btw i have only read up to the fifth Omen of the Stars [romance allowed, no joke ocs or erp]

(aw yeah, Murder cat time)
*Creekshadow looked over, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. she padded over*
Creekshadow: Briarhook. I see you're here too

[hell yeah]
"Creekshadow, hello." He dips his head in greeting.

Creekshadow: I was unaware you also- *she stopped, tilting her head* Visited? attended? what are we calling this?

"Hm. I'm not sure. Let us just say we train here."

Creekshadow: that works
(When does this take place? like, canon books or?)

[ummm around Omen of the Stars 3-5 because i've read up to the fifth OotS]
He nods and curls his tail around to rest on his paws.s

(kk. Creekshadow is from a whole new gen of cats I created, so I just wanted to ask. I also read OotS book one, like, 3 years ago lmao)
Creekshadow: how long hanve to been training here? *she licks one of her paws before cleaning behind one of her ears*

[ah lmao okay]
"Well..I believe since the beginning."

Creekshadow: of the Dark Forest *she looked over* from the time of the old forest

"Oh, no, just since Hawkfrost and Tigerstar started training cats!"

*Pebblenose's fur prickled in surprise. She gave a small, stiff nod of greeting. Their belly twisted*

"Briarhook. I... didn't see you there. What- ... What are you doing here?"

*She croaked out*

"Walk away, Pebblenose, and you will live. If not, both of you will die!" He snarls at her, digging his claws further into Briarhook's body.

*Panic rose in Pebblenose's chest. She wanted to run, but she was rooted to the spot. She couldn't leave Briarhook, not again. There was no waking up to escape. Her claws dug into the mud and her teeth gritted.*

"Then kill me first."

"Fine with me." Tigerstar whips around and pins her, tearing through her thick pelt. Briarhook stands weakly and snarls, pouncing on Tigerstar and throwing him away from Pebblenose.

*Pebblenose snarled through the pain, clawing up at the larger tom's underbelly. She forced her head up and bit down on Tigerstar's foreleg*

Tigerstar snarled and kicked Briarhook into a tree. The smaller tom lets out a wail of pain but stays still.

*She bit her tongue to bite down a cry as Briarhook was flung. She wormed about to try and slip out of Tigerstar's grip, swinging her claws up at his face*

Tigerstar yowls with pain and lashes out, slashing across her eye.

(God, this is going to make an epic drawing if motivation is kind to me)

*She staggers, placing a paw over where she was slashed. She shook her head and got her act together. This wasn't a border skirmish or a sparring match. This was life or death. She launched herself at Tigerstar, grappling his shoulders and trying to bite past fur*

[ooh i hope it is kind
gtg sadly night night

(G'night. Sleep well. Don't let Tigerstar get you in your dreams lol)

"You're fine, don't worry."

“I know. I’m trying. But it’s not really me I’m worried about.”

"Who are you worried about then?"

"Take a look at yourself. How could I be worried about myself when you're the one being targeted?"

*She let out a little forced chuckle*

He rolled over so he was on his belly again. "Pebblenose, you have every right to worry about yourself. I'll be fine."

"I want to trust that, believe me, I do. But I'd feel like I was lying to myself if I weren't at least a little worried. You're my clanmate, and my friend. I know I'm allowed to worry about myself too, but, well, Clan comes first I suppose."

"Clan may come first sometimes but other times you need to put yourself first." [i'm such a hypocrite dude i put my friends way before myself all of the time lmao]

(You there?)

[bleh yes sorry sorry]
He flicks the pebble back and smiles lightly.

*She purred and flicked it back*

(same)

"...Fine. I'll do my best to look out for myself, but that won't stop my worrying. I still plan to fret over you too so don't you go trying to stop me."

*She flicked a pebble at him playfully*

She tenses when Pebblenose mentions the Dark Forest. "What do you want?" [what did they want i forgot o-o

(Ivypool's help with spying since they're on Tigerman's kill list)

"We've been more or less cast out for repeat-offense betrayal, but they still trust you, don't they?"

[right ty]
"Oh. Yeah, they do. Is Tigerstar the reason Briarhook is all scratched up and bleeding?" Briarhook nods, then pauses to look down at his wounds. A few spots on his torso have come free from the cobwebs and are bleeding openly.

"Yes. StarClan's sake, Briarhook. Mothwing will have your head when we get back."

*She remarked, tone edged with concern*

"Oops." He chuckles. "I'll go sit in the river to clean the wounds out later."

“Good idea. Anyways, Ivypool. Briar hook and I were going to spy on the Dark Forest, but we were caught almost immediately.”

*She paused for a moment*

“I also wanted to apologize for what happened to Birchfall. I had to kill him in order to prove my loyalty, but I didn’t, and Tigerstar got to him and i just hope he’s alright.”

*Pebblenose knew she didn’t have to take blame, but it felt wrong to not at least share her condolences*

Ivypool sighs. "Birchfall is dead. He bled out a few hours after he woke up. But..thank you. I know it isn't your fault."

“Oh.”

*Her belly squeezed. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her fault, she reminded herself. So why did she still feel so guilty*

“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what that’s like, losing your father like that. May he rest well with StarClan.”

*She took in a deep breath to relieve the lump growing in her throat*

Ivypool dipped her head. "It's past, now. I forgive you."

“Right. Well. I was going to ask if you could assist us in spying. We want to know what’s going on and we want to help.”

He playfully flicks her ear with his tail. "It'd have to be a huuuge thorn to do that amount of damage!" Someone calls his name and he turns. "I'll be back soon, okay?'

"Alright. Stay safe."

*She waved her paw goodbye*

Briarhook smiles and bounds out of the den with the patrol.

*Pebblenose sighed and settled into her nest. She deserved a bit of rest, she supposed. Not sleep though. Awake was best.*

Some time passes and Briarhook rushes into the den. "Pebblenose, are you awake?" He seems panicked and afraid.

*Pebblenose lifts her head*

“I’m awake. What’s wrong?”

*Her fur prickled at Briarhook’s panicked tone*

"Birchfall, he's..." He shook his head. "I saw Ivypool and Whitewing scrambling around in the forest looking for cobwebs. I asked Whitewing what was happening and she said Birchfall was bleeding out from wounds on his throat."

"What?"

*She froze up, throat tight. The word was barely audible. She hadn't actually bit him, had she? Or had something else gotten to him?*

"It wasn't your fault, I know it wasn't. He m-must've tried going back to sleep and gone back to the Dark Forest, so Tigerstar saw him and killed him for you." He kneaded at the ground nervously. "When you go to sleep tonight, let me know so I can sleep as well and protect you from Tigerstar should he try and hurt you.."

"I- okay."

*She croaked, tensing up against her shaking. Of course, it would be this soon. She should've just done the job as she was supposed to.*

...

*No no, those were bad thoughts. She shoved them away and took a deep breath*

"I will, I'm sorry. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Stay safe."

He nodded and smiled, walking slowly and carefully out of the medicine den.

*Pebblenose was headed towards the exit with a patrol. She turned to wave her tail to him as she left*

Briarhook smiled and waved his tail back as he limped into the warrior den.

*The day went by. Pebblenose returned from her patrol around Sunhigh, poking her head into the warriors den to check on Briarhook. She had a small fish hanging from her jaws.*

“Hey, how you been?”

*She placed the fish down*

He stretched and yawned. "Bored. I would rather've been out patrolling than sitting here."

“I caught you something to eat if you’re hungry. You’ll need food in order to heal.”

*She nudged the fish closer to him.*

He hooked the fish in a claw and nibbled at it. "Thank you, Pebblenose. Have you eaten anything yet?"

“I ought to. I’ll go grab something in a bit. For now I just need a little rest.”

He smiles and bounds ahead to Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. "Tigerstar! Pebblenose and I believe it's time for her to become a warrior!" [shall i be tigerstar?]

(Sure)

*Pebblenose adjusts her posture and nods firmly*

"I think I've been training here long enough."

Tigerstar nods at her. "Well then. I believe you have what it takes to become a loyal and strong Dark Forest warrior. To truly become one..." Tigerstar looks around and his eye catches on Birchfall. "Birchfall! Come here." He looks back at Pebblenose. "Defeat Birchfall in battle."

*She looked to the ThunderClan tom and nodded. She could do that. Her chin rose a bit. And Tigerstar's words. He believed in her. If he of all cats had faith in her, then there was no way she could screw this up, right?*

"Yes sir."

*She nodded firmly*

(Btw what Clan are these two in?)

[erm
uh
river?]
Birchfall looked at Tigerstar and then Pebblenose with wide eyes. "I...Will she have to kill me?"
Tigerstar glanced around. "Of course she will. That's how she becomes a warrior."

(Sounds good to me)

*Pebblenose's confidence was instantly torn away. She'd have to kill him? She could handle an escalated sparring session but... the only thing her claws had ever killed was prey. She couldn't imagine taking the life of another cat. She shot an unsure glance to Briarhook, doing her best to hide it from Tigerstar.*

He nudges her with his nose. "Don't worry. He'll pretend to be dead and wake up before you can kill him," he whispers.

*She gave a hesitant nod and lifted her head. She mouthed a quick 'Sorry.' in advance, and steadied herself.*

"I'm ready when you are, Birchfall."

He nodded and lunged at her, claws out. Instead of going right like she expected he shifted left and knocked her off her paws.

*She stumbled against his attack, scrambling to her paws. She lunged back as a counter, teeth bared and claws unsheathed*

"Pebblenose, hello. I've just finished training with Tigerstar."

*The grip on her stomach loosened a bit*

“You’re here too then? I wouldn’t have guessed.”

*She chuckled half-heartedly*

"Nor would I of you. Are you a warrior yet?" He dips his head and curls his tail around to rest on his paws.

"A warrior here? I don't think so, no. No ceremony or anything like that yet..."

"Ah, okay. If you'd like me to I can go let Hawkfrost or Tigerstar know that you're ready to become one, if you are!"

"Oh? Uh, sure."

*They forced their pelt flat and ears up.*

"By now I should be."

"Odd. I'll go ask Tigerstar; he should still be by the tree-training grounds.

*Pebblenose nodded, regret setting in. Was she really prepared for this? What would she have to do? She turned to lick a still-stinging scratch from her previous training clean.*

"Shall I come along?"

"I would assume so. I bet you'll ace your test so quickly and perfectly that Tigerstar'll make you his deputy!" He let out a 'mrrow' of laughter, flicking Pebblenose's ear with his tail playfully.

*Pebblenose chuckled a bit more confidently, swatting her clanmate gently back*

"Watch me crush this thing, then."

He chuckles and steps into the water. "Brr! It's cold!"

"Oh you'll live."

*She placed a paw in the water to test it and quickly retracted it*

"I retract my earlier statement. Don't get frostbite."

*She snickered*

"I doubt I could, my pelt is so thick!"

"Mine is not."

*She flicked the chill from her paw*

Briarhook lets out a mischievous purr and splashes water at Pebblenose with his paws.

*Pebblenose yelps and swipes a little wave back*

He purrs with laughter, dodging the water.

*Pebblenose snorts, shaking off the water with a little 'brrr' noise*

Briarhook crouches slightly so his wounds can be cleaned by the rushing water.

"When we get back, I suggest you go see Mothwing about new bandages yourself. No doubt she's sick of my face."

*She joked, licking down a stray tuft of fur on her shoulder*

His tail curled around his paws as he nudged it back to her and purred, the sound rough.

“You alright there?”

*She trapped the pebble under her paw*

"Hah- Yes, my throat hurts, though.."

"Do you need some water? Or maybe Mothwing has some honey lying around."

"No, no, I'm fine. The bite, though... It hurts."

"Do you think it's infected?"

*The fur on the back of her neck prickled*

"No, not infected. Just hurts.."

"Do you think I should tell Mothwing?"

"I'm fine, don't worry."

“Fine. If you say so.”

*She looked away*

"Oh, of course. What for?"

(Where’d you go my guy?)

[Hell 💀]
"Hm. Yes, they must have a plan hidden by the lie that they're telling everyone, which is that they're training them to become the best warrior in their clan."

"Definitely. We want to help out as much as we can, so we were wondering if perhaps you could help us spy in our place. At least report what you learn to us. We can make this our meeting spot."

"Yes, I'll help you. Just don't tell anyone about me spying. Only Jayfeather and Firestar know."

"Of course. Thank you, Ivypool."

"You're welcome, Pebblenose. You might want to head back to your camp now to get Briarhook some more cobwebs."

"You're right. Briarhook, shall we go?"

*She turned to the tom*

He nodded and turned to dip his head at Ivypool. "Thank you for meeting with us." Briarhook turns and starts to walk slowly back to the camp.

*Pebblenose helped to lead him back, steering him towards the stream to wash off his wounds*

"Clean yourself up a bit before Mothwing gives you more scratches."

“I’m not sure. We just get a bad feeling. All this can’t just be for nothing, right?”

He opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it and licked at one of hs wounds.

"C'mon."

*She chuckled, padding back towards camp and gesturing him along*

Briarhook nods and follows after her.

*She ducked into camp, letting out a little tired sigh as she plopped down by the warriors den to give her pads a rest.*

"Nice to have one less thing to worry about, eh? Should all go well of course."

"I hope so." He laid down in his nest as well.

"Ivypool's plenty clever. And apparently she's been spying for a while. Clearly we weren't the first with the idea."

"Mhm." He shuts his eyes and sighs, then opens them. "Oh! What if, when we fall asleep and wake up in the Forest, we head for Starclan? I bet Leopardstar would be there, she'd help us!"

"Alright. Just run to the border. I can do that."

*She nodded, a bit hesitantly. Would StarClan even be willing to help? Even if they had turned their backs on the Dark Forest, but was that enough? She decided not to voice these concerns to Briarhook. At the very least, should things go well, she could see where she stood.*

"Be kind to us."

*She whispered into her paws as she curled up*

As normal, the two wake up in the Dark Forest. Briarhook nudges her, shifting his weight from side to side. "Pebblenose, come on, I hear cats coming this way."

"Coming."

*She stood, flicking mud from her tail*

"Of course. Do you need anything else?"

"I'll be fine. Let's just hope this works out. StarClan, be kind to us."

He nods and pokes his head out of the den. "I don't think I'll be on any more patrols tonight, so shall we go to the Forest?"

“Why not?”

*She sat up*

"Alright." He sits down in a nest and starts to lick at a scratch on his shoulder.

“I’ll see you there.”

*She nodded, glancing to the tom’s nicked shoulder. She decided not to ask about it, resting her head on her paws*

"See you there." He curls up and in a few moments wakes up in the Dark Forest.

*Pebblenose opens her eyes, adjusting them to the dark of the shadowy forest. She looks to Briarhook and nods*

"I can't believe I'm doing something like this..."

*She swallowed*

"What happens if we get caught?"

"Well.." He leads her over to the bushes. "Hopefully we won't. But, if we do, I'll make sure nobody hurts you."

"I can handle myself."

*She said it as if it were an offer, following into the bushes.*

"But...Thank you."

He smiles. "Of course I am! But..you should probably ask Mothwing without me. She'd have my pelt if she saw me up and walking."

“Alright. Try not to bleed out while I’m gone.”

*Pebblenose made her way to the medicine den, a path she’d walked far too often in the past day, poking her head inside*

“Mothwing, me again. I wanted to ask a quick favor.”

Mothwing stands and nods. "Yeah?'

“Could you tell Jayfeather the next time you see him to tell Ivypool I’d like to speak with her?”

"Oh, sure! Tonight's the meeting at the Moonpool, so I'll try to remember to tell him. Where would you like to meet her?"

“Perhaps the Halfbridge near ThunderClan territory.”

"Alright, I'll pass it on tonight!"

“Thank you.”

*With that, they returned to the warriors den*

Briarhook finished licking a wound on his shoulder and looked up at her. "What'd she say?"

"She said she'd tell Jayfeather at the half-moon meeting tonight. We'll meet Ivypool at the ThunderClan halfbridge. It'll be a bit of a trek. You sure you're up to it?"

He chuckled. "So would I."

"Ah well, guess we'll find out what happens to us all when this is resolved. Then things can get back to normal."

"Mhm." Briarhook sighed and licked at his wounds.

"What... do you think the Dark Forest is planning? Aside from using us. Why do they need us?"

"I don't know.."

“Then we can only hope Ivypool can snuff it out.”

*She shook her head*

“In the meantime, why don’t we move on to something more lighthearted?”

"Like what?"

"Hmm... Well... What's the most interesting thing you've seen on patrol? I was on the dusk patrol once and almost got whacked in the face by this massive moth. It was bigger than my face, the thing! It was terrifying!"

*She laughed*

"Oh! I got tackled by a squirrel on a patrol. It jumped from a tree and landed on my back!"

"Pfft"

*She tried to suppress a giggle*

"I see the roles have been reversed."

In the warrior den, Mothwing is applying a poultice to his wounds, following it by tightly packed cobwebs. Briarhook is breathing shakily, but still alive.

*Pebblenose sat back, eyes dull and tired. She held her breath with every sharp movement Briarhook made and slumped in relief when he calmed*

"I can't believe this went so badly."

*She mumbled*

His tail twitches and shifts to rest on her front paws comfortingly.

*She gives a small smile at the gesture, swallowing down the lump in her throat. He was okay. He would heal.*

Mothwing sat up from where she was licking at a particularly nasty gouge on his side and pushed a few poppy seeds to Briarhook. He licked them up and settled back into his nest.
[i keep using different tenses omfg lmao i'll go from "twitches" to "settled" 💀]

(Screw tense consistency. just type word.)

"Maybe you shouldn't-"

*She stopped herself. She didn't want to have any more explaining to do. She just had to hope the seeds would let Briarhook sleep peacefully. She settled down at his side.*

"I can keep an eye on him for tonight."

*She told Mothwing*

[Lmaoo]
"Thank you. Come get me if the cobwebs come off, okay?" She steps out of the den.

"I will."

*she sighed, resting her head on her paws. She waved away a particularly nosy warrior until the cat went back to her own nest.*

"Why did we think it was a good idea to test it?"

*She muttered into her paws*

His tail twitches again in his sleep, but he doesn't seem to be in pain. The poppy seeds must've put him in such a deep sleep that he isn't even dreaming.

*Pebblenose sighed in tired relief. The best she could do now was stay awake. StarClan knows what would happen if she were to go back. She shuddered at the thought*

He sighed. "I feel back for Whitewing, Dovewing, and Ivypool. One day, I'll get revenge for them all on Tigerstar.

“It was my mistake that got Birchfall hurt. You shouldn’t be the one who needs to deal with that.”

*She sat up, jaw clenched*

“I ought to apologize tonight.”

Briarhook steps closer. "Pebblenose, it wasn't your fault. If anything, it's mine for asking Tigerstar to make you a warrior. I'm going to help you and protect you no matter what, okay?"

"Okay. It just feels so wrong to blame anyone else."

*She slumped*

"This whole thing has felt wrong from the start. I don't know why I ever thought it was a good idea."

"I know, Tigerstar can't be trusted. He and Hawkfrost convinced us, and it's only their fault."

"Right. Right, they did this. They hurt Birchfall, and Antpelt, and everyone else."

*She nodded, paws gripping the moss beneath them*

"They tricked us. It's their fault."

"We'll spy on them, okay? A-and report what we hear to Mistystar."

"Spy on them. Yeah. Yeah!"

*Pebblenose fluffed up*

"And whatever they're planning, we stop it. No cat has to get hurt."

"Yes!" He smiles and tears at the reeds at his paws.

"We'll start tonight. No cat has to know we were even there."

"Pebblenose, please...Don't die for me.." He sat up further and looked at her

"I won't if I don't have to. That's all I can promise."

[sorry if i don't respond my motivation is down the damn drain rn T-T 'm trying my best]
He sighed shakily and laid back down to let the med cats patch his wounds.

(I totally understand. Take as long as you need)
*Pebblenose sank into her nest. She just had to wait for Tigerheart now.*

Tigerheart comes in a few minutes later, covered in a few wounds. "I'm here, is Briarhook okay?"

“He’s fine. What about you?”

"I'll be alright. So he's healing okay?"

“We hope so. He’s conscious.”

Briarhook flicked his tail to show he was listening and Tigerstar nodded.

“So, if everyone’s here, I suppose we’ve got a bit of explaining to do.”

*She sat up, teeth gritted*

A few minutes later, Briarhook opens one eye, and then the other. "Pebblenose?"

"It's me. You're safe."

*She nodded*

"I know. I've been somewhat awake this entire time, fighting the poppy seeds." He sits up slowly, wincing.

"Careful. You're still not in great condition, and certainly no condition to be walking. Shall I get you some water?"

*She placed her tail on his back*

"Yes please.."

*She nodded and stumbled over to the medicine den*

"I'm sorry to keep popping in. I just need some moss to get Briarhook water."

Mothwing nodded and padded a ball of moss over to Pebblenose. "There's a puddle behind this den with clean water."

"Alright. Thank you."

*She took the moss and looped around the back of the den to the puddle. She soaked it, and carried it back to Briarhook, placing it down at his paws*

"There you go."

He smiled and started to drink from the moss, hooking it in his claws and tossing it up in the air playfullly.

*Pebblenose chuckled*

“You’re no less energetic than usual.”

*She remarked*

"Yes, I left him with the old Thunderclan leader and her friend. I think they went to find Riverclan's old leader."

"Alright. I'll go find him. Thank you both so much. I owe you more than I can say."

*She took a deep breath, dipped her head, and padded towards the StarClan border*

The two nod and shut their eyes, probably waking up to tell their leaders.

*Pebblenose picks up the pace, sprinting to and over the border. She dodged around trees and shrubs that dare try and hide in her blind spot.*

"Briarhook!"

*She called*

"Pebblenose, over here!" Leopardstar calls back, standing at the border with Bluestar and Briarhook between them.

“Is he alright? Will he make it?”

*She rushed over, eye wide*

"Yes, he will. He just needs to wake up. I've sent Yellowfang to try and enter Willowshine's dreams and prepare her for Briarhook's arrival in the medicine den."

"Thank you."

*She crouched down beside Briarhook.*

"He's gone now, Briarhook. Don't worry. Ivypool toom care of it. We're safe."

*She whispered to him in case he was conscious enough to hear.*

His tail slowly moved to rest on her tail, but he stays otherwise still.

"We're sure he'll recover?"

*She looked up hopefully*

Briarhook stands up again, less shaky than earlier. "Of course I'm up to it!"

"Good. Then it'll likely be tomorrow that we see her. Need me to bring you anything? Prey?"

"I'll be fine, thank you though.

"Alright. Then rest and heal up. You'll need all your strength if you wanna make it."

He nods and lays down with his head on his paws. "You should sleep too."

"I'll try."

*She curled up in her own nest. Was sleeping a good idea, though? What if she went back? She'd be dead on sight. But not sleeping would make her a hypocrite, wouldn't it? She lay her head on her paws. She'd just have to hope.*

Some time later, someone pokes Pebblenose's shoulder.

*Pebblenose lifts her head*

"Who's there?"

Briarhook and Mothwing stand over her, Briarhook opening his mouth to explain. "Jayfeather said he'll send Ivypool to the Halfbridge by moonhigh, and it's pretty close to there."

"Oh. Alright, thank you. We ought to be going then."

*She felt her fur flatten in relief that it was her living clanmates that woke her. It'd been a while since she'd genuinely slept. Pebblenose sat up.*

[im back for a bit and i think he tried bcz my dreams were fever dreams 💀]

[lol alrighty]
Briarhook hisses and scratches at Tigerstar to no avail. The bigger tom digs his claws into Briarhook's torso and snarls. "Where's Pebblenose?" Briarhook shuts his eyes and looks away, flicking his tail at Pebblenose as if telling her to wake up and get out of the Forest.

*Pebblenose stiffened, wanting to fight but being told to flee. She backed into the bushes, commanding herself to wake up and listen. It took more than she'd have liked to actually do it. Head shooting up in her nest, she gasped for breath. She'd been holding it for too long.*

"Fox-dung..."

A few moments later, Briarhook's eyes shoot open and he gasps for breath. His pelt is torn in multiple different places, all of which are bleeding profusely. On his neck is aa shallow bite as if he woke up before Tigerstar could finish the killing blow.

"Briarhook, oh thank StarClan! I'll get Mothwing. Don't move."

*She shot to her paws*

He lets out a pitiful, gargled mew of pain but nods.

*She darts out of the den, not caring to keep quiet for her denmates. She whipped around into the medicine den*

"Mothwing, Willowshine, get up! Briarhook's badly hurt!"

*She yowled urgently*

Mothwing bounds out of her den, followed quickly by Willowshine. "Where is he?"

“Warriors den. In his nest.”

Mothwing runs forward as Willowshine ducks into the nest for herbs. Two kits try to sneak after her but are cuffed over the ears by a queen, who bundles them back into the nursery.

*her fur stood on end and her stomach twisted with anxiety. She should’ve done something to help. Then he wouldn’t be so badly hurt*

[i gtg for a bit adiosss]
"Mhm!" He smiles.

(I'll see ya when you're back)
"You're all good to go I take it? You seem wide awake."

[I am back :D]
"I am good and I am wide awake!"

"Then we should get moving. If anything, Ivypool's likely waiting for us."

*She stood and stretched*

He steps out of the den, pausing just outside to look for other cats that could see them.

"Best not to wait for half the Clan to wake up. come on."

*She waved Briarhook towards the exit*

He bounds out of the camp to the Halfbridge, running as fast as he normally would.

*Pebblenose did her best to keep up, the scratches still sore. At least he had no issue, though she kept a close eye on him just in case*

They made it to the Halfbridge and saw Ivypool sitting on the edge. Her ears pricked up and she turned around to see the two cats. "Hello. You're Pebblenose, right?"

"I am. This is Briarhook. We're warriors of the Dark Forest like you."

*She introduced with a dip of her head*

"They sure have. We chased it but it got away, so let's just hope it doesn't come back to torment innocent little apprentices."

"The cycle must continue, Briarhook. I doubt you were the first and you shall not be the last."

*She squeezed out between laughs*

He giggled. "I imagine one of the medicine cats will be having a vision from Starclan any day now predicting the fall of the Clans because of that one squirrel."

"Maybe THAT'S Tigerstar's plan. Send in an inconspicuous squirrel to end us once and for all. Nobody would see THAT coming."

"You're right, they wouldn't!" He coughed once and giggled again.

“An army of moths and squirrels storm the clans and kill is all. We’d be doomed.”

*Pebblenose flopped over on her back*

He rolled so he was next to her. "Sounds like a true Starclan prophecy: Beware the bugs of flight and bushy-tailed prey."

“Wouldn’t that be something…”

*She sighed. It would never happen. The humor wore away into just more dread and her smile faltered. Why did she have to ruin the moment for herself?*

"Are you alright?"

“I’m fine, yeah. Sorry to ruin the mood.”

*The sat up and fixed her smile*

"Yeah, I get it. It's fine, though, because the Dark Forest will fall one day."

"Right. And we'll be standing over its wreckage."

*She fluffed up proudly*

His fur puffed up as well. "We will!"

*She yowled triumphantly, claws digging into the moss beneath her. Yes, it would fall. Soon. They weren't going to let another cat get hurt. They gazed at the exit to the den. How many other cats milling about camp walked with the Dark Forest like they had? They wouldn't have to anymore soon. They swore that to themself*

Briarhook yawned and his tail flicked as he laid his head down on his paws, chuckling. "I'm gonna go to sleep and run for Starclan. See you there?"

"You will."

*She nodded, curling in as she smoothed her pelt.*

His breathing evens out as he falls asleep and wakes up in the Dark Forest, right in front of Tigerstar. The bigger tom pins down Briarhook with a triumphant yowl.

*Pebblenose let out a tiny noise that would've been a scream had it not been so unprepared to be. A mousy little squeak. She stumbled back, all so prey-like. Had Tigerstar been waiting for them? How? How did he always know just where they were?*

"Get off of him!"

*She shrieked, claws sliding out.*

"Calm yourself, Pebblenose. You are in no danger. Briarhook, on the other paw..." He dug his claws into Briarhook's torso and neck.

"Let him go! He's your well-proven warrior! I'm the one who lied! Let go of him, please!"

*She raised her voice to try and squeeze out the desperation*

He snapped his jaws, narrowly missing her throat. Behind them, Ivypool and Tigerheart came padding up to see what was happening. Tigerheart hissed with joy and Ivypool gasped.

*Pebblenose gasped for breath. She didn't realize she'd been holding it*

"Don't just stand there, mousebrains, do something!"

*She hissed at the arriving cats*

Ivypool launches herself at Tigerstar and pins him down, tearing at his belly with her back paws. Tigerheart gently drags Briarhook away from the fighting, towards the Starclan border.

*Pebblenose nodded gratefully to both and jumped in to help Ivypool hold down Tigerstar. She held down a paw and swiped at his face. She had to buy Briarhook and Tigerheart as much time was she could*

He hisses with pain but is unable to get the two cats off of him. Tigerheart comes racing back from the Starclan border and helps pin down Tigerstar as well.

"You're down, Tigerstar. I think we've won this fight. We can handle this two ways. Option one: you scurry away, tail between your legs. Or, option two: we have one less cat to deal with here."

*She would much rather have the second option, but she wasn't about to show that. Bad thoughts, she reminded herself. Those were bad thoughts.*

"I'll never surrender! If you kill me now, the Dark Forest will still rise!"

*She looked to the others, then back to Tigerstar*

"I, at the very least, am willing to take that risk."

*She reached a hesitant, somewhat shaky paw towards the tom's throat.*

Ivypool gets to it first. Her claws shred the tom's throat with ease, though her face is grim.

*Pebblenose flinched back at her lack of hesitation, though she is somewhat relieved that she didn't have to do it herself. She stepped back, off of Tigerstar. Her shoulders sag with relief and exhaustion and her eye still stung*

"Thank you."

*she breathed.*

"Tigerheart, Briarhook is safe, right?"

He helps her walk over to the medicine den and nudges Mothwing awake. "Psst, Pebblenose needs cobwebs.."

*Pebblenose nodded, licking her bitten forepaw.*

Mothwing stands and stretches. "Ok-kay," she yawns. "Lemme look for the right herbs."

*Pebblenose settled with the relief of the so-far unasked questions. She sat up a bit.*

Mothwing brings the herbs over and applies them to Pebblenose's wounds. [sorry i died lmao i went rollerskating]

(All good. Hope you had fun)

"Thank you. I'm so sorry for the early morning trouble."

*Pebblenose dipped her head in gratitude*

[my kneeeees are jacked up lmao i fell a lot but it was fun]
"It's fine, I was sleeping restlessly anyways."

"Oh? Is something wrong?"

*What a question to ask*

"No, I'm fine, just uncomfortable sleep."

"Ah, I get that too some nights."

*It wasn't entirely a lie. Once or twice she'd even tried to avoid sleep altogether. But being put on patrol while sleep deprived was almost as rough as the scolding she'd get from her Dark Forest mentors for being absent.*

"Sometimes sleep just doesn't feel like coming."

Jayfeather shrugged and padded over to Briarhook to make sure he was okay while Lionblaze put the poultice and cobwebs over Pebblenose's eye and her other wounds.

*She let out a little soothed sigh with the stinging calmed.*

“Thank you, Lionblaze. And sorry for doubting you.”

"Don't worry about it. Just rest, okay?"

“Will do.”

*She nodded.*

He padded over to join Jayfeather and the Riverclan cats. All of Briarhook's wounds were covered with cobwebs and his fur was bloodstained.

*He's going to live, she assured herself. StarClan said so. She just had to calm herself. He was in safe paws now. Tigerstar was gone. All was alright. It was over.*

Ivypool came rushing into the medicine den, covered in heavily bleeding wounds. She's closely followed by Firestar.

"Ivypool! What happened to you?"

*She sat up with a start. Had something else happened before Ivypool woke up? Or had she just not noticed how beat-up she'd gotten?*

She let out a deep sigh and sat down. "I'm fine, but you're probably not. Tigerstar isn't gone."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

*She felt a pit form in her stomach*

"What do you mean he's not gone?"

"Yes, I am."

"Did you... y'know... do that? Or did you fake it like I did?"

*She looked up, hoping for the latter. She already couldn't quite look at the tom the same knowing he was training here too. But knowing that he'd passed that assessment the right way... She shook her head. Best not to think like that.*

His eyes cloud as he remembers. "I killed Thistleclaw. But..I did it for Antpelt. I got revenge for Antpelt."

*She frowned apologetically. She hadn't though about the toll the question would take on Briarhook.*

"I suppose at least it was... justified. If that's the right word."

"Mhm." He nods and flicks his ear as if flicking away the topic. "Whatever. I think it's about dawn, time to wake up."

"Right. I'll have to make up a new excuse for all this and pray to StarClan it works."

*She gestured to the scratches on her belly and takes a deep breath.*

"I'll see you in the warriors den."

He nods and shuts his eyes. A few moments later, he wakes up in his nest and sits up.

*Pebblenose follows suit and wakes up, flexing a still aching forepaw.*

"Morning."

*She muttered with fake sleepiness*