Post by Abyss on Aug 14, 2021 2:05:37 GMT -5
WHITEHAWK
He was doing the best that he could. They all were. Though it wasn't as if there was much they truly could do. The valley was destroyed. Stoneclan's rocky terrain had crumbled under their paws like a dried leaf in Leaffall. But it wasn't just them; all of the clans had lost their homes. All of the territories, from what he had heard, had collapsed. All of them were homeless.
It was very strange, having all five clans in one place. It was natural at the Gatherings, but the whole of each clan didn't go to Gatherings. This was far more cats in one place than any Gathering could ever compare to. So many scents mixed and blended together, so many unfamiliar faces, and so much tension.
There were those of the clans who only cared for themselves. They were the sort who believed their clans to be superior and the rest were lower than they. Nightclan was a primary example of this, but it wasn't just them. There were cats like that in all of the clans, including his own. But there was also hope. There were also those who were kind and open, who cared about all of the clans and those within them. Whitehawk was one of these cats.
He had somehow managed to find himself mingling with a group of fellow felines, at least one from each clan, and multiple from the Tribe itself. They had been distributing food to everyone that they could, working with the rest of their clanmates and the Prey-Hunters of the Tribe to get more food out equally, or where it was needed most. They hadn't been instructed to do this, but it was an idea casually brought up in conversation that came to fruition on its own. Unfortunately there were some who didn't appreciate said efforts, or refused altogether, claiming that they "can hunt for their own food like they are supposed to", or that they "were perfectly capable and didn't need anyone else's pity". They were irritating notions, but some cats were far too stubborn to take help, regardless of their circumstances. Nonetheless, they still did what they could for those who would accept. Queens, Elders, Kits, injured Warriors, shaken Apprentices. Even some of those in the Tribe who found themselves under the pressure of being too crowded and cramped.
While the large white tom was doing as much as he could, he almost felt as though he wasn't doing enough. He wanted to help everyone, he wanted to force food down the gullets of those who were too self-absorbed, he wanted to provide as much food as he could for those who needed it, he wanted to heal everyone's wounds. But the last one was not his job. No, the one in charge of that, from Stoneclan at least, was the same one who, in the literal sense, was in charge of the clan itself. Sorrelclaw had been lost to the landslide that he, Orioleflight, and Wisteriapaw had almost been caught up in. He never thought he would actually be thankful for falling behind, but he was. No, the outcome was not ideal. But...he had managed to save at least some lives, and that had to count for something. Beyond that incident, though, there was another who had been lost. Birdstar. No one had seen him ever since the earthquake began, and it had been a few days by now. The last time he had seen the matte gray tom, he had been at the back of the clan making sure everyone escaped. But by the time Whitehawk had also fallen to the back, carrying his Apprentice and a fellow Warrior to the mountains, the Leader was gone. No one had seen him. And...unfortunately, given the situation...he was presumed dead. White wanted to have hope, he wanted to believe that Birdstar would return, battered and worn most likely, but alive. But if he continued to focus on this hope, he would lose track of what was currently important. He needed to help his clan, and the others.
He hadn't really spoken with her ever since they arrived to the Tribe. He could only assume that she had been busy, and so had he, she far more than him most likely. And though they hadn't really talked much prior to the earthquake either, her current circumstances gave reason for this to change. She was a Medicine Cat, grieving just as they all were, who not only had to help the other Medicine Cats, but had also ended up being the only high ranking cat within the clan left. From what he knew, no one had specifically told her to take on that role, but...sometimes this was just the way that things ended up. It wasn't ideal, but neither was any of this.
"Here, you can have the last couple bites." He nudged a mostly eaten small rabbit forward to the paws of two Apprentices, their scent smelling distinctly of water and fish. As the two ate, the one-eyed tom turned, his half-gaze falling onto the shape of his clan's Medicine Cat. He couldn't tell for sure from a distance, but he knew that she was under a lot of pressure. All of them were, really, but all of the Medicine Cats in particular. But Stoneclan's midnight-furred she-cat was facing so much.
Nodding a parting to the two Apprentices, Whitehawk began a somewhat slow trek towards where the black molly was, swallowing his nerves down hard. He had a hard time talking to she-cats, this much was known. Any molly he had interacted with could be asked and would likely confirm that observation. But there was something that almost made it easier to approach Ebony. Perhaps it was the more professional side of it all. She was the primary figure of authority he was under the command of, so maybe it was that sense of duty that managed to dull down the awkwardness. Though, given the pain and grief that they were all feeling, hers quite strong, it was both easier and harder at the same time.
Large white paws stopped a few steps away from the bobtail, the tom silently clearing his throat. He thought that he could force himself to take on a business-like tone by doing so.
"Ebon-" Immediate voice crack. Not a good way to start a conversation, honestly. He shook his head quick, clearing his throat again and breathing in.
"Ebonyheart. I...if…" Maybe he should have actually thought about what he was going to say before he opened his mouth. Even when talking to his technical boss he couldn't hide that internal panic of being around females. Come on, just do it.
"I have not spoken with you since...all of this. So I don't really know how you are feeling right now, about any of this. But I want to make sure that you know..that you aren't alone. You don't have to face any of this by yourself. So if at any point you need anything, or want help, or need a minute to relax, I am willing to do anything I can to help."
Stoneclan Warrior
1197
