[story is about Turkeyscream before his name was changed.]
“Why are you out here Turkeyhop? Shouldn’t you be with Turtlelily?”
The pity in Coyotepelt’s voice as he spoke caused Turkeyhop to cringe as the two toms walked along a dirt path close to the Cattle Farm border. He felt like everyone these days were just looking at him as if he was going to have an emotional break down at any moment. It only got worse when Turtlelily’s illness got worse. It was like all the cats knew her chances of beating greencough were slim and felt sorry for Turkeyhop because he was about to lose a mate he’d been with for only a short period of time. He’d gotten tired of the sad looks and the quickly hushed voices when he was around and knew he needed to get away from it all, so when Roostertalon was deciding on whom to send on patrol Turkeyhop was quick to volunteer morning hunting patrol.
“My warrior duties come first and for most.”
The sharpness in Turkeyhop’s voice sounded almost foreign and unusual even to his own ears. The usual upbeat and happy tom just felt drained and didn’t even seem aware when he snapped at his clan mate. He needed a moment to himself. He gave Coyotepelt an apologetic look who gave him an understanding nod in return.
“How about we split here? Once we both catch our prey we can meet back here.”
Coyotepelt flicked his tail in farewell before turning and disappearing into the dead long grass. Turkeyhop watched him go till all he could see was the very tip of the ginger tabby’s tail before he sat down and closed his eyes. He perked his ears forward and took in the sounds around him. There was hardly any wind on this cold bareleaf day, there was little life but he was sure he could hear a field mouse not too far away. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the soft moos of the cattle. For a moment life seemed normal, for a moment he forgot about all the worry and fear that had been plaguing him.
When Turkeyhop returned to the meeting spot he found a proud Coyotepelt sitting next to a fence post with two dead field mice as his paws. All Turkeyhop had managed to find was a scrawny wood thrush. The ginger tom didn’t say anything upon their meeting but just picked up his two trophies from the hunt and led the way back to camp. When they reached the clan camp entrance Coyotepelt paused, placed the prey on the ground, and then placed a tail on Turkeyhop’s shoulder.
“I hope that hunt was what you needed because you need to make sure that Turtlelily knows you will be alright. She is leaning on your strength right now. You need to keep fighting so she can.”
A lump formed in Turkeyhop’s throat and he was glad he held the bird in his mouth didn’t know what to say to. He just gave a nod and slipped under the large fallen tree. He entered the camp and headed towards the fresh kill pile only to be intercepted by a panicked Lionleaf.
“Thank Starclan you’re back! I don’t think she has much long.”
This was it; this was what he’d been waiting for. The medicine cat’s words dug claws into his heart and he felt his paws frozen despite the fact all he wanted to do was run to the sick cat den and curl up next to his beautiful mate. So why wasn’t he moving? He could only stand and stare. Everything seemed to be a blur after that. He felt himself being guided but wasn’t sure by who as he was pushed into the den.
A skinny, frail lilac calico laid in a nest of twigs, old mouse pelts, and bird feathers. She was so weak she could hardly lift her head in greeting as Turkeyhop approached. He could hear a faint purr as she meowed.
“You brought me food?”
Her voice was so soft Turkeyhop had to strain his ears to hear her. For a moment he was confused by her words and thought he miss heard her until he realized he was still holding the wood thrush in his mouth. ‘She is leaning on your strength right now’ Coyotepelt’s words echoed in his head causing him to realize that in that moment he needed to let go of all of his emotions so he could focus on the last moments he’d have with Turtlelily.
“I tried to find your favorite but it seems all of the sparrows were hiding from me today.”
Turkeyhop placed the bird in front of Turtlelily before pressing his nose to the top of her head. He curled up beside her so she could lean on him and draw warmth from his body. He wanted her to be as comfortable as possible before she left him to join Starclan.
“It is alright my love, soon enough I will be hunting all the sparrows I want with the warriors of our past. How about you eat this right now? I am not too hungry, just really tired.”
Turkeyhop glanced up at Lionleaf who was sitting at the entrance of the den. She nodded to him as if she knew he was asking if this was it? Was she about to die? Turtlelily laid her head on his paw and purred softly. He licked her head and ears until her soft purring faded and her body grew lifeless. He buried his face into her neck fur and closed his eyes. He’d expected to cry, to hiss, to scream, and to beg starclan to give her back to him. He thought he would feel all sorts of emotions but all he felt was numb. It seemed as if time had stopped and the world had grown dull. He was nothing now. When the she-cat who he’d die for was stolen away from him his entire life was also stolen from him. Would he ever come back from this?
[word count 1,008]
“Why are you out here Turkeyhop? Shouldn’t you be with Turtlelily?”
The pity in Coyotepelt’s voice as he spoke caused Turkeyhop to cringe as the two toms walked along a dirt path close to the Cattle Farm border. He felt like everyone these days were just looking at him as if he was going to have an emotional break down at any moment. It only got worse when Turtlelily’s illness got worse. It was like all the cats knew her chances of beating greencough were slim and felt sorry for Turkeyhop because he was about to lose a mate he’d been with for only a short period of time. He’d gotten tired of the sad looks and the quickly hushed voices when he was around and knew he needed to get away from it all, so when Roostertalon was deciding on whom to send on patrol Turkeyhop was quick to volunteer morning hunting patrol.
“My warrior duties come first and for most.”
The sharpness in Turkeyhop’s voice sounded almost foreign and unusual even to his own ears. The usual upbeat and happy tom just felt drained and didn’t even seem aware when he snapped at his clan mate. He needed a moment to himself. He gave Coyotepelt an apologetic look who gave him an understanding nod in return.
“How about we split here? Once we both catch our prey we can meet back here.”
Coyotepelt flicked his tail in farewell before turning and disappearing into the dead long grass. Turkeyhop watched him go till all he could see was the very tip of the ginger tabby’s tail before he sat down and closed his eyes. He perked his ears forward and took in the sounds around him. There was hardly any wind on this cold bareleaf day, there was little life but he was sure he could hear a field mouse not too far away. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the soft moos of the cattle. For a moment life seemed normal, for a moment he forgot about all the worry and fear that had been plaguing him.
When Turkeyhop returned to the meeting spot he found a proud Coyotepelt sitting next to a fence post with two dead field mice as his paws. All Turkeyhop had managed to find was a scrawny wood thrush. The ginger tom didn’t say anything upon their meeting but just picked up his two trophies from the hunt and led the way back to camp. When they reached the clan camp entrance Coyotepelt paused, placed the prey on the ground, and then placed a tail on Turkeyhop’s shoulder.
“I hope that hunt was what you needed because you need to make sure that Turtlelily knows you will be alright. She is leaning on your strength right now. You need to keep fighting so she can.”
A lump formed in Turkeyhop’s throat and he was glad he held the bird in his mouth didn’t know what to say to. He just gave a nod and slipped under the large fallen tree. He entered the camp and headed towards the fresh kill pile only to be intercepted by a panicked Lionleaf.
“Thank Starclan you’re back! I don’t think she has much long.”
This was it; this was what he’d been waiting for. The medicine cat’s words dug claws into his heart and he felt his paws frozen despite the fact all he wanted to do was run to the sick cat den and curl up next to his beautiful mate. So why wasn’t he moving? He could only stand and stare. Everything seemed to be a blur after that. He felt himself being guided but wasn’t sure by who as he was pushed into the den.
A skinny, frail lilac calico laid in a nest of twigs, old mouse pelts, and bird feathers. She was so weak she could hardly lift her head in greeting as Turkeyhop approached. He could hear a faint purr as she meowed.
“You brought me food?”
Her voice was so soft Turkeyhop had to strain his ears to hear her. For a moment he was confused by her words and thought he miss heard her until he realized he was still holding the wood thrush in his mouth. ‘She is leaning on your strength right now’ Coyotepelt’s words echoed in his head causing him to realize that in that moment he needed to let go of all of his emotions so he could focus on the last moments he’d have with Turtlelily.
“I tried to find your favorite but it seems all of the sparrows were hiding from me today.”
Turkeyhop placed the bird in front of Turtlelily before pressing his nose to the top of her head. He curled up beside her so she could lean on him and draw warmth from his body. He wanted her to be as comfortable as possible before she left him to join Starclan.
“It is alright my love, soon enough I will be hunting all the sparrows I want with the warriors of our past. How about you eat this right now? I am not too hungry, just really tired.”
Turkeyhop glanced up at Lionleaf who was sitting at the entrance of the den. She nodded to him as if she knew he was asking if this was it? Was she about to die? Turtlelily laid her head on his paw and purred softly. He licked her head and ears until her soft purring faded and her body grew lifeless. He buried his face into her neck fur and closed his eyes. He’d expected to cry, to hiss, to scream, and to beg starclan to give her back to him. He thought he would feel all sorts of emotions but all he felt was numb. It seemed as if time had stopped and the world had grown dull. He was nothing now. When the she-cat who he’d die for was stolen away from him his entire life was also stolen from him. Would he ever come back from this?
[word count 1,008]