Introducing Love

At last Mottledspark felt that he had found purchase and successfully pinned Sootpaw, but the young tom was a fierce fighter already, pummeling the warrior's belly and chest with strong kicks characteristic of a RiverClan cat. Mottledspark felt his grip faltering again and, just like that, Sootpaw managed to slip out of his grasp again. If I had my claws out, that would keep him in place, the tom thought drily, though the thought of even slightly hurting his friend made his stomach turn.

Mottledspark nimbly dodged Sootpaw's swipes for his eyes, remembering how fond the apprentice had been of that move before, ducking his head this way and that. When Sootpaw leaped into the air and came down on top of Mottledspark, he was ready - certainly more ready than he had been when Sootpaw had lamed his leg! Sootpaw gripped on and Mottledspark gladly rolled onto his back, crushing the apprentice underneath his weight.

shrimps

Sootpaw was about to jab his paws into the toms face when he froze. His tail twitched. He let out a choked gasp before his eyes rolled back into his head. He fell limp and his paw twitched. Then his body started shaking a little bit. Then very violently and his claws were unsheathed as his body parts flew into the air and rolled.

Mottledspark rolled off, knowing that his greater weight would crush his friend, and he was about to strike out again when he noticed that Sootpaw had stopped moving. The tortoiseshell tom cocked his head slightly and mewed, "Sootpaw, are you...?" Before he finished his sentence, his friend had fallen and begun shaking. "Sootpaw!" Mottledspark cried fearfully, "Sootpaw, what's wrong?"

Heart sinking into his throat, Mottledspark wailed as loud as he could, "Help!" His heart was pounding, and his friend's convulsions had gotten worse. Mottledspark wanted to get closer and help his friend, but Sootpaw's claws were flailing madly. He grimaced and cried again, "Someone, anyone, help me! Help Sootpaw!" Oh, I can't leave him like this - please, someone have hear me!

Mottledspark's wide, wild, and terror-filled eyes turned back to his friend. The warrior's tail tucked tightly under his body but he forced himself forward to brave Sootpaw's thrashing claws. Maybe he was choking, or perhaps a deadly herb had gotten in his throat. If I could just check his mouth, but... A lashing paw smacked him hard on the ear, ripping the flesh and making his head ring as his jaw slammed shut. "Stop thrashing!" Mottledspark cried, backing away fearfully.

Sootpaws eyes went white as his mouth foamed and his snarled and growled and twisted then turned. His fur was sticky with sweat and a little blood from him acadentaly clawing and cutting himself. He righted himself and tore at the ground and choked on the spit in his mouth. He gagged and slithered in the dirt. He kicked dirt everywhere. He head rolled and his body shook harder.

Mottledspark stared in hopeless fear at his friend. "What's wrong?" the warrior wailed, though he realized it was useless. The tom felt trapped, for he couldn't leave Sootpaw to suffer like this, but he had no idea how to help. Would a medicine cat even know?

Sootpaws eyes rolled and the shaking slowed down. His body started to move more slowly and then he lie still. He let out a frightened little mew and opened his eyes. He gasped in fear and looked at Mottledspark in disbelief. He gasped for more air.

Sootpaw's suffering seemed to last ages; when finally his convulsions began to die down, Mottledspark stared at him fearfully, but hope sparked in his belly. "S-Sootpaw?" he whimpered, his voice shaking, when the apprentice had fallen still. Please don't be dead! Mottledspark thought desperately, but then he heard a small, pitiful mew come from his friend, and suddenly Sootpaw was gasping.

"Oh, Sootpaw, you're okay!" Mottledspark cried, immediately sweeping to Sootpaw's side to wrap his large body comfortingly around the apprentice. "It's okay," he repeated again, "just take deep breaths. Easy now." The tom began to lick soothingly at his friend's fur, murmuring, "Catch your breath. You're okay. We'll go back to camp when you're ready." And we're going straight to the medicine den.

Sootpaw closed his eyes and his heat slowed. He just let the things happen to him. He didn't know what was going on.. He just wanted to be home, in his nest, with Flurryshine's soft tongue lapping at his pelt. But he hasn't seen his parents since his apprentice ceremony.. They forgot about him even before that happened.. They just left him in the mediciean den when he hurt his paw.. He knew they were still Alive.. Maybe they would care? Because he was hurt now?

Mottledspark waited and quietly groomed Sootpaw for what seemed like ages, but finally the apprentice seemed to have recovered, though he trembled with fear. "Let's go back to camp," Mottledspark murmured, gently nudging his friend. "Can you walk?" I'll carry him if I have to. I won't leave him here.