1.last.request

[(aurora) of the problematique]

sunheart
<sub>The thin she-cat knew she wasn't going to live long. She had just wanted to see her family again, and see Maplekit become an apprentice. She wouldn't see her beloved Greyfalcon again, succumbing to the will of the Tribe that constantly tried to snatch her away. This time, they would succeed.

The she-cat called out in pain, meowing for her family. Her dim eyes darkened further, and she let out a gaspy breath. "Toweringheart! Mavericksky! Sphinxtale! Maplepaw! Mahoganyflight! Scrawltale! Beaconsong!" Sunheart hollered, feeling her body weaken. A cough rattled her bony frame.

"Please guide me home..."

The she-cat had fallen into the paws of the Tribe.

"I love you all..."</sub>

[x.Jolly.x]

My world is falling apart!

Mahoganyflight

Mahoganyflight was sitting near the medicine den when she heard her mother's call. She got up and ran to her. 'I'm here! It's okay, Mom, I'll get them.' She lifted her head up and wailed the same names as her mother. 'Toweringheart! Mavericksky! Sphinxtale! Maplepaw! Scrawltale! Beaconsong! Sunheart is needing our presence!' She sat next to her mother. She heard Sunheart say 'Guide me home.' Mahoganyflight was stunned. 'What do you mean? Mom? Mom!' Starclan, don't let her go to the Tribe! Please! She bowed her head. She heard her mother's last words. 'I love you too, Mom.' She laid down on the ground, feeling defeated. She had told Maplepaw that Sunheart would be fine. She had lied.

Mahoganyflight prodded Sunheart. 'Don't ie on us. Please. We need you!' She hoped that her mother wasn't actually dying, only going into a coma. Mahoganyflight pushed all other thoughts that Sunheart might already be dead out of her mind. She called out to Fernpelt. 'Fernpelt!' She knew it was useless. She should have known that Sunheart would never heal. She laid there, crying.

[/blockquote]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

:: [ Time ^after time ] ::

Mavericksky

:: [ I'm _{going in} blind ] ::

<sub>"There's no use in calling Fernpelt, sister. Mother is gone."

Mavericksky's quiet voice seemed to ring out as the loudest of all. The lithe ginger tom entered the medicine cat den solemnly, looking at Mahoganyflight and then at his mother, Sunheart. He sighed softly and shook his head. He knew the Tribe had taken her. He could see it in her grim features. She looked like she had been starved to death, not a happy mother welcomed into the arms of her ancestors. The tom's eyes narrowed and his tail thrashed, remembering how his father had appeared in the battle against the Tribe. The tom stiffened, his hair rising slightly at the memory.

"After the others see her, bury her. Our mother is gone."

The light-ginger male turned away, striding majestically out of the medicine cat den as if he had the word 'prince' crowned atop his head.</sub>

[x.Jolly.x]

My world is falling apart!

Mahoganyflight

[/font][/right][/size]

'Mavericksky! Show some compassion!' She cried. She din't want to believe that Sunheart had died. She was really mad. She raced out after Mavericksky and flung to attack him. She stopped herself before she actually attacked him. She raised a paw and cuffed him around the ear. 'Mother has died. No mourning from Mavericksky? Noo, becaue he needs to keep up being tough and what not. Why don't you show some emotion.' She yowled at him. She ran back into the Medicine den slumped down next to her mother. 'Shouldn't you help, too, Mavericksky, burying her?' She mumbled to herself.[/sup]

[kee :]]

TOWERINGHEART

A ragged looking tom slumped into camp. He'd stayed out in the forest over-night, didn't eat, or sleep. He sort of just slumped around, not caring where he was going. But now, he decided that maybe he should go back to camp, get some sleep, or maybe see Limepaw. He felt bad about walking out on the offer he made to her for hunting. Toweringheart just wasn't in best shape to talk to anyone.

Slowly, he padded straight to the Medicine Cat's den before he even heard his mother call their names out. He just sat there until Mavericksky went in. Yes, Mavericksky was much stronger than he was. Finally, he shifted to his feet and padded into the dimly lit cave. First he saw Mahoganyflight attacking Mavericksky, but he really didn't react to that. It was pretty normal to see that. So ignoring his brother and sister, he padded slowly over to the limp body of his mother and gently placed his paw on her muzzle. "I'm sorry, Mother," he whispered for her ears only.

She was dead, that was obvious. Even if Mahoganyflight didn't believe, she was going to have to get used to it. Sighing, he looked over at his sister and shook his head. Why couldn't she grow up? She was a warrior now. They all were, and they all were going to get through this.

[SHADE. :D]

scrawltale

For a child to die before their parent is a terrible, terrible thing. Scrawltale lay in the warriors' den. Her head was rested on her thin paws, the bony tip of her tail twitching tensely. But her large, dark yellow eyes were shut. A line etched it's way down her brow. She was praying, praying to StarClan. She had lost Fennecmask. She had lost Aspenkit. She couldn't lose Sunheart too. She begged the ancestors to spare her life, though she knew in these dark times her prayers would not account to much. A terrible, strangled sound awoke her. Sunheart. The Rex warrior slipped from the warriors' den. The sight that greeted her was... Terrible. Terrible.

"My kit!" Her wail echoed hollowly around the clearly. Scrawltale flew across the clearing, her paws a blur beneath her. No. No. She wasn't dead, she couldn't be dead. Scrawltale stared down at her dead child. She swallowed, then pressed her nose deep into the ginger cat's fur. "Oh, oh, my poor sweet kit," she murmured agonized.

beacansong

His paws slipped on some wet bedding. He was cleaning out the elders' den. An apprentice's task, yes - but he didn't care. He just needed something, anything, to take his mind off the chaos. Fernpelt was pregnant. He was going to be a father. But Amethyststar was dead. And Fernpelt was deputy... Beacansong's head spun. He had never imagined anything like this would happen. And then there was Sunheart, his sister. She was on death's doorstep and there was nothing he could do. Nothing at all. He ignored the suspicious stares of the elders and carried on. He had to try to forget it. Just forget it... So he could have a peaceful mind for a mere minute.

Something faint hit his ears, but to him it sounded explosively loud. Suddenly it was as though the world's volume had been shunted all the way down to mute. Beacansong ran from the elders' den. To him it was almost in slow motion. No... No.. "Sunheart!" his voice was cracked with grief. "Sister!" Memories of Aspenkit's death filled his mind, accusing voices, dry sobs. Why didn't you do anything, Beacankit? He's dead, look, Beacankit. Why didn't you help him? Beacansong turned away. He couldn't even look at the body as tears coursed down his cheeks.

[x.Jolly.x]

My world is falling apart!

MAhoganyflight

[/font][/right][/size]

Mahoganyflight looked up when Toweringheart came in. She looked aged beyond years as the grief finally hit her. She looked over at Toweringheart. 'I'm sorry for earlier, Toweringheart...' She hoped he could forgive her. She shifted slightly to make room for the others who would surely come in soon. She looked at Toweringheart again. 'She's gone, isn't she?' Mahoganyflight let the reality hit her. Tears started to fall thick and fast. She hid her face in Sunheart's fur. She looked up when Scrawltale and Beacansong came in. 'She just passed. I'm so, so sorry.' She mewed without expression. She backed up into the shadows of the den to allow others in her family to say their farewells.[/sup]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

:: [ Time ^after time ] ::

Mavericksky

:: [ I'm _{going in} blind ] ::

<sub>"Get a hold of yourself, Mahoganyflight!" Mavericksky barked.

He wouldn't show emotion. Not now, not ever. He was tired of getting hurt, tired of getting pushed aside. The ginger tom stiffened and strode away, ignoring his family in favor of being alone. He brushed by his uncle and former mentor, his jade-hued orbs vacant of tears. The tom stormed into the warrior's den, right in the center where the sunbeam hit perfectly each morning. He had made his bed there. Mavericksky stood in that sunlight, staring upwards. The light made his pelt catch fire.</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

scrawltale

Scrawltale raised her bat-eared head as she heard a sharp voice. The she-cat's eyes were dry of tears but filled with distress. She just caught sight of Mavericksky stalking into the warriors' den. The she-cat padded after her grandson, casting Sunheart's body a last look. "You won't be there long, my dear daughter," she murmured, yellow eyes miserable but certain. "I promise." Scrawltale padded beneath the green ferns of the warriors' den. She walked to her daughter's nest and sat in it. The stale scent of Sunheart filled her nose, soothing her. "Mavericksky..."

She knew that different cats grieved in different ways. The she-cat recalled her deep depression after the double blow of Fennecmask and Aspenkit's deaths. She had refused to eat, sleep, even nurse Beacansong and Sunheart. But she was older now, and wiser. "Sweetheart, it's okay," she mewed to him. "You'll see her again one day, in StarClan."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

:: [ Time ^after time ] ::

Mavericksky

:: [ I'm _{going in} blind ] ::

<sub>He turned slowly to Scrawltale as she entered the warrior's den. His kelly eyes were affixed on her form.

"Scrawltale..."

His voice, formal, reeked in bitterness. He looked away, staring down at the moss that he was ripping up into tiny pieces with his claws. "She should have died back at the battle. She wouldn't have had to suffer." His voice was cold and harsh, hiding the emotion layered inside. It was pure adult, holding no squeak or mew of a kit or apprentice. Mavericksky could have been mistaken for a cat his grandmother's age.</sub>

[kee :]]

TOWERTINGHEART

His hazel orbs didn't even flicker over to Mahoganyflight when she apologized. He wasn't in a mood to talk with his sister. Actually, he was never in a mood to talk with his sister anymore. Sighing, he ignored Mahoganyflight and leaned over, pressing his nose against her muzzle. Toweringheart took in her scent for the last time and memories of the nursery flooded back into his mind. He couldn't even count how many times that the same scent he was inhaling now, comforted him before.

He blinked his eyes open when the others came into the Medicine Cat den. Their cries and moans of grief made him feel uncomfortable. Sighing, he looked at Mahoganyflight, nodded and frowned, before padding out of the den. The large tabby padded over to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a thrush and a mouse before walking over to warrior's den. Mavericksky sat near the entrance and he placed the thrush before his brother before sitting down with the mouse next to the ginger tom.

[x.Jolly.x]

My world is falling apart!

Mahoganyflight

[/color]

Mahoganyflight looked around at all the cats coming in. She leaned over Sunheart and ewed a farewell. She left the medicine den feeling hurt. She knew Toweringheart had ignored her She went up to him. 'Why are you ignoring me?' She mewed. She looked over at Mavericksky and Scrawltale. She backed out of the warrior's den and went to the fresh-kill pile. She chose a small mouse and went to eat by herself. She only picked at her food, thinking about how Sunheart wouldn't want her to fight with her siblings. I'm so sorry, Mother.[/sup]

[FIREH!!]

_{So utterly alone in this world. She had lost her last communication. Sphinxtale knew her siblings didn't get along with her very well, so she had to make do on her own. Now she had lost her last real friend. She felt like sobbing aloud. Her mother was dead. The cat who had defended her from her siblings. She instead lay down next to her mother and pushed her nose into her pelt. Tears began to erupt from her face, slowly at first, until hey erupted into a river of tears.}

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

Out of strange, gentle habit, Limepaw's gaze had followed Toweringheart as he entered the medicine den. He didn't come out. Blinking, the small golden-orange tabby had tiptoed behind him, until finally she poked her head inside the den timidly. About half a dozen cats stood about a limp, lifeless rex body, and Limepaw didn't need to wander any closer to know that it was dear Sunheart, Toweringheart's mother, who had died. She didn't want to interupt but it wasn't long until Mavericksky, Toweringheart and finally Mahoganyflight brushed past her. Sighing quietly, the fae went silently to Toweringheart and pressed her muzzle into his fur, not sure what to say or think but having the slightest wavering feeling that this was the right thing to do.

[/blockquote]

[kee :]]

TOWERINGHEART

Toweringheart had listened quietly to what Scrawltale had said but there was no way he could respond to that. It wasn't directed toward him. Nothing had been lately. His mother never said good bye and yet she said good bye to Maplepaw and Mavericksky. No one told him it would be alright. He ate his mouse quickly and when Mahoganyflight came up, he almost groaned. Why wouldn't she just leave him alone? He wasn't in the mood to talk and he didn't want to fight. Toweringheart actually didn't think of this as a fight. He wanted to snap out at her but instead he stayed calm next to Mavericksky and Scrawltale, watching her as she left.

It was then that Limepaw, his only comfort, came to the warriors den. He had seen her when he came into camp but he was in such a sucky mood that he couldn't even walk over to her. At first, he thought that this would have to be a family thing but Limepaw was more of a family member than any of his siblings ever have been. When she pressed her muzzle against his short fur, he smiled slightly for the first time in a long time. "Do you want to go on that hunting trip now? I need to get away as soon as possible," he mewed quietly to her. It was that he didn't want to leave his family, he just had to. Limepaw was the only comfort he had since the battle.

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

"Y-yes," Limepaw mewed, kneading the ground with shy paws. "I-I'd like that..." she glanced up at Toweringheart, and knew she would. Limepaw had always been shy, lonely, but now she had a friend. A best friend... at least, she hoped that Toweringheart thought of her that way. Maybe he didn't. Maybe she was just being stupid and hopeful again, but even if she was she didn't mind being around Toweringheart. She dipped her head to Mahoganyflight and Mavericksky, again unsure of what to say. Was she taking their brother from them? Did they hate her, too? She began towards the edge of camp on quick, silent pawsteps, then waited for Toweringheart to follow.

[/blockquote]

[blair]

maplepaw[/font][/color]

This was all so confusing. Things like this always threw Maplepaw for a loop, just like most things did. He needed someone. And for the short part of his life, very nearly half of it, all he needed was his siblings and mother, connected through blood or not he felt like he had kin in this Clan. He assumed he had friends too, Cascadepaw for example. He just wasn't used to things like this. Confusing things which you needed to thing long and hard about, just to say something right. His silver tabby pelt blended in well enough to the dark walls of the medicine cats den, and as he stood in the corner, watching all four of his siblings react, he had no que to take, no hint to follow, no obvious behavior example to copy. He watched silently, his eyes shining nervously as Mavericksky seemed so odd and out of sorts, usually he seemed like such a good role model... but then he saw how Mahoganyflight and Toweringheart appeared and shook his head, watching them leave and then watching Sphinxtale come and cry beside her mother. With all of this, he tried to mold something together quickly but he considered if he acted too much like Mahoganyflight, Mavericksky his mentor wouldn't be pleased with him, but if he acted too much like Mavericksky, Mahoganyflight would wonder what he was up to. He only knew Toweringheart and Sphinxtale enough to know they usually didn't get involved with their foster, younger brother.

Finally, in what felt like all of new leaf, the young tom decided he would carve his own path for once. It was much more difficult than it sounded. At first he approached quietly, unsure of what to say or do around his dead mother. He was used to losing his family, in terms, but he hadn't known his birth mother as well as he had known Sunheart. For StarClan, he couldn't even remember her face or even her scent. He loved her, and although she warned him earlier, he never actually approached the thought that she might actually die... right in front of him. He cautiously avoided his quiet sister, and pressed his thin frame against his mother, his small muzzle touching her ear lightly before he looked at Sphinxtale again and decided he must do this quickly to give her more space with Sunheart. He pressed against he body once more against her rex frame, his head bending to share his final words with his mother until he met her in StarClan. "I... I will try to be the best Warrior I can be for you. I love you, Mom" his paws shuffled in front of him nervously, wondering if this was enough, before he simply dipped his head to Sphinxtale and scurried out of the den, unsure of what to say or do.

[/blockquote]

[x.Jolly.x]

My world is falling apart!

Mahoganyflight

[/font][/right][/size]

Mahoganyflight was gazing toward the medicine den, where her mother's body lay. She watched as Maplepaw left. She got up and padded over to the apprentice. 'You alright, Maplepaw?' She asked. She knew he must have been upset. He only just got to know her. She looked at the little apprentice. 'You know that Mom will be up in Starclan watching you become a warrior. She is proud of us all.' Mahoganyflight felt bad for Maplepaw. He had not known his real family and Sunheart took him in. She was such a good mother. She thought, knowing it was true. She sat down.

[/sup]

[SHADE. :D]

scrawltale

Scrawltale looke sadly at her grandson. He was being so mature about all of this, but she wasn't sure if it was a mask or not. She could tell he was just as devestated as the rest of them. The thin she-cat reached out and pressed her nose to the tom's shoulder. "She died happy," she soothed him. "She died with you kits around her, her kits." With a final sympathetic look, Scrawltale rose and left the den. She could see eavh sibling swallowing the grief in different ways. Mahoganyflight trying to make use of herself, Toweringheart sitting looking broodish, Sphinxtale wailing openly, and Maplepaw pledging to be the best warrior possible. Scrawltale brushed past Maplepaw and sat beside Sphinxtale.

She could tell why the she-cat was upset. Sphinxtale had never been able to keep up with her siblings, and had been teased because of it. Sunheart had defended her, but now she was dead... Scrawltale nosed her grand daughter's cheek. "You're a warrior now, not a kit," she gently reminded the young she-cat.

[fernie. (:]

fernpelt.

The tortoiseshell she-cat came as she was called, bounding into the den. What the den held made her eyes dull with sadness. Unconciously, her paws moved to Becansong's side, and her pelt brushed with his without her realising. "She will be sorely missed." she said, stepping forward and touching her nose to Sunheart's motionless figure. It was already cold; Fernpelt stood over the she-cat and muttered one last goodbye, then stepped back to Beacansong's side.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

beacansong

Beacansong did not watch the scene that enveloped him. He did not see Limepaw comforting Toweringheart, or Mavericksky stalking into the warriors' den with Scrawltale in tow. He didn't see Sphinxtale sobbing over Sunheart's body, or Maplepaw and Mahoganyflight watching sadly. He couldn't bear it. His sister was dead. The tom had never been good with grievance's, probably due to being partially blamed for Aspenkit's death. Beacansong had been suspected of playing too rough with his timid brother when Aspenkit had suffered the violent heart attack that had ultimately, killed him. Beacansong started as a soft pelt brushed his skinny side. He relaxed at the sight of Fernpelt, his mate.

He brushed muzzles with the pretty tortoiseshell. She was starting to get bigger now, a sign that she was carrying his kits. Beacansong sighed and nodded. He knew he had to face up to Sunheart's death. He couldn't just pretend it hadn't happened. "I'll never forget her," he mewed, voice slightly choked. He swallowed, then looked sideways at Fernpelt. "How do you feel?" he asked anxiously.

[kee :]]

TOWERINGHEART

Toweringheart had never been very much involved with his siblings, even when he was a kit. They would always fight and make a big fuss about some things that didn't even matter. Now their childhood fighting was making it harder and harder for each of them to get along. So now they were all going to go their seperate ways. Sphinxtale sat their sobbing, Mahoganyflight was alone with Maplepaw, Mavericksky was trying to act strong but failing, and now himself. He was standing up to leave. Was he making the right decision leaving his family to grieve? He really didn't want to stay here with the depressing family and he really wanted to grieve by himself. But Limepaw was his friend. She was a better friend than his siblings at ever been to him. So when Limepaw said she would like to leave camp and stood, Toweringheart stood up and padded after the small ginger she-cat. He was leaving his family to mourn together. He wouldn't get in the way anymore.

[Spice..xx]

_Petaldance[/font][/size]

From her place in the nursery she heard her best friend's last ragged cry. Her name wasnt mentioned, but what matter. Petaldance knew what this meant. The white and lilac-brown splodged femme ran outside, loping as fast as she could to the medicine cat den. But she was too late, she was gone. Hanging back all of her shyness from olden days came back to her. She couldnt breathe, she couldnt function, yet she didnt want to interrupt the familes mourning. Eventually she shuffled round to the far side of Sunheart, her best friend. She looked up at the family, Sunhearts children like nieces and nephews to her. She had always been known as "Auntie Petaldance". Just as Sunheart had always been "Auntie Sunheart" to her children. These memories of old suddenly broke her composure. "I'm so sorry" she whispered, her voice cracking, not really knowing who she was speaking to. Then she buried her head in the ginger rexs skinny frame and sobbed.

Lilakit[/size][/font]

The black striped white kitten tore out of ther nursery after her mother. Lilakit was growing now, her limbs becoming longer, her kitten fluff developing into a sleek pelt. She stumbled into the medicine cat den after her mother and watched astounded as everyone around her cried or looked really sad. The femme ran back to the nursery, skidding to a halt beside Kinkajoukit. "Everyone is real sad cos Auntie Sunheart is sleepin' and she wont wake up, she will not!" the little kit squeaked to her siblings before running back to the medicine cat den. Her lilac eyes scanned the cats and eventually, quietly, she padded over to Maplepaw, touching him gently with a paw. "Why is everyone so sad?" she whispered to him, eyes wide.

[/sub]

[SHADE. :D]

pantherstealth

For some time he had been able to scent and see. He had even begun to move again, though it hurt. He knew he had to, otherwise he would never get better. The dappled form of Pantherstealth blinked open his fire-coloured eyes as he heard the words from outside the medicine den. Curiousity prickled at his chest. He wondered what was happening. But he didn't think to get involved until he scented his mate, Petaldance, and heard the loud, blatant tones of Lilakit, his small daughter. The dappled tom mentally slapped himself on the brow. He knew that Sunheart had been close to death for some time. She must have left them. Pantherstealth struggled upright, gritting his teeth with the pain. He had to keep his head done, for fear of opening the deep wound on his throat once more.

Pantherstealth padded stiffly to join his mate. He curled his lithe body around her slender, lilac and white one, and licked her ear. "It's alright," he mewed simply.

kinkajoukit

The smell of sorrow washed over Kinkajoukit as he hesitantly poked his head out of the nursery. Petaldance and Lilakit had already left the secure bramble thicket. He scampered after his mother, not wanting to be left behind. He recoiled at the sight of Sunheart, lying still on the earth, and many cats crying and looking decidedly sad. The little brown tabby padded to his mother and nudged her leg with a tiny paw. "Mummy... Mummy, is Auntie Sunheart asleep asleep," he mewed, light blue eyes more huge than ever. "Or is she asleep asleep?" The tiny tom looked at the ginger cat, his lip trembling.

He looked around for Solsticesong, but he couldn't see her. Tears filled his eyes rapidly and then fell, forming a kind of mini-waterfall effect down his face. Kinkajoukit sat down, splay-legged, sniffing, tears dripping from his chin onto the ground. "I-I-I-I want Auntie S-Solsticesong," he whimpered.

[blair]

maplepaw[/font][/color]

His surprisingly thin body shuddered for a moment as he watched further chaos unfurl in front of him, a near silent sigh played through his body as he mutely listened to Mahoganyflight as she spoke to him, and simply nodded just to acknowledge he had heard her. How come he felt like such a jinx? His own blood family ditched him in EclipseClan grounds, and then when Sunheart opened her heart to him, and when he adopted her as his mother, her kits as his siblings, the Rex Queen had to depart from the world once and for all? At the time it just didn't seem fair. His deep colored eyes blinked as he watched the scene unfold farther, Fernpelt crying out a mourn before leaning against Sunheart's brother, her mate. His head shifted to the nursery as his mothers best friend, Petaldance, erupted with a few kits in her trail, watching confusedly as their mother clung to the ginger she cats side, weeping openly.

The silver tabby's trance was finally broken when his eyes were as wide as the crying Kinkajoukit's, not letting himself cry though, willing himself to be as strong as Mavericksky so his mentor would approve of him. It was when Lilakit gently prodded him that he blandly looked down, a sad, small smile twisted his facial expressions as he realized the near-apprentice didn't know what was happening around her, so with his frame in a sad crouch, his voice started in a near whisper. "Everyone is sad because Sunheart..." his voice broke for a moment, and he wondered if he should tell her the truth, the open and honest, harsh truth like he had desperately sought for as a kit, but then regretted it once he had heard that 'forever' sleeping cats never awoke. At least not where they could see them. "Sunheart, my mother, your Auntie... she... will never wake up again" he tried to explain gently, though he winced as he realized he shouldn't be dodging around the truth he so badly wished wasn't real "she has died, Lilakit, she is now among the ranks of StarClan" but this time, he so badly hoped the latter sentence was true.

[/blockquote]

[FIREH!!]

_{Sphinxtale shook her head. But she was my only friend... She whimpered. Then she pressed her nose into her grandmother's shoulder. I know I shouldn't be wailing.... But I lost my dad when I was born.... Now I lost my mother.... I have no one.. She moaned, tears still trailing down her face.}

[SHADE. :D]

scrawltale

Scrawltale's yellow eyes softened at her grand daughter's plight. She knew that Sphinxtale had always been teased by her siblings, but she also knew that it had never been truly meant. She knew that Mahoganyflight and her brothers would be devestated if Sphinxtale ever left them. They needed all four of them to get through this. Scrawltale lifted Sphinxtale's head with her tail tip, her yellow eyes now blazing. "That's enough," she mewed, gently but firmly. "You know that's not true. You have me, and your uncle, and you siblings," she continued. The she-cat then winked at her and smiled. "You're a pretty youngster, Sphinxtale," she mewed knowingly. "I'm sure it won't be long before you have a family of your own, and then you'll be drowned in company." Scrawltale touched her nose affectionately to her grand daughter's shoulder, still smiling.

[FIREH!!]

_{Her tears slowly dried up as she listened to her grandma. I guess you're right. I should talk to them... But it's awkward.. She meowed. Ha. Yeah, like some cat's gonna like me. I'm too weird. She smiled and poked Scrawltale with a paw. She pressed her nose into her shoulder again. Thanks, Grandma. She meowed. When she looked up at her grandmother, there was grief in her eyes, but there was also a new determination. She would be a great warrior, she would live up to her mother's standards. That was a promise.}

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Hickorykit

I've been awake for a while ^now
You've got me feelin' like a child _now
'Cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tinglies in a silly place

Death.

The rank stench of it hung so gloomily in the air. She wasn't the curious type, but it drew her from the nursery. A tear stain was faintly visible upon her left cheek, though she wasn't related to the lost one. Heck, she wasn't related to anyone alive as far as she knew. She had no clue who her MoonClan father was. It was told that he'd killed himself after Maplewood was exiled, because he loved her too much. Too much for his own good, for the good of anyone he knew.

Hickorykit made her way to the medicine cat's den. She saw all of Sunheart's children, mourning for their mother as she uttered her final words. She stared, half sympathetic, half evious. At least their mother actually loved them. At least she didn't decide she was bored with them as a young kit and decide to toss them into a river so they could die. She had nurtured them, and cared for them, and loved them, and she went off with their love. Hickorykit could never love her mother, just as her mother never loved her.

The silver-and-white kitten simply stood there, gazing upon the limp body. As familiar as she was with it, she hated death, especially in someone that she knew. Tears dribbled down her tender cheeks, but she was totally silent. She didn't sniffle or pout, she just cried. The youngster had managed to shove her way into the back of the den, where it was dark and she wouldn't be visible. After all, they might get mad at her for being upset when it wasn't her relative, or even her friend. Some cats would get mad at you because you had nothing to cry about, and yet you did. So she kept herself hidden, so she wouldn't be judged.

Being a kit meant nothing. She still could feel emotion if she wanted to.

[/size][/blockquote]

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

cascadepaw ♦

Unlike Hickorykit, 'death' was a new concept to Cascadepaw.

Yes, this young apprentice could definately be compared to a young, ignorant kit, because in reality that was what she was. Cascadepaw had lived a short life of bliss, without anything to worry about other than the short battle, from which most of the EclipseClanners came back fine. Except for Sunheart.

Bounding up to Maplepaw on light pawsteps - Costanokit must have been sleeping, she decided, or else she probably would have gone to get him first - Cascadepaw made it just in time to hear his explaination of 'death'. Sure, she knew what it was to die. She knew that cats could die, from sickness or wounds. But she had never came out as full-faced with death as Maplepaw did, and for that she admired the tom, for the short time that she actually payed attention. "Maplepaw! Maplepaw!" she called, getting his attention (although it wasn't usually hard to miss Cascadepaw.) "Is Auntie Sunheart okay? Are you okay? 'Cause y'know, I want all my friends to be okay and stuff. What happened?" Where she had picked up 'Auntie Sunheart', she didn't know. Cascadepaw almost missed the sad look in Maplepaw's eyes in all her chatter.

"Please please please please dun' be sad, Maplepaw! If Auntie Sunheart is -" here, her eyes grew almost as wide as Kinkajoukit's, with just as many tears threatening to spill over. "If Auntie Sunheart is sleepin' like you said, maybe that's a happy thing 'cause now she gets to be in StarClan with all the nice kitties who'll look after her and be nice to her! Y'know?" Cascadepaw gave him a desperate look topped with a smile, pleading him not to be sad that his mother died. Geez, Cadcadepaw! She seemed to think that it was her responsibility to cheer everyone up.

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