Post by Ghost the Undead Goddess on Jun 25, 2021 15:02:44 GMT -5
Ebonyheart,
Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams
The ground was wet below her wide, flat paws as mud squished rather unpleasently between her toes. It would probably take her moons to clean the soft earth from her black coat and many more to remove the foul stench, how the marsh-living Nightclanners did this on a day to day basis was beyond her. The large she-cat was perfectly peaceful living among the barren and rocky landscape of her own clan.
Though, for now she would endure the near completely flooded territory of Nightclan as she wandered through the Pine Forests in search of the cats who occupied this land.
She was not alone, as it would be a danger to let the only Medicine Cat of Stoneclan wander into another clan's territory despite the rule that they were free to go were they pleased. Nightclan had never been solely hooked on the rules, and hostitlity seemed to be a common trait among the larger and more aggressive members of the clan.
Their famed leader, Darkstar was hardly an acceptation to that rule either.
Ebonyheart's elder cousin, Redshadow, was padded a few feet behind her as his own paws continuously was sucked into the mud with each step her took. While he was far more slender and lithe than her more bulky form, it seemed that the soggy earth could care less about who it latched onto and tried to hold fast. The red tom's ears twitched with mild irritation, though his face remained that of a peaceful and diplomatic feline, which he was.
Which was the reason on why Birdstar had chosen the older tom to follow Ebonyheart as she delivered a few choice herbs to Nightclan's fellow ranking healer, Shadowchaser.
It had only been a few nights previously, during those awful storms that seemed to shake the valley to it's core, did Ebonyheart receive a dream from her Starclan's counterpart. The clans had lived season after season with floods, especially in the more low-lying and water delighted territories but something in Mintleaf's voice urged the young healer to aid those who needed her help.
After all, despite being purely loyal to her own clan, Ebonyheart was still a Medicine Cat and it was still her duty to aid those who were unable to aid themselves. Not to mention, recently the helm of Healer had fallen from two to one within Nightclan's borders as the old feline Smokefur had finally retired to the elder's den to let her bones rest from moons upon moons of dedicated work.
After a few more pawsteps into the thicket of the trees around them, Redshadow's fluffy tail flickered to pause Ebonyheart's movements, his colorful hues watching closely at each lingering shadow here and there. "Someone is coming..." His calm voice was gentle and soft as always, though he purposefully made it to where only his healer could hear his mew.
Seconds later a lithe gray she-cat slid from the darkness below some undergrowth, mud caked her paws and distraught and angst were clear within her intense green hues. For a moment it was silent, the pretty Nightclanner staring down those from Stoneclan as if she were unsure or didn't even care that they were invading on territory that didn't belong to them.
What could have caused such fight to flee that of a Nightclan warrior?
"What are you doing here?" Finally Graywolf spoke, her voice cracking within her mouth as if she hadn't mewed in quite some time. Her emotions were raw and just below the surface it seemed, her thick tail dragging behind her collecting wet earth on the feathered tips of her fur.
Ebonyheart dipped her head in a proper greeting, as did Redshadow due to the circumstances in which they had been raised, before the inky black feline set her preciously wrapped bundle upon her large paws to speak. "Stoneclan comes with herbs for Shadowchaser." Her tone was sharp but proper as always as her tail nub flickered practically inconspicuously behind her.
A half-hearted snort of disbelief passed through Graywolf's muzzle before she turned and started to slink back through the darkness, hardly giving a word or a second through as she led the others back to where her clan was gathered on a bed of fallen pine needles. Redshadow exchanged a faint glance of confusion with his younger cousin before the two of them followed her quietly.
Ebonyheart was no stranger to grief, but there was something about this gray feline that screamed heartache to her. Alas, she was not Nigthclan's medicine cat and that was something that would have to be taken care of between Graywolf and Shadowchaser, whenever the warrior decided she was ready.
If she ever was.
The two Stoneclanners lost sight of their guide as she slipped easily into the shadows but her scent led them to were an overwhelming stench of Nightclan rose like a hazy cloud above that of the rain and forest around them. Ebonyheart turned to properly thank the weary dilute feline but Graywolf had disappeared, not even her form was seen among the sea of gathered Nightclan pelts in their makeshift camp.
It was as if she had avoided returning home.
Ebonyheart once again took the lead as she let her large, inky shape pad into the clearing. It didn't take long for all eyes of the weary and waterlogged cats to turn dangerously towards her and Redshadow.
She knew they were safe, it would be downright blasphemy for anyone to attack her especially with the fact that all of Stoneclan knew where they were at the moment. Birdstar, while peaceful, would probably raise all of the Dark Forest if his healer did not return to the safety of the barrens.
"Greetings." She said politely, holding any fierce gaze that tried to burn into her unreadable mossy hues. "I'm looking for Shadowchaser."
36 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat
Fawn || Made by Fawn || 992 Words