The Horrors of [Life]

[fernie. (:]

Fernpelt scanned the camp for any cats showing signs of wanting to ask questions or comment on her leadership, but when she found none she lifted her head and spoke again. 'I say these words before the body of Amethyststar, so that her spirit may hear and approve my choice. Phantomlight will be the new deputy of EclipseClan.' she said, dipping her head to the white tom.

[/size]

[Spice..xx]

Petaldance raised her head as she saw Sphinxtale run acorss the clearing to her mother. She watched the pair for a moment, looking hard at Sunheart. She was weak. And....No. Petaldance couldnt bring herself to say it. "One moment my children, I need to go and see auntie Sunheart" she said quietly to Lilakit, Grebekit and Kinkajoukit before hurrying across the clearing to her friend. she came slowly to a stop in front of the ginger Rex and, unable to supress a sob touched noses gently to her friends. She didnt need to speak. Mere words could not express this feeling of despair.

[/blockquote][/color]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Yewchime and Petaldance volunteered to do it," Solsticesong said quietly. The large she-cat flicked her tail, pausing in her conversation to listen to Fernpelt. She nodded as the female made her choice of deputy. "Phantomlight! Phantomlight!"

Sunheart burst into tears as well, nearly collapsing against Petaldance's body in her state of weakness. "Petaldance...," she gasped, burying her head in her best friend's neck.

Mavericksky stood by his mother, nodding as Fernpelt made her choice in deputy. The light-ginger tomcat opened his maw, yowling out Phantomlight's name as the cat was named as deputy.</sub>

[blair]

maplepaw[/color][/font]

He actually understood how warrior's also envy the 'freedom' of kits, and when he was a kit, he never understood that - freedom? The word kit doesn't even match with freedom! But they can do anything they feel at the moment - snuggle up to their mothers, cry freely, talk anytime and the leader can't really do anything. But when your world crumbles and falls to pieces beside you, leaving you to pick them up, you are forced to sigh and 'go with the flow'. Unfortunately, when the flow has a current, you're forced to try to say things you wish you'd never have to say. "Mom..." his voice cracked nervously, afraid to tell her almost, seeing her so weak and frail. He had to tell her... before... before anything else happens. "Mom?" he said slightly more confidently, but softer all the same, his dark silver tabby fur shivering, deep green eyes blinking sadly.

[/blockquote]

[Spice..xx]

_Petaldance[/font][/size]

Petaldance stood firm as her best friend leaned against her, she wouldnt let her fall. Her lilac-blue eyes dribbled tears and she looked deeply into the eyes of the slowly weakening ginger Rex femme. "Don't leave me. You can't, you just can't" she murmered softly into Sunhearts fur, trying to control herself. "Phantomlight!" she managed to choke out, tears still streaming down her cheeks as she chanted her approval for the Clans new deputy.

[/sub][/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

beacansong

it's not your fault
you feel okay
it's too late

in the day

Beacansong's yellow eyes were wide and fearful as he stared at Sunheart. He gave a whimper that was most unlike him. The young warrior was remembering Aspenkit's death. He had been the only cat present, and blame had leaked onto him easily. The young tom swallowed, trying not to cry out. He pressed himself against his sister, his ears flat. Despair clawed at his throat. He couldn't let her die, she had too much to live her. Beacansong wanted to cling to her like a kit, his face crumpling with misery. "You can't leave me, Sunheart, please," he whispered, his face utterly terrified. Beacansong wished he could hold onto the feeling of her short, soft fur forever.

[/size]

[kee :]]

As Limepaw came over to his side, Toweringheart smiled slightly and bent down to touch his muzzle to her head. He was happy to see that she was up and he knew he should have been happier. He had been so worried about her since they returned to camp and now that she was awake, he couldn't of felt any crummier. Toweringheart began to feel really bad for Phantomlight. His cheers were weak and filled with sadness when his name was announced. Even when the massive tabby cheered his hardest, the calls were weak and he just gave up in the end when he spotted a bunch of cats, his family, making their way to the Medicine Cat den. To his mother. He felt his breath catch and as stealthily and gracefully as a tom his size could move, he padded to the Medicine Cat den. He was the tallest cat in the den at the time so he just stood behind everyone. His mother was up yes, but she was weak and he held his breath, waiting for anyone to tell him what was up. He didn't have the courage to ask.

[x.Jolly.x]

^{Mahoganyflight perked her ears up as she heard her name. She found the source and it was her mother, Sunheart. 'Mom! You're okay! Oh, I thought you were a goner!'}[/color] She put her head against her mother as if it were sort of a hug. She heard Maplepaw and stepped back. She looked at the little apprentice. 'She'll be okay. She's awake, see? She'll be up and running in no time.'[/color] She stood by the apprentice as he tried to get Sunheart's attention. She then realized that Phantomlight was chosen. Despite her sadness for the death of Amethyststar, she chanted out with forced cheerfulness, 'Phantomlight! Phamtomlight! Congratulations!'[/color] She nodded to the deputy before turning back to her family. She sat down and waited for her mother to speak to her and her siblings.[/sup]

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

Cascadepaw gasped when she saw Amethyststar's limp body, tears filling her brilliant blue eyes. Amethyststar! A little squeak filled her throat as she felt her legs go slightly limp. Amethyststar is dead! "No!" Cried the little she-cat, looking at her snowy paws. Her next words were barely audible, as if not even the EclipseClanner believed them herself. "She's... sleeping." Was that her excuse for everything? She could plainly see the blood, the horrible blood. Amethyststar was gone. Gone to StarClan. Wanting to leave this scene behind, she quickly fled, stepping in Maplepaw's paw prints that led to the medicine den. What she saw filled her with joy, but not enough to make her forget about Amethyststar. Still, happiness was happiness. "Look! I told'jya! She was sleeping, and now she's woked up." Smiling at Maplepaw, Cascadepaw beamed at Sunheart. The femme looked disturbingly thin and frail, but she was awake! Awake! Awake!

[/blockquote]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

glacierfrost

[/b] He mewed, his eyes slowly opening before resting his head against his mate's.[/color]
[/ul][/size]

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Spicetalon stepped over to Phantomlight, even in his injured state, and purred a congratulations. You and Fernpelt will help the clan through this terrible time. His eyes were stunned with grief, but there was a look of hope in his eyes as he gazed at Fernpelt and Phantomlight.

Sphinxtale threw herself against her mother, and covered her in gentle licks. Don't die on us! You just can't. We need you! Please mommy!!!! She cried desperately. She turned and meowed a grief-stricken congratulations to Phantomlight, and pressed herself against Sunheart's side.</sub>

[blair]

maplepaw[/size][/color]

The apprentice stumbled over his compact, dark silver tabby paws as a rush of cats breezed past him, and he shied away from the crowd now, fur like fire around his body, fluffed out, showing how afraid he actually was. He desperately wanted to tell his mother what he could've told her earlier, before she left, and as his ears flattened against his head, he wanted to stampede to Sunheart like Sphinxtale, crouch close like Petaldance, but kept his distance, knowing that they knew her better - and after all, her real kits and kin should have first privilege seeing her.

As he saw Cascadepaw appear, he attempted to smile but a frown was still creased on his face, despite his rather obvious efforts. Realizing what she said was true, his head bobbed lacking much enthusiasm, and gaining little. "I'm afraid..." he whispered into her ear, wishing for his mentor to not hear his weakness. "Will she stay awake?" he asked her nervously, fur touching hers in friendship.

[/blockquote]

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

"Of course!" Cascadepaw's voice was like an explosion of sound, firm and steady. "Of course, of course." Repeating seemed to help the young apprentice assure herself as she watched Sunheart stagger against her friend. She didn't want to hear her little voice of reason now. It seemed as though he only got in the way of her making her friends happy - but right now she could hear it telling her that Maplepaw was right. Sunheart looked too weak to stay awake. Much unlike her first words, Cascadepaw's voice became a whisper now: "See, Maplepaw? She's going to be awake so that she can take care of you some more. She's your mommy. Moms are always good at staying up! And being okay! She's going to be okay."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Sunheart felt everyone surround her and she winced slightly, taking heavy breaths as she staggered to all four paws. The weakened ginger nearly toppled over but managed a tiny smile at Petaldance, Beacansong, Toweringheart, Mahoganyflight, Sphinxtale, Mavericksky, and Maplepaw. She turned to them. “You’re warriors now, my children. I’m so proud of you,” she said softly, touching them on the noses. She then turned to Beacansong. “And you, my brother, are going to be a father. StarClan bless you, and I pray that your kits are as much a joy to you as mine are to me.” She then turned to Maplepaw and smiled at him. “Come here, love. I heard you’re a big boy now. Your brother’s going to be your mentor. He’s young, I know, but I’m sure you’ll help each other out. Do your best. I’m so proud of you.” She broke away from the others and walked over to him, wrapping her thin body against him and purring so loud that she seemed to shake.}

[blair]

maplepaw[/size][/color]

As his thick fur bunched around him, chilling him even more, as shivers of worry haunted his spine, throwing him for a thrill every time he attempted to think positive - which he knew was not his best trait. He listened to Cascadepaw, very carefully, and analyzed the firmness and seriousness of her voice, nodding not to hurt her feelings, though his stomach was twisted with doubt and deep green eyes flickering with panic. He waited for her to finish, and a calm, half smile caught his expression as he thought of what she said, and more in depth. Even if Sunheart... died... she would always be watching him from StarClan (he wouldn't even let the Tribe interrupt his good thoughts now). "You're right..." he stood to his paws as his mother came closer, "She'll always be with me..." was all he said, and he shuffled his way closer to the former Queen and was engulfed in a huge rush of affection.

"Mom..." he started quietly, interrupting his own soft purr that had exploded from him oddly for a second, his compact, thin physique leaning gently against hers, pressing himself to her, never willing to leave her comforting, motherly grasp. As he watched her for a moment, purring so had she was shaking, he felt nervous, how weak was she from this sleeping thing? It couldn't have been just a regular snooze... "I love you" he spoke quickly into the ginger she cats ears, his head leaning against her neck, willing her to hear his words - how much longer would he have to thank her for all that she has done for him, and that he has never thanked her for?

[/blockquote]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Sunheart smiled weakly at Maplepaw. "I love you too, honey," she said quietly. She released him from her tight embrace and stumbled to the medicine den. "Beacansong, brother, may I speak with you?" The ginger Rex walked on stilt-like legs towards her bed, awaiting her brother.

Solsticesong nodded at Glacierfrost before turning to Fernpelt, wondering who she would choose to take her to the MoonShard. She knew that the medicine cat gathering was taking place at this moment. What would StarClan say about Amethyststar's death? She shrugged at the thought and flicked her tail. "I'm going to take a nap. I've spent all my energy keeping these hooligans out of trouble so I believe I deserve a nap."</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

beacansong

it's not your fault
you feel okay
it's too late

in the day

Beacansong touched noses with Sunheart, his eyes flashing with sadness. He had grown up beside her. He couldn't lose her, not now. He didn't want to be the only surviving sibling. It felt horrible, like a stone heavy in his stomach. Beacansong's yellow eyes softened as he watched his sister comforting Maplepaw, her foster son. The young silver tabby tom looked distraught - and Beacansong couldn't blame him. He felt exactly how Maplepaw looked.

The warrior thought about what Sunheart had said. Yes, he was going to be a father. A flicker of excitement roused the emotiond in his belly. He couldn't wait for his kits to be born, but somehoe it felt wrong. He didn't really want another cat nursing their kits. He knew he was being a bit ungrateful, but he wanted it all to be perfect. But now Fernpelt was going to be leader of EclipseClan... Beacansong shook his head. It was all so complicated. All he knew was that he loved her. As Sunheart spoke again he raised his head. He wanted Sunheart to be there when his kits were born. She couldn't die, not yet... Beacansong nodded. "Sure."

[/size]

[the CORB.inator]

Wha?

The wind blew slightly just enough to make the leaves brush up against each other. All of the voices went mute, well to him. Surprise struck Phantomlight like lightening and his jaw almost dropped. Out of all of the brave and loyal cats in Eclipseclan Fernpelt chose him to be her deputy. Deputy of Eclipseclan! He could think of numerous cats who would do a much better job than he. The tom listened to the cheers filled with pain and grief. Personally he didn't mind the 'not so enthusiastic' filled congrats, Phantomlight understood their sorrow. Many lives had been killed, friends and family.

[ Phantomlight was filled with many emotions ]
Aghast, pride, happiness, and most of all

Anxiety...

Oh how could he be able to handle all of the stress of being deputy? Helping Fernpelt with plans and problems, what if he made the wrong decision?! What was even worst was that he would be semi leader for a couple of moons while Fernpelt had her kits! Phantomlight prayed there wouldn't be life-threatening situations while he was in top power.

Now knowing he should do something, he nodded thanks to his peer cats of Eclipseclan and stood up next to Fernpelt. He whispered in the she-cats ear a thanks and meowed trying not to sound power hungry [Even though he wasn't] "Together Fernpelt and I will make sure Eclipseclan stays healthy and strong," Phantomlight's golden eyes perused the group of cats, "I will try, in the name of Amethyststar, to help all of you recover from this grave battle with the Tribe!" And that was a promise.

[out of cookies] Sorry if that sounded power hungry/ leaderlike D:

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Sunheart waited until they had retreated far into the reaches of the medicine den before speaking. She shifted her weight some and lifted her head to look Beacansong in the eye. "I will tell you right now that I do not believe that I will live very long," she said quietly and firmly. "However, I want to make sure that my Maplepaw is taken care of. I would like you to be the father figure in his life. Mavericksky is his mentor but even though he is wise and intuitive for a yearling, he is still just that...a yearling. Petaldance and Yewchime have promised to take care of him, and my warrior children are no longer kits running after me in the nursery." She smiled weakly, remembering those old days.}

[blair]

maplepaw[/font][/color]

As he heard and felt Sunheart's reassuring words, he was nearly convinced she was not going to die on him, she couldn't.... she loved him! She said so herself. But as she loosened her tight, motherly grip on him and went into the corners of the medicine cats den with her brother, his stomach twisted into another one of his worried sick, simplistic knots. His deep green eyes studied her as she walked away, stilt-like legs and all, he wondered how much time he had left with his mother who cared for him when no one else would... when his birth mother ditched him in a field of strange, haunting purple flowers. He still remembered that day - everything except his birth mother. When he thought of his mother, Sunheart immediately popped into his head.

He edged back toward Cascadepaw, a sad smile lightly placed on his lips as he his dark silver tabby frame moved into a sitting position beside her, fur just brushing hers as he looked at her softly, blinking and nodding. "You're right... she'll always be with me" he told her, mainly reassuring himself, "even if that is in StarClan" his voice was now softer, but determined to never forget the memory and grace of his mother.

[/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

beacansong

it's not your fault
you feel okay
it's too late

in the day

Though he didn't want to believe it, Sunheart's words confirmed Beacansong's worst fears. The young warrior swallowed a lump in his throat, trying to listen to his sister rather than start wailing like a kit. That would help no one, least of all Sunheart. Beacansong pricked up his ears as his sister spoke. After she had finished, he leant forward and touched noses gently with the ginger tabby she-cat. "I'll do my best; for you."

Beacansong looked around the camp. It was so filled with death and despair. They had lost so many that day. He felt grief swell in his throat. He forced it back down. He had to be strong. He had to reassure his sister, make sure her last moments were happy one's. The tom's yellow eyes strayed to his mate, her tortoiseshell frame sparkling in the sunshine. She would be a fantastic leader. He just prayed that their kits' lives would not be interrupted because of who their mother was. Beacansong knew that, whoever looked after their kits, they would always love them. Fernpelt would never let her duties as a clan leader get in the way of loving her children... He knew she wouldn't.

[/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Sunheart smiled. "Thank you," she said quietly, nuzzling her brother before settling down in her bed and taking the seeds that Littlefox had sat out for her before the medic left for the MoonShard. She soon slipped away into dreamland again.

"Fernpelt! Fernpelt! Phantomlight! Phantomlight!" Troutcatcher called out, nodding slightly in approval as her new leaders were declared. The mottled she-cat turned to Maplepool. "We should hunt after this. Staying in camp is giving me the heebie-jeebies..."</sub>

[kee :]]

Toweringheart

Toweringheart watched his mother and listened to her raspy weak voice but none of it actually sunk in. He just stared, stunned when she spoke to all of them, and then to Maplepaw and Beaconsong. He almost felt like he was being completely ignored by her. He was already really hurt and sad about his mother's failing condition. Her leaving him into another sleep that she might not wake up from and just a few words to everyone and none to him made his eyes water at the brim. He left before he could make a fool of himself in front of all those cats. He wanted to leave camp entirely, get away from anyone that would see him in his misery. He padded gloomily back to Limepaw's side and sat down beside her. "Can we hunt when this is over? I really need to take a break from... this," he mewed in her ear.

[Dansen[Mouse]]

~[Brackenpaw]~

Death, horrible death. The stench of it filled Brackenpaw's scent glandes and she hated it. The camp was filled with it and it made her eyes water, not only that but witnessing the death of her leader also took a toll on her. She padded towards the apprentices den, ears dropping and tail dragging in the dust. She hated fighting, she hated death, and she hated herself, blaming herself for the death of her leader, feeling like there should have been something she could have done to prevent it. Deep in thought and exhausted, she entered the apprentices den and curled up in a tight ball with her tail over her nose.

[SHADE. :D]

puzzlepaw

the trick
to life
is not

to get too attached to it

Puzzlepaw's wide, lamplike eyes were sweeping the clearing like two beacons in the middle of the ocean. The young tom looked thoughtful. He wondered silently if the Tribe would ever be defeated. He knew they couldn't just move away. It wouldn't work. The Tribe cats were like their shadows, always there, following them wherever they went. Puzzlepaw shook his thick black, grey and white coat. As he turned his head he spotted the large silver tabby shape that was Brackenpaw. She looked severely upset and miserable. Puzzlepaw guessed that she blamed herself for Amethyststar's death, having been in the scence just before it happened. The young tom padded slowly up to Brackenpaw, making sure she could see him so he didn't startle her. He sat beside her. "It wasn't your fault, Brackenpaw," he mewed quietly, resting his white tail tip on her silvery shoulder.[/blockquote][/size]

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

"O-of course," she mewed, her voice shaking along with every orange-gold hair on her pelt. Her head was bent respectfully and she caught glimpses of Amethyststar's crippled body, but never did she look at it head-on or walk up to her fallen leader to pay her last words. No... Limepaw was much too timid for that. She breathed softly, inhale, exhale, until she had found the words to say what she wanted to know. "Toweringheart..." she paused and looked up at the tom's face, his kind but grief-stricken eyes, and realized that she could trust him. There was no need to hesitate... right? He had came up to her and spoken to her when they were both apprentices. He wanted to be friends with her. "... How is Sunheart?" She hadn't dared go into the medicine cat den, either, in fear of what sights might lie there. She didn't want death. A chill passed over her and she pressed herself against Toweringheart, waiting for his answer.

[/blockquote]

[fernie. (:]

fernpelt.

Fernpelt gazed once more at the Clan then jumped nimbly from Shaderock and padded over to Beacansong. She touched his shoulder gently with the tip of her tail and gave him a small, sad smile to show she was there for him. "Sunheart. How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice low and her brow wrinkled, fearing the worst of the frail looking she-cat.

scarletpetal.[/font]

Scarletpetal smiled as Phantomlight was named deputy, and padded over to the tom that had saved her life during the battle. "Congratulations!" she mewed in his ear as she crept up behind him.

[/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{The fragile body of the ginger Rex quaked at each moment the she-cat took in a breath of air. Sunheart lifted up her dull eyes to see Fernpelt. "Congratulations," she said quietly. She turned her head gently. "Oh yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She smiled even though she knew it was far from the truth.}

[kee :]]

TowerinGHearT

Towingheart was getting used to Limepaw being very timid when she talked to him but it was almost like she didn't trust him or she was afraid of him. He understood if she was scared. I mean, he was one of the largest cats in camp and she was very small. It almost hurt Toweringheart to think that Limepaw was afraid of him because he was big. No, it wasn't that. She was staying close to him and he smiled slightly when she shivered. He liked being able to comfort her since he didn't have his mother to comfort him anymore. But he didn't want her to be scared anymore. She had a reason to by frighten with the whole battles and Amethyststar dying and now Sunheart. "They all saying she's fine but she's not. She'll will be walking with Amethyststar soon," he murmured sadly, his eyes full of grief and he pressed against Limepaw for comfort.

[x.Jolly.x]

^{Mahoganyflight heard Toweringheart. She turned to face him, anger burning in her eyes. 'Don't think like that. We all have to be hopeful that she will survive. We don't want her to die.'}[/color] She looked at Toweringheart, then her gaze softened. 'I'm sorry, I'm just worried about Mom. That's all.'[/color] She turned back to Sunheart and walked to her. She laid down next to her and nuzzled he. 'Mom. I'm here for you. Okay?'[/color] She kept her voice from cracking as she felt tears rush to her eyes. She knew deep down that it woulld be a miracle if Sunheart survived this. She stayed beside her mom.[/sup]