Radioactive (Night Visions songfic)

 Radioactive



Song one of Night Visions.



I'm waking up to ash and dust



Another day in the Featherclan camp. A sunny one, to be exact. Days like this were a rarity. Mosspaw strolled out of the apprentices’ den, enjoying the sunshine. There was definitely going to be a training session today. His mentor, Bramblefoot, was waiting for him among a small huddle of cats.



“Patrol,” he meowed. “Hunting.”



Mosspaw couldn’t help the feeling that he was being watched as the patrol headed out of camp. He followed his mentor, weaving and frolicking through the tangle of forest. The dappled light created a light show on the ground.



The patrol leader, Waterstrike, broke the silence. “It’s strange,” he said, “how there’s little prey today.” The other cats nodded in agreement.



“Why don’t we just patrol? If there’s any prey, we’ll hunt it down,” piped up a voice.



<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Waterstrike closed his eyes and sighed. “I’ll check the Meadowclan border with Embernose. Russetcloud and Thornfeather will hunt.” He nodded to the russet she-cat and the brown tom behind him. “And Mosspaw and Bramblefoot will train.” Mosspaw’s mentor loped off to a clearing, with the fray and white apprentice trailed behind.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Combat training, Mosspaw thought as they arrived at their destination. Why else would we be in a clearing?

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze woke up to blinding light shining in through the warriors’ den. ''Mousedung, why does it have to be so bright today? ''It seemed like the storm last night had never happened.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Scowling, the flame coloured she-cat looked around the camp for any sign of her target. She nodded to a nearby warrior.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“Have you seen Bramblefoot?” she asked the cat as casually as she could.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The black and white tom shook his head. “Nope,” he shrugged. “Probably on the dawn patrol.”

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze gritted her teeth. How could this day get any worse?

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The tom stared at her questioningly. “Why d’you ask?”

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">She bit back an angry hiss. “I was due for a training session with him,” she lied.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze dipped her head, trying not to lunge at the black and white tom.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">''Can’t you see I have a cat to kill? ''

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">But he couldn’t. Besides, it was best not to let her secret slip. Although Flamegaze was a noble warrior by day, at night she was a trained assassin, seeking out her target by day, and going in for the kill at nightfall.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">A hiss escaped her mouth, barely audible by her clanmates.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Time to seek out my target.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm breathing in the chemicals

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Mosspaw was exhausted before it as even sunhigh. His bones ached and his common sense screamed at him to stop. Mosspaw couldn’t.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Every blow and correct move was for Flamegaze. How he loved her grace and skill, her fiery pelt and her emerald green eyes. She would be a much better mentor than the boring Bramblefoot. Although his mentor was also his father, Mosspaw longed to have a different cat to train him and be his father. Like the admired Breezewave, or the legendary Hawkleaf. But no, he was stuck with Bramblefoot.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The feeling of being watched still haunted his mind. Who was watching him? What were they going to do?

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">His thoughts were broken by Bramblefoot’s voice. “Mosspaw,” snapped his mentor. “Pay attention will you?” Mosspaw fixated his gaze on the brown and black tom but he was too late. Suddenly a massive paw flashed from the corner of his eye and sent him crashing to the ground. He lay there, breathing in the dust and sand.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Through his blurry vision, he saw Bramblefoot’s narrowed eyes. “Go and hunt,” he droned. “I’ll join the patrol. Once you’ve hunted, go back to camp and rest, before we head off at dawn for a night training session.” He walked away from the still body of his son.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze stretched and headed out of camp on her own.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">If anyone asks, I’ll say I’m going hunting.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">After a short while of walking, Flamegaze caught the scent of the patrol that Bramblefoot was on. Faint, but it was a scent. Flamegaze started to follow, weaving her way around trees and bushes. Suddenly, the trail came to a halt by a fallen tree.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Dung, she scowled in her mind. I’ll go to camp and look for them there.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze slunk back in the camp’s direction, brooding over her failed attempt to pinpoint her target. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“How was the training?” chirped Fernfoot, the tom she had seen in the morning.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“I got there late,” muttered Flamegaze. “I think they’ve gone back to camp.” She shouldered past the burly tom in front of her.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“Hold on, sunshine,” purred Fernfoot.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze scowled. She hated cats calling her that, especially Fernfoot. Sure, he liked her, that was clear to every cat in Featherclan. But Flamegaze had no interest in him.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“Let me escort you back to camp,” he finished.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Flamegaze snarled at him. “I’m fine! Why would I need an escort? What am I, an apprentice?” She slashed at his neck, and blood started to pool out of the wound.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Serves him right for calling me sunshine, she thought as she sprinted back to camp.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">This is it, the apocalypse

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">“Flamegaze,” purred Berrystar. The Featherclan leader tried to twine his tail with Flamegaze’s, but she pushed him away.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">She searched the camp for Mosspaw, and she found him beside a clump of ferns with his mentor.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Fluttering her eyes at Bramblefoot, then at Mosspaw, she requested to train with them at nightfall. Both cats nodded eagerly, and Flamegaze prowled over to the fresh-kill pile in triumph. Her manipulation skills were as sharp as ever.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The sun was starting to melt into the horizon, and the sky was gradually becoming darker.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Nightfall is approaching.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Grabbing herself a piece of prey, Flamegaze settled down beside a holly bush, away from her clan. She enjoyed being alone. It gave her tim to plan her next kill without being interrupted by the measly purrs and chatter of other cats.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The day was going exactly to plan. All she needed to do now was follow Bramblefoot and Mosspaw into a training area, distract Mosspaw, and close in for the kill.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Enough to make my systems blow

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I raise my flags, don my clothes

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">It's a revolution, I suppose

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">We'll paint it red to fit right in

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">This is it, the apocalypse

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Enough to make my systems blow

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">All systems go, the sun hasn't died

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Deep in my bones, straight from inside

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:22px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Enough to make my systems blow

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Welcome to the new age, to the new age

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:18px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive