Further Days

[Runfast]

OOC: 2 Days till midnight.

IC: Redstar, leader of Darkclan, was limping towards his nephew Bronzepaw. He had many questions for the light brown apprentice, the prominent question being where he went off to now and then.

Goldpaw, Bronzepaw's brother, was lurking outside of the Healer's den, looking in worriedly at Smokepelt and Lightingpelt. The two siblings had been wounded in the fight against the Mudblood arsonists and were (Frostshine said) critical condition still.
He scuffed his scarred paw on the cold ground, fur bristling nervously as he padded away from the Healer's den towards the apprentice's den.

[Meany]

Bronzepaw glanced up at his uncle, having a good idea of what he was going to say. "Before you ask," he mewed quickly to the Clan leader, dipping his head, "I'll just tell you. There's two loner living in the forest near the camp - they want to join our Clan!"

[Runfast]

Redstar looked at the apprentice, shocked. "Two loners," he repeated. "Want to join our Clan." He thought about this for a few brief moments then mewed steely, "Bronzepaw - how stupid are you? Speaking to cats that only you've seen? Telling them about our camp? No." He didn't let the apprentice speak. "No. If any of the patrols see these two cats, these cats will be driven out. As for you, Bronzepaw, perhaps your final assessment should be put off for a time longer." He looked over to see his deputy. "Ah, there's your mentor now. Hollowstripe!"

Meanwhile, Longfur was standing with Blizzardgaze. "But you're an elder," she was protesting. "You've chosen to given up with life of a warrior!"
Longfur shook his head firmly. "I'm not that old. I can still fight, and by Starclan, I will!" Blizzardgaze huffed in frustration, clawing the ground. "Besides, Redstar has encouraged me. Even he recognizes that I am still of use."
The cloudy-eyed she-cat shook her head, "That's not what I meant, Longfur."
The elder nodded. "I know. You're just concerned. But I'm an adult, I can take care of myself - and my fellow warriors."
The white she-cat nodded, conceding. "Then come on," she mewed. "Let's go get some battle training in."
The elder nodded in return, smiling. "I can't wait."
The two left the camp together, heading for the grassy clearing.

[Meany]

Bronzepaw took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. No, no this isn't how this was supposed to go!
"Postpone my assessment?!" he exploded.

Inside of the Healer's den, Lightingpelt lifted her head at the sounds of pawsteps. She sniffed the air and called, "Goldpaw?"

[Runfast]

Goldpaw nodded - then smacked himself, seeing the she-cat's ruined eyes. "Yes, it's me, Lightningpelt... how are you feeling?"

[NKninja]

Bronzepaw took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. No, no this isn't how this was supposed to go!
"Postpone my assessment?!" he exploded.

Hollowstripe padded fluently over, noticing the deep shock in her apprentice's eyes and posture. With an almost hoarse voice, she slightly cleared her throat, and began to speak, " Did I just hear Postpone?.. His assessment?" She thought for a brief moment. " Well, with all the preparations, that will be the best thing to do in such a desperate time. I'm sorry Bronzepaw; but when we do, and will win this war, we will do it first thing in the morning, and that's a promise!"

With despondence imitating from Sorestare, his head over his front paws and tail curled around his body, he hated the thought, unable to fight with the gathering patrol against the clay-splattered rogues. But, he would have his chance soon enough, Soon enough.

[Runfast]

Redstar suppressed a sigh as he nodded to his deputy. "Hollowstripe," he mewed to her, "in your time with Bronzepaw, do see to it that he learns to be loyal to his Clan."
He gave his nephew a stern look.

[NKninja]

Hollowstripe took a few heartbeats to reply. " Yes, like any other apprentice." She mewed, noticing something else big must have happened before she had came, " Why do you ask?"

[Runfast]

"Bronzepaw has been telling rogues about the inner workings of our camp. They're nesting somewhere nearby in our territory." Redstar turned away from Bronzepaw, finally, to say to his deputy, "When you conduct further patrols, make sure you tell them to keep a look out for them."
(OOC: Remember - we're a paranoid clan! )
Goldpaw suddenly burst out of the Healer's den - "Smokepelt's dead!"
Redstar turned to the golden apprentice, shocked at the news. "How," he demanded as he approached.
The apprentice shook his head, "His wounds - an infection."
The leader bowed his head sadly. "He will be missed," he murmured.

[Meany]

Bronzepaw felt even worse at the news of a clanmate being dead. "Smokepelt's dead?" But - Smokepelt was one of the strongest warriors in the whole clan! He fought so bravely against the fire and Mudblood - only to have in infection kill him? "It's not fair."

Cloudfeet, one of the warriors protecting the camp, stood in shock. "Smokepelt!" He bowed his head, ears drooping.

[NKninja]

Hollowstripe's ears dropped slowly, it was greatly unexpected, but she was concerned with his limp in the retreat before.

[Runfast]

Redstar sighed heavily. "We must prepare him for burial," he murmured, turning away from Goldpaw. "With so much going on..." He let his head hang for a few moments before looking up at Hollowstripe. "It will be a quick ceremony," he mewed, "that's all this war will allow." His amber gaze had turned hard, fury in his gaze. "Mudblood will pay."

Goldpaw, listening, could only agree. "They will pay."

[Guest]

Frostshine, in the healer's den entrance, sighed heavily, nodding. He looked back at the cooling body of Smokepelt sadly. Walk with StarClan, old friend.
The warrior padded back into the den. Even he knew which stacks of leaves were burial herbs.

Sleetcoat, sunning nearby, looked at his paws and closed his eyes when he heard the news. "Then there was ione less," he murmured.
Rainfoot, ever staying near his former mentor, clawed the ground furiously. He'd fought for so long, for so hard, only to have the clan lose a cat? "It's not right."

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