the things we lost [malcontent burial event]

[Mica]

Sparrowsnarl
RiverClan
he/him | 50 moons
[Heavily scarred, fluffy dark brown tabby with amber eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Mistyshard - @starry ] [Dusklion - @tally ]
· · ────────────── · ·
"Yes," the tabby rumbled as he padded up to Mistyshard and Dusklion's sides, Duckshade draped across his back. The large tom seemingly had no issue carrying the fallen clanmate. "What you have achieved is no small feat, Dusklion. Celebrate that before you mourn the 'what-if's." His voice was quiet, and he wouldn't meet either of their gazes, but at least he was talking in full sentences to them. Perhaps he would become more comfortable as he worked with them. It wasn't as though he was trying to tell her what to do, but merely providing comfort and reassurance in the only way he knew how. He didn't know Mistyshard or Dusklion well, but he respected them both as warriors.

[f0rg0tt3n_v0id]

✮Shadowtail✮He/Him✮24 Moons✮Gay ✮Warrior
Thought he was injured, Shadowstar ran over to help carry any cat. His ear flatten with sadness at the sight of death. May Starclan accept them and may they watch over the clan.
{Open}

[hades.]

[ TW: minor suicidal thoughts ]Fallenwish felt wrong. So many cats- about six, she believed- had lost their lives. It had been her job to prevent that. Of course, she had spaced out, ignoring at least Moonfoot and Pricklestep.

Those cats had died protecting what was at least their home at one point- maybe some had been missing for tens of moons. Fallenwish had survived, but she remained much less useful. Thankfully, she could still operate with her front paw, but she was still impeded. Maybe if she had died, there would be no difference.

No, don't think that. Fallenwish thought. She'd find a way. she was better alive than dead. She walked over to try to help anyone who needed it.
[ open ]

[Hestia!]

Bayblood joined in the small group of cats mourning their clanmates, its always a shame when a clanmate dies.

[occultation]

( @tally - for fading's glances at dusk )

Fadingsun was still in somewhat of a haze; the past couple of days had been a massive blur. The invasion, the aftermath, the meeting- the meeting. He hadn't fully processed that yet at all. He hadn't been expecting what had happened; he knew he'd step up and do what needed to be done, but he felt so incredibly overwhelmed at this very moment.

It seemed that the bodies had been taken up by others, so he lingered near the back of the group in case anyone struggled. Every now and again, his eyes would dart towards Dusklion. Her outburst at the meeting had certainly not been forgotten, and it weighed heavily on his mind. He wanted so badly to talk to her, to figure this all out, but now was not the time. Besides, a conversation like that needed to happen in private.

[ open! ]

[Epiales]

 

Originally Posted by Theraphosa

Seabreeze
He/him | Riverclan Warrior | Moons: 15 | Purrks: Go with the Flow | The Collector | Ultimate Predator |
“Ocean waters rising above your neck
You feel the glass start to crack.”

Seabreeze looked away from the prey pile he had been staring at and up towards Mistyshard, his already heavy bones from work were weighed down with the grief that had been swimming in the back of his mind came rushing like a flood to the forefront of it. Pricklestep, Moonfoot...flutterpaw, Smolderpaw, Troutfall, Duckshade, Frostpetal, and Foxmoon. So, so many lives were lost and Seabreeze felt his eyes start to sting with tears and the burials haven't even begun. Lifting himself onto worked paws, he wanted to approach and help carry the bodies as needed but he wanted to give the families of those cats more time to do so if they wished. The tom looked pointedly away from Flutterpaw despite the horrid guilt that burnt his throat like bile as he did so.

Cloverpaw's haunting was worse than ever. Though he knew that Cloverpaw was likely the one that would help guide these cats if she had any say in the matter, then after that she would talk their ear off about Starclan's hunting grounds and all the cats who she has met. Seabreeze hoped she has found a new listening buddy now that he was separated from her. Seabreeze dug his claws into his own paw, this is not about Cloverpaw, this is about the clanmates that have fallen. Despite the pinpricks of blood that welled up along his front paw from his abuse, Seabreeze looked around the crowd making sure that each cat didn't need help and that every body was being carried out.

[OPEN]

Frostmelt
|he/him|purrks: N/A|moons: 17| riverclan warrior|


Frostmelt padded up to the other warrior calmly. He paid no attention to the blood, not yet. There was no point in panicking, was there? He would help get some of the cat's bodies out of the way. It didn't make him sad, though he wished he felt the pain of the warriors who lost their lives. And it didn't pain him to see the Riverclan cats who lost their lives, but the thunderclan cats. Did that make him a traitor? At least we knew the riverclan cats, knew they were good, and knew that they would go to Starclan and continue there. But what of the pain of Thunderclan?

For each body he came up against he closed their eyes and shuttered from the look of pain on their faces. He didn't fight in it, it made him feel guilty. "Hello Seabreeze," Frost said in a low voice, as if trying not to scare the cat away. Frostmelt knew how skittish Sea could be when he felt threatened. He trailed on the side of Seabreeze, slowly. Frost's tail slowly swung back and forth before stopping at another body to close their eyes. Blood surrounded each cat, slowly sinking into the dirt, and what might grow in those spots now? blood red roses, he would think. Roses to honor each death, each life that is given, and each that is taken.

He wasn't about to ask, either, why Sea was crying. Was he bad at this? Comforting? It made him feel uncomfortable, he admitted. He wasn't the best at it, though he tried his best to. "I.. ah, do you need any help?" he asked quietly, not really sure what for, but just a general question. He knew most people asked someone who was sad if they needed help, right?

[squidz]

Stagheart walked solemnly towards the dead cats, pausing by the edge to allow any family members to approach them first. He'd do whatever heavy lifting he had to, but didn't want to intrude. He did his best to ignore the sting of the deep punctures of his wounds, a frown on his face as he watched the caravan of bodies slowly being lifted and carried away to their final resting place. He started to move towards the last cats, committing to carry at least one unless stated otherwise.

[taillow]

The words of Mistyshard and Sparrowsnarl, who had come to join them, were heard by Dusklion's ears and she knew that they were only trying to help her. How was she suppose to celebrate when it was suppose to be her? She lashed her tail behind her and shook her head as if to disengage the morbid thoughts flooding her brain. It had been quiet today, but the Rage was waking up and whispering in her ear now ; soothing and soft to the point where it took everything within herself to not follow it.

She parted her jaws to answer either of them when her eyes that were darting around caught sight of Fadingsun. Their blue hues narrowed and she bared her fangs silently, briefly. "How can I celebrate when he knew how much that meant to me?" she snapped, keeping her voice low. "He knew, ever since we joined, and I... he knew, and he accepted anyways."

Removing her gaze from her brother and fixing it straight ahead, Dusklion continued on without any other words being spoken.

[ @starry @Micanomancy @Cherry~ ]

[starry]

Event [#event]

Mistyshard

The molly shrugged a little at Dusklion's words, unsure how to react. It appeared there had been a plan between the two of them since they joined the clan, which included Dusk's name being called during the announcement Birdsnow had made... but no, it had been Fadingsun. Maybe it had been his dream too, but he'd never told Dusklion because he didn't want to hurt her? She shouldered the two warriors in silence for a few moments before she finally find the right words. "...It is frustrating for you, but look on the brighter side of things. What you have achieved is something others could only dream of. Don't let anything pull you down, and one day, you'll achieve your goals."

She did think Dusk's brother deserved it just as much as she did, but she wouldn't mention that here because it would make the situation worse.

When they arrived at Sleepy Thicket her shoulders were completely aching and her stub of an ear was throbbing horribly. Letting out an exhausted sigh she slid Troutfall off her shoulders and turned to all the cats that had gathered. Some cats found death hard to deal with and she was here to take care of that by giving a little speech before they buried the bodies.

"We have lost many clanmates to this battle. Losing friends, family, apprentices... or just simply the loss of a clanmate hits hard." Mistyshard was definitely talking from experience here. Almost her whole family and friends? Dead. She dipped her head to the fallen, then continued. "Most of them have fought hard and well for RiverClan, and made many memories with us. Sometimes it can be hard to accept lives must end and we need to continue as before, but it is an important part of clan life. With battle comes death, that isn't news, but still it hits like a boulder everytime."

"All of these cats blessed RiverClan with their presence and their spirit will not be forgotten." She tossed a brief glance at Foxmoon's corpse and debated if she should mention the previously missing cat not really doing something, but that would ruin the spirit. Dusklion had a point though. "Today we have gathered here to bid farwell to these cats for the last time. Instead of crying remember all the good moments you've lived through with your clanmates and although those are all memories one day, they brought you the happiness, rage and many other feelings that come with a life."

"Life is not about the number of breaths we take, but about the moments that take our breath away. Remember that. Their physical presence may be absent but their spirit lives on and their different aspects of personality continue to guide us. None of this will change the fact that we've lost eight clanmates, nor will any words fill the pit that has been left. These cats bravery continues to live in our heads and their laughter echoes in our hearts."

"As cruel as their death may seem today don't let it throw you off your path. Don't let loss take it's toll on you like it did with me moons ago. I've lost everyone and yet I'm standing here, stronger than ever through the things I have experienced in my many moons. Pricklestep, Moonfoot, Troutfall, Duckshade, Flutterpaw, Smolderpaw, Frostpetal and Foxmoon will all be missed greatly along with their courage and passion for the clan."

"If anyone would like to say their last goodbyes do so now, anyone else can help me dig the graves. And if you ever seek assistance or someone to chat with because you need help with coping... feel free to come to me, I've got plenty of experience."

Okay, that was a lot to say. Mistyshard took a deep breath and started digging a grave, kicking up dirt as quickly as possible with her front paws. They'd need eight graves in total.

 

@tally @Cherry~ @Micanomancy @SeonghwasBunnyEars @Bean @*_Athena_* @Littlesun0112 @Theraphosa @al3cc766 @SentimentalSquid @~MothDust~ @Hestia! @f0rg0tt3n_v0id @hades.

[Dolomedes]

Seabreeze
He/him | Riverclan Warrior | Moons: 15 | Purrks: Go with the Flow | The Collector | Ultimate Predator |
“Ocean waters rising above your neck
You feel the glass start to crack.”

Seabreeze looked over to Frostmelt and shook his head lightly. The tom guickly wiped his eyes swiftly, some of the blood flecks on his face but he didn’t take notice of it. The sandy grey-blue feline stood up and pointed his muzzle towards the remaining apprentice and warrior. Smolderpaw and Frostpetal. “Smolderpaw and Frostpetal still needs to be carried over and then graves need to be dug.”

It hurt so bad, it hurt worse because he wasn’t crying for them but rather Seabreeze was crying for his sister who already had her mourning vigil and burial. He doesn’t…remember it well, he was too lost in his mind and the memories surrounding that time is all hazy and lost. But this wasn’t for her, this was for the warriors and apprentices lost in the raid. The tom stood up suddenly on shaky paws before he made his way over to the apprentice.

Seabreeze may have not had the best experience with dealing with the apprentice but he wasn’t going to hold it against the poor kid. He was holding onto hope that Seabreeze simply lost in a stupidly, loyal way. Seabreeze was impressed with how strongly the cat held to his morals till the end, “Alright, come on now. You did right by yourself and that’s all that matters in the eyes of death.” As he whispered to the apprentice’s body, Seabreeze picked him up and laid the smaller feline across his shoulders carefully making sure that the other’s tail didn’t drag.

Then he followed the rest of the cats out to the Sleepy Thicket. The final resting place. It’s been awhile since he’s been here. Seabreeze finally slowed and stopped when Mistyshard announced their arrival and began asking for help. The tom walked a few paces away from everyone and gently laid down Smolderpaw’s body. Taking care to fix up any too messy fur on the apprentice before turning to Mistyshard.

“I can help with digging.” Then as his eyes flickered in the direction of her grave he faltered and amended his words to Mistyshard, “Just not where over there please. I’m still haunted myself.” Surely, Mistyshard understood given that the molly had faced countless lose in her own life. She can understand how particular you can find herself being to avoid being reminded. She can understand he doesn’t want to see his late sister’s grave.

[ @~MothDust~ - Frostmelt | @starry - Mistyshard ]

[forgive me for mistakes, I’m in mobile rn ;-;]