Darkness.
Wolfstar opened his eyes to darkness. At first, panic overtook him, and he stumbled forward blindly on heavy paws, claws sheathing and unsheathing as a terrible pain wracked his body. Every muscle, bone, tendon, ached, and each time he drew breath, it was like a badger sat upon his chest. He fought to grip the ground beneath his paws until finally, dizzily, he collapsed, legs beneath him, head swimming dizzyingly. For several moments he lay there, fighting for breath, before eventually, little by little, his lungs cleared, the pain faded, and when he opened his eyes once more, he saw stars.
A sigh of relief, and he blinked several times before everything came into focus. He knew where he was, and what had happened before he woke up here - this had to be StarClan. But if that was the case, where..?
His head swung upwards, and with a sigh of relief he met the familiar bright yellow eyes of his mother. "Murkpelt,"
"Wolfstar," she murmured affectionately.
He struggled to his paws, expecting pain, but there was none. Instead, he was met with his mother's forehead against his own, her worried purr rumbling against him. "I wish I didn't have to see you like this, but I am glad to see you, son."
Wolfstar fell to his haunches, his ears back, and pulled away, his brow furrowing. He opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted him, fluffy tail flicking across his maw. "I know you have to go... so, go... try not to come back too soon," she turned, pressing her nose to his forehead, and then it went dark again.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in SkyClan's territory. He heard panicked noises, voices, and groaned, writhing beneath whatever it was that pinned him to the ground. "Beechf-" his voice faltered, he coughed, lungs tight and painful again.
