Or, Juniperberry..well, luckily Owlstar was still quick to reassure him. Right, maybe it really was some twoleg shenanigans. But..it might not? Sunsetgleam couldn’t tell for sure. If Owlstar’s never seen something like that, then a cat more than half her age like them definitely never had. Sunheart and Berryshine wasn’t here yet. No one knew what it was. Was Starclan sending them a signal telling the clan about a way to restore the Starcave? But if they can do that, then they would’ve probably made it a little more clear. “I think..a patrol should be sent out and check on that. Not just you, Salamanderpaw” oh yea they definitely knew what she was implying. But they tried to say it in a way that won’t get the apprentice’s..believe get shut down, but that was a genuine suggestion by Sunsetgleam “not one cat, but not too many…y’know..just to scout the area and report back on it.” the clan couldn’t just leave it..what if they’re missing something? The warrior just hoped that curiosity wouldn’t kill the cat in this scenario “it doesn’t seem too dangerous yet, but I can’t say for sure”
Sunsetgleam tried to keep a calm front; Best case scenario, the light is some sort of guide for Riverclan. Worst case scenario they all die. Wait they shouldn’t be thinking about that. No no no no nooo, what the hell. God they weren’t sure anymore. No the clan wouldn’t just die like that. It’s not the end of the world, they needed to be sure of that
Both Sprucekit and Lichenkit rested soundly in their nests, largely undisturbed by strange light suddenly appearing.
However, Claykit was awake. At first, it was because she needed to use the bathroom, but then she couldn't fall back asleep. She has creeped out of the Nursery to find something cool, if not to play with then to show her siblings when they woke up. She hadn't taken more than two steps out when it occured. Now, she hadn't expected strange lights to appear, but she looked up with wide eyes.
[ THIS TAKES PLACE IN A SEPARATE TIMELINE FROM LIGHTHOUSE ]
Staggering into the camp with his sibling's body on his back, Sunheart gently slid Amberdusk's body onto the ground. It was clear the deputy wasn't doing well. Not even a week into deputyship and they had to shut down an outsider problem and his sibling was dead. Is this what StarClan had in store for him?
He shook his head to wave away the nasty thought. He couldn't think like that. He needed to be strong. "Owlstar!" He called out to his leader, voice hoarse with grief. "Caveclaw and I were out patrolling the territory...we scented an outsider. Amberdusk must have scented them first while out alone..." He explained, clearly struggling to keep it together. His sibling. Oh, his sibling. 'Why did it have to be Amberdusk?' He thought selfishly. Of course he wouldn't have preferred any of his clanmates die, but the fresh wound of grief stung. Why couldn't the outsider just have died to AMberdusk's claws and Amberdusk live?
"Amberdusk killed the outsider defending RiverClan territory," Sunheart choked out. "But they fell in battle as well." His tail lashed. "Caveclaw is disposing off the other body outside of clan territory, she should be back any moment now. I scented only one outsider, but when she's back, I would like to send a patrol to check that there are no more."
Juniperberry looked at Owlstar, totally unconvinced. He licked his dry lips and stood back up. "Well, how do you know? For all we know, that could've been a sign from Starclan because for some reason, the star cave collapsed. We don't know what that was! Wanna know why? Because we're cats! Clueless, idiotic, insignificant things!" The splotched tabby ranted, hardly hearing how irrationally paranoid he was, nor how loud he had gotten. Juniperberry paced back and forth, his gaze flicking toward where he had seen that stream of light.
Heroneye turned her head towards the sky. If there was one thing Heroneye could appreciate about leaf-bare, it was its nights. Maybe it was the general stillness or cold of the season, but there was a certain clarity to them that simply wasn't present during the other seasons. She couldn't help but want to pause, just to take it all in for a heartbeat. That being said, Heroneye was going to her warm nest before she turned into an icicle.
Until, that is, a brief flash of light caught her eye.
Heroneye's mind rushed in with rationalizations. It was only the moon. A second moon. Moving. Okay, yes, that was strange. Heroneye stood, dumbstruck, squinting at the spot where the flickering light in the distance had just been. Perhaps--she wondered, allowing her imagination to take over for a heartbeat--this was one of those signs from StarClan Heroneye had heard about. Or something else? But what? Perhaps she had just imagined it.
Heroneye glanced at her Clanmates, and sure enough, a few of them were staring at that very same spot in the sky, various degrees of bewilderment and concern on their faces. Heroneye had not imagined it. Quickly they were talking amongst themselves, speculating, but none seemed to have a definitive answer. Heroneye certainly didn't.
Heroneye's head turned as she heard a meow near her paws. A small kit had taken notice of the light and was commenting on it, too. It didn't feel appropriate to ignore the kit, but Heroneye didn't quite know what to say to make this make sense. So she'd just say what little she did know. Or, at least, what she thought was likely enough.
"No, that's not the moon," Heroneye replied, not unkindly. "In any case, it's too late for you to be out and about. Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be resolved by morning," she finished, as gently as she could manage. Honestly, who did she think she was, telling someone's kit what to do? Heroneye sighed with a shrug at nothing in particular.
Staggering into the camp with his sibling's body on his back, Sunheart gently slid Amberdusk's body onto the ground. It was clear the deputy wasn't doing well. Not even a week into deputyship and they had to shut down an outsider problem and his sibling was dead. Is this what StarClan had in store for him?
He shook his head to wave away the nasty thought. He couldn't think like that. He needed to be strong. "Owlstar!" He called out to his leader, voice hoarse with grief. "Caveclaw and I were out patrolling the territory...we scented an outsider. Amberdusk must have scented them first while out alone..." He explained, clearly struggling to keep it together. His sibling. Oh, his sibling. 'Why did it have to be Amberdusk?' He thought selfishly. Of course he wouldn't have preferred any of his clanmates die, but the fresh wound of grief stung. Why couldn't the outsider just have died to AMberdusk's claws and Amberdusk live?
"Amberdusk killed the outsider defending RiverClan territory," Sunheart choked out. "But they fell in battle as well." His tail lashed. "Caveclaw is disposing off the other body outside of clan territory, she should be back any moment now. I scented only one outsider, but when she's back, I would like to send a patrol to check that there are no more."
Owlstar's attention was pulled from whatever she was doing with the smell of crimson hanging heavy in the air. She immediately turned, bristled fur spiked up against her, a scowl imprinted onto her scarred face.
She didn't know Amberdusk well, but she could easily remember her as a devoted warrior. She then looked to her deputy, her ears pinning. "Sorry, commander. Sorry... That it happened." she gave her striped tail a furious lash. She knew the outsider was dead, but oh how she wished she could've been there to rip their eyes straight out of their sockets. If she was there, mutilation would've been at foot. Outsiders truly had no sense of boundaries, did they?
"Yer gonna get that patrol, but fer now, we oughta bury 'er." she stated. She knew getting the ball rolling would be useful, but she could tell Sunheart wasn't doing the best at the moment, and a warrior in emotional distress was worth the value of a kitty pet. Not like it was his fault, stuff just happened. But, she could barely trust herself in distress, and she didn't want Sunheart to break. In sometime, he might be needed, best to let him deal with his grief now. "Cain't have a body just lyin' out in territory, eh?" she pointed out, allowing a loose string of her thoughts to be revealed.
"'Lest ya want somecat else ta come with ya, but I know the herbs that dull the scent. Any close friends are free ta come." she gave Sunheart a nod. Amberdusk was his sibling, not her's, so it was his call.
Sunflowerflare had been in the clearing when…oh my. Oh my. They immediately saw her brother’s golden pelt amongst the clearing…and- AmberDusk. SunflowerFlare was always close to SunHeart when her own incident happened, never the cat’s sibling, but they knew of AmberDusk, knowing the sibling-bond and all. Was that…actual sympathy flashing in her gaze? Huh-. She wouldn’t- couldn’t bother him right now.
__________________
my characters opinions are not my own!
_____________________________________ RowanMane is one of RiverClans Lionhearts. If He is Needed, PM/VM or Mention Me.
DarkPaw is one of ShadowClans Aids. If He is Needed, PM/VM or Mention Me.
[ THIS TAKES PLACE SEPARATE FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE TIMELINE ]
Clearly fighting back the tears welling in his eyes, Sunheart too a deep breath. ”Let’s go get the herbs. I want to sit vigil with them tonight before I bury them.” He mewed thickly, straightening his shoulders. He couldn’t crack. Not in front of everyone.
When he moved them at dawn…he would have his time. ”Should we ask Berryshine or go look for them?”
Heroneye turned her head towards the sky. If there was one thing Heroneye could appreciate about leaf-bare, it was its nights. Maybe it was the general stillness or cold of the season, but there was a certain clarity to them that simply wasn't present during the other seasons. She couldn't help but want to pause, just to take it all in for a heartbeat. That being said, Heroneye was going to her warm nest before she turned into an icicle.
Until, that is, a brief flash of light caught her eye.
Heroneye's mind rushed in with rationalizations. It was only the moon. A second moon. Moving. Okay, yes, that was strange. Heroneye stood, dumbstruck, squinting at the spot where the flickering light in the distance had just been. Perhaps--she wondered, allowing her imagination to take over for a heartbeat--this was one of those signs from StarClan Heroneye had heard about. Or something else? But what? Perhaps she had just imagined it.
Heroneye glanced at her Clanmates, and sure enough, a few of them were staring at that very same spot in the sky, various degrees of bewilderment and concern on their faces. Heroneye had not imagined it. Quickly they were talking amongst themselves, speculating, but none seemed to have a definitive answer. Heroneye certainly didn't.
Heroneye's head turned as she heard a meow near her paws. A small kit had taken notice of the light and was commenting on it, too. It didn't feel appropriate to ignore the kit, but Heroneye didn't quite know what to say to make this make sense. So she'd just say what little she did know. Or, at least, what she thought was likely enough.
"No, that's not the moon," Heroneye replied, not unkindly. "In any case, it's too late for you to be out and about. Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be resolved by morning," she finished, as gently as she could manage. Honestly, who did she think she was, telling someone's kit what to do? Heroneye sighed with a shrug at nothing in particular.
"Awww.... Fine." The cream and white kit whined. She had just enough sense of mind to not argue with the warrior, though mostly because it looked like the lights had stopped. "Lemme know if it happens again."
Claykit turned around and padded back into the nursery. Though for a little while she remained awake, staring at the entrance hoping that the lights showed up again.
Irisdream’s gaze widened fearfully at the light in the sky. She’d never in all her moons seen something like that. Salamanderpaw’s suggestion at fetching Berryshine sounded like a sound idea to her. The silvery she-cat quickly regained her poise, dark blue eyes flickering around the camp for Berryshine. Was the healer in her den? Did she not hear the commotion? Perhaps not… But Juniperberry’s panic was distracting. Panic was like a toxin in the air, it needed to be purified. “Juniperberry, please try to calm down.” She mewed, her voice smooth as ice and nearly as cold. Not out of spite or aggression or anything like that, she merely was attempting to prevent adding further emotion into the conversation.
“Panicking will be most unhelpful.” She reminded her clanmate with a small, cordial smile. Irisdream would normally not have said anything to her clanmate directly, but being a newly named Lionheart she figured she owed it to her clanmate directly to make an attempt to keep the fear and panic under control. And taking that tone with the leader was certainly not a productive use of energy. “We may be ignorant to the source now, but that is temporary. I’m certain we’ll find the source.” Now she tried to reassure Juniperberry, they did mean well she was sure. Hopefully he’d be able shift his energy output to something more productive.
Re: RiverClan Clearing
