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Violetfern huffed as she awoke in the warriors den, the soft morning sunlight streaming through the vines that covered the entrance.
The distant sound of Riverclan's flowing river echoed around the den, giving something for Violetfern to listen to as she processed things in her groggy state.
The den was cold, unusual for a good morning like this. Violetfern's cool white fur bristled at the feeling and she opened her eyes, her violet pupils from what she was named by darting around the den as she looked around herself.
No one was there.
Violetfern lifted her head, frowning as she looked further to her left and right to confirm there were no other souls present. Was Riverclan busy today? No, that couldn't have been the case. She would've been woken up already.
Shrugging, Violetfern got to her paws. She was probably the last one up on a good day, which was a rare occurrence but did happen before.
Violetfern arched her back in a quick stretch, then headed out into the clearing.
The clearing was actually filled with cats, almost the entire Clan. The first thing Violetfern noticed was a queen holding her kits close as she sobbed. The queen's husband was next to her, snuggling against her as a form of comfort.
Violetfern raised a brow, looking around further as she noticed all the nihilistic or saddened expressions on cats' faces. Worry started to form in her chest.
Violetfern spotted her best friend, Angelwing, chatting with the deputy of the Clan near the apprentice den. She approached, the smell of herbs growing stronger as Violetfern neared her medicine cat friend.
"What happened?" Violetfern asked when she stood in front of Angelwing, "No one died, right?"
Angelwing's calico fur bristled in unease as she looked to her friend, her orange eyes glowing with anxiety.
"Well...not yet." Angelwing said, awkwardly laughing at her own words.
"What!?" Violetfern echoed, "What do you mean?"
Angelwing glanced to the deputy before looking back to Violetfern. She inhaled, held it for a few seconds, then spoke.
"I received a vision last night." Angelwing began, "I and the other medicine cats were all present in front of Starclan. Our ancestors showed us that the Earth's orbit is starting to go out of control. Once it is completely out of orbit, the Earth will fly off course and... straight into the sun."
Angelwing paused as she saw Violetfern's jaw drop. Angelwing looked down and continued in a soft mumble.
"That will happen in three days. It will be the end of the world for all of us."
Violetfern felt lightheaded, and she struggled to stay on her paws. She sat down with a plop, her tail falling against the dirt as she processed what she just heard.
"Wait...what?" Violetfern distantly mumbled, "Just like that? We just die? We...there's...a way to prevent this, right?"
Violetfern's desperate eyes gazed up at her calico friend, but Angelwing shook her head.
"This is how it all ends. Starclan had requested we accept this, but..." Angelwing motioned her tail around the Clan, "Everyone seems to be having trouble coping well."
Violetfern felt colder than she did in the warrior's den. They were all going to die by the star that lit up their world, that grew plants and warmed them.
She felt there had to be a reason, but Violetfern couldn't think of one. Was Starclan simply ready to pull every Clan cat into their ranks?
"No..." Violetfern whispered, "I...still have so much to live for..."
"As do I." Angelwing comforted, "And as do so many here. The kits are going to go early without knowing what life is really like..."
Angelwing gazed at the queen that hugged her kits, the mother's sobbing louder and more desperate in the whole Clan. Some apprentices were crying too, even some warriors, but a mother in distress was one of the most heart wrenching things to hear.
"How can you be so calm about this?!" Violetfern screeched, looking up at Angelwing through her teary eyes.
"Tell me what I can even do." Angelwing retorted.
Violetfern growled at that response, but dropped it as she realized her friend was right. What could they do but accept fate now?
"Then...what now?" Violetfern questioned, "Lie down and wait till we die?"
"That's a nihilistic way of looking at it," Angelwing pointed out, "we can still enjoy the time we have left."
"How?" Violetfern huffed, "How am I suppose to enjoy the time I have when I know there won't be anything left in three days?"
"Violetfern..." Angelwing gazed at her friend wistfully, "I'm not sure what to say anymore..."
Violetfern's ears pinned to her head as she heard the defeat in her friend's voice. Violetfern felt like she might've been making it worse for her friend, who already had to deal with announcing this terrible news to the Clan.
Angelwing looked to the brown-furred deputy whom was quietly standing beside her during the whole exchange.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you." Angelwing apologized, "Can we leave in an hour?"
"Sure." The deputy nodded, "I'll get the patrol to eat something before we leave."
"Perfect." Angelwing nodded back, waving goodbye with her tail as the deputy got to his paws and walked away.
"Huh?" Violetfern blinked, "Where are you going?"
"I wanted to check on the other Clans, so the leader is going to send me with a patrol." Angelwing stated, "Do you want to come?"
Violetfern hesitated. Right now, she wanted to stay at camp and sulk in the warrior's den, but she knew her friend was trying to quell her worries. She swallowed, and then nodded.
"I'd love to." Violetfern answered.
"Great...I'd love to have you." Angelwing smiled, her usual kindness rekindled after their earlier argument, "Eat something, we're not stopping until we go around the whole lake and then we're coming right back."
"That'll be at least a day's journey, not considering the discussions we'll have between the Clans!" Violetfern gasped.
"I know, but it's better to do this now." Angelwing said firmly.
Angelwing opened her mouth to say something else, but closed it again after some thought. Violetfern could guess she was probably going to say that they might not have another chance.
Violetfern wondered if not making mention of their current grim situation was her friend's attempt at keeping spirits high.
"I understand." Violetfern nodded, getting to her paws, "How do you think the other Clans are reacting?"
Angelwing looked around the clearing, absorbing all the negativity and nihilism that hung in the atmosphere of the Riverclan camp.
Most warriors were in deep conversation with each other, while the younger cats like apprentices and kits either cried or stayed close to their mothers for comfort.
"Hopefully not the way Riverclan is." Angelwing murmured wishfully.
Violetfern nodded, although she couldn't help but find herself at home with the way her Clan felt defeated and hopeless.
Angelwing moved forward, pushing past a few groups of warriors as she eyed the fresh-kill pile. Violetfern followed, keeping next to her friend's tail as they moved across the clearing.
When they stopped in front of the fresh-kill pile, Angelwing picked out a rat for herself. Violetfern leaned down and picked out a vole, then followed her friend to a quieter corner of the camp as they sat down to eat.
"So, does the end come on the fourth day or the third?" Violetfern asked through a mouthful of vole.
"During Sunhigh of the third day." Angelwing answered as she chewed, "We more or less have two days instead of actually three, but if we wake up early we might be able to enjoy a few hours."
Violetfern suppressed a sigh. She had even less time than she had anticipated, but all Violetern could do was add it to her list of growing problems.
The two she-cats ate in silence for a few minutes, Violetfern keeping an eye out on how her Clan was behaving. She noticed many cats were with their friends or family, probably spending their as much time as they could together.
"Have you been with your mom already?" Violetfern asked as she watched an apprentice nuzzle his mother.
"Oh, she was at my side the moment I finished telling the Clan about my vision." Angelwing said, "She cried for over thirty minutes...I cried with her."
Violetfern nodded understandingly.
"I wish my parents were here." Violetfern exhaled thoughtfully, "I'm glad I have at least one friend to spend the rest of my time with."
Violetfern looked to Angelwing, smiling appreciatively at her friend. Angelwing's eyes softened as though she was touched, and she smiled gratefully back.
"Y'know what," Angelwing pondered out loud as she got to her paws, "I think I only want the two of us to go on that patrol."
"Really?" Violetfern asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Angelwing nodded confidently, "I want to spend as much time as I can with my best friend."
"I..." Violetfern was speechless, only left staring at her friend in awe, "Uh... I... thank you, it means a lot to me."
"I know." Angelwing beamed, her tail curling happily, "It'll also give the other warriors more time with their families, too. I'll go speak with the leader right away."
Angelwing motioned with her tail for Violetfern to wait for her, then she walked away as she headed toward the leader's den.
Violetfern lied on her side as she thought to herself. She could guess Angelwing was most likely going to spend most of her time with her mother, which made every second Violetfern had with her friend precious.
Violetfern knew the way mothers loved their kits, even until their death. If the Clan knew the end of the world was coming, then every mother was going to be close to the kits they proudly raised.
She could see that now, with the way kits and apprentices hung around their mothers. Even some of the older warriors had their mothers nuzzling them, each one desperate to show how much she loved her children before the end came.
"Okay, she says we can go alone!"
Angelwing's voice echoed in Violetfern's ear after a few minutes. She looked up in time to see her friend coming toward her, the smell of herbs still as strong as ever.
"Great!" Violetfern purred and got to her paws.
Angelwing angled her ears toward the exit of the camp. She moved past Violetfern and slipped through the bramble barrier. Violetfern followed, slipping out into the forest as she felt the cool Riverclan grass tickle her paw pads.
The forest was coated in the golden glow of the morning sun, the familiar river still gurgling in the distance as the two she-cats made their way to the lake.
They exited the tree line and made their way down the slope, stopping once they were in front of the lake that the Clans surrounded.
Violetfern took a second to take in the scene, watching as the water sparkled from the shining sunlight. A fish jumped out of the water, landing with a splash back into it as it basked in the calm pool.
"I can't believe we'll never see this again." Angelwing mumbled.
Violetfern mewed in agreement. The scene of the lake was usually one of beauty, but now it was one of sadness. The atmosphere had changed as well, as if the whole lake was mourning its own loss.
Angelwing looked to Violetfern, taking in her friend's glowing white fur that seemed to absorb the sun's rays. She sighed, then moved past to continue the journey.
The two wordlessly walked side by side around the edge of the lake, periodically glancing at the water every so often.
Riverclan scent grew weaker as the woody, pine scent of Shadowclan slowly replaced it. Angelwing and Violetfern walked back up the slope as they closed the distance to the pine trees that made up Shadowclan territory.
Violetfern wondered, out of all the Clans, how Shadowclan was reacting. Ever since she was small, Riverclan and Shadowclan hadn't had good relations.
In fact, for many moons of Violetfern's life Riverclan had been at war with Shadowclan. The day the two Clans finally made a truce after multiple moons of fighting was one of the best days of Violetfern's life...and that was after she became a warrior.
Violetfern and Angelwing were about to cross the border. Angelwing was just about to step over the scent line when she halted and lifted her tail.
"Wait." Angelwing warned.
Violetfern sniffed the air, the smell of Shadowclan cats nearby. They waited, smelling the patrol as it got closer and closer.
Eventually, a small patrol of four Shadowclan warriors came through the bushes. The lead, a brown tom, stalked forward and looked between Angelwing and Violetfern.
"Do you want to explain why you're this close to our border?" The patrol leader hissed.
"Oh... I..." Angelwing was caught off-guard by his hostility.
"Did your medicine cat not receive a vision?" Violetfern uttered, surprised by Shadowclan's firm hostility.
"He did." The patrol leader answered, "The world is going to end, so what? That doesn't mean we're going to stop protecting our Clan."
Still as prideful as ever, Violetfern thought.
"Ah." Violetfern stepped back, slightly embarrassed.
"We only came to see how you were..." Angelwing blurted out.
"You and Thunderclan both." The lead growled, "We're fine, we don't need your pity."
Angelwing's calico fur bristled in unease as the cat asserted his Clan. She swallowed nervously before she spoke.
"I'm sorry, we didn't mean any harm." Angelwing quickly apologized.
Angelwing turned around, signaling to Violetfern that this was their que to take the hint and leave. Violetfern nodded and turned her tail on the Shadowclan cats as they both made their way back down the slope.
"Well, that was a bummer." Angelwing huffed once they were far enough away.
Violetfern shrugged.
"Even in the face of the world ending, their pride is through the trees." Violetfern shook her head.
"We still have Thunderclan and Windclan, though." Angelwing pointed out to herself.
Violetfern hummed her agreement so Angelwing knew she was listening. The Shadowclan cat had mentioned that Thunderclan tried to check on them, so Violetfern was certain they'd have better success this time.
Violetfern and Angelwing kept close to the lake as they moved away from Shadowclan territory and toward the oak forest that made up Thunderclan. Once more, they moved up the slope and made their way into the honorable Clan's territory.
Violetfern's legs already started to hurt, and they weren't even half way done with the Clans. But she didn't complain as to not hurt Angelwing's curiosity and risk her friend turning back.
It was already Sunhigh by the time they came to Thunderclan, so it was probably going to be sundown by the time they entered Windclan.
The scent of Thunderclan cats drifted in the wind, causing Angelwing's ears to perk up as she stayed alert for the Clan cats. Angelwing followed the scent until it lead her right to the Thunderclan hollow, the voice of cats echoing within it.
Violetfern pointed her tail to the entrance that was guarded by brambles. She moved toward it and Angelwing followed her. Angelwing slipped through first, careful not to fall down the slope that led into the camp.
Violetfern followed her friend's tail, moving past the brambles as her paws met the soft, well-trodden dirt that sloped into the Thunderclan camp.
As Violetfern entered the clearing with Angelwing, she could tell the atmosphere was a lot different compared to Riverclan's. In fact, it seemed as if everyone was in their best moods.
Kits were playing, apprentices practiced moves on each other, warriors did small chores. It was what you'd see in a Clan on every other day, but every cat radiated a sense of overwhelming joy.
For a second, Violetfern wondered if the Thunderclan medicine cat had even received the vision.
"Welcome!"
The cheery voice of the Thunderclan leader rang in Violetfern's ears. She turned her head in the direction of the voice, a gray tom padding up to stand in front of the two she-cats.
"Hi, sorry for barging into your territory." Angelwing apologized in a similar way she did to Shadowclan.
"No worries, all the Clans are welcomed." The leader reassured, "Were you here to celebrate with us?"
Angelwing and Violetfern exchanged a glance, confusion clouding their eyes as they heard the leader speak.
"Celebrate?" Angelwing echoed.
"Yes, celebrating the fact we will all be going to Starclan soon." The leader confirmed, "This is wonderful for all the Clans!"
Certainly not ours, Violetfern pondered. Angelwing's eyes shined with thought.
"That's a wonderful way to look at it!" Angelwing purred, her tail curling at the idea.
"Indeed!" The leader agreed, "We are happily spending our final hours here in the world. Every Clan is welcomed into our territory to celebrate with us."
"That's great." Angelwing said, "We were just coming to check on how your Clan was reacting to...to the world ending, really."
Angelwing made it sound like it was nothing more than a small event, and the Thunderclan cats certainly acted like it. Violetfern still only saw it all as grim, even if they went to Starclan in the end.
"Well, I'm glad your Clan seems to be taking it well." Violetfern said, glancing around all the cheerful cats, "Better to die happy than depressed, I suppose."
Violetfern was trying to get herself to believe her own words right now. The Thunderclan leader nodded in agreement, then looked between the two she-cats.
"Well? Did you wish to stay and join us?" He asked, his eyes expectant.
"Oh, no, all we really wanted to do was just check up." Angelwing shook her head, "But thank you for the offer, we really appreciate it."
Violetfern nodded, knowing she and Angelwing both appreciated Thunderclan's usual kindness.
"Very well." The leader nodded, "Stay in our territory for as long as you long, though. You're welcomed to our fresh-kill as well."
Angelwing mewed her thanks as the leader turned and walked away. She looked much happier as she glanced to Violetfern, her eyes shining with approval.
"This is the way Riverclan should be." Angelwing said, "This is wonderful. No sadness, just happy to live your final few days."
"I'm not sure," Violetfern mumbled uncertainly, "celebrating over your coming death is a bit dark."
"What else can they do?" Angelwing shrugged.
Violetfern shook her head in disagreement but didn't argue further.
"Are we going to Windclan now?" Violetfern asked.
"Yeah, there's no one I really know here." Angelwing said, "Plus, I've been curious about Windclan out of all the Clans."
"Okay." Violetfern understood, "Did you want to eat again before we left? The leader did offer us their fresh-kill."
Angelwing glanced to the fresh-kill pile at the corner of the Thunderclan camp, then shook her head.
"Nah," Angelwing refused, "I don't want to waste any time."
Angelwing flicked her tail to the exit and moved back up the slope. Violetfern glanced disappointingly at the fresh-kill pile before following the Riverclan medicine cat back out into the Thunderclan forest.
Angelwing continued to lead the way as they trodded through Thunderclan territory and cut into Windclan. Storm clouds had begun to cloud the sky during the walk and a light drizzle had already started.
The moorland wasn't as windy as it usually was, a quiet dread seemingly looming over the area. The rain uncomfortably stabbed itself into Violetfern's pelt as she moved across the moors, careful not to slip on the now wet grass.
Violetfern softly growled as she endured the pain of the chilly rain, grumbling profanities as she mindlessly followed Angelwing. Her friend must've heard her complaints, as Angelwing glanced back at Violetfern as if to ask if she was okay.
When Angelwing glanced back ahead, she waved her tail in signal.
"We're here." Angelwing noted.
"What, already?" Violetfern's ears perked up.
It didn't feel like they were walking for long, but then again Violetfern had occupied herself with complaining most of the way.
"Yup." Angelwing motioned to the hollow in front of them that was similar to Thunderclan's.
Angelwing led the way around to the entrance and slipped into the Windclan camp. Violetfern pushed in right after her and followed Angelwing into a very quiet clearing.
There were no cats, and Windclan's scent was incredibly weak. For a moment, Violetfern thought they walked into just a random hollow.
"I thought I smelled Riverclan."
A voice echoed somewhere to Violetfern's right. Looking in that direction, she saw Windclan's leader push her head out of a den. She glanced up at the drizzling rain, grimaced, then pushed the rest of the way out.
Her black fur almost immediately stuck to her sides as she came out of the den. Following her tail out was a brown tom that looked young enough to be an apprentice.
The Windclan leader paced toward the Riverclan warrior and medicine cat and sat down in front of the two. The apprentice waddled up, sitting just behind the leader.
"You came because of the vision, I'm guessing?" The Windclan leader asked, her tail wrapping around the apprentice just behind her.
"Yes, that's exactly right," Angelwing confirmed, "but where's the rest of Windclan? It's unusually quiet..."
The Windclan leader glanced downward, the apprentice behind her looking uncomfortable as she shifted on her paws.
"Everyone committed suicide." The leader answered.
Angelwing choked on her words. Violetfern's jaw dropped at the leader's casual answer to her Clan killing itself.
"What?!" Angelwing uttered her surprise, "How... everyone...?"
The leader glanced to the Windclan apprentice before answering.
"Yes, everyone except my son and I."
Violetfern blinked a few times.
"And you allowed that to happen?" Violetfern pressed.
"I didn't allow it," The leader corrected, "I ordered it."
Violetfern felt sick to her stomach as she grimaced. An entire Clan committing suicide was already gruesome, but having their own leader order it was even worse.
"Why!?" Angelwing voiced the question.
The leader raised her head, a calm flick of her tail hitting her son's back.
"The sun is extremely hot, you know." The leader said slowly, "It was going to be torture to my Clan if they had to endure being burnt alive to an eventual death."
Violetfern wanted to argue at the fact that she should've let her Clan die when they wanted to, but she couldn't totally disagree at the fact it would've been extreme torture alone.
"That's... still horrible to command your own Clan to kill themselves." Violetfern pointed out.
"I did it as honorably as possible." The leader assured, "I did it because I thought it was best for my Clan. Best for them not to suffer."
Angelwing was obviously still disgusted and Violetfern was still surprised, but neither of them could really argue. It was already done, and at least the Windclan leader had good intentions, despite how horrible the outcome was.
"So, why didn't you and your son join Starclan already?" Angelwing asked after a moment.
"He... wanted to hear the lullaby I used to sing him when he was young." The leader admitted, "And I kept singing him different ones. I was about to start on another until you two came in."
"Well, sorry to interrupt." Violetfern dipped her head apologetically.
"It's fine." The leader shrugged, "You two must've come a long way from Riverclan. You must be tired."
"You bet!" Violetfern cut Angelwing off from answering.
Angelwing glanced at Violetfern irritably before looking back to the Windclan leader.
"Yes, I suppose my paws are a bit achy from all the walking." Angelwing admitted.
"Then feel free to use the dens." The leader offered, "If you choose to stay the night, just know that my son and I will most likely be gone in the morning."
"Ah." Violetfern hummed in understanding, "Thank you, I promise we won't disturb."
The leader nodded, glancing to her son and mewing something in his ear. The apprentice got up, pacing back to the den he and his mother came out of. The Windclan leader dipped her head to the Riverclan she-cats, then joined her son back in the den.
Violetfern sighed, her ears pinning to the back of her head.
"I didn't think Windclan could be worse..."
"My heart aches for them." Angelwing agreed, "But I suppose there's nothing we can do now."
Angelwing took a moment to think, then paced over to a random den on the other side of camp. Violetfern followed and slipped into the den with Angelwing.
Violetfern could guess this was the warrior's den with how spacious it was. The moss was fresh as well, to she and her friend's luck. Angelwing wrapped herself into a ball as she got comfortable, Violetfern lying down next to her.
She yawned, and Angelwing yawned a moment after. They had spent their entire day walking around the lake, and Violetfern felt like she was going to pass out at any time. The sound of the rain picking up outside and the howling of distant wind only made her more comfortable.
She shoved her muzzle into Angelwing's calico fur, breathing in the scent of herbs on her friend's fur. In a few moments, sleep consumed Violetfern and Angelwing as their breathing slowed to hushed a rhythm.
***
Violetfern and Angelwing woke up late the next morning. Since there was some prey in Windclan's fresh-kill pile, they helped themselves to it and left the now abandoned camp.
They moved through the Horseplace and past the Gathering island, finally making their way up the slope as they set paw on the familiar wet grass that made up Riverclan territory.
Angelwing marched toward the camp, the excitement of telling Riverclan what she and Violetfern had seen most likely on her mind. When arrived in front of the Riverclan camp, Angelwing almost dived through the brambles at the entrance in her excitement.
When Violetfern walked into the camp clearing, Angelwing was already loudly mewing their return to every cat. The first cat to approach was the Riverclan leader herself, her cream fur bristled in anxiety as she got closer.
"Angelwing, welcome back." The Riverclan leader greeted, "Can I speak with you in private?"
Violetfern could feel the anticipation leaking through her voice. Angelwing's excitement died away, replaced by surprise at her leader's urgency.
"Uhm... sure?" Angelwing agreed, then glanced back to Violetfern, "Wait for me in the medicine den."
When Violetfern nodded, Angelwing turned back to the Riverclan leader. The leader flicked her tail for Angelwing to follow, and led her away to the leader's den.
Violetfern watched her friend's tail disappear into the shadows of the leader's den before she turned to the medicine den and slipped through the willows that made up its entrance.
Violetfern paced around the den as she waited, the hard dirt floor rough against her paw pads. No cats seemed excited or curious about their return, as if something else was troubling them. The leader asking for Angelwing specifically made Violetfern suspicious.
She sat down, her paws scratching against the floor as she quietly begged her Angelwing to hurry up. A few minutes went by of Violetfern pacing and quietly demanding her friends return before Angelwing's scent finally hit her nose.
Violetfern turned to the entrance and watched Angelwing slip through. The calico medicine cat's ears and tail were down as her eyes were cold with tears. She glanced up at Violetfern, her expression one of distraught and pain.
"What's wrong?" Violetfern begged Angelwing to tell her.
Angelwing tried to utter something, but her words started to crack. She hesitated before she could actually get the words out.
"M-my... my mom... she..." Angelwing sniffled, swallowing hard as she forced the words out, "She... s-she died..."
Violetfern gasped as Angelwing finally answered her, her fur bristling with surprise.
"What...?!" Violetfern shook her head in denial, her own voice starting to crack, "How...?!"
"Heart attack..." Angelwing whispered, "The leader t-told me she w-was calling out to me while she was dying, too... but I wasn't even here..."
Angelwing broke into a sob and crouched on the floor in pain. Violetfern slowly padded over and nuzzled her friend's head as tears started to flow down her whiskers as well.
"Angelwing, Angelwing..." Violetfern tried to control her cracking voice, "I'm so sorry..."
Angelwing didn't respond, her crying too loud to have even heard Violetfern. Violetfern kept nuzzling her as Angelwing mourned her mother, her claws digging into the floor as she blamed herself for leaving her mother's side.
Eventually, Angelwing was left as nothing more than a pile of tears and sniffles as she lied against the ground. Violetfern felt stiff and forced herself to sit down.
"Why'd I leave..." Angelwing mumbled, "My mother needed me... and I was interested in the other Clans... how could I...?"
"You'll see her again..." Violetfern comforted, "Only in a day... we'll all join her in Starclan..."
Angelwing shook her head.
"I could've been there to make her death less painful... she died alone... all alone because her dumb daughter wanted to explore..."
"Angelwing..."
Violetfern sighed, but couldn't find the words to respond with. She simply licked her friends ear and apologized for Angelwing's loss over and over again.
The shock had already made Violetfern exhausted again, and she lied down beside Angelwing. Violetfern tried to cuddle and lick her, anything to help comfort and distract her from the pain.
They wordlessly lied together, Angelwing's sniffling and Violetfern's soft murmurs being the only sounds that filled the den for the next few hours. Eventually, the sounds stopped and an eerie silence fell over the medicine den.
Angelwing sighed, shifted, and got to her paws. Violetfern shuffled backward on her side and got to her paws as well, her expression anxious as she looked to see how Angelwing was.
Her orange eyes were red from the tears, and she looked exhausted from all the crying. Even Violetfern had cried slightly, but the shock had more or less replaced her mourning.
"I'm here if you need me..." Violetfern reassured as she gazed at Angelwing.
Angelwing quietly nodded her thanks, her ears flat as can be from her grief. Violetfern leaned forward, pressing her head again Angelwing's. She shivered as she felt Angelwing's hot breath against her fur, her friend's breathing erratic and weak.
The smell of a cat made Angelwing and Violetfern lean away from each other, both of them glancing to the entrance as a light gray apprentice pushed his way through.
"Miss Angelwing!" The apprentice cried, "I tripped and scratched my paw... it stings!"
Angelwing gazed through the apprentice in silence as she processed what he had said. She nodded slowly after a moment, a soft, reassuring smile etching itself on her muzzle.
"Very well, let's get that fixed." Angelwing stated, her voice oddly cool, "Show me."
The apprentice lifted his paw for Angelwing to see. There was a scratch on the back of it, fresh blood having flowed down inbetween his pads.
"Okay, that's not too bad. I have just the thing." Angelwing said.
Violetfern watched Angelwing turn around and approach the hole in the den's wall where she kept her medicine. She picked up some medicine in her mouth then turned back around to set it down in front of the apprentice.
A single dock leaf and a small wad of cobwebs is what Angelwing had gathered. She bent down, licking the dock leaf into her mouth and chewed it up. Once it was a pulp, Angelwing spat it on the apprentice's paw and lightly dabbed it.
Then, she gathered the cobwebs in her paws and wrapped them around the poultice. The apprentice flinched slightly as Angelwing tightened the cobweb, but sighed in relief as she finished.
"That will hold the medicine in place and stop the bleeding." Angelwing explained, "Try not to move too much, okay? If it falls off, come see me."
"Okay!" The apprentice nodded in understanding, "Thank you, Miss Angelwing! You're the best!"
Angelwing smirked, the appreciation shining in her eyes. She watched the apprentice turn around and hobble out of the den, then looked to Violetfern expectantly.
"Hmm, you're still going to treat cats even if the world is going to end?" Violetfern asked, surprised Angelwing had even bothered.
"There's no reason they should suffer before that time comes." Angelwing said absently, "Even if we all know our time is limited, we shouldn't need to suffer before we go."
Violetfern nodded slowly, mostly because she didn't know how to respond. She hadn't expected Angelwing's sudden soft shift, and in a way Violetfern hoped it kept her distracted from the pain of losing her mother.
"Yeah..." Violetfern awkwardly agreed.
Violetfern sat down, her head and ears low as she found a lack of things to say anymore. Angelwing matched her silence before lifting her head, her tail curling in thought.
"Do you know what medicine I used?" Angelwing asked.
Violetfern lifted her head to gaze at Angelwing as she processed the odd question.
"Yeah, uhm... it was dock leaf." Violetfern recalled the name, "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I was curious if you remembered some names of the herbs." Angelwing said, "It was so long ago when you tried to be a medicine cat. I thought you would have forgotten it all by now."
Violetfern chuckled as Angelwing named memories so old that she had forgotten them herself.
"I only tried to be a medicine cat because I didn't want you to be alone." Violetfern giggled, "But I couldn't remember what each herb did, and the blood and wounds made me squeamish."
Angelwing grinned and closed her eyes as she remembered their shared apprenticeship, even if it was short lived.
"Ah, my mentor was so patient with you." Angelwing said, "He was frustrated about having to teach you about the same things over and over again, but he still felt like he failed you when you gave up."
"I wish he told me." Violetfern sighed, "He was sweet and I really enjoyed being with him, but I was just better at ambushing and outsmarting opponents in battle than trying to remember the name of every herb."
"Hey, it's a she-cat's specialty to outsmart the dumb toms that can overpower us." Angelwing laughed, "I'm sure he understood in the end."
Violetfern shrugged, but she hoped Angelwing was right. Her ear flicked as she traced her paw along the blades of sunlight that was streaming into the medicine den.
"I still went along with you and your mentor on herb hunting, though." Violetfern said.
"Yeah, the extra paws really helped." Angelwing smiled, "And my mentor would always bring us by the lake as a reward."
"Oh, yeah!" Violetfern's ears perked, "I remember we would play in the water until sundown every time."
"Mhm..." Angelwing agreed, though her voice softened, "I wonder why we ever stopped."
Violetfern looked down, exhaling slowly as she pondered.
"I guess we grew up." Violetfern said, "I don't remember us ever doing it again after we received our names."
"Growing up sucks." Angelwing groaned, her tail curling over her paws disappointingly.
Violetfern glanced to the exit of the medicine den and back to Angelwing. She shifted on her paws in thought and then spoke.
"Do you wanna go play in the lake right now?" Violetfern asked, "At least... one more time before tomorrow?"
"No thanks." Angelwing shook her head, "I'm cold enough right now, I wouldn't be able to stand the water."
"Oh..." Violetfern huffed in disappointment, her tail and ears flattening in sadness.
Angelwing looked regretful as she saw Violetfern's reaction. She sighed, matching Violetfern's disappointed look.
"Sorry..." Angelwing uttered, her eyes falling to her paws.
There was silence for a few moments between them, Angelwing's tail shifting against the dirt as she wondered what to say. Violetfern's eyes were glued to the ground as she waited for something to happen.
Angelwing sharply inhaled and glanced up at Violetfern, her eyes pleading as she gazed at her white-furred friend.
"Uh... can you sleep with me tonight?" Angelwing requested, "I don't think I could bear being alone..."
Violetfern looked up, noticing the desperation in Angelwing's eyes. She nodded without hestitation, her ears perking slightly.
"Of course," Violetfern agreed, "I didn't want to be alone, either."
"Thank you." Angelwing mumbled, bowing her head in gratitude.
When she lifted her head back up, the two gazed at each other in awkward silence. Angelwing swallowed, and flicked her tail to the exit of the den.
"Want to get something to eat?"
"Yeah, I'm starving." Violetfern nodded, realizing they hadn't eaten since they left Windclan.
Violetfern got to her paws, flicking her tail for Angelwing to follow. She exited the medicine den and glanced around the clearing, taking note of the fact it was still as full as yesterday.
It was strange to see that the clearing was full for two days in a row, but every cat was probably dreading their end. A hopeless and fearful atmosphere hung over the camp, a few cats glancing to the sky as if anticipating to see the sun crashing down on them.
Angelwing stood beside Violetfern as she followed her friend's gaze. Violetfern shrugged and angled her ears toward the fresh-kill pile.
She and Angelwing approached the small pile of prey at the edge of camp, Violetfern grimacing as she saw the lack of food on the pile. There probably hadn't been a lot of hunting since Angelwing's vision, Violetfern could guess.
Violetfern bent down and picked up a small rat, and Angelwing picked out a vole. They found a spot to eat and set their food down, Angelwing hungrily tearing into her vole as Violetfern continued to scan the clearing.
"Sure is quiet..." Violetfern noted as she started to nibble on her rat.
Violetfern watched a mother nuzzle her apprentice son. The mother's eyes were glassy and loving as she looked at her son, and the apprentice frowned as he saw the sadness in his mother's gaze.
"I think everyone is still trying to accept their fate." Angelwing said as she polished the rat's bones, "We might all be together soon, but no new cats will ever walk the earth."
"That's what upsets me the most." Violetfern agreed, "I'm not sure how Thunderclan can celebrate something like this."
"There won't be any more pain and suffering, at least." Angelwing murmured, still more optimistic than most of Riverclan.
Violetfern hummed her thought, but never felt anything other than melancholic about it.
***
Violetfern slowly opened her eyes, yawning as she shifted against the moss of Angelwing's bed in the medicine den. She felt cold, and she couldn't feel her friend's fur beside her.
Sitting up, Violetfern looked to Angelwing's side of the moss bed. It was cold as Violetfern pressed her paw against it, so Angelwing had to have been gone for some time already.
Her friend's scent was a bit faded as well, so it must've been about an hour or so ago when Angelwing left. Violetfern grumbled, slightly annoyed that Angelwing left her side.
Violetfern stood on her paws and followed Angelwing's scent out of the medicine den. When she stepped outside, Violetfern thought it was still night at first. Looking to the sky, it was almost as gray as rain clouds, but there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.
Her internal clock told Violetfern that it was morning, but it was as quiet and dark as the night. Some cats were in the clearing, and they seemed to be aware of it as well. The air was also chilly, and strangely the ground was frosty with some ice, despite it being Greenleaf.
Violetfern felt uneasy as she realized this was probably the beginning of the end. Angelwing had stated that Earth's orbit was going to go out of control, so she wondered if this was something that was apart of it.
She didn't have time to think more on that, though. Her mind was on Angelwing and trying to figure out where her calico-furred friend went. Violetfern continued to follow Angelwing's scent, her anxiety steadily growing as it led her out of camp.
Violetfern stepped out into the Riverclan forest, picking up her pace as her heart pounded with worry. Fortunately for her, Violetfern didn't have to walk far as she saw a shape shuffling toward her in the distance.
Quickly sniffing the air, she picked up Angelwing's scent drifting from that direction and bolted forward. Her friend came into sight, her fur extremely ruffled and her head low. She perked up as she heard Violetfern's paw steps.
"Oh!" Angelwing gasped as she saw Violetfern running at her.
Violetfern skidded to a halt, stopping just in front of Angelwing. She inhaled, about to ask Angelwing where she had been but caught her words half-way when she got a better look at the medicine cat.
Angelwing looked blushy, and smelled of excitement along with her fear at Violetfern's sudden appearence. Added with the ruffled fur, Violetfern got suspicious.
Angelwing kept looking Violetfern up and down, puzzled as to why her friend was looking at her suspiciously. Violetfern leaned forward, taking a whiff of her friend as she picked up the faint scent of another cat.
Angelwing and Violetfern both leaned away from each other, Angelwing out of discomfort and Violetfern out of disgust.
"You were with someone!" Violetfern snapped, breaking the silence between them.
"W-What?" Angelwing stuttered, then shook her head quickly, "No? I just took a walk."
Violetfern narrowed her eyes. She knew Angelwing was lying, but Violetfern was more surprised she'd actually do something like this. It may have been their last day alive, but did her friend really get with a tom and...?
"Seriously?" Violetfern huffed, "Look, I would've done it too if I had someone, but you're a medicine cat. Isn't that against the warrior code?"
"What are you talking about?" Angelwing growled, her voice growing increasingly desperate to defend herself, "I just wanted to see the lake one more time."
Sure you did, Violetfern thought. She could see the embarrassed look on Angelwing's face, and her own frustration made her want to press the subject.
She gazed at Angelwing for a long moment before sighing slowly and flicking her tail dismissively. Violetfern knew it was useless to argue, and she understood that Angelwing wanted to do some final things on the earth while she still had the chance.
"You notice how dark and chilly it's gotten?" Violetfern changed the subject, glancing up at the dark sky through the trees.
"Yeah, it's weird." Angelwing breathed, "Ice forming in the middle of Greenleaf isn't common, last I heard."
Violetfern chuckled at Angelwing's comment.
"C'mon, let's get back to camp." Violetfern urged, "I don't think it'll be long till Sunhigh..."
Angelwing looked uneasy at that statement, but nodded in understanding.
Violetfern led the way back to camp, her pace a bit hurried as she felt anxious about their time growing shorter by the minute.
When they arrived back in the Riverclan clearing, Violetfern spotted the leader standing on the ledge she usually summoned the Clan on. Angelwing paused when she noticed it and she mumbled something into Violetfern's ear that she didn't catch.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Pointed Rock for a Clan meeting!" The Riverclan leader called out.
"Guessed it." Angelwing huffed.
Angelwing and Violetfern moved forward, the rest of the Clan that wasn't already sulking in the clearing clambering out of their dens so they could gather around the Pointed Rock and hear what their leader had to say.
When the Clan was settled, the Riverclan leader cleared her throat and began to speak.
"I would like to announce a vigil to be held for our final hours here on this earth." The Riverclan leader informed, "I want each cat to quietly reflect on our time here. We are the final cats to experince this, and I am beyond honored to have lead this Clan."
There was a rumble of agreement between the gatherings cats. There was no reason to complain, everyone dying in calming silence seemed like the best choice the leader could've made now.
The leader looked as if she wanted to say more, but she simply shifted on her paws as she gazed among all the Riverclan cats.
"That... that is all." The leader finished, "Everyone may retire to their dens."
At that, the leader turned around and slipped into her den behind the Pointed Rock. Around Violetfern and Angelwing, cats hobbled toward their dens one final time.
Violetfern noticed some husbands joining their wives in the nursery, where they would probably spend the last moments with the family they had planned to spend their whole lives with.
Angelwing flicked Violetfern's flank with her tail and angled her ears toward the medicine den. Violetfern wordlessly nodded and followed her friend into the den.
Violetfern felt her paws slow down as she neared neared the back of the medicine den. Angelwing settled herself on her moss bed, patting her tail on the side of the bed so Violetfern could lie with her.
Each step felt like Violetfern's last, and truth be told, they were. Finally, she stood on top of the bed and settled herself next to Angelwing.
Angelwing nuzzled into her and Violetfern nuzzled back as a thank you for her presence. She wondered if Angelwing wanted to spend these final moments with her mother, and Violetfern hoped she was good enough for her friend to keep her comforted.
Every second that past felt like a million years. Angelwing and Violetfern quietly waited, dreaded, for the end. Angelwing was starting to sniffle slightly, and Violetfern was trying not to break out into a full cry.
The den got slightly warmer, and warmer... Violetfern panted, her lungs heaving with the effort to breathe. Angelwing let out a soft cry, and Violetfern responded by putting her paw on top of her friend's to let her know it was going to be okay.
The entire den was becoming incredibly bright. It was as if the sun was inside the medicine den, the light so blinding that Violetfern had to squint through the brightness.
She couldn't hold it, and tears flowed down Violetfern's whiskers as she broke. Her tears felt like lava, burning her whiskers and fur as she cried.
"Thank you, Angelwing." Violetfern choked, breaking the vigil, "Thank you for being my friend. I'm sorry for all the times I wronged you."
Angelwing broke into a cry as well in response, her sobbing soft.
Violetfern shifted slightly, but felt something sticky. She lifted the paw she had placed on top of Angelwing's, only to see she and her friend's fur sticking together. They were literally melting because of the heat.
Violetfern set the paw back down, pushing her muzzle into Angelwing's melting fur as her last action. The light somehow got brighter, blinding Violetfern despite her eyes being closed.
Memories flashed through Violetfern's head. Of her apprentice days, of she and Angelwing's arguments, of her fussy mother... she took it all for granted, but it meant so much now. And Violetfern was grateful for it.
Angelwing's panicked breathing stopped, and Violetfern felt herself slipping away, too. She gave a little prayer to Starclan. Like a kit begging their mother for comfort, Violetfern begged for her death.
Then everything went black.