Quote:
Originally Posted by The Doctor
Darkcloud narrowed her eyes at the queen for a moment she considered saying no but then thought about the rewards of helping the queen so the dark she-cat just nodded and rose to her paws.
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**Sunsetthorn**
A small pang of relief flushed through her after a tense heartbeat awaiting the warrior's answer, but the nod came and a renewed sense of hope found Sunsetthorn. She'd have the chance to find Branchfire and Hazelkit, and she couldn't imagine failing. Failing to find them would mean being without them, it'd mean her
kit was out there all alone and her mate...what could keep a warrior out of camp and away from his beloved family unless it was truly terrible. No, her mind would not conjure such thoughts, it couldn't happen to her...But then, if it could happen to anybody surely it'd happen to her. She'd lost her mother in the most gruesome fashion, her sisters were everywhere and nowhere, and her father had to be the most uncaring, callous parent in the clans yet still respected so highly he was given the honor of healing his clan. She pushed away the warring nihilism and optimism and set out straight for the camp entrance.
It'd been moons since she'd been out in the territory. She used to love coming out here with Branchfire, the days they'd spend training so she could relearn how to fight and hunt with her lost depth perception of her missing eye. But her kits had consumed her entirely the past six moons so she hadn't had too many opportunities for leisure or warrior-type duties. And she figured it'd be longer still. Only adding to her concerns, she'd felt the stirring, the light nausea that very morning, and now the sluggishness that she was sure would turn to a burst of energy in a few weeks until the weight in her belly grew heavier and dragged her back into sluggishness again. Continuing Branchfire's family should be joyous but it was overshadowed painfully; how could she possibly be having another kit so soon while her older kit was missing and then the panic of having to do this all alone. She wasn't sure she could cope with both the loss of Branchfire and the raising of another litter. She shook her head, moving over the still-familiar pine needle floor. She
hadn't lost Branchfire, there was no use thinking such thoughts. She parted her lips to try picking up her family's scent as she continued moving in fairly unorganized zigzags across the territory. She had no idea where to start or where to go but she knew she had to do
something.
"I don't know what could've happened but both Branchfire and Hazelkit haven't been seen in a few days. If they're out here somewhere, we have to find them."