Ill Omens, Ill Tidings [All of RiverClan welcome]

ooc: I'm extremely bad at titles.

So after a discussion on Skype, it was decided that Darky had to step down from his position due to extended periods of inactivity. I really hate to boot him out like this, but he just wasn't getting stuff done. I'm sorry, Darky. ;-;

without further ado, I present to you one of the longest, sh*ttiest posts I have written so far.

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Fishpelt had never been a particularly superstitious cat.

When she roused herself in the morning, the sky was a washed grey, smeared with dark clouds. Despite RiverClan's spectacular victory in the battle against ThunderClan, the deputy couldn't help but feel.. Disconcerted, somehow.

Pushing her discomfort aside, Fishpelt decided to go on a solo hunt. Perhaps it was the frog she had eaten the night before.. It had tasted a bit funny, after all. Pushing her way through reeds and bushes and working her way towards the river, she could feel tiny droplets coming from above No matter. The fish love the rain. This is the best time to hunt.

It didn't take long for Fishpelt to snag a small perch. Slowly, the rain's pace quickened. We're not in any danger right now. We defeated ThunderClan in battle, the greencough is receding from our Clan, and yet.. I'm still worried. She focused her gaze on the river before her, crouching to get a better look at the water below the surging surface. She caught sight of a pair of fish darting towards the shore, and readied herself. When one ventured too close to her, her paw shot outwards to capture it, but the attempt was fruitless. Her outstretched claws raked water.

Sighing heavily, she stood and shook the pebbles out of her fur. Might as well try a spot where the current isn’t so fast.

The rain was drumming rhythmically against Fishpelt’s back now, the cold water seeming to soak her to the bone. She followed the river until she came to a narrow stream that branched off to the left. The tabby climbed some rocks and began searching the water for any signs of life. After a while of not finding anything, she moved on, frustrated. As she pushed through a large, damp bush, she finally spotted a fish. Creeping closer, she noticed that it was trapped in a small pool of water to the right of the stream. Upon closer inspection, Fishpelt knew something was wrong. Its movements were and slow and weak, and when she got closer to sniff it, the fish did not move away. Something was wrong.. It was sick. Dying.

And at that moment, it hit her. Something was wrong. Someone was sick. Dying.

Without taking a second look at the fish, the she-cat whirled around and began tearing her way through the vegetation. Fishpelt’s vision went blurry as rushes whipped her in the face while she went, but she didn’t stop. Eventually, she came to solid land, and took a sharp turn towards the camp. She could see the entrance now, and pushed herself forward ever faster. Her muscles seared as she entered Riverclan camp, and she narrowly missed bashing into an early bird apprentice.

She slowed herself as she approached the leader’s den, and came to a halt just outside the entrance. The inside was veiled by hanging plants (idk if there’s actually hanging plants, but I’m putting them there for dramatic effect. deal. ).
“Sunstar?” she called.

No answer.

“Has something happened?”

Still no answer.

“I got this feeling when I was out hunting,” she started, pushing through the plants. “and I-”

It felt like someone had placed a stone in the spot where Fishpelt’s heart had once been. Death tainted the air in the form of a rancid, sour odor. Too late. I’m too late.

Her grief felt like a thousand stones piled onto her back, making it difficult to stand upright. Just last night, she had spoken to him about the battle, and now, Sunstar was dead. Her friend, her leader and her guide was gone, felled by the sickness the tom had remarked was “not that bad”.

The she-cat emerged from the den, paws dead-weights beneath her. she had to tell the rest of the Clan. It wasn't fair to any of them after their victory over their enemies, and after the plague that had swept across the forest, weakening and killing many. No one deserved this news. Sunstar didn't deserve to die this soon. The deputy didn't bother climb up to the willow branch to speak.

"Cats of RiverClan," Fishpelt called, forcing her voice to stay level. If she seemed unstable, the rest of the Clan would be, as well. She had to try and be strong for them. "I.. I have something to share with all of you."

Where she would go from there, she wasn't sure, but what Fishpelt was sure of was that she would never doubt her gut feeling again.

appropriate emotional music

Brightpaw heard the call and padded from the apprentices den and sat. Something seemed wrong to her and she hoped it didn't involve whatever the deputy had to say. She was quiet.

Icetail blinked. "Fishpelt, what's wrong?" She asked as she ran to the Willow Branch. Her injuries made her limp, however, and she nearly tripped. Collecting herself, she looked up. She sniffed the air. Death. She knew that scent all too well and froze. "Fishpelt, where is Sunstar..?" She asked, fear in her voice.

Sparrowpaw emerged from her den, a solemn expression passing over her face as she stared up at the dark clouds overheard, a droplet of icy rain landing on her nose with a cold plop. The water washed over her in rivulets as she padded toward the willow tree, toward where Fishpelt had summoned the Clan. Her paws felt like lead as she trudged forward.

Somehow, some way, she knew that something terrible had happened. Maybe it was just the deputy's tone, or the rain, or the uneasy feeling she'd gotten once she woke up that morning. Either way, Sparrowpaw knew that they wouldn't be able to enjoy their victory over ThunderClan like she'd hoped. Their celebration would have to be cut short.

She didn't speak once she reached the tree, or even bother to sit down. Sparrowpaw only gazed forward, holding her breath, dreading whatever announcement Fishpelt was about to make.

Wailingstream followed his sister silently, sensing the tense atmosphere. His ex-mentor was uncharacteristically hesitant as she spoke, a sickening feeling began to awash over him. Something had happened, something that would effect the whole clan. In the air lingered a scent of death, and the rain's plodded down mercilessly. Was it an omen?

His fur stood on end as he waited for the rest of the clan to gather so Fishpelt would continue. It was a crushing wait, filled with doubt and uncertainty. What was going on?

Patchpaw followed his mentor, tail dragging behind him. What could be so important as to stop training? he thought. He blinked slowly up at the RiverClan deputy, sensing her unease.

Since the moment she had woken up that morning, Lightningkit had had a feeling in her gut that something was wrong. As she yawned and stepped out of the nursery and saw people gathering for a meeting from... Fishpelt's call? Where is Sunstar? With a gulp, she sat down next to her adopted sister, Brightpaw.

Something was brewing in his gut. The cause, unknown. Originally, he had thought it was sickness, food poisoning, maybe. But not once did he remember eating something odd; it was more instictual. His paws were unsure on his patrol that morning, and his party was just returning from the dawn patrol when he spotted the gray deputy dashing through the camp entrance.

"What's chasing her tail?" Ashcloud thought, quickening his pace slightly. After crossing the frigid stream between camp and the territory, he spotted his deputy standing before the anchient willow, her face blank as she called to the clan. Cats were beginning to appear, and the small tom joined them. He scanned Fishpelt's muzzle for clues on what was happening, and his gut twisted. Today, nothing was right. The senior warrior kept his composure. Surely it wasn't too terrible.

But he could help but wonder, where is Sunstar?

Otterfur had been resting inside the warriors den, not sleeping - only easing himself off his paws after a long patrol. He might've drifted off for a nap hadn't he heard the strange voice of their deputy calling the clan together. Thinking there was something off in their tone, the brown warrior went outside again, finding a spot next to his son, Patchpaw.

With a groan rainpaw slowly awoke from her slumber, her one eye glistened with sleep. The apprentice thought it was strange when she had spotted only the deputy and Fishpelt.. Rainpaw didn't like the state of what she was in. The deputy looked shocked, confused and worried what could of have happened to have cause her to behave like this?

Fishpelt felt her throat tighten as more cats gathered before her. Kits, Apprentices, Warriors.. All blissfully unaware the horror their deputy was about to unleash on them. Fishpelt wished that she didn't have to tell them. She wished that she could curl up in her den and let them deal with it by themselves, but she knew she couldn't do that. It was her job to lead RiverClan through trials and tribulations now. Her own desires had to be put behind the rest of her Clan's. The tabby waited another moment for everyone to settle down, and cleared her throat.

"Fellow Clanmates," Fishpelt began, "We have been through rough times in the past few moons. During Leafbare, we were ravaged by a bout of sickness. Prey was difficult to come by, and a number of our normally able hunters had been too ill to leave their dens. Just the other day, we faced ThunderClan in battle. No cat left the battle unscathed, although we emerged victorious.” She paused briefly to collect her words. “Despite all of the turmoil we’ve had to suffer, we have always pulled through, because we are strong.”

Fishpelt inhaled deeply, emotions threatening to choke her. “I.. I ask all of you to be strong yet again. It is with my deepest regrets to announce that this morning.. Blackcough claimed the life of Sunstar.”

Brightpaw listened her tail flicking as Fishpelt spoke. She blinked her blue eyes wide at the news that the leader was dead. She tensed some before forcing herself to relax.

Icetail let out a gasp. "He can't be dead! He was fully alive and well just yesterday!" She wanted to yell at Starclan for taking their beloved leader. Though with great grievance, she lowly murmured, "Fishstar. Fishstar.."

Wailingstream watched solemnly without a word as his sister expressed her outrage, uncharacteristic of the usually vocal warrior. He was in shock like most of his clan. Sunstar? Dead? Their leader had been ill most of his time as an apprentice and warrior but to think he'd passed away. His parents had told him great tales of Sunstar's bravery and wise leadership, to think his rule would end so abruptly from illness. To call it a tragic event would have been an understatement.

He grieved for the leader they'd lost. But stood strong with the knowledge that their clan needed to endure and they would. Fishpelt, now Fishstar, would lead them now. The next gathering would be soon, and with Thunderclan being a brewing threat, they couldn't afford to look weak or vulnerable.

"May he be at peace with Starclan." He finally spoke when he came back to himself. Sunstar was a fine leader and deserved to be at peace for the rest of his days.