35I was at Barnes and Noble today and bought Return to the Clans just so I could write this chapter.
Sasha: Liar.
Fine, the following chapter made me choose Return to the Clans when I was choosing between two books. And I was curious as to exactly how Tadpole died, it's sad ]: But I'm glad I bought the book before writing this chapter, it's good to know the complete facts. Thanks to Allygirl56 for volunteering this death, it's not written about much (or at all?) and I would never have though about it on my own.
Tadpole: You nearly forgot. The following does not belong to Snad in any way, shape or form. She would have kept me alive if it belonged to her. And she wouldn't be writing fan-fic.
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Tadpole's Death
Water choking me. Cutting off my required air supply. Was Moth okay? I knew I could have gotten up the pipe if I hadn't helped Moth, but I knew that if I could do it over again, I would still help my little sister. Then again, I knew that if I could do it over again I wouldn't have thought up the plan to look for Ken or shelter in the two leg den. It would have been safer in the cold rain and wind. It was all my fault, if my siblings didn't get out…But I needn't worry anymore, I saw Moth and Hawk above me as the water tugged me down, voices calling to me.
"Tadpole, grab my paw! Look at me and grab my paw, son! You have to reach…you have to…" My mother yowled at me, extending her paw towards me.
I had never gone swimming before and all I knew was to act like I was running. I wasn't strong enough to swim and reach for my mother at the same time. Sasha's last words were drowned out as I sank below the surface of the water, exhausted. The last thing I thought of before everything faded into nothing was the face of my siblings, not how they were now but as they were when we were younger, and my mother.
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No! No, no, no! I wailed inwardly, staring down at where Tadpole's head at sunk below the surface. Why didn't mother jump in a rescue my brother? But I knew the answer, she couldn't swim either. What would I do without my big brother? He had given his life to help out Moth, if he had let her fall he could have saved himself. But I didn't think I would have wanted that, would I? I couldn't choose between one of my siblings, and anyways, he would never have saved himself over me or Moth. Could I do the same?
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No! I snarled, lashing out at some tree roots. Near me, Darkstripe crouched, pathetic excuse for a cat. My amber eyes were stretched wide as I watched Tadpole die. What would I do now? Tadpole had been my chosen cat, the one to do my work. He had the makings of a great, strong, and fearless cat. Now that he was dead what could I do? I lashed out at the roots again, shredding some scratchy moss. Darkstripe's eyes were wary. Stupid cat! He could have done my work but he had to get killed in the battle. Stupid cat. I saw a vision of all three of my kits playing and tumbling about happily. Mentally I removed Tadpole from the vision and after a moment, Sasha too, I didn't want to think about her. Hawk was the bigger of the two remaining kits while Moth was small and delicate. However, I would rather choose Moth to help me than Hawk. Hawk, who looked exactly like me except for his ice blue eyes but he acted completely different. He scurried after Tadpole, looking for help from his older brother. Falling off trees, being scared of birds.
"No matter what happens, Darkstripe, one of them will help me," I snarled, shaking the thoughts from my head irritably. I just had to wait and figure out which was bolder and stronger. I had trouble believing it was either of the pitiful kits. Tadpole had been the only strong and able kit.