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STORMSTAR

When the last cats of the patrol had filed into camp, Stormstar sent Adderstrike on ahead to Ottersplash. He himself looked around Roselight but could not find her, instead Bluewave approached him.

"Roselight went to fetch Rushwhisker." The once deputy looked his leader up and down. "We should get you inside your den until Ottersplash and Rushwhisker are here. Can you make it?"

Stormstar's vision was starting to swirl, and his legs felt like the had been replaced by the pond water. "Y-yes" he said, his jaw clamped against the nausea in his gut. So far he had managed to stand tall, despite the pain written on his features. He hoped the warriors would see him and think that he was only minorly injured... even though he knew it was different.

He followed Bluewave to his den, not realizing he was leaving something of a blood trail.

When he was finally out of sight of the main camp, he collapsed, panting. "Bluewave, make sure no one but Ottersplash or Rushwhiskerdisturb me. No one can see me like this."

The other tom nodded, hesitant, but left to take up the guard post outside. 

Stormstar took the moment to regulate his breathing, finally allowing himself to relax from the rigid posture he had kept up for his clan's sake. He was feeling light-headed, confused. After a moment he couldn't help but face the facts.

Im losing a life.

Well that was fast, congratulations to him for losing a life after barely a season of leadership. He cringed. Hopefully this wouldn't be a sign for the rest of his time as a leader.

But worst of all, he just felt... alone. He didn't want to die alone in his sad dark den. A rough huff escaped him, as he  laid his head on his paws, growing ever weaker.

Please let someone come.

I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait.

background image | 327 |Amber @zen | table by phoenix

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The silver tabby padded silently out of his den, glancing around the camp with wide golden-brown eyes. Adderstrike was sleeping under a pain and poppy seed haze, his flanks wrapped in marigold and cobweb. With one patient tended to, Ottersplash could turn his attentions to the other cats that had faced the fox.

A massive silver-blue tom caught his attention, and Ottersplash padded over to where Bluewave stood guard in front of Stormstar's den. The expression of concern on the former deputy's face sent a knot of fear into the pit of the medicine cat's stomach. "Stormstar..." Ottersplash whispered. Bluewave gave a grim nod. "I'll need my herbs..." The medicine cat padded back over to his den, where he had previously laid out piles of herbs in preparation for the wounded he had been warned were incoming. He gently grabbed marigold and horsetail into his jaws, starting when he noticed Bluewave had followed. He flicked his tail to the cobwebs, watching as the other tom scooped them up and turned back to the leader's den.

Armed with his supplies, Ottersplash followed, wishing his legs weren't so shaky. He hesitated at the den entrance a moment before mentally shaking himself and disappearing inside. His eyes widened as he took in Stormstar and the blood pooling on the den floor. The medicine cat found a dry spot to lay his herbs then made his way to his leader's side.

There was a certain air in the den, and somehow, he just knew. He could tell Stormstar knew, too. He sat beside the dying leader and, hoping he wasn't out of place, began to slowly groom Stormstar's face and neck. He would treat Stormstar's wounds when the leader was in StarClan, but until then, he would offer what little comfort he could.

dreamer, Zeneka