[Jayvines]

 

Originally Posted by jupiter

Dovefluff

Numbly, the queen stumbled up beside Crowpaw, staring at her daughter as he laid her body gently on the ground. She forced her voice to stay soft as she responded shakily. "Thank you. I'm sorry about your family." Dovefluff's voice was soft and hoarse as she answered, afraid that her voice would grow into a mournful shriek if she said any more. And she truly was sad for Crowpaw, she had seen so much of his struggles, especially with his father, but she didn't want to absolutely lose it.

But then Crowpaw announced her daughter's death, and she crumbled, her legs failed her and she fell onto her belly, nuzzling Echokit. Sobs shook her like spasms as she listened to cats approach, and she knew she looked pathetic and broken, but any voice that she didn't immediately recognize became white noise. Burntpaws kind words were nice to hear but she couldn't muster up the ability to answer, loud sobs breaking the brief silence of shock throughout the clearing before they came over. Cats were sitting close to her, close to her baby, even though they never knew her. But she couldn't move, the tried locked her limbs and kept her crumpled next to Echokit's body.

Then, little Lightning came over and nuzzling her, and the queen sobbed loudly at the touch, reaching her tail over to wrap around the young molly, still clinging to the tiny body in front of her. Sootfurs wary question had the queen letting out a strangked, muffled wail, a paw reached out for her kit. "She's gone. They're all gone." the queen wailed softly, feeling Sootfurs touch, but it brought her little comfort. The kindness was deeply appreciated by the heartbroken mother, but it didn't quell the burning pain in her heart and the absence of her entire litter with Echokit's death.

"I don't even know what happened, she wasn't sick or hurt o-or cold or too hot are anything I don't know why-" her voice broke off into a gut wrenching cry, and she buried her face back down. How could StarClan be so cruel? She was a mother who couldn't be a mother, and that was the worst pain of all.

And it only got worse with Cracklepaw's cruel words. Chuck it in a hole? Fury pulsed through her as she looked up at the apprentice in shock, but before she could snarl at him, the grief washed over her like a tidal wave, and she pressed her face into her paws, sobbing as she laid on the ground.

( @sol. @SpiritedWarrior @Dabi @Wingnettle @Leafí @/anyone else + sorry for the deleted post )

~Lioncrest~

A hollering call from inside the camp immediately caught Lioncrest's attention as he sat posted at the camp entrance. Spinning around to see what had happened, the words of young Crowpaw barely had time to sink in before apparent chaos flared up amongst the youth gathered in the clearing and clustered around a clearly grieving queen and her...

Stars the kit was so small...

An aggressive blink brought sense back into the unusually still tom and large paws abruptly kicked into motion. Firm, purposeful steps brought the large golden cat towards the squabbling group; amber gaze focused solely on the grey queen sobbing into her paws alongside her kit. Physically shoving any-cat (if any) who dared to impede his progress (and shooting a pointedly feirce look at the screeching apprentice who had spoken so callously), Lioncrest slowed as he approached Dovefluff. Firm strides turned softer, and his movements more fluid. No sudden movements; the large tom didn't want to startle or intimidate the she-cat who was clearly overwhelmed and mourning.

"Dovefluff..." The mildly familiar name rolled from his jaws with an uncharacteristically soft tone. This queen was his cousin's friend; he would help if he could. "You are not at fault for this... this tragedy. No cat truly knows why such things happen... but perhaps the stars had need of your little one sooner than expected..."

"Cover your ears from that child's vitriol. This is a heartbreaking moment and should be treated as such."

Slowly- ever so slowly, Lioncrest lowered himself into a solid loaf next to the grey queen on the ground. He was more than willing to be a wall to shield her from the chaos of the clearing; queens were the foundation of the clan, cats to be protected at all costs. Unless she wished him gone he would stay. A rock in the tempest of this storm.

[ @jupiter @/anyone else who the boi may have hustled out of the way ]