[taillow]

Originally Posted by JAE.

Bleh!

Fernpaw's eyes snapped open and he lurched forward, hunched over as he coughed and sputtered out an obscene amount of water and fluid. He felt sick, was shaky, and so cold. His pelt was clumpy from semi-dried water, like someone had pulled him from the river and left him to drip out onto the ground.

But somehow, he doubt that happened. He didn't know why he was on the cliffs now, he honestly felt too tired to care. Fernpaw staggered away from the distasteful pile to sink into the grass a few fox-lengths away. The gagging had subsided though his stomach hurt, and his throat and lungs burned. maybe a nap would help?

[ @marni ]

Bravebird
Worry. That was what had creased her every thought as her paws carried her tirelessly across the moorland. While the Clan ran on like normal, Bravebird was fretting over the lack of Fernpaw in WindClan. She hadn't heard his voice or seen his familiar brown tabby pelt for awhile - long enough to render her officially concerned. She avoided bringing it up to Twilightstar or Fallownose for the time being, simply because she didn't wish to put such a splotlight on the young tom. What if he was just out for a walk? He was definitely the age of a warrior - stars, she had been younger than him when she had been given her name.

...But the nagging feeling that something had occurred did not let her rest, so here she was going from one patch of heather to the next. Her blue eyes remained wide, sweeping across the moorland for any indication of the young tom.

Thankfully, movement of tall stocks of heather caught her eye and Bravebird sprinted over, running as if she were chasing a family of hares. Upon reaching her destination she made out the ruffled and clumped pelt of her apprentice. The sight of him was startling. Semi dried fur, shaky muscles and eyes that showed just how exhausted he must be.

"Fernpaw!" Relief and shock and worry all were insulated within her words as she instantly snaked around him. He felt cold and she went to work brushing his fur the wrong way with her tongue to warm him up. "What... happened... to... you?" she asked in between strokes, refusing to move away even if he pushed her. Guilt pierced her heart as she knew this was somewhat her fault. If he had fallen into a stream somewhere, and... there were no streams nearby. Why was he all wet then??

For now she just pushed them away and pressed her head the back of his neck, trying desperately to slow her own nerves. "I'm so sorry - I should have been paying attention!" The image of Softleap's limp body floated in her mind, one of the first cats she had been entrusted in overseeing. That would not be Fernpaw.

[ @JAE. ]