Work Text:
as she ran Hollyleaf didn't know what to go or where to do. she just made a grave mistake. just earlier a cruel cat named Ashfur trapped Hollyleaf, her siblings named Lionblaze and Jayfeather, and her so-called mother, Squrrielflight in a fire.
Ashfur trapped them there because he was angry that Squrrielflight broke up with him to be with a cat named Brambleclaw instead. so he trapped them there in hopes to kill Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze so that Squrrielflight would understand how he felt.
but what Squrrielflight said ended up shocking Hollyleaf to her core. she said that Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze weren't her real kits. this left Ashfur leaving them alive. but he then was going to tell Squrrielflight's secret to the gathering.
but Hollyleaf wasn't going to let that slide. even though Squrrielflight wasn't her real mother she wasn't going to watch the orange she-cat's life slowly fall apart all because of a stupid tom.
so Hollyleaf snuck out near the edge of windclan territory and then attacked Ashfur. the two thunderclan cats fought until Hollyleaf snapped his neck, killing him instantly. she then threw his body into the water.
now Hollyleaf was just standing there, staring at the bloody water. Hollyleaf needed to do something. she needs to run. if she gets caught then she knows that her life is over. why did Hollyleaf do this?
Hollyleaf has valued the warrior code for her whole life and then she broke it by killing one of her own clan-mates. but Ashfur did deserve this, right?
shaking away her thoughts Hollyleaf ran into windclan territory. she knew going into a rival clan's territory was fairly dumb. but she had no other choice.
if she stayed in thunderclan they would have to know that she killed Ashfur. then she would get exiled. or worse killed. besides, Hollyleaf was badly hurt. her back leg hurt like hell. she was hoping she could escape beyond windclan territory. but if a windclan cat found her then maybe that would be good as well.
but as she was walking Hollyleaf saw a black she-cat in the distance. she knew that the she-cat was Nightcloud, a warrior for windclan. now Hollyleaf didn't know much about Nightcloud. besides, that she's mates with Crowfeather and has a Son around the age of Hollyleaf named Breezepelt. Hollyleaf also knows that Nightcloud is also moody.
"Who are you and why are you on windclan territory?" Nightcloud asked. she then took a few steps forward, realizing that Hollyleaf was hurt. "you're hurt!"
"duh." Hollyleaf grunted. "my name is Hollyleaf. i-i'm from thunderclan... please help me. I didn't want to go onto windclan territory but I didn't know where else to go."
"I'll take you to windclan," Nightcloud suggested.
"no!" Hollyleaf said quickly, her green eyes widening. she knew that if she got into the windclan camp that she would get questioned.
"why don't you want to go to the camp?" Nightcloud asked, tilting her head.
Hollyleaf shuffled her paws. she didn't know if she could trust Nightcloud or not. although she knew that she most likely shouldn't. but she was going to have to convince Nightcloud to take her somewhere else.
"because I did something stupid," Hollyleaf admitted. "I'll tell you if you want. but just know that I did what I thought was right."
"I'm not going to ask what you did." Nightcloud replied. "well, at least not yet. but where can I take you?"
Hollyleaf knew of the tunnels on windclan and thunderclan territory. so that was the first thing that Hollyleaf thought of.
"the tunnels." Hollyleaf blurted.
"mhm, are they safe?" Nightcloud asked.
"of course there safe!" Hollyleaf said, twitching her tail. "now can you take me there before I bleed to death?"
Hollyleaf didn't mean to sound harsh. but she was in fairly bad pain and just wanted to rest. but luckily Nightcloud seemed to understand and wasn't mad.
"alright. I'll take you to the tunnels. lean on me though. I can see that your leg is in pain." Nightcloud ordered.
nodding Hollyleaf obeyed and leaned onto the black she-cat as they headed into the tunnels. once they were alone Hollyleaf sighed.
"Is there any moss in here?" Nightcloud asked.
"I don't think so. I used to be a medicine cat so can you get me cobwebs, poppy seeds, goldenrod, and maybe horsetail if you can find it? I'll get moss for a nest for us." Hollyleaf suggested.
Hollyleaf was surprised that she was going to make a nest for Nightcloud as well since she knew that it was unlikely that Nightcloud was going to stay with her.
"alright. I'll be back soon." Nightcloud then ran off.
Hollyleaf then grabbed a pile of moss and placed it next to a pool of water that would be good for drinking. she didn't know if she was going to stay here or not. but this could be a good temporary home.
soon Nightcloud replied with the herbs and Hollyleaf put them onto her pelt. Nightcloud then laid down next to Hollyleaf.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Nightcloud asked. "if you really did something back I doubt you are going to go back to any clan. and you are too hurt to hunt."
"c-can you stay here with me?" Hollyleaf found herself asking.
Nightcloud's eyes widened. "i-i'm not sure I can do that. I have a son, Breezepelt in windclan."
"well, can you help me?" Hollyleaf asked. "I don't want to ask this of you. but can you help me hunt until I'm healed? once I'm healed I'll hunt extra for you and windclan."
Nightcloud thought a bit before nodding. "Alright, that works for me. can you tell me what you did first?"
sighing Hollyleaf closed her eyes. she wanted to be asleep already...
"can I do that tomorrow? and can you stay with me for tonight?" Hollyleaf begged. she didn't want to be alone tonight.
"Alright." Nightcloud said, giving in. "you can tell me in the morning."
nodding Hollyleaf soon fell asleep next to Nightcloud. although she didn't know much about the pretty black she-cat she was glad that Nightcloud was helping her.