Run Away Bravely (Stormwind)

Leafpool was clearly dozing, her amber eyes closed and her flanks rising and falling with each of her breaths.

(Oh my God, they’re writing a Super Edition for Crowfeather! *squee* It’s called Crowfeather’s Trial and is unfortunately not coming out for seven and a half months. Because of that all that’s known about it so far is that it’s about Crowfeather)

Crowfeather watched all of the activity in the clearing with disdain and gratitude. He was thankful he wasn’t going out yet, but watching all of the other warriors, and even the leaders, come in with dropping tails and less prey every time made him dread his turn. He’d just found his own patch of sunlight when he noticed Leafpool laying a few taillengths away, in her own patch.

(It's basically the perfect love song for Warriors lol)

Heathertail curled around her mate as best she could while he slept, directing her gaze up to the sky. Please, StarClan, end this drought soon. I don't know how much longer we can keep going like this.

Leafpool finally finished tracking down cats who had avoided getting their injuries treated sometime in the mid-afternoon, huffing out a relieved breath as she sprawled out in a patch of sunshine to rest her tired paws.

Jayfeather treated the wounds of the last cat Leafpool had brought in, Tigerheart, and then sent his 'cousin' off. Closing his eyes briefly, the blind tom took a moment to rest before he went to take inventory of the herbs.

With how exhausted the warriors were getting, even the leaders had started going on patrols. It was likely that even those queens whose kits no longer needed them would start being sent on patrols soon, too. Mistystar came back from a hunting patrol with a pigeon dangling from her jaws, Rippletail, Mousewhisker, and Bumblepaw following along behind her.

Meanwhile, while DarkClan was struggling, Hollyleaf was wandering through the tunnels that she had been living in for almost five moons now. She glanced up at the roof of the tunnel she was in, which she could barely see through the darkness. She had seen how much the Clan was struggling and wondered if she ought to help them some. Most of the infestation was centered on the lake territory, and there were much fewer outside of it. I could use one of the tunnels that leads past the ridge, she mused.

(I think I remember seeing a video of that once!)

Lionblaze continued to play with his kits for as long as he could stay awake, but the tom eventually nodded off again, laying his head on Heathertail as he suddenly closed his eyes and fell asleep. Clearly, even the combined might of Darkclan couldn’t continue to put this amount of stress on its warriors forever.

Crowfeather emerged from the warrior’s den with a bit of a drowsy stumble. Fortunately he wouldn’t be on guard again until moonhigh and wasn’t scheduled for a patrol until just before that, but he was still tired, and dreaded going back to the tasks.

(Oh my gosh, Everytime We Touch by Cascada for Leafpool/Crowfeather, yes)

Heathertail smiled fondly at their two daughters, glancing around. Barkkit seemed to still be playing with Dovekit and Ivykit.

Lionblaze managed a smile, nudging Heathertail and gesturing towards the adorable pair of kits as he dangled his tail between them.

Morningkit joined Ravenkit in playing with their father’s tail.

Lionblaze purred softly as he watched his kit play, happy to be laying beside his mate and playing with their kits.

Ravenkit giggled happily and chased after his tail.

(It’s snowing for the second time in one season! *giggles happily*)

Lionblaze huffed And gave Ravenkit a tired smile, flicking his tail around on the ground to turn it into a game for the kit.

Ravenkit blinked innocently up at her father, chewing on his tail.

Berrynose gave a weary sigh before trudging out of the medicine den back to his guard duty.

Lionblaze awoke beside Heathertail to the sensation of tiny teeth gnawing on his tail, the exhausted tom blinking sleepily as he lifted his head to glance back and see who the culprit was.

“DarkClan is hardly small enough for that,” Leafpool said flatly before going back to her herbs, clearly dismissing the tom.

Berrynose shrugged. “It seemed like it might be awkward.”

Leafpool frowned at him. “What’s the relevance of that question? He’s just my Clanmate now.”

Berrynose glanced to Leafpool as he stood up, clearly a little cross.

“I heard about the history between you and Crowfeather. What’s it like being in the same clan as him now?” Asked the tom, eyes narrowed.

Leafpool stepped back once she was done, eyeing her work with satisfaction. “All right, you can go now. But you will be back tomorrow.”

Berrynose glanced at Leafpool with narrowed eyes, flinching occasionally when the poultice stung one of his wounds.

Leafpool chewed up the herbs into a poultice and then started to apply them to his injuries.

The tired tom stared blankly at the wall of the den, not immediately reacting to Leafpool’s scolding of him.

Leafpool glared up at the larger cat as soon as she saw the bite marks. “You know bites from them have a much higher chance of getting infected and then infecting you!” She snapped. “Warriors, honestly,” she said in exasperation as she went to go get some herbs.

The half-tailed tom grumbled something to himself, sitting down in one of the medicine den nests a little impatiently. His scratches were numerous, and a clear set of teeth marks were still visible around his shoulder.

Leafpool ignored Cinderheart’s glare, used to it by now. Since Lionblaze had left her, Cinderheart had become almost as grumpy and hostile as Breezepelt. She followed Berrynose back to the medicine den, making sure he couldn’t run off.

Berrynose growled quietly, glaring up at Leafpool for a few silent heartbeats after her threat to confine him. However, the tom stood up, revealing the full nature of his wounds, and began to pass towards the medicine den, stopping on his way to get Cinderheart to take his place. The She-cat glared at Leafpool on the way past, but then again she glared at pretty much every cat since Lionblaze left her for Heathertail.

Leafpool gave him a scathing look. “Yes, and I’m sure everything will collapse without you,” she said, the sarcasm heavy in her voice as she spoke to the arrogant tom. “You can come back once your wounds are treated if you come right now, but if not, I’m confining you to the medicine den.” Her voice was firm and brooked no argument.