good medicine cat, and I couldn't just leave you while you were dying from a fatal disease, could I?"
Truth barely tugged at these words. Shrikefeather's glorious amber eyes narrowed. He didn't want his brother to soften the truth with river water. "Tell me the truth," he insisted, his voice stronger than it had been in moons. "Please. Don't soften things for me out of pity."
Mossberry was quiet for a moment, staring down at his white paws, before looking back up at Shrikefeather and letting out a sigh. "Fine," he murmured, sounding a bit guilty. "I... I do miss my duties. Caring for the Clan was the best thing about being a medicine cat. I got to help bring kits into the world, relieve tired and injured warriors of their pain, and help the elders when they were sick or aching. However, you are the most important thing." His words held so much truth in them, such powerful truth, that it was almost painful to hear.
"Family will always be the most important thing," Mossberry finished. "Salmonlight is plenty capable. She was a great apprentice, always willing to learn, either from StarClan, me, or from her own mistakes. I never missed out on having a mate or kits because she was by my side, and I trusted her."
Shrikefeather was fond of his brother's wise words, but the mention of mates and kits made him flinch a little and look down at his paws sadly. An image of a beautiful she-cat entered his mind, and so did other memories: the two of them sharing a nest, sharing prey, talking together, hunting together, fighting side by side in battles. The pale she-cat in his vision was Dawnsparkle. The two had never had kits together before she died, taken away from him and her life in RiverClan much too soon. It was painful to think about her even though he didn't want to forget his former mate.
"What's wrong?" Mossberry asked, looking worried.
Shrikefeather's mouth felt dry and he wished for some of the water from the pool. He didn't think that now was a good time to ask and instead decided to talk about Dawnsparkle as much as it made his heart ache.
"My mate, Dawnsparkle," he murmured. Mossberry's gaze softened to one of pity and the tom continued. "I wonder if she's up there, waiting for me. Waiting for this illness to claim me. It must be difficult: wanting me to live and thrive, but also wanting us to be together. And I think that we both know the answer to that."
"Don't say that..." Mossberry meowed, looking a little alarmed, but his voice trailed off in the end. They knew. Both of them did.
"I know that you can't understand what it's like to have a mate, even though you and Salmonlight were closer than a fish's scales," Shrikefeather continued. "But everybody has somebody waiting for them in StarClan."
It seemed as though Mossberry was trying to ease himself into the conversation. Shrikefeather found that he couldn't stop talking about the afterlife all of a sudden. It was like a topic that had latched itself onto him and wouldn't let go. Sure, it was dark, but he was a dying patient and his brother was a former medicine cat. And where was Salmonlight? It was almost like this moment had been planned out by StarClan themselves, watching over them with eyes that sparkled with frost, Dawnsparkle's honeyed voice causing them to leave the two in peace.
Mossberry had begun to look sad, too, a look of distant grief sparkling in his eyes. "Hollysweet was a great mentor, always sympathetic and kind," he lamented. "She'd instruct me if I made a mistake and if a patient died, she would comfort me. She'd never make me feel self-conscious or bad about myself. She died at a good old age, but that doesn't stop me from missing her."
Shrikefeather nodded, understanding. "Grief is grief whether you like it or not," he muttered. His stomach gave another heave.
Mossberry gave a tiny nod and the two of them sat in silence. A moment later, Salmonlight came hurrying into the den, some of her fur getting ruffled by the protruding thorns. In her mouth, she held one fat carp that could easily feed both of them. His favorite. The scent of it flooded in Shrikefeather's nose and his stomach heaved again, but why didn't he feel hungry?
"Sorry!" she panted, dropping the dead fish onto the ground. It landed with a thud, its silver, gray, and yellow scales reflecting the light that filtered in through the entrance. The she-cat looked tired, as if she had run along way.
"It's fine," Mossberry meowed hurriedly, and Shrikefeather nodded. Glancing around at them, the she-cat darted behind them and started ruffling through the herb stores.
"Some of the elders are complaining of being sore, so I just need some ragwort and daisy leaves," Salmonlight explained. Shrikefeather watched as she grabbed some thick, dark green leaves and a tall shrub with yellow flowers. He also noticed her grabbing some purple-blue berries.
"Don't forget the juniper for the poultice!" Mossberry called.
"I got it!" Salmonlight's voice was muffled by all the herbs she was carrying. Shrikefeather didn't know why he thought this, but she looked like a fish stuffed with herbs as she hobbled away, carrying her big mouthful.
Her voice had sounded enthusiastic and a new thought entered Shrikefeather's mind. Turning to Mossberry, who was slicing the fish in half, he asked, "Will you become a medicine cat again when I die?"
Mossberry looked up abruptly, somehow not ruining the work that he had done on the fish. His green eyes glimmered with concern, but he didn't say anything for a moment. Shrikefeather didn't know what to feel then. They both knew that he was going to die, but his brother hadn't been like this for a while... had he? Not since Dawnsparkle had died. He still missed her.
Eventually, Mossberry seemed to have an answer. "No," he confirmed. "I'd retire early, maybe occasionally help Salmonlight with her duties. But she's capable enough for an apprentice, I'd think. And she loves her job."
Shrikefeather blinked in surprise. "But our littermates, Frogspots and Shellsnap, are still warriors, fully trained and able to go out into battle!"
"Yes, but being unable to save your brother is a bigger thing," he sighed. "They fight the battles of warriors while we both fight the battle of disease, one way or another. I... I just don't think that I could be a full medicine cat anymore. And I've already retired."
Shrikefeather took in his brother's words and nodded. An image of his only sister entered his mind: her small body huddled over, worried about the big world, while he and his two other brothers comforted her. Now she was strong and independant, but he still cared for his family. And Mossberry did, too. But he had spent so much time with him that they hadn't spent enough time with their siblings.
"In the future, you'll have to spend more time with Frogspots and Shellsnap," he meowed. "You've spent enough time already with me."
"I was taking care of you." Mossberry looked shocked.
"You were... but you won't be much longer," Shrikefeather reminded him.
Mossberry flinched, and even though there was doubt in his eyes, he spoke boldly. "Maybe StarClan will reveal the cure to me," he guessed. "Or Salmonlight, or at least somebody. I could try more things..."
"You've tried nearly everything," Shrikefeather sighed. "You're too stuck in the present time because of me. In the future, things will be different, and we both have to accept that."
Both of them were silent. Then Mossberry finished cutting the fish and shoved the sweet-smelling carp over to him.
"Hungry?" he asked.
Shrikefeather didn't feel hungry anymore. The delicious taste of the fatty carp felt like a distant memory to him. Shoving his half away, he turned over, his gray-and-white tabby back now facing the tall form of his brother.
"Give it to Shellsnap," he muttered, tucking his nose under one paw.
Watching his skinny brother, Mossberry nodded quietly, picked up his piece, and slid out of the den.

@mellifluentCurator

[ciitrus--fruitz]

@TheNyanCatMinecart

Thank you. This really means a lot to me, and your writing is absolutely amazing. You perfectly Characterized Mossberry and Shrikefeather, and the little remark Mossberry made about the cure was so accurate to real life, that I'm not sure how you were able to know that, lol. The only things I would change were that Dawnsparkle did not die, she just broke up with Shrike, and Hollysweet died early. Although, I never told you these things, so it's perfectly ok. But other than that, this nearly brought me to tears, which is an amazing feat, lol. I will definitely be paying extra, and I'll come back to commission you again soon.

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

@mellifluentCurator

Thank you a lot! It's nice to get some feedback on my writing and it's also great to hear that other people like it. It gives me some more inspiration. I'm glad that you enjoyed it!