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Post by Willow on May 14, 2024 22:21:49 GMT -5
Cherryvine scoured the underbrush for the familiar gray of her mate's pelt cursing when she didn't find anything. After walking further away from the patrol her heart stopped when she spotted blood on a nearby tree trunk. She stopped in front of it, simply staring at the splatter. It was faded, the scent weak but so obviously Stormfury to her. He had been here, hit this very tree. Her claws dug into the damp ground beneath her, for once she had nothing to say.
~
"Whorlpaw and I got cobwebs for him while Mouseclaw and Littlemoon got the herbs. I heart Bumbleskip helped with his wounds too and you carried him all the way back here. I have so many cats to thank." Duskpaw mewed, stepping away from her father to look back at Palepaw. "I'm sorry you didn't get to go to moonstone. I know it was important to you."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 14, 2024 22:52:42 GMT -5
Whorlpaw looked over at Cherryvine when the queen stopped. "Did you find something?"
~~
Cedarstar smiled softly. "I appreciate all the hard work you, your sister, and the warriors put in to help Palepaw." He moved over to Starrylight to sit next to her and watch over his son. At the comment of the Moonstone, Cedarstar let out a sigh. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do about speaking with StarClan. I was really hoping for their guidance. Maybe they'll visit Snowdance in one of her dreams."
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Post by Moonblazer on May 15, 2024 6:22:10 GMT -5
Cardinalblaze padded to a halt in front of the bloodied tree, his eyes drooping as he recognized Stormfury’s scent. Based on how the water was moving, he would have struck this tree hard. He took a breath, before he mewed. “Stormfury was here, or was swept by here. Downstream is that way.” He pointed with his tail, finding it hard to look at Cherryvine as he mewed lightly. “Let’s follow the slope down, keep looking.”
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Post by thistle on May 15, 2024 7:29:56 GMT -5
Mistkit watched Cherryvine disappear through the entrance before she turned to look at Featherkit. "She doesn't mean to be like this I don't think. She loves us." Hailkit's tail flicked, he looked down at his paws. "Doesn't feel like it right now." Featherkit deflated, green eyes round as she pressed closer to her sister and aunt, blinking sadly at Hailkit. "Of course she loves us," Featherkit reasoned quietly. "She's our mother after all."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 15, 2024 8:13:16 GMT -5
Whorlpaw gasped when she finally spotted the tree the others were looking at. Worry wrinkled her face and she had to hold back a whimper. The slim hope of finding Stormfury alive was fading.
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Post by Moonblazer on May 15, 2024 8:59:41 GMT -5
Cardinalblaze glanced back at Whorlpaw, then at Cherryvine. A part of him wished he could have searched for Stormfury alone, just to save them the pain of inevitably seeing him. Cardinalblaze had no doubt that Stormfury was dead, it was the only logical conclusion, though he hated the idea of this being their last memory of him. His mate and his apprentice. Why did this have to be so hard?
He understood a bit better now, how Cedarstar must have always felt, to feel at blame for every death in the Clan. Even now, Cardinalblaze felt a deep guilt. Had he put Stormfury on a different patrol that day, would he have been selected to escort Lightningstar back to the border, and been caught in the flood? Yet, had he stayed alive, would Cardinalblaze’s sister have died? He imagined that yes, she would have, and he felt guilty knowing that he was so relieved that Raccoonmask was still with him. Because that meant that Stormfury couldn’t be with his new family. He swallowed down his fleeting thoughts, trying to muster his strength as he padded down along the stream bank, following the blood scent.
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Post by Willow on May 15, 2024 12:08:04 GMT -5
Cherryvine tore her eyes away from the tree, following after the rest of the patrol almost mechanically. She knew what they would find downstream. Her heart already pounded at the thought. Her gaze swept over to Whorlpaw at her side, frowning at the apprentice her mate had been so fond of. "Are you sure you want to continue with us Whorlpaw? You don't have to."
Duskpaw padded to sit on Palepaw's other side, the odd stillness of her brother's body was rather unsettling. Palepaw was almost never idle. "You really think they can still reach Snowdance with the prey-maulers at the moonstone?"
Starrylight licked Cedarstar's cheek as he settled beside her, "We must hope that they will find a way"
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Post by Willow on May 15, 2024 12:12:37 GMT -5
Hazelblaze stood, nudging the kits forward "Come on, let's go rest in your nest. I will come with you. Cherryvine loves you all very much. She needed to go on this patrol though and get the closure. Once she comes back, I know she will be back to the Mama that you are familiar with."
Mistkit and Hailkit trailed after Hazelblaze. Hailkit looking particularly grumpy.
Pinekit walked underneath Hazelblaze's legs as he often did with Cherryvine, his aunt's ginger fur though wasn't as comforting as the cool cream of his mother's. He huffed quietly, looking down at his paws.
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Post by thistle on May 15, 2024 12:27:59 GMT -5
Featherkit padded along behind the others into the damp warmth of the nursery.
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Post by Icefire15 on May 15, 2024 14:43:47 GMT -5
Heyo)
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 15, 2024 15:07:06 GMT -5
Cherryvine tore her eyes away from the tree, following after the rest of the patrol almost mechanically. She knew what they would find downstream. Her heart already pounded at the thought. Her gaze swept over to Whorlpaw at her side, frowning at the apprentice her mate had been so fond of. "Are you sure you want to continue with us Whorlpaw? You don't have to." Duskpaw padded to sit on Palepaw's other side, the odd stillness of her brother's body was rather unsettling. Palepaw was almost never idle. "You really think they can still reach Snowdance with the prey-maulers at the moonstone?" Starrylight licked Cedarstar's cheek as he settled beside her, "We must hope that they will find a way" Whorlpaw stuck her chin up despite the nervousness on her face. "I'm sure. Stormfury always said to be brave. He's done so much for me. I, at least, want to help him get back to camp." Cedarstar flicked his ear twice. "Surely they must," he mewed to his daughter. He wrapped his tail around Starrylight. "I remember a story told by a couple WindClan cats when I was kit. They said it was a WindClan cat who first discovered the Moonstone because of dreams she had from StarClan. If StarClan was able to send dreams before the moonstone was discovered, surely they can still do it now." He looked over to where Snowdance was. "Would you say, Snowdance?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 15, 2024 15:07:34 GMT -5
(I got Cedarstar asking Snowdance something!)
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Post by Moonblazer on May 15, 2024 15:32:46 GMT -5
Cardinalblaze nodded slowly, his voice heavy but understanding as he realized there was indeed a strengthening scent. Just as he expected, Stormfury would be where the water flowed down to, and likely swept up on the stream shore somewhere. He swallowed down his unease, mewing. “It’s brave, and kind of you, Whorlpaw. I know… I know Stormfury would have appreciated it.”
He trekked over a small ridge, before he stilled, peering down at the winding stream until his eyes caught on a lump of dark fur. There, and still as stone, was clearly Stormfury. He released a long and shaky breath, mewing lightly. “Cherryvine…”
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Post by Willow on May 15, 2024 16:14:44 GMT -5
Hazelblaze settled into Cherryvine's nest, her stiff shoulder still making things difficult for her. "Come here, I'll keep you warm until she comes back." She giggled quietly, "I didn't think I'd end up in here so soon. I've barely been a warrior long enough."
Mistkit climbed into the nest and settled at Hazelblaze's side, seeming a bit shy to curl up beside her like she would with her mother.
Pinekit's eyes were drooping already, he had no qualm with plopping down in Hazelblaze's fur and curling up for a nap.
Hailkit pouted as he sat down next to Pinekit. "This isn't right."
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Post by Willow on May 15, 2024 16:20:00 GMT -5
Cherryvine swallowed the lump in her throat as she heard the pity in Cardinalblaze's voice. Cresting the top of the ridge she immediately spotted the gray fur. Her voice seemed to be lost as she calmly walked down the hill to his body and pressed her nose into his fur. She had already screamed and cried and swore, but now it was real. He was gone. With all the care in the world, she grabbed his scruff and pulled him from the underbrush so he was lying on his side. Mud streaked his pelt and there was a large wound on his head, the killing blow. She looked up to meet Cardinalblaze and Whorlpaw's eyes, her mouth thin. "My kits don't have a father anymore."
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Post by Willow on May 15, 2024 16:22:26 GMT -5
Duskpaw's head swiveled to look at Snowdance expectantly, hoping that the medicine cat would be confident in her answer.
Starrylight rested her head on Cedarstar's shoulders, utterly exhausted after the trek back to camp. Her eyes closed easily, able to rest now that her mate and daughter were watching over Palepaw.
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Post by Moonblazer on May 15, 2024 16:33:53 GMT -5
Cherryvine swallowed the lump in her throat as she heard the pity in Cardinalblaze's voice. Cresting the top of the ridge she immediately spotted the gray fur. Her voice seemed to be lost as she calmly walked down the hill to his body and pressed her nose into his fur. She had already screamed and cried and swore, but now it was real. He was gone. With all the care in the world, she grabbed his scruff and pulled him from the underbrush so he was lying on his side. Mud streaked his pelt and there was a large wound on his head, the killing blow. She looked up to meet Cardinalblaze and Whorlpaw's eyes, her mouth thin. "My kits don't have a father anymore." Cardinalblaze slowly approached Stormfury, gazing down at the tom with a soft breath. He looked at Cherryvine then, heart aching. What could he possibly say to that? ‘I’m sorry’ sounded so pitiful, so careless in that moment. All he could do was lower his muzzle to Stormfury’s body, mewing softly and hoping he could hear him up there in Starclan. “You were brave, and selfless. You belonged in Shadowclan long before we had the honor of accepting you in. We won’t ever forget all you’ve done, Stormfury. Ever.” He closed his eyes, before lifting his head and mewing to Cherryvine. “We’ll give him a vigil, and honor his life. Your kits do have a father. They always will…”
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 15, 2024 17:56:51 GMT -5
Whorlpaw's jaw dropped spotting her mentor's body. "Stormfury!" She bounded forward and stood over her mentor's corpse with distraught on her face. "He can't be gone. He can't be!"
~~~
Spiderbite ran through ShadowClan territory, but his foot got caught in the mire and he slipped and fell in the mud. "For StarClan's sake," he hissed. He stood up and shook out his pelt. With a glare around the murky territory, he slowly realized there was signs of destruction. Large puddles of water, erosion, and debris up where it shouldn't have been. "What happened here?" Spiderbite started forward slowly, he couldn't risk slipping again and causing himself injury. "ShadowClan!" He shouted. "Anyone there? I need to see Cliffheart!"
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Post by Ravenshadow on May 15, 2024 17:59:21 GMT -5
(Can I have Nightstalker reply?)
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 15, 2024 18:05:56 GMT -5
(Since Nightstalker is in camp, you can have her take a patrol out to find him.)
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Post by Ravenshadow on May 15, 2024 18:09:09 GMT -5
(Kk)
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Post by Ravenshadow on May 15, 2024 18:21:08 GMT -5
Pantherkit shifted uncomfortably on her paws. “Yes, very nice to meet you, but do you know where I can put my prey?”
Nightstalker shook her head as the ceremony ended; it was just so terrible. All these deaths and injuries… but then she pulled herself out of her thoughts. Now was not the time for sulking, she needed to take her mind off the thoughts. “I’m going on patrol, feel free to join me.” She silently exited the camp, still trying to keep her mind from wandering to the thoughts of Moonpetal being torn apart by Prey Maulers. After a few minutes of walking she heard a cry from the brush nearby. There was lots of debris and muddy water, but she managed to get to a position where she was able to see some part of the cat while remaining invisible in the shadows. “Who goes there,” she called sharply. “State your name.”
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Post by Frozen on May 15, 2024 21:54:37 GMT -5
Sandflower kept close to Lynxdapple. His words on the Moonstone had her pondering their situation, shuffling her paws anxiously. It seemed like fate was determined to knock them down over and over again.
Cinderspeck's head was spinning. Moonpetal and Stormfury joining StarClan, Sunfreckle becoming a warrior... it was too much for the tom. All he wanted was to collapse in the warrior's den. He stared in the direction of the den with tired eyes.
Shortcloud looked like she was itching to join the patrol to find Stormfury, but she knew it was something that Cherryvine, Cardinalblaze, and the others needed to do themselves. She only hoped there was a sliver of hope that he survived.
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Post by Willow on May 16, 2024 16:32:21 GMT -5
Frigidshard huffed as Spiderbite darted past him, following after him. He started on a low grumble as his feet sank into the wet marsh ground. The mud already tracking up his legs into his belly fur as they ran forward. "This is awful! How do these stupid Shadowclan cats do it? I'd need to give myself 7 baths a day!" He stopped when he heard the nearby call of a cat, he looked at Spiderbite, inching closer to the medicine cat. "You tell her." he hissed quietly.
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Post by Willow on May 16, 2024 16:36:30 GMT -5
Cherryvine stepped back allowing Whorlpaw a moment with his body. She couldn't look Cardinalblaze in the eye as she spoke, her voice thin and hoarse. "They will barely remember him as warriors. He will never get to tell him about his time in Windclan, or his family. What he did to get where he was in our clan. He is as good as a ghost to them. Brightflame died when I was young too and I barely remember what she looked like. I never wanted that for them."
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Post by Moonblazer on May 16, 2024 17:20:58 GMT -5
Cherryvine stepped back allowing Whorlpaw a moment with his body. She couldn't look Cardinalblaze in the eye as she spoke, her voice thin and hoarse. "They will barely remember him as warriors. He will never get to tell him about his time in Windclan, or his family. What he did to get where he was in our clan. He is as good as a ghost to them. Brightflame died when I was young too and I barely remember what she looked like. I never wanted that for them." Cardinalblaze looked at Cherrvine for a long moment, heart aching for her. It had to be agonizing, and he knew he would have been thinking the same had it been him standing over the cat he loved, the mother of his kits. He swallowed, shaking his head softly and imploring. “He may not be able to, but I know you can. He always lives, through you and your kits. That kind of connection, that kind of memory, that can never truly die.” He looked at Whorlpaw and Stormfury, eyes flashing with loss as he mewed. “Shadowclan was ever so lucky to call him one of our own.”
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Post by Ravenshadow on May 16, 2024 17:58:33 GMT -5
Frigidshard huffed as Spiderbite darted past him, following after him. He started on a low grumble as his feet sank into the wet marsh ground. The mud already tracking up his legs into his belly fur as they ran forward. "This is awful! How do these stupid Shadowclan cats do it? I'd need to give myself 7 baths a day!" He stopped when he heard the nearby call of a cat, he looked at Spiderbite, inching closer to the medicine cat. "You tell her." he hissed quietly. Nightstalker let out a low, humorless chuckle at the second cats comment. "Aptly put, because we have other things to think about besides mud. But I'm guessing you didn't trespass to gripe about the landscape. So, I will ask again for your last chance at explaining yourself. What are your names and why are you on Shadowclan territory?" Her tone became harder as she went on, and her ears back. Thankfully the wind was blowing towards her and not the other cats which gave her a slight advantage. But if they wanted a fight she'd be outnumbered. At least, if a fellow Shadowclan warrior didn't show up at the trespassing cat's yowling.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 16, 2024 18:30:17 GMT -5
"I'll make sure your kits know about him." Whorlpaw turned to face Cherryvine. "I'll tell them all kinds of stories. I can help them train like he helped me train and in a way, his methods will be passed on to them. I want to help everyone remember Stormfury. He was a great mentor."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on May 16, 2024 18:32:42 GMT -5
Spiderbite flicked his ear in agreement with Frigidshard's comment about the landscape, but when the unknown she-cat slipped out of the shadows, he held his head up, insulted. "What is my name?" He spat. "What? Were you born yesterday? I'm Spiderbite, one of the medicine cats of SkyClan." He looked around, suspecting the she-cat was out here by herself. "I'm here to speak with Cliffheart. Take me to him."
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Post by Ravenshadow on May 16, 2024 18:51:56 GMT -5
Spiderbite flicked his ear in agreement with Frigidshard's comment about the landscape, but when the unknown she-cat slipped out of the shadows, he held his head up, insulted. "What is my name?" He spat. "What? Were you born yesterday? I'm Spiderbite, one of the medicine cats of SkyClan." He looked around, suspecting the she-cat was out here by herself. "I'm here to speak with Cliffheart. Take me to him." Nightstalker’s eyes narrowed. Why in all of Starclan was the medicine cat of Skyclan on Shadowclan territory? After a few seconds of hesitating she straightened, her deep purple eyes piercing the tom’s. “Stay here, I’ll get the deputy and then we’ll escort you. I apologize for any long delay in advance.” Even if they were a medicine cat, she didn’t particularly like the idea of walking the two of them alone. Then she turned around and sprinted through the brush until she was back at the camp. As she skidded to a stop, she saw he wasn’t in the camp. Of course. Just absolutely dandy. She took a few seconds to catch her breath before going over to where Cedarstar was sitting with Starrylight. “Sorry to interrupt, but the medicine cat of Skyclan says he’s here to see Cliffheart. I left him at the border because I wanted to get Cardinalblaze to escort them with me, but he’s not here. Do you want me to just go back and get them?”
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