[graves]

Originally Posted by Lilly

Breaking into her sadness, Moonpaw's head jolted up, eyes and ears alert. In the distance she could spot two figures, both of whom she recognized as warriors in the Clan. "H-Help!" she called, frantically scrambling to her paws and throwing flurries of snow behind her. Maybe they would be able to hear and see her. Maybe she wouldn't die just yet, not without saying goodbye first. Her heart was racing as her paws drummed across the territory, tail streaming out behind her. She barely noticed the stars already in her fur, barely noticed the fuzzy outline that surrounded her. The only thought on her mind was reaching Fireflare and Spireflare, and maybe, just maybe, surviving long enough to at least make it back, to say goodbye. Her sides heaved with each breath she took as she came to a halt in front of them. "This way! The badger is gone but I'm right over here!" she screamed, terror pulsating in her ears and blocking out even the sound of her own voice. After a moment of no response, Moonpaw blinked, wondering why that had not caught their attention. Wondering why they were staring right through her as if she was already dead...

Beneath her, the earth felt as though it had shifted, and a sick feeling flowed into Moonpaw's gut. "Wait..." she mumbled, backing up slowly, her ears going flat against her head. "No... no, no, no..." Over and over again, she murmured under her breath before turning tail and bolting back to where her unconscious body lay, full on panic settling into every limb. She was still on the ground, unmoving with no sign of breathing, and already the frozen ground had started to chill her fur. "Wake up you mouse-brain!" she hollered, using her nose to try and roll her physical body over. Nothing. Anger filling her eyes' watery depths, a growl escaped through her bared teeth, and she barely noticed the tears that stung at her eyes. "You can't just leave every cat like this!" Again, she put more force into getting her body to roll over in an attempt to wake her physical form up. And again, nothing. This time, the apprentice shoved both forepaws into her backside, using all the strength she had left to push herself over. Not a single response from her unconscious body.

The tears flowed freely now, and Moonpaw crumbled to the ground, shoulder shaking and quivering as her starry form melted next to her physical being. Grief shook her to the core as the thought that she might be on her way to StarClan sunk in. On one paw, maybe this was what her destiny was. To be reunited with her mother again. To run the plains of StarClan's territory with her, wild and free once more. Oh, how she missed Birdflight. Every day, despite the close friends she had acquired, the absence of her mother tore at her like sharp enemy claws. It made her want to scream at the top of her lungs and dig her fangs into the fur of the unknown attacker, though she was far from a vicious feline. At times, the pain was almost unbearable, and more than once Moonpaw had considered just ending it all. She was close to her uncle, and knew where all the herbs were. She had learned of death berries, and at the time as a young kit had been thoroughly frightened. Though sometimes, late at night when she felt as though she were the only one awake, a mysterious urge tempted her to go searching for them.

But on the other paw, she had Tawnypaw, Leopardpaw, Surgestorm, and even her father. How would they cope with losing her? She knew just how precious she was to her father, being his only surviving kit. Was she really selfish enough to take that away from him, too? And Surgestorm... Oh, she couldn't bear the thought of leaving him behind. They had stuck together through some of the worst of the Evil Era. He had gotten her through some dark times, and was the only cat who really knew of the despair not having her mother with her truly caused her; not even Swiftflight was aware of it.

Then there was Tawnypaw and Leopardpaw. Sure, Moonpaw didn't have any biological littermates, but what could be said about those two that didn't make it seem as if the three of them came from the same litter? Tawnypaw was the adventurous side of Moonpaw, the one who brought out her hidden desire to go out and explore; the warrior side of the somewhat withdrawn WindClan apprentice. And Leopardpaw. They had met a short while ago, but already she considered the spotted she-cat like family. Her, and Leopardpaw, and Surgestorm... there was something unique there that tugged at Moonpaw's heart.

"Please, I'm begging you," the black and white she-cat sobbed, turning her tear-stained face up towards the darkening sky. It seemed to her as if thunder clouds were rolling out overhead, matching the chaotic storm that swirled within her. "I don't want to die. I miss my mom, but I can't leave WindClan. I still have so much to do." Each word carried with it moons of pain and suffering, almost as if Moonpaw was much older than eight moons.

Bringing her gaze back down, she rested it upon her still unmoving physical form, studying the attack. The most gruesome part was already being clotted slightly, although the crimson liquid still oozed out from here and there. Deep cuts were still flayed open like marks in a tree, and Moonpaw had no doubt that no amount of her uncle's herb storage could repair them fully. Finally, she let her gaze travel up towards the center of her face, where her eyes sat. Except... Moonpaw felt as though she had been sucker-punched, all the air leaving her body in a snap. Where her eye should be, was a gaping hole, filled with darkness, with three gigantic claw marks apparent going diagonal across it. There was no lingering parts, no remnants of what used to dwell there. Just a black socket, empty and useless.

Moonpaw made a gurgling sound and scooted away in a hurry, bile rising in her throat. Dizziness flowed through her as she kicked herself away, turning around and burying her gace in her paws, though her eyes were still wide open with shock. No. That couldn't be her face. Still, her pulse and breath rapidly increased with fear and she tried her best to settle herself down, but to no avail. Suddenly, she hoped that Tawnypaw, and Spireflare and Fireflare wouldn't find her. She hoped that a new layer of snow would come and cover her up so that no one would ever have to look at the gruesome reality that was now her face. Surely, there was no chance of her becoming one with her body now. The physical pain alone was enough to keep Moonpaw where she was; not trying to go back. A loud ringing filled her ears and she quickly shut her eyes, curling up into a tight ball and just wishing for once for everything to go away. I want my mom...

@fenic! @Suspiciousmindz @wolybro

@fenic! @Suspiciousmindz @Lilly

Unfortunatly, they could not see the stary cat infront of them. Green eyes glaring daggers right through her, they could not hear her screams and pleas, they couldn't hear how much she wanted to be alive. They heard none of it, running through her starry figure and following the scent close tot he ground. Fireflare had heard of Moonpaw, he knew when her mother had died, he remembered the ceremony that was held in the clearing. He didn't know why, but there was just and urgency to get to where this apprentice was. In all of his life he hadn't felt that feeling when regarding another cat, he had only looked out for himself. Twitching nose was held to the ground while his brother continued to shout the cats name, though it was all a blurry to him, the grass becoming hazy in a dull green color that was tinted with frost. His breath was slow, he could hear his heart beat. He couldn't hear his brothers shouts, he couldn;t hear the blades of grass under his paws as he took steps. He didn't know why but he remembered his mom. The pain he felt when she had left, he blamed her for dying, even though it was uncontrollable of when a cat dies, he blamed her, hence why he was a cat known for playing with shecats hearts, using them and then cutting them off as easy at string. But all of that felt nonexistance as he remembered his mother and how sweet she was.
He could relate to the apprentice. He was almost certain at that point she probably wished death - but he refused.
His paw kept moving until they eventually made it to the apprentice, but after having blood on his claws, the gore didn't phase him anymore. He was as cold as snow when it came to this now, all because of Spire. His brother was the real one with blood on his paws, he just had to go along with it to not have him caught, he cared, but by the looks of his brother he didn't care. Spireflare turned to him,"We could barry her in the territory,there's a river if you'd prefer-" "No." "What did you just say?" Fireflare for the first time in his life, disagreed with his brother. "She's in pain, she has family. She has a life to live and she's young, she could have a better life then we had. I'm not letting it end you mousebrain. Go call for Blazingstar and Tawnypaw." his words were cold but the meaning behind him were warm. Perhaspe he felt a bond with the shecat already, even if they had never talked before. Spireflare called for the other cats, ("We found them we found them!"). Fireflare in the meantime rested himself next to the unmoving shecat. Her breath felt shallow, a chilled hue to her fur. He rested his head ontop of her. He didn't care how she looked, he was unphased as he closed his eyes and waited for the leader to arrive.

"Please live."