Warrior Cat Clans 2 (WCC2 aka Classic) is a roleplay site inspired by the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the Warrior cats world, WCC2 offers a diverse environment with over a decade’s worth of lore for you - and your characters - to explore. Join us today and become a part of our ongoing story!
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"It was Harvestcharm. He was the one who let her go, I'm certain of it," Brakewings had said.
Fairytalehunt's furious words echoed, "I guess you won what you wanted then. I hope you're happy."
But his own words haunted him more, "I'm as happy as can be."
Harvestcharm's walked with a constant slump in his shoulders like there was an invisible wind constantly barreling down on him. He had two curses now, his newest edition was the time loop. Everyday used to be deadly, he could never predict what was going to happen next, there was no way of knowing if it would be his last. There were variables, there were herbs he had to take to feel any semblance of control. Now the days all felt the same, he woke up, he passed the medicine den, but never walked in for his medication. Talked a little, laughed when he forgot to be sad. There was the insistent paranoia that he should look over his shoulder that became his new habit, but everyday was the same. Everything felt safe, because as it turns out the less you have the less you have to lose. He had just about nothing, he hadn't realized how much he had built up his relationship with Brakewings to have so much meaning until it was completely gone.
Fixing up his pelt to look halfway presentable to show he had some care about the way he looked he exited the den, but for once he began to slow as he neared the medicine den. A variable had changed. Normally he could see the red and golden coats of Fairytalehunt and Brakewings, but today, Fairytalehunt's scent trailed out of camp, no longer guarding near Brakewings.
Time had past since Yellowmoon's escape. Secrets he decided that would die with him became harder to not utter aloud. I did it for you, was what he wanted to say. Just to say those words to Brakewings would mean everything. That Brakewings words hurt, but it never crippled what they had... To be able to tell him he still loved him. Squeezing his trembling paw tight until the anxiety past completely he entered the den, grabbing a passing woodchip and jutting it up his paw with a wince, "Emergency treatment," Harvestcharm said as he walked up to the front of the den, not knowing how much time he would have to talk to Brakewings, but that his ex friend couldn't ignore him if he was injured.
Fairytalehunt didn't leave his side these days, and Brakewings was grateful for that. It was just like the old days, the two of them against the clan; he had a great destiny to fulfill and his friend was right at his side, learning to navigate with him. They were missing an apprentice now, Darkpaw had failed when Fairytalehunt thrived, but he had grown used to her absence moons ago. He was... he was growing used to Harvestcharm's absence as well. That was a harder change to swallow, but why should he keep around a friend that stabbed him in the back?
The den was quiet as Fairytalehunt left him, so he busied himself with sorting the herb stores. Truthfully, he just needed to keep his paws moving and his mind off the other thoughts threatening at the corners of his mind. Sorting herbs didn't require his full attention, especially when there had been little change since he had organized the same piles yesterday, but he had to try. It was a difficult battle he was on the verge of losing when a voice from the entrance of the den startled him.
Brakewings moved slowly, painstakingly holding down one oak leaf and examining the long, flared lobes for any tearing or indications of decay. He waited until his breaths were even again to place the herb aside and look up at Harvestcharm, noting the way he held up his paw. He stood and approached carefully, indicating the tom should sit before he reached for the injured paw. For the first time in moons, being around Harvestcharm made him uneasy.
"I stabbed myself on a thorn to see you." Harvestcharm said honestly, his green gaze hoping to find Brakewings, searching for his reaction, just a little one. Something that would tell him if he wanted to look at him longer or turn away and not have to see him again. "Because I want to be with you. And... I see you everyday and I think in my head what I want to say to you. And because the world is chaotic and unfair I make up little things in my head like, if I just bury a rock your favorite place I'll have more luck at seeing you. Just stupid things to pretend that I'm in control. But I'm not. Because the only thing I have control of is myself so I stabbed myself with a thorn because I miss you and it seemed like the only way I'd be able to excuse myself long enough into your life."
Brakewings paused at that honest admission, staring at the warrior's paw as if he was deeply interested in it, but his eyes were far away. He hadn't expected Harvestcharm to be so frank. Brakewings assumed they would be enemies now, it was the only natural way to react to being backstabbed, and he was a little disappointed to find Harvestcharm so calm. It wasn't that he wanted to be hated, but it would have been.... easier.
How was he supposed to feel good about his decision now? How could he look Harv in the eyes and not confess? Brakewings knew he had made the right choice, this was his destiny, but it was harder than he ever thought. All those days when he was demoted, thinking that maybe he should have let his sister ruin the clan because they deserved it, Harv had been one of the few reasons he kept faith. Faith that his destiny was still coming as promised, faith that maybe Dayclan was worth saving. But Harv wasn't his savior, he was his enemy, he could at least have the decency to act like it.
He leaned in and took the woodchip between his teeth, ripping it unceremoniously from the warrior's paw. He spat it to the side and licked the cut a few times to clean it out, then dropped it back to the ground and turned his back on his friend.
"There. You'll be fine by tomorrow, just keep it clean. And... don't step on anything else."
Harvestcharm's claws unsheathed and for a moment he wanted to reach over to Brakewings. Curls his claws around his chest, bring him closer. Tell him that he had no idea what he just sacrificed. That the pain of a thorn in his paw would never go away because of his curse. That he risked the comfort of his everyday life just for one conversation Brakewings was shooing him from.
"You don't make sense," Harvestcharm said steadily, but his voice soon began to spin, it felt like explosions popping off in his head, different connections being made as all that unmedicated anxiety unleashed from his mind, now rattling out from his mouth, "You don't believe me, you choose my brothers word over mine even though I've been there for you this entire time. And why wasn't I good enough? I mean. Yeah, if it wasn't me accused, it would be you, that's why I took the blame. Because you were always close to Yellowmoon and I mean Fairytalehunt and Fallingleaves technically were manipulated by her. Which I guess, should make them suspects more than you in the long run... But you're nice, you wouldn't throw me under the monster because we could prove your innocence unless..."
"You really did free Yellowmoon," Harvestcharm whispered, his paws quivered like a leaf as he placed a paw on top of the other to try and make it stop. He looked at Brakewings, but only saw everything he didn't want to see and turned away, "You set me up," His voice felt weak, muddled by the tears, scorching his throat to force away the sobs that wanted to break lose. He believed in Brakewings with all his heart, but for all his puppy love he was getting walked over, just like his father often was. "Why would you do this?"
Brakewings put his ears back and walked faster. He knew if he stuck around too long, he was going to break, and he couldn't afford to do that. His choice had been made, it didn't matter if he had doubts, and it was too late now to turn back, no matter how many bridges he burned to ash.
Why wasn't I good enough?
The medicine cat stuttered to a stop. Harvestcharm's words hurt. Everything Harvestcharm said hurt him, but that hurt the most: why wasn't I good enough? How could he think he wasn't good enough? He was the best thing in Brakewings life, the best thing in this entire clan. But then he realized, of course Harvestcharm didn't know, he had no idea about the grand destiny that awaited the medicine cat, he had no idea of the hard choice he had to make, and now... now he never would. He was never meant to be a part of this story. Like Vixenpaw, he was just here by accident.
Brakewings sniffed and lifted his paw to march on, but then he realized how quiet Harvestcharm had become. He knew. He knew, and this was the moment Brakewings was supposed to be angry or upset or relieved or regretful or-- he didn't really know what he was supposed to be feeling. He just knew that now, now that the moment was there, all he felt was quiet. He felt the space where his emotions should be, but it was empty, he was resigned to his fate and there just wasn't a point anymore to feeling anything; his pain, Harvestcharm's pain, it was all swallowed by the void inside of him. Somehow he recognized he must be in a bit of shock, or maybe it was just nerves, maybe he wasn't a good enough healer to know the difference, but he just knew the emotions were teetering on the edge and waiting, they were just too far away to help him now.
He said, softly, "Yeah. Yeah, I did." He shifted around and stared at Harvestcharm, his lips tightening into a frown. "I need her. Everything fell apart when I lost her, but she's back now. Everything will be okay now." He paused. "For the rest of us. You... We could have targeted Fallingleaves, but you just made it so easy." He blew out a breath and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this, not to you, but it had to happen. It's not personal, it's... it's destiny."
Harvestcharm's head reeled back as though Brakewings words had a direct physical impact. Easy? His heart felt constricted, he could feel something like poison taking over his body as his breath went out like a weak flame losing light to the rapidly building winds around it.
"You're the one who should be worried. I can destroy you," He said, because in the moment believed he was strong like his mom. Able to stare down things as fierce as gods and spit his words out like hellfire. But here, he didn't have it. His words faltered and weakened, the passion losing all momentum. His wording was threatening, but his tone didn't carry because somewhere in his decision to take the blame he accepted the outcome that he would lose. He had already decided that Brakewings was worth it he just hadn't thought Brakewings would betray him. Now he felt stupid, sacrificing everything for a person who betrayed him and threw him away. If he was kept around then at least he'd keep one thing he wanted, but without Brakewings he really lost everything.
"You're being used," Harvestcharm said after a moment of silence, "She's using for something, probably against StarClan, maybe even DayClan. Doesn't that bother you?" He asked hopelessly.
"You're the one who should be worried. I can destroy you," Harvestcharm said, and Brakewings just looked at him. It wasn't true. Brakewings was untouchable now. Yellowmoon was at his sides, fate was controlling his paws, and no cat would believe the accused warrior over their loyal, hated medicine cat. He had an alibi. He was safe.
And he could hurt Harvestcharm as much as he wanted, but his friend would never turn the knife back on him.
"She's not using me. She needs me too." Brakewings twitched. "We're partners now, and she can't do this without me."
He heard the weakness in his words too. Fine. Fine, he could finish this. He already betrayed Harvestcharm once, he could do it again. If he stayed here any longer, he feared he would break. Harvestcharm had no argument to make, he had no strength, no army, but he made Brakewings feel uneasy, he took that gap inside of him and made it tight and constricting instead of freeing, he made him feel guilty and he couldn't give up now. Every stab in the back made the next one easier, right?
"So what if we take down DayClan?" he asked sharply. "So what if everyone dies? Why should I care if we turn against StarClan? StarClan never did anything for me. DayClan laughed at me and took everything. Maybe they deserve it. Maybe everyone here should burn." His lip curled. "Maybe the stars never wanted me, but I do have a destiny. If it's not with them, then I'll be the prince the dark prophets foretold. I'll burn it all down. Yellowmoon isn't using me, she's helping me. See? See?"
