[Fawn]

The path along the river, leading away from RainClan's camp, was not well shaded. For Swanpaw, this meant the heat and humidity, even this early in the morning, was mercilessly bearing down on her long silver-tortoiseshell fur. The tall apprentice led the way along the water's edge, resisting the temptation to dive in and soak till sunhigh; two others followed in her wake. Fernpaw, Rushwhisker's apprentice, and Owlpaw, her littermate.

Under Swanfeather’s instruction, the trio were heading to the northernmost region of the river to collect enough dry moss to keep a steady supply of water for the elders and queens in case a heat wave struck. It was typical apprentice work, but also made for a break from the mundanity of routine. Swanpaw’s sharp nose detected a familiar, familial scent drifting in from the landscape ahead. Crowblaze, her uncle, must have been hunting nearby. Why he chose to hunt and not fish was a mystery to her.

Crowblaze hunted to keep his skills sharp. And, because try as he might to claim himself purely RainClan in every way, he had the build of a StoneClan warrior--and the past of a loner, used to doing whatever he must to survive. The massive dark tabby warrior hunted through sparse foliage, one ear swiveling to catch the light tread of three sets of paws between the steady, constant sigh of the river. It was Swanpaw, Owlpaw, and Fernpaw. Briefly letting thoughts of hunting slip to second place on his list of priorities, Crowblaze ventured closer, watching to keep an eye on his nieces to ensure all was well.

The procession of apprentices got along without interruption. Crowblaze’s posture relaxed, satisfied to have attested to their well being with his own two eyes; this sense of calm was shattered, quick as ice under a stone’s crushing weight, as he caught a sinister hint of ginger fur twisting around the base of a weeping willow.

Swanpaw froze, the others nearly colliding into her. Fox. Where? The scent was suddenly everywhere at once; claws unsheathed, the heavy drum of large paws on grass made her nearly jump out of her fur. “Look out!” She shrieked at Owlpaw, as a dark shape leaped over them all--and collided with the long, wiry body of an adolescent fox.

Crowblaze threw his weight into his foe, interrupting the fox’s trajectory just in time. Fury surged behind his eyes, rage lending him strength as he and the fox toppled over on the grassy embankment. A whirl of claws and tufts of fur marked an even battle, Kayo’s screams overlapping Crowblaze’s vicious snarling. He would not allow his brother's kits to come to any harm. He would not lose more family. Not again. Heronstrike’s recent death lent rawness to the warrior’s mind, pushing him to be savage, unconcerned with any wounds he received if it was in the defense of kin.

Kayo twisted out of the dark warrior’s grasp, but the embankment, slick was a recent rain, made her paws slip--not enough to lose her footing, but enough cost Kayo her escape route. Crowblaze lunged, knocking the fox into the river with a triumphant yowl. Kayo’s legs churned frantically, entangling him as she tumbled in.

Blood and water marred his vision, the rough entry knocking the breath from his body as he and the fox struggled to free themselves -- of the current and each other.

Kayo lashed out with savage precision, cutting his face with a right hind kick. Crowblaze’s vision blackened as his body hit river rocks, clustered together like rabbit teeth. He slipped under the water, snatching viciously at anything he could reach - the fox, freedom, a branch to pull himself up with - but his claws churned through empty, bloodied water as he slipped down under the roiling surface.

He thought he heard Owlpaw and Swanpaw calling his name, just before the river filled his ears, eyes, nose and mouth, pulling him into a deep and final dark.

---

671 Words, Taxx Hellion williams (Crowblaze is a very large cat, it's gonna take more than one apprentice to pull him out.)

[Taxx]

Fernpaw

Apprentice of RainClan

It was just supposed to be a simple assignment: get moss, bring it back. An easy task. Fernpaw had been pleased for the outing, padding along with and chatting to Owlpaw and Swanpaw. She’d just turned back to Swanpaw, whiskers rippling with amusement at a quip, when the silver tortoiseshell froze and the scent of fox swept over them, carried on the wind- Fernpaw’s eyes widened at the sight of the fox, eyes narrowed and fangs bared as it raced toward them.

Swanpaw’s shriek pierced her ears and Fernpaw ducked as a shadow sprang over them to crash into the fox. Scrambling out of reach, Fernpaw watched the struggle. It was easily the most vicious struggle she’d witnessed, snarls and screams from the battle ringing through the air, claws and teeth flashing and blood spattering the ground freely.

It seemed a moon before the two fell into the river, which frothed as it instantly turned pink, and then the fox broke the surface, swimming to the opposite bank and hauling itself out before limping away, water streaming from its body. The surface of the water stilled then, but it ran red. Was Crowblaze hurt? Why wasn’t he coming up??

Whirling on Swanpaw, screeching her uncle’s name, Fernpaw shoved the younger apprentice back toward the camp. “Get help!” she ordered.

“I’m not leaving him!” Swanpaw yowled back, only to stumble again as Fernpaw pushed her a second time.

“Go now.” She spoke in a firm tone, pleased when, though obviously unwilling, the younger obeyed, turning and pelting away. “Owlpaw, help me!” Maybe he was stuck, maybe he couldn’t swim for some reason? Diving into the water and blinding instantly by the dark well of blood, Fernpaw felt her way toward Crowblaze, pressed against him by the current, and sank her teeth onto his fur to haul him upward. He wasn’t moving, but Fernpaw drove off the prick of fear and kicked off the bottom with both hind paws, the swirl of water giving her a glance of the familiar pelt of Owlpaw at her side.

williams Hellion Fawn      ooc:

[williams]

dewpaw,

The day was broken by a sharp cry, a high pitched voice that sent Dewpaw's heart racing. The words themselves were incomprehensible at the distance they came from, but the she-cat didn't have to worry about that for long. Swanpaw came barreling into camp, crashing straight into the medicine cat apprentice -who had appeared at the medicine cat den entrance-from the sheer speed she was going. Before she could ask what was wrong, Swanpaw shouted, "A fox tried to attack us but Crowblaze fought it and he's hurt in the river!"

Hurt? Dewpaw froze for a single breath, inhaling deeply. On her exhale, her stream of thought came out. "How is he hurt- wait never mind, we'll just bring lot of-enough herbs to cover the basics for scratches and cuts. I don't want to waste time talking about it-about Crowblaze- if he's badly hurt." Her voice was professional, a mixture of the young she-cat's excitable energy and her mentor's to-the-point phrases. She swiftly moved about the den, gathering some moss and herbs. "Swanpaw can you lead the way, and carry the moss please? Swanfeather, we'll get the basics started so you don't have to run as fast as us and make your joints hurt more."

Without waiting for her mentor's response, Dewpaw bundled the herbs in her jaws and ran out of camp on Swanpaw's heels. Do not take another cat from me, She prayed up to Starclan.

apologies on the delay

245

Hellion Fawn Taxx

[Deleted]

Moonshine

---

Moonshine hated death but in her life she had seen more than she had to, from Ashfoot's death to the loss Brookfall seemed to feel over sSarclan knows what cat. Her ears were perked as Swanpaw came barrelling into the camp, followed by unceremoniously crashing into Dewpaw. The tall apprentice was frantic as she asked the young medicine cat apprentice to get help for Crowblaze, Moonshine recognized that name, not as a friend but as someone she had gone on enough patrols on to at least give a passing greeting too. The deputy took it as her place to investigate. Dewpaw was already rushing out of camp and being the responsiable adult she was Moonshine followed along, afraid that the fox might still be here, or at least they would need her help to get Crowblaze out of the river, or at the very least back to camp. 3 apprentices were no match against a strong current and a fully grown cat. Moonshine had never learned to fish under Ashfoot's tutorage but she had sure learned to swim, she had wanted to be called Moonsplash after her love of water but had been denied. 

" I will come, in case the fox comes back, you may need my help" Moonshine cooed softly, attempting to calm the frantic apprentices with a kind look but time was short as it was and her manner left no room to argue, even if the fox was gone and Crowblaze was somehow out of the river, she would still need to be there, a bunch of apprentices on their own was a prime target for Demon,  even though the lynx rarely left the mountain since the arrival of those wretched foxes in the valley. She had been on alert since Rainclan recieved word about the foxes from a scout of the other clans. Moonshine was a adult cat and a strong swimmer if she could rescue Crowblaze, then she would. 

Tags: @fawn((Poor Crowblaze, drowning is an aweful way to die ))Taxx ( Fernpaw) williams ( Dewpaw) 
Words: 310 
Notes: I didn't think anyone would mind if I threw Moon in here, she needs two threads this month to get me off probation :/. 

[Taxx]

Fernpaw

of RainClan

Teeth clenched in the big tom's pelt, Owlpaw at her side helping, Fernpaw tried to guide them all upward to the surface, to the light she could see shining through the water in ripples and swirls. Her teeth ached, her neck cramped, and her lungs were starting to burn from lack of air, but they weren't making much progress upward as the river swept them along. She didn't want to have to let the tom go, but she wasn't quite sure how much longer she could stay under.

Suddenly, Crowblaze's weight seemed to grow lighter, and their progress toward the surface became much easier. Another cat? She hadn't seen anyone, but it didn't matter. Breaking the surface, Fernpaw drew a deep breath through her nose, paws churning to hold her place, and she blinked at Owlpaw at her side. The two steered their way to the bank, only to encounter another problem; they had no way to get him out of the river. And he was scarily, eerily still.

Swanpaw appeared with Dewpaw and Moonflower behind her, reaching down instantly to take a grip on her uncle. Owlpaw clawed her way out next, leaving Fernpaw alone, but not for long. She stayed only until Moonflower also got a grip on the tom, and then finally let him go. "He was fighting a fox, he fell in! I think he's hurt, there was blood... and he's not moving..." Up on the bank again, the silver-and-black apprentice scanned the water, looking for the other cat, eyes narrowed in confusion as she saw none there. But she'd been sure... Dragging her eyes back to Dewpaw, she stepped closer to her sister. "How can I help?"

STEADY AS THE RIVER RUNS

Made By Fawn || Fawn @kahani williams Hellion

[williams]

The run to the river couldn't have been longer. Heart in her throat and mouth panting out each breath, Dewpaw did her best to keep pace with Swanpaw. The warrior's apprentice was faster, and knew already which direction the hunting party had been. The herbs kept escaping their bundle too, Dewpaw's rushed job not holding up to the speed they moved at. I'll do better next time, I think if we use ferns they'll stick to the herbs better than just leaves, she thought as they reached the river's edge. As she set her bundle down, the medicine cat apprentice shook the ideas out of her head, bringing her focus back to the large tom being helped out of the water.

Even where she was, Dewpaw could tell something was wrong. He was still, water giving the impression that his chest was rising and falling. The puddle underneath grew in equal shades dark and red. She could feel her stomach twist in the same way it had when the cats had been in their den, taking their last breaths before Starclan took them. Dewpaw clenched her jaw at the feeling. I hope Swanfeather gets here soon.

Dewpaw quickly bundled her herbs back up, trotting over to Crowblaze's side before depositing them at a safe distance. She acknowledged her sister's words-Fernpaw is here-I have to do well!- saying what she felt would help the cats around her feel comforted. "It's hard to fight off a fox and a current but we'll protect him now. You didn't see if he hit anything in the water did you?" Despite the way the run made her breath fast, Dewpaw was calm and quickly went down her list of things to check. She examined with swift paws, testing against Crowblaze's chest. She couldn't feel it rise with breathing, nor feel a heartbeat when she pressed one chocolate ear against it. There were ways to bring that back though, and there had to be water blocking everything now anyways.

"We're going to have to get the water out of his lungs before addressing the fox injuries. Help me by lifting his back end, I'll make sure his airway's clear." Dewpaw circled the group of cats, gesturing with her paw and muzzle where each cat should be. "Moonshine, please take this end, Owlpaw and Swanpaw take here, straight across from each other thank you. Fernpaw, can you keep an eye out for that fox and Swanfeather please?. We're going to need her help too I think." Her own paws went to Crowblaze's jaws, still small enough to pry the tom's jaws open and help any water come out. When each cat responded to their task, she gave the signal to lift. Please work.

--
Hellion Taxx Fawn @kahani

[Deleted]

Moonshine 

---

The lilac tipped deputy arrived just as Fernpaw and Owlpaw were nearing the surface of the river, Crowblaze, a heavy burden on both of them. Moonshine held back a few choice words, in this emergency they had done what they could but they were reckless, foolishly attempting a rescue with only two apprentices to drag a large tom against the current and she gave both apprentices a stern look as they broke the surface " What where you thinking risking your lives like that? Crowblaze is a grown cat and that current could have drowned you all " she wanted to scream at them but held her tongue for now, she would scold them later. 

Moonshine then plunged into the water, swimming below Crowblaze's hind quarters to help push the tom up onto the bank and waited with baited breath as Dewpaw did her initial assessment, even to Moonshine's untrained eye, she could tell something was seriously wrong. The way Crowblaze's chest did not rise and fall and how eerily still he seemed to be. She was stunned from her stupor by Dewpaw barking orders out on how to remove any water from Crowblaze's lungs and while she momentarily stiffened at having been told what to do by a cat half her age she quickly reminded herself that Dewpaw was a medicine cat apprentice and she knew what she was doing. 

Moonshine waited at her allotted spot until Dewpaw gave the signal and with a heavy exhale of breath the senior warrior did her best to lift the tom. "He's so heavy, if I wasn't so mad at them for endangering themselves, I would be proud of Fern and Owlpaw's strength" her thoughts whispered as she heaved the bottom half of the tom into the air, ignoring the pang in her heartstrings that told her it was all too late. 

---

Taxx, williams
Three hundred and nine words. 
Notes: She is just worried guys, she knows they did what they thought was best. 

[Hellion]

Owlpaw & Swanfeather

---

There was plenty of things to be grateful for when it came to the genetic gifts from her parents, but her thick coat was not one of them. When asked by her Fernpaw to join he rin gathering moss, Owlpaw's first reaction was to tell her no. Explain to her in great detail that she'd surely overheat and be in the medicine cat's den for the rest of the day. But when Swanpaw gave her the look, she agreed. She couldn't say no to Swanpaw. Following after Swanpaw and Fernpaw, Owlpaw kept herself occupied by only walking in the shaded areas of the trail they travelled.

Her mouth a gap to scent the air, she caught the fading hint of Crowblaze. Her uncle was a puzzle to her but when her father spoke of him, he sounded fond. It also peeked her interest knowing that Crowblaze had spent time as a loner. He could prove to be a wealth of knowledge.

Distracted by the questions for Crowblaze forming in her head, she nearly collided with Swanpaw before she caught the scent. Her fur bristled along her back as a hiss escaped her. She tired to will her mind to focus on what to do. The best idea would be to run and hope their legs would be faster but before she could command her body to move, a shadow appeared.

Fearing it another fox she felt a sudden rush of relief engulf her when it was the powerful form of Crowblaze. Watching the battle take place, Owlpaw felt her claws slip out. The urge to join her uncle in battle was born out of foolishness. She was no match for a fox, age, and training against her. But that didn't stop the she-cat from snarling at the fox in an effort to show the damned creature Crowblaze wasn't alone.

Her attempt was in vain as the fight crashed into the river. Owlpaw went closer to the edge, trusting in her uncle's ability to swim to make him the victor. However to her horror, the water grew darker and on the far end of the river came the fox, but no sign of Crowblaze. Joining her sister in frantic yowling, Owlpaw cried for him to emerge, begging him to resurface.

Fernpaw was the first to regain her reasoning skills as she told Swanpaw to get help. Looking to the older apprentice for leadership, Owlpaw joined the other she-cat in jumping into the river. Together they dove down into the river, fighting the fear in her chest to focus on swimming down. That fear shifted into panic as her lung started to ache and her limps began to tire from the fighting the current.

Breaking into the surface, Owlpaw tried not to cough too hard as she attempted to catch her breath. It dawned on her that it would be another up hill challenge to get Crowblaze onto the bank, with her uncle still knocked out it would close to impossible.

Luckily for her and her swim exhausted body, help arrived. Moonshine pulled him the rest of the way out. Finding herself her own space on the bank to crawl onto, she flopped awkwardly, panting slightly. Her eyes shifted to stare at Crowblaze, expecting him to cough and wake even if he was weak.

Hearing Dewpaw rattle off what they were going to do, Owlpaw forced herself to stand and follow the given instructions. Waiting for the signal she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread in her stomach.

~~~

Nodding as Dewpaw raced off to help Crowblaze, Swanfeather gathered what she needed before following after. Her limbs were slower but she arrived in time to see them working on clearing the water from Crowblaze's lungs. Limping forward, having forced her joints too much in her haste, Swanfeather signaled with her tail to put him down. Looking over the tom-cat, the blue-eyed she-cat cleared her throat.

"He is with StarClan now," Her voice was soft as a forepaw moved to close his opened mouth out of respect. Her eyes traveled to each cat present. "I can stay here and watch over him while you all go back to camp and alert the Clan then send a few warriors to carry him home," Her gaze settled on Dewpaw, her apprentice who had it right in what to do, but time just wasn't in her favor.

~~~

Owlpaw stared at the aged medicine cat as the news of Crowblaze's passing rang out in her ears. Her gaze dropped to her uncle, half expecting him to surge with life but that earlier sense of dread wasn't in vain.

"We waited too long..we should have gone in right after him," Her whispered words sounded painfully broken as she fought back sobs. There was so much left unsaid, so many questions for him that she'd never get to mutter. As the ache grew in her chest, her eyes shifted away and to Swanpaw before the young apprentice surged forward to bury her face in her sister's fur seeking comfort. What would they say to their father? How would he take it? She didn't want to go back to camp yet, she couldn't face her father's and tell him that his brother died. She could barely imagine the hurt if she lost Falconpaw or Owlpaw but now her father would feel that for real.

Guilt and sadness started to fill her, if only they had gone in after him.

_{@spottefawn Taxx williams @kahani
word; 923}

[BlooRey DVD]

Tear the whole world down,

tear the whole world down

WARRIOR OF RAINCLAN || 34 MOONS || TOM

He'd heard commotion long before he arrived at the scene. With two fish hanging from his jaws, the large tom picked up his pace though his eyes remained impassive. His first instinct was that some apprentices got carried away in some game. And yet, even someone as far removed as he from everyday life could identify true panic when he heard it. Gorgeleap pushed through the reeds in time to hear Swanfeather's final words as his pale green eyes landed upon the limp form of a warrior he identified as Crowblaze. It didn't take long to figure out what happened.

The faint scent of fox lingered among the many Clan cat scents, and the amount of water scattered along the river bank told him the fight had gone into the river. No easy fight for even the best of RainClan's swimmers. Lastly, the grief and horror stricken features of the many witness apprentices said it all. Something terrible had occurred, because not even apprentices could escape the truth about the cruelty of life. Everything could change in an instant; everything could be torn out from under your paws.

Padding forward, the large tom pressed his shoulder to Dewpaw's, and swept his tail around Fernpaw to draw her close. He was no expert in grief counseling, far from it in fact, but what little he did understand of basic emotion was that others often took comfort in the presence of someone familiar. Impassive eyes drifted toward the other pair of sisters, whom he recalled were related to Crowblaze. There was little he could do for them, seeing as he doubted they would find his presence even close to comforting. Lowering his head to drop his prey and free his maw, the large tom glanced toward Swanfeather and Moonshine.

"I will carry him." He spoke as flatly as he ever did. "He has spent enough time in the water. He deserves to be brought back home." Or something of similar effect that anyone more adept at social constructs would say. He flicked an ear before continuing. "The journey isn't far. If Moonshine helps me lift him onto my back, and someone carries my prey, I'll be fine." Remaining at Echoshade's daughters' side for the time being, he glanced toward the other two apprentices as they clung to one another. Although he himself didn't exactly understand the concept of 'being ready' when it came time to move deceased Clan members, he'd been berated by Echoshade in the past and knew it was a social construct.

And so, although the cynical tom's expression remained unchanged, he did go as far as to add a final "When you discern the time to be right." towards the Clan deputy. She was certainly a more beloved and well-versed cat in these situations. Best he allow her to make the decisions, lest he end up offending or upsetting someone. He was pretty good at that.

~480 Words || Taxx Fawn williams Hellion @kahani || Points for trying..?

[williams]

In her bones, Dewpaw felt the finality of Crowblaze. She watched the water spill across her front paws with a detachment from her physical body, his lungs emptying the water that took the warrior. She had known, she realized. He was already dead when he was pulled from the river. Her soul said to try though-wasn't that her job? to try with her entire being to save everyone in her clan? to try at least once?- and so the medicine cat apprentice had. Swanfeather's words slid across Dewpaw's heart, pooling at her now wet paws that she stared at with wide blue eyes. She felt fit to shatter, turning her gaze to her mentor with a broken expression.

"We waited too long..we should have gone in right after him," A voice said to her left. We waited too long. Wasn't she supposed to say something here? Her mentor said he was with Starclan, and respects could be paid. Her mouth opened to say something, anything, but she couldn't. Her words jammed in her throat. Dewpaw's tears spilled over, her shoulders shaking with sadness that couldn't be voiced.

Someone pressed on her side, a familiar rumble sharing his thoughts. Dewpaw couldn't make out the words, everything blurring as her sight swam. Turning her face into Gorgeleap's pelt, the she-cat let her sorrow fill her body. "I'm sorry." She whispered. The words were directed towards no one in particular, perhaps Crowblaze for not trying hard enough, perhaps his nieces for the death they now had to carry, perhaps her mentor for caring too much about saving everyone. Perhaps Fernpaw. Perhaps Starclan, who decided that Rainclan needed to lose so many cats in one season. 

--
Taxx Hellion @kahani BlooRey DVD Fawn