Post by |g.O.l.d.Y| on Jan 16, 2008 20:10:35 GMT -5
OOC: I took him off my character list and stopped rping him, but I never explained what happened to him. Hope Cindy doesn't mind me saying Risingmoon was taking care of him since the battle.
Two large paws hung off the edge of the cliff with an equally large head nestled comfortably between them. The rest of his body was safely on hard, rocky ground. He laid flat on his belly, hind legs tucked warmly underneath with his long tail swaying softly back and forth. Like always, his intense blue gaze stared out emotionessly, focused on something unseen. The sun was close to setting behind him, the clouds beginning to turn red and reflect a beautiful light off his dark golden fur. He paid no attention to any of it, his mind in a place very far away. The sound of rocks stirring behind him didn't break his concentration, but when a smaller golden body plopped down in the same position beside him he did turn his head to the side to acknowledge it.
There was a sigh before the new cat spoke, Spottedpaw, what are you doing here?
I needed some quiet. Berrypaw's not the least talkative cat in the forest. he responded without hesitation. His trust in the cat beside him ran deeper than the forest's oldest tree roots, he would never hold something back from him.
Quiet's not going to answer your questions. When will you learn that we don't need her? There was just the slightest hint of aggrivation in the tom's tone, but Spottedpaw knew to look past that. He was trying to convince himself just as much as much as he was trying to convince him with those words, but he wasn't finished. We have each other. Smokepaw and Spottedpaw, two brothers fit for JaguarClan.
'But we do need her! What's JaguarClan if it's filled with motherless kits?'
He said nothing. He couldn't. Because Smokepaw was right. He had to be right, or he would lose him.
His eyes opened into slits, taking in his dark surroundings best he could. Everything was blurry, but from all the smells around him he could tell he was in the medicine cat's den. His hind leg twitched and he let out a breathy gasp, turning his neck just enough to get a glimpse of it. What he saw made him feel instantly sick to his stomach. S-Smokepelt.. The dizziness he felt since waking up multiplied and his head fell back down onto his paws, eyes shutting once more.
Two bodies padded side by side. One larger, one smaller. Both wore similiar markings, a series of lines, patches, and spots. The larger of the pair was a darker golden, his body made mostly of black spots while the other was lighter with more patches of the darker brown variety. Their pelts were almost touching, but neither of them put any space inbetween each other. They were brothers, and they were perfectly comfortable together.
At a sudden noise they both crouched low, the smaller of the two creeping forward silently after a few moments. The larger stayed behind as he disappeared into the bushes. At the sound of a surprised snarl he bolted forward, staring at the scene before him for a few seconds before taking action. His brother was on the back of a she-cat with the stench of crowfood on her, teeth sunk deep into her neck. He jumped forward, claws grabbing onto either side of her barrel and pulling her down to the ground fully with his sheer strength. His fangs sunk deep into her upper hind leg, the taste of blood making him cringe. She released a screeching yowl and began to convulse. They both jumped off, staring in confusion at the pained queen. It wasn't until they recognized the wetness on her hind legs as more than just sour wetting that she began to push. Smokepelt, she's going into labour! She's pregnant!
No, no, no! Smokepelt hissed, his claws springing out and gripping onto the biosphere. He stared in horror as the first kit broke free, the mother hurrying to clean away the oxygen-depriving skin covering it. It squirmed to her belly after being brought to the world of sound and coldness, the other two following quickly behind.
Before long there was an awkward silence between all three, simply staring at each other as the kits quiety suckled. The loner's eyes were wet and pleading, tail drawn protectively around her newborns. Unable to take it, the larger tom turned away, walking a few paces away and staring down at his paws. Smokepelt followed him a few seconds later, his eyes hardset and foreboding. Spottedfire, you know what we have to do. This loner can't get off our territory with all three kits and there is no way she's going to steal prey from our clan until they can walk away. On top of all this she needs herbs to even survive through the night after our attack.
Blue eyes met blue eyes, one set unsure, but determined while the other let nothing slip past. Spottedfire was the first to look away, staring down at his paws once again. Smokepelt, they're just kits..think of what we're depriving them of.
And they've yet to live life. If they have nothing to lose how can we be depriving them of anything? Spottedfire was tempted to look back up into those determined eyes once again. He felt like throwing up. He was going to do this. His paws picked his body up and he walked back to the she-cat. Her entire body shook and two tears had trickled down her cheek.
No. Please, no. J-just. The kits. Kill me, don't hurt my kits! Her begging quivered as her tears started to flow more freely. She half-crouched, half-laid, trying desperately to stand, but their attack had taken a toll on her. Spottedfire looked away, seeing his brother walk forward out of the corner of his eye. The she-cat let out one last cry before he heard a dull thud and he dared to look again. Her glazed-over eyes looked up at nothing. They were green, emerald green. He knew he'd never forget it.
I'll take one. You take two. He stared up at his brother then down at the three black kits, pathetically crying for the loss of warmth.
Where are we going?
The river.
What had he become? A deprived kit, a sorrowful apprentice, a murderous warrior, a battle-scarred senior warrior. Smokepelt! His cry came out loud and strong, but he could no longer open his eyes. They were swollen shut with fever caused by the infection in his bite wound. His breath started to come in pants, panic starting to take over him. It was coming. He knew it was coming. Smokepelt! Smokepelt, please! PLEASE!
His eyes managed to crack open just a peek, the shadow of a smaller cat at the entrance hurriedly approaching. Just a little longer... In a moment he was there, hovering over him. Brotherly love was shining in his eyes and for a moment Spottedfire returned it before his swollen eyes shut once more, but this time he knew they weren't opening again. At least, not in this worldy forest.
