RiverClan Skyridge

[Pitou]

**Codwhisper**

The young warrior was walking through the clearing, heading towards the freshkill pile when a call for a meeting took his attention. It struck him instantly that it was Sparrowskip's voice that he heard, rather than Kestrelstar's. He was turning his head to look for Sparrowskip when he was shoved out of the way. He looked around, bewildered, as he noticed it had been Snakeheart erupting from the medicine cat's den and blundering past him. Codwhisper's green eyes darted around until he saw Sparrowskip standing above another cat and Snakeheart's destination. His eyes took a heartbeat to adjust, to comprehend. The cat lying between the medicine cat and deputy was Kestrelstar...what's he doing laying down in the middle of the clearing? Even as the question formed in his mind, his heartbeat quickened, pounding nauseatingly against his ribs. He knew but he couldn't comprehend. He tried to swallow, his gaze stuck on the dead leader, but his throat had dried instantly and a knot lodged itself there. The clearing seemed to spin beneath him. He'd heard of other clans losing their high ranks but Kestrelstar had been a constant in Codwhisper's life. He'd been leader for as long as the young warrior could remember. He gave him his name, in honor of his mother. Codwhisper never understood the criticisms Kestrelstar had received from so many of his clanmates, he was too young for most of the issues to have mattered to him. Kestrelstar had so many plans, he was protecting the clan, building, he was the vision of strength. How could it all have changed so quickly. Codwhisper couldn't move his stare away from the leader lying motionless but his paws were stuck I place where he'd ended up after Snakeheart's blind shove.

**Doeheart**

The lilac calico lifted her head from her grooming, enjoying a small patch of sunlight she could find in the clearing. Movement had caught her eye from the camp entrance and her eyes met it absently. Slowly, the scene unraveled in her mind as she recognized Kestrelstar's limp pelt being dragged in by the deputy. She was already on her paws, and walking slowly forward when Sparrowskip called the clan. Doeheart sighed sadly. He had seemed so strong just the day before, to lose a leader was always a sad occasion and Kestrelstar was doing so much for the clan, making up for his past discretions.

[stardust.]

Oaksong was sad. She showed empathy for Snakeheart and everyone, but to herself as well. She started crying, her best way to get this out of herself.

Plumwillow was shocked by Kestrelstar's death. Unfortunately.. oh no, IT WAS CLOVERPAW.

"WHERE IS KESTRELSTAR!!!!" Cloverpaw shouted, "I DEMAND TO SPEAK TO HIM THIS INSTANT!!!!" She turned around, hoping that she would be well respected for her perfectness.

[QueenOtter]

Otterstorm looked up at the call. Sparrowskip was starting a meeting. Wait. Sparrowskip? And there, in the clearing in front of the RiverClan deputy, lay a body. A cat's body, an unmistakable cat's body. Otterstorm felt the world collapsing on her. 'Kestrelstar! No!'

[poppy]

| @Luminous |

Mistypaw was upset too. Mistypaw was sad. Birdpaw felt her mind urging her to comfort the other apprentice, but her heart felt too heavy. Her eyes were too full of tears. Then her old denmate Cloverpaw burst into camp, and Birdpaw let out a wail. How could Cloverpaw not see Kestrelbuddy?! How could Cloverpaw not understand?!

The little molly burrowed her face in Misty's chest fur, bawling. "I-I-I-I wo-would s-say goo-goodbye to y-you o-of I ev-ever di-died." How could anyone die, leave without saying bye? Especially if they were someone's best buddy. "Mi-Misty I'm s-so sad... Misty I want him b-back!

[DeltaDace]

Bearspot

The large warrior sprinted out of the warrior's den, immediately knowing something was wrong. This wasn't the call of Kestrelstar! Bearspot moved his way through the crowd of cats to see what has happened a- Oh no. The cold, dead body of Kestrelstar lay prostrate on the clearing. H-he's dead. But how? How many lives did he have left? He became leader recently, so he had to have enough lives left to right? What has RiverClan done to deserve this? What has Kestrelstar done... He tore his clouded green eyes from Kestrelstar's body towards the top of the Streamstone and gazed at Sparrowskip. It hasn't even been two moons since his deputy ceremony, yet here he is. Having to announce Kestrelstar's death. A shard of pain and sympathy shot through Bearspot. They're both too young. They don't deserve this.

Mountainpaw

The chocolate tabby padded out of the apprentice's den. All the commotions confused her. What was going on? Why did Kestrelstar not call the meeting? Mountainpaw needed to know these things immediately. A blur of brown fur pushed the apprentice back, and that gave her an opening to see what all the cats were clamoring about and... The sight of Kestrelstar's dead body shook her to her very heart. The most powerful cat she had known lay there dead as a rock. The only things she heard were the wails of the three cats mourning right next to the leader and her breath. All the other cats' voices and cries were tuned out as Mountainpaw stood there, horrified and helpless. Cloudpaw was his apprentice, and Snakeheart had been close with the deceased leader. Their wails were worse than any dog barking or monster roaring. She couldn't help it. Mountainpaw let out a choked wail of dismay, yet the countless other cats drowned it out' mourning.

(Open to anyone)

[Nixey]

Sleep fogged her brain as Reedpaw stumbled from the den. She hadn’t gotten up too long after the noise Snakeheart had made. She was confused, and the light was too bright, causing her to squint her eyes towards the crowd of cats gathering. What was happening? She was preparing to begin excusing herself through until she noticed Sparrowskip on the Streamstone. Wait, Sparrowskip? He wasn’t supposed to be up there, was he? She wasn’t entirely sure, but wasn’t Kestrelstar the one meant to be up there unless he couldn’t be? Speaking of which, where was the leader of Riverclan? Odd, but he had disappeared before.

Only then was her train of thought disturbed by her mentor calling her name. Turning her head in the direction it had come from, Reedpaw began to make her way towards him. Speeding up as he called for her yet again. Why did he sound so upset? As she emerged at his side, Reedpaw realized what was wrong.

Her heart almost immediately fell at the sight. Snakeheart pushing on the leaders chest, Kestrelstar’s head elevated. She understood now, understood why that noise had come from Snakeheart, understood why he sounded so upset. Even though she knew the leader was gone, gone to hunt with Starclan, Reedpaw was quick to make her way back to the medicine den to collect what Snakeheart had demanded her to retrieve. It repeated over and over in her head, and she was able to pick them out and bring them back, her heart racing in her chest. Kestrelstar’s heart would never race this way again. She had spent these last few moons fearing Kestrelstar, fearing he would return to his old ways. Fearing him and fearing those that believed he had been doing the right thing. Now she regretted it, though somewhere that fear still lingered.

Just as she was emerging from the den to bring the herbs to Snakeheart in an attempt to help in whatever way she could, Reedpaw noticed Brindlefeather and Sharkheart by Snakeheart. Hoping they had it under control, Reedpaw carefully put the herbs back into place in the medicine den. Never would she mess up whatever organization system Snakeheart had. Stepping carefully from the den, Reedpaw began to make her way back through the crowd in an attempt to find a spot to sit.

As her gaze found him yet again at the wailing, it was enough for Reedpaw to feel as though her heart had been shattered in two. She knew the two had been close, but didn’t expect anything like this. Swallowing back any apologies she could’ve walked over and given to Snakeheart, Reedpaw simply weaved her way through the crowd, finding a seat in the back. Her gaze stared up towards Sparrowskip, waiting for him to begin.

@Rani (for reading from the previous message)
[Open to anyone! Reed may not be the most talkative.]

[Rizo]

Originally Posted by masquerade

☁ Cloudpaw (she/her) ☁ [ @Zesty Mango | @Kunaiskrill - for the mention of Nightleap ]

➢ The young Riverclan molly didn’t know how to feel at this very moment, hearing the white-furred tomcat reassure that none of this was her fault. Her small ears twitched at his offer of training, peaking her interest - but only a little bit since they were all still deep in the process of mourning. “I w-want to l-learn how to swim in C-Cattail Pond,” Cloudpaw meowed, peering at Kestrelstar’s still body with a saddened gaze, “H-He learned to s-swim there when he was m-my age.” Even though it only happened a few sunrises ago, it seemed like ages since their first lesson together. He had shown her part of Riverclan’s territory, telling her about his own experiences growing up within this land. She wanted to honor him in any way that she could. Leaning against the larger warrior, Cloudpaw’s ears laid flat against her head as she heard those around her mourning. This was a sad, terrible day and the small apprentice wished it could be over already. She looked up at the sky, seeing that it was still overcast with dark gray-colored clouds. It was too fitting for this. The dreadful silence was too loud for Cloudpaw, wanting to talk more with Blizzardsky, but she didn’t know what to say. Riverclan had lost their leader. One who had led them long before she was born. She watched Nightleap run forward, pleading and crying into his fur like the fluffy youth had done moments before. It was just the other day, she was sharing a fish with the queen, and now both of them were mourning the beloved clan leader. This all was happening too fast, much too suddenly, and it made Cloudpaw feel terribly nauseous. She wished Moonfrost was here right now to console her.

Finally catching sight of the young cat, Moonfrost sprinted to Cloudpaw's side, sorrow in her eyes.
Oh little one, I'm so sorry.
She began covering the apprentice in comforting licks, pausing only to blink warmly at Blizzardsky, her heart full of gratitude for the tom. She lifted a paw to invite Cloudpaw to burrow into her belly fur, as she had at the Gathering.
Oh the Gathering... No apprentice should have to go through so much tragedy, especially one so young.
Tears filled her eyes, both with anguish of the loss of their leader and empathy for the little cat she had come to adore as a daughter.

[ @/masquerade @Zesty Mango ]

Originally Posted by Kunaiskrill

{Nightleap of RiverClan}

She looked down. "No... no.. no... NO!" She hissed, running up to his body. "Please, don't be dead.. no.. Kestrelstar.. you can't be dead!!" She yowled to the wind, stuffing her fur into his. "Please.. I have so much to learn from you.."

Originally Posted by corgigirl

Pebblepaw froze. Her eyes glistening with tears. Kestrelstar had been the best leader she had known. The tears came like the rushing river. To many cats in her clan were dieing and disappearing. Adderkit, their last deputy, and now Kestrelstar.

Wolfsong finally caught sight of her sister and started towards her, before seeing her apprentice frozen in place. Sadness filling her heart, Wolfsong padded up to Pebblepaw. "Come with me Pebblepaw, you can sit with Nightleap and I for the meeting..." she mewed softly, laying her tail on the apprentice's shoulder before walking up to where her younger sister was laying next to Kestrelstar's body.
"Nightleap, I'm so sorry," she whispered to the she-cat, settling down beside her. She pressed her flank into the fur of her sibling, eyes misting with tears.
"I know how much he meant to you," she said sorrowfully, giving Nightleap a comforting lick on the ear. She paused to look back at her apprentice, patting the ground beside her with her tail to invite the young cat to sit on her other side with a soft, comforting blink.

[ @/Kunaiskrill @/corgigirl ]

[idia]

@~Oakpaw3441~ //

➵ brindlefeather | she/(they)/it

brindlefeather watched as snakeheart escaped the hold of them and sharkheart, stomach twisting at the sight of the heartbroken medicine cat crawling back to the leaders body. they lifted a paw, hesitating for a moment, questioning if they should reach out to him again. they put their paw down, deciding not to. he needed time - that was fine. stepping away from snakeheart, brindlefeather looked down at their paws, nervously tapping one against the ground.

the loud shouting from cloverpaw made them look at her in pure shock. jaw dropping slightly, the warrior stared at the apprentice wide eyed. everyone was sobbing, wailing, kestrelstars name was clear in the air from conversations, his body wasn't hard to see. they were sure cloverpaw wasn't blind either. was she trying to be disrespectful? they opened and closed their mouth, hurrying over to the apprentice.

"cloverpaw..that is - that's..ex-extremely rude. not only are you shouting at a meeting, but you're also shouting a - a demand. kestrelstar's body is not hard to see..people are mourning." they stammered in a hushed voice, hoping to not embarrass the apprentice more than she'd already embarrassed herself.

[stardust.]

@sid

"WHO CARES, BRINDLESTINKY!!!!" She screamed, "I demand to be the most popular cat in the world!!!"

Oaksong and Plumwillow stared at Cloverpaw wide-eyed, "Cloverpaw. No." They mewed

[vellichor]

// @marshall

beansprout
________

pale blue eyes widened in dismay. denial. fear. but most of all… disbelief and misery.

blind with emotion, the siamese shoved his way to the front of the crowd, ears ringing, only to find… kestrelstar. yes, that was his body. his heartbeat thudded in his chest, his ears, his entire body. no. no no no. no. this wasn’t real. this was all just a dream. there was no way that the cat who had just allowed him back into the clan with open paws and a smile was lying here, unmoving and unspeaking. it just wasn’t possible. tears fell swiftly from his eyes, and dropped onto kestrelstar's fur. NO.

without looking, he went to brace himself against the nearest cat… which of course, happened to be sparrowskip. he attempted to lean his head on the other cat's shoulder, acting as both a comfort for himself, and the new leader, he supposed. but that wasn’t what he was thinking about. he needed something, someone to ground him. he— there was no way— whatever gods were out there truly despised him, beansprout decided. first, they took away grizzlybug. then, he was taken away from his home twice. and just when he was returning to some sense of normality, life had to hit him in the nose once again.

fate, it seemed, was cruel.