POCKETS FULL || A Clangen Story

     *＊✿❀ 🌺 ❀✿＊*

             *＊✿❀ 🌺 ❀✿＊*

Billowscales and Oaksplatter trudged through the dense undergrowth of the forest, their senses alert for any signs of danger or prey. As they rounded a bend in the path, their eyes fell upon a heartbreaking sight—a queen lay motionless on the forest floor, her fur matted and her body still. Oaksplatter's heart sank at the sight, and without a word, he hurried forward to inspect the fallen cat. Beside her, the plaintive cries of her kits filled the air, their tiny voices echoing through the trees. Billowscales knelt beside Oaksplatter, his expression grim as he surveyed the scene,
"She's gone," he murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow. "But we can't leave these kits out here alone." With gentle care, the two toms gathered up the mewling kits, cradling them close to their chests. The kits, sensing the warmth and safety of the two warriors, quieted their cries slightly, though their eyes remained wide with fear and confusion,
"We'll take them back to camp," Billowscales declared, his voice firm with resolve. "They'll be safe there."
Upon their return to camp, Billowscales and Oaksplatter were met with concerned gazes from their clanmates as they carried the orphaned kits through the entrance. Without hesitation, they made their way to the medicine den where Lakeblossom awaited, her fur tinged with a mix of worry and determination,
"Lakeblossom, we found these kits in the forest," Oaksplatter explained, his voice gentle but urgent. "Their mother... she didn't make it." Lakeblossom's eyes widened in sympathy as she stepped forward to examine the kits. With practiced skill, she carefully inspected each one, checking for injuries or signs of illness. The kits, though frightened and confused, remained surprisingly calm in her presence, perhaps sensing the gentle touch of the medicine cat,
"They seem to be in good health for now," Lakeblossom observed, her tone thoughtful. "But they'll need someone to care for them until they're old enough to fend for themselves." She said. Oaksplatter was curled around two kits, Billow being around the other three. Billowscales and Oaksplatter exchanged a knowing glance, silently acknowledging the weight of the decision that lay before them. It was clear that they couldn't simply abandon these helpless kits to fend for themselves in the unforgiving wilderness,
"We'll take care of them," Billowscales declared, his voice resolute. "We'll raise them as if they were our own."

— Ripplekit, Primrosekit, Frostkit,
Boarkit, and Talonkit join the clan

✿

Nightmallow's yowl of pain echoed through the forest as the vicious fox trap clamped down on his front paw with brutal force. The sharp teeth of the trap sank deep into his flesh, causing blood to well up around the wound. With every movement, a sharp jolt of agony shot through his body, making it nearly impossible to think straight. Alone in the depths of the forest, Nightmallow's pained cries pierced the stillness of the air. His heart pounded in his chest as waves of agony surged through his body, threatening to overwhelm him with their intensity. With trembling paws, Nightmallow struggled to free himself from the cruel jaws of the trap, but the metal teeth held fast, digging deeper into his flesh with each futile attempt. Blood trickled from the wound, staining the forest floor crimson as he fought against the searing pain.
Desperation gripped him as he realized he couldn't break free on his own. Panic welled up inside him as he frantically scanned the surrounding trees for any sign of help, but the forest remained eerily silent, save for the distant call of a lone bird. Summoning all his strength, Nightmallow let out another guttural cry for help, hoping against hope that someone would hear his plea and come to his aid before it was too late. But as the minutes stretched on, he began to fear that he was truly alone, trapped in a nightmare from which there was no escape.
As the night wore on, Nightmallow's strength waned, and exhaustion threatened to pull him into an uneasy slumber despite the searing pain in his paw. Each passing hour felt like an eternity as he waited in agonizing anticipation for the first light of dawn to break through the dense canopy above. With each shallow breath, he felt the cold embrace of the forest tightening around him, enveloping him in an eerie stillness that seemed to amplify the throbbing ache in his injured paw. The minutes stretched into hours, and the darkness seemed to deepen, casting long, twisted shadows that danced eerily across the forest floor.
As the soft light of dawn filtered through the trees, Cozyspots stumbled upon Nightmallow's haggard form, his paw ensnared in the cruel jaws of the fox trap. With a sharp intake of breath, Cozyspots hurried to his comrade's side, his heart sinking at the sight of Nightmallow's obvious distress,
"Nightmallow, by the stars, what happened?" Cozyspots exclaimed, his voice laced with concern as he carefully examined the trap's grip on Nightmallow's paw. With steady hands, he worked to pry the metal teeth apart, his movements swift yet gentle as he sought to free his friend from the agonizing trap. Despite the pain etched across Nightmallow's face, he mustered a weak smile of gratitude as Cozyspots worked to release him from his predicament. With each passing moment, the tension in the air grew palpable, the urgency of the situation driving Cozyspots to redouble his efforts to free Nightmallow from the trap's merciless grasp. Finally, with a determined wrench, Cozyspots managed to pry the trap open, freeing Nightmallow's paw from its iron grip. With a sigh of relief, Cozyspots carefully lifted Nightmallow onto his shoulders, his heart heavy with concern for his injured comrade.
Together, they made their way back to camp, Cozyspots supporting Nightmallow every step of the way. As they emerged from the depths of the forest, the camp came into view, a beacon of safety and solace amidst the untamed wilderness. With a sense of profound relief washing over him, Cozyspots guided Nightmallow back to the safety of camp, where Gladebranch and the rest of the clan stood ready to offer their assistance.