Brightclan Catches Fire

The aftermath of the fire felt more miserable than the fire itself. In the heat of the moment, Vervainstrike had been able to shift her focus to escaping the crisis at hand. Adrenaline had flowed through her as she directed the cats of the clan to safety. She stayed behind to help the cats that struggled more; the elders, queens, and kits. She had the help of the more level headed, courageous warriors of course. They got nearly everyone out. Nearly everyone. 

Vervainstrike’s paws treaded heavily as she ran through the burning forest, a kit dangling from her jaws, Nymphpaw a tail-length ahead of her, and Skimmerwing somewhere behind her. There was a throbbing on the bottom of her paws that Vervainstrike ignored. It wasn’t too bad and she knew she couldn’t stop. Not until a sudden crash behind her forced Vervainstrike to stop and whip around. Where she expected to see Skimmerwing, there was instead a burning tree branch. 

“I’m okay!” A voice called out from the other side, though Vervainstrike couldn’t see the source of it. 

“Hold on, I’m coming back for you!” Vervainstrike called out, somewhat muffled by the mewling kit she was holding. Her eyes scanned the area for a good path to the other side, though she couldn’t seem to find any path that wasn’t burning. 

“Don’t.” Skimmerwing responded curtly from the other side. “You’re close to the lake, get those two to safety.” He commanded, unusually authoratative. His voice brightened a bit. “I see a different path I can take, I’ll meet you at the lake!” 

“Fine. Be careful, I’ll come back for you if you don’t meet us there.” Vervainstrike responded slowly as she turned back to her apprentice. Together, they weaved their way to the lake, barely escaping the flames themselves. When they arrived, nearly everyong was there, already sheltering in the water. Lacepetal took her kit from Vervainstrike, frantic and relieved. Vervainstrike scanned the clan, taking into account who was there and who was missing. Her heart sank as she realized Skimmerwing had not made it. She turned back to the forest, ready to run back in after him, but quickly realized how impossible that would be. 

The flames had risen into a wall, blocking any possible path into the forest. For the first time since the fire sparked, Vervainstrike actually noticed the pain in her paws. She didn’t think she’d burnt them severely, but she’d definitely burnt them. 

Brightclan swam over the small island they typically hosted gatherings on and sheltered there as a camp. The fire couldn’t reach the cats there. It wasn’t until a few days later, when the fire had fully fizzled out, that any of them went back to their main territory. Vervainstrike had been put to bedrest the past few days by Bravefern and was getting fidgety. She needed to get out there. She had to investigate and find the cats still missing. Like Skimmerwing. His disappearance nagged at her. She should have listened to her instinct to go back for him at the time. 

The moment the patrol reached the shore, Vervainstrike took off in the direction of their camp. The territory was blackened and nearly unrecognizable with fallen trees and missing brush everywhere, but Vervainstrike patrolled this territory constantly. She knew where she was going. The anxiety built in her heart as Vervainstrike reached the fallen tree branch from that day. It was completely black, but it had been a solid branch, it was still one piece. Vervainstrike made her way to the other side of the branch and her heart dropped. 

Skimmerwing. He’d truly been here the whole time. If Vervainstrike wasn’t able to put the situation together so quickly, she wouldn’t have been able to tell it was him. The remains were definitely cat sized, but they were completely unrecognizable. It looked like part of the remains had been trapped under the branch. Vervainstrike, knowing Skimmerwing’s personality, quickly put together what happened. The branch had fallen on Skimmerwing, trapping and possibly injuring him as well. Skimmerwing, knowing what kind of cat Vervainstrike was, had lied about being okay so she’d keep fleeing. Vervainstrike collapsed to the charred forest floor. He was so young but he was so willing to sacrifice himself for the clan, for Vervainstrike. She wished their roles had been reversed, Skimmerwing deserved a longer life, full of love and happiness. Not this.