[Dark]

Darkfall: "The Spectre"

Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Killer Aptitude (T3) | Ultimate Predator: Inactive | Hulk SMASH! [Inactive]
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Timeline Wise, This takes place roughly two weeks ago!

In the moment, Darkfall didn’t care for formalities or proper procedure as he padded into the opening of the Dawnstar’s den. He had to get this news to the leader as soon as possible, and if she were to be angry with him, well… oh well. Sleepysunrise had followed alongside him, and he presumed that Rookflare wasn’t too far himself. Dipping his head slightly, the tom remained standing – a stark contrast to how he usually sat when reporting to the Queen of Mean. ”Dawnstar, I ask that you forgive my forwardness, but I have something that needs to be reported with utmost urgency.” He was aware that he still looked awful, he was covered in drying mud and his fur was still damp from the water of the mire. His fur was disheveled, and his bright blue eyes were still bloodshot from the tears he shed in the territory. Under normal circumstances, he’d have taken an opportunity to clean himself off before coming in, but these circumstances were far from normal.

”Earlier today I noticed Larkfi–Lostspark heading out into the territory. This is not generally a cause for concern, because as an enforcer, as well as a warrior, it is well within her duties to patrol the territory. Not to mention that she was generally able to handle things on her own should trouble arise.”

He began his recount by starting with a little bit of backstory. He doubted that Dawnstar would blame him for her death, however, he had to be absolutely certain that she did not find a way to make him responsible. ”Icethroat, a tom that has been following her around as of late, and his brother Hailneck also headed out into the territory sometime after. For what reason, I am unsure.”

”After some time, I noticed that Lar–ostspark had not yet returned to camp. I had business to discuss with her, needing to speak about our… our kits, so I too left the camp and followed her trail.” His throat, still hoarse from screaming in anguish felt scraggly and uncomfortable, however, he continued recounting the events. ”As I followed her scent, I noticed that the scents of both Icethroat and Hailneck mingled with that of hers. I’ll speak honestly and say that I am not a fan of Icethroat, but that’s hardly relevant right now. Getting a bad feeling, I quickened my pace and followed the trails to Darkwater Mire.”

He paused for just a moment, swallowing down the whimper that threatened to overtake him. His lip trembled as he got to the next part, but he persevered. He had to make sure that she, Sleepysunrise, and Rookflare knew what he had seen. ”There… There was blood. All around the bank of bog, as well as within the water itself.” His face contorted with pain as he continued ”There scents led up to the bog itself, all three of them, but after searching everywhere, I… I wasn’t able to find them. Not in the water, not in the rest of that section of territory, nothing.”

”I caught the scent of one other cat after continuing my search and followed it to it’s owner. It was… it was my daughter, Mirepaw. She… she saw most of it. All three of them, they’re–” His voice cracked with grief as he turned his gaze to his paws and shook his head. ”They’re gone. Dead. Drowned.” There it was. The bomb that he had been building up to was finally dropped, and saying it out loud again, admitting it to himself once more… it was too much. ”Mire– or whatever she calls herself now, claimed that there was some… creature within the bog, claiming them in a way that would prove to be unrecoverable. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any more information out of her, and though I tried, I was unable to persuade her to accompany me back.” He then raised one of his forepaws and flipped it over so that she could see how torn his paw pads had become before putting it back down. ”I apologize, but I am in no condition to forcibly bring anyone back or demand information from them. Though she is my daughter, had it been within my power, I’d have made her come back and explain what she saw. At the fringes of the territory – where I had seen her, she had been accompanied by an older tom, and I didn’t want to risk a fight breaking out and not being able to deliver this information, so I returned.”

Blue eyes filled with a mixture of pain and rage, he cast them back towards Dawnstar. ”You know just as well as I do that your daughter is a capable swimmer and wouldn’t drown without probable cause. She’s also a highly capable fighter and I don’t have any doubt that whatever is there, she would’ve been able to handle–” Another pause. This next part was something that he didn’t have proof of, but he would say it anyways. ”I suspect… I suspect that the two brothers, Icethroat and Hailneck attacked Lostspark, though the motive is unknown. I know these allegations are serious, but I am simply unable to imagine that she would’ve just drowned.”

He then turned to Sleepysunrise, with a pained expression. A single tear rolled down his cheek and onto the floor of the den. ”Sleepy– my daughter, I’m sorry.” He said, shaking his head solemnly ”I was too late. I couldn’t save her this time.”

[ @Undertaker - Dawn @alec - Rook @Estelle - Sleepy I just threw this all in one post so it didn't take too long]