Rest in peace Wooden. We all miss you. --- TW: Bl00d, d3@th --- The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting the sandy beach in hues of orange and red as Woodentalons padded quietly along the familiar shores of UrchinClan’s camp. The sound of the crashing waves was a constant companion, and the scent of saltwater lingered in the air. His paws sank into the soft sand, but his mind was far from the comfort of the Clan’s home. It had been a few moons since his siblings—Pecanear and Sugarear—had left the Clan, abandoning their roles as warriors to live as loners. The decision had shattered Woodentalons. He couldn’t understand why they had chosen that path—why they had chosen to leave him behind. Just like Wild.... no, he didn't want to think about them. He always ended up crying. They had always been close, sharing so many moments together in the camp, hunting on the beach under the moonlight, and comforting each other through the trials of being young warriors. But somewhere along the way, the bond had broken. Pecan, with his adventurous spirit, had grown restless. Sugar, quieter and more thoughtful, had followed him out of a sense of loyalty, even though the choice had seemed to conflict with everything they had been taught. Woodentalons had tried to follow them. He had begged them to come back. But their decision had been made. And now, he was walking this lonely stretch of shore, his heart heavy with the memories of what they had once shared. The sand beneath his paws shifted again as he moved along the beach, his eyes scanning the horizon in vain. Were they out here somewhere? Did they still think about the Clan? About him? He couldn’t stop the thoughts from flooding his mind. But then, just as he was about to give in to the pain of their absence, a strong, pungent scent reached his nose—a scent that made his fur stand on end. A badger. Woodentalons froze. His eyes narrowed. His fur prickled with the sudden surge of adrenaline. A badger had wandered into UrchinClan’s camp—near the territory's edge. It was rare for one of those creatures to come this close, and Woodentalons wasn’t about to let it ruin the peaceful night. He took a deep breath, gathering his energy as he turned toward the creature’s scent. He needed to protect his Clan—no matter what. The badger was near the water's edge, its dark, hunched form digging through the seaweed as if it hadn’t yet noticed the warrior’s presence. Woodentalons’s claws unsheathed instinctively, his body tense as he studied the creature. It was larger than most, its thick fur matted and bristling in the fading light. With a low growl, Woodentalons lunged, surprising the badger. It swung its heavy paws with terrifying force, but Woodentalons dodged, narrowly avoiding the swipe. The air between them was thick with tension, and the only sounds were the crash of the waves and the creature’s gruff growls. “Get off our beach, you!” Woodentalons hissed, his voice full of the ferocity he had once shown when defending his loved ones. He launched himself at the badger again, his claws raking across its thick hide. It howled in pain, but didn’t retreat. Instead, it bared its teeth, its fury only growing. The two were locked in a brutal dance, with Woodentalons darting in and out of the badger's reach, landing quick, decisive strikes when he could. His muscles ached from the effort, and his breath came in sharp, shallow bursts. --- (Continued in Notes & Credits)
(Continued from Instructions) --- Despite the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him, he refused to give in. This was his Clan. His home. He would defend it with everything he had. The badger roared and charged once more, knocking Woodentalons off his feet and sending him skidding along the sand. Pain flared in his chest as he landed with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. He could feel the badger’s claws raking the sand just above his head as it lunged. Woodentalons gasped for air and, with all the strength he could muster, kicked out with his hind legs, sending the badger stumbling back. He scrambled to his paws and shook the sand from his fur. His heart hammered in his chest, the battle consuming him. But there was a shift. The badger, after a few more desperate lunges, seemed to tire. Its movements slowed, its breath coming in labored gasps. With one final strike, Woodentalons surged forward, raking his claws deep into the badger’s flank. The creature staggered, its body jerking as it let out one last, desperate snarl, then its eyes rolled back and turned white. It was d3ad. His chest heaved with exertion, his fur damp with sweat and saltwater. For a long moment, he stood there, staring down to the badger, feeling the rush of battle slowly drain away. Then, just as quickly as it had all started, the silence settled back into the beach. The waves continued to crash against the shore, and the sand beneath him shifted with the breeze. Woodentalons stood still, feeling the weight of the fight settle into his bones. The battle had been hard—harder than any fight he had fought in moons. His muscles ached, his side throbbed where the badger had scraped him. He had driven the threat off, but it wasn’t enough. That wouldn't bring them back. Nothing would bring them back. Exhaustion flooded his limbs. He could barely stay on his paws. Without another thought, Woodentalons sank down onto the cool sand, his body collapsing from the strain. His breathing was shallow, and his vision blurred at the edges. He didn’t even bother to lift his head. Bl00d soaked his fur, but he was unable to move. He was so tired... And there, under the endless sky and the distant, crashing waves, Woodentalons took his last breath. Memories of his siblings—Pecan laughing in the moonlight, Sugar murmuring gentle words to him—and memories of Wildpaw just being themself, swirled in his mind. They felt so close, but not close enough. He sighed one last time and closed his eyes. He didn't want to, but he had to. Anger flooded his veins, but he could do nothing about it. Slowly, he closed his eyes. "I have still things to do! My siblings need me!" But it was already too late. Woodentalons woke up. The first thing, or cat, was Wildpaw. He tried to stand up, but he couldn't move. Wildpaw started to cry. "I'm so sorry, Wooden." He didn't understand. What was happening? "Goodbye" Wildpaw faded away, stars sparkling in their fur. And now he understood. The forest around him, the stars- that had been truly the last time he would see Wildpaw. Or Pecanear. Or Sugarear. His pain was back. That was the moment he realised. "No..." He was now stuck in the dark forest for eternity. --- Woodentalons, you d1ed too young. You didn't deserve it. Rest in peace. 12/6/2024 - 2/2/2025
