[D]raining -.Life_Force.-

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Dark River dragged his aching paws until he reached a ravine leading to an enclosed clearing. It smelled of many cats, so many cats. He heaved into the clearing, and that was all he could remember before collapsing with a thud.

Sun followed her father, and noticed he'd fainted. "Papa! No!" she cried, burying her muzzle in his fur. She felt a pulse. "Brother, I think he's alive!"

Night Tree was shocked to see his father fall to the ground. "He is? Phew." Then he looked up at all the cats in the clearing, all of their pelts perfect and groomed, his and his family's ragged and matted, their ribs showing. "Er, Sun?"

Sun looked up and gulped, then threw herself in front of her father with her brother, ready to defend him if the other cats attacked.

The siblings knew they were no match for healthy cats, especially this many of them. But they wouldn't let their father die without a fight.

[/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

Runningcloud was just returning from getting some tansy when she saw the three cats by the entrance. Deputy instincts kicking in, she leapt in front of them and narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?" she asked, suppressing a growl that wanted to erupt in her throat. For a moment, she had forgotten her role as medicine cat. The large orange tabby straightened and tilted her head. "What's the meaning of this?" she asked in a more gentle tone.

[Spice..xx]

Brindletalon came into camp, two mice, a vole and a thrush swinging from his jaws. Hen dropped them in disbelief when he saw the three cats, one of which appeared to have collapsed and went to stand beside Runningcloud. "Who are you? Did Chaosfire send you? What does she want now?!" he demanded, the hair on the back of his neck rising. He unsheathed his claws and stood waiting for one of the concious cats to answer.

[/center][/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

"Hold on, Brindletalon. Let's not get too hasty," Runningcloud mollified, trying not to have the warrior make the mistake she almost did. However, she had to agree with what he was thinking: Chaosfire's minions. She beckoned for the warrior to stand beside her while she investigated the fallen cat. She turned to Brindletalon. "Go get Jasminestar or Clearpool," she ordered, turning to the loners. "I can't sense any murderous intent. Let me help you come inside. I am a medicine cat. I will help your friend." She loped forward to help carry in the unconscious cat.

[Spice..xx]

~Brindletalon~
"Ok Runningcloud" he said dipping his head before jogging off to find his leader or deputy. "Jasminestar, Clearpool, Runningcloud needs you!" he meowed, scouting around the warriors and leaders den.
~Clearpool~
Clearpool came out of the warriors den at the sound of her name being called. "Brindletalon? What is it?" she asked the warrior, looking around for Runningcloud. She spotted her with the loners and before Brindletalon could answer she spoke again. "Rihgt, okay ill go over and help Runningcloud. Go and fetch Jasminestar" she said before padding swiftly over to Runningcloud. "Runningcloud? You wanted me? Who are these cats?" she asked, looking suspiciously at the three cats in front of her.
~Brindletalon~
Brindletalon looked around at Clearpools voice and opened his mouth to answer when she cut across him. When she asked him to go and get Jasminestar he dipped his head and said "Yes Clearpool" before making his way to the leaders den. "Jasminestar? Its Brindletalon, Clearpool and Runningcloud want you" he meowed into the darkness of the den, hoping that his leader was there.

[/center][/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

Runningcloud dipped her head to the deputy and gestured to the loners. "I doubt they mean any harm. They don't seem like Chaosfire's group to me. If you could, ask them their names and such while I make room for them in the den," she said, leaving the unconscious tom with Clearpool while she made her way to the medicine den. Before long, she was ready for them and came back out. "I'm ready. They can come in...!" She looked around. "And can someone get Jasminestar in here?"

_{((I'm gonna wait for Shard after this post ))}

[Spice..xx]

Clearpools eyes softened as she was what a poor state the cats were in and she dipped her head to Runningcloud as she moved away. "What are your names?" she asked softly, sitting down to wait for Runningcloud to be ready. When she herd the medicine cats voice shortly after she stood up and beckoned with her tail for the cats to follow. "If you would like to come with me, Runningcloud has made space in her den for you. We can get you all something to eat and she can help your friend" she said to the two cats signalling with her tail to the unconcious cat. She suddenly realised how silly she was being and said "Oh my goodness im dreadfully sorry i ahvent offered to help carry your friend, would you like any help or would you rather bring him in yourself?" she asked the cats, embaressment showing in her clear blue eyes.

[/center][/color]

[trissea]

_{Mouseclaw stood, his long gray fur feeling hot in the evening air. "I'll help, too, if you'd like. You don't look very-" He wanted to say strong, but he let it dangle, not meaning to offend. He glanced at Clearpool with uncertian green eyes, awaited what was to come.}

[SHADE. :D]

Octoberlies lifted his head from where he lay in the medicine den, as Runningcloud, Brindletalon and Clearpool entered. He scented the three loners, and his hackles rose. His brain clicked into action and he sensed there was no danger; one of the loners was injured. The lean tabby warrior shifted one of his hind legs with a slight wince, before turning his clear green eyes back on the group.

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

Pastelsky padded quietly into the clearing, giving Mouseclaw a quick lick on the ear. She sat down and watched the three cats - all scrawny and scratched. Two of them were still young. She watched wide-eyed, until meowing quietly, "We'll help you."

[/center]

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

ooc:// Er, Spice, their both super scrawny kits with no stregth ata all. XD

Night Tree Shivered so much was happening at once. At first the cats showed offense, but now they began to actnice as if nothing was wrong. "Chaosfire? Who is that?"

Sun was confused. "Medicine Cat?"

Night Tree fixed his gaze on Clearpool. "I'm Night Tree. And this is my sister Sun.." He flicked his tail at the bright orange she-kit.

Sun nodded. "And Dark River is more than just our friend, he's our Papa."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>((I don't like Runningcloud's previous font -_-;; ))

"We'll have the conversations later," Runningcloud meowed sternly, picking up both kits in her large maw. "C'earpoo', cay yoo get dere fafer?" she asked through the obstruction of fur. She meant to say Clearpool, can you get their father? The grandmotherly medicine cat gently place the two kits in a large bed and directed Clearpool to put the tom there as well.

She turned to the kits, herbs at hand. "A medicine cat helps any injured cat he or she sees, and these will help you get better, along with rest. I, as a medicine cat, will help you as long as you cause no harm to our family, but I highly doubt that will be the case. My name is Runningcloud, in case you need me," she introduced and then turned to the others. "And then that's Brindletalon, Clearpool, Mouseclaw, and Pastelsky. They are warriors, friends of mine." She dipped her head. "Welcome to SerenityClan, Sun, Night Tree, Dark River..."</sub>

[Spice..xx]

ooc: Sorry Shard lol xD i dont think my brain was working

Clearpool translated Runningclouds muffled meow and lifted the tom onto her shoulders. She mad her way slowly and steadily towards the medicine cat den. She entered and looked around for an empty nest. She spotted one right next to the kits so she gently laid Dark River there. She stepped back and turned to the kits. "How did you all get here then?" she asked gently, sitting down next to Runningcloud.

[/center][/color]

[SHADE. :D]

Octoberlies' eyes narrowed. Who were these cats? Did Jasminestar know they were here? Did she know Runningcloud was treating them? He wondered whether anyone else would think to tell their leader about this. The grey tabby shifted his forepaws and stared at the three cats, his eyes expressionless.

[trissea]

_{Mouseclaw rubbed his head against Pastelsky's before he answered her. "I don't know, really. They stumbled into camp all disoriented and such. " He shot Octoberlies a sheepish glance, as if relizing that he'd notice the difference between Pastelsky and him. A thought stuck him, and his eyes lit up. "Jasminestar should know about this," He meowed, concerned but a little exited. "Would you like to come with me to tell her? Afterwards we can get some fresh-kill for Octoberlies and ourselves."}

[kee]

_{"The squirrel climbed up the tall tall tree.
The squirrel climbed up the tall tall tree.
The squirrel climbed up the tall tall tree,
to get a away from me!"}

A stone gray kit skipped merely across the clearing of camp. She was thin and lithe but she wasn't small. Her tail swayed behind her as she made for the Medicine Cat's den. Runningcloud had been like a mother to young Willowkit since she her foster mother died three moons ago. She liked to sit in the den and watch Runningcloud work with the cats. She found it quite interesting though she wasn't sure if she actually wanted to train to be a Medicine Cat. It would be different. Willowkit didn't know what her destiny was first. She wasn't sure if it was to be Medicine Cat or not.

But today, she had a slight cough. It was a bit hard for her to breathe but it wasn't bad. She just wanted an excuse to go to Runningcloud's den. As she finished her song, she entered the den, her yellow eyes shining. "Hi Runningcloud!" she exclaimed but suddenly stopped, staring at the new cats. She knew that a few cats would still be in there, recovering from the battle not too long ago but to find more cats then what she expected and they were cats she didn't know, startled her.

Runningcloud held two kits in her maw. They were young, probably a little younger than her. She didn't know what to say, she just stood in the entrance of the den, eying the new comers, as well as the cats from SerenityClan. The den was sure crowded. She sneaked into the back of the den by the herbs. Her soft whisper suddenly could be heard. "Runningcloud? Could I help? I could keep the kits company until they sleep, if you would let me," she mewed softly, looking at the kits, that were now laying in a large bed.[/sub]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Good thinking, Mouseclaw. I was commenting on that earlier," Runningcloud said drily, her ochre eyes raised. The medicine cat nudged the kits into a more comfortable position, her large orange frame bounding to and fro to ease any cat's needs. She suddenly heard a tiny voice.

"Why hello there, Willowkit," the broad-shouldered she-cat smiled warmly as she paused her work. She twitched her head to the other. "Alright, you four, thanks for helping me with these loners, but unless you're hurt, you either need to eat, rest, or go get Jasminestar on this matter."

Runningcloud turned to her little ward, purring in a cheery smile. "Yes, you may help. Sit next to Sun and Night Tree, the kits," she told the kit, directing her around with a large white paw. "Oh, don't crowd them now, just a little bit." She licked Willowkit's ear and then blinked. "You smell like Hyenapaw. Where have you been?" the medicine cat asked.</sub>

[kee]

<sub>When the ginger she-cat turned to look back at Willowkit, she smiled brightly, her big yellow eyes twinkling in the dim light of the den. As the Medicine Cat turned away, Willowkit took the opportunity to look back behind her at the herbs that lined the wall. She couldn't tell what most of them were but she knew what poppy seeds looked like and as well as marigold because she had seen a lot of it in the ravine. Then the juniper berries caught her eye. She had seen those being crushed up before. She sniffed them and curled her lip in disgust. They smelled rotten as well as sour. She would have to tell Runningcloud that in a moment.

When the ginger she-cat turned to look toward her, Willowkit looked back at her. As she said that the young kit could go over to them, she began to walk over. She would stay away, maybe right next to the nest or on the edge. When she felt the older she-cat lick her ear, she stopped and looked up. As she mentioned Hyenapaw, her face fell to a frown and she looked down. How could she tell Runningcloud that she had been out of camp and Hyenapaw caught her out there? He didn't even do anything about it. She blinked and sighed. She would have to tell the truth.

"I left camp and went down the ravine to the lake to be alone. Hyenapaw found me and we talked 'bout some things..." Her voice trailed off as she thought about how she had told him about how she wanted to find her father. She flicked her ears and looked up. "Runningcloud, he said to be that if he ever found out who his father was and he had known his father all of his life, he would be very upset and angered with 'im because, well, his father has never told him," she mewed her face twisted up with different feelings. "I want to know who my father is and if I know him." Her voice was determined even though Runningcloud probably didn't know.</sub>

[lonelylove :D]

Jasminestar stepped into the clearing. Warriors where whirling around, but three cats seemed to stand out. Three strangers. Two kits, one sick tom. Narrowing her eyes, she stepped toward the medicine cat den where everyone was. She called out, What is going on here?

[/blockquote]

[Spice..xx]

~Brindletalon~
Brindletalon jogged into the den after Jasminestar. "Sorry i took so long in finding you Jasminestar" he hurridly apologized to his leader, dipping his head. he went and sat next to Octoberlies. "How are you feeling?" he asked his friend, hoping Octoberlies would be well enough to return to the warriors den soon.
~Clearpool~
Clearpool looked up as her leader walked in. "Jasminestar" she said, dipping her head. "These cats, Dark River, Sun and Night Tree, arrived in camp. Dark River collapsed so we went to go and help and well, here we are now" she replied to Jasminestars question. She waited for her leader to speak again, looking at her with her crystal clear blue eyes.

[/center][/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Runningcloud's brows rose at Willowkit's explanation, but she swallowed the stern scolding bubbling up in her maw. Instead, she gave the kit a look that said We'll speak later. She turned to Jasminestar, who had just entered. The medicine cat hastily trotted over there and nodded her head.

"I didn't smell any threat on any of them," she said, dipping her head. "I was going to let them recover here before they continue their journey elsewhere." The ginger she-cat sighed and rubbed her head wearily. "I apologize for not seeing you sooner."

((if anyone wants to, someone can find Emberpaw dead in her sleep. Her actor poofed on me.))</sub>

[trissea]

((OOC- I'll do the honors- *tear*))

_{Mouseclaw's head was spinning- so much was happening at once! He noticed Emberpaw's sleeping form in front of the medicine cat's den, and wondered why she'd not awoken. They'd been plenty loud, surely. A thought struck him- and panic overwhelmed him as he went numb in sudden fear. No. No, no, it couldn't be.. he felt his paws bring him swiftly to the apprentice's side, and he crouched by her. He detected no breath coming from her, her chest did not rise and fall. She was peacefully asleep- for eternity. "No! Emberpaw! Emberpaw's dead!" He yowled, grief showing in him. THe poor, young thing. She didn't deserve to die- she'd never done anything wrong, far as he knew. He buried his head in the little cat's fur- it was deathly cold. Emberpaw had gone to join StarClan.}

[kee]

<sub>Willowkit sighed as Runningcloud gave her a look that they would talk later and looked down at the ground. That's what they all said. We shall talk later... The only cat that actually talked to her and cared was Hyenapaw. He listened to her and didn't say they would talk later. There was just always something that interrupted conversations with Willowkit and other cats. She looked down at the ground, sniffing back tears. Finally, the stone gray kit moved toward the new kits. She sat at the edge of the nest, looking at them in interest. They looked hungry and they needed a good grooming. But she didn't want to get scolded for getting too close.

"Hi. My name is Willowkit," she mewed in a cheerful voice, even though she didn't feel cheerful at all. All she could think about was who her father was and what Hyenapaw had said to her. She didn't want to find out her father was part of SerenityClan and she never knew it. She smiled back a frown and padded into the nest of moss. She began to lick one of the kits. The tomkit. "Your fur is a mess!" she exclaimed between licks, "But I shall fix that." She smiled again and kept grooming the kits fur. Her tongue gently licked the fur of the tom. "You must be Night Tree," she mewed and looked over at the she-cat, "You must but Sun!" She smiled at the she-kit and went back to grooming Night Tree.</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

Hyenapaw slunk into camp, his head down. He glanced at the crowd, but did not approach. He caught Willowkit's eye for a moment, then looked away. The apprentice froze at Mouseclaw's yowl. He ran, barely aware of what he was doing, and then stared, aghast, down at Emberpaw's limp body. He pressed his nose into his friend's fur, feeling her cold body beneath it. The apprentice swallowed back tears, devestated at the she-cat's death.

[kee]

_{Willowkit was a little late hearing that Emberpaw had died in her sleep. She had caught glance of Hyenapaw. When he looked away, so did she. She looked back at the kits and smiled. She was holding back running up to Hyenapaw. She was too busy thinking about the conversation they had earlier to hear Mouseclaw. She sighed looking over at the entrance of the Medicine Cat's den, near where Emberpaw had lay. She saw Mouseclaw bury his face in the she-cats fur and then Hyenapaw ran up to the dead she-cat. Willowkit stood and nodded to the kits. "I'll be right back," she murmured softly. The stone gray kit hopped out of the nest and ran over to where Hyenapaw stood over the dead she-cat. Her bright yellow eyes were filled with sadness and tears. It was like when her foster mother died. She buried her face in the dead apprentices fur and she cried softly.}

[lonelylove :D]

Jasminestar nodded to Clearpool. Take me to meet these new ones. If they are needy, they may stay for a while.
Stretching out, she stood up again when she heard Mouseclaw's cry. She ran toward the apprentice den. Poor Emberpaw lay dead on the floor of the den. Already Mouseclaw, Hyenapaw, and Willowkit were mourning her. Gentlely, she stroked Emberpaw's ear. You would've become such a brave warrior, She mummured.
Straighting up, she addressed Mouseclaw. Take Emberpaw's body out to the middle of the clearing. Let Hyenapaw help you.

[/blockquote][/color]

[trissea]

_{Mouseclaw nodded at Jasminestar's order, and flicked his tail to Hyenapaw to help him lift the cat's body onto his broad gray shoulders. He had her back end, and Hyenapaw could take her front- he could clearly see how the apprentice was devestated by his friends' death.}

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

"Well," Sun began,

[/b] "we were wandering through this forest, searching for food and shelter, when we came across this enclosure."[/b][/color]

Night Tree continued, as if the two could read each other's minds. "So we climbed the ravine and found this place. And that's wen Dark River, our Papa, collasped." He looked sadly at his father.

Sun glanced at Dark River, then set her shining but sad gaze on Runningcloud. "Do you think Papa will ever wake up?"[/center][/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Runningcloud nodded firmly, trying not to be distracted into hysterics at Emberpaw's discovery. The medicine cat swallowed a gulp of air and looked at both kits. "All three of you need to get some sleep. Food will be supplied when you wake up. Your father will be safe in our paws," she said reassuringly.

She turned and twitched her head to Jasminestar, drawing the leader away a bit. "What if their father collapses again, and no one is around? The kits will starve to death and knowing Chaosfire, she might conscript them to her cause? Should we keep them here until further notice?" the she-cat asked quietly.</sub>

[lonelylove :D]

Approaching Runningcloud, Jasminestar nodded to the medicine cat's words. I agree. They should stay for a while. Looking sadly at the family, she sighed. They can stay however long it takes.

[/color][/blockquote]