A Ripped Sedge (Closed)

Grey. It was the first thing Sedgestrike saw as he opened his eyes. Their green colour seemed dull in the mist that clouded the world around him as he rose to his paws slowly. Blood dripped from a wound he didn't remember having when he was sitting on the branch a moment ago. Memories flickered through his head. Mintbreath. His face twisted into a snarl as he looked up into the mist covered sky. The trees were no longer above him. The scents around him were no longer of a forest deep in green leaf. There were no mice or squirrels... he noted dimly that there was barely anything here at all.

Was this StarClan? No... it couldn't be. He huffed, then padded forward to push through the mist. At least it wasn't the dark forest with what his nightmares imagined it to be. Full of cloying mud that threatened to pull you down and destroy a cat's heart. StarClan would surely recognise his worthyness, and even better, he'd get to see Rippedstar again.

The shimmering of the stars above and below seemed to dim, darkening the world around him. As the tom padded on, the mood that radiated from him was almost palpable. Sadness. Sheer, numbing sadness. His pace didn't quicken, but rather seemed to weigh down his paws and bring an odd stiffness to his motions. This was no something he had wanted to face. Nor something he wanted to face alone. But, it was his to be done. That thought caused the depths of blue eyes to flicker with something akin to pain. If it weren't for the swirling mix of thoughts, one might have been able to discern his feelings, but the star-coated cat couldn't even bring himself to pick out an emotion. Dissapointment? Regret? Nothing seemed right for what had just happened.

Rippedstar and watched his former clan as closely from the afterlife as he had when he lived among them. He constantly wished he had more time and had the same thought for Poplarstar. Worries of what was to come plagued his mind. There was a dis-ease among Starclan at the moment. The future below was uncertain, but nothing he was able to meddle in. Silently, he hoped Tinystar would be able to handle it, and Crowstar's daughter at his side. Although this all troubled him, the weight of the moment pressed harder. He was headed for the veil. Dark Forest was something he actively avoided. The underbelly of the afterlife only carried the most depraved of souls. If the loner carried any belief in Starclan, he was sure Bear would have been housed down there. Thankfully he knew very few cats down there. There were some Starclan cats he was sure were better fit for the decaying world, such as Breezewhisker. But as much as he knew, the former leader still found himself baffled by the ways of Starclan. And he was Starclan now.

Rippedstar stopped short. The misty sheet that seperated the two places was just before him. A lump settled in his throat as he waited just on the Starclan side. This was the end. This was what it had come to. He had watched with so much hope for so long, only to watch the misguided warrior fail again and again. Finally, another figure joined him. As he finally spoke, his voice was raw and his mew course, "Sedgestrike."

ooc: mobile biz

The silver tom's head whipped around as he heard Rippedstar's voice. His green eyes narrowed in on the materialising shape of his former mentor, before they softened a little. Rippedstar had been a good cat, even if the clan he had left behind had much to be desired. He padded forward towards Rippedstar, but stopped short. Despite his happy feelings about seeing him again, the fact still remained. He had abandoned them. He had run off to twolegplace, gotten himself killed and ripped away his chance to bring SkyClan to glory.

Hatred churned in his stomach at the memories, at the stark realisation. The snarl on his muzzle a stark contrast to the joy that had fled off his face a few seconds ago.
"Rippedstar." His tail lashed out angrily behind him. "I hope you're proud of yourself. Abandoning us all like that." He spat, his pelt bristling almost as though he faced an enemy... but didn't he?

Wasn't Rippedstar the enemy after what he did? He glanced behind him, the distant glow of stars showing clearly through the mist. Sedgestrike dared to glimpse back once at the murky darkness behind him as he snarled and padded forward to shove past him.
"Get out of my way."