RiverClan Clearing

[Beaan]

Originally Posted by Winterberrycat

Stormbreeze put the fish down in front the elder and purred "True, the kits always playing"

@Beancat

Grumbletail put his head up. He sniffed the cat. "Ah! Stormbreeze! I know that scent anywhere!" He dipped his head and started eating the fish. "Thank you. Do you want to join me?" He asked. He is always in a bad mood around young cats but very kind to warriors and queens.

(Does stormbreeze know he is blind? Just wondering"

[Storm Flower]

He nodded "i would love to"

(Yes he do)

@Beancat

[Beaan]

(Ok.)

The elder moved to make room for the warrior. "So, what's new?" He asked. He had been taking a nap when the meeting was called so he is not aware of what had happened. He caught a scent of a mouse. Mouse-brain. He thought. He unsheathed his claws and slammed his paw on the mouse.
@Winterberrycat

[~Fierce~]

~Shypaw~
Shypaw listened carefully at the explanation that Snakeheart gave, soaking in this new information. Marigold was an orange flower that smells herbal and chamomile is a small white flower with a sweet scent. Both flowers liked it near Sleepy Thicket so that seemed like the best place to go, right? She nodded at Snakeheart as he padded away before turning to her patrolmates. She took a deep breath before speaking. "It seems we're heading to Sleepy Thicket. I'll let you guys lead the way." She meowed in her raspy voice before she stopped talking.
@x ghostie @tulle

[taillow]

Dustymoth
Orange flower, smells herbal. Chamomile, smells sweet. Dustymoth lifted his tail to smack against his forehead in a noble salute towards the medicine cat. "You got it, Snakeheart!" he vowed, ducking his head low in a finishing bow. Once he lifted his head the medicinec at had already scrambled away - off to save another patience, Dustymoth had no idea how he did it! - so the large tom turned towards his patrolmates. He wasn't too familiar with either of them aside from Wormbite. Memories of their first encounter that went deeper than a surface level interaction resonated in his mind and the fluffy tom smiled.

Ears swiveling as Shypaw spoke up, Dustymoth nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds good to me! What do you think, Wormbite?" Blue hues shifted from the apprentice to the shield-warrior as he awaited any commentary from the tom. He knew better than to take over this patrol as Dustymoth did not want that sort of spotlight on him. Wormbite seemed better suited for it anyway, so he would be happy just trailing along behind and pitching in wherever he could.

@x ghostie @~Fierce~

[bailu]

| @poppy. |

- Hazelstorm -

Talk about her parents? Just thinking about them was painful enough, knowing tha she wouldn't see them again, at least not for moons and moons. The first response she gave was a despaired sigh.

Hazelstorm didn't trust this cat enough... so she was reluctant to talk about them. But looking up at Gorgespring, a powerful wave of sadness washed over Hazelstorm.
"My mother was Daisyleap and my father was Frecklesight," she began, in an emotionless, dried-out voice. She didn't trust herself to let emoton creep into her voice. She couldn't afford to collapse now, in front of this warrior.
"I was their only kit," she added, to clarify why she was alone in the world, without any of her family alive. "Daisyleap was the best mother I could have asked for. She... she protected me- and cared for me. She listened to my troubles and fed me when I was hungry. She-she never ignored me." Her voice caught and she paused, staring determinedly at the ground, not wanting to cry. Hazelstorm pressed her lips together, her head tilted down, avoiding Gorgespring's gaze. "My dad, Frecklesight, didn't live in the nursery with me and Daisyleap but he was kind and fierce. He told me stories of-of hunting and... and patrols, and about our leader too. He-he was the best too."

She looked up, her voice breaking, and met Gorgespring's eyes. Hazelstorm was still determined not to cry.
"That day the coyote invaded our camp, my father was killed by it," she continued quietly. "The coyote killed Frecklesight and Daisyleap leapt out to help drive it away. But she was overpowered by it. She was murdered trying to drive the coyote away from the camp."
It was all too much. The memory formed in Hazelstorm mind. Herself, tiny and mewling, crying out as Daisyleap fell, scarlet blood pouring from her neck. When the coyote went away at long last, Hazelstorm, Hazelkit back then, had been left an orphan at the age of three moons.
This time she couldn't hold it in anymore. She ducked her head, pressing her paws to her face, the crushing feeling she had felt that terrible day numbing her senses, settling in her inners. Hazelstorm had thought she'd recovered... but deep down, she knew she would never recover from it.

[Rani]

He felt empty heavy hollow as the tom padded out of his den. It... It just didnt feel real, none of this did and distantly the ringing in his ears that spoke of how shell shocked he was was fading as cold harsh reality numbed him to the world he now had to live in. What.... What do you even do in this reality? Snakeheart didnt know even though with this much loss in his life he should. He should take some chamomile... He should tell Kes. Kestrelstar. Stormtalon was his best friend the two were closer then Snakeheart and Stormtalon were and as empty as he felt his reaction would be far tamer then his brothers.....


Even growing used to this reality it spoke to just how shaken Snakeheart was that he didnt go to speak in private simply calling out a loud yet weak "Kestrelstar!" in the middle of the clearing blood dripping off his paws. His blood Morningpaws blood who else. He was shaking slightly and he never even noticed.

@arden

[spade]

Karma was a fickle thing. A trap enlisted by the universe to ensure those who wronged it were taught a lesson and put back on the straight and narrow. It didn't discriminate, nor did it ever miss. A couple of days, a week maybe, or even a few moons or a year; it had its claws in every part of the waking world, curved talons hooked and ready to deliver. Memories of long ago sins, committed under a mask of grief and revenge, rarely washed up on the shoreline of Kestrelstar's memory, and the gray tabby chose not to go searching for them anymore.

He had paid the price for the atrocities committed under his poisoned claws already, hadn't he? Hadn't the stars above ripped enough away from him that finally, just maybe, his debts were repaid?

In a perfect world, yes. But this was far from a perfect world.

The first red flag that Kestrelstar noticed as he emerged back into camp, fur still dusted lightly with snow, was the blood. It was faint, but droplets lingered on the ground. A trail of them, small and unnoticeable if not being looked for and leading straight to the medicine den. Worry creased his expression as yellow eyes shifted to examine the entrance. Muffled voices came from it, though the RiverClan leader was too far from the entrance to detect them.

Of course, he had much more faith in Snakeheart to handle whatever it was that had occurred, and the blood didn't look enough to point towards death. So nothing struck him as out of the ordinary. He was sure he'd hear about it soon enough - maybe some apprentice hadn't listened to his order of staying in camp unless accompanied by a warrior and was just now learning of the consequences that came with such an action.

That was, until Snakeheart emerged from his den with a look that turned Kestrelstar's blood cold. Something was wrong. He could feel it, a small chill on the back of his neck. The blood was notated and in a flash he was at his brother's side worry written all over his face. "Snakeheart! What's wrong? Are you hurt?? What happened?" In an instant he was sniffing the medicine cats fur trying to detect any injuries, any wounds. But there were none. The RiverClan leader pulled back in confusion, eyes flickering from his paws and back up to his face.

What had happened?

// @Rani

[Rani]

It was strange how perception warped in this state, the world more malleable then it should be on such a fragmented mind. Kestrelstar wasnt here, he didnt exist did he ever really was he just like Cricketpaw little more then a dream, Kestrelstar was here sounding so scared and confused. The medicine cat simply stood in silence for a moment brain lagging behind a broken heart as his brother (little brother now when had he outgrown the leader and emotionally the medicine cat was used to this horrid life but was he?) fretted over him. He couldnt move couldnt think caught in the fading joy that seemed to dust the tom with the horrible thought that he was going to ruin it. Snakeheart had to tell Kestrelstar Stormtalon was dead.


Oh Stormtalon was dead, the realization sinking in was a shot to the gut again no matter how used to the fact Snakeheart was getting. He- he....


The medicine cat lurched forward curling around the smaller tom (so strong but there was no strength in this grief) paw lifting up to shaking but unmovably wrap around Kestrelstars neck and shoulders claws frantically digging into fur (he couldnt lose him too not his brother) though not too deep. You think his voice would be breaking shaking but it was all to clear even with the grief dragging down every syllable.

"Stormtalon is dead. H-he was on a patrol with Morningpaw and an owl.... Hes gone.... I-I....... Im so sorry."

@arden

[spade]

Paws wrapped around Kestrelstar's neck in a way that felt comforting yet disconnected. Normally the spitfire tom was not this forward with affection, despite the connection that tied them together. Claws pierced his fur but not his skin, the iron grip tethering him to his brother. He could feel the rapid thumping of Snakeheart's chest against his, and soon his own set off in a race to match. What had happened?? Why were his paws covered in blood?? Who was in his den?? What -

A pristine moment, maybe to camp onlookers a sweet hug between brothers. But the once quiet air was now pierced with words that Kestrelstar never in a million moons thought he would hear; Stormtalon was dead.

His first instinct was to freeze. Every muscle, every fiber solidified as fear cascaded down onto him in ravenous waves. Screams from unknown voices erupted inside his head, jeering at him with sharp tongues and bullet words, obliterating the memory of his snow fight with Sunsetbloom just moments ago. His throat felt tight, air not coming in fast enough. Something was choking him, strangling the life from his lungs and leaving his mind scrambling to hold on from going over the edge. Darkness spotted around his vision and despite the hug Snakeheart had enveloped him in, his paws shot forward into the ground in an attempt to create distance.

No, nonononono. No. Stormtalon couldn't die. He was Stormtalon. Fierce. Loyal. Unbreakable. Memories of a small kit with an inquisitive mind and an affinity for the stars and bugs alike flashed behind darkened yellow eyes as the leader stumbled backwards. Choked back sobs that had come without his permission dampened his face, eyes wide and staring dead at Snakeheart. A tiny crack, a small ping, and he felt his mind's grip began to loosen. Swallowed up by the abyss and destroyed in an instant (he made no move to save it this time). The last thing he saw before it all went black were brilliant, emerald green eyes staring back at him.

"..." His jaw moved and parted but no words came. Aimless shakes of his head as trembles raced up and down his paws. Suddenly his lives were stripped away, his rank, his title, everything important and Kestrelstar was a kit once more. Shrinking back against the ground though his eyes remained on Snakeheart. Shaking his head as if that would somehow clear the image of the blood-stained medicine cat from his view. He felt hot and sticky, like the water of Haven Springs were pulling him under. He needed Stormtalon, he needed to see it for himself. He needed -

"W-Where is Plumsto-orm?" Kestrelstar croaked, ears back as he frantically looked around. Cast aside was whatever was going on, whatever reason she seemed to be avoiding him - it didn't matter. She was safety to him, a place he could hang up his responsibilities and shortcomings and be home. But her silver pelt was nowhere to be found. "...O-Or Froze-enb..." The next name he could hardly get out, a brutal cough shaking him. Pleading eyes bore into Snakeheart, begging him to give him answers to questions he had not even asked.

Stormtalon was gone. Plumstorm was gone. Frozenberry was gone.

Suddenly everything felt overwhelming. Walls that had once felt like home turned dark, and the walls that had been reinforced closed in around him like enemy claws. Not safe. Not safe. Alarms rang in his head as Kestrelstar continued to shake his head, mumbling incoherent sentences as he continued to back away from Snakeheart. He was wrong. Morningpaw was an apprentice and had gotten it wrong. Stormtalon was alive. He was. "I'm going to find him," he whispered with a falsified determination and a dull gaze. Autopilot was a mode he had not visited since right after his mothers death. Lips set in a hard line, instead of shaking his head Kestrelstar was now nodding. He'd find Stormtalon. He'd bring him home as his friend had once done with him. Whatever the dark tabby was running from, whatever had really taken him away, he'd convince him that they could face it. Together.. He'd even rope Plumstorm into it too if necessary. The three of them together... they could get through anything.

There wasn't much time. In an almost robotic sense, Kestrelstar's gaze surveyed the camp though missed taking in any detail. He was sure his Clan was staring, wondering what was happening. It didn't matter; he was running out of time to find Stormtalon. Finally, his gaze met Snakeheart's once more. His brother. But right now, his other brother needed him. He had to find him.

A flash of tabby fur, and then he was gone, out of camp and disappearing into RiverClan territory.

@Rani [ this post is open for the Clan to react to! don't worry about chasing after kes as he's long gone, but any cats currently in the clearing are welcome to react to this if you want ^^ ]