[squidz]

 

Originally Posted by taillow

Stormstar - RiverClan Leader

It was later in the day with things winding down, and yet the leader was restless. She paced within her den, wondering why her stomach was churning so nervously, and why she felt the prickling sensation of anxiety in her paws. Something was wrong... she didn't know what, or where, but-

Berries voice at her den had her head snapping over. The grief. The shame. "Come in," the leader beckoned almost immediately, turning to face the medicine cat fully. Her blue eyes were wide, searching Berries' face for any indication what she was here for. Lavender scent drifted towards her and she blinked.

"...What happened?" ...She knew what that was used for.

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker |

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 13 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

Berryshine had been mentally preparing herself for this conversation the whole way, and yet still felt tongue-tied for a moment. It was a strange feeling; her heart was racing against a heavy body, weighed down in grief, yet she also felt restless. Her paws shuffled in her typical nervous habit, but this time, just to get out the restlessness she'd felt ever since realizing Weepingpaw was dead. Like she just had to keep doing something.

Taking in a deep breath, Berryshine forced herself to calm down enough to speak. Though this affected her personally, she knew she could handle this... if only the shame of not being able to cure Weepingpaw would stop stabbing her heart like a thorn. The small brown molly steeled herself and slowly lifted her head, meeting Stormstar's knowing gaze. It almost seemed like the leader knew what this was for already, which helped the words tumble out a bit more easily, even if it still felt like trying to drip thick honey from a leaf.

"Weepingpaw, he's..." She paused, swallowing hard. Breathe. She'd been through enough, she knew she could handle this simple thing of reporting what happened... but guilt made announcing this so much harder. "H-He's been missing, as you know, a-and... I went for a walk today and... found him." Another breath, narrowing her eyes, pushing through. You did all you could; just say it. She stood up straighter, forcing the words out through her tightened throat.

"H-He's... dead, Stormstar. Daisypaw said she saw him going for a walk on his own, a-and next thing I know... I find him in the grass, gone." Leafy-green eyes dulled over in grief and she lowered her head again once the bitter news had finally left her tongue. "I... couldn't save him. The fever, the infection, it... i-it was everywhere..."

Stagheart's words echoed in her head: 'You did what you could, kid.'

But it hadn't been enough. Of course, it wouldn't always be enough, she knew that and how the world worked... yet it still stung.