[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

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

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 15 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

The she-cat was there and moving, some kind of herb taken from her fur, and then... gone.

Berryshine's eyes were wide as she watched the cat melt into the shadows, something so... eerily familiar about it. Or at least what her imagination had conjured up long ago. Chills ran down her spine and she took an instinctive step back. Shuddering, her eyes fell to the yarrow on the ground. As much as it was adding to the reality that maybe this cat had at least been neutrally friendly, she couldn't help but agree with Owltalon—er, well, she supposed Owlstar now, if everything went right—with that sharp look sent her way. Shakily, the small brown molly nodded, confirming to her new leader that she wouldn't touch the thing. The chance that it was something sinister, like her paranoid gut was telling her, was too great for any potential benefit to outweigh.

Cobs had woken up, and Berry stepped over to her, lightly brushing her flank and studying her face. Had it all gone well? Had she been accepted by StarClan, too? Trembling slightly, the medicine cat resolved to keep the ritual silence; as if one single word would shatter the fragile peace they'd achieved in the cave. Giving a nod, she cautiously started to back away, towards the tunnel that would leave to the exit of the cave. A million questions ran through her mind, wanting to ask both she-cats how their ceremonies went, if Owlstar had been given a life — but first and foremost, she wanted out of this cave and away from the mysterious shadow-cat. ASAP.

With a flick of her tail and one last nervous glance into the shadows, Berryshine darted up and into the tunnel, casting glances over to make sure her two companions were on her tail. She didn't stop until moonlight broke through the endless black they'd been stuck in, immense relief swarming her chest. She skidded to a halt, taking in deep breaths of fresh, frigid air to help calm down and blinking rapidly to adjust to the light outside. As cold as it was outside, the cave had been even colder, and at least the starlight touching her fur made Berryshine feel alive and real again. Not stuck in some strange netherworld below.

Her small paws almost carried her right back towards their territory, wanting nothing more than to be covered in the familiar trees and grasses of home again, even in their deadened leaf-bare state. But she hesitated, turning to face her companions at the mouth of the cave, finally daring to break the silence in her trepidatious voice.

"G-Great StarClan... a-are you two alright? How'd it go? A-And... stars above, who was that stranger?" She murmured breathlessly; her voice felt too loud after the suffocating silence. Not sure if this was the right time to ask, but her curiosity was spilling over and the worry making the words tumble out. They should just keep moving, probably, and talk on the way, but... the cat of the shadows had spooked her, and Berry's legs seemed to not want to decide if they wanted to keep running far away or be frozen to the spot. But her concern for Owls and Cobs outweighed them both.

[ @Rose @finley @Marigoldwhisper ]