The End of All Ends (Badger Plot!)

[*~*Sandkit*~*]

"Gather some of my poppy seeds, and keep Snowcloud in the den. I don't want to have an elder die on me!" Ambertear had told Sandkit. She nodded quickly and ran off to the medicine cat's den. She brushed past Silverfrost and ran into the den and grabbed as many poppy seeds as she could fit into her tiny mouth. They smelled like poppy seeds to her, but they might not be. She wasn't an experienced cat that knew how to pick out herbs. Please let these be poppy seeds! She thought desperately while she was running back to the nursery. When she got there she dropped the poppy seeds by the back of the den. She called to Ambertear, "I think I got the right ones. I put them at the back of the nursery." Then she went to Snowcloud. "Come back in the nursery, please." Her voice squeaked as she was trying to persuade the elder, just like Ambertear had asked her to do. She semi-nudged the elder trying to get him back into the den. Her eye's were wide with worry for the elder dieing, and maybe the rest of the clan. Don't think like that! She demanded herself. With StarClan guiding our path, we can do this! Though she couldn't help having a flicker of worry that they might not live to tomorrow.

[basilkit<3]

Basilkit awoke from a terrible nightmare... again. It wasn't anything scary trying to eat her or anything... but thats the thing, there was nothing. Except for a growling and cries of pain. There was a scent... something she knew she had smelt before but she never had. It is kind of unexplainable... but still a nightmare. She stood up from her nest and shook some stray moss from her fur. She heard something outside and her ears pricked, kind of twitching. A low rumble could be heard from where she was. Basilkit gulped down a scream.

The growl... from my.... nightmare. The black and white kit dared herself to scent, and... the scent... that scent. Her ears were flat aginst her head as she started tworeds the entrance of the nursery. Ohhh.... no.... she was shaking from head to paw. Slowly, she peeked her head out of the nursery, and sure enough, there was the growl, the scent... now the sight. She hadn't been able to see it in her dream but she knew this was what was haunting her. Frantic she ran to her clanmates that were growling in front of the large.... LARGE, creatures. "W-what are t-they?" she asked shaking but growling. If her clanmates would die, she would die with them, protecting them. Hopefully, it would be quick and painless, maybe only a second of pain... if the badgers were merciful today.

[/size]

[Lightpaw]

Ignoring the fear-scent, the screams and the thunder of gigantic paws getting closer by the second, Lightpaw crept stealthily to the entrance of the camp, unseen and unheard. She positioned herself in a thorn thicket right by the entrance, from which she could not seen anything but the small gap between the two guarding bushes. It wasn't the best spot, and certainlynot the most defendable, but she had a plan. Oh yes, she had a plan.
This time would be the right one.
She supressed the shiver of fear and excitement running down her spine and compressed her wild heartbeats as she waited, every muscle tensed. The thunder was getting louder, closer... deadlier...
The cream-colored she-cat lept.
By sheer luck, she landed right onto the leading badger's head and dug her claws in deep. The monster yowled and halted abruptly; but the other badgers were running at full speed behind it and they had no time to swerve around. Four or five creatures tumbled about clumsily, anger flaring in their eyes, and Lightpaw barely had the time toget thrown away before she got trampled. The leading badger hadn't that luck. Swiftly the badgers oozed in, beastly sweat and anger-scents washed over the striken apprentice. She shivered herself back to a stand and galloped to where Brakenpaw and some others were standing, whipping around to face the oncoming throng.

[Lightwhisper]

Lightwhisper watched as her kit got poppy seeds, took them to Ambertear, then tried to persuade Snowcloud to stay in the den with worried eyes. 'Dear StarClan, please don't let her get killed,' she pleaded in her thoughts. Then she stood and bounded out of the den and stopped beside Snowcloud. "You get back in the den, I'll guard the entrance," she instructed the white-furred elder. She nudged him out of the way then took up his position. She unsheathed her claws and crouched, ready to spring if any badgers got near. Her eyes narrowed to slits; her right eye was black and sightless while her left eye blazed bright amber and green as she waited for the badgers to approach.

[`.`SnowCloud`.`]

[/b] he meowed, like all of this was practical everyday life.

But out of the corner of his thoughtful amber eyes, the old tom spotted a young she badger fumbling her way quickly towards himself and Sandkit, weaving around the other dens and planning to surprise them from behind where nobody would see. Without even really thinking about it, Snowcloud padded slowly but with swift and accurate measure, around in between Sandkit and the young badger, so that when the brute struck, Sandkit would not see what had happened, neither would she be injured.

The tom felt a searing and unbearable pain in his back as he struggled calmly to tune out the pain, like tuning out all other sounds as you stalk prey. The young badger behind him went on to tear at his back, but Snowcloud kept a reserved and brave look on his face as he pushed Sandkit and himself into the den. The young badger could not get into the den, and left, finding another warrior to attack.

But Snowcloud couldn't hold in the pain anymore. At least he had saved Sandkit's eyes from seeing him being injured or being injured herself, so he collapsed onto the medicine den floor, his head falling dangerously close to the poppy seeds, sending them scattering. He let out a small moan and rolled over to reveal a large, deep cut in his back with just the edge of a bone showing beneath the flesh.

"Sandkit," he managed to keep all hint of pain or sadness out of his voice, keeping it calm and steady. Monotone, almost. "Dear child, I need you to fetch Ambertear. Do not fear for me, because remember, I made you a promise. Just fetch her quickly, because my back stings a bit." He made the words as simple as possible, knowing that he could not die that day. After all, he had promised Sandkit.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/ul]

[*~*Sandkit*~*]

"Dear child, I need you to fetch Ambertear. Do not fear for me, because remember, I made you a promise. Just fetch her quickly, because my back stings a bit." Snowcloud had told Sandkit. He promised he wouldn't leave us today! She looked at him with huge eye's filled with worry. She didn't know what had happened or even when, the elder had shown no signs of pain. There had been no pain in his voice when he had spoken to her, either. But she knew something was wrong.

Sandkit rushed to the back of the den where she had placed the poppy seeds. She grabbed two in her mouth, leaving more then enough for many other cats, and ran back to the elder. Sandkit didn't know if she was supposed to be giving the poppy seeds to him, but she had once heard they were used to ease pain. Though the elder showed no signs of pain, Sandkit had a feeling he was in pain. She dropped the two small poppy seeds at his paws and glanced at him, one last time, with worried eyes. The she ran to as close as she could get to the clearing and started yelling for Ambertear. "Ambertear! Ambertear, I think Snowcloud is hurt!" She kept mewing across the clearing, hoping that Ambertear could hear her. Please, StarClan! Let her get here fast.

[*.Ambertearr.«3,]

Ambertear turned around half-absent mindly when she heard her name being called. The young kit was running towards her with her eyes clouded with sorrow. Her mind switched to the elder, and she quickly dashed to her den. She ran quicker with each stride, her paws hitting the ground hard. She scented blood immediatly, and yowled "Snowcloud!" She knew the elder was stubboron, but why risk his life for the clan. She dived into her den, panting a bit as she ran straight for the poppy seeds. She looked at Sandkit, and meowed "Get him to eat some of the seeds, I will grab the cobwebs!" She quickly dashed to the back of her den finding some leftover cobwebs on a stick. She gently meowed "Snowcloud hold still. Im just going to wrap your wound, and do as Sandkit asks. It will help get rid of the pain." She smiled as she gently licked the wound clean of any infection, and then pressed the cobwebs on his back. It would have to do for now since she had more cats risking their lives for the clan. She meowed "If theres any pain let me know. Now rest up, you need not fight anymore." She said this in a teasing tone, and she sat there waiting for more cats to come in.

[Flamestar]

Flamestar heard a yowl and rushed out of his den where he was resting. There he saw a battle. Again he thought. The badgers have come back. He pounced quickly on an unaware badger and began clawing on his back. The badger yowled and turned on him raising a large paw to swipe at Flamestar. he ducked and turned on the badger clawing at his face sending blood flying out everywhere. The badger backed up and rushed at Flamestar and pushed him on the ground. It loomed over him. Flamestar kept trying to push it away. The badger clawed at his belly causing a large tear and blood leaked out. ''Help'' he cried hoping that someone would attack the badger giving him a chance to get up without the badger attacking him.

[Brackenpaw]

It was like an exact reply of the last attack; only this time, the badgers were in the camp instead of by the lake. Without hesitation, Brackenpaw turned and abandoned his post by the entrance of the camp, pushing past Lightpaw and Silkheart. He hoped that they would focus on their jobs and not turn to see what he was doing. The last thing he wanted was for them to get caught by surprise because of what he did. However, the tabby apprentice didn't have much time to think about this because soon he was airborne, his claws extended and an angry yowl rising from his throat.

An irritated growl rumbled in the badger's chest, its black eyes turning away from the cat bellow it. Standing up on two legs, the great black and white creature gave a mighty shake, trying to dislodge the cat that had clawed it's way onto its back. Pain seared through the badger's back as sharp teeth dug into it's fur. Brackenpaw, in an attempt to give Flamestar more time, had chosen to lock his teeth into the fiend's fur. This meant that if the badger chose the fall onto it's back to get rid of the cat, the apprentice wouldn't have any time to move or get out of the way.

But luck was on Brackenpaw's side today. The badger, not being very smart, continued to give furious shakes and reach back with its one paw to knock off the small cat. By now, the two had moved about a fox length away from Flamestar. Brackenpaw hoped with every bone in his body that the leader had enough sense to get up now while he could, rather then lay there paralyzed with fear.

[`.`SnowCloud`.`]

Snowcloud obediently lapped up the poppy seeds. His wound was bad, very bad. And he knew that. Because there was a tingling in his spine because it had been introduced to oxygen. Hold on. The elder told himself. He would be very happy to close his eyes and sleep just then, if only he could be sure that sleep would not grasp him and never let him wake.

The tom was taking in shallow breaths because his spin was a bit bent, and that somehow affected his every move. Little did the white tom no--and little did he care--that he would have a bump in his back and shallow breaths for the rest of his life if he lived.
But he had to live. He'd promised. The tom blinked his wise old eyes and struggled to keep them open. "Sandkit, would you come and tell me a story? I would like that." He rasped.

If she told him a story, perhaps it would help her and the elder forget about the battle. Snowcloud could only hope.

[*~*Sandkit*~*]

Sandkit paused by Snowcloud. "Sandkit, would you come and tell me a story? I would like that." He had rasped. He sounded as if he was in a lot of pain. Worry clouded her eye's again. "I... I don't really kn... know any stories." She stuttered slowly. Sandkit tried to think back. She tried to think of all the stories the other elders had once told her. But she felt like she was in a blind panic. Her mind was racing, but it kept coming up blank. She shook her head. If I could just think of a story, it might be the only thing I could do to help the clan. To help Snowcloud. But I can't think of a thing! She thought desperately. Sandkit kept thinking and thinking, but nothing came to mind.

[basilkit<3]

Basilkit closed her eyes, hoping it was not real. It's it's- a dream... she thought to herself. Opening her eyes she realized it wasn't true. They were charging now. Suck it up Basilkit. she demanded to herself, so she did. Taking a deep breath she jumped managing to cut open the badgers head. Basilkit clung to the badgers head for her life. Then she was thrown off, hitting Tallrock. Slowly though, she got up. She limped forward, her leg had twisted in a way she had never thought possible. Inching her way forward still, suddenly she was charged and wacked in the head. She didn't know anything was happening. Her small limp body lied motionless... and bleeding.

[/size]

[Lightwhisper]

Lightwhisper watched, horrified, as Basilkit was flung up against the Tallrock and trampled. "Basilkit!" she yowled. She crouched lower to the ground then pushed off and flew across the clearing. She landed squarely on the badgers head and dug her claws into it's thick fur. The beast below her let out an ear-splitting bellow and swung it's massive head back-and-forth, attempting to knock Lightwhisper off it. Digging her claws in deeper, she bit down as hard as she could on the creature's ear before she was thrown off. She let out a sharp gasp and she tumbled into the barrier of the nursery.

[Silkheart<3]

Silkheart saw Brackenpaw walk away and attack a badger. There was another badger coming up behind him. Silkheart charged at it and pounced onto it's back. Her injured leg was throbing with adrenalin and pain. Silkheart bit the back of the thrashing badger's neck. It yowled and ran out of the camp, throwing her off. The deputy stood up and shook off the blow easily.

[`.`SnowCloud`.`]

[/b] He asked.
The tom felt bad for Sandkit, so he made the best effort he could not too look in pain and to keep calm.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/ul]

((So sorry for the shortness, I'm in a hurry.))