ScorchClan

The patrol stares frozen a Littletree. Their body is covered in scratches and their eyes are pained slits. “Help me…” Littletree groans. The patrol suddenly snaps back into focus. Elderflower rushes from your side. “Littletree? Are you okay?” she asks pleadingly. All Littletree can muster is a groan. More of your Clanmates approach Littletree, trying to help them to their feet. Scarletscorch, however stands shockingly still. “We don’t have time for this. Get up Littletree!” she yaps. It’s clear, however, that Littletree can not get up. Their back leg is painfully twisted and covered in blood. “We need to get Wrenwhisker!” Elderflower yells. Before you can trick yourself out of it, you shout, “I’ll go!” Elderflower nods at you quickly. You sprint back to camp, the wind flattening your fur to your back. As you burst into the ScorchClan camp. “Get Wrenwisker! Littletree is hurt!”

“Talk about Scarletscorch?” You ask Elderflower suspiciously. “Uh…well…yeah,” Elderflower responds timidly, “I’m just worried…you know with Littletree…uh…and the vote,” she continues, “I honestly don’t know why I voted for her. She just…you know, pulled me in I guess. I think the new policy is horrible and I hate that Littletree got hurt because of my vote,” You hear fear and guilt in her voice, “I just wish that Scorchmist would come back.” Her confession has somehow shaken you, but you feel relived that someone else agrees with your thoughts on Scarletscorch. “Yeah, me too. I find this whole thing very suspicious, and I don’t know why the Clan seems to be following her so blindly,” you say. “We need to do something about it,” Elderflower agrees. “Like what?” You ask. Elderflower in to whisper, “I think we should form an underground resistance.”

You awake to someone tapping your snout. You open your eyes to see Elderflower standing over you in the darkness. Your eyes flicker to to the entrance to the den. It’s dark outside. Treading quietly, you slip out of your nest, and follow Elderflower out of the den. The hot night air ruffles your fur. As you leave the ScorchClan camp, you see Elderflower relax. “Good to be out of there, huh?” You whisper to her. She nods. You take the lead, walking through the steamy, silent forest. It’s so much hotter than you’re used to. Just then, you catch a whiff of a strange scent. You glance at Elderflower, and see that she’s scented it two. “Get down,” You mouth. You hear branches snapping to your right. You turn. A cluster of shapes moves a few foxlengthes away from where you are crouching. Unfamiliar scents waft toward you. Then with a jolt, you recognize the burnt wood smells of ScorchClan cats among them. You can’t make out exactly who they belong to, however. They seem to be moving toward the dead tree over the pond where you and Elderflower intended to meet. You signal to Elderflower to follow them. As you approach the meeting spot, however, you see something that makes your fur stand on end. Sitting on the dead tree is Scarletscorch. And she’s looking right at you.

Not even looking behind you, you turn and run. How could she have seen you? you wonder as the forest grabs and tears at your pelt. You dash through the dark woods and into the clearing. Panting behind you is Elderflower. You stalk quietly into your den, before exploding with questions. Elderflower seems just as confused. “How did she know we were there?” she asked, anxiously whispering. “I don’t know, but it all feels so wrong,” You reply, shaking your head. “What do you think she’ll do to us when she gets back to camp? I wouldn’t put banishing us past her,” you say. Elderflower replies in a whisper, “She couldn’t. She was out sneaking around there too, remember. That would raise questions.” “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But what was she doing any way? And who were the other cats? I think I scented Morningmist among them,” you ask. “I don’t know. There’s something fishy about all of this. Anyway, we better get to sleep. Maybe the answer will come to us then,” Elderflower responded. Too tired to disagree and wanting a bit of rest yourself, you curled up in your nest and fell into a shallow, troubled sleep.