[I]nto;[EVERYONE];a.NIGHTMARE

[Mossmask]

[Baby why'd you leave me?]

A yawn split the jaws of Bramblepaw as he slowly padded over toward the entrance of the camp. Glancing behind him, he said, "Are we all set for our hunting patrol?"

"We're fine," Flowerpaw said, her tail flicking as a gesture to herself and the other apprentices-that-should-probably-be-warriors that were joining the brother and sister on the patrol. "But are you? I lost count as to how many yawns you made since this morning."

"I'm fine," the brown and black tom said with a small nod. A crooked grin placed itself on his maw. "I don't understand how you're not yawning; you and your late-night parties..."

[/b]

Flowerpaw swiped a paw at her bigger brother's ear, staying silent while sticking her tongue out at him. Bramblepaw's grin grew as he went closer to the entrance.

"Okay, let's go--YIPE!" The tom jumped out of the way of the entrance, although he probably didn't have to. Mossmask took a flying leap to avoid the apprentices, not even casting them a passing glance as she went straight into Foreststar's den.

"Mossmask-- Cukoopaw, what--?"

"I don't know!" Bramblepaw's other sister snapped, panting as she slowed down slightly from chasing Mossmask. "She just... I don't know, she seemed to have a nightmare when she fell asleep by the lake and..."[/color] Cuckoopaw's eyes suddenly widened, their blue depths shimmering. "...She said dad's name..."

Flowerpaw was shaking slightly, staring silently at the entrance of her father's den, and her sister pressed against her for a few heartbeats. Bramblepaw's paws felt as if they were weighed down with lead as he gestured with his tail for the others to wait where they were and went closer to Foreststar's den, slowly, cautiously.

Right as he was about to enter, his mother's piercing wail emerged from the den's depths.

[Why'd you have to go?]

"Mom...?" Bramblepaw's voice was a whisper, his heart as heavy as his paws as he entered the den. Somewhere, deep in his mind, he knew what was coming. There was his mother, sobbing into his father's fur. Bramblepaw pressed up next to her and felt Foreststar's cold body.

Tears blocked his vision for a couple of heartbeats, but he blinked them away. Bramblepaw couldn't cry, not now. Foreststar would forgive him for holding back his mourning for a little while; right now, he was the oldest male in his family and, as such, he was going to take care of his mother, his sisters, his foster brothers.

StarClan help us...[/color]



"Come on, Mom,"[/color] the young tom whispered to the grieving warrior, nudging her up to her paws. "We'll move Foreststar's body to the clearing so everyone can sit vigil for him. You're not going to go through this alone..."[/b]

Mossmask hardly nodded, yet she stood up and together, mother and son carried Foreststar's body out carefully and placed it in the middle of the clearing where Mossmask ungracefully flopped back down next to it and proceeded to groom it with her tongue and tears. Bramblepaw winced as Flowerpaw's cries began to fill the air, and he glanced over to his sisters trying to hold each other up. Cuckoopaw was silent, yet she freely allowed tears to fall down her muzzle.

Bramblepaw glanced back down at Mossmask as she looked over to her daughters at the same time. With a choking sob, her plumy tail gestured to the two she-cats, and Flowerpaw and Cuckoopaw slowly, clumsily, made their way over to collapse next to their parents and brother. Mossmask then glanced around to try to spot Sprintpaw and Cherubimpaw, stretching the same invitation to them first before granting it to the rest of the clan.

Only Bramblepaw remained standing, his mind running in a panic.

What were they going to do? What was going to happen to his family? To ArcticClan? Why had Banditfrost disappeared, why hadn't Foreststar appointed someone else as deputy, why hadn't Deadsoul, Gracepaw appeared with a solution from StarClan?

Foreststar...Dad... Help us...

[/blockquote]

"Just a Dream," (c) Carrie Underwood

((...Yeah, I'm not ashamed to say that I think I'm going to cry. I'm really going to miss Hexxi and Foreststar...Hopefully Hexxi will return to us someday.))[/i][/size]

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

[It's like I'm looking from a distance]

[^]Cardinalvoice[v]

Legs pumping, tail streaming, lungs burning. These hit Cardinalvoice all at once as she dashed through the entrance to the camp right behind Cuckoopaw. She skidded to a stop beside Bramblepaw and shook ehr head as he raced into the den. She looked out over the clan and let her head hang low. She knew as soon as Mossmask had called his name in her sleep, and raced back to camp, he was gone. She had seen him in her sleep, dreamed of staclan so he could say good bye. She sighed and shook her head. She had been close to Foreststar, and her heart went out to his family. She watched as mother and son brought out the cold body of their fallen leader, and she choked back a sob, she would remain strong for her clan. She looekd around and her eyes fell on the pair of adopted brothers. She nodded to them, and then turned to find Bramblepaw standing alone. Se moved forward and nudged his shoulder. "Go to them, they need you." She said and looked at the rest of the clan waiting for them to continue.

Words: 191
For: The saddest of the sad...
Posting as: Cardinalvoice
Notes: I put more effort into the others...

[Standing in the background]

[~]Cherubimpaw[~]

His feet padded across the clearing, he was late, as usual for the hunting patrol. His jaws parted in a wide yawn, and his white teeth glinted in the sunshine. His silver fur was ruffled from the short sleep in the den last night and it stuck up in ever which way. He saw the group gathered before him, and was in time to hear Flowerpaw wail and race to her mothers side. He didn't really know what had happened until he saw the body she lay next to, at first he thought it was a larger Cuckoopaw, but then it struck him. "No....NO! Foreststar!" He yelled, and with a new burst of energy, he raced forward, his feet barely touching the ground. His claws dug into the ground but it seemed he never got closer. His legs pounded, stretched, but he still didn't get closer, he could see Mossmask, Flowerpaw, Cuckoopaw, Bramblepaw, and cardinalvoice. He ehard Sprintpaw behind him, he he didn't let up his race. Longer, still longer, forever it took him to close even a mousselength it seemed. He was moving in slow motion while the rest of the world was speeding by. He let out a yell of frustration, but it seemed it was silent around him. No sound came to him, and still his legs churned.

Finally, he could see the gap closing, and it was like time had to race to catch up with itself. He was suddenly, beside Cuckoopaw, his nose pressed into Foreststar's fur. Tears flowed freely from his eyes, sobs racked his body shaking him as if he were a dry leaf in a hurricane. His claws dug intot he ground and he tried to hold his place, but his world was tilting. His nose was pressed against cold, hard flesh, and surrounding him was the sickening stench of death, fear, tears, and pain. He didn't know what to do, He closed his eyes trying to keep the world from spining around him, but it didn't help. The world was moving, and he wasn't, Foreststar wasn't, why didn't the world stop...what was going on. He sobbed and sobbed into his adopted fathers fur, unable to control himself.

Words:365
Muse:Good
For: The heart ache family
Notes: This was by far my favorite one to write....

[Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now]

[-]Sprintpaw[-]

He yawned with Bramblepaw as he stood waiting for the rest fo his family and friend for the hunting patrol. He should be a warrior by now, but with the leader sick, and the deputy MIA, no one did the ceremonies, but they all pitched in like really warriors. He heard the footsteps before he saw the body, or smelled his adopted mother. She was racing through the entrance and leaping over them before it hit him who it was. He took a deep breath as Cuckoopaw raced passed him squealing at Bramblepaw. Then in came Cardinalvoice, his fathers mate, and skidded to a stop beside Bramblepaw. But he was already on his way to the den. The next thing he heard terrified him. His body went rigid with the painful heartfelt yowl of agony that came from the leaders den. He couldn't take his eyes away from Bramblepaw as the tom helped drag Foreststar from the den. His voice wouldn't come, and then a wail, worse than the first erupted behind him, and he turned to see Flowerpaw racing toward the body and her mother. He looked around caught Cardinalvoices eye and began to move forward, when the voice echoed to him from across the clearing.

Cherubimpaw raced in front of him and collapsed agains the fallen leader. Sprintpaw lowered his head andclosed his eyes for a moment, flicking his tail back and forth in frustration, pain, and anguish. He looked up to see Cardinalvoice speaking to Bramblepaw. He caught his foster brothers eyes and moved t stand beside him. He didn't know it, but this would change him. This event, this small conversation with his brother, would change him. He looked to his brother for advice, and saw tears dancing in his eyes. He pressed his body against him, his tail rasing and wrapping around Bramblepaws. He didn't know why, but it scared him to see tears in Bramblepaw's eyes. He looked to the fallen leader, and his mate, and whispered a prayer, "Starclan, keep us strong, bless this clan, we need you now." his words were simple, and honest. He looked over to his brother and nudged him. "They need us, come on." Without another word he moved forward releasing Bramblepaw todo what he wanted, and moved next to Flowerpaw, His tial immediately found hers and wrapped around it. Her body shook with sobs and he pressed his against her, trying to comfort her. He didn't cry, he wouldnt' cry, he would be strong for his family, for his clan.

Words: 503
Muse: AWESOME
For:EVERYONE!!! yay!!
Notes: Second fav!!!!

[This can't be happening to me]

[THIS IS JUST A DREAM]

"Just a Dream," (c) Carrie Underwood

I figured it was good enough to continue...the song I mean...plus...I stole your form Mossy...hope you don't mind... =D)

[pine]

Pinecandle plodded methodically up to the camp entrance, humming to herself. The crisp autumn air clawed at her fur and bit at her exposed nose as a gust of wind blasted up the tundra. The stocky brown tabby blinked her green eyes as a snowflake blew into her face. d**n wind.
A sudden voice raised itself above the noises of the wind and the birdsong, a plaintive yowl that spoke of trouble.
"No....NO! Foreststar!"
Oh Hell, no. . . Without even pausing to think about ambush or foul play, she took off running towards the camp, heart pounding. Don't be dead. . .please don't be dead. . . Foreststar couldn't be dead - he had been the leader since she was born! He couldn't have survived the journey just to croak here, could he?
She exploded into camp and saw all she needed to see - her clanmates already gathering 'round.
"NO!"
She padded, shocked, over to his body.
"Wha-what happened?" she stuttered, staring at his limp body in horror. "He doesn't smell like blood. . .did he just die?"

[[Ack, I fail at this.]]

"Hello? you guys here?"
Iriskit poked her nose in the nursery, sniffing. Where are they? She had been looking all over the camp but her siblings, of which there were five, were no where to be found.
"Hey, has anyone seen- what's going on?" Iriskit turned around as sudden movement caught her eye. The small blue tabby she-cat looked on nervously as Mossmask dashed over to Foreststar's den, almost flying over Flowerpaw and Bramblepaw. She padded forward as they followed the she-cat, but stayed away from the den, tail flicking uneasily.
"Come on, Mom. We'll move Foreststar's body to the clearing so everyone can sit vigil for him. You're not going to go through this alone..."
What? As they moved the old leaders body into the clearing, her belly filled with ice. No.
"Foreststar!" cried the young cat, darting up to his side.

[[My muse OD'd on Slayer and Pantera, it can't talk right now.]]

[Mossmask]

[In this world you tried]

Bramblepaw blinked as he heard Cardinalvoice, as he heard Sprintpaw. The two cats said something to him, but their voices sounded foreign to his ears. His ears began to flicker and twitch desperately as the young tom stood beside his father's body, yet to no avail. The cries and sobs of his family were all his ears could catch, and his legs began to shake as if he were about to collapse.

Bramblepaw's mind only seemed to sharpen, to refocus, when Sprintpaw pressed against him for an instant.

The brown tabby-like tom looked up as his foster brother went over to his sister, wrapping his tail around Flowerpaw while Cherubimpaw was near Cuckoopaw. Mossmask continued to mechanically clean Foreststar's pelt, no more tears falling out of her eyes.

Perhaps she had no more tears to cry.

[Not leaving me alone behind]

"Wha-what happened? He doesn't smell like blood. . .did he just die?"

Bramblepaw couldn't move his eyes from his grieving family as he responded dully to whatever warrior had asked the question. "Grief, heartbreak, the dangerous move... All probably contributed to Foreststar going to StarClan at this time..." His voice broke. "I-I know that he lost a couple of lives during the Great Move, but... I didn't think he was on his last one..."

[/b]

It was logical, if one thought about it. Before the Great Move, Foreststar had lost one of his sons, his brother, his deputy, the medicine cat had disappeared... Then all the members of ArcticClan who hadn't made it through the Great Move...

Bramblepaw shook his head, getting rid of the tears that had been in his green eyes, his father's eyes. Little Iriskit -- Should be Irispaw by now[/color] -- suddenly appeared, the young she-cat adding her sobs to the others' by Foreststar's body. He watched as Mossmask, without looking up from her mate's pelt, place a plumy tail around the kit.

"Has anyone seen Deadsoul or Gracepaw?"[/color] Bramblepaw suddenly asked, his eyes holding a steely resolve as he looked at Cardinalvoice and Pinecandle, his mind idly wondering where everyone else was. "I... D-do you think StarClan told them anything about our new leader...? Banditfrost is gone, Foreststar never appointed another deputy--"

"He wanted it to be you."[/color]

[There's no other way]

Bramblepaw almost jumped out of his fur at his mother's voice, and his eyes widened in confusion at her words. He locked eyes with her, emerald staring into jade, wondering if she was a bit delirious from grief.

"Wha--?"

"He said goodbye," Mossmask continued, speaking as though she hadn't interrupted Bramblepaw. "I dreamed by the lake and he said goodbye... He asked me to live, to stay strong for you all... And for our son when he steps up as leader..."[/color]

Bramblepaw gaped, his mouth moving for a few heartbeats, yet no sound would emerge. Flowerpaw was still sniffling as she watched him with wide, shining eyes, while Cuckoopaw's blue eyes were narrowed slightly, mirroring his own confusion. Eventually he stammered, "B-but... M-mom, that... Are you... Th-that can't... I don't even have my warrior name!"

"You should have had it six moons ago."[/color] Mossmask's voice was completely monotone; the pair could have been talking about the weather. "Go to the Moon Pinnacle and see."

The young tom had no more words. Instead, he looked around at the others as Mossmask continued her cleaning ritual on Foreststar. Even if he did have his warrior name, even if he did have an apprentice like all deputies should have... Would anyone even accept a tom as young as he as their leader?

[I'll pray to the gods: let him stay][/blockquote]

"Memories," (c) Within Temptation[/i][/size]

[x-Ginger-x]

Hunterstealth seemed to form from the shadows as he padded into the clearing. He saw his son and his mate, all looking worried and grief-stricken. He followed their gaze and what he saw took his breath away. There was his leader, whom he thought indestructible, looking as small as a kit in death. He breathed in, let out a long sigh, and padded to the cats. He looked down upon his leader and meowed solemnly, "Starclan took him much too soon. But we will be strong, for him, for the clan." He shook his head, shocked, and leaned against Cardinalvoice. Everything had deserted him. His wits, his instincts. All he wanted was to bury his face into Cardinalvoice's shoulder and hide from it. He looked at her. "How did it happen?" He asked, his voice quiet and full of shock. He turned and beckoned his son over. He wanted his family with him, and wished with all his heart that Tawnysongs was here with them.

[--|Sootie|--]

A soft heap of lilac grey fur twitched and stirred, a long silvery tail waving about unconsioussly. In her dream, Skypaw was running alongsie a thunder-path and here were loud unidentifyable noises echoing al around her. The bangs were getting louder, she was surrounded by the mechanical screams of two-leg devices. Beside her, a cold and still pale brown body was oozing blood from several wounds to his side. Skypaw lookeddown once at herdying brother and turned into the trees and ran. Even if his wounded body could be healed, his soul had long ago slipped into the darness of shadows. In her dream, Skypaw's vision o her brother faded and instead a pair of empty blue eyes were staring at her from within her own skull.
Her eyes hot open. All of her lavender fur was on end, her tail swishing noiselessly behind her. Slowly, the shivers subsided and Skypaw shook the eerie images of he brother out of her mind. There was something going on in the camp, she could busy herself with helping the elders or the medicein cat, something to ease the feeling of guilt and fear inside of her. Skypaw had had nothing to do with Ringedpaw's death, but she'd always hated him for being o like thei father, who'd urdered their mother. Ringedpaw had become so consumed with the anger at his father, that he lost memory of what he was fighting for an instead fell into the same darkness which Deisel had belonged to. Beyond saving...
She pushed her was through the apprentice's den and into th clearing. Almost every other cat was already there. She'd been awake all night an sleeping all day. Yawning, she weaved through the other bodies to see what the commotion was about. That's what you get for midnight parties. Reaching the front, Skypaw found herself next to Bramblepaw. In the center of all the Arctic Clanners lay Forreststar. He was unistakeably dead, although his body bore no sighns of injuy or illness. 'Forreststar...' The single word was nothing more than a chocked whisper. Lying dead before her, like Ringedpaw in her dream, was Forreststar; the leader who'd accepted the orphan of a murderer into his clan. The leader who never showed any prejudice and always though of every individual and every one as a whole before considering his own judgement. The leader who'd loved every warrior, apprentice and quuen as kin. And he was dead.

[cursedweirdo]

When Mossmask rushed into the camp in a frenzied hurry, Jett had already suspected something wrong. But what actually happened cannot be imagined by the brown tabby. When he saw the mass of black dragged out by Foreststar's two kin, he felt something slammed into his heart, he stopped breathing, hoping that it wasn't the worst. But even hope cannot save the dark leader now. As cats crowd to see their late leader, Jett stayed his ground a distance away from all the commotion, his feet unable to move. Deep in his mind Jett knew, that he cannot bring himself look at the cat he most admired up close. Unconciously, the brown adolescent gripped the earth beneath his feel, feeling a strong immense hatred... towards himself.

Jett felt like a failure. Of course Foreststar was having troubles of his own, hiding his den since he touched the new lands. But no, Jett didn't bother to suspect that maybe the leader's life was slowly dying away with his problems. No one did. And now everyone was crowding around the body, wondering why their leader died, saying their goodbyes. There was no StarClan to help them now. Jett watched in futile as Foreststar's own family wept over their loss. He realized, in his few moons of staying in the clan, how respected and loved the black leader was, unlike dominating feral cats outside the clans; they ruled through fear. Jett had grew to love this system, and loved his leader for being who he was; though he will never admit that.

So, what now? Are they going to hold a vigil for the dead leader? Jett has never hold a vigil before, he didn't really bothered about clan customs all the much. What about the clan? Banditfrost has gone missing and Foreststar did not appoint a new deputy in time. So, who will become the next leader? What about him, and his kind - the KitClan; that's what the others call them now. Foreststar had allowed them to stay in the clan, feed them, protect them... but now that he is gone, what will happen? Jett knew some of the ArcticClan cats would be pleasured to chase the "Kitclan" out... He gulped; he was so used to the life of the clan now he cannot imagine living outside again. And his 'brothers and sisters' who've journeyed with him from The Pound. They have not learned much from the clan in terms of protecting themselves; neither has Jett. Thoughts flew in and out of the young tom's mind, restless as a mouse in hunting territory.

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

[Times are changing, rearranging]

[^]Cardinalvoice[v]

She stood stock still, her eyes filling with pain and anguish, but she would never let go, she would keep holding on. She looked over as HUnterstealth pressed himself against her. She heard his words but felt no anger toward his lack of understanding. She flicked her tail over him and intertwined it with his. "Starclan took him just when they meant to...there is no too soon or too late...they steal away exactly when they mean to." ((That sounded surprisingly like LOTR...hehehe)) She looked back to the body of her leader and bowed her head offering a silent prayer to Starclan, both of thanksgiving, and fear. Her ears pricked as Mossmask spoke. She lifted her head slowly her eyes shinning with pride for her young friend. She smiled and turned to Bramblepaw. Her eyes looked him over and fell onto his eyes, his father's eyes. She smiled wider and dipped her head to the warrior aged apprentice. She looked at him eyes full of understanding. "I pledge allegience to Bramblestar!" she whispered and moved forward to touch his nose to her.

Words: 189
For: The saddest of the sad...
Posting as: Cardinalvoice
Notes: I put more effort into the others...again...

[All the raging over little things has got me all confused]

[~]Cherubimpaw[~]

His ears were flat against his head, but her heard the words as clear as if they had been shouted into his face. "He wanted it to be you." His head shot up, and he looked toward Mossmask so as not to think he was dreaming. He flicked his tail and glanced at Cuckoopaw who still wept beside him. He licked her head and stood his own tears dry against his face. He turned toward Bramblepaw and was about to move forward when another voice spoke, soft but vibrant. He turned to catch the words of the read and white warrior. She had been the one to speak. He smiled and nodded slowly. She moved forward touching her nose to Bramblepaw in a sign of respect and allegience. Her movement spoke volumes to Cherubimpaw. He nodded and moved forward his short legs carrying him forward toward his brother. He didn't know what to say, but he knew that he would say something. He came to his brothers side and took a deep breath waiting for the words to form in his mind.

It was like something came over him, no someone entered him then, like he wasn't himself anymore. That was the first time he really knew he was Copperpaw. He lifted his head and looked up into the eyes of Bramblepaw. He knew who he was, why he came, and how he was going to help his clan. He knew also what he was going to say. "Bramblepaw, I am so proud of you. You are the one who will follow in our fathers pawprints, you will fill them out, and," He paused and looked down for a moment before chuckling slightly and looking back up at his brother. His next words, he knew, would let Bramblepaw know, would let him in on Cherubimpaws little secret. "Worry not about what the clan will think, they will stick closer than a brother. and follow you without question." He said and smirked lightly before steping forward once and placing his right paw over is brothers left paw. This had been a secret pact between Copperpaw and Bramblepaw when they were kits. WHen they needed one another they would do this and the other would be comforted. Neiher had told another soul, and this would prove his place in Brambepaws life. Without another word he turned and walked away back to Cuckoopaw.

Words:408
Muse:Great
For: The heart ache family
Notes: This was my fav one...and I made up that little thing at the end about the paws...I thought it as pretty sweet.

[And I don't why, but it seems I caught the big lie]

[-]Sprintpaw[-]

He couldn't move. His eyes were closed but his mind flew around in a wild array of answerless questions and impossible accusations. He blamed himself he blamed Starclan, he Blamed his parents, he blamed the clan, he blamed the medicine cat, but he was logical enough to know they were illogical. He heard the words and lifted his head faster than a mouse can move away from hunting patrol. his eyes shot open and his mouth hung open. Bramblepaw...Bramblestar? He flicked his tail and looked at Flowerpaw. He knew she was teribly upset, but he knew that his brother needed him. He turned his attention away from her for a moment but was back to her again. He licked her ears over and over again trying to comfort her and himself. He glanced to his brother, his eyes dancing with confusion and misunderstanding. How can Bramblepaw becoem bramblestar...without a leader to give him a ceremony? He thought to himself wrapping his tail around Flowerpaw for a moment. He didn't know what to do. Cardinalvoice went to Brameblepaw, then Cherubimpaw. He didn't know what to do. He flicked his tial and stood slowly, his head high and his shoulders square. He hadn't heard the words of any of the others, and so he moved forward and pressed his shoulder against his brothers.

His words came forth in a whisper, but their was no shaking no fear and no anguish shown in them. "I will follow you to the end of time." Was all he said, and flicked his tail slowly. He didn't know what else to say, to do. So he stood there like a rock beside his brother. He wouldn't let him fall. He would be like a barrier to any who would cause him harm. He would make a good deputy except for the fact that he couldn't claim that title. He didn't like the idea of having that title. ((not to mention his rper already plays a leader lol)) He flicked his tail again and turned to look at his father, who leaned against Cardinalvoice speaking softly to her. e turned to look at Mossmask and then at the rest of his adoptive family. finally his eyes fell to Foreststar and he imagined him breathing, vibrant when Sprintpaw had first met him. He smiled at the thought but looked back to Bramblepaw. His eyes focusing on his brother eyes.

Words: 417
Muse: AWESOME
For:EVERYONE!!! yay!!
Notes: Second fav!!!!

[And I'm letting go and reaching out for truth]

[So, I can't stop now, 'til I find out what it's all about, and somehow]

"Holding on," (c) Pillar

I couldn't decide between Pilllar and Avril...I decided on this one....I stole your form AGAIN Mossy...hope you don't mind... =D)

Oh and....I was going to post with mythflight...but I didn't have time..so I'll post with her later.

[Mossmask]

[Now that it's over, now that you're not here]

His legs were like strong pillars holding him up, keeping him rooted to his spot as his eyes looked up to the High Stone, trying to imagine himself standing atop it. For a heartbeat, he could see the image, but it soon wavered into his father's figure, his eyes staring down into his son's identical orbs.

...I don't know how to do this...

[/color]

Cardinalvoice's nose to his own shocked Bramblepaw out of his daydream, and his heart began to beat wildly at her pledging her loyalty to him. No, this can't be happening; he should be doing that to someone else--

And then Cherubimpaw came over. At his words, Bramblepaw's jaw stayed open in astonishment, in disbelief. At Cherubimpaw's action, Bramblepaw's legs shook, almost making him collapse in a heap of fur on the cold ground. The older brother looked down at the pair's paws, his eyes wide, before burying his nose in the fur atop Cherubimpaw's head, breathing in deeply the scent that had been so eerily familiar.

"Copper..." Bramblepaw's whisper was so soft that he wasn't even sure if Cherubimpaw heard. The brown tabby allowed the younger tom to return to their family, and his emerald eyes turned to see Sprintpaw coming forward.

At Sprintpaw's words, Bramblepaw dipped his head to him, a quirked, sad smile on his maw. "Thank you," he said, his voice placid as he spoke. "I think I'm going to need all the help I can get..."[/color]



Straightening up, Bramblepaw looked over to his mother, to his sisters. Cuckoopaw was sitting up straight, her calm blue eyes unblinking as they shone with respect for her older brother, and when the two locked eyes, she dipped her head as she used to for Foreststar. Flowerpaw was leaning against Mossmask, her pretty jade eyes still wet with tears, but her comforting smile was on her maw as she watched him.

Yet, it was his mother that granted his heart the most strength. Despite the distressed state her grieving had left her fur, her beautiful eyes in, pride radiated off her body as warmth radiates off of the sun. Even if she wanted to lay down next to Foreststar's body, to lay still forever and to join StarClan with him, Bramblepaw knew that she would do her best to stay with them on the earth for just a little while longer with them.

More and more ArcticClanners were filling the clearing -- Hunterstealth, Skypaw, Jett, to name a few -- and Bramblepaw's whiskers twitched in anxiety. His family and a few close friends had pledged alliance with him, but that was hardly the majority of the clan. If StarClan truly wanted him to be the next ArcticClan leader, the Bramblepaw would have to prove to them -- and himself -- what he could do.

"We figured that Foreststar passed away from grief and the difficulties of the Great Move,"[/color] Bramblepaw said, hearing Hunterstealth's question. Clearing his throat, the young tom hoped that his voice would remain steady and strong as he continued to speak to the rest of the clan. "We will hold a vigil tonight for Da-- for Foreststar. Tomorrow morning, after Foreststar's burial, I will go to the Moon Pinnacle to speak to StarClan."

Bramblepaw swallowed a lump in his throat, but carried on, praying that his clanmates wouldn't think his next words were just a lie in order to gain power. "Mossmask had a dream, a dream in which Foreststar said that I was to take his place... If StarClan changed their minds from then and now, then I'm sure they'll tell me who they wish to lead... Then I'll come back here and tell you all..."

He blinked at everyone and resisted the urge to knead the ground in nervousness. "...That sound okay with everyone?"

StarClan, if it is me... I promise I will do my best for ArcticClan...

[I'm lost inside my head][/blockquote]

"1000 Miles," (c) Blake Lewis

((No problem, Spotty; I wasn't expecting anyone to really think that the form is good enough to be borrowed. xD

Anyways, semi-random announcement: would everyone be so kind as to PM me [username is simply "mossmask"] any cats that need to become apprentices or warriors? Ceremonies will be the first thing on Bramblestar's to-do list. If your apprentice is to be made a warrior, please indicate any name possibilities that you have, or if you'd rather I just make it up. Thank you! ^^))[/i][/size]

[x-Ginger-x]

Hunterstealth's blank eyes turned onto Cardinalvoice, and he nodded at her. With a final lick against her ear, he turned to Bramblepaw, shaking his head and blinking his eyes. "Though we have suffered a great loss, I know you will bring us back to greatness." He meowed, before turning and stepping over to his son. He brushed his muzzle against the young cat's ears. "Hey.. You okay?" He meowed quietly, so only Sprintpaw could hear. He knew that Sprintpaw was too young to remember his mother, but he couldn't help but feel that this new death could reopen an old wound for the little cat. He turned his head back to his old leader's body, and shook his head sadly.

Prismclaw's aging figure seemed to unfold from the entrance of the warriors' den, and he padded over to the group of cats. He spoke to the first cat he saw, Mossmask. "What's happened?" He couldn't muscle his way through the crowd, so he sat, waiting for an answer. He couldn't figure out why everyone looked so sad. He stood on his hind paws, and almost stumbled backwards in shock. "N- No!!" He cried, his eyes wide. "How could this have happened??!!?" He stepped backwards, shaking his head, before sitting down, and bowing his head, the eart under his slowly getting wetter as tears spilled silently out of his eyes. "We were never close, but we were denmates.. We were apprentices together.... I never thought..." He mumbled to himself. He was distressed, and full of grief. He never wanted to move from this spot, stubbornly hoping that Foreststar would rise from that spot, blinking and wondering why everyone looked so solemn.

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

[<3] Mythflight[<3]
I'm gonna keep on holding on

Her heart beat quickened as she slipped into the camp. She could smell death and fear. She didn't like it. Her long legs carried her to the outskirts of the group. She manuvered her way to the front to see but her mind refused to believe what her eyes were telling it. She flicked ehr long tail back and forth and her eyes were wide with horror and anger. She looked around until she spotted someone she knew, Prismclaw. She moved up to him, and pressed her shoulder against his. She moved her head under his chin and began to weep. She didnt' care who saw her. Thsi was just a loss she could not handle. One to many lives had been taken from the clan, and she could handle no more loss. She dropped to her belly slowly sinking like a feather to the ground. She found her chest agaisnt the ground and her nose was in the fur of her fallen leader. She let out a loud yowl of anguish, and cursed Starclan. "You take Sparrowflight, Palesparrow, Pabblepelt, Snowstorm, Darkeningsky, copperpaw, and many others but you can't leave us alone! Curse you Starclan! May your days be numbered and your eyes closed to us!" She shouted to the sky and pressed her nose agasisnt the pelt of her fallen leader. She didn't care. Not any more. two mates gone, a best friend...now a leader...it was all to much...to much...

Words:minus40
Posting As:
Muse:
For:
Notes:

[Mossmask]

((There ARE more apprentices that need to be warriors than Skypaw, Sprintpaw, Flowerpaw, and Cuckoopaw, right? And more kits that need to be official apprentices? Only Sootie and Spotty have PMed me about names and their cats.

So, everyone else, PLEASE PM me about any ceremonies that your kitties need! Thank you.))

[Snow ;; in the lost & found]

C I N D E R ;;

Cinderpaw wandered slowly out of the apprentice den, yawning slightly as she struggled to keep in step with Cherubimpaw. She could feel the warm sun on her dark pelt, the snow at her paws, and the soft breeze. It was just another regular day, right? Wrong. Something.. something was all wrong. It had to be something bad. That something was in the air, seeming to strangle all the air from her lungs.

Death

Her eyes grew wide and she raced blindly through the crowd of cats, following the scent of Cherubim. She hadn't even noticed him leave her side until just now. Something had to be horribly wrong. The sightless she cat pushed her way into the clearing, where all the scents of her friends mingled. She could hear Mossmask's watered-down voice, she could hear sobs, anguish, everything.

She swallowed and took a pensive sniff. Almost immediately she felt like her heart had broken. Foreststar. Foreststar was dead. She let out a squeak and buried her nose in the nearest cat's (being Flowerpaw) fur instinctively. "Wh-what..." Her two syllable sentence squirmed out of her. She was answered as Bramblepaw vaguely explained that Foreststar had died of natural cause, most likely brought on by the stress of the move.



R U N E ;;

Runepaw had been drearily following the other's out of the apprentice den, clearly oblivious to the horror that had befallen the can. As soon as her eyes fully adjusted, she immediately realized what was happening. Each cat had a look of somber sadness on their faces, while others seemed in a grief-stricken anger. There amongst the crowd of cats was the dark form of Foreststar.

He's dead,

No, he couldn't be. He was the great Foreststar. That stuff didn't just happen. What happened to his lives? Runepaw shook herself, deciding not to let herself fall into grief. She spotted some of her apprentice friends and wandered over. A lot of her friends had been Foreststar's kin, or close to him in some way. She had never really been, to be honest, though she knew her mother and father had been. She gave her friends a sympathetic look, remaining silent until Mossmask spoke. The older she cat began discussing her dream, describing Foreststar's wishes.

Her heart gave a sudden leap as Mossmask declared Bramblepaw the new leader. She blinked in pure shock. An apprentice, the leader? What? No matter, she was elated for him. What an honour. His father must have had good reasons for this choosing. Her frown formed itself into a smile and she all but pounced on the tom. "Congrats, Bramblestar," she giggled in a friendly way. It was hard to believe that the tom she'd tripped on only a day ago was suddenly given this immense responsibility. She blushed slightly, realizing she had once again proven her klutziness.


[[eesh. I didn't even bother with colours. I just sort of wanted to get this post done xD I know I know, "SNOWY STOP FAILING AT POSTING xD. Sorry.. I just,.. this is one of the few times I'm not SO busy, so I got what I could in. xD I will get back to normal size soon, I proooommise. oh and uh, Runepaw and Cinderpaw need thurr names. Runspell + Cindersight? Oh and.. maybe Blizz and Jett and the other kittenclanners should get wrarior names too, if they are still accepted in the clan?]]

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

((I'll post with Cherubim and Sprint only because it's been sititng here to long...))

[I'll be there in the night when you need me]

[~]Cherubimpaw[~]

He felt the eyes of his brother on his head long after he had left the tom standing there. Yes he had heard the wimple word of understanding, the simple yet powerful word, "Copper..." it was all that had needed to be said, and all that he needed to know. He smiled thinking, back again to what he had been. He didn't really know much about his past, but he knew enough to know that he would had been well missed in his time away from home, but he wasn't naive enough to think that he was only Copperpaw. He understood that he was Cherubimpaw as well. It was hard to explain but he understood it and that was all that really mattered. He knew something powerful was at work among these cats, some strong force greater than he, and he felt he knew some of those who were in Starclan, those that he really shouldn't even have known existed, but he would keep their secrets.

[Just call my name]

Then, as if to break him from his reverie, a scent and a squeak wafted over his senses, and he spun trying to find where her scent and voice were coming from. He saw her body pressed against Flowerpaw. He hadn't even known she was beside him until she was gone. He moved through the crowd and found her side. He wrapped his tail around hers and began to lick her ears grooming her and trying to comfort her. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and keep her from pain and fear, but he knew that wasn't the best Idea, and neither was it good for her, so he would comfort her, he had cried his last for his leader and he would stand beside this she-cat for the rest for his days. He just knew it to be true, there was no audible voice or a big arrow in the sky pointing at her head, he just knew, it was the most natural thing in the world. He pressed himself against her and whispered into her ear so only she could hear. "I love you Cinderpaw. I will always love you."

[ I'll be there close your eyes and you'll see me]

Words:370
Muse:Great
For: The heart ache family
Notes: Shobby dooby do wah

[Just call my name]

[-]Sprintpaw[-]

He watched as Cherubimpaw walked away, and knew that the tom was whom they had thought he was all along. He flicked his tail and looked around the clearing. He stood before his brotehr and listened carefully to his words. "You have the support of Foreststar, what else is there taht you coulld possibly need big brother?" He said and with that he turned and walked confidently back to where Flowerpaw wqas laying beside her father. He lay down beside her and wrapped his tail around her. He didn't want anything to happen to her, he hated foreststar for making her sad, he hated him for leaving, but he missed him and loved him more then both of those combined so, he remained silent. He pressed his body against his friend and licked her shoulders slowly trying to give her strength and comfort. He hated to see her in tears, he wanted to make her smile again. He shook his head and sighed deeply into her fur.



The words that slipped next from his maw weren't thought out and he almost regretted them as soon as they were past his tongue, but it was to late. "I think I love you Flowerpaw." There they were, standing before him, dancing and jeering like never before and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. He hated himself then, because he was sure this hadn't been the place to tell her, and he knew that it wasn't going to go over well. He hated what he had just done, he had probably ruined a perfect friendship, just because of his big mouth. He lifted his head and looked at Flowerpaw waiting for her reaction. He was ready to leave if he needed to or to grovel if that's what she wanted. Anything she wanted he would give her. She already had his heart...what else was left that should belong to him without it.

Words: 333
Muse: AWESOME
For:EVERYONE!!! yay!!
Notes: oh...wow...um...that wasn't an expected ending...hmm...interesting...

[We were born to take chances]

[Mossmask]

[There's somethin' that you're going through]

Cuckoopaw felt like glaring at all the cats who were just starting to appear, wondering why they couldn't have bothered to come when they first heard her mother's piercing wails instead of showing up now and asking Bramblepaw -- Bramblestar? -- to repeat what happened about five times. However, Cuckoopaw kept her head down, knowing that her glare would have been watered down by the tears shining in her blue eyes.

She did look up in disbelief at Prismclaw as the tom seemed to be asking Mossmask what was going on. Could he not scent the death? Not see her mother in obvious anguish as the senior warrior washed Foreststar's cold and still body? Cuckoopaw didn't have to give the male a biting retort, which she found to be both a relief and a disappointment, as he obviously figured out what was going on. The black and white she-cat settled back to lean against Mossmask, being a silent comfort for both females, as Cuckoopaw's ears rang with the distressed sobs and cries of her clanmates around her.

[Wish that I could fix for you.]

[/color]

Flowerpaw had lifted her head from her father's body and leaned against Cinderpaw as her friend did the same to her. Rasping a tongue over Cinderpaw's ears, Flowerpaw said nothing as Bramblepaw explained once more the cause of Foreststar's death. At least, as far as he could figure it out.

Cherubimpaw returned to the small crowd, going straight to Cinderpaw to try to comfort her, and Flowerpaw granted her newest foster brother a sad smile at his kindness. She allowed Cherubimpaw to take over comforting Cinderpaw (although she still, of course, let Cinderpaw lean against her), and turned to share the smile with Sprintpaw. However, at this point, the smile was faltering as another wave of fresh tears began to make their way down her muzzle, especially when Sprintpaw began to try to comfort her with licks and nuzzles.

At his words, she blinked and chuckled slightly, saying, "I love you too, bro."[/b]

[You don't have to be alone,][/color]

"Please don't curse them,"[/b] Mossmask mumbled, shaking her head dully, after Mythflight had spoken. Mossmask didn't seem to be directly replying to the other female, yet her words were definitely a response to poor Mythflight's talk. "To curse StarClan would be to curse those who now walk with them... Like Foreststar..."[/b]

Her jade-hued eyes stared off into the distance, the images of her dream swimming in her head. "We have lost many to StarClan, yes... But we now have many spirits to help us deal with whatever dangers that may lie ahead for us in this new land..."[/b]

Bramblepaw listened to his mother's words, trying to figure out what needed to be done, what he needed to do to prepare for... for... What? Leadership? The vigil? He suddenly had no idea, and--

"Eep...!"[/color] Tumbling to the ground certainly granted everyone a perfect picture of their apparent leader-to-be. Bramblepaw stood to his paws and blinked down at his tackler Runepaw, a quirked smile reaching his maw at her enthusiastic congratulations.

"Thanks, Runepaw..."[/color] he said, touching her forehead with his nose. It was nice to see that someone was able to wear a genuine smile like the smaller she-cat despite the situation.

Bramblepaw took a few steps back from the group around his father's body to survey the camp, allowing his mind and heart to step up to the task of being a leader. Who should he take with him to the Moon Pinnacle? Who here was not taken over by grief enough to be a look-out, a guard, while he was gone?

Who's going to refill the fresh-kill pile?[/color] Bramblepaw inwardly winced at the pile that his patrol should be filling at the moment if not for the current... situation.

"So... This is a bit of a bad time to ask,"[/b] he started to say to his clanmates, "but... Is anyone willing to do a quick hunting patrol...? If not, I'll just do a small one myself..."

"I'll go."[/b][/color] Cuckoopaw, in one fluid movement, her pelt looking every bit like a smaller version of Foreststar, gave her mother's ears a comforting lick as she stood and walked steadily over to her brother. Bramblepaw shared a smile with her as he paused for a few more heartbeats to see if anyone else would volunteer. He shook his head slowly to Flowerpaw as his youngest sister seemed to be contemplating on joining them, but she still seemed as if she needed to grieve; she wouldn't have been able to concentrate on hunting.

[/blockquote]

((Don't you love it when characters do things that you totally were not expecting, Spotty? <3 I also apologize to Sprintpaw for Flowerpaw not getting it. xD She's not thinking too clearly at the moment.

So... Okay, I'm not really thinking of actually doing the hunting thread unless people want me to. Soon/in a few days, I shall start a thread at the Moon Pinnacle for Bramblestar, and I figured that Sprintpaw and Cherubimpaw would go with him for a little brother-bonding. That cool with people? ^^))[/i][/size]