|
|
Post by Fawn on May 12, 2017 10:15:06 GMT -5
 70 Moons. Senior Warrior. Tom. NightClan.- First, No Sequel Blackwolf watched sourly as the battle patrol left without him. Redcloud had caught word of a raccoon making its home at the edge of the marshes; it had nearly killed an apprentice. Dimstar would not accept this, so the gray-furred leader had given the order that the raccoon should be killed or removed from the area. Knowing Dimstar, Blackwolf knew the tom just wanted it dead.
There was an efficiency about death, and that's all Dimstar cared about. Efficiency.
"Move along, Blackwolf," Ghostlight nudged him in the shoulder. "You can't keep telling me you're fine. Let Smokefur and Shadowpaw have another look at that leg."
Hip. It was a pain in his hip. Somehow, that splinter from the log had struck bone. Maybe there was a piece still stuck inside - he didn't care about the details. He just knew it hurt to sit, crouch, and do everything he'd once taken for granted. Blackwolf flattened his ears, listening to his mate harp at him while he limped to the medicine cat's den.
There was a taste of sickness in the air, and it put a cough in his throat. He'd woken up this morning with a full-bodied ache that made him feel decrepit. Blackwolf hated it. Loathed the idea that his body was breaking down.
When they arrived at the medicine cave, it was obvious that Shadowpaw and Smokefur had their paws full. Conscious of exposing Ghostlight and himself to the illness, Blackwolf chose to wait a foxlength away, and kept her beside him.
The medicine cats look tired, but at last, Shadowpaw came out with a small bundle of herbs, hopping on one paw so he didn't lose the poppy seeds stuck to his pad. "Hip pain or coughing?" Mewed the young tom.
"Hip pain." Blackwolf growled a reply.
"Coughing," said Ghostlight.
Blackwolf looked at her, eyes narrowed. She's sick? "Why didn't you tell me?"
Before he could get an answer from her, a cry of distress rang out from the entrance to camp.
The battle patrol had returned. Redcloud, NightClan's deputy, was being carried between Snowlark and Spiderstalk like fresh kill that was too big for one cat alone to haul back. Blackwolf's pelt prickled. He smelled blood in the air, and the Clan was already assembling, drawn to the sight of their deputy's dead body like flies to crowfood.
"What happened?" Dimstar asked, his voice cold.
Moondance stepped up, a long gash in her ear visible. "The raccoon was protecting a nest. Redcloud was cornered."
The gray tom's tail flicked. "Bury her immediately." He went to the high ledge, addressing the Clan with his peculiar silver eyes and sharp tone. "Greencough is circulating through camp. Redcloud's death was a great loss to NightClan. For health risks, we will hold vigil without Redcloud's body."
Dimstar gazed at the gathered cats. "I say these words before the body of Redcloud, that her spirit may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of NightClan will be Pinewhisker."
NightClan burst into murmurs and apprehensive cries, the Clan shocked by how quickly everything could change. Several murmured congratulations, but the uncertainty - and the fear of death - was heavy in the air. Blackwolf searched the crowd for the she-cat that had been named, even as Shadowpaw and Smokefur distributed more herbs.
Many cats parted to let her pass, so that she could accept her new role.
Dimstar gave one last command. "All grievously ill warriors, apprentices and elders will relocate to the pineneedle clearing. Pinewhisker, see to it that the process goes smoothly."
Do the Math, No Equal
---
Word Count: 579 Words
Tags: Hellion , @poptart , @jet
Notes:
Ghostlight - DEADLY - dies Newleaf 29th
Dimstar - MILD - healthy Newleaf 26th
Snowlark - MILD - healthy Newleaf 26th
Spiderstalk - SERIOUS - healthy Newleaf 27th
List will be updated as RPers respond to this thread. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2017 13:34:20 GMT -5
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
It was cool and dark in the caves of Nightclan's camp, a welcome refuge from the hot and baking afternoon sunlight. The wind was howling outside, and the light of day grew dim as Pinewhisker watched Redcloud and her battle patrol leave to complete their mission: getting rid of that raccoon. I wish I would have been able to go, but I might as well make myself useful. Pinewhisker thought. The ginger furred she-cat pulled herself to her paws and followed the patrol out, mewing a soft greeting to the cats as she made her way towards the Ambush Pond, her crimson pelt disappearing into the dark pine forest. The hidden pond not far outside of camp would be the best place to get the perfect protection: mud. The she cat covered the ground between camp and the hidden pond in leaps and bounds, paws scarcely touching the nettle-ridden floor beneath the evergreen canopies. It felt like night already, but Pinewhisker knew the sun was still alight somewhere; it was still warm and stuffy under the cedar scented boughs.
The earth beneath her paws became more marshy as she trotted closer to the algae coated pond, the water between her toes icy and chilling. Starclan this is going to be horrible. She thought, tip-toeing towards the edge. Come on, stop being so prissy. Time to get dirty. Pinewhisker concluded, slightly embarrassed by her blatant distaste. Her ginger pelt was soon coated in so much muck that she looked like a different cat; a different animal even. Pinewhisker was hideous and cold, suddenly realizing how strong the breeze actually was beneath the pine branches. It wasn't pleasant, being coated in a thick layer of mud from her rosy pink nose to the tip of her tail. This better be worth it. She thought, beginning to doubt her master plan. Pinewhisker left the Ambush Pond in a hurry, racing steadily towards the Branch Trail in an effort to complete her small mission before total darkness. Patrols start soon. She thought. I have to be back by dark.
The she-cat was stalking beneath the low hanging boughs of trees along the Branch Trail, the entire path resonating with a quiet, rumbling hum as she searched for the biggest honeycomb she could find. The dying sunlight leaked powerfully through the branches in dapples, its strength almost dizzying to the lone she-cat. The crimson coated feline halted, her heart skipping a beat as she noticed a massive bees nest in the crook of a tree's arm, about four cat-lengths high. That's the one! She decided. Pinewhisker began climbing stealthily up the tree, the sound of faint buzzing making her heart beat so hard that she thought her chest might explode. A couple of minor incidents with bees in her past has left her with quite a few stings to remember them by, and she swore never to underestimate a swarm again. The warrior's legs stopped pulling her upwards when she caught sight of the honeycomb, and as if bee and cat saw each other for the first time, Pinewhisker was thrown into a frenzy of buzzing. Grab it! She screamed silently to herself. The ginger she-cat lurched forward and batted at the honeycomb, watching it drop to the ground through a swarm of angry bees. She felt them bumping into her, but the mud was layered on so thick, that their efforts to sting her were futile: so far.
Pinewhisker had never moved so fast in her life. She practically dove from the tree, and after cradling the honeycomb in her jaws, Pinewhisker sprinted off like a hoard of badgers was on her tail. Adrenaline coursed through her, pumping life and power into her body and limbs, the honeycomb bouncing against her chest like a precious kit. She could hear the buzzing growing increasingly faint, until the intense roaring turned into a mere hum. She looped around, veering off towards camp. She finally had the honey for Nightclan's sick cats, and it was almost dark. By the time she reached the entrance to camp, patrols were being organized and set to leave. Pinewhisker had made it on time, despite being ready for patrol looking like a swamp monster with a chest sticky from spilled honey. She went straight towards the medicine den, peeking in and setting the honey right inside, mewing a greeting to Shadowpaw and Smokefur before taking her leave. Standing by all the sick cats and their family made her uncomfortable. The medicine den, since the last gathering, has turned into a hospice.
Pinewhisker took her leave of the medicine den quickly, glad to have been able to give Smokefur and Shadowpaw something to aid in their practices, and also glad that she passed time until the night patrols began. It's a curse being an early riser sometimes. She mused, grooming the swampy tasting mud from her face, waiting to be assigned for a patrol. I wonder, hunting or border? Since Redcloud is taking care of the raccoon, I bet Dimstar will send cats on their way. Pinewhisker sat basking in her own thoughts, when the startling scent of blood hit her nose: cat blood. The she-cat's head flicked over towards the camp entrance several moments before Snowlark and Spiderstalk stepped in, an orange lump between them. Pinewhisker's heart dropped between her paws, a wave of dread washing over her like a tsunami. Oh no. She watched as Dimstar exchanged words with Redcloud's last patrol before leaping up on the high ledge, addressing the clan in a cold, sharp voice.
"Greencough is circulating through camp. Redcloud's death was a great loss to NightClan. For health risks, we will hold vigil without Redcloud's body."
Pinewhisker gazed at her paws, sadness weighing down her spirits more than usual. It has seemed, throughout her entire lifetime, that Nightclan has gone through more deputies than any other clan.
Dimstar continued to scour the clan with his impassive, silver gaze. "I say these words before the body of Redcloud, that her spirit may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of NightClan will be Pinewhisker."
The ginger she-cat wasn't sure if she was hearing him correctly at first, glancing up and making eye contact with the Nightclan leader. She pulled herself to her paws carefully and began making her way over to Redcloud's body, only for Dimstar to proceed with further announcements, talking over the mews of stress, sadness, and empty congratulations to the new deputy.
"All grievously ill warriors, apprentices and elders will relocate to the pineneedle clearing. Pinewhisker, see to it that the process goes smoothly."
There was very little time so say goodbye to the old deputy. It was likely that the elders, and perhaps Snowlark and Spiderstalk, would be the cats to bury their clanmate. Pinewhisker gave her one last farewell before moving over towards the medicine den. She would talk with Shadowpaw and Smokefur before setting up plans for moving their patients, her clanmates, and the closest thing to family she had in this world. It makes sense separating the cats, She thought. but monitoring cats in two different places is...complicated. Plus, we have to set up nests and proper dens for them before they move. What if they aren't even strong enough to make the trip? Pinewhisker entered the medicine den, squeezing around Blackwolf and Ghostlight. She sat patiently off to the side, thinking about how this would all play out.
The potential complications and hazards were endless.
48 Moons - Deputy - NightClan PIneWhisKEr |
|
