Ferndoe’s Arrival (1/2) (Short Story)
Ferndoe slowly blinked open her eyes. Just a second ago, fox fangs were sinking into her sides, and now there was nothing. Well, the pain was definitely still somewhat there, but the hungry snarling had silenced, and the dizzying sensation of being swung from side to side was gone.
She breathed deep, rapid breaths, blinded by the panic she still felt from the attack. As it slipped, she realized that the darkness surrounding her was no longer shadows crowding her vision, but a forest.
The trees curled and twisted into swaying branches, hugged by pale bark that looked as though it would crumble any second to reveal a thousand beetles. There was light, but Ferndoe couldn’t be sure where it was coming from. The forest looked like a blackened corpse, and at the same time an enemy that could lunge at her at any second.
Ferndoe crouched low to the ground, trying to hide herself, and felt the mud grab at her hind quarters. She jumped up. It smelt of blood.
“Yeah, I didn’t like it much either.”
Ferndoe whirled around, claws out, but saw no one. Scanning the trees, the voice sounded again.
She looked up, and again saw no one. She squinting her eyes. Finally, she saw a silver tabby she-cat hidden in a fork in the branches. “Starclan is much better, but the cats there are so dreadfully boring.”
Ferndoe wasn’t sure what to say. Something about this cat didn’t sit well with her. Wait, Starclan? Did this mean this was the afterlife? “Is this..the Da–”
“The Dark forest, the Place of No Stars, the place where bad cats go,” the she-cat cut her off. “Why is everyone always surprised by it? You killed your kits, dear, you’re not getting into any paradise.”
Ferndoe ducked her head. The fear slipped off like a droplet on a smooth leaf, to be replaced by crushing regret, so strong that Ferndoe’s legs trembled beneath her.
Gracefully leaping from the tree, the silver she-cat padded toward her. “I know, darling. If it means anything, I was rooting for you.”
Ferndoe blinked at her. “Are my kits okay?”
The she-cat shrugged. “Better than you, it seems. But we missed the step in exchanging pleasantries. Would I be wrong to say you’re Ferndoe?”
Ferndoe lifted a bit. “Uh, yes, how do you–”
“Wonderful,” the she-cat began padding away. “I’m Shellgrass. Wish I could say differently.”
Ferndoe watched her, not sure whether or not to follow or stay where she was. Then creaking sounded in the tree next to her, and she looked at she what appeared to be a face in the splitting bark. She ran to join Shellgrass.
They walked for a while in silence. The whispering of the leaves, like silent screams, eventually became too much, and Ferndoe needed something to drown it out. “So, Shellgrass, what brings you here?” She half-expected the Dark Forest she-cat to snort or tell her that it was a stupid question.
“I actually went to Starclan first, but that’s only because I killed after I died.”
“Fake prophocies. It was really easy, I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.”
“Maybe I could have used one of those,” a new voice came in from beside Ferndoe. She snapped her head over to a tall, skinny but muscular tom. He was a dark-red brown with a lighter chest, deep blue eyes, and a smile that somehow both comforted Ferndoe and made her want to vomit. He looked to Ferndoe. “Newcommer?”
Ferndoe swallowed. She dipped her head. Were they surrounding her?
The tom dipped his head back. “Welcome.”
“This is Ferndoe,” Shellgrass told him. “She killed her kits.”
Ferndoe shrank into her fur.
“Oh?” the tom said, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“But she was manipulated into doing it,” Shellgrass went on. “I don’t blame her. She seems nice.”
“Okay. I’m Myrtlewing. Shadowclan’s old medicine cat back in the Old Forest.”
“And their killer,” Shellgrass put in.
Ferndoe looked back and forth between them. Obviously, they were murderers, and Myrtlewing was also a traitor, but they were also so casual and pleasent. Was it a trick? She twisted her ears to listen behind her in case this was a distraction for an ambush.
“Alderstar’s close, I take it?” Shellgrass asked.
Myrtlewing rolled his eyes, a smile on his face. “We’re both adults. We can wander around on our own if we want to.”
“Uh-huh. How long until he starts looking for you?”
“You’re going to give that poor tom a heart attack.”
“He’s earned it, after all the times he’s insulted me.”
“Aw, poor kit. What did he do, point out your giant ears?”
“No! Are my ears that big?”
Shellgrass chuckled. “They should have named you Rabbitears.”
Myrtlewing snorted. “They should have named you Yapjaw!”
Shellgrass scuffed. “I’d rather that than this dumb name.”
“I think it’s lovely,” Ferndoe spoke, startling herself. After seasons with little to no contact with another cat, she was easily invested in the conversation.
Shellgrass wrapped her tail along Ferndoe’s spine. Ferndoe told herself not to flinch, already becoming relaxed. “I told you see was nice.”
Myrtlewing nodded. “So, what have you shown her so far?”
Myrtlewing tilted his head. “Uh..okay..what squat?”
Myrtlewing blinked, staring with a brow raised.
Shellgrass sighed. “I showed her diddly squat, you frog-brain!”
Myrtlewing rolled his eyes, again with a grin. “That was stupid.”
“What’s stupid is you for not getting it.”
“You didn’t show her anything? What kind of tour guide are you?”
“Which means she won’t know anything.” Myrtlewing looked at Ferndoe, then waved his tail in a gesture to follow. “The first place is really important.”
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Continuation: https://residents-of-the-darkforest.tumblr.com/post/683555283810779136/ferndoe-meets-jackdawfoot-22-short-story
An actual nice story for once! Sorry about the writing, I was focused more on the conversations. I also didn’t want to focus too much on the sad stuff, so it’s kinda brushed off a lot.
I wanted to make something nice, and funnily enough it’s the first story to actually take place in the Dark Forest. They’re evil, but they mostly just vibe.
The next story is coming right up, and it shows how Ferndoe and Jackdawfoot met for the first time!
