RiverClan Clearing

[ExhibitX]

Originally Posted by arden

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 ^^ ]

When Frostkit stepped out of the Nursery, they had expected to watch the warriors train, maybe learn a battle move. They didn't expect this.

Clan cats stood frozen, watching Kestrelstar frantically storm out of the camp, leaving Snakeheart sitting in the snow, shaking. Both of them were clearly upset, something that they'd never yet seen from a warrior, much less a clan leader. Something was clearly wrong, and Frostkit realized that when they caught coppery scent of blood. Some cat must've gotten hurt, and they were upset.

Yes, that must be whats wrong. Looking around, they squeaked, “What happened? Whats going on?”

[WinterMara]

| Whitepaw of Riverclan |

She was just grooming herself, when a commotion was made, oh, the leader was upset and dashing out of camp, of course-. Wait, what, cats looked, confused, shocked, upset, Snakehearted looked, odd. The molly only took a second to think of them though, eh, boohoo something bad happened, get over it you're both high ranks you should have more mental strength than this. Whitepaw just, went back to grooming herself, first time she'd ignored something and pushed it to the side for that, odd.

| @arden [Reaction post, not open, but you can have your character form an opinion of White off this!]

[WhitesilverQueen]

Spottedkit shook away her grief and hurt and walked over to Snakeheart. "Snakeheart? Are you ok?" the medicine cat looked like he needed to be comforted.
@Rani

[-Ambermoon-]

Cherrykit just wandered around the camp, then stopped at the clearing. Another kit was there, so she assumed that it was ok. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. the scent of loss and fear hung in the air, and Cherrykit shivered. She stood about 2 fox-tail lengths far from Spottedkit and Snakeheart, and tried to work out what has happened.

moments later, she padded over to Spottedkit and Snakeheart to ask: "Excuse me, would you mind telling me what happened?"

Pls bump me after 48 hours

[WhitesilverQueen]

Spottedkit spotted Cherrykit. "Stormtalon is missing" she informed the other kit. Then she turned back to Snakeheart and tried to comfort him.
@Willowflame

[-Ambermoon-]

(Cherrykit)
Stormtalon? She can't remember who he is. Or even that she had never seen him before. Cherrykit can only stare at Spottedkit, and murmur a few comforting words to Snakeheart. Stormtalon's missing. The words of the kit replayed in her mind a few times before she stuttered out: "How is he missing?"

Pls bump me after 48 hours

[WhitesilverQueen]

Spottedkit shrugged. "I'm not sure. Um, is there an herb for shock, Snakeheart?"
@Rani @Willowflame

[-Ambermoon-]

Cherrykit padded on. Not going to disturb you. She thought, though the fact that Stormtalon's missing made her a bit anxious.

[poppy]

Gorgespring honestly expected to be spat at, to be told to mind her own business. But, while rather hesitant, she was proved wrong by Hazelstorm baring her soul and showing immense vulnerability. That was a horrible thing to go through, losing both your parents at 3 moons old. Being alone in the world, after losing our whole family. What was the right approach to replying to this? Playing into emotions or trying to help her through it? Neither of those were things that Gorgespring excelled in, so she hesitated, frowning.

''That uh… wow. Thank you for sharing your parents with me.'' She said softly. Oh, to have parents. Her mother was her mother but also… wasn't her mother? If that made any sense. Her mother wasn't a mother, but was still her birth-giver. That was a horribly awful analogy. Welp.

''They died to save you. And their Clan.'' Her eyes widened. ''That... that doesn't make it your fault, of course. They chose to do it. If you had died that day... they probably wouldn't have a reason to go on. You lived... you lived for a reason. You'll see them again. But until then... just make them proud. I know I sound cliche, but it's.. true?'' She had no idea what the hell she was doing.
@mystical

[poppy]

Stars above, what the hell happened to Snakeheart? Narrowed slate eyes followed the medicine cat as he ran to Kestrelstar's embrace. Oh, dear. Something must be horribly wrong. Blizzardwind sat in the entrance of the warriors den, then came out, hobbling slightly. His muscles always took a beating with the cold weather. But then, Sakeheart's words made him freeze, like a statue of ice, the old cat stood rigid, fur spiked out.

Stormtalon. Stormpaw. Apprentice. Warrior. Friend. Gone.

No.

He struggled to breath. That wasn't true. His apprentice. Former. Whatever he was. Former apprentice. Little permanent pain in the ass. Jesting with every interaction they had.

Preparing to join the elder's den, old man?
Is now the time for lectures?
Are you proud?

A little tabby cat stood in front of him. Stormpaw. Trotting off, the little cat faded away, a figment of memories. ''Wait.'' He croaked, reaching out for Stormpaw. But the apprentice was gone, and Blizzardwind lost his balance, crashing to the ground. Humiliation filled him, and tears streamed out of his bleak, cold eyes. ''No.... NO!'' He felt that familiar anger bubbling up inside of him. He needed Dawnwhisper. He needed them. Where were they?

Gone. They were the only one who could quell his absolute fury. His heartache. His ruptured soul. He had to get out of here. He was going to hurt someone if he didn't leave. Trying to keep the red film away from his mind, the one that made his anger take hold, he barreled out of camp, tripping over his own paws, blinded by red and tears. Bile rose up into his throat.

He was hardly out of camp when he keeled over, vomiting out of pure shock and horror. For the love of StarClan itself, why could they ever let this happen? Stumbling farther away from everyone, he stood on the ground beside the river, the freezing, damp ground coming up too fast. He sat, then felt a feeling of absolute agony. Not physical, but it felt like thousands of thorns in his heart. He had practically raised the damn cat. Trained him in the way of the warrior. He had grown a father-son bond with him.

And now he was dead.

''I was supposed to go first! He's young! I'm old and cranky and I'm mean to everyone! WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE ME INSTEAD?!'' He raised his head, screeching his fury to the sky. ''I WANT HIM BACK!'' And he screamed hateful words to those damned cats in the sky, burning his anger out. The anger kept him warm. And then... now the coldness came in. The wet ground beneath him, wet from the splashing and spraying of the river, the water occasionally spraying on him and making his skin fur with frigidness, the cold air freezing his damp fur so that it was practically icicles.

His nose ran slightly, and his nostrils burned from the cold air. His throat was sore from screaming. But who would care, anyways? Snowleap. Stormtalon. Dawnwhisper. Only they mattered, one gone and one was dead, and one was still around, but he was young, he had a life ahead of him. Blizzardwind was just a fleeting presence in Snowleap's life.

Who would come looking for him? No one would grieve over his corpse, no one would look at him and remember him as anything more than the grumpy, senile old coot that he projected. The only ones who saw the other side of him were gone. Snowleap, Blizzardwind was hard on him. They never got to have that same relationship that him and Stormtalon did.

And so, the elderly tom sat by the river, feeling his anger ebb away to be replaced by complete anguish. Agony, ripping and tearing at his soul. Grief flooding his mind. As his skin tingled with coldness, and his heart was shattered with every thought he had, the tom wondered if there was a point in continuing.


@arden [reaction post :\]