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Post by Fawn on May 14, 2017 21:05:01 GMT -5
blinded by the light of a new sun take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem Even in the dreamlands, Lionstar was busy. Padding through a bustling replica of TreeClan's camp, he looked to and fro, snapping at apprentices to stop playing around with building materials and reinforce the den walls like he'd ordered. Then there were kits squeaking from the nursery, elders stretched out in the sun. Zephyrfang and Silentsong were grooming each other, while Finchpaw and Thornpaw tried to tempt Owlpaw and Ravenpaw into a game, with little success.Gorsetail was chatting amicably with Skyfall, and Birchfrost was... eating, like always.It was peaceful. Yet something felt wrong.Like cloud-cover over the sun, Lionstar's world became dark and nearly cheerless, all the bright colors and warm tones fading to a dull, depressing gray. What's going on? Was this an omen from StarClan? He shivered, searching the suddenly faceless crowds for someone in particular. For Honeysong. Why can't I find her?"What's wrong, Lionstar?" said the blurry tabby tom who Lionstar believed to be Gorsetail. Lionstar tried to focus on his deputy, but it was like looking through the sparkling brook to see the bottom; the image was slightly distorted.Lionstar brushed past him. "Where's Honeysong?" He tried to find Falconstorm then, but the medicine cat, with a bundle of herbs in his jaws, just looked confused by his question.Falconstorm set the bundle down. "She died, Lionstar. Greencough. Don't you remember?"The fluffy tom's gaze was scathing, and he took a step back, shock rippling through him like an electric current. Dead? What? Oh StarClan, no. Is that what this dream world was? Clan life without Honeysong in it?Blurred faces began to gain clarity, and the colors were becoming saturated, but Lionstar's heart was racing. He couldn't breathe. This isn't right. She couldn't have... She couldn't have died...Badgerstripe, Redbird, Distantstar, Smallshine, Spottedfeather, Thunderclaw, Bloodtalon, Stormchaser... and now Honeysong."NO!" The golden tom awoke in his nest, his claws scouring holes in the tangled moss bedding, aurelian eyes sweeping over his surroundings as if in search of an escape route."Lionstar? Are you alright?" It was Skyfall's voice from outside.Trying to calm an angry, shocked heart, Lionstar caught his breath after a hasty "Fine. I'm fine." It was late in the evening; his sunhigh-nap had somehow turned out much longer and more more disturbing than he ever could have anticipated. He hated this separation. Hated having the Clan divided between the sick and the healthy.Lionstar rythmically licked down his chest fur, the strokes calming his agitated nerves. It wasn't enough to fully rid the tension and stress from his heart, but it was a start.The only thing that would help him now was a walk.With a quick word to Skyfall, Lionstar left camp, walking along a blood-orange path laid down by the sinking sun of a dying day. That wasn't an omen. Just a nightmare. That's all. Even if it was nothing more than a night-terror, Lionstar's whole body was pulling him towards the sparkling brook. Right to the hidden thicket.He had to force himself to stop about ten fox-lengths from where he knew the entrance to the thicket was. He had already come far enough; risking his Clan's health and safety just to satisfy his own unhappiness and fear was selfish.Lionstar paced, flattening the grass under paw and snapping the occasional twig. Moving as if, through sheer repetitive action, he could summon Honeysong to his side again. Smell her scent. Know that she was alright. leader of TreeClan Lionstar has been infected with Greencough. Sick - DEADLY He will lose a life Newleaf 30th.
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Post by Justice on May 14, 2017 21:34:48 GMT -5
Honeysong We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold61 Moons, Senior Warrior of TreeClan She had been patrolling the edge of the thicket on and off all day, taking turns with other bored warriors that were in the quarintine zone with her. She'd come willingly, keeping an eye on the sick youngsters and attending her apprentice while keeping her promise to the worried warrior queen Moonfeather. She knew it had been bad to come, that it had worried Lionstar for her to leave him when so many in his life were already sick, but she had to go. A promise was a promise, and better for her to fight this off than for Moonfeather to leave her remaining kit all alone at camp.
Though she has a bit of a sore throat that was the worst greencough had found her, and for that she was thankful. She was strong enough to hunt as those around her got steadily weaker, and others like herself tried not to die of boredom from being stuck in quarantine. It was hard having the Clan split like this. She missed Falconstorm, she only saw him when he was rushing about to help or bring Bluejay herbs. She missed her nest and her Clanmates. Mostly, however, she missed Lionstar. She even admitted to it. He was her friend, her confidant, the one she always went to and was there for as their lives wore on.
She came to the edge of the brook to get a drink, just to have something before she headed back to trade out with another warrior waiting to take a turn to walk about without having everyone tripping over everyone else. Gorsetail had organized everyone, so it wasn't that, it was just there were too many cats in too small an area for many to be needed for patrols at once. Everyone was helping in some way. Helping the sick to get a drink, finding prey, patrolling the border of the thicket just in case, running errands and messages. Anything they could do, and only Falconstorm was allowed to come and go since he wasn't getting sick. No one knew why that was, but he was still well days after being exposed. Something would have shown by now, as proven by her sore throat and occasional cough.
It was when she lifted her head from her drink that she noticed the large golden tom pacing not near far enough away from where the thicket began. "Lionstar!" She called out his name the moment she saw him, waving her tail. "You shouldn't be here, it isn't safe."
Word Count // Fawn // Notes
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Post by Fawn on May 15, 2017 11:33:45 GMT -5
blinded by the light of a new sun take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem Through StarClan's mercy, Honeysong did appear, and he doggedly approached, ignoring her warnings that he wasn't safe here. "I had to see you." It was a passionate confession, and Lionstar, fortunately, reeled himself back in before he started babbling like an idiot; there was such relief to be found in pretty golden eyes and soft lilac fur, he felt his legs turn rubbery with the tension ebbing. "Terrible dream. I had to make sure you weren't in there..." He pulled the next word out slowly, as painful as a thorn. "Dying."The quarantine was a good idea. It had to be, for the sake of keeping the healthy healthy and giving the ill a chance to recover. He had to keep telling himself this; he had to keep justifying the logic of the decision against the hefty, despairing weight in his heart. Lionstar's tail lashed once behind him, a small sign of frustration. After all these moons, he couldn't act as calm and collected as he'd wanted to; he couldn't stop himself from feeling the way he did - he just had to be careful not to let it override sound judgment...Like it just had.Lionstar looked at the space between them and sighed. He didn't feel guilty. He should have, but he didn't."How are they? Sandfur? Gorsetail? Ravenpaw?" Moonfeather's two kits? Was there any improvement apart from Finchpaw? Selfishly, Lionstar wanted to follow Honeysong to the hidden thicket and see for himself how these cats were fairing, but what was left of the golden warrior's sense of duty kept him rooted to the spot. Exposing himself to Honeysong was risky enough. He couldn't just march into the hidden thicket as if he had StarClan's divine blessing.leader of TreeClan
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Post by Justice on May 15, 2017 13:04:48 GMT -5
Honeysong We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold61 Moons, Senior Warrior of TreeClan She backed up a few steps when he came closer then stopped herself, realizing he was in distress. "Lionstar?" She wanted to go to him, to comfort him and assure him that everything was going to be alright, that he could go home and things would get better, but she didn't want him to get sick too. And he had experienced a dream so terrible that it shook him. She'd died, another friend lost to the ravages of life. He'd suffered so much. "I'm here, I'm alright. Nothing worse than a sore throat." She glanced back the way she'd come, considering the sick ones back at the make-shift camp. "Homesick, cranky, and a little stir crazy. Gorsetail is holding us together well, doing his best to keep everyone in good spirits. Bluejay is very sick, and Falconstorm is running about doing his very best. You should be proud of these cats, of our Clanmates. No matter what comes to us, we will prevail."
She looked back to him, offering a smile. "The apprentices are hanging in there, but they are the ones that are getting hit the hardest right now. I'm worried. But...tell Moonfeather her kits will come home soon, that they will be well and back where she can be with them again before she know sit. StarClan watches over they and all the cats of TreeClan, and the warriors are watching over the youngsters. And Ravenpaw..." She sighed. "Still wants nothing to do with me, but we'll see. For now I've let her mother handle her and kept a watchful gaze." She didn't have the heart to tell him she was certain at least some of these cats wouldn't be coming home. Little Dunepaw, her valiant savior, already had a harder time recovering from sickness. Now for him to have greencough...Things were only going to get worse before they got better. Maybe he'd get better, maybe they'd all get better. For now, she kept up vigil with the others who weren't so sick, and prayed.
But, Lionstar needed reassurance. For a cat as strong and patient as he was, he'd come to her looking for reassurance. And she planned to give it to him, even if it meant not telling him everything that's going on. It was too soon to say who would be okay and who wouldn't. But she could speak for herself. "You are a mousebrain, you know that don't you?" She took a step towards him, no further. "But I'm happy to see you, just no closer, you've already tempted fate coming this far." She sat down, curling her tail around her paws. "I miss having the chance to see you every day, I miss talking to you and walking at your side." She tipped her head, an odd expression on her face. "Do you remember, when I was recovering from that snake bite? When I fell asleep at your side?"
Word Count // Fawn // Notes OOC : So many mentions XD Silver for Ravenpaw mention Hellion for Aspenpaw mention Phoenix for Gorsetail mention
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Post by Fawn on May 15, 2017 23:05:32 GMT -5
blinded by the light of a new sun take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem "I miss having the chance to see you every day, I miss talking to you and walking at your side."Yes, StarClan, he'd missed it too. She wasn't just one of the last surviving cats from his past; she mattered to him, even more than he allowed himself to admit. Ravenpaw was... right, but those feelings couldn't be addressed right now. Honeysong had a little cough, but when she returned home, then they could talk. Go for a walk through the valley, maybe see the Great Maple again and ... discuss the future, instead of the past.Honeysong's question pulled him back to her, and Lionstar sat down, selfishly hoarding her attention while he was able to. "I remember." A smile tugged at his whiskers, tawny muzzle lifting until their eyes were level. "It was peaceful." Lionstar knew many cats; he had interacted with dozens of faces both gone and still around. Kits had nested in his tail for warmth. Apprentices had practiced their stalking techniques on him. He'd grappled with enemies, and even a few Clanmates for the sake of training.Yet he did not sleep in the warriors' den. He shared his nest in the ancient stump with no one. Moments where he was able to share the warmth and comfort of another feline were dear to him. And not just for the cure to loneliness.Lionstar swung his head towards the hidden thicket, his gaze narrowing as if he might espy more Clanmates moving around through the dense tangle of bushes, brambles and bracken. The whole Clan was in a fever-grip. Bluejay's condition worried him especially; her life was too young to be taken by StarClan so soon. Yet Lionstar knew from experience that age was not enough to spare his Clanmates from the cold embrace of death.His pelt prickled with unease, coat fluffing as if to fend off a nasty, unexpected chill. Lionstar felt the pain of loss already beginning to cut him; his voice was husky, soft with concern. "If I could give up a life to save them all, I would. In a heartbeat." But all I can do is lead the healthy, and pray that Bluejay and Falconstorm can heal the sick.leader of TreeClan
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Post by Justice on May 16, 2017 20:23:35 GMT -5
Honeysong We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold61 Moons, Senior Warrior of TreeClan "It was peaceful."
She smiled at that. "Yes. It was peaceful, and at your side I knew I was safe." StarClan, did she ever miss this tom. Her heart had been constricted inside her furry body ever since she volunteered to come here instead of risking the much younger Moonfeather and her one healthy kit. Though she would be missed Honeysong was older, she'd lived a decent life. Moonfeather was just starting to find her way, she didn't need to add seeing what this illness did to those around her to the horrors she'd seen. The she-cat, when gently coaxed, told stories.
Honeysong sighed, then gave Lionstar the weight of her gaze. "No one would want you to do that. We need our leader now more than ever. Its a very sweet sentiment, but TreeClan has to know its leader is strong. Gorsetail has held up well for those of us here, the ones left behind are going to look to you for support, for reassurance. I'm sure you know that."
And now it was time to change the subject, lest they both end up depressed. Things were bad enough, they didn't need any help. "The flowers seem to finally be thriving again. I end up laughing at some of our very dark or very light colored clanmates, because they stand out so badly. Falconstorm got angry with me earlier for laughing when he was trying to hunt and the bird saw his pale hide before he could get close enough."
Word Count // Fawn // Notes
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Post by Fawn on May 17, 2017 9:05:29 GMT -5
blinded by the light of a new sun take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem Honeysong's stern eye swept him up, and Lionstar's face showed subtle traces of an internal war; the agony of being unable to do anything to help his Clanmates, combined with the... surprising endearment he felt for her scolding. Not many cats felt it was their place to tell him what he needed hearing. But Honeysong, even if he'd been StarClan's gift to the forest, could always be trusted to help him see what really needed seeing.He looked at the gurgling brook to hide a wan smile, letting her change the subject to take his mind - both their minds - off of such distressing matters. "Cats who can laugh every once in a while live longer," Lionstar met her gaze, his tone softening, turning friendlier as if they were just chatting for old's time sake again. "Tell him to lighten up a little." The golden warrior cocked his head, and chanced a joke. "Well, not too much lighter. He'd never catch anything ever again.""We have so many apprentices right now, I'm thinking of holding another challenge." During his first long season as deputy, there had been such a high amount of apprentices, and he'd been... desperate to prove himself in the eyes of his Clanmates, that he'd organized two activities for TreeClan's 'paws. One had been a hunting challenge, with each apprentice given the whole day to hunt; the winner got to choose first pick from the fresh kill pile before anyone else.The second trial had been a mock battle. LionClan versus TigerClan. The winning team had the privilege of sleeping in the warriors' den for one night, and, if they were old enough, the strong possibility of a warriors' ceremony. It had been a good way to assess the skills of every apprentice at the time. With a miniature Clan of 'paws in the apprentices' den this season, Lionstar felt now was as good a time as any to revive an old idea."What do you think?" He mewed, wanting her opinion. This was something to discuss with Gorsetail, but Honeysong held a special place in his life. Her importance to him couldn't be overstated. "It would take their minds off of this sickness." And the... lives that he feared were going to be lost, regardless of Bluejay's and Falconstorm's best efforts. leader of TreeClan
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Post by Justice on May 30, 2017 15:20:50 GMT -5
Honeysong We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold61 Moons, Senior Warrior of TreeClan "I think he'll do so once he's able to sleep without someone needing him for something." And it wasn't always the need for a medicine cat. "Amberpaw keeps sneaking into his nest to sleep on his fluff. I think she misses you." It was no secret that Moonfeather's kits liked Lionstar and his fluffy pelt very much. She smiled slightly as she said it, the pale young apprentice reminding her that even the youngest of them were perservering through this terrible time.
On that note. "I think they would enjoy that. But if we're doing a challenge we'd need to break it up into the newest apprentices and the older ones, keep things fair. At least with the battles." Because an older apprentice would flatten a younger, smaller apprentice. There would be no chance for the younger one to win, making the entire matter unfair. "But I think everyone would have fun with that. They younger apprentices, some of them, still trip over their little paws."
Her ears swiveled and her head popped up then as she looked around. "I think I should get back soon. Some of the little ones like cuddling up to me for comfort, and I did promise Moonfeather to watch over her kits." Whom she had barely left as the sickness had taken them both. "Go home Lionstar." She gave him a smile. "I'll come home. I will see you again, I will see our clan made whole again. Believe that StarClan will see us together again. I do." He'd already been exposed to greencough through her, and that made her worry. "Be well Lionstar."
Her heart constricted as she lingered there longer than she should. She had to get back. Everyone would wonder if she'd fallen too sick to get back on her own, then someone would come looking. Then Lionstar was likely to hear it for endangering himself like this. For her.
Word Count // Fawn // Notes
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Post by Fawn on May 30, 2017 22:59:38 GMT -5
blinded by the light of a new sun take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem
Lionstar nodded. She brought up a good point, and one he'd almost forgotten about. "Good idea. I'll be sure to divide them up fairly." The two oldest apprentices (excluding Nightpaw) were Owlpaw and Ravenpaw; they would make strong team Captains for a mock battle, and would be put on opposing sides for the sake of balance. Before he could voice this decision, however, Honeysong was starting to say goodbye. No, goodbye wasn't the right word. She was... saying goodnight. Lionstar forced a smile, trying to convince himself as much as her that his heart wasn't aching right now. "I'll come home. I will see you again, I will see our clan made whole again. Believe that StarClan will see us together again. I do." "Be quick," he replied, his eyes gentle. "I miss seeing you in camp, Honeysong." I miss having you by my side...While the lilac-furred she-cat walked away, and Lionstar was left with the brook and the emotions still chasing their tails through his heart. The golden tom gazed skyward, watching the first hinting glint of stars as the evening transitioned night. Lionstar let himself repeat those words, as if voicing them aloud would ensure they came true. "I will see you again. I will see our Clan made whole again." Lionstar sighed gently. "StarClan will see us together again."She told him to believe. So he did. leader of TreeClan
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