(sorry i took so long! Work has been killer the past two weeks)

Oscar staggered over to sit beside Honey as she slumped to the ground and Crow darted off to collect the items she requested. Worry coupled with guilt swam in the inky furred tom's dark green eyes. The slashes on his chest stung, and the wound on his side burned something fierce, but the pain was nothing compared to the crushing knowledge that he could have gotten himself and his friends killed just now. "Honey... I'm so sorry you got hurt, it's all my fault," he meowed quietly, his head so low his nose nearly touched the dirt, and his voice tight with shame.

Meanwhile Kitty watched over them both, pacing back and forth as she awaited Crow's return. She was still very much on edge, as was made clear by the still bristling fur of her tail. Another growl of thunder, much louder then the one they'd heard before, nearly had her jumping out of her skin. There seemed to be so many bad omens all of a sudden, and now both of her friends were injured. It did not escape her knowledge that if Crow hadn't been with them to help, the outcome would have been grim...In fact with these wounds they still weren't in the clear.
Her breath came faster and she fought to control her emotions. She was only to glad when the large bengal finally returned, offering her a distraction from her own inner turmoil.
She hurried over to help as he set down his load of herbs and cobwebs next to Oscar ---earning a grateful nod from the solid back tom--- and grabbed one of the roots he had brought. Just before she started chewing, a chilling sensation caught her attention—blood was seeping around her paws. Immediately alarmed, her blue eyes followed the trail, and snapped over to where Oscar sat beside Honey. The trail was coming from him. She watched as he wavered once, then twice, before his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed, drawing a muffled cry from her throat. He was loosing to much blood, even she could see that, they needed to hurry and plug his wounds.
She began chewing the comfrey root in earnest, its bitter taste of little consequence, and when it was a thick pulp in her maw, she spat it out on her paw and hoped over to Honey to apply it to her wounds. "I'll take care of her, Crow, please help Oscar," she meowed, her voice trembling.

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(no problem! I totally get it)

Honey | (former) kittypet | Tags: Everyone

Honey slowly turned her head to look at Oscar, her green eyes still soft but obvious tired. “It’s not your fault Oscar… we signed up for this.” She paused, taking a moment to catch her breath. She never had felt so exhausted, she was just glad to be alive. The roar of thunder made the she-cat flinch, a sharp pain shooting through her body as she did so. She wanted to say more but couldn’t, she knew she would have to save her breath to move away from the storm. The orange tabby stretched out her neck , touching her nose softly and reassuringly to Oscar’s cheek. She winced once again as the comfrey hit her wounds, but gave a small sigh of relief as the pain ever so slightly went away. She turned to look at Kitty, giving her a weak smile of thanks.

Crow | Loner | Tags: Everyone

Crow nodded, beginning to chew quickly on his own batch of Comfrey root as he sat near Oscar. The Bengal lifted his paw to his mouth, spitting the chewed up root onto his paw pad and gently yet quickly began applying it to Oscar’s wounds. “We don’t have time to fully treat them right now.” Crow said, looking up briefly at the darkening sky. “We can’t afford to be caught in a storm right now.” The tom hissed, silently cursing the poor timing of the weather change. “We will take them back to the den I’ve been staying in. It’s big enough for us all, and it will be safe from the storm.” Crow said, beginning to apply the cobweb to Oscar’s wounds, putting more on the deeper spots. “I’m sorry Oscar, Honey… we’ll have to move you.” He paused, looking between the three cats. How were they going to do this? “Okay… okay here’s how we’ll do this. Kitty we will get Oscar in between us so we can both support him… or maybe carry him. Honey you can lean on me on my other side. The den isn’t too far from here luckily for us.” Crow’s chest tightened as the roar of thunder grew closer and began swishing his tail anxiously.

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As the distant rumble of thunder echoed once more, Kitty gave a slight shudder but nodded in agreement with Crow's words. They had no choice but to transport Oscar, who lay motionless. Hastily, she tended to Honey's injuries, securing the cobwebs and chewed roots in place. The makeshift bandaging was rough around the edges—she was no medicine cat after all—but it would do for the moment. Once finished, she gently assisted Honey to stand, murmuring an apology for any discomfort caused.
"Crow, given your strength and size, I think you're best suited to carry Oscar. Honey and I will flank you, she can use you as support and make sure he doesn't fall off from her side," Kitty suggested, modifying Crow's initial plan. She was already positioning herself by Oscar, preparing to hoist the unconscious cat onto Crow's sturdy back. It would require some maneuvering, but she was confident in their ability to manage. All Crow needed to do was crouch low, allowing Kitty to guide Oscar into place by his scruff. It would be far from ideal for the black tom, but he was unconscious and it was their sole option, as the first droplets of rain began to patter down. Kitty was relying on Crow to navigate them to shelter.

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Honey | (former) Kittypet | Tags: All

Honey nodded, saving her breath for walking to the den. The fluffy tabby forced herself to her paws, letting out a grunt as she did. She positioned herself next to Crow, ready to lean on him and support Oscar.

Crow | Loner | Tags: All

Crow nodded and squatted down, glad the other tom didn’t weigh more as Oscar was draped over his back. “Okay… follow me.” Crow said, taking one last look up at the blackened sky. “It’s going to start. We need to move as fast as we can.” The tom said, shifting slightly as he felt Honey begun to lean on him. Crow gave a look to Kitty before beginning to move. It was a bit more difficult than he had hoped, with Oscar wanting to slide off at any given chance. He was glad the two she-cats were there and able to help. “You ready Kitty?” Crow asked, making sure they were all set to go. “Remember that spot we all marked? My den is close to that.” He hoped they’d be able to make it before it began to rain.

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Kitty gave a firm nod when Crow asked if she was ready, and pressed close against the bengal's side as they began the trek back to the stump they had marked what seemed like ages ago now. In reality it was only about a half hour ago. Everything happened so quickly, yet dragged on at the same time. The notion was baffling.
Their going was slow but steady, only having to pause a couple of times to readjust Oscar before he slid off. Eventually the marked stump came back into view, along with their abandoned prey pile. Her empty belly complained audibly at the sight, and a loud growl of thunder seemed to answer it. She ignored the food and looked to Crow for direction from here, keeping pace with him. The sprinkling of rain was becoming a steady drizzle, and Kitty could feel her white fur becoming damp. They needed to hurry.

Meanwhile

Oscar was wandering aimlessly though a forest that aglow with starlight. He didn't know how he got here, or where he was going, but it was peaceful, and quiet. So he kept walking. Though he knew he'd never set paw in this place before, the surrounding forest felt oddly familiar, and his very spirit felt at ease. "It’s a pleasure to see you embrace this journey, Oscar," an unfamiliar voice spoke up from behind. Turning to look over his shoulder, he saw nothing at first, but then he looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. Perched in one of the starlit trees, there was a small grey she-cat with stars in her fur. "Who are you, where is this place, and how do you know my name?" Oscar asked in the same breath. The she-cat smiled at his barrage of questions and jumped down from the tree, stirring up a light cloud of stardust as she landed. "My name is Mistyfur, this is the starry hunting ground, and I know more than your name Oscar, we've been watching you" she responded, and laughed softly at the baffled frown that appeared on his face. She knew more questions were coming and lifted her tail authoritatively to quiet him before he could begin. "Come, walk with me and I will explain, then you can tell me more about this Clan idea of yours," she meowed, her luminous blue eyes glimmering with mirth at the shock that was plastered on his face. She started walking and Oscar fell into step beside her. Listening avidly as she spoke. He was completely oblivious to the struggle of his friends in the waking world.

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Barrow | Loner | Tags: Everyone

A small black classic tabby molly with white spotting and olive eyes

---

Weary paws trudged over the soft carpet of the forest, lush and vibrant as it was, the pink paws of the molly were still aching. Over the past week, she'd wandered along as normal, following a trail south on some whim that had buzzed through her mind like a bothersome fly. Having lingered in the north fairly happily, Barrow had hesitated to move south for a while but eventually had given into the odd urge. The forest carried the usual sounds, birds, and rodents scurrying or flapping about chirping and chittering. She wondered sometimes what it must be like to be so small and always alert for danger but simultaneously so noisy. Whiskers twitching at the thought, the classic patterned feline slipped through the world on silent paws. Not having a destination planned out, she simply followed the tugging of the wind through the towering trees, one of her favorite ways to navigate.

Rumbles echoed through the burdened boughs overhead, causing the small feline to pause and listen. Tall ears flicked as she caught what sounded like yowls mixed in with distant thunder. Curiosity flooded her paws, hesitation only making her linger where she was for a heartbeat before she shifted herself and took off at a trot for the noise. There could be anything in the direction of the sounds of distress, and while most would be sure to avoid such cries, Barrow would never deny her wild curiosity. She listened intently, wondering just who or what had made the sounds when the fur on her spine bristled.

The rapid approach of something large and lumbering shook the bushes before her, and it was only her instincts that led her body to dive into a nearby bush as the badger lumbered past. Still fueled by its own adrenaline, it didn't seem to notice the additional feline scent in its departure, though Barrow did pick up the distinctive scent of several cats on its passing scent. Just what did you get up to? she thought curiously, glancing down the trail of broken and trampled bushes and ferns. There was no stopping her now, with the path cleared and her destination approaching, Barrow moved down the path to find the battle-wrecked clearing. Blood spattered and pooled in several places telling the story of the fierce fight that had happened.

Now more curious than ever, Barrow sniffed the area, picking up on four distinctive scents. Three of the scents were softer, carrying the odd tang that she often associated with two-legs, the third though lacked that scent. The story that laid out before the molly was hard to piece together, and she simply wouldn't allow this mystery to go unresolved. While the scents were still fresh, the oncoming rain was quick to begin dampening them. Trotting forward, Barrow followed the scents as best she could in the rapidly intensifying rain.

---

(I'm sorry for how long it is! I wanted to introduce her in a way that wouldn't immediately interrupt the current scene but I was thinking she could chance on maybe Kitty or Crow if they go back to the stump for the prey?)

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( oo I’m sure that would work! they probably need the extra paws rn too. also sorry for the rushed post)

Crow | Loner | Tags: Everyone

Crow squinted his eyes as the rain began to fall, cursing quietly to himself. His gaze landed on the pile of food for a moment, wanting so badly to bring it with them. It would have to wait. “This way.” The tom huffed, leading the small group to a large pine tree, the bottom of the trunk opening up to reveal an opening; his new den. “Here.” Crow stopped, feeling his muscles begin to ache from the weight of carrying Oscar. “I can get him from here…” Crow said, crouching down so he could squeeze them both through the tunnel. At least the opening was big enough, his last den had been even a tight squeeze for him. As he reached the more spacious part of the den, he began to slowly lower Oscar to the ground. Crow looked over the tom, frowning as he noticed the blood through the layers of cobweb. “We need to get more supplies…” The Bengal mumbled, looking back towards the tunnel that led towards the den. Perhaps they could take turns making supply runs. Someone had to stay with Oscar at all times, but Honey was definitely not up for the task. It was between him and Kitty now.

Honey | (former) Kittypet | Tags : Everyone

Honey felt herself slow down as the rain drops began to hit her thick fluffy fur, beginning to slow down the injured cat. She get herself breathe out a sigh of relief as Crow announced their arrival, taking her weight off the tom as he carefully moved Oscar inside. “I can make it in… by myself.” Honey said, attempting to take her weight off Kitty. The orange tabby stumbled a little, her legs weak and shaky. However she didn’t want to be more of a burden, she couldn’t let Kitty carry her in. Honey blinked slowly, focusing on her balance before making her way into the den. The pain she felt was now almost unbearable, she couldn’t imagine how Oscar would be feeling. Green eyes fell on the tom as she stepped into the den, frowning at his barely moving figure.
Honey took the extra few steps over to the two other cats, almost falling to the ground with exhaustion. Stars she was tired. Honey had never felt so exhausted in her short life, and she felt herself missing the comfort of her fluffy pink bed.

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(Pssst Rein, you should pop over to the OOC Thread. And your post was lovely <3)

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The distant rumble of thunder fell on his ears, prompting a frustrated growl from the tom. He had hardly managed to catch anything other than a pitiful scrap of a mouse, but now the rain would scare off all the prey besides frogs; he'd much rather starve then try one of those. Cricket's whiskers twitched as fat blobs of rain plipped onto the floor, a sound that he recognized well as a sign for him to get out of here and search for some much-needed shelter. He did have one, a measly camp of sticks some twoleg kits had built up in the middle of the forest, but it proved useless against rain and wasn't worth re-tracing his steps through piles upon piles of thorns he couldn't see.

With a sigh escaping his maw he trudged onward, half his paw sinking into the now muddy surface of forest floor around him. Foxdung. Forcing his paws out of the sludge, he lingered in place, the crackling tension in the air forcing his muscles to stiffen. A few seconds more went by before he set a paw on more comfortably solid ground, forcing himself to press on. His curly pelt felt heavy, thick with water that dripped from his famished form and made him look more like some cryptid than a cat.
The tall grass brushed against his flank, rain tapping against their swaying green stalks and thickening the air with the scent of petrichor. Cricket was quite fond of the smell, and took a second to savour it..
His peace was cracked by a sharp, burning scent reaching his nostrils, causing him to flinch at how sudden it had come. Blood? The tom lifted his head to scent again, curiosity battling his better judgement. Perhaps it could be an injured prey, or a fox, or even another cat. The possibilities swirled in his mind like a swarm of flies, urging him to follow the scent. It wasn't as if he had many other paths to go after anyway, and he wasn't keen on wandering aimlessly, hoping someone up there took pity on him and let him find some kind of shelter..
Adventure it was!

(First post, hoping it isn't too bad, I'm trying to get back into roleplaying)

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Hmm.

He opened his maw, hoping to draw in the last of the intriguing scent only to be left empty-pawed. It was proving more and more of a waste of his precious time, the frustration drawing out a tired sigh of reluctant surrender. Perhaps no adventure. The need for shelter was even stronger than before and he silently cursed himself for getting so distracted. The rain hadn't gotten any kinder after all.
The snap of dead twig forced him to bite back a yowl, immediately tensing up, still as a stone statue as he waited for the creature to go by. He could feel the heavy footsteps thumping against the floor, long striding steps as if it were in a rush. He caught the scent of it as it went by, wrinkling his nose at the distasteful scent of badger. It hadn't noticed him, stupid thing. He was glad he was still able to live though, he would never be able to fight against a full grown badger on his own.

Cricket stood there for an excruciating five minutes, waiting until the steps had long faded before he moved at last, limbs stiff from standing so long. He couldn't help but squirm at the uncomfortable feeling of water under his coat, only fueling his urge to find a den. It didn't even have to be a big den. Just dry.
Instinctively he went the opposite direction of the badger, padding strongly forward to avoid getting his paws stuck in the sinking mud. It wasn't long before he came to the clearing the battle had taken place, this time not driven by the eagerness to explore. This time, it was about food.
There were a few scraps of prey not too far away from the ruined clearing, a bird and a few other meager snacks. He wouldn't fuss, it was free freshkill after all. He stopped before he sank his teeth in, a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. What was he doing?? This was clearly someone else's prey. It was killed so recently, and it'd probably still be warm if it weren't for the pouring rain.

Cricket let out an exasperated huff and moved away, unable to take even a little bite without being swarmed with guilt. Life was tough, but he didn't want to make anyone else's lives out here tougher by stealing such valuable catches. Reluctantly, the tom padded away from the tempting pile, searching for anything else worth his interest. He felt he was near something.
Like a string tugging his mind to somewhere, urging him to move.
Or, perhaps it was just his mind telling him he needed shelter, and with that he agreed. His whiskers twitched, feeling around for any kind of shelter that happened to be near, his sightless eyes flicking over the lonely space. The chance of finding a dry place to stay was seeming more and more.. unlikely. Perhaps he could just wait out this storm again. the tom dragged his bedraggled form under a branch that offered minimal protection from the rain, wanting to regain his energy if not for just a few minutes.
His limbs begged him to lie down for just a second, a plead he just couldn't comply with. Not now. Rain continued to pour and drip from the leaves above him, plopping onto his head in the way he hated. He just had to wait.
Waiting.
.. This wasn't working. Cricket hissed softly and heaved himself to his shaky paws, feeling like he could just fall over and pass out here and then. He moved on once more, padding over damp soil to a tall part of the forest he knew quite well, scattered with sweet smelling pine trees. He was sure he saw an old den *somewhere* there.
His heart leapt at the thought of it, a dry cave with the scent of pine needles, and hushed from the noise outside. He wasn't sure why he hadn't lived in that cave before, maybe because he assumed it would be infested with bugs or something.

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(your post was great Fancy <3 And y'all keep in mind that the only rule about post length is that it cannot be a one-liner. As stated before, the rp has a casual pace and I suppose a semi-lit feel. So don't feel any pressure to always make paragraphs of post ^-^)

Mentions: Barrow

When the ragtag group stumbled into the pine tree den that Crow had claimed, Kitty let out a silent sigh of relief. They'd dodged the raging storm outside, which was only getting worse. Inside, the den was unexpectedly roomy, and the packed earth felt oddly comforting beneath her feet. The thick tree walls dulled the storm's roar, wrapping them in a cocoon of safety. The place was a rare find, and Kitty wondered about its origins, but that curiosity had to wait. They were safe for now, but her friends weren't out of danger. Crow's call for more supplies snapped her back to reality.

She glanced at her companions....
Crow, his back slick with the dark blood which seeped through their hasty patch job of Oscar's wounds.
Honey, she looked to be in quite some pain, and as though she would fall asleep any second.
And Oscar... he was a mess.

Kitty swallowed hard, her resolve firming. She faced Crow, "I'll get what we need. You've done enough, with carrying Oscar and helping to support Honey all the way back here. You rest and keep an eye on these two." she meowed and offered brief smile, trying to chase away some of the gloom. But as she faced the den entrance again, her smile vanished. She loathed getting wet, but she couldn't just sit around twirling her tail. With a whispered "wish me luck," she bolted into the rain.

The downpour was a cold slap, halting her for a second. She blinked against the downpour, grateful for the leafy canopy above that allowed her see decently well. "Okay, Kitty, focus. Cobwebs, comfrey..." she muttered, retracing their earlier path. She didn't know what comfrey looked like, but she hoped to spot where Crow had found some before.

She dashed through the woods, past the scent marked stump and their now soaked prey pile —she would come back for it next— aiming for where they'd encountered the badger. But disaster struck. First, her paw caught on a newly exposed root during her mad dash, sending her stumbling face first into a muddy puddle, then, seconds after she'd spat out a mouthful of mud and filthy water, a cluster of broad leaves above decided to dump their heavy collection of rain water right on top of her, revealing how the puddle had come to be in the first place.
Now even more soaked and filthy, Kitty hissed and spat every colorful curse word she'd ever heard in her life as she climbed to her paws, wincing slightly as she did so. She took a second to examine her right paw, seeing that she'd also managed to snag a claw during her little spill. Spirits it was just one thing after another!
Shaking off what water she could, though it was pointless in the current rain, she set off again, this time at a trot. Ignoring the dull throbbing in her paw.

The boom of thunder, the whistling wind, and the fat drops of rain hitting the forest floor made for a very unwelcoming environment, it was a wonder any creature in their right mind would be out an about in it. That thought alone brought some peace to Kitty as she searched for comfrey, knowing that every sensible creature --except herself-- would be taking shelter from the storm. So imagine her surprise when she rounded a tree and nearly collided with a small tabby she-cat.
Her shock manifested as an unintentional yowl, and she jumped back nearly three feet in one bound, fixing the other cat with wide blue eyes.


Meanwhile

Oscar had been deep in conversation with Mistyfur for what seemed like hours as they roamed the ethereal Starry Hunting Ground. He shared his dream of founding his own Clan, his aspirations, and how his friends had joined him on this journey. He confessed his newfound fears following the badger incident he knew he was responsible for, and Mistyfur listened intently, offering a comforting touch when his worries poured out. She imparted some wisdom, saying that being a Clan cat wasn't for the faint-hearted—it required a calling or a birthright, a resilient heart, and an iron will. That's why she was there, believing in his potential to lead.
Oscar tried to uncover more about her origins as they walked, asking about her interest in him, and the purpose of his presence here, but she evaded his questions each time, frustrating him.
After a while, she halted in her tracks and looked deep into his eyes, making his heart race a bit. It seemed like she was staring right into his core. "You've been here long enough Oscar, your friends are worried about you, it's time to wake up," she meowed.

Confusion clouded Oscar's face at her words. Was this all just a dream? The vividness of the place, the tangibility of Mistyfur—it all felt too real. He didn't want to leave it, he didn't want to leave HER. Mistyfur seemed to sense his reluctance and reassured him with a gentle smile and a nuzzle against the thicker fur of his chest. "This world is as real as it gets, and our paths will cross again," she assured him. "Just follow the river east, and you'll recognize your destiny when you see it," she added cryptically.
"Now, wake up," she murmured, reaching to touch her nose to his, but he stumbled back just out of reach.
His rear now pressed against a tree that prevented further escape, "Wait! Which river? How will I know?" he protested. But Mistyfur only bridged the gap, touching her nose to his, sending a jolt through him that elicited a sharp cry.

Her whisper lingered as darkness enveloped him, "Wake up, and remember, Starclan is with you..."

Oscar's eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air, his throat parched and his body wracked with pain from his injuries. As he regained his bearings, he propped himself up, scanning his surroundings with bewilderment. The pain was a stark indicator of reality, and the sight of Crow and Honey confirmed he was awake though one of their party appeared to be missing. "Crow, Honey, what happened? Where's Kitty?" he rasped out.

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Crow | Loner | Tags: Oscar & Honey

“Good luck…” Crow said, waving his tail weakly at Kitty before she left. The Tom stared at the exit of the den, a clear frown on his face. The rain was heavier now, he could hear the steady drum beat against the sturdy den. He hoped Kitty would be alright. The raspy voice of Oscar snapped Crow back into reality, turning to look at the other tom. “Glad you’re awake.” Crow said, finally sitting down. “We carried you here from the badger attack. We’re in my den.” He replied, motioning to their surroundings. “It’s not much but it will do for now. Don’t worry about Kitty… she’s just gone out to look for some supplies.” Crow continued, eyeing Oscar’s bandages. He wanted to treat them as soon as possible. “Now you. You need to just rest, you’ve lost a lot of blood.” He wished he had more than one nest. He had made sure to place Oscar in it, but it probably wasn’t what the former Kittypet was used to.

Honey | (former) Kittypet | Tags: Oscar & Crow

Honey couldn’t help but let a small gasp escape when Oscar spoke, tears welling up in her eyes. “Oscar! Thank goodness.” She sighed, glad the tom had made the trip alright. Various emotions ran through the young she-cats head as she looked at her severely injured friend. She was torn between being proud they all survived, to wanting to run back home out of fear. “I…” Honey paused, lip quivering. “I’m glad you’re okay Oscar.” The tabby said softly, bringing her paw to her eyes to wipe away her tears.

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Barrow | Loner | Tags: Kitty

A small black classic tabby molly with white spotting and olive eyes

---

The rain descended from the sky like a wrathful entity, nearly hearding her in a specific direction. The scents that had not long ago been so fresh in the air were now little more than faint recollections against the damp, wet earth smell that surrounded her now. I bet I wouldn't even be able to smell that badger if he jumped right out in front of me! I'd hardly be able to see him either. Grousing thoughts taking hold of her mind, Barrow wasn't sure entirely where she was going anymore.

Just as she was thinking about hiding from the storm and continuing her search when the blasted rain had ended her paws skidded to a stop automatically. Even though she was just as soaked as Barrow was, the white feline before her was a lovely creature. Her own response to the other cat's backward bounds was to crouch slightly, preparing to dodge to the side in case the other charged.

Though, the more the tabby looked at the other cat, the less sure she was that there would be a fight, or maybe another fight. This could very likely be one of the cats that had fought that badger, and if so, she would know what had happened obviously. Even in her bluntly curious fashion, Barrow let her words tumble out over the storm.

"Hey! Did you fight that badger that nearly trampled me? What were you thinking, and just what happened?!"

She'd taken a few steps closer to inspect the white cat, noting the lack of overly defined muscles, but less softness lingering on her than she would expect from a kittypet. Her pale green eyes glowed with bright curiosity along with a mild trace of concern. Surely this cat hadn't fought the badger alone, and some cat had been hurt in the fight. Part of her wanted to help this cat and her companions out, if only to finish hearing the story with the badger.

"You couldn't have fought it alone, no cat would be that mouse-brained. Well, some might but they wouldn't be walking around in a rainstorm afterward. Did the others survive?"

It was a shot in the dark, but he hoped that if she could worm her way into the white cat's good graces, she'd get to satiate her curiosity.

---

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Oscar nodded slowly in understanding when Crow spoke up, answering his question as to their own and Kitty's whereabouts. He sank back into the nest he was currently occupying as a fresh wave of guilt washed over him, his eyes closing for a moment.
Kitty was out there for them.
He knew how much she hated rain, or water in general, and she was running around in a storm to help them. She wouldn't have to do such a thing if he hadn't been so foolish as to try and scare off that badger on his own. He vaguely recalled his dream about Mistyfur and the Starry Hunting Ground, and wondered if what she said about him was really true. He didn't think leaders were supposed to put their friends in danger like he had.
He was pulled from his brooding thoughts by the watery call of his name, and his deep green eyes snapped open to look over at Honey, who's own green orbs shone with unshed tears.
Before even he realized what he was doing, the inky furred tom was on his paws and moving to her side, wincing at the pulling on his wounds but ignoring it. He simply could not stand to see a she-cat cry, and especially not when he was part of the cause. Now draping his thick black tail across the creamy tabby's shoulders, he bent down and licked her forehead.
"Hey, don't cry Honey, I'm sorry I worried you, and I'm so sorry for putting you in danger," he murmured, trying to sooth away her tears.

~~~

Kitty's muscles tightened as the tabby in front of her crouched down, and she steeled herself for an altercation. She wasn't one to stick around for a fight—her unblemished fur was testament to that. But running wasn't an option now; her friends needed her, Oscar most of all. She had to face whatever came next. Surprisingly though, the expected attack didn't come. Instead, the tabby she-cat was shouting over the storm, asking about their recent badger skirmish. Kitty was caught off guard. Why was this stranger so curious about their ordeal? There was no malice in her voice, though, and she wondered if she might actually be of help.

With a decisive nod, Kitty responded as the tabby stepped closer. "That's correct, my friends and I took on that badger. We did manage to drive it away, but not before it injured a couple of us," she meowed, blinking away the rain. "That's why I'm out here—looking for comfrey root to treat them. You haven't seen any, have you?" she then asked asked, her paws shuffling with impatience. "If you can help me find it, I can't offer much... but our den's warm and dry. You could wait out the storm with us," she offered, her voice laced with hope.

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Cricket

He found his senses crowded with the scent, and sound, of rain. It made him feel sick to the stomach knowing he had little to no idea where he was going, but he told himself even if he were able to see, the downpour of rain would make it hard to anyways. 'Useless rain..' The tom muttered bitterly to nobody in particular, the cold making him tremble as the water soaked into his pelt.
It felt miserable being stuck out here, especially after the scent of blood he had recently followed. A fresh wave of fear collapsed over him as consequence to that thought; there was a danger out here, possibly a predator who would leap at the opportunity for a free, helpless meal. Cricket winced at the thoughts, his morale at an all time low. Was there even a den at the pine forest, or was he just hoping to get out of the storm?

His heart jumped when he felt pine needles underpaw, for once welcoming the sting in his pawpad. Before he could even think of stepping forward a scream of thunder forced him to jerk back violently, eyes wide with shock from the initial fright. For a moment he wanted to screech back at it but stopped himself, not wanting to draw as much attention as he might've already.
Cricket shoved his head against the bark of a tree and felt for even a small dip in the roots for him to shelter in, delighted when he found just that. He sat under the tree and tried pointlessly to wring out his fur, the water he managed to brush out being immediately replaced by another bucketful of rain. His ears were stuffed with the gush of rain mercilessly pouring from the sky, his only plan being to just wait until he regained his senses, seeing as he quite valued being able to know where he was.

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