~ WOLFFANG ~
Wolffang could scent the fear on Fernpaw. It was bitter, but he didn't coil his lip to drive it out. The brown tabby apprentice looked terrified, frozen, his green eyes staring at Wolffang as though he was scared of him. Why would he be scared?
Does he think... I'll get mad at him? Wolffang wasn't particularly fond of cats who left their Clans. But Fernpaw was a whole different matter. He had been brutally killed, yet StarClan had sent him back. Not back to WindClan, but somewhere. Had he done something else to get in trouble? Wolffang just wanted to bring the apprentice home, to WindClan, where he belonged. Then Fernpaw dropped his gaze, as though he were a kit being scolded.
What's wrong? The deputy genuinely felt confused.
That was when Fernpaw seemed to completely break down, shaking and sobbing, his voice so tight that it cracked. Wolffang's gaze followed the tabby as he sunk further down to the ground, listening to the words that escaped his mouth.
Sorry? What was he sorry for? He hadn't done anything wrong. As Wolffang listened to the other tom's description, he understood... mostly, at least.
Is he describing his death? Why blame himself for that? It wasn't his fault ShadowClan had done something so awful.
New markers... why does it sound like he's referring to ShadowClan's new markers? Had something else happened that Wolffang didn't know about? Now wasn't the time. It was clear that Fernpaw had to go home.
Wolffang wasn't good at this "comforting" stuff, but he bent down, fixing his bright yellow gaze on Fernpaw.
"Listen to me." His normally firm tone now had dropped down somewhat in an attempt to be quieter and more comforting.
"I don't know if you're describing the ShadowClan attack in which... That Grimhound led, or if it's something else. But you're just an apprentice. Whatever happened, it isn't your fault. As horrible as what happened was, StarClan sent you back, and that's what matters. You should come home. I can take you to Twilightstar. I know that she'll take you back in. You've done nothing wrong." Okay, so he wasn't sure if the apprentice was guilty of something else, but he decided not to bring that up. That would most likely make the situation worse.
@
BILL.