TEASELFEATHER
Over hill, over dale, through the valley and vale
do not weep, do not wail, I am coming home to you
Teaselfeather was not a fighter, they would be lying if they ever claimed otherwise. But there was one thing they were prepared for. To bleed. Not for a title. Not even solely for their leader. But for the cats who believed in them. For Rain. For their mother. For their sister. For their friends. For the clan that had given them shelter, purpose, and a place to belong. Their ears pressed flat to their skull as harsh words were spat their way. Teaselfeather shook their head once and moved, light on their paws, circling the larger cat, darting in and out with quick lunges meant to drive back rather than destroy.
" You steal from us... " they said, voice soft but clear, cutting clean through the noise. " You cross into the territory we live on and take from it. Did you truly expect there to be no consequences? " Their mismatched eyes narrowed, disappointment threading through their tone. " I don't know your clan, not as well as I wanted to before... " they continued. " But I did not think all of you foolish. " Had things gone differently if help had been asked first? The thought flickered through them, bitter and fleeting.
The battle roared around them, too many voices, too many claws, too many watching eyes beyond the fight. Cats who only observed. Cats who judged. Cats who were seen only by them... The unease crept in, settling heavy in their chest. Was mama safe? Was Hawkstar too...? What about their other clan mates? The fight felt endless. It wasn't.
A sudden blow slammed into their side, knocking the breath from their lungs. The world reeled, sound warping into something distant and wrong as darkness swallowed them whole. Shouts. A call to retreat. Then... Light returned. Teaselfeather dragged themself upright on shaking legs, chest burning as their vision cleared. Their mother's voice cut through the chaos, sharp with fear and command. Come home. Their tail drooped as they glanced back once more at the WindClan cats, ears pinned flat, mismatched eyes wide and troubled.
Nothing good had come of this. Not for SkyClan. Not for anyone.
═════════════⊹⊱ ⟡ ⊰⊹═════════════
