[.W.]hy [.M.]e...?

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

^{Moonkit sighed as he padded to the middle of camp. It was sunhigh. He looked at the camp entrance, as if he were expecting his father Crescentgaze to emerge. He was usually on sunhigh hunting patrol, but now that he was gone, nothing seemed right. He wanted to let out a horrible wail and cry for the rest of his life, but all he could do was flatten his ears in sorrow and let a few tears slide down his cheeks.}

[/sup]

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke watched her kit pad to the camp entrance, as if he were waiting for Crescentgaze. The red-bron queen let out a sob, burying her face in her paws. It had all been so perfect. Everything right. But now it was all ruined. He was gone, gone, gone forever. She would never again giggle and butt her head against her mate's flank, never again feel his warm breath on her cheek, never again hear the words 'I love you' reach her ears.
The queen stared bitterly at the dirt. It was just so unfair. She had loved Crescentgaze so much. Tears slid uncontrollably down her cheeks and for once Cherrysmoke didn't care. She had lost so much; her parents, Strawkit, Willowpaw, nd now Crescentgaze. She wanted to yowl her sorrow and loss to StarClan and beg that they forgive whatever she hadd done. Cherrysmoke glanced hopelessly at the sky, her tear-filled green-blue eyes full of anguish and despair. "What else do you want, what else?" she screeched. She didn't even have the energy left to comfort her son.

[Spice..xx]

Brindlepaw made his way out of the apprentices den. He saw Cherrysmoke but thought she might claw his ears off if he interrupted so he padded over to Moonkit and licked behind the little cats ear to comfort him.

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

Pastelsky sighed. The calm light highlighted her beautiful features even more than what she thought was fair, but all sshe could do was hope that others felt the same. SHe knew she should be hunting or somthing, but didn't want to go with anyone. But maybe Mousepaw. The pretty she-cat flicked her tail impatiently, knowing the apprentice would show eventually.

Pastelsky let her celedon-green eyes flicker around the clearing. Her calm gaze wound its way to Moonkit and Cherrysmoke, and she felt her heart break for them. It was so unfair for them, to have a tom they both loved more than life itself to die. She had alawys felt the pains and joys of others, but this was harder for her. This was beyond her expirience. She couldn't feel thier pain, she couldn't take some away from them. She yawned halfhartedly and padded over towards Cherrysmoke and forced a smile. "Do you want some fresh-kill?" she asked, glacing sideways at Moonkit. "Moonkit too."

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke turned to face Pastelsky, her eyes breifly blank as though she did not recognize the new warrior. The ueen linked and her blue-green eyes cleared a little. "Oh... I think Moonkit should have some." Her voice was quiet and cracked. "I... I'm not hungry."

[FIREH!!]

Snowflake staggered into camp, tears dripping down her face. She walked over to Cherrysmoke. "I'm so sorry," she rasped.

[lonelylove :D]

Petalkit tottered out of the nursery. Her little face was crunched up in concern. She ran forward to her mother and began to rub her leg.

Oh mother, it's alright. I'll protect you.

[/size]

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

Pastelsky nodded and padded up to Moonkit. He looked so sad, so defeaten. Pastelsky approached him tenderly, knowing the rage you feel when a loved one dies can simply explode at any momment. "Moonit, would you like some fresh-kill?" she asked gently.

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke looked up at Snowflake. For some strange reason, instead of accepting her friend's comfort, her face twisted into a hiss. "What have you got to cry about? You didn't love Crescentgaze!" The distraught queen stormed into the nursery, sobbing loudly.

[FIREH!!]

"He was my friend..." She whispered.

[lonelylove :D]

Petalkit began to rub her mother harder.

Mama, it's all right....please don't blame Snowflake for anything.

She gave Snowflake a sad smile.

[/size]

[trissea]

Mousepaw sat not far from the other cats, his head low. His eyes were glazed. In shock, he heard the other cats as if they were far away. Crescentgaze... he had wanted the noble warrior as a mentor.. and now he'd never see him again. He breifly felt a surge of pity for the late tom's family, but then sunk into self-pity again. He padded over to Sonwflake, still aloof, but meaning well. "She'll be okay, won't she, Snowflake? She has to be. She'll feel better in a few days, right?"

[/font][/center]

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke looked up as she heard Mousepaw's voice. She narrowed her eyes at the tom, angry that he seemed so upset about Crescentgaze's death. The she-cat licked Petalkit sadly.

[fernie. (:]

Foxtail padded slowly from the warriors den. The whole Clan seemed to grieve for the loss of Cresentgaze. She looked around for Deathwish instinctively, seeing as he was really the only cat in the Clan she could talk to properly. He wasn't in the clearing, so she decided to wait for him.

[trissea]

Mousepaw noticed Cherrysmoke's heated gaze, but stayed calm. When his own father had died, he'd felt similar. He understood her pain, and didn't hold it against her. Besides, how was she to know that he had wanted her mate as his mentor?

[/font][/center]

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

Sighing, Pastelsky padded over to Mousepaw. "Hi," she meowed, flicking him with her tail teasingly. Seeing Foxtail, she nodded to her. If Moonkit and Cherrysmoke didn't stop grieving soon, SerenityClan may be short a warrior and apprentice. But how could they? She grieved for Crecentgaze, and so were Mousepaw and Foxtail... Alm,ost everyone was. And if everyone else, not even related to him by blood, was grieving... How was Cherrysmoke expected to let it go?
"Mousepaw, want to go hunting?" she asked. She needed somthing to keep her mind off of things, and besides, she was a warrior. She should be busy, with no time to lie around.

[/center]

[SHADE. :D]

Octoberlies padded from the warriors' den in time to hear Pastelsky's words to Mousepaw. Flicking his ears, he cast his gaze around the camp. His cerulean eyes narrowed in sympathy for Cherrysmoke, Petalkit and Moonkit as he spotted them. Crescentgaze had meant a lot to them. The tabby tom nodded in greeting to Pastelsky and Mousepaw. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, hoping he wasn't intruding.

[Wolf]

Deathwish slipped out of the warriors den. He glanced around at all the cats, then caught sight of Foxtail. He padded over to her and sat down. "Hey." He meowed.

[Spice..xx]

Brindlepaw saw Octoberlies pad over the clearing and trotted over to ask him to go hunting with him. He was nearly there when he heard him asking Pastelsky and Mousepaw if he could go with them. His tail drooped momentarily but he perked up and went over to the other cats. " Could i come too? I dont mind if you think three is enough." he meowed and sat down to wash his ears.

[trissea]

Mousepaw smiled eagerly at Pastelsky, his eyes glinting. "Okay, thanks!" Still without a mentor, he was happy to go out as often as possible. When Brindlepaw appeared, he smiled. He'd love it if his friend could go, but it was up to Pastelsky.[/font]

[FIREH!!]

Snowflake returned Petalkit's sad smile before turning to the apprentice. "She will take time for her wounds to heal but she will be stronger in the end." Then Snowflake turned and padded away.

[fernie. (:]

'Hi.' Foxtail half purred to Deathwish. 'Seeing as everyone else is going somewhere, wanna take a walk?' she asked, gazing round the camp.

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

Pastelsky looked at the two other cats, her eyes glinting. She knew that Mousepaw and Brindlepaw were best friends, and she would like to know Octoberlies better. "Sure! Where should we go?" she asked, eyeing Cherrysmoke. Why was it so hard not to feel badly for her?
Easy, somthing inside her said. She loved Crecentgaze more than anyone, and you could see that.
Yes. That was true.

[Wolf]

Deathwish nodded. "Ok. Wherever you want to go." He meowed.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit suddenly lashed his tail and whipped around to face Brindleface, letting out an angry hiss. Then his face turned a bit more sad. "I'm sorry," he mewed, a tear sliding down his cheek. "No thank you." He moped slowly ov to his mother and sister, laying his head on Cherrysmoke's back and sobbing into her fur.

[SHADE. :D]

Octoberlies eyed Moonkit, his eyes narrowed with sympathy. "I don't know." At that moment, the tom's son, Hyenakit, trotted from the nursery. His ginger fur was fluffed out. "Octoberpaw!" He exclaimed. The little kit did not know that Octoberlies was his father, nor that Butterflypaw of CloudClan was his mother. Octoberlies gritted his teeth. He loved his son, but it was over between him and Butterflypaw. He hated lying to his clan, and she never came to see him and Hyenakit.
Octoberlies nuzzled the kit. "I'm Octoberlies now." The kit's eyes widened. "Why don't you go and talk to Moonkit? I'm going hunting."
Hyenakit opened his mouth to argue, before nodding reluctantly and padding.
Cherrysmoke licked her son between the ears, protecting him from any unseen dangers. The two were in their own bubble of sorrow. Hyenakit trotted over. "Hullo." He could sense that Moonkit was upset, so sat a little way away.

[fernie. (:]

'Alright. Let's just get out of here. The whole atmosphere today is making me claustrophobic.' she shivered.

[Wolf]

Deathwish nodded and got up, stroking Foxtail's side with his thin tail.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit looked at Hyenakit and sighed. "Hi...."

[fernie. (:]

Foxtail edged round the side of camp, then padded into the undergrowth. Her pelt brushed against Deathwish's, and she relaxed once she was outside the camp.