From the Ashes

Flintshard's ears twitched as Murkystar started to speak, eyes narrowing as she explained the situation. Attacked by rogues - rogues led by Dawnhawk of all cats. During his leadership, he had counted themselves lucky to not play a part in any of that situation with that foul tom - and he had hoped they would be spared. A heavy huff escaped him as he pushed himself to his paws as Murkystar gave out her orders, wasting no time limping towards Basilbloom's den and ducking inside. He was somewhat familiar with the herbs - both from his time in this den under Mothglow and Basilbloom's watch, listening to them speak while he was healing from his shoulder injuries. But while he could perhaps recognize them when needed, actually knowing what would be used in a situation like this was a little beyond him. Instead, he grabbed a loose stick and gathered up a good bit of cobweb on its end, before turning and limping back out and towards where Batglow was standing. As he drew close, he waved his tail to gather the tom's attention, simply turning his head to show off the cobweb covered stick as he waited to follow Batglow to whoever he wanted to patch up first.

Batglow listened to Murkystar's words, guilt starting to eat at him once again. It was all so overwhelming.. He wasn't cut out for this but he was the only option they had. "I.." He started, his words failing him. He had to do his best to heal his clan.. since he couldn't be here to defend them. "If you could see if they have some Horestail and some Oak leaves that would be great, we are going to need both." He told his leader. They needed stuff to prevent infections as much as they could.

He looked to Flintshard as the tom padded over with some cobwebs, the lanky tom nodded at the elder before speaking up. "We need to help Frostgaze first.. Make sure his bleeding stops with the cobwebs." The tom turned towards his.. mate? friend? He still didn't know. "Go rest in the den, I have patched you up as best as I could, if something feels like it's getting worse let me know." Hopefully Mistyfalcon would recover quickly. The tom grabbed the rest of the cobwebs he needed to treat the wounded.

There had been nothing, for a little while. Then there was the stubborn, hard nosing to wake him up. He didn't wake for a few moments, before everything came crashing back, including his consciousness. Frostgaze hissed in pain, opening his eyes to see Webshadow nosing him still, at least until he had realized he was awake. He tried to get up, but was shocked back down to the ground as he realized how sore his ribs were. It felt like a dog had trampled him, and all movement felt like it could crack the delicate scab on the back of his neck. After what felt like forever, the deputy was on his paws, trudging his way through the snow, and back into camp.

How much of his fur was matted with blood now? The tom wasn't sure, all he knew was that it pulled at his skin with every move, and everything hurt. It was... it was bad. He wasn't about to drop the stoicism now though, not that he could if he tried. He listened to Murkystar speak as he swayed, Frostgaze wasn't entirely sure when he had padded into camp and sat down. Everything was a blur, still all a blur.

As Batglow began padding toward him, Webshadow had appeared near him. When had that happened? It didn't matter, he was glad. His back felt wet again, no doubt the precarious scab had broken on his neck, causing the blood to flow once again. He winced, immediately refusing treatment for himself. "Murkystar is in no doubt," another wince as he turned his head, "worse condition than I am. Please do not forget to treat her as immediately as you are treating me."

Shypaw had stood helplessly in the hollow with the other young apprentices, body tense, prepared for a rogue to burst through the thorn thicket, defensive battle stance rigid with the effort it took not to go to her clanmates' side and fight as yowls hit her ears. The clan wouldn't throw away the lives of apprentices and the camp needed defence if the warriors fell. Shypaw shook with relief as each warrior stumbled bloodied into the hollow under the newly fallen darkness.

She picked out her dad's white fur and limped to him, her wounds from the owl raw and delicate. As best she could the little she-cat helped support him, Webshadow's comforting presence on Frostgaze's other side. 

Murkystar's pelt was criss-crossed with wounds and her mentor's mew shook as she called ShadowClan together. The grief of ShadowClan's defeat felt numb and cold and Shypaw stared down at her paws with the warmth of Frostgaze's fur brushing her side, alive, her dad as stoic as ever. 

She gave her dad a very gentle nuzzle before padding to join the other apprentices gathering moss.