Feeling Insecure (open)

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i44.tinypic.com/sdk9at.jpg] FOR the most part, Adderstrike kept his thoughts to himself as he padded along beside his apprentice. He kept his mind focused on getting back to camp, if only because he'd like to have Crescentpaw's foot looked at to make sure she hadn't done anything worse than sprain it. Since she was semi-walking on it, he doubted she had but you could never be too sure and it would do no good to train her on a wounded foot. Out of the corner of his eye, the golden tom kept an eye on Crescentpaw as she limped along beside him. He had to shorten his strides to match her gimpy steps but he managed alright, stepping over tree roots and clearing ferns from her path with a casual wave of his dappled tail. As she started apologizing for running off and freaking out and disobeying him, Adderstrike merely waved his tail in dismissal of such silly things. He'd never been a big fan of "I'm sorry" or things of the like, most likely because he seldom felt the need to apologize himself. If you did something knowingly against orders or that you knew would upset someone, you weren't sorry you did it. You just wanted to cover your tail and make it look like you were truly contrite. Adderstrike figured he was just saving time not even bothering. Even when Wrenstar gave certain orders he would disobey and never apologize because in the end he wasn't sorry. As they walked the young deputy more or less tuned out his apprentice. He let his senses go outward to the undergrowth around them. Out of the corner of his eye, Adderstrike could see Crescentpaw's dark brown eyes flicking to and fro through the undergrowth around them, looking for enemies or dangers. It amused the tom to see such behavior in a cat so young. Most apprentices didn't bother looking for dangerous things when in the presence of a warrior. They simply trusted the warrior with them to get them safely back to camp. It amused Adderstrike that Crescentpaw felt paranoid enough to be looking for trouble when in the presence of the LeopardClan deputy. Oh well. Let her waste energy being worried, it would be good practice for when she was a warrior out on her own patrolling or hunting. So, making no comment, Adderstrike simply kept going along the path that would lead them back to camp. STEPPING over a root protruding above ground from an ancient oak tree, the deputy didn't think anything of the root until he heard a squeak from Crescentpaw. A heartbeat later a warm weight decidedly apprentice sized collided with Adderstrike's side. Stiffening his legs to hold the new weight, he turned his head to look at the she-cat suddenly leaning against his side. Adderstrike was only mildly surprised to find her looking up at him rather fearfully, rounded ears pressed back against her head, weird brown eyes looking up at him as if he was going to eat her or something. A weary feeling crept through the deputy as he regarded his suddenly shy apprentice who had her mouth open to apologize but seemed to have the words stuck in her throat. Great. Another fearful rabbit. He had enough of those in the clan, the ones that cowered under his glare and shrank back when he slid past them in a crowd. There were a few with spines that stood up to him and contested his orders or patrol assignments or whatever but not as many as Adderstrike would have liked. Sadly this was not an ideal world and apprentices were especially bad about being afraid of him enough for three fully grown warriors. That was why he initially had decided not to have many and was very selective about who he chose. MOSSHEART , back when he'd been Mosspaw, had been renowned for his compassion and gentle heart. When Brightstar had first offered him to Adderstrike, Adderstrike had been wary to take him since he often equated compassion with fear. That particular apprenticeship had been a happy surprise when he found the first apprentice of his career that didn't shrink back from his anger but instead endured it and learned when Adderstrike instructed him to do things differently. Mossheart had flourished as a fighter since Adderstrike didn't impose his fighting style on him like most mentors did to their apprentices. Instead he had sparred continually with the young tom until Mossheart began finding his own way of doing things. The clan had thought it was just an excuse for Adderstrike to take his anger out on someone in a physical fight and had always asked Mossheart how he could deal with having a mentor like Adderstrike. Shellpaw had been more or less forced on Adderstrike shortly after Wrenstar had taken her position as leader of the clan. He had curled his lip at the idea of training the headstrong tom and in the end had made little headway with him before greencough claimed him. Shellpaw had been one of those that shrank back from his anger rather than facing it head on which was just annoying in the end because if an apprentice couldn't stand him, how would they face a lion or a tiger? Cheetahs weren't so bad, break their legs and they were harmless. Anyway, Adderstrike wasn't about to spend the next several moons of his life with a frightful little scrap of a clouded leopard. "DON'T look like a frightened rabbit, I'm not going to eat you." The words came out perhaps a little less kindly than he had intended, with a bit more bite than expected but Adderstrike was tired and grumpy and not in the mood for fearful quaking. Turning his head toward the young she-leopard, Adderstrike pressed his nose against her shoulder and nudged her to standing upright again. The movement was surprisingly gentle considering his sharp tongue just moments ago. "If you fear your clanmates, you won't last long as a warrior." NOT exactly encouraging but Adderstrike didn't particularly care. He lowered his head to regard the swollen paw Crescentpaw was holding just a few inches above the ground. He sniffed it carefully, seeking out blood or anything and found none. A gentle touch from his nose found the distressed flesh to be hot and tender to the touch. Probably sprained. Sighing quietly, Adderstrike withdrew his head. "WHEN we get back to camp, you'll have to get that looked at. We won't train tomorrow, not until the medicine cat gives you the clear." Tagged;; Crescentpaw Word Count;; 1121 Background Song;; NA Notes;; complete

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv245/Midnight_kitteh/sunda-clouded-leopard-newest-cat-1-2.jpg] [scrolly:h(206),w(142),sy] Crescentpaw looked away from her mentor embarrassment and a touch of anger through her body. She muttered a few words, still avoiding his gaze, "I just don't want to make you angry again. That was pretty scary..." She shook her pelt softly and looked ahead of them. They still were a good distance from the camp; silence was a painful thing too. Maybe she'd ask him a few questions on their way. She got back to her three paws and started limping again, this time much worse than before. She didn't think it was broken. No. She could still move it, though it was very painful. She felt her strength start to ebb away and she allowed her tail to drag the ground. Her ears lowered in her head and her eye lids becoming increasingly heavy. With a large yawn, she glanced at Adderstrike. He had been pretty quiet but had mentioned she see the medicine cat before going to do any sort of training in the morning. She hoped she'd be able to get away with a few things. She desperately missed training. Hell, Ravenpaw was probably trained better than her and he wasn't even clan born! She opened her mouth, carefully choosing her words before she let them flow forth. "Do you know why everyone gives up trying to train me?" She asked in a quiet whisper. It was a question that ate at her for a little while now, ever since Adderstrike had told her about her mentor arrangement. She swallowed hard, waiting for the answer that her was going to give. Now she somewhat regretted her question. 'What if the answer is much harsher than I want to know?' Well it was too late to take it back now. She had said it and know all she could do is to wait for the leopard beside her to speak. A small shiver crept up her spine and her heart sunk. She knew that it was going to haunt her for the rest of her life. Character: Adder Word Count: 344 Background song: The Bottom by Sick Puppies Notes: Sorry it took a little bit [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i44.tinypic.com/sdk9at.jpg] AT Crescentpaw's mention of how scary his anger could be, Adderstrike merely twitched his tail indifferently. He didn't care if he was scared, not really. He was her clanmate, she should know better. In the end, no matter how mad he got, Adderstrike had a stronger will than most would think and would never allow himself to sink his claws into a clanmate unless they were a proven traitor. He could rage and slash at trees or mutilate a kill when the freshkill pile was full but Adderstrike did had principles and stuck to them. The clan and their needs and their well-being far surpassed his own angers. Besides, if Crescentpaw couldn't withstand his anger, how would she ever face a snarling tiger or roaring lion? In battle, everyone was angry. Angrier than Adderstrike, even. They were angry enough to draw blood with orders that gave them permission to do so. Either way it really wasn't Adderstrike's problem, or at least he told himself it wasn't. INSTEAD of snapping at his new apprentice or making any comment at all on her words, he let silence settle between them. To him it wasn't awkward at all. It allowed him to focus on their surroundings and make sure major obstacles would be removed from Crescentpaw's path. He didn't miss that her pawsteps were slower, the tip of her twisted paw barely brushing the ground as she walked. He had the slow his stride further to accommodate the strangeness of her gait but nonetheless did it without complaint. 'DO you know why everyone gives up trying to train me?' ADDERSTRIKE was so focused on making it back to camp that his brain didn't register that she'd asked a question until he realized she was looking at him in the manner of someone waiting for someone. Twitching his ears curiously, the question caught up with the deputy and made him stop walking, one paw raised to take a step forward but never making it toe ground. His tail tip twitched too and fro as his mind whirled frantically for a second. Wrenstar had always said the full extent of Crescentpaw's parent's betrayal shouldn't be made known to her and the kits from her litter. Honestly though, looking over his shoulder at the brown-eyed she-leopard, Adderstrike was hesitant to follow his leader's order. She knew somethings, without a doubt. She wasn't what Adderstrike would call stupid per say. Misguided and odd but not stupid necessarily. All apprentices were stupid to a degree, himself included. It came with inexperience and youth. While Adderstrike couldn't necessarily properly remember Crescentpaw's age, he did know one thing. She was old enough to know the truth of the clan's opinion of her. PUSHING through some ferns and using his tail to hold them to the side for Crescentpaw to pass through, Adderstrike for once tried choosing his words carefully. Finally he gave up on the venture as Crescentpaw limped past him and decided to just say it plainly. Delicacy had never been his strong suit. "NOBODY wants to train the kit of clan killers," he said blandly, almost as though the fact bored him or that he could care less either way. "Moonshadow and Stormcrescent supposedly killed a mentor and his apprentice." The information rolled off his tongue and he kept his golden eyes fixed on the path ahead, keeping his paws moving so Crescentpaw would be forced to keep following. If he let her stop and be shocked they'd never get home and frankly the event was stale in Adderstrike's mind so he didn't even bother to act secretive or impressed or disgusted. What had happened was in the past, whether it was true or not. "Personally I think it was false accusations. Raggedheart and Thornpaw were both rather burly. I doubt your parents, together or no, could have overpowered them. Or wanted to for that matter." THE whole affair was rather vague for Adderstrike since he'd been absorbed in his own life as a new warrior and mourning the loss of his mentor. He'd been mentoring Mossheart at the time and while they had grieved with the clan, Adderstrike had overall viewed the event from a distance. Raggedheart had never been a huge fan of Adderstrike and Thornpaw had been, well, a thorn in Mossheart's side as apprentices. They hadn't rejoyced in the deaths of course but they hadn't been necessarily torn up about it, even compassionate Mosspaw had been alright after the vigil was over. Shaken up that a denmate was gone, yes, but not traumatized by the loss. Adderstrike had made Mosspaw sit through the trial of Moonshadow and Stormcrescent though, and later snubbed any questions Mosspaw might have had as to whether they were innocent saying what was done was done. Adderstrike had had some ethical qualms about the kits forced into exile with their mother but that had ended alright in the end. He chalked it up to Wrenstar's inexperience, pressure from the clan to clean her paws of the whole issue and not wanting to take everything from Stormcrescent and Moonshadow. EITHER way the event was over, one of the three kits had stuck with the clan though Adderstrike could only question as to how long now but she was here for now and his responsibility. The innocence or guilt of her parents was not his problem. She was. While that might be more difficult than innocence or guilt, he had no comment but things of the past didn't tend to stick with Adderstrike unless they effected him on a personal level, like losing his mentor and apprentice. If Moonshadow or Stormcrescent had killed one of them, Adderstrike would have killed all three of their kits and called it even. Blood for blood. Much simpler than mercy and repayment if you asked him. Tagged;; Crescentpaw Word Count;; 1002 Background Song;; "Frontline" by Pillar Notes;; ^^

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv245/Midnight_kitteh/sunda-clouded-leopard-newest-cat-1-2.jpg] [scrolly:h(206),w(142),sy] As he lead her passed a curtain of ferns, he still was silent. The fact he had not spoken yet was disturbing and disheartening. But when he did finally open his maw to speak, she wished she hadn't asked anything. Her heart sank to the deepest part of her stomach and threatened to make her sick. She just stared blankly at him, mind completely empty but her heart so heavy. Crescentpaw let out some sort of coughing noise and turned away from the deputy. She padded away, tail low, ears flat back and head hung. Her parents had mentioned that they had been accused of something down right awful when they left, but she never knew about this. Her parents were kind folk her didn't mean to hurt anyone, but according to the leader and a few grief-stricken cats, even the sweetest of leopards can be forced away with out any say. The clouded leopardess shut her eyes tight, trying desperately to keep back the flow of tears. Again more coughing noises. She glanced at Adderstrike again, his face hadn't changed. Taking a step towards him, setting her full weight on her injured, she gritted her teeth. "So all I am is just the daughter of a pair of alleged murders?" She murmured in a voice barely above a whisper. She shook her head lightly and turned away, towards camp. She inhaled a ragged breath, still fighting back the urge to cry. "See you back at camp." She muttered, before breaking into a run. She didn't even care about the severe pain in her paw as she stepped down. The apprentice kept running, even if her mentor was calling her. She didn't want to be around him anymore. Hell, she didn't want to even go back to her clan, if she could even call it that anymore. After the news that was given to her, she just wanted to crawl under a large rock and stay there forever. Oh how she wished for Cloudwhisper... When she finally slowed, she was just outside the camp entrance. A sharp pang surged though her chest and her paw finally gave out on her, sending to the ground below her. There she curled into a ball, breathing hard, but with no threat of tears. She waited in silence for Adderstrike to show up and lecture her. She didn't want to hear it though. She moved her, still lying on the ground, to looked at the entrance. Everyone would be a sleep by now, even the medicine cat. Sudden she didn't feel like she belonged here. She wanted her parents back, she wanted her sister and her brother, too. She wanted to scream out so bad, but took the alternative route, She clamped down on her uninjured front paw, sinking her teeth in deep and drawing blood. 'And yet another think I'm giving him to lecture me about...' She curled up tighter, paws still in her mouth. Character: Adder Word Count: 502 Background Song: "Anywhere But Here" by Sick Puppies Notes: poor crescent [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i44.tinypic.com/sdk9at.jpg] THIS time when the clouded leopard took off running, Adderstrike couldn't say he was surprised. In fact, he just heaved a sigh and rolled his golden eyes. Couldn't she face up to anything without running away? Her parents were said to have been killers, yeah but that didn't dictate her fate. Why didn't she understand that? Why didn't the clan for that matter? The sins of the parents were not the sins of the kits. Apparently that concept didn't appeal to anyone or they just didn't care about innocence and guilt like they claimed otherwise they wouldn't be in this mess right now. Flexing his claws a few times to work out some of his irritation at Crescentpaw's flighty nature, he finally got himself together and just started walking after her, pace slow and almost lazy. IN his mind, Adderstrike had done more than enough running after this flighty bundle of fur and he was tired damn it. He'd been up since before dawn and it was well after dark now. He hadn't eaten since sunhigh, been pushed to very near blood-fury not long ago and was still putting up with Crescentpaw's antics. It was too late for this nonsense. Why couldn't she just accept it like a warrior and move on? Was it so hard to work hard until the clan understood she wasn't them? She had a mentor willing to help her with that, despite what she might think now, but she was too blind to see it. What blinded her, he couldn't say. Adderstrike personally believed it was either stupidity or youth, maybe both. She wasn't a warrior. She was a spoiled apprentice like all the rest she shared her den with. She didn't know the necessity of just accepting things and moving on with them. CRESCENTPAW for her part, left a very clear trail for the young tom to follow. It wound back toward camp in jagged steps and messy stumbles. Ferns were torn from where she'd run past them. Grass was trampled in clear pawprints. A blind tracker could have followed with ease even if someone had clawed off the tracker's nose. Adderstrike was in no hurry. To be honest he half hoped he'd find her crying the apprentice den because then she wouldn't be his problem anymore. At dawn he'd send Smokestream to check her and go from there, get some sleep in between emotional breakdowns. Too bad StarClan didn't seem to think that was possible because just as he neared camp, the tang of blood stung his nose and drew his gaze to the young clouded leopardess curled in a ball. Her uninjured, well previously uninjured paw it seemed, was clamped in her jaws. OH for the love of StarClan....Adderstrike was really starting to lose his temper again. HUFFING irritably, he padded toward the curled up she-leopard. His steps were brisk staccato beats on the ground and he radiated impatience. Once he was about a tail length away, more or less in the she-cat's blind spot, Adderstrike reclined on his haunches. Might as well wait until she was done and haul the body back to camp before carrion eaters got to her. A good mentor would lecture her. Tackle her and force her paw into a wrap. Adderstrike wasn't a good mentor, or even a typical mentor. Mossheart had been a fluke, a good cat he couldn't corrupt as some said. Shellpaw had been a mess and now Crescentpaw had to be the grandest mess of all. The problem was, Adderstrike wasn't going to make decisions for his apprentices. If this was how Crescentpaw thought she could handle things, fine. She'd stretched him thin today and he was in no way up for dealing with her attitude. The lectures were over. He just sat in silence as if someone had carved him from sun-gold stone and planted him right there, eyes hardened by time and distaste. She'd pass out eventually and he'd wrap her up, haul her to Smokestream and begin this whole mess again tomorrow. SETTLING in for a wait, Adderstrike dropped into a crouch and curled his spotted tail around his side. A yawn pulled itself from his throat and he let it come, stretching his jaws wide and giving his head a bit of a shake when it was finished. It really had been a long day and his day wasn't even over yet. He had to check on Wrenstar and figure out patrols for the dawn. He'd probably just stay up until dawn and send them out himself, maybe find a meal while he was waiting for his clanmates to get up. After he got Crescentpaw situated of course, be it with Smokestream or in the middle of camp for her vigil. He'd bury another apprentice. THAT thought and that thought alone brought sadness to Adderstirke. It wasn't for sure but the possibility of it hurt like a thousand claws sinking into his skin. He missed Mossheart, his compassionate first apprentice. He would have known what to do and how to say these things. He'd use words and strategies Adderstrike hadn't taught him to soothe the distress and sadness from Crescentpaw and show her how to go on. Adderstrike didn't know how to do that. he didn't have those words or the patience. He had harsh realities and demands. Tipping his head back, still crouching, Adderstrike searched for stars but found none. The sky was black and empty. His claws sank into the ground and his heart quivered. He kept looking though, looking for one star that might mean good fortune or that somebody knew what was happening. He didn't look at Crescentpaw as the smell of blood wrapped around him, just at the sky. Tagged;; Crescentpaw Word Count;; 1000 Background Song;; "Trouble with Girls" by Scotty McCreery Notes;;

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv245/Midnight_kitteh/sunda-clouded-leopard-newest-cat-1-2.jpg] [scrolly:h(206),w(142),sy] She lied there numbly as the pounding of paw steps came. Part of her wished that he would just leave her and go back to camp. They were close enough that something probably wouldn't get her, but right now, so didn't really care. The apprentice just wanted to be alone and not bothered, like before. Today was just an awful nightmare, one she couldn't seem to shake free from. A horrid dream that seemed to keep her in a vice like grip, digging needle like claws into her heart and mind. She wondered if it was going to end at all, or if she was going to be trapped forever. When she didn't hear anything from her mentor, she assumed that he might have left after all. She looked over, a look of discontent on her face. Letting her bloodied paw from her maw, she gently placed it down in front of her, scarlet liquid still trickling from the small puncture wounds. She locked her eyes onto him, her brown depths void of life and pretty much anything else. She let out a huff and lied her head on the bloodied ground next to her paw. "Why are you still here? The camp's right there. You don't have to stay with me anymore." She muttered, staring into the trees. She forced her to roll over, her back against the leopard that watched her with what appeared to be boredom and a spark of anger and irritation. She breathed a heavy sigh and closed her eyes, still hoping that with was just some awful dream. Crescentpaw stayed there for a few more moments, neither speaking nor talking to Adderstrike. He still had not moved from the position that he was in. This irritated her. The clouded leopard managed to get herself into a sitting position, and then stood up shakily. "If you won't leave, then I will. Good night..." She said in a hoarse voice. As she stumbled toward the entrance, she left scarlet colored paw prints behind her. Her fatigue was extremely noticeable and she could hardly stand anymore. She glanced back at him and silently disappeared into the heart of the camp. She had not made it far from the apprentices' den before she collapsed on the ground right outside. She didn't have the energy to move any farther and if she did, she didn't want to dirty up the den. She didn't even have the strength to curl up in to a ball, she just stayed there, sprawled out on the floor. She closed her eyes and send a silent pray to StarClan, telling them how wrong tonight was. Character: Adder Word Count: 451 Background song: "It's Not Getting Any Better" by Klaypex Notes: n/a [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i44.tinypic.com/sdk9at.jpg] "YOU don't know what a mentor is, do you?" THAT was all Adderstrike could find to say when Crescentpaw questioned his presence. He didn't blame her of course. He wasn't known as a nice cat and never pretended to be an amazing mentor. Just look at his track record for StarClan's sake. Still, Adderstrike had learned one thing from his mentor, Brightstar, and that was what a mentor's job was. No matter how difficult the apprentice or how much their personalities clashed, mentors had to stand by their apprentices. There was no room for personal dislike or ideas of personal gain. Prestige was just not in the cards when you became a mentor because on top of all your other responsibilities, you had to train a headstrong brat to not get killed on the battlefield. You spent your days agitated, tired and dusty from endless training and got pulled to the end of your rope by endless questions and contests of strength and will. The apprentice would drive you insane in minutes if you let them and run off with your life no matter what you did. The sad part was, a mentor couldn't say no. In his lifetime, Adderstrike had never seen a warrior turn down an apprentice when the leader called them forward in an apprentice's ceremony. It just didn't happen. WHY? Why would someone willingly take under their wing a difficult, hard to please, stubborn brat that had everything going against them? DUTY probably played a part in it. Ever warrior had a duty to the clan to pass on what they knew by taking and teaching an apprentice. Every warrior had a skill that the clan wanted passed on to the next generation, be it a special fighting style or just random bits of knowledge that were vital to survival. All of it was important and needed to stay within the clan. That wasn't the only reason though, and Adderstrike had figured that out while mentoring Mosspaw so many moons ago. YOU learned to love your apprentices. Sometimes it was right away and sometimes it took time but it did happen. A bond formed no matter how much you tried to stamp it out or ignore it because in the back of your mind you know there's always a chance of someone dying. Adderstrike had tried his damnedest to keep Mosspoaw out but the young tom had wormed his way in and stayed with Adderstrike to this day. Shellpaw was no different. For all their bickering, Adderstrike had mourned because he felt he had almost begun making progress with the young snow leopard. Now with Crescentpaw, well, he viewed it as he'd already poured a lot of energy into this bipolar clouded leopardess. He'd listened to bickering all day, conversed with an ailing Wrenstar and then simply taken Crescentpaw before they could find an excuse to get rid of her. He'd chased her down more than once and more or less wasted an entire day on her when there were other things that needed doing. WATCHING Crescentpaw drag herself to her feet, Adderstrike rose as well. He trailed lazily behind her and then passed her as she collapsed outside of the apprentice den. He strode through the heart of camp to Wrenstar's den without giving Crescentpaw so much as a twitch of his tail in regard. A few steps outside of Wrenstar's den however, the deputy stilled. In the moonlight his golden pelt was washed silver as his bright eyes zeroed in on the den beyond the shadows where Wrenstar slept. His tail curled and uncurled and after several long moments, he took a few steps back. Long hooked claws uncurled and dug into the soft ground under his paws. The scent that wafted from Wrenstar's den was subtle, the sweet smell of sickness but under it, a scent Adderstrike knew well. His eyes closed for several moments as he tasted the air just to make sure. When his eyes opened again, Adderstrike turned away from the den and padded to where Crescentpaw laid. "GO into the apprentice den and get some rest." Not a request. An order. "When dawn comes don't leave camp." USING his muzzle to usher Crescentpaw to her feet and toward the apprentice den, the young tom made sure she went before padding back toward Wrenstar's den and vanishing inside. He didn't have time for Crescentpaw's self-hate and stubbornness anymore. Things needed doing and they required Adderstrike's attention. INSIDE the den it was dark and cool, the floor covered with soft sand. After a moment, Adderstrike's eyes adjusted to the gloom and lack of moonlight. The dappled form of Wrenstar was curled up on her nest of goose feathers and moss, seemingly asleep. A pile of herbs near the entrance of the den caught Adderstrike's eye. They were fragrant herbs that were used to contest the scent of illness among other things. Smokestream must have left them when she realized what had happened and waited for Adderstrike to come back. His tail twitched in thought and he made a mental note to thank the older she-leopard for not rousing clan panic in his absence. His gaze traveled back to Wrenstar. She hadn't moved but Adderstrike hadn't expected her to. SHE'D never move again. SITTING himself beside the leopardess, Adderstrike began grooming her spotted pelt. He smoothed the short fur ruffled by movement during fever dreams and did his best to wash away the stink of illness. At dawn the clan would find her laying in the middle of camp, eyes closed, fur smooth as silk ready for the warriors to say their farewells before her burial. Tonight however, as deputy, Adderstrike had to clean her and say his own farewells. Tagged;; Crescentpaw Word Count;; 986 Background Song;; "Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance Notes;; i think this is about the end of it

[Bast]

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