Kindness and Hope Will Forever Live On [P]

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

[WARNING: This thread will contain animal death and emotional turmoil.]

~ TWISTEDPAW OF WINDCLAN ~

AFAB | SHE/HER | APPRENTICE | 21 MOONS | NO PURRKS

Small, skinny, black she-cat with a light gray belly and tail-tip, a mangled tail, a crooked jaw, and one blind eye.

The sun blazed from a clear blue sky. Twistedpaw's black coat soaked up its rays, growing heavier with heat the further she walked from camp. It reminded her of long-ago days spent in the nursery, curled up next to her foster mother, Fireflame, and her foster sister, Brightkit. A soft, slightly distorted purr rumbled in her throat at the memories of soft moss, milk-scent, and their bodies pressed against hers. A wisp of grief also swirled through her body. That will never happen again.

However, her sadness disappeared as she kept walking through the long grasses, drawing the deliciously cool air over her tongue and tasting the sweet heather. Mingled with it were the scents of her Clanmates, Whisperinghive and Nightfall. That part of my life might be over, but I'm better than I've ever been. I'm truly a part of WindClan. I'm comfortable around my Clanmates. I want to serve them and be friends with them, helping them however I can. I don't hate myself anymore. I'm happy.

Twistedpaw's working gray-blue eye swept over her patrol. Batglare wasn't here, unfortunately, but Whisperinghive was. His orange fur glowed like fire as the sunrays settled over him. They hadn't had the best of starts - the young warrior hadn't liked her very much - but, over the course of one training patrol, they'd come to learn that they were both going through some rough times. Thus, even though they hadn't spoken much since then, Twistedpaw felt like there was some kind of bond between them. Not kinship, exactly, but something that ran a little deeper than what she usually felt for her Clanmates. He felt like a... not a sibling, since their bond wasn't very strong. But it was something similar to that.

She glanced at her other Clanmate, Nightfall. His black pelt, like hers, sucked in all of the light, but his white spots and lighter legs had a strong golden tinge. He was the patrol leader. They were to go hunting together. I don't know him very well... I hope he's not judging me. The instinctive thought flitted through her mind as a bee might buzz past a flower. She shook her head to clear it, crooked jaw swaying and bulging light gray tail-tip twitching. I need to stop thinking like that. Some cats might judge me, but I shouldn't assume they will unless... well, they do. Even though she'd grown more comfortable around her Clanmates, it was a scary thought, being judged like Willowsky and Cedarfrost had judged her.

It didn't help that Twistedpaw was unusually old for an apprentice. Three moons had passed, and she'd been training hard; however, it seemed no warrior had the time to take her out for extra battle training like she'd wanted. Batglare would assess her soon, but she needed that extra training. I can't let cats like Cedarfrost catch me off guard again. I need to work on defending myself. Twilightstar wasn't putting too much pressure on her, she knew. She'd have to get that extra lesson quickly, though. She hated being so old for an apprentice. And I forgot to tell Twilightstar about my warrior name. She didn't want to be called Twisted-. She wasn't ashamed of herself, but she didn't want her deformities to be all anyone thought of her. They're a big part of my life - of me. But they're not all I am. I want to be known for something else. Besides, Willowsky had given her that name in a moment of hate. Twistedpaw didn't want her abusive mother to stain her forever.

She took a deep breath, allowing the scents of heather, grass, and peat to soothe her churning mind. She was also testing the air for any bits of prey. They were on a hunting patrol, after all, and Twistedpaw wanted to bring back as much prey as possible for WindClan. I'll make Batglare proud of me! she thought with a burst of excitement.

A loud rumbling caught Twistedpaw's attention. Her single tiny ear pricked, and she caught the tang of stone on the air. "Twilight Falls," she murmured. Thanks to the heat, her voice was far less distorted than it had been in the colder, wetter seasons. "The waterfall is loud, so there usually isn't much prey around here." Already, she could feel her confidence growing. She was making suggestions instead of hanging back! "Maybe we should head away?" Nightfall was still the leader of the patrol, though. She glanced at the slender black-and-white tom.

Then something warm flowed into her distorted nose. Twistedpaw perked up, the lush grass rustling beneath her. "Wait - I smell something!" A mouse, it seemed. The black-and-light-gray she-cat dropped into a crouch. Without thinking, her slim yet muscled legs moved in their unique way to keep her mangled tail from unbalancing her. "I'll grab it," she hissed to the others.

Slowly, Batglare's instructions and her practiced moves fresh in her mind, Twistedpaw slunk forward. She couldn't see it yet, but its scent was growing stronger. Her stomach hopped with excitement as her heart lifted with pride. Even though she was an old apprentice, she felt like a warrior. She was doing everything right, serving her Clan with the pride and joy of a true cat.

The roaring of the falls grew louder as she crept toward the scent. That's one brave mouse! What little creature would want to get so close to the roaring water? Then she realized the trail looped around to the back of the falls, close to the rocky cliffs. Of course! It's made a nest there. She jerked her head in its direction to let the others know, then crept closer.

There! Poking above the vivid green grass was a furry brown head, round ears twitching. Twistedpaw made sure she was downwind, then continued on, so quiet that the rustling of the grass could be attributed to the cool breeze sweeping over the moor. It got closer... and closer...

She leaped!

Her front paws landed squarely on the mouse. It didn't even turn its head; the falls must've drowned any additional sounds out. Twistedpaw broke its neck with her paws. Not the smartest one, she noted with a twitch of her dented tail-tip. Not that she minded. This'll be a good meal for someone. Fresh joy coursed through her as she leaned down to pick her meal up and carry it to the others.

Its warm, furry body was barely balanced on her crooked jaw when a loud rumbling noise came from above. Twistedpaw's head jerked up in shock, flinging the mouse away from the cliff. She caught a glimpse of something gray streaking toward her-

Twistedpaw let out a distorted screech of pure agony as the sun-warmed stones slammed into her. It was heavy, too heavy, shoving her into the ground. Multiple cracks sounded in her ears. What was cracking? The rocks? ...Something inside of her? Either way, it hurt. The pressure was unbearable, jagged edges cutting into her flesh, perhaps deeper-

The shock kept her frozen, but it only took several heartbeats for hot tears to cloud her vision. Whisperinghive and Nightfall appeared as faint blurs, the mouse - which had escaped the falling stones - nothing more than a gray smudge. She tried to talk, but the pain and shock were too strong. It took a few moments for a weak croak to escape her throat.

"H-help... I'm s-stuck..."

Just speaking sent stabs of pain through her, and she whimpered - not just with the agony and the feeling of being crushed alive, but the fear, too. Wh-wh-what's h-happened t-to me?

@ChaosBringer. @Wingnettle (Since Nightfall's the oldest, I made him the patrol leader! I can edit this if you'd like. )

[Wingnettle]

Nightfall
he/him | 19 moons
Windclan warrior

A nice, peaceful walk through the midst of greenleaf right to Twilight Falls, where Nightfall could always enjoy some splash of water from the falls while lingering on the little wooden bridge. Even though he couldn't swim, he loved water in another way. It was life, and that was why he was well aware that it could take it and leave death in its stead. If you were unlucky.
But today was a good day, he insisted. He was used to the crashing water against rock in his ears, and preferred to hunt with his eyes and smell instead. Sometimes, he flattened his ears to leave out the noise and concentrate better on his duty.

Twistedpaw seemed a well-trained, even if particularly old, apprentice. Nightfall would have folllowed her suggestion to leave this land before he noticed she had already found prey. Good job. This cat has a great future ahead of her. He nodded, letting his permission find her so that she could rush to the spot where she'd heard - he had assumed - something. He walked just a few steps ahead, and craned his neck to try and see whether she was making the catch. Yes. Now he could glance at her head and see that her maws were holding somehthing that probably looked like a mouse.

"Good job, Twistedpaw." He was going to say, but he was stopped by something that rumbled all through the earth and grumbled against the sky. Nightfall immediately signaled Whisperinghive to follow and rushed to the other side of the waterfall, before halting abruptly to see that something huge had fallen from the stone wall and was shaking the earth strong enough that he needed to sink his claws into it to remain still.
"Where's Twistedpaw?!" He screamed through the noise to the other warrior, hoping she was safe and sound somewhere away from this mess.

When the world stopped shaking, Nightfall let go of his piece of earth and glared in horror at the huge rock that was now in front of them. As WHisperinghive reached him, they both stuck out to see what lay in the darkness. The answer let horror reach Nightfall like nothing had ever before, but he needed to stay calm. Twistedpaw could still be alive, and he had the duty to make it last.
With a little shock, he realized that the poor apprentice was trying to talk and was in a lot of pain. "Stay still, Twistedpaw! We're gonna call for help and help you out again, so please resist! Stay strong for us!"

Now he turned to his clanmate to tell him what to do because yes, he had already decided for a plan and he was going for it.
"Whisperinghive, remain him and protect her if you need. Help her remain conscious... and hopeful. I'm running to camp and call for help. I'll be quick."
Without waiting for a response, the night-pelted cat bolted away as if he were chasing a rabbit, toward Windclan camp.

...

"Windclan, this is an emergency! Twistedpaw is badly stuck under a huge rock and we need to be as quick as possible! I need two warriors with me! Let's go!!" He rushed off, knowing at least two cats would be after him as quickly as kestrels.


@TheNyanCatMinecart @Moonraven @SoulJoy @Tallstar @ChaosBringer.

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him
Vinepaw’s heart skipped a beat as he heard the desperate cry for help. His eyes widened in alarm, and without a second thought, he sprinted toward the source of the commotion. “Twistedpaw is in trouble?” he shouted, catching up with the frantic cat. His mind raced as he processed the urgency of the situation.

“I’m coming with you!” Vinepaw called out, his voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline. “I know the falls I can help. We need to move quickly if we’re going to reach her in time.”

He glanced around, spotting a couple of warriors nearby. “We need two more warriors!” he shouted to them, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. “Twistedpaw is badly stuck in the falls. It’s an emergency!”

Turning back to the frantic cat, Vinepaw’s face was a mix of determination and concern. “Lead the way, and I’ll keep pace. We’ll get there as fast as we can.” He glanced at the gathering warriors, his eyes filled with urgency. “Let’s not waste any time. Every moment counts!”

Vinepaw’s paws moved with purpose, his focus entirely on the task at hand. He was ready to do whatever it took to rescue his friend, driven by the gravity of the situation and his commitment to helping those in need.

@TheNyanCatMinecart @Moonraven @ChaosBringer @SoulJoy @Wingnettle

[SoulJoy]

Crowfeather

he/him || 13 moons || no Purrks
----------

Crowfeather was enjoying the nice sunny day. Trotting around camp looking at his clanmates enjoying the day. He loved his clan, he loved them because of their simple nature. It suited him well. He laid down to rest on area of fresh grass. The day was lovely.. that is until he heard the horrid screech of cat running into camp. His head immediately snapped up, turning to the direction of the cat. He focused on what the cat said and his eyes widened. “Twistedpaw?!” He exclaimed in horror. He quickly got up and ran towards the cats. “I’m coming as well. Twistedpaw is a good friend of mine.” He announced and without another moment he was already bolting with the other cats. He wasn’t going to lose someone close to him, not again… he simply couldn’t!

{ @Tallstar / @Wingnettle / @TheNyanCatMinecart }

[ChaosBringer.]

Whisperinghive
A 12-16 moon old tom with marigold-orange fur, dull green eyes, and a thin scar running from below his left eye down his muzzle to his nose.
Purrks: Killer Aptitude T1 [ACTIVE] Survival Instincts[ACTIVE] Just a Scratch [ACTIVE]




Whisperinghive followed Twistedpaw and Nightfall for Twilight Falls, his paws sinking into the ground softly as he continued his trek. Dull green eyes looked at Twistedpaw,
a small, polite smile curling at his muzzle. They had the same mentor once. And Whisperinghive had hated her once. He'd hated a lot of cats when he was younger, but he was older now, more mature. Twistedpaw had been going throught terrible things just like him. The young warrior found that out on a training patrol with Batglare and Twistedpaw, and his hatred had faded like the snow in new-leaf. Whisperinghive's head cocked slightly to the side as Twistedpaw caught the scent of a mouse near a waterfall, some of his fur prickling excitedly.



He opened his mouth to praise Twistedpaw for her catch, but a rumbling in the ground made him freeze. What in Starclan...Before the marigold-orange warrior knew it, something from the stone wall had fallen and shook thr ground like lightning striking a tree, making Whisperinghive want to sprint back to camp and curl up next to Leopardsong and never leave. He quickly followed Nightfall and tensed up at their scream, his tail lashing and bristling. Whisperinghive screamed in shock as he saw the scene before him, that cold feeling exploding through his body like the cold needles of freezing water. No. nononononono- In a blink of an eye, Nightfall had given him orders to stay and the older warrior dashed off to get help. Whisperinghive cried out in shock and tried pulling some of the rocks off the pile that crushed Twistedpaw, his breathing rapid and heavy. "You're gonna be ok, you hear me? We'll get you out. You'll be ok." He promised over and over before crouching next to her, trying to nuzzle her muzzle to be comforting and keep her awake. Whisperinghive heard distant voices and pawsteps, but he focused on the cat before him. Tears of panic swelled and burned his eyes, but he shook his head to force them away and kept talking to Twistedpaw.



"Hey, it'll be alright. We'll get you out. Everything will be just alright. Lightningstorm and Rabbitpaw will take care of you. They'll fix you up and everything will be alright." He said once more.



@Moonraven @SoulJoy @Tallstar @TheNyanCatMinecart @Wingnettle

[Moonraven]

Not again. He swore every time he left his daughter alone she got herself into some predicament. Batglare was his paws, a grim expression on his face. He hurried over to Nightfall, eyes glancing behind at the WindClan leader who was right behind him. He did not like that look in her eye, Batglare's gaze didn't linger long on her as others grabbed his attention.

He didn't question how Vinepaw knew they were heading to the fall when all Nightfall had told them was that Twistedpaw was stuck in a gorge, but no location. Twilightstar pushed to the front of the small patrol, and he moved a little to give her room. Crowfeather ran ahead on his own, Batglare didn't know what he thought he could do on his own.

"We have enough, let's go." Twilightstar meowed, deciding against leaving Vinepaw behind. There was this sickening feeling in her gut that this would be yet another goodbye. The two older cats would wait until Nightfall led them out of camp before following close behind the cat.
@TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw.] @Wingnettle [Nightfall] @SoulJoy [Crowfeather - please don't skip over the posting order.] @Tallstar [Vinepaw] @ChaosBringer. [Whisperinghive]

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

~ TWISTEDPAW OF WINDCLAN ~

AFAB | SHE/HER | APPRENTICE | 21 MOONS | NO PURRKS

Small, skinny, black she-cat with a light gray belly and tail-tip, a mangled tail, a crooked jaw, and one blind eye.

The world swam before Twistedpaw's eyes, a puddle made of grass and sky rippling as if a stone had been dropped into it. Nothing felt real. Hot tears flowed down her face and clogged her throat until she choked. I c-c-can't breathe... She was being crushed, her flesh and bones compressed as the rocks weighed her down. And the pain... It came in intervals, searing Twistedpaw until she thought she would die and then fading as she grew distant from the world. It was always there, however, even as an undercurrent, keeping the apprentice in the physical realm.

Suddenly, Nightfall was standing in front of her. Twistedpaw stared at him. If he wasn't speaking, she would've thought reality was breaking around her, forcing a patch of starry night sky into the daylight that washed the moor. His words felt thick and fuzzy like cotton, and it took Twistedpaw several moments after he left to pick them apart. She had to stay here. Don't move. She didn't feel like she could; in fact, she was afraid to, even though she felt sick with fear and her heart slammed into her ribcage with enough force to shatter bone. The taste of her fear mingled with musty rock and something strong and metallic.

Call for help... stay strong... Crushing pain and darkness lay thick in the air, and suddenly, Twistedpaw wanted to sleep. Close her eyes and rest, and she'd escape the pain. Oh, how tempting it was to escape into a world where it didn't feel like she was being crushed... where she wasn't being crushed...

Orange fur flashed in Twistedpaw's good eye, and she saw that Whisperinghive had also arrived. Determination thrilled through her. I have to stay strong... His words, his promise that she'd be alright, anchored her. She believed him. She'd been through horrible things like this before, after all. She'd make it. She always did.

The touch of Whisperinghive's muzzle against hers was another anchor, and on top of that, a comfort. Twistedpaw managed to smile. His fur was warm and soft. She... she liked soft things.

"Thank... you..." she rasped. "I'm... it's... It's gonna be alright..." Each word sent fresh pain stabbing through her body.

Something struck her then. Twistedpaw's body had been... pinned... by the rocks. Her tail was above the rest of her body. Any time something pressed on it, it hurt. She was in so much pain that she could hardly tell what hurt and what didn't. But the longer she lay there, weighty stone crushing her to the ground, her heart working overtime, the more she was able to distinguish which parts of her hurt. Her front legs... ribs... the entire front of her body seared with pain.

But she couldn't feel her tail.

Or her hind legs, for that matter.

Twistedpaw's panic spiked. More tears flowed from her wide, mismatched eyes, and the world swayed. She was dimly aware of approaching pawsteps, of cats headed her way. But she ignored them, trying to move her hind legs, kick away the rocks, anything.

Nothing.

She could move the front half of her body, but the rocks were too heavy, and any slight movement sent horrible stabs of pain through her.

Twistedpaw panted, her crooked jaw splayed to the side and drool dripping onto the grass, as five cats appeared. Nightfall... her friends, Vinepaw and Crowfeather... the leader herself, Twilightstar... and her mentor and adopted father, Batglare.

"...Dad?" Before, Twistedpaw had said that she wouldn't call Batglare that, but her brain was too muddled, her fear too high, to care. "I..." What she wouldn't give to curl up next to him and bury her face in his long, luscious fur. "I... I can't feel my hind legs." She would've trembled if she wasn't so thoroughly stuck. A small whimper rose from her.

"It hurts so bad..."

@Wingnettle [Nightfall] @ChaosBringer. [Whisperinghive] @Tallstar [Vinepaw] @SoulJoy [Crowfeather] @Moonraven [Batglare + Twilightstar]

[Wingnettle]

Nightfall
he/him | Windclan warrior | 19 moons

Nightfall lead the team with his maximum speed, making sure his feet didn't land in some holes or hit rocks. The last thing they needed was the patrol leader injured. And useless.
"Rush, quicker! But don't strain yourself too much! Our strenght will be essential to move that huge rock from Twistedpaw's body!"

Nightfall was a young warrior. He had become an apprentice in 11 moons, taking his training slow and making sure he had learned all he could before receiving his warrior name, and that had contributed to his current personality. He was wise enough to take decisions, though not arrogant enough to think himself as more clever than cats older than him. No, experience counted. More than he could say in words.

When he arrived at the waterfalls, Whisperinghive was already there. Nightfall was definitely relieved to see another cat. More paws to help the situation!
He knew Twilightstar ought to be the cat to give orders in certain situations, but there were times where every warrior was equal and could help when needed. This was one of them.

"Crowfeather and Batglare. You go to the right side of the rock and try to lift it enough. Just a little bit will make the work. Twilightstar and Whisperinghive, you two go on the other side and do the same. I will be just behind and work alone. Vinepaw, I want you on the front. Be ready, because if we manage to lift this thing working together at the same time, you will have to drag Twistedpaw out of there as quickly as possible."

Yes, this plan could work, but it could also not. If six cats couldn't do this, then no one else could. And he knew well this rock was probably too heavy to...
"Twistedpaw, I know you're in great pain. But I want you to grit your teeth and do your best to ease Vinepaw's job."

He turned toward the whole team and watched all of them. There was no time.
"If someone doesn't agree with my plan, I'll well listen to yours right away. If not, I will not accept to wait even more. Come on, take position!"

@Tallstar @SoulJoy @ChaosBringer. @Moonraven @TheNyanCatMinecart

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him

Vinepaw’s heart pounded as he dashed through the underbrush, his thoughts fixated on Twistedpaw. The urgency of Nightfall’s orders propelled him forward, but each step was heavy with worry. He couldn’t shake the image of his friend pinned under the rock, suffering and helpless.

"Rush, quicker! But don't strain yourself too much! Our strength will be essential to move that huge rock from Twistedpaw's body!" Nightfall's voice cut through Vinepaw’s anxious thoughts, a sharp reminder of the task ahead. As they reached the base of the waterfalls, Vinepaw felt a fleeting sense of relief upon seeing Whisperinghive. The added support was crucial, but his anxiety remained. Every second felt like an eternity when Twistedpaw was in such dire straits.

Nightfall quickly outlined the plan, and Vinepaw absorbed every detail with a sense of mounting apprehension.
“Crowfeather and Batglare, you take the right side of the rock and lift as much as you can. Just a little shift will make a difference. Twilightstar and Whisperinghive, you handle the other side. I’ll be right behind you, working on my own. Vinepaw, you’ll be in the front. When we manage to lift this rock, you’ll need to drag Twistedpaw out as swiftly as possible.”

The responsibility of being the one to pull Twistedpaw free weighed heavily on Vinepaw’s shoulders. His paws trembled slightly as he took his position, the anxiety of ensuring Twistedpaw’s safety nearly overwhelming him.
He turned to Twistedpaw, their eyes meeting. "Hang in there, Twisty. We're going to get you out. Just hold on a bit longer, okay?" His voice was soft but firm, trying to offer reassurance amidst the chaos.

"Twistedpaw, I know you’re in a lot of pain, but I need you to grit your teeth and help us make this as smooth as possible," Nightfall said, and Vinepaw’s heart ached at the sound of Twistedpaw’s strained voice.


Vinepaw looked back at his friend, feeling the weight of his anxiety but determined to keep his friend’s spirits up. "I’m here, Twisty. We’ll get you out of this. Just focus on staying strong for a little longer," he added, trying to offer a comforting presence despite his own fear.

When Nightfall’s command came, Vinepaw nodded quickly, his mind racing. “If anyone has a better plan, speak up now. Otherwise, let’s get into position and move. We don’t have time to waste!”

With a deep breath, Vinepaw positioned himself at the front. The anxiety gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside, determined to do everything in his power to free Twistedpaw. His muscles tensed, ready to act as soon as the rock began to lift. Every moment was critical, and Vinepaw was driven by the urgent need to see his friend safe and sound.

@SoulJoy @ChaosBringer. @Moonraven @TheNyanCatMinecart @Wingnettle

[ChaosBringer.]

Whisperinghive
A 12-16 moon old tom with marigold-orange fur, dull green eyes, and a thin scar running from below his left eye down his muzzle to his nose.
Purrks: Killer Aptitude T1 [ACTIVE] Survival Instincts[ACTIVE] Just a Scratch [ACTIVE]



Whisperinghive continued to nuzzle and murmur to Twistedpaw, his tail lay limp at his side. A rare sight. "Yes, it's going to be ok." He repeated once more. He'd say it as much as he needed to make them both believe it. Whisperinghive needed to believe it. Twistedpaw didn't deserve to die, not like this. She needed to grow and live with Windclan for moons and moons to come. The warrior watched with his own teary eyes as Twistedpaw's mismatched eyes started to spill more tears, his ears twitching as pawsteps approached. When she addressed her mentor and father, Whisperinghive shuffled for a moment before moving away to allow Batglare to go over what he wanted. It pained his soul and body to hear her voice and whimpers. Dear Starclan, let her live!!

Nightfall's voice made it's way into Whisperinghive's ears as he finally realized the older warrior was talking. He immediately obeyed and got onto the left side of the rock on top of poor, poor Twistedpaw. The ginger warrior felt shaky and distant, but he had to help no matter what. They'd get Twistedpaw out and Lightningstorm and Rabbitpaw will help her. They'll give her the best herbs for the pain and the best poultices for healing. Whisperinghive positioned himself to get ready to lift the rock, ready to use all of his strength until he collapsed from exhaustion. He glanced at the others, grateful they were here for Twistedpaw.


@Moonraven @SoulJoy @Wingnettle @Tallstar @TheNyanCatMinecart