&& the cross they bear

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>His dreams were fevered, filled with anguish and agony. His fur prickled against his skin, making him whimper and thrash his tail in slumber. He was in danger.

Sunlight suddenly pierced through his den in the break in the clouds, stabbing through the holes in the den from the roots. It broke along the pinecones, sending speckled light onto Ghostlystar's black pelt. He winced and opened his blue eyes wearily, reluctantly. The Clan Leader twitched his tail and slowly came to his feet, groaning slightly. The dream suddenly slapped him in the face as he groomed himself, because he thought the dream had been about him but in reality, now that he thought about it, he had been about his son, Hollowpaw.

Breaths came heavily, huskily, as if from a raging, foaming beast. The dream had been of a black cat with blue eyes running out of camp, encountering badgers, foxes, and swamplands trying to find Pecankit. Pecankit. That name brought him heartache. He wished that his scouts could find her but he supposed it was too late. It had been several moons since her disappearance and with it being the heart of leaf-bare, there wasn't much home.

However, as he thought about it, the cat was not him, but his son, who he had not seen since the Gathering that named Lastfalling his mentor. Ghostlystar came to his paws and shook out his pelt, coming out of his den. "Hollowpaw?" he called out, hesitantly at first but then sounding more emotional. "Hollowpaw!" His call turned into a husky roar that only a father could understand.

The tomcat paced, ignoring the ruts in the slight mud of the Clan's grounds. His storm-blue eyes turned to the sky and he sat down, thinking. He then ran off to the apprentice's den. His son was not there. Perhaps he is with his mentor, Ghostlystar thought. But wait, Lastfalling did not return from his trip to the Shrine from the previous night so he couldn't have returned to retrieve Hollowpaw and one of the apprentices would have told him if they had seen Lastfalling take out his apprentice. The tom's heartrate quickened and his pace accelerated.

"Stormfeather...," he said, pausing at the warrior's den. "M'son...Our son is gone..." He dropped to his belly and began to weep. "I think he's gone t'find Pecankit, t'make Leopardflight and Runespell feel better."</sub>

[FIREH!!]

_{The black pelt flashed as quickly as a lightning bolt, as she raced out. Hollowpaw! He's gone!? She asked in disbelief. She crouched beside him, licking his ears. If he's gone to find Pecankit, something tells me he will be safe. But as she spoke, her eyes glimmered with tears. Why our son? She cried quietly. Why Hollowpaw? She crouched beside him, sharing his grief. Hollowpaw, if you can hear me, be careful. I want my son home. She thought in her head, but she knew it was hopeless.}

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"He turns at th'slightest whim. I suppose he didn't like seein' th'pain in their eyes," Ghostlystar said softly, his voice cracking. The tom seemed thinner than usual and he came to his feet, drifting this way and that like a wraith. He couldn't feel Stormfeather's presence. Murmurs of nothing slipped from his throat and he turned left and right, feeling distant. His bright eyes dimmed, like the time before he met Stormfeather. The black male floated away from his mate before turning and laying on the ground, feeling listless.}

[Spice..xx]

_{Mousewind padded more swiftly than usual from the warriors den that morning. She had heard the anguished shouts of Ghostlystar and hurried outside. She heard Stormfeathers words and froze. Pecankit. She felt her eyes well with tears but forced them back. Hollowpaw. Something must be done to find him, he would be in danger. She rocked to and fro, not knowing who she should go to. Turning quickly she raced back into the warriors den and nudged the brown sleeping form that was her sister. "Hazelfrost! Hazelfrost! Wake up, you lazy old badger! We need to help Hollowpaw!" she hissed in her sisters ear, prodding her with a paw.}[/color]

[cheshy says grace]

Miserycalling pricked his ears at the yowling. He finished his early breakfast and stood up. The tomcat always got up earlier than most warriors, which caused him to go to bed earlier than others. He remembered the name. And he swear he might've conversed with the little tom before. Hollowpaw. He knew Pecankit too, the kit that disappeared not to long ago.

Miserycalling walked over to the warrior's den and and stuck his head in. He caught the brown pelt of Hazelfrost and he could here Mousewind's voice. "We need to help Hollowpaw!" He closed his eyes, sighed quietly, then opened them again. "I want to help." His voice had become solid and firm, he knew what he wanted to do.

[/blockquote]

[falconkit]

Swirlstorm looked around, he was a kit again. He looked over his shoulder ans saw his family. He gasped. They where alive again!
'Mom, dad, sis! Your here!!' he exclaimed running toward them. but they started walking backward as if it get away from him. His ear twitched in annoyance. 'alright, if thats how you want it . . . ' he said. As soon as he finished the sentence he pelted from where he was standing. He was mere kittensteps from them. He could recognize their scent. He reached out his paw to try and touch them.

Swirlstorm opened his eyes. He was laying down in his den, sunlight streaming through the den. 'No!' he thought, 'I was so close tho them. . .' closing his eyes shut he tried to get back to his dream. But then he heard Grainpelts voice. "we need to help Hollowpaw!" Hollowpaws missing? He sat up and walked over to Grainpelt and miserycalling. "What's going on? What's this about hollowpaw?" he asked, slightly tilting his head.[/color]

[fernie. (:]

Hazelfrost leapt up comically, like a cartoon cat, when she heard Mousewind's yell. 'WhazzappenedduHollowpaw?' she grumbled, her eyes wide. She pricked her ears and got the gist roughly of what had happened, due to everyone yowling like badgers in a trap. 'Hollowpaw went to look for Pecankit?' she said, her grey eyes getting even wider. She looked around as Miserycalling spoke, and furrowed her brow slightly. 'I know you want to help, but don't you think it'd be best if less cats came? Less dangerous.' she said, standing up and stretching quickly.

[/size]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

Grainpelt stepped lightly into camp from his early morning hunt, dropping a little vole on the pile. He had been more focused on Ryepaw, Cinnabarcloud and Flaxkit than anything else while he was out. "Hollowpaw went to look for Pecankit?!" he echoed, his paws tingling in a bad way. The topaz tom worried for the apprentice - he hated to say it, but Pecankit might be dead by now. But, as always, he was the optimist. "Don't worry, Hollowpaw's going to be okay," he tried to announce as brightly as he could, but he felt the weight of misery hanging over the Clan as if it were trying to choke him. Instead he mumbled, "May StarClan go with him," and he meant it. His heart went out to Hollowpaw, he was very brave to try and find a cat who had been missing for over six moons.

[/color][/blockquote]

[Spice..xx]

_{Mousewind kneaded the ground impatiently with her paws. "C'mon Hazlefrost!" she said, then paused for a second. "Should we tell Mum and Dad? Or would they get too worried?" she asked, kneading the ground again. She looked over at Ghostlystar and Stormfeather, the anguish in their eyes so similar to what hers and the rest of her family had been. This made her sure that she wanted to help, to find Hollowpaw. Her green eyes turned to Hazelfrost again and she looked at her sister to wait to see what she had to say.}[/color]

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Seeing the pain in her loved one's eyes, the she-cat padded to him. You're not going back. You are staying as the leader we need. We have warriors who are loyal to the clan and you that you can send after him. I can go with them if you want. Stormfeather, though the pain she felt that her son had left, her eyes still shone. Please Ghostlystar. The clan needs you to be calm. I need you. Shedropped beside him and rested her head on his flank.

Gingerpaw exited the apprentice den, hearing the cries. She padded to Swirlstorm and meowed, What's going on? She heard clips of Hollowpaw, and how he had left. She sat, shocked. Her denmate had left! Swirlstorm and I will go looking for him. She meowed determinedly.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Ghostlystar let out an agitated hiss. "I am fine. I jus' needed a moment," he said. The leader came to his feet and turned to the warriors crowding around. "Alrigh', I'm goin' out there. Miserycallin', Grainpelt, Hazelfrost, ya can come with me. Stormfeather, ya can take Gingerpaw, Swirlstorm, and Mousewind and search th'vicinity area." The black tom came to his feet, eyes darkened as he turned to the entrance of BrightClan. His tail lashed as he let out a heavy breath. "I'm gonna find m'son." He padded off without a look back.}

[cheshy says grace]

Miserycalling snuffed, "I'm not scared." Then he turned his head as he heard his name, "Alrigh', I'm goin' out there. Miserycallin', Grainpelt, Hazelfrost, ya can come with me." He nodded and turned, lashing his tail once in agreement, "Yes, sir," he muttered. "C 'mon," he motioned with his tail towards Hazelfrost and smirked. Then Miserycalling trudged after Ghostlystar. His haunches were healing and the fur was growing back. But he knew if they couldn't find Hollowpaw, the scars were going to be opened.

((-yawn- no muse...))

[/blockquote]

[falconkit]

Swirlstorm pieced together the little slices of conversation he heard. Ok, so hollowpaw went out to find pecankit, the kit that had been missing for six moons. When Gingerpaw came he felt relived that she was with him. She always made him calmer. 'Stormfeather , ya can take Gingerpaw, Swirlstorm, and Mousewind and search th'vicinity area' he heard ghostlystar say. "Alright," he meowd in determination. He lowwerd his head so he could whisper onto gingerpaws ear, "please be careful." with that he sat back up and waited for Stormfeathers orders.


((gah Im museless))

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

Grainpelt gulped but nodded his head as Ghostlystar spoke his name. Still, doubt gnawed at his belly. He highly doubted they would find Pecankit, but this was his time to show Ghostlystar what kind of warrior he was. He noticed Swirlstorm whisper in Gingerpaw's ear and smiled slightly, but with a flick of his tail he dismissed it. "When do we leave?" he asked in a high, clear voice, despite the fear that nearly choked him. "And where will we search?" By now Pecankit must be out of BrightClan territory, maybe even out of the Clans territories alltogether or the other Clans would have said something about her or she would have came home.

Just then, another thought struck him. Pecankit had left of her own free will, he remembered that much - but what if she didn't want to be brought back? What if Pecankit had been in one of her silly fights with Mousekit or Hazelkit while she left, and now didn't even wish she were back here? That's mouse-brained, he thought, trying to remember how close they were when they were young. Of course she wants to come home,. He hoped.

[/color][/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

Two eyes, deep amber, opened. A tabby striped body stirred. Runespell blinked once, his ears pricked up. The young tom yawned, showing his rows of sharp white teeth. The tabby warrior smiled, resolving to visit Leopardflight later. He'd have to hunt for her first. As the warrior got to his paws, he caught snags of conversation. At first they were meaningless to him, but then his ears flattened. Pecankit... Runespell scrambled from the den. Has she come home? The tom scanned the clearing wildly with wide, fire coloured eyes. He saw Hazelfrost, Mousewind, Grainpelt, Miserycalling, Ghostlystar... But no little tabby and white shape. No fat, fluffy white paws, no indignant sapphire eyes. Runespell allowed a ghost of sadness and disappointment to cross his face before he told himself that he was being silly. The lean tom padded across to Hazelfrost. "Where's everyone going?" he asked, frowning. It was a rather large hunting or border patrol. He looked at his daughters for an answer, ears twisted backward in confusion.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"We're leavin' now," came Ghostlystar's haunting voice. That voice.... It was so...creepy and wispy, as if he was fading away from the depression and exhaustion it stole from him to lead BrightClan. Somber state of mind he was in.}

((to BC territories...and danger! *Batman theme*))[/sub]

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Stormfeather nodded to Ghostlystar, and faced her patrol. We are going to find him. No matter what we meet out there. She meowed determinedly. Now let's go. She followed Ghostlystar's patrol, flicking her tail for her's to follow.

Gingerpaw licked Swirlstorm's ear. You be careful too. Come on, she's calling us. Gingerpaw stood up and padded after the missing cat's mother, hoping with all her heart that they will find him.</sub>

[Spice..xx]

_{Mousewind hissed in annoyance at all the other cats. "I want to go with my sister, just me and Hazelfrost. Thats why i went and woke her. We were going to leave now. Is it not better to have more smaller groups than more large groups? We'll get more ground covered" she said and then, blushing heatedly as she had never spoken out of turn before scurried over to Hazelfrost. She looked up at her father as he came over and shook with grief and worry. "Hollowpaw. He...He's gone to find.....to find...Pecankit" she said, whispering the last word. She looked up anxiously at him and stuck closer to Hazelfrost. She was staying with her sister.}[/color]

[fernie. (:]

Hazelfrost let the chaos of camp as Ghostlystar talked wash around her, until her name was called. She agreed with Mousewind's small outburst and smiled at her sister, touching her shoulder with her own tabby tail for a second before twitching her tail in a gesture to follow her and bounding off after Ghostlystar. 'Ghostlystar, Mousewind's our sister, and Pecankit's. She will be coming to search for Pecankit with us, not just searching the vicinity, as you put it.' she said, feeling stronger than she was and knowing that she would probably get punished for this back talking to the leader. She said this, and narrowed her eyes, stopping in front of the leader.

[/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Ghostlystar paused at Hazelfrost and Mousewind's callings; the leader turned, eyes fiery and listless. "If that's how ya feel, very well," the wraith replied. "Just make sure ya keep in contact. Danger's ahead." Muscles curled in his legs, launching him upward onto a fallen tree as he sprinted off.}

xx harder, better, faster, stronger[/sub]

[Spice..xx]

_{Mousewind looked anxiously at Ghostlystar as Hazelfrost confronted him and sighed with relief as he agreed. "Thank you" she said, dipping her head. As the others began to move off she turned her green gaze to Runespell. "Dad, i have to go. I'll see you later" she said and with a quick flick of her tail bounded out of camp after the others, falling into place beside Hazelfrost.}

[SHADE. :D]

// I love how must of you ignored Runespell. Dx

Runespell's amber eyes narrowed as Mousewind spoke. "Why didn't anyone tell me?" The tabby sank his claws into the earth. "She's my daughter!" The tom spun around, stripey fur bristling. He glared at the group of cats, frowning, before disappearing into the nursery. He angrily sat down beside Leopardflight, still fuming. Runespell looked down at Flaxkit and Mistykit, allowing the sight of their tiny, fluffy little bodies to comfort him. He sighed, breath coming out in a short tempered rasp.

[FIREH!!]

<sub>ooc;; Sorry! I didn't know what to say! Now I do.

bic;; Stormfeather turned around and raced back to Runespell. I just lost someone on my patrol. Care to come with me? She asked him, kneading the ground with her paws.</sub>

[falconkit]

Swirlstorm smiled as Gingerpaw licked his ear. "Alright, Ill be carefull if you do. Deal?" He asked, padding after her. His dream was almost forgoten. They didn't bother him as much now. Sometimes when he was still an apprentice he would wake up in a cold sweat from some of them. He was glad they where finaly coming to an end.

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Gingerpaw laughed. Deal. Now let's go find Hollowpaw! she bounded away and stopped at the entrance, waiting for Stormfeather.

ooc; Falconeh, now go post with him in the post in the territory called 'Death before [dishonor]'. xDDDD</sub>

[cheshy says grace]

_{((where's ghostlystar's patrol goin' off to?))}