Death in the air...

[FIREH!!]

Firestar leaped onto the Raven's Ledge and howled to her clan. She sat down and as she waited, licked away the tears from her face. She had to be strong for her clan. She will grieve later.

[Spice..xx]

Darkmagic padded into the clearing. She heard Firestars mournful yowl and hurried over to the Ravens Ledge. What on earth had happened? Firestar looked really upset. Nobody had died in the medicine cats den so it couldnt be that. Darkmagic sat and looked, worry and confusion clouding her eyes. MoonClan needed to be strong now.

[/center][/color]

[sorrowfrost]

Sorrowfrost had followed Firestar back from the scene and took her place to answer the leader's summons. There were no words to describe the grief Firestar must be feeling now, and Sorrowfrost knew that. So in turn she had said nothing, because what was there to say? She wouldn't tell the leader everything would be fine, because for time to come, it wouldn't be, atleast for a while. All she could do was help Firestar as much as she could for now, which is what she intended to do. Surely the leader would be heartbroken, and her reaction could cause some serious after affects but that was to be expected, and yet more then half the Clan had no idea what had happened, or who had passed on, but she did. Firestar, Highfrost, Sorrowfrost, and Shardpaw has been there to watch their Clanmate pass on to a world unknown by the living.

She knew how much Firestar had cared, and now, he had left her behind, for now atleast. Yet there would be the fateful day, when they would be reunited once more. She shivered slightly, she had felt slightly under the weather. A light whislting noise could hardly be heard everything she breathed, like a wheezing. Although it was slightly audible it was there. She sneezed quietly as she awaited Firestar's announcment. Firestar had been in so much grief and she imagined none of it had ebbed away since then. This event reminded her why she despised badgers as much as she did, they only ever brought death, they were never good news.

[cheshy says grace]

Grieverstoen's ear's pricked as she heard the sad yowl. Daring to leave the sleeping sick cats, she walkd out of her den and sat down beside Darkmagic. "What's wrong?" she whispered to the black pelted cat.

[FIREH!!]

I call you here for a few reasons. Some bad, some good. Shakenleaf... She choked. Could she really go on, announcing that he was dead, when she couldn't even click it into her mind herself? She cleared her throat and continued, Shaken;eaf was attacked by a badger. I was with him when he died. I thank Highfrost and Sorrowfrost for helping me when he died. We will sit vigil with him tonight, under Silverpelt. Firestar bowed her head before continuing, On a happier note, we have a kit ready to become an apprentice. Highfrost, you have proven yourself loyal and trustworthy many times over, and I think it is time you become a mentor. You will be mentor to Jaguarpaw. Teach Jaguarpaw all you know so we can even more loyal warriors like you. Firestar smiled at the warrior before finishing up, Before Shakenleaf died, he had an apprentice. Ravenpaw, your mentor has given himself up in service of his clan. You are left without a mentor. She turned to Darkmagic, Darkmagic, I trust you with Shakenleaf's apprentice, knowing you will be able to teach her from where Shakenleaf left off... With that, Firestar leaped off the Raven's Ledge and laydown beside Shakenleaf's body and buried her muzzle into his fur, meowing, What am I to do without you?

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

^{Shardpaw followed his mentor and the other cats back to camp. He knew by the waves of emotion he felt burning from Firestar's fur that she must have felt a strong affection for Shakenleaf. His tail drooped as he fixed his gaze on Firestar, sensing her location by her emotion waves and scent.}

[/sup]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Highfrost couldn't speak. He sat, head facing his claws, in complete and utter stunned silence. His ear twitched and he looked up at Firestar, mouth prying open to reply. "Thank you, Firestar. I promise to make Jaguarpaw as valiant and strong as Shakenleaf," he said quietly, trying to smile through hidden tears at Jaguarpaw

He exhaled deeply and then padded over to his leader. "Firestar...I ask this on behalf on StarClan...and Shakenleaf, please hold off the war...at least until the next Gathering. Mourning for those ravaged by injury and sickness will merely increase in a fight against EclipseClan. Please...I beg of you," he said. The medium-sized tom did not want to lose any more cats of his Clan.</sub>

[Spice..xx]

Darkmagic shrugged at Grieverstones question and then took a sharp intake of breath in surprise. Shakenleaf was dead? She dipped her head mournfully. When she heard that she was to be Ravenpaws new mentor she jumped in surprise. She dipped her head to Firestar and then looked around for Ravenpaw. The young apprentice didnt seem to be around so she decided to eat. Darkmagic padded over to the fresh kill pile and then remembered the sick cats. She picked up a large rabbit for the patients and two mice for Grieverstone and herself. Swiftly she padded over to the medicine cats den. "Grieverstone? I've brought some fresh kill for you and the patients" she meowed as she set down the prey. She glanced around at the sick cats. Hopefully, they would all be fine. MoonClan didnt need any more dying cats right now.

[/center][/color]

[fernie. (:]

Shadowprowler dipped his head in mourning for Shakenleaf when he heard the news. Shakenleaf had been a great asset to the Clan.

[FIREH!!]

Firestar took a look at Highfrost and meowed, "Of course. I shall wait for the Gathering to discuss. Thank you, Highfrost. Who were the ones supposed to go on that patrol?" She asked.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"Ebonitewind, Ravenpaw, and Grieverstone," he said quietly. "They were going to leave today..." The tom stared at the ground, shell-shocked. He burrowed his head in his white chest, exhaling deeply before looking at Firestar. "I will stand in vigil with you if you wish..."}

[cheshy says grace]

Grieverstone whispered a thank-you to Darkmagic. "Too many lives have been taken, a medcine cat shouldn't be this busy," she muttered. Grieverstone walked up to Firestar, taking a deep breath she said, "Firestar, I think we should discuss about this war, right now, cat's don't diserve to die in a war that's over nonsense, I'll be waiting in my den," Grieverstone said, and without waiting for an answer, she stalked back over to Darkmagic.

"Come, let's bring this rabbit to the sick ones, and grab a vole or two for Spindlespider and Pearlblade, could you?" Grieverstone asked Darkmagic as she picked up the rabbit. She plopped the rabbit on the floor of the den. Then cut off the head (and pushing it aside) with a sharp claw. She sliced it, the chest for Wovenknot, when she woke up, the belly for Brokenheart, and the rump for the loner, once he woke up, too.

[FIREH!!]

Then they shall not go. Thank you Highfrost, I would like that. Grieverstone, I cannot head to your den for I am sitting vigil for Shakenleaf. Firestar meowed. She settled her head onto Shakenleaf's back, and looked into the sky.

[cheshy says grace]

"I said I'll be waiting!" Grieverstone yelled after her to Firestar, "You don't have to come at the moment, but I will be waiting!"

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Highfrost winced at Grieverstone's terse tone before nodding to Firestar in relief. "We should bury him tomorrow," he said quietly, his frame shuffling over to Shakenleaf's other side. The other tom's fur lost its luster to blood and dirt. The wiry tom scowled and looked up at Silverpelt. He sighed and then glanced at Grieverstone. "I'll be back, Firestar. I need to discuss something with Grieverstone," he said and then Highfrost padded off to the medicine cat's den.

"Grieverstone, are there other places besides StarClan?" he asked quietly when he entered, nodding to Darkmagic and the others in the den.</sub>

((Lion, can you have Grieverstone know some stories about the Tribe of Nightmares?))

[FIREH!!]

Firestar noddd silently, ignoring Grieverstone. She began grooming him, and soon, his luster came back to his fur.

[cheshy says grace]

((sure))

Grieverstone's eyes widened in surprise at Highfrost's question. "Well, you'd better make yourself comfortable," she began, "And yes, the place is called the Tribe of Nightmares. They say that evil cats when they die, go to DeathClan, instead of StarClan. But, if the cat that goes to DeathClan is so knotted with evil, they become immortal, spectres, 'never again to live, never to die', and they joined the Tribe of Nightmares. The evil that was killed, came back to earth. He murdered countless cats, turning them into spectres, like him. He's going to destroy the Clans, and we'll need saving." Grieverstone took a breath, "My mentor had said that five kits will save us, 'one from each clan...'" Grieverstone sighed. "I have said to much."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Highfrost frowned. "This spectre...? Can he also steal souls from StarClan itself?" he asked, brows knit together. He looked up, hoping this fiend didn't take Shakenleaf and Selenekit. He sighed and then opened his eyes wide: Selenekit! "Grieverstone, you said five kits would save us? That's it! When I went on patrol, I heard CloudClanners say one of their kits had gone missing as well, and EclipseClanners too! I don't know about the other clans, but the five may have been led away from here by StarClan!" he whispered excitedly. The tom could barely keep in his euphoria. He was willing to believe anything if it meant the kits and deceased MoonClanners were safe from the fiend}

[cheshy says grace]

"Selenekit, she's so young, I wonder why StarClan sent kits? Why not warriors?" Grieverstone shook her head.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Highfrost shook his head and looked out to Firestar. "I don't know. I'm not a medicine cat, nor leader. I don't have anymore connection to StarClan than Darkmagic or Pearlblade does," he said, smiling at the two she-cats. He sighed. "I just want them to be safe. I hope they're not alone. Maybe a warrior is leading them," he added hopefully.}

[cheshy says grace]

"I don't suspect so, StarClan wouldn't have a warrior leading them, they know when and how things are supposed to go. But it's not like StarClan to send out kits," Grieverstone looked down and twitched her tail in annoyance.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Highfrost nodded gloomily. "But it's as you said: 'they know when and how things are supposed to go.' StarClan must have a special purpose for them. We just have to wait and see...," he said quietly and then looked at her. "Do you need any herbs for the sick? I'll get some before I go out for the vigil..." The brown and black tom smiled courteously.}

[cheshy says grace]

"No, I believe I'm fine, though I am running out of poppy seeds..." Grieverstone said, casting a glance at the cats. "I wonder who that kit is."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Highfrost nodded at Grieverstone. "I'll see you later unless you need me to help sooner," he said softly, licking her ear before bounding off back to Firestar. He didn't mention the Tribe; it would just worry his leader to the point where she lost a life.}

[Spice..xx]

Darkmagic dipped her head towards Grieverstone and trotted over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up 2 voles for Spindlespider and Pearlblade. She trotted into the nursery and set down a vole in front of Spindlespider. She then went over to Pearlblade and gave her a vole."How is the kit?" she asked, looking down at the little black fluffy kit.

[FIREH!!]

Firestar looked up at Highfrost as he walked over. "Hey," she murmured.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"Are you hungry?" Highfrost asked quietly, looking down at the MoonClan leader. His paw touched Firestar's and he managed to crack a thin smile. It was a couple hours to sunhigh and rain rumbled in the distance. "See... StarClan is crying with you," he added.}

[FIREH!!]

"Not really..." She murmured, looking at her friend, grateful for his support. "I'm happy they care for him. I hope that's where he's going..." She whispered.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Highfrost nodded to Firestar, swallowing a lump at her last comment. The Tribe of Nightmares had their claws on death too; the tom hoped the kits could save the Clans before the Tribe tried to destroy them. Them causing grief among the Clans was rot to add to destruction. "Me too," he squeezed out.}

[FIREH!!]

Firestar sighed and laid her head onto the fallen warrior. Tears dribbled from her face onto his coat, and soon, rain mingled in with that. Firestar looked up at the sky and murmured, Starclan, please take him. Don't let the Tribe of Nightmares have him. She dropped her head onto Shakenleaf once more.


ooc:// She had a dream a while back... but I never posted it..