Warrior Cat Clans 2 (WCC2 aka Classic) is a roleplay site inspired by the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the Warrior cats world, WCC2 offers a diverse environment with over a decade’s worth of lore for you - and your characters - to explore. Join us today and become a part of our ongoing story!
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Contrary to what Ghostcrown probably thought, she didn't enjoy making him do this. She hated seeing such raw pain in her children's faces. She put her paw around Spiritpaw as she leaned into her. A tear rolled out of her eye at her daughter's shaking, and then felt a lump in her throat grow at Desertpaw's comment. His words were ill-chosen, but she could hear the pain behind his voice, the pain that he had no idea how to express.
Then for once in their parenting careers, they worked together. At the sight of Spiritpaw's slap, and then Ghostcrown's reaction, she rushed to her son before looking up to Firetooth. "Hey, where's your medicine? I can fix him up myself, I just need some of your supplies." She turned back the Desertpaw. "It's okay, Desert. I know your grieving and upset, but so is your sister. I'm sure she didn't mean that."
From where he watched on an overhanging branch, Firetooth averted his gaze as Ghostcrown delivered the news to the Medicine Cat's niece and nephew. As a healer, this was always the hardest part; even when it wasn't a patient of his, seeing the sorrowful faces of a cat's loved ones was so raw and uncomfortable. In a way, he understood Desertpaw's reaction better than most. Wasn't it easier to just play it off, or try to be practical and muted about something so emotional that it couldn't possibly be rationalized? Perhaps the strange young apprentice was more like his uncle than he cared to admit. But Spritpaw... Spiritpaw was like her father, who acted on emotion so pure and wholehearted it almost made him jealous.
When the sister clawed her brother Firetooth immediately scrambled down the tree, bounding down the roots just as the Huntress addressed him. He didn't answer her right away, first moving to the apprentice's side to examine the scratch marks that trailed across Desertpaw's cheek. They were bleeding slightly, definitely some nicked skin, but not hard enough to go more than surface deep. Chances of it getting infected were slim to none. "He'll be fine," he muttered more to himself than either of the parents. "Some cobwebs and chewed Burdock leaves should do the trick, might not even scar. I'll lead you both to the Medicine Den, it's back at Swiftclan's camp."
Desertpaw slowly lifted his paw to his face in disbelief, blood from his cheek seeing through the toes on his paw. He didn’t speak, but the hurt expression on his face only deepened. He always put up with Spiritpaws antics, but she had never really hurt him before... Not like this. His eyes began to water, suddenly jerking away from the Huntress and pushing Firetooth away “Then have it your way, maybe this time it will be me that doesn’t come back” he nearly screamed at her before spinning around and taking off through the underbrush leaving little smear of blood in his wake marking his trail
"We all grieve differently, Spiritpaw," Spiritpaw parroted with a mocking tone, turning her frigid blue gaze on her father next. She did not react at all to the Huntress's paw at her shoulder or Desertpaw's following desertion. She'd changed her focus when her former target made himself scarce, "What about you, Ghostcrown? Where are your tears, your anger, your anything? You say we all grieve differently but I'm not convinced you are grieving at all."
Part of Spiritpaw recognized that she was being unfair, pushing too hard, but it was all she knew how to do. If she got upset she'd always redirect her anger and sadness onto the weakest cat in the crowd. It usually worked but today her words felt as hollow as her heart. Desertpaw, Ghostcrown... nothing she said to them made her feel better.
"Desertpaw!" His ears pinned back as he watched his son depart. He wanted to give chase, but The Huntress would skin him alive if he left her now, and she wanted to tend to his wounds herself. "Go after him," he began, directed his order toward the mother, but he was interrupted by Spiritpaw.
Words failed him as Ghostcrown stared at her in surprise. Could she not see that he was grieving? Now that the initial shock was wearing off, his grief was a quiet, tired thing: he felt utterly exhausted and was using all of his energy just to hold this conversation with them. All he wanted was to curl up in a little ball and cry for his lost daughter, but he had to be strong for his family. He wasn't a kid anymore.
Then he realized why she couldn't see his pain. He had been grieving too long. He had lost his clan and his reputation, and ever since his exile began he had been mourning his loss. It was insignificant compared to the effect of Raypaw's death, but his silent exhaustion must have made its mark if she no longer saw it as a change for him. Yesterday, that realization would have kicked him to do better, but facing this loss he didn't have the strength.
"I'm grieving as much as you two," he promised heavily, "I've just had more time to process it. Your mother told me when she first arrived, but I needed a few minutes to pull myself together and find you."
Spiritpaw couldn't help it, she burst out laughing.
"A few minutes? A few minutes?!" Tears flowed easily despite the laughter. Every once in awhile she'd wipe them away but they were quickly replaced with more, it was pointless, just like this conversation with Ghostcrown was, "I can't believe you or Desertpaw. Something is wrong with both of you."
Spiritpaw already felt guilt for her words but she buried it and turned to the Huntress instead. She needed direct answers and judged no one else capable of doing so. Her tone shifted dramatically and her laughter ceased, "... Did Raypaw... did she suffer?"
Igziq just let Desertpaw go when he started breaking down. She didn't think that he and his sister would fight like this, and at some level she was disappointed that they couldn't work together on this. She sighed as he left his bloody trail behind as she rose to her paws. As angry as he was, she knew he would be smart enough to stay out of trouble. He needed a little time alone, and she'd give a little to him. She had to deal with Spiritpaw first. She shook her head at Ghostcrown's order. She needed Spiritpaw to come with, and at worst not antagonize him when he came back.
Her chilling blue gaze settle on her, and her eyes narrowed. "Yes, she did suffer. Quite horribly, actually." Her voice wavered, but she decided not give her the full, grueling details. Today wasn't about that for them. "That's why you and Desert need to stick together." She walked forward until she was standing only a foot away from her daughter. "You're brother and sister. You know him. You know he loved Ray as much as you did. You need to support him, just as he needs to support you." She put a paw on her face and wiped away some of the tears. "You've been through more than most cats at your age, and so has he."
Desertpaw wouldn't get far before something-- or someone-- stepped into his path, and suddenly both the SwftClan apprentice and a familiar rogue were splayed across the ground. "Gee, Chief Desert, I know you're happy to see me and all, but warn a guy before you take him down maybe?" His voice held mirth, but it vanished as quickly as it came when he noticed the look in his brother's eyes, reminding him of the circumstances that brought him here.
Crow had followed his mother's scent to where he knew she would come. He'd been with her when they discovered Raypaw's fate among the ashes in SunClan's medicine cat den, had walked through sheets of soot and smelled the char, and had lost himself to the grief, wailing against the Huntress and swallowing his failure as a brother. His siblings would hardly recognize him now; in SunClan he had been a timid kitten and a distant apprentice, operating with unconquerable anger in his heart, but now he harnessed a confidence he never thought possible and a strength that only came from seeing true horror in a truly horrible world. His body was a graveyard of scars left by their half-brother and his eyes smoldered firebright, more pronounced than any flame ever could hope to be. He had promised himself, long ago, to protect his littermates and he had failed Raypaw. Now, having accepted the reality of his failure, he was here to honor that promise.
"So she told you guys. How are you doing?" He knew the answer before he even asked the question, but Crow asked anyway. He moved close to his sibling and sat beside him, allowing his shoulder to lean against Desertpaw's.
Ghostcrown sighed but didn't respond to his daughter. Let her be angry if that was what she needed. Instead, he watched silently as Igziq reassured her child. She was a good mother, even if she refused to raise them herself. She had tried to explain her ways to him, but the more he bonded with his family, the less he understood. Leaving them during his exile had been incredibly difficult, it was harder still to let Crowpaw walk away after the fire. How could she have given them up willingly, and for no reason? How could she go on to have more kits with other toms, pretend this litter never existed, then show up today and act as she cared about them?
He let anger simmer inside once again. Just enough to give him continued strength.
A quick tumble and then he turned to see his son, and his eyes widened. Crowpaw was in SwiftClan? He darted to meet him, a hesitant purr rumbling in his throat as he lowered his muzzle to nuzzle the rogue. Crowpaw's hatred the last time they met was set aside in his relief to see he was okay and unharmed. "Where have you been? With your mother?"
If you want to shine like the sun, first you must burn like the sun ~ SunClan High Priestess
6,904 posts
Post by racer on Dec 30, 2020 19:10:09 GMT -5
Desertpaw hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. He just wanted to get away from his sister, his cheek still stinging from her attack. He very nearly bowled Crow over, but the sound of his name caused his paws to slow. His brother had been there when Duskslayer had given him his title as captain desert, and been by his side during the battle. He had supported his ideas and kept him safe while he rained down stones upon the enemy "Crowpaw" he chirped his eyes brightening slightly as his brother came into view his fur brushing up against his as they sat side by side, his paw lifting to is cheek "Better the Spiritpaw..."he murmured "She hurt me"
