Maplekit/Starlingkit | 3 Moons | Kit | Lightly Injured | [Nursery] | Mentions: Lionkit, Blossomheart

Maplekit didn't know what to say to her brother, but then she figured that Blossomheart did the job. But what did she mean by "find you both a safe place"? Surely they weren't in that much danger?
She looked at the wounds of the other warrior, and felt a pang of guilt. She had taken the blow, for her and her brother.
"Lionkit, we need to do what Blossomheart says. Either way.. she doesn't look very well, Snowecho and Horsetail will make her feel better."
Starlingkit awoke, pushing herself to her feet and giving a blank expression on her face. Almost.. bored. She went to the back of the nursery, shoving a small patch of leaves out of the way, where a hole small enough for a kit to pass through was.
"Didn't think I'd need it this soon, but let's go. We don't have time to waste. We can find an empty rabbit hole right beyond camp, somewhere we can easily be found. Blossomheart will let our uncle know, and he'll be the first to find us."
She tapped her paw, waiting for Lionkit to join her. Her shoulders were stiff from sitting for so long, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the blow Maplekit had took earlier on.

Swallowfall | 17 Moons | Co-Deputy | Injured | Camp | Mentions: Raindrop, Blossomheart, Lionkit, Maple/Starlingkit

Swallowfall took a deep breath, listening to Raindrop's words. "Thank you, Raindrop." She said sincerely, nodding her thanks to the younger she-cat. She brushed her tail along Raindrop's flank as she bounded away in the direction of the nursery. Her icy-blue eyes caught sight of a wounded Blossomheart in front of the entrance speaking to someone in the darkness of the den, presumably the kits. Swallowfall slunk around the edge of the camp, avoiding the gazes of any Dark Forest warriors. She reached the nursery in time to hear Blossomheart telling the kits to find a safe place. "Blossomheart! Are you okay?! Are the kits okay?!" She cried, taking in the sight of the injured she-cat.

Pebblesplash|20 moons|Healthy/Minor Injury| Warrior|Temp. Camp|Mentions: Clearsong, Whorlpaw, Aldershade, Hawkstrike, Horsetail, Snowecho (D), Slateleaf, Softsong, Honeyfrost, Stagthorn, Stripecloud
————
Pebblesplash dipped her head to Aldershade and Whorlpaw, and stood up. She smiled quickly at Clearsong one last time before she too rejoined the battle.

She bowled over the nearest cat, snarling. Of course, this cat shoved her off and clawed her stomach in the process. Screeching, she flung herself away, not wanting to risk it. The cat folllowed her, nearly knocking her over again. Pebblesplash batted the dark cat away and fled into the crowd.

Panting, she scrambled back. Her gaze searched the clearing, finally landing on her uncle and Hawkstrike.
Oh no.
Hawkstrike was wrestling with a she-cat. The fight was brief, but both cats were injured. Severely.
Pebblesplash’s paws unfroze and she bound over as Hawkstrike fell.
I’m not losing you to these vile cats!
”Hawkstrike! No! You’ll be okay, you’ll be okay…” she should have never left him alone. She should have stayed nearby, where she could have helped him.
Earthquake was being especially vicious, obliterating any dark cat that crossed his path.
I will worry about that later.
Pebblesplash looked at Hawkstrike nervously.
”I’m going for Snowecho or Horsetail, I’ll be back soon,” she promised, looking him dead in the eye.

Spring away, she tore through the battlefield, determined to reach the medicine den.
Just a little further.
Suddenly, she stopped dead.
Slateleaf and Softsong and Honeyfrost were facing off. Pebblesplash considered joining them, but then backed out. Hawkstrike could die.

Bursting into the den, she cried, ”Hawkstrike is hurt! He’s collapsed on the ground, please one of you help him!” Her words spilled out, and she frantically looked across the den. Stagthorn. Stripecloud. The two warriors were in the den, one passed out and the other losing a lot of blood. She felt a little ashamed for asking for help, but Hawkstrike could die at any second.

Hawkstrike|14 Moons|He’s Lost A Lot of Blood|Warrior|Camp|Mentions: Pebblesplash

Hawkstrike felt his pelt burning with pain. He heard Pebblesplash’s worried voice sweep over his ears. He barely heard it. The Tom could hear this high pitched ringing sound from his one ear that was left. He let his mind sink over to Thornheart. Not knowing why, but he let it happen. He thought of all the times his mother could have told him. One moment stood out in particular.

FlashBack

Hawkkit and his brother tussled in the nursery. They were only two moons but they acted like apprentices sometimes. Mudtail pushes them apart softly chuckling to herself.
“Stop making a mess, your father would be displeased.” Hawkkit and Eaglekit both looked straight at their mother for this.
“Why doesn’t our father see us? The other kits get to see their father.” Eaglekit whined looking at his paws. Hawkkit looked to his brother curling a comforting tail around him.
“I will tell you two when your older.” The queen murmured softly looking away.
“But-“
“No Eaglekit! No more questions.” The queen snapped.
“You have to tell them one day Mudtail.” Blossompeak apple from across the den.
“I will Blossompeak, one day. But not today.” Blossompeak gave her a stern look making Mudtail shift uncomfortably.
“Your father was a great cat, kind and gentle. He died before you two were born. You would have loved him though.” Blossompeak let out a small noise but Mudtail ignored her. “His name was Lionstripe.”

End FlashBack

The memory hurt. His own mother had lied right to his face. Hawkstrike tried to lift his paw up but couldn’t. He let out a groan of pain as he tried to move. The Tom didn’t even make it a centimeter. The pain was unbearable. His life was hanging off the cliff.

Lionkit|Kit|3 Moons Old|Healthy|Mentions Directly: Maplekit, Blossomheart, Swallowfall|Mentions Indirectly: |Location: Camp

"Alright", Lionkit said, still a bit disappointed that he could not help. A small smile came to his face though, when the she-cat flicked his ear with her tail. He was glad for the clan, since both of their parents were no longer here, the clan was like one big family too the kits now. Looking back, as Maplekit opened up the hole in the side of den and said that they could hide in an abandoned rabbit burrow, the young calico tom nodded his head. It was a good idea to leave that way, since then they could sneak out of the camp. Turning, he was about to walk over to his sister, but stopped and looked back around to Blossomheart. "Since we're going to hide, you can go and see the medicine cats", leaving the warrior with that, Lionkit turned back around and walked over to Maplekit.
He nodded his head to his littermates, they should be careful. Leaning down, he looked out of the hole, just to make sure there was no one there. He could not see anyone, "I think it's clear", Lionkit said, glancing over to his littermate. Sitting back, he nodded his head to Maplekit. "We should hurry", the young tom said, "You should go first, I know which rabbit hole you mean, but I don't know the way by heart", he added. Before he could say more, Lionkit looked back to the nursery entrance, as he heard voices outside of the den. "I think that's Swallowfall", Lionkit said. Turning back, head headed for the nursery entrance and poked his head out. "We're fine", Lionkit said, nodding to Blossomheart he added, "Blossomheart has been guarding us. What's happening?" Looking back to Swallowfall, the kit cocked his head to the side and waited for the deputies respond

Sunstar | 29 Moons | 7/9 Lives | Co-Leader | Near Dead - Unknown Injury | [Camp] | Mentions: Brokenbone [D], Glade [D], Everyone [ID]

Sunstar's eyes bore into the camp, he felt the blur of everything move so fast. He didn't know what to do.. they could kill these Dark Forest cats all day, but who's to know that they will win? And where was Brokenbone and Thistlestar? Surely they must be showing up soon..
Without a chance to look up, he heard a yowl at the entrance of the camp. The sound made his fur stand, but he refused to let it get to him and raised his shoulders to stand taller. His eyes burned, but he screwed up his eyes and managed to see Brokenbone, looking over at the leader. He groaned, noticing his father next to him. How could you have abandoned me.. for him? What could you possibly love about him?
Brokenbone yelled over the clearing, "So, looks like this is where it all ends for you, Sunstar. You've lost everything.. and now it's time for you to join me. Your father doesn't want me to kill you, even though I'd do it in a heartbeat. Ally with the Dark Forest, and we will spare half of your clan."
He was about to speak, when a voice interjected. "He's always the worst at making decisions. Sunstar should have never been leader."
Sunstar watched in horror as a shadow slid into view, and Glade gave him his signature wicked grin. He unsheathed his claws in an instant, ready for such a fight. Though, Starclan knows.. This was a battle he would most definitely lose.
Brokenbone and Glade charged, heading straight for Sunstar. He hissed, pushing his hind legs in a defensive position.
The moment he attacks you, his grip on Thistlestar will be lost.
Sunstar didn't know what it was. It was a whisper on the wind, easing his anxiety. He yowled, leaping on Glade. The shadowy warrior was careful, blocking the attacks from Sunstar and slashing down the leader's forepaw.
Brokenbone was there shortly after, nipping at Sunstar's legs. He tried to shove the evil cat away, but Brokenbone gave a victory yell as he sank his teeth into Sunstar's neck.
The co-leader yowled in pain, trying to shove both of the Dark Forest warriors off of him. He felt blood pouring out of his neck, but he refued to give up now. He hissed, throwing Glade off of his back.
Moment later, he heard a hiss, looking up just in time to see Thistlestar leap at Brokenbone, flinging the cat into a broken tree. He looked at Sunstar with a hopeful gaze.
"I don't know what happened, son. I was blinded when he came into Starclan.. It was like he set me in a trance or something. I'm not in love with him, and I would give up my life for you. I'm sorry."
Sunstar purred, brushing his muzzle along his father's flank. He understood immediately, the voice on the wind knew. He could trust it.
The next moment, everything was too fast to comprehend. The co-leader looked around camp, and watched as Starclan warriors spawned out of nowhere. They had taken back Starclan!
Lioncloud was in the midst, and gave Sunstar a dipped head before throwing himself into a throng of shadowy warriors. He smiled with hope. Starclan had not abandoned them.
While he was watching on, Brokenbone had snuck up behind him. He leaped on Sunstar's back, tearing at his fur. Glade was off somewhere else, and he needed to warn the clan. Before he could yowl in warning, Brokenbone jumped off of Sunstar, kicking his feet out from beneath him. He raised his claws, blood dripping from his fangs.
Thistlestar leaped at him, but Brokenbone simply slashed the tom's neck, and he exploded into stardust, disappearing into the wind. "His usefulness is now over. Now.. You're all I need in order to live."
Brokenbone bit down hard, as Sunstar didn't have time to yowl, or grieve, or even say goodbye to his father who tried to save him. He watched the fighting around him as his muzzle fell to the side, landing in the dirt. He blinked slowly, feeling his 2nd life drain from him as he went to join Starclan. The tom felt warmth surround him, and his glowing blue eyes glazed over, empty.

Raindrop | 14 Moons | Warrior | Injured |Camp | Mentions:
Directly: NPC, Sunstar (Briefly), Swallowfall (Briefly)
Indirectly:

Raindrop smiled sympathetically to Swallowfall before the she cat rushed away to the nursery. Raindrop turned, bounding toward to warrior’s den after seeing a white Dark Forest cat slip by it. Her entrance was all but discreet, however, as by the time she reached the tom, he had turned and stared back at her with a flicking tail, a smirk on his muzzle.

”Rushflake.”

”Rainpaw.”

”Raindrop.”

”Small. Like yourself. Figures.” Rushflake chuckled, his lip drawn into a snarl. ”You always were getting into peculiar situations.”

Raindrop’s claws curled into the cold earth, ”At least I’m still alive. I didn’t die for being an idiot.”

”No one told me deathberries were deadly!”

”It’s in the name, mousebrain! Kits know this!”

”I’m sure warrior kits know.” Rushflake grunted, narrowing his eyes at Raindrop. ”Maybe if Breezekit weren’t a halfblood, he’d still be alive. He’d have known to stay in the den.”

”Just because we have kittypet blood doesn’t mean we have to be kittypets, and keep my brother’s name out of your mouth.” Raindrop growled in response, her voice dangerously low.

”Are you sure? It won't stop the involuntary comparisons, though, will it? It’s in our blood. Accept it Raindrop. Accept the fact that your brother was picked from the start.”

Rushflake had picked a nerve with this comment, Raindrop’s tail lashed. ”To be a kit, is to be curious, Rushflake.” She flashed back, stalking nose to nose with the tom, ”A warrior should know basic herb knowledge, a kit is going to be curious of everything. Blood doesn’t determine anything except how you look and where you’re parents decided to find love. My brother was being a kit, you were hungry. We all were.”

Deciding she had enough conversation, Raindrop flung herself at the tall, white tom, claws outstretched. Rushflake ducked at the last second, however, causing Raindrop to overshoot and topple over him. Rushflake easily launched himself to land on her, yet Raindrop was prepared to claw at his belly, ripping out clumps of belly fur at a time. Rushflake yowled and tried to pummel her himself. Rolling Raindrop onto her back, he dug his claws into her silver dappled fur, taking fur in patches. Raindrop shook herself, making Rushflake lose balance and fall from her. Both cats rolled aside and collected themselves, slowly circling one another.

”Nice moves.” He panted, ”Want to see a few tricks I know?” Before he had even finished his sentence, he had already started charging at Raindrop. He ducked to slide beneath her, forcing Raindrop to leap and twist in the air. Reaching up, he grabbed her stomach and slammed her into the ground, leaving her winded. Raindrop’s eyes were dazed for a moment before she recovered. It was too late, however, as she was already being gouged at the stomach while she shrieked in pain. Raindrop attempted to throw off her attacker, however he held fast.

”Get off me you pile of mange!” Raindrop shrieked writhing beneath the white tom.

”Now why would I do that?”

His attention lapsed for a moment, and that was all Raindrop needed. Bleeding heavily from her stomach, Raindrop surged her body upward, however she must have been weaker than she thought as the tom merely readjusted his balance and continued to claw at her stomach.

It burned to Dark Forest, it felt like it was being torn apart. Raindrop’s breathing was fast as adrenaline filled her, however nothing she tried shook Rushflake’s hold.

Suddenly to tom hit something.

Her body convulsed.

Raindrop's quick panting stopped and her vision faded to black, her flailing paws slowing to a slow kick, and eventually stilled. The searing pain in her stomach relaxed and she was suddenly filled with tranquility. Looking down, she saw her body and the tom standing over her with a malicious grin. She growled, trying to attack him, however even she passed through his form. What was happening? She sat back, panic slowly rising in her chest as her mind comprehended that was her body on the ground.

”I’m... dead?… How am I dead? Why? No. This can’t be real…” Raindrop was at an utter loss for words. ”I have so much to live for…” The words fell like stones in Randrop’s stomach. Stripecloud would be heartbroken, and she had only just found out Finchpaw was related to her. Pebblesplash would also be upset with her, she’d probably make the white tom go running for the hills. Raindrop’s ears flattened as she shrank to the ground, shaking from shock. She’d been killed so easily. Maybe she was weaker than she thought. Maybe her size was a drawback. Maybe, after all these years of being told it wasn’t, Breezekit’s death was her fault…

The thought of his name made her remember her brother. He was a small, sand colored tom with no markings, he was always trying to run even as a kit. He’d kick in his sleep, scamper around the den after a moss ball, and try to leave camp unnoticed. Then they had found a fox den. They got the idea to go in. Two fox cubs came out and attacked the pair. Instead of running, Breezekit stayed to fight. Rainkit panicked and fled, hearing Breezekit smack painfully against a rock. She was chased, her tail caught, but she didn’t stop running.

She had left her brother behind to die.

It would always be her fault.

Maybe she deserved this, after all…

Raindrop curled on the ground, a low, grieving moan escaping her. She missed her brother. She wanted him back. Maybe… Maybe she’d see him in Starclan. Maybe her death wasn’t pointless. Raindrop began to stand, to look for a way to Starclan. How was this supposed to happen? She didn’t see any light or path to follow. She looked around her as the scenery around her was enveloped in blackness, Raindrop’s eyes widened. What was happening?

”It’s not your time yet. I’ll meet you long after the battle, hopefully.”

A soft voice, barely there, carried on a small wind. A scent came with it, sickly sweet, almost like a wilting flower. The wind strengthened until buffeted her fur, and suddenly she was in her body again. Her eyes opened wide, looking around wildly before landing on the tom who had killed her. He was now looking at her in utter shock and confusion, ”But you’re not-” He began.

Raindrop cut him off after prying her weak body from the ground. It was badly battered and her legs shook. However, she refused to give this cat a moment to kill her… Again. She’d do it first. It was the only way.

Rushflake had been paralyzed from shock and it was easy for Raindrop to grab his throat. Easy to squeeze. Easy to kill him. His form rose up in black smoke, leaving behind a thick, black, sticky liquid Raindrop could only assume was his blood. As he disappeared, Raindrop felt her stability disappear too. Raindrop staggered, another scent suddenly reaching her nose. Through the smell of blood there was the scent of a healing herb, one she’s scene and smelled enough times before. horsetail. She concluded, with a confused flick of her tail. Sitting, she began to wash quickly, hoping not to be distracted too long. The intertwining scents made her dizzy and it didn’t help that she had used a lot of energy already.

To her surprise, she did find a paste of horsetail on her. It had, oddly enough, stopped the bleeding and closed most of the wound. Confusion rolled off of her in waves when the voice was carried on the breeze again,

”I will always be here for you.”

As the young voice came to her, Raindrop’s eyes widened and her breath hitched in her throat. ”Breezekit?” Raindrop barely whispered it.

Suddenly a yowl sounded by the entrance of camp. Raindrop’s fur bristled as she saw Brokenbone and Glade charge in, however Starclan cats soon started appearing too. One appeared before her as a small sandy orange kit, maybe three moons old. Raindrop’s legs wobbled and gave out under her as she saw her brother for the first time since the night of the fox. She immediately wrapped herself around him with a loud, rumbling purr, her throat constricted of words.

Breezekit looked up at her with amber eyes full of wisdom, he looked tired, yet they still shone. ”I’ll be here to protect you. Always.” He said, touching her nose and nuzzling her cheek.

His form slowly turned to stardust and started to wrap around her, his scent filled her nose and she felt renewed strength. A voice filled the back of her head, ”Always.”

Raindrop closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before she stood again, feeling renewed. Her happiness didn’t last long, however, as she suddenly saw Sunstar get stricken down by Brokenbone. ”Sunstar!” She shrieked, but her paws stayed riveted in her spot. Brokenbone was dangerous, she’d get killed… again. It would be best if he tried to handle this on his own.

Stripecloud|17 moons|Sick|Warrior|Camp|Mentions: Pebblesplash, NPC

Stripecloud wandered around. He sniffed the air, he caught the scent of a cat.
"Who's there?" He asked looking around. A cat walked out of the shadows. He looked so familiar, Stripecloud thought the darkness was messing with him.
"No, the darkness is not messing with you, brother." Stripecloud stepped back in surprise.
"Tanglepaw!" Stripecloud ran up to his brother in joy but the tom stepped back his eyes narrowed. "What is it Tanglepaw?" The smaller of the two looked away from Stripecloud.
"You were supposed to protect me. We made a promise to each other. And you broke it when I got killed by that dog." Stripecloud was the one to step back this time. He shook his head.
"No, I tried. I did my best. I just couldn't take on the dog. But I tried Tanglepaw, I tried to protect you." Tanglepaw looked at him. His eyes held coldness.
"You should have been the one that died, not me! Mother always liked me better, and you know it. I was brave, you were a coward. You were always a coward Stripecloud! I bet you are just pretending to be sick so you don't have to fight." Tanglepaw hissed his tail lashing. Stripecloud arched his back his claws digging into the ground.
"How dare you! You're my brother! I will not take these false accusations!"
"Then go out there and fight! Stop sitting around in the medicine den. So what, you have a cough. Get over it! Don't be a coward!"

Stripecloud woke up with a jolt. He looked around and stood up. He held back his cough and looked at the entrance of the den and saw a frantic Pebblesplash. He let out a soft sigh and thought back to the dream. Maybe it was just a dream? No, it seemed so real. He walked to the entrance and slipped past Pebblesplash. The tom looked around and spotted Raindrop. He froze, she would make him go back to the medicine den. Which was probably best, but his mind was really fuzzy at the moment. He ran away from the medicine den and ran right into a cat. He stumbled back and looked at the cat straight in the eyes.
"Why hello Stripepaw." Stripecloud froze not even able to correct she.
"Whitestripe." He gulped. She smiled back at him.
"It's been a while."
(Check out relations-notes in the discord. You can find out who Whitestripe is.)

Quietshadow | 46 Moons | Warrior |Minir Injury |Temp. Camp| Mentions: Mosspaw, NPC (D), Clearsong and Pebblesplash (ID)
//Shame on you if you couldn’t see this coming\\
——
Quietshadow jerked her head up, hearing a new commotion. Starry figures exploded into camp.
StarClan is here!
Turning to Mosspaw, she simply stated,
”Quickly, get to shelter. StarClan is here to help us, you should rest.”
Efficiently, the she-cat wove herself back into the battle, like she never left.

She wasn’t looking where she was going, and collide with a starry figure.

This time, it was an ally.
It was a tom, standing tall, around Clearsong’s height. His fur glowed with a warm orange hue, complementing his amber tabby fur. His eyes… they had the same gleam they did when she left.

”Amberstone.”
The words tasted funny on her tounge. She hadn’t dared speak his name, for all it brought was shame. His eyes widened in shock for a minute, almost as if he couldn’t believe she’d come back.

”Why?” he croaked out, staring her down ”Why come back now? Why leave in the FIRST PLACE?!? the shock had worn out of both of them. Amberstone’s voice was laced with anger and pain.
”Do you realize how much it hurt me? Clearsong? Pebblesplash? The Clan?”

Quietshadow, true to her name, was silent for a minute.
”I… I thought that the Clan wasn’t really where I belonged. After she came back, it really got me thinking. Then a notion of a sibling, finding someone else like me, I couldn’t pass that chance. I wanted you and my- our- kits to come, but you said no. I just wanted to find my family, Amberstone. It was an impossible choice, and I clearly chose wrong.”

Amberstone lashed his starry tail, eyes shining.
”That’s not good enough! You left on the day our kits became apprentices. I was distraught for a moon, I lost myself in finding you. I died for it. On Thunderpath, of all places. Do you know how old “our” kits were? Seven. Moons. They were practically orphaned at seven moons. At least my brother was able to raise them better then we did. I wonder if things would have been different if you hadn’t been so selfish, Quietshadow.”

She was taken back at first, ears pinned back. As he continued talking, her horror and shock grew. No cat had bothered telling her anything about Amberstone, or how he died, or that her kits had been so young.

”I didn’t want to choose! I wanted to stay! I don’t know why, I don’t know—“ Quietshadow cut herself off, as heat coursed through her face. This was stupid. There was no excuse for what she had done. She had left, end of story. Amberstone shouldn’t forgive her. But she still wanted him to know how much she still cared.

”I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”

Amberstone pauses, his ear pricked.

”But I am so, so sorry. I can’t ever make it up to you… but I just wanted to apologize. I still love you, I always will. I want you to know that.”

Amberstone was nose to nose with her now, looking her dead in the eye. Memories rushed back to her.

Quietshadow bound across the grass, stars shimmering above her. Amberstone was on her heels, the pair racing across the old WindClan territory. She turned and smiled at her best friend (who she may or may not have a crush on), and thwacked him with her tail, before sprinting to the edge of the old ThunderClan territory.
”No fair, you cheated!” Amberstone grumbled.
”I was going to win anyway, I hope you know that,” Quietshadow snickered, nudging him. Amberstone just huffed and collapsed in a heap.
”Next time I’m choosing the challenge.”

Quietshadow laughed, a simple sound.
”Okay, I deserve to feel the pain of having no choice.” She flopped down beside him, purring.
”Look how pretty it is tonight. The stars are so bright,” she said, tracing some with her paw.
Amberstone squinted, following her paw.
”What are you drawing?”
”You. Hold still, I won’t make it fluffy enough.”

This time, Amberstone laughed.
”I’m sure it would be stunning if I could actually see it.”
”Use your imagination, mouse-brain. It is amazing,” Quietshadow could clearly picture Amberstone’s portrait in the stars. She leaned into him, shivering.

”It’s cold all the sudden,” she shivered, fluffing up her fur. Amberstone curled his tail around her, forming a little dome of warmth. She looked up at him, tilting her head quizzically. He had never done this before when she’d complained about the cold. Almost sensing her thoughts, she responded.
”Don’t worry about it. It’s a nice night, so I mean we should stay out. I mean, if you want to..”
Suddenly, it felt veeeery hot.
”Yeah, I love it. No worries at all.” she laughed, looking up at him, heart racing.

”Quietshadow… I’ve been meaning to ask for a while, but uh…”

‘Oh StarClan why now.’
Quietshadow blinked once, her only sign of nervousness. Amberstone and her had kind of gone on unofficial “dates”, but it was an unspoken kind of thing. She had suspected that he felt the same way, seeing as the kept doing their nightly excursions. Slowly, Quietshadow felt like they became more then friends, if not in name.

”Would you, uh,— I know we haven’t really done anything together, together, but would you—“

”I’m going to save you the embarrassment and say yes. Yes, I love you too. Yes, I’m not opposed to being your mate,” she pressed into him, a small purr rumbling in her throat.

”Then I’m not opposed to being your,” Amberstone purred back, beaming, ”I was worried for a second that—“

”Shh. It’s okay. We’ve done so much anyway. Every night, yeah? Let’s call those “getting to know each other” and call it good,” she leaned into him, closing her eyes. For a minute, her instincts screamed to back out. But Quietshadow let her heart decide.

And it was worth it.

She was pullled back to the real world by Amberstone, who’s eyes glimmered with… some emotion.

”You came back,” he stated, ”That’s all the matters.”

The starry tom touched noses with her.
”I never stopped loving you either, Quietshadow. I may never understand why you did it, but—“

”Shhh. It’s okay. I don’t even understand why I left. I don’t want you to understand. I just want you to know I still need you,” Quietshadow pulled back, her eyes shining with something between joy and sadness.

”I’ll see you someday again, my love. We will talk more once we can be reunited.”
With that, Amberstone dissolved back into the battle. A ghost of the smile was etched across her face, but Quietshadow quickly wiped it away.
Her heart was still in her throat, but she pushed it away. He was right.

Someday. Someday I’ll make up for everything, I swear it.

Mosspaw | 10 Moons | Apprentice | Minor Injuries |Camp | Mentions: Quietshadow (D), Finchpaw, Olivepaw (ID) DFC NPC, Starclan NPC

Mosspaw drew up sharply to avoid colliding with Quietshadow when she cut in front of him. He looked up at the warrior with a surprised expression, and flattened his ears with dismay. "I-" He started to protest, only to break off when the chaos in the clearing abruptly shifted. He caught a glimpse of starry pelts through the crowd. Starclan! His breath caught in his throat, hope fluttering in his chest.

Quietshadow spoke again, told him to find somewhere safe. He managed a quick nod in response, and then she was gone, vanishing back into the fray. He took a few halting steps towards the apprentice's den, still hoping to find some of the others, perhaps Finchpaw or Olivepaw. He hadn't seen any sign of either of them yet. If he could just make it there...

A screech off to his left startled they grey-and-white tom. He spun around, alarm spreading across his features at the sight of a smoky grey Dark Forest cat, wicked eyes fixated on him. The cat had a set of long gashes stretching from muzzle to ear. They oozed, oily black trails dripping down the cat's face and onto the snow where they dissipated like fog. The shadowy cat snarled, coiled to spring at him. Mosspaw tensed, heart fluttering against his ribs. Quietshadow was right. I can't last through another fight! He thought, despair threatening to crush him.

Just as the Dark Forest cat lunged, a pale-furred starry cat pounced onto their back. The darker cat howled in pain and fury, trying to twist free. Mosspaw scrambled out of the way as the two fell and wrestled in the snow, teeth flashing, claws tearing out clumps of fur. The starry cat managed to get their jaws around the Dark Forest cat's throat, and bit down hard. The dark cat convulsed once, letting out a final rattling gasp, then slowly dissolved into shadows. After a long pause, the Starclan cat finally looked up at the stunned apprentice, their gaze sweeping over him.

Mosspaw felt a small jolt go through him when he met that intense blue stare. Those eyes were ancient, deep and filled with knowledge, and it was as if the starry cat could see right through him, into his very spirit. It sent prickles along his spine, yet he couldn't seem to look away. The clearing, the raging war that surrounded him, it all seemed to fade for a moment.

"Don't linger here. Go." The pale-furred cat spoke finally, voice low and deep. Then they were gone. The sounds of battle came crashing back, startling the apprentice back to reality. Mosspaw blinked at the empty space before him, surprised and a little unnerved. He stood there for a moment more, then gave his head a hard shake and turned, limping towards the apprentice's den, sticking to the edge of the fighting. "Hello, anyone?" He called quietly when he reached the entrance, trying not to draw attention to himself from the clearing.

Stormberry - 34 moons - Co-Deputy - Healthy - Medicine cat den - Mentions: Snowecho, Horsetail (ID), Stagthorn (ID), Sunstar (ID)

Stormberry looked away with a small amount of guilt as Snowecho reminded him that he cared. Their experience together in StarClan would, in normal circumstances, have been more than enough to convince him of that. But the medicine cat has been ignoring him for a long time, and it obviously made him feel like the other tom didn't care about him. As these thoughts passed through his mind, the large tom froze for a moment as Snowecho implied that he didn't have much idea what he was talking about. The white tom began to explain further, but Stormberry felt with each second more and more like he didn't want to listen to it, didn't want to think it was real...

He was distracted when Horsetail ordered him to move Stagthorn to a nearby nest, and the severity of his injuries dragged the deputy reluctantly back to reality. It didn't matter how much he tried to rest his body or his mind, the life of a Clan cat offered no respite from trauma and suffering - at least that was how it seemed to him right now. He shakily forced himself to his paws before picking Stagthorn up and moving him to the nest as best as he could, before he moved back to his own nest and looked back at Snowecho.

"If...if you're trying to play some kind of joke or revenge on me, Snowecho, I don't want to hear it." He grumbled, his tail starting to lash slightly with distress. Stormberry was willing to accept any other explanation than the truth around it all; that Snowecho really had lost all his memory of him. All the moons they had spent growing up together, the bond they shared...was it really all gone, just like that? If it was, he didn't think he could find a way for his heart to cope.

In that moment, he heard yowls from elsewhere in camp about Sunstar, and it made his heart drop even more than it already had. Suddenly feeling that the medicine cat den was becoming just as toxic a place as the rest of camp, the deputy stood back up and pushed himself out into camp. It didn't take long for him to see Sunstar having been struck down by Brokenbone, and it made his fur stand on end. No...all other worries aside, he wasn't going any cat harm his mate without a fight. His grief encouraged him onward, claws unsheathed.

Lionkit|Kit|3 Moons Old|Healthy|Mentions Directly: Maplekit|Mentions Indirectly: Lioncloud|Location: Nursery

The young tom looked back to his sister, he wanted to go out and see what was happening. At the same time though, he wanted to leave and make sure that his sister was in safety. The young tom nodded to himself, he needed to make sure Maplekit was safe. Walking back to his littermate, Lionkit bumped his head against Maplekit's shoulder. "Come on", the young tom said, feigning a smile. "Now, where's that....", the kit was about to ask, where the rabbit burrow was, but stopped. His legs suddenly felt weak and his head started to swim, Lionkit's vision became blurry. "What?", the young tom managed to say, before collapsing. With a soft thud, his small body hit the ground. Lionkit's blue eyes blinked once, twice and then they closed. He was scared, what was happening to him? "Calm yourself", a deep and raspy voice said in his head, "Don't fight it", the deep voice continued. "L..Lioncloud", Lionkit said into the darkness, remembering the deep voice. "Sorry young one, I have some things to do right now. Just wait for a bit", Lioncloud said, there was care in his voice and the kit could feel a large and warm pelt wrap around him. "Now, rest", the Starclan tom purred into the kit's ear.

Lioncloud
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-white-and-brown-feline-736530/
Stormpaw/fang
https://www.pexels.com/photo/siamese-cat-on-brown-surface-1082255/

Lioncloud|Mentions Directly: Stormpaw/fang, Mosspaw, Sunstar|Mentions Indirectly: Amberstone, Quietshadow, Earthquake|Location: Just outside of camp - Camp

A large cat walked along the outskirts of the camp, leaving large paw prints in the snow. As the snow glistened with slight sparkles, so did the large tom's pelt. He was a Starclan cat, he had been one of the few who had been able to hold out against the Dark Forest Cats. The large Starclan tom stopped at the entrance of the camp, he had not appeared in the camp- like the others- he had wanted to secured the area. His sparkling blue eyes moved over the cats in the camp, as he did this another cat came up beside him. The second cat's pelt was cover in a veil of darkness, his eyes dark and claws gleaming in the soft white snow. The Dark Forest cat did not attack the large Starclan tom, instead he dipped his head in respect. "Could I?", the Dark Forest cat asked, not knowing how to really ask. The Starclan cat looked over and nodded his head to the Dark Forest cat, giving the dark tom permission. Relief shown on his face, "Thank you", the tom quickly said and was about to head through the camp. "I think you should change your form though or the clan cats might attack", the large Starclan cat said, in his deep voice. This made the shadowy cat stop in his tracks, "Change?", the Dark Forest cat asked, looking back confused.
Taking a step forward, the large Starclan tom placed his nose on the other cat's head. All of a sudden, the darkness lifted off the cat. This revealed the younger tom's light grey coat and startling light blue eyes, Stormpaw. "How?", he asked, looking down at himself. "You will be accepted into Starclan", the Starclan cat said, a smile of pride on his face, "For turning on the Dark Forest cats and helping us", he added. "Thank you, Lioncloud", Stormpaw said, dipping his head to the older tom. The grey tabby then turned and quickly walked into the camp, not seeing any cat really, the new Starclan cat headed straight for the medicine cat den. There was someone he needed to see, Horsetail. Stormpaw moved between the fighting cats, unaffected by it all. His mind was solely on seeing Horsetail.
Lioncloud's starry blue eyes followed Stormpaw with amusement, 'Young love', the old Starclan tom chitted. He was glad, that the two toms had a chance to see each other again. Flexing his muscles and twitching his ear, as the sounds of fighting drifted over, the large Starclan tom shook out his long pelt. With his large paws, Lioncloud made deep imprints in the snow, as he started towards the camp entrance. Within a few moments, he was inside the camp. There were cries and the flash of claws all around him, Lioncloud let his claws slide out and dig into the ground. His blue eyes traveling over the cats, his eyes fell on a grey apprentice, Mosspaw. The apprentice seemed to be looking in the apprentice den for someone, not noticing a Dark Forest cat was coming up behind him. Before the Dark Forest cat could lunge, Lioncloud had jumped forward and swiftly killed the cat. Looking over, he glanced at Mosspaw. The apprentice was bigger now, bigger than he remembered. "Don't let down your guard", the Starclan tom told Mosspaw, not in an unkind way, but more like a mentor. Turning away he looked over the fighting, he needed to fight. Looking around, he searched for Earthquake. Lioncloud could not find his son, the calico tom shook his head, Earthquake could take care of himself. Lioncloud stopped, as his eyes fell on a tom and she-cat. That was not possible, Amberstone and Quietshadow. The Starclan tom was about to head over to his kit and Quietshadow, but stopped when he suddenly felt a deep pang, looking around Lioncloud searched from where it had come from. Lioncloud's starry blue eyes fell on Sunstar, the leader had been killed. "Oh no", Lioncloud said to himself. The Starclan cat quickly ran over and stood beside the leader's side, he could not help the leader, but he could protect his body until Sunstar came back to it. Looking around, he bared his teeth for a fight.

Stripecloud|17 moons|Sick|Warrior|Camp|Mentions: Whitestripe(NPC), Tanglepaw(NPC)

Stripecloud crouched low. "Didn't make it to StarClan did you? Of course, you didn't. You were always filled with hatred." He broke into a coughing fit. Whitestripe grinned her tail swaying.
"Yes, I was. It's good to see you Stripepaw. This should be an easy fight though. You're blind in one eye, you have a limp, and you are sick. Tsk, you should just surrender now." Stripecloud let out a yowl throwing himself at Whitestripe. Not ready for it, she was bowled over easily. She struggled under Stripecloud's claws.
"That's Stripecloud. I became a warrior. How does it feel knowing you were wrong. I did become a warrior." Stripecloud whispered in her ear digging his claws into her chest. Whitestripe let out a yowl of pain kicking his stomach. Stripecloud let out a small grunt loosening his grip. Whitestripe wriggled out of his grasp and got back up quickly.
Whitestripe bared her teeth circling the tom. Stripecloud watched her sheathing and unsheathing his claws. He then twisted around quickly clawing across her face. Whitestripe took the blow hissing her eyes wide. She yowled and threw herself at Stripecloud.
The two tussled batting each other, drawing blood, and throwing hate at each other. Stripecloud coughed slightly letting Whitestripe dig her claws into his shoulders hooking them in. Stripecloud yowled and threw his claws against her cheek drawing blood. Whitestripe fell back hissing. Stripecloud crouched low his eyes narrowing.
"Enough!" The two stopped and looked over at the voice. Stripecloud stepped back and looked at the tom.
"Tanglepaw..." Stripecloud opened his mouth but it was Whitestripe who spoke.
"Did you know that you two act like kits. You. Shouldn't. Be. Fighting. You should be side by side, not-"
"We are not family. At least he is not my family." Stripecloud turned his head away avoiding Tanglepaw's gaze.
"I don't care if you disowned Stripecloud, Whitestripe. You are still family. You two are so different. Whitestripe, you are now evil (like that was ever new), and Stripecloud, you seem so much less fun. What happened to you." Stripecloud couldn't look his brother in the eye. "Our family really is broken. If only you hadn't told Greyclaw to leave." Stripecloud looked up from his paws.
"What?" He looked at Whitestripe who hissed.
"You had to tell him. Couldn't have waited for him to be in StarClan or whatever." Tanglepaw sat down curling his tail around his paws.
"No, he should have known. Also, I wanted to tell you Stripecloud, your eye makes you look really cool." Stripecloud shot his brother a glare.
"I have to ask you something Tanglepaw," He took a shuddering breath, coughing slightly, "do you blame me for your death?" Tanglepaw smiled his ear twitching.
"No, I don't. I think you went through a lot more than I did. You had to go through it alone. I didn't, I had other family in StarClan. Like our half-sibling up there. I did blame you for a while. But I realized it wasn't your fault. You tried so hard to protect me. You had to live with being blind in one eye and live without anyone. I'm glad you have someone know though. What's her name., Raindrop? She is quite pretty." Stripecloud felt his face heat up.
"Yeah, she is. Tanglepaw, I'm glad you don't blame me. But why did you call me a coward in my dream?" Tanglepaw looked at him confusion clouding his eyes.
"What dream? I don't like visiting dreams." Tanglepaw mumbled under his breath, but loud enough so Stripecloud could hear.
"Then it was just a dream... My own inner demons..." He trailed off then broke into another coughing fit. Tanglepaw and Whitestripe both flinched.
"You should get back to the medicine den. It's not safe-"
"No." Stripecloud cut him off. "I'm fine, I can't go back there, not now. They don't need to worry about me." He silenced Tanglepaw with a glare to show that this conversation was over.
"So, Whitestripe," Tanglepaw turned to where Whitestripe had been. But she was gone.
"Where did she go?"