Their flight from WindClan had felt as if it would never end. Every step sent pain rippling along his injured side - and, worse, took him farther and father away from his children. His Clanmates. Everyone he had known, loved, and fought for. The only things left to him were the scent of heather lingering on their coats, beneath the ferric reek of blood...and Curlewnose. They ran together, as fast as their bodies could and then faster still. He felt certain he could feel the hot breath of those he once considered family, felt as if teeth were only a few mouse-lengths away from digging into his pelt...all the way to SkyClan. SkyClan: the only place they could think to go. The only place who understood. The only people who, he now realized, had been right all along. The only Clan where they might have a chance.
It felt wrong to stop, felt as if the sky would crash down around them if they did. But they could hardly keep going, could they? This was the end of the line. And besides, he felt about ready to collapse. Curlewnose looked about the same - and, indeed, did collapse. Badgermoon swayed where he stood, concerned for the tunneler - ex-tunneler? - but unable to assist him in any way. He lifted his eyes as the yowl his companion had produced slowly brought SkyClanners forth. First a tall chimera who reminded him of Tigerfrost, who stared him down with two-toned eyes. Badgermoon met Quillstrike's stare but said nothing. What words he had would be difficult to say for a multitude of reasons...and he could hardly bear the idea of repeating himself. Besides, his breath was still coming in gasps, and he felt unable to speak. Drizzlepelt encouraged him to speak and he nodded slowly, bowing his head to the grayish tom. Yes. Yes. I will try. I must.
The next SkyClanner was...familiar. All too familiar, in fact: none other than Dandelionwish. Badgermoon had not thought about the fact that he would be encountering some of his old Clanmates, even though he did know they had come here. He blinked sluggishly at the point cat, surprised and yet not surprised at his hostility. Anyone who riles a cat like that must be a whole different level of evil. he thought with a flash of clarity. Desperation clutched at him as he stared blankly at the former medicine cat, willing the words to come before anything more could happen, before this moment passed and he lost the very last things he had in the world. His life, and Curlew's. A mottled she-cat appeared next, asking them what they were afraid of. He knew the answer even before she'd finished speaking. Sootstar. He was afraid of Sootstar. Afraid of what she would do to him and Curlew if they ever crossed paths again. Afraid of what she would do to his children, his Clan. To all the Clans.
White teeth showed for just a moment as he opened his mouth to speak, only to drift shut as another former WindClanner materialized. Snowy fur, black paws, and - for once - an unsmiling face, even if it was a more...cheery...snarl than Badgermoon was used to seeing. Mallowlark. "You two." he said with painful slowness, looking the two toms he had known as traitors up and down. His yellow eyes were glazed, but his voice was lucid, albeit faint. "You...you were right. She's...she's insane." surely the "she" in question needed no introduction, nor explanation: they were all here because of the same cat. Badgermoon shook his head slowly, appearing dazed. "I...she..."
Badgermoon trailed off as Dandelionwish's apprentice disappeared in a blur of dark fur, and the two cats he had most dreaded seeing appeared just a few moments later. He beheld them both - strong, golden-furred, and staring at him with hatred. Until very, very recently, he would've returned their glares, and probably with much more, too. He remembered the last time he was here, too. Remembered the cutting cold, the fire in his blood, the righteous fury powering his steps. Even now, a reflexive swell of disgust and hostility made his throat tighten - but it was short-lived. Their need was so great, and Sootstar's betrayal so complete...his entire world turned upside down. As he gazed upon the leader and deputy he had long considered to be his worst enemies, he felt the urge to fall at their paws and grovel. He would do anything to get away from her, anything to spare Curlew's life, if not his own.
Anything to do what needed to be done. And, perhaps, to once again know the feeling of home. Perhaps it would not be lost to him forever.
Orangeblossom spoke first, though only after striking him hard across the face. Badgermoon could've dodged - or tried to - but he remained where he was, allowing the force of her attack to knock him to the ground. Jagged lines had appeared beneath one wheat-yellow eye and a fresh welling of blood dribbled down his already-filthy coat. Unsteadily, he tried to force his paws to take his weight again; on wobbly legs, he managed to stand, meeting Orangeblossom's angry brown eyes. "Orangeblossom." he murmured, as if to himself. He swayed slightly, and saw his vision darken at the corners. He had only a few minutes left, by his estimation: not long at all to ensure entry into SkyClan for both himself and Curlewnose.
Badgermoon would have to work quickly. He slowly turned his head to meet Blazestar's ice-chip stare. "Blazestar. She's not...our leader, anymore." he murmured. He coughed, then spoke again, louder this time. "There's no one else, no...no second wave. It's just us. We..." he allowed a shudder to wrack his body, gritting his teeth to prevent them from chattering audibly. "I saw her. She...the omen. It was fake." the memory of that night, the careful positioning of the cotton bud...the moment that had changed his whole life. "She - she faked it. She lied about StarClan's will. That lightning strike, it was them, they were trying to warn us, I think - warn everyone about her. She's crazy, I couldn't let her...we tried to..." Badgermoon stared at the enormous golden tom, his face a twisted mess of emotions: confusion, hurt, anger. Desperation. Grief. He took in a deep breath. "I tried to talk to her about it...she lied. She simply doesn't...care. I realized, then...what you all have already known..."
How had it escaped his notice for so long? The madness of her actions, the cruelty in every choice. The ripped-out tag, the scarred councilmembers, the endless battles...the blatant disrespect for the stars, the lies. Always, the lies. He dropped his eyes to stare at Curlewnose's limp body, the shallow rise and fall of his flank, the gruesome neck wound. "She tried to kill him. All because I wouldn't let her lie. Because I tried to..." what had he tried to do, anyway? Take control of the Clan from her? Kill her? "Something. Anything, to get rid of her. To make it stop. Please, Blazestar...Orangeblossom...I..." his broad shoulders sagged inward, and he trailed off. He had nothing left. He was out of words, out of time, out of breath. This was the end. "Please."
