Dark Days Grow Darker Still (OPEN / Death Topic / Morningpaw Needed)

It had been a long day. Asterspark looked up to the sky, watching the beautiful orange-red hues of sunset grow steadily darker and darker as night fell upon the forest. He had to admit, though, this day wasn't nearly as bad as the other ones -- it still wasn't good, but it still wasn't terrible. Hunting and training with Littlepaw had been a nice, temporary distraction from his dark, depressing thoughts and laments on life's woes, and he did enjoy spending time with Redwing's and Thornbriar's kits. Stars, to think he was now practically a foster father for two separate litters... Was he starting to reach that ripe age for thinking about settling down with someone and having a genuine litter of his own? Of course... there would be no way for him to fulfill that dream with the long-dead Sparkfeather. Yet the more time he spent with the proud, hot-headed, yet still honest and determined Thornbriar...

A sudden flurry of harsh, sickening coughs and hacks coming from the leader's den made Asterspark's short bluish-gray fur stand on end. He whipped his head around to stare at the roots of the large oak tree that served as his father's den. He had known Scorchstar had fallen quite ill for a few days now; he had no doubt in his mind it was the result of eating that rather large rat the hunting patrol had brought back several sunrises ago. Ever since the Carrionplace caught fire, hunting patrols had been bringing back more and more rats to deposit on the fresh-kill pile. It didn't take long for cats to come to the assumption that the fire had scared off the rats, causing them to raid ShadowClan territory and scare off the majority of the Clan's healthier, non-disease-ridden prey.

Asterspark wanted to make sure Scorchstar was okay, perhaps even get Morningpaw just in case something was terribly amiss, but before that he made a detour to the fresh-kill pile to pick out something for his ailing father. Of course, over half the contents of the pile were rats, but thankfully he was able to find a healthy shrew among the pile of dead rodents. Hopefully it hadn't caught any of the sickness from the larger fresh-kill. Dragging it out from the bottom of the pile, Asterspark trotted rather quickly to the leader's den.

The first thing he noticed upon reaching the mouth of the den was the absolutely rancid stench of sickness. It was so powerful it made him drop the shrew in his mouth as he coughed at the initial whiff of the powerful odor. That wasn't a good sign. Tentatively approaching, he gave a soft mew to alert the leader he was there, then invited himself inside.

What he saw absolutely terrified him.

Scorchstar was a big cat. Like, a very big cat. But right now he looked as small as a warrior who had just been promoted from apprenticeship. His bushy coat was dusty, messy, and matted from days of neglect from grooming, and he could actually see his ribs through all the fur, indicating he hadn't eaten in a very long time. Flies buzzed around him, attracted by the den's smell, and his nest was incredibly dirty and littered. Great StarClan, Scorchstar looked like he was dangling over the edge of death!

"Morningpaw!" Asterspark's voice rose up to a terrified, shrill shriek, rushing out of the den and racing to the medicine den next to Jaggedrock, practically on the other side of camp, his call loud enough to attract any passerby's attention. "Morningpaw, it's Scorchstar! You need to give him some herbs or somethin'! He looks like he's about to die!"

Minnowcall heared loud coughing from her mates den, his sickness seemed to be getting worse and worse. She herself were also starting to feel ill but she tried to ignore it and help her mate as much as possible. She hurried towards his den, when she saw Asterspark she slowed down slightly, when he then rushed out of the den and called for Morningpaw. She quickly dashed over to Scorchstar's den, she froze and stared at him in horror, he looked horrible! She padded up to him and nudged him gently "Scorchstar?.." she meowed, her voice filled with worry.



Wildstrike had just gotten back from a patrol, as he dropped of some prey in the fresh-kill pile he saw Asterspark picking out a shrew and walking over to Scorchstar's den. After just a few seconds he turned around to the sound of Asterspark calling for Morningpaw as he ran to the medicine den. He saw how Minnowcall ran to the den and he to dashed over to see what was happening, Scorchstar were sick but it had gotten so much worse, the dark-furred tom laying in the den did not look like his brother and leader, he looked so weak...

"Don't crowd 'im." Rowantalon limped towards the commotion, his cloudy hazel eyes filled with worry. "Minnowcall, he wouldn't want you to catch his sickness..."
He turned to Wildstrike, nudging his son's flank with his nose. "Go, make sure Morningpaw knows what's going on." He trusted Asterspark, but even the wisest cats made mistakes in a panic. It was imperative that Morningpaw knew just how high the stakes were. "Let him breathe now, Minnowcall,"

Tanglekit padded warily out of the nursery at the sound of a commotion. The red rays of the dying sun stained his ginger fur crimson. Normally, Thornbriar would have beckoned him to sleep by now, seeing the darkening sky and the stars that danced within it. But the call had not come yet, and sleep would not grace Tanglekit for some time. Tentatively, the lanky tom stalked over to the leader's den, his blue eyes were stretched wide in horror. It wasn't the problem itself that scared the kit, but rather his clanmates' reaction to it. Tail curled over his paws, Tanglekit watched as Asterspark yowled for Morningpaw, watched as Minnowcall broke down and Wildstrike raced to the source of the issue. What's going on? Rowantalon had brushed past the tall kit and padded toward the rest of the cats. Scorchstar? The young tom couldn't imagine what his clanmates must be feeling, he didn't even know what he should be feeling. Tanglekit's paws trembled and he watched wide-eyed, soaking up all the emotions and feelings. It left him with glazed eyes and a heavy heart. Frozen in place, the kit sat in the middle of the clearing, in a storm of thoughts. I'm sorry Scorchstar...I'm so sorry...

The medicine cat apprentice leaped up in frantic worry as she turned to face the distressed Asterspark. Scorchstar on the verge of death?! The she-cat felt herself shake as she nodded and ran past the tom. She needed to quickly evaluate the leader to see what herbs she needed to help him.

"Out of my way! I need to examine him!" said the she-cat rather loudly as she made her way through the assembling cats. She looked over to Minnowcall and Wildstrike, giving them both a quick nod of acknowledgement. She felt the pressure beginning to weigh in. This was very serious. She had to do what she must to prevent Scorchstar from losing a life.

Morningpaw finally made it to Scorchstar's side and soon began to check his breathing and current symptoms. "Does anyone know or have an idea of what could've caused him to become like this and when?" The medicine cat apprentice wrinkled her nose in concentration as she made a list of herbs based on the tom's visible symptoms. He was struggling to breathe, looked malnourished, and seemed dehydrated. She needed to know about the possible cause so she could determine what she needed to cure the main illness.

"Father?" Ravenmist called out, nose leading her to the leader's den. It was a terrible scent, of sickness and death, that Scorchstar had been carrying for days now, but worse. Stopping at the entrance to the den, she peeked her head into it, worry on her sightless gaze. Why is he so sick? Was it the rats? He's eaten some recently for lack of other food. The naturally thin black she-cat had grown thinner and lankier in the past weeks, but her father's unease about the rats occasionally caught had turned her away from them. She was jostled slightly as her friend Morningpaw rushed past her, and her concern deepened. "He looks like he's about to die!" Asterspark's words returned to her mind. Cats gathered, Morningpaw present... Oh no. Scorchstar was likely losing a life. Now, more than ever, she wished she could see the commotion, not have to guess with her other senses. "Father!" She called, a note of panic to her voice. Morningpaw had warned everyone to stay back, give their leader room to breathe. She sat at the entrance to the den, feeling more frustrated and helpless than she had even when she was first adjusting to her blindness.

Every raspy, shallow intake of breath felt like torture. Scorchstar's bushy fur was nothing more than a thick barrier that contained unbearable heat within, yet at the same time he felt cold as ice that not even the hottest, driest greenleaf day could thaw away. his ears and eyelids were absolutely burning. His stomach was roiling constantly, having him constantly feeling like he was on the verge of vomiting. At one point he had, and he had made a disgusting mess of his nest, but the illness in his stomach hadn't quelled even a little. He had never been this sick in all his life, and it was miserable.

After hearing Asterspark's cries for Morningpaw, the leader let out a small moan. He hadn't wanted any cat to find out about his state. Now the entire Clan would see. He had hoped he could've rode out the sickness without anyone realizing -- perhaps even lose a life, as horrible as that sounded -- and then he'd be just fine, as if nothing had even happened. Now the whole Clan would be worried about him. Morningpaw would have to waste her herbs on him. But worst of all, the Clan would see just how weak he was, both in the literal, physical sense and the metaphorical. He hadn't gotten sick before whenever he would eat rats during leaf-bare. Why was he getting sick now? And why did it have to be during leaf-bare, just after the Carrionplace explosion, when his cats needed his guidance and support most? What kind of leader was he?

He only opened his heavy, burning eyes when he felt a cat pressing against him. Startled, Scorchstar looked to find one of his younger kits Silentpaw nuzzling him. Another cold ripple shot through him, but this was wasn't caused by sickness. He was scared that his beloved kit would catch the same illness. He was afraid any of his Clanmates would catch what he has. She shouldn't be here. "Silentpaw...." he croaked, sounding as if he hadn't used his voice in moons. It was a low, gravelly whisper that barely held any strength or confidence. "You shouldn't be here.... Please, you must leave the den.... Don't catch what I have...."

---

Asterspark followed quickly after Morningpaw back to the den just in time to see Silentpaw rush inside. He managed to glance over the shoulders of his family to see his younger half-sister snuggled up next to their dying father. Just barely hearing Scorchstar's request, he took it upon himself to squeeze in and coax Silentpaw away. He didn't want her catching his disease. "L-Let Morningpaw work, Silentpaw. We gotta stay away."

He was the first to answer Morningpaw's question. "I-I saw the first signs when the two of us went huntin' with Burntstag a few days ago. He was coughin', his coordination was off when he was huntin', and he seemed t' have trouble standin' up. He didn't eat any other prey other than rats from the Carrionplace. He ... He wanted all of us to eat the healthier prey. He was sacrificin' himself for our sakes." What an absolute frog-brain.... Scorchstar was always doing that. Putting himself in harm's way for the good of the Clan and his Clanmates. It was going to get himself killed one day.

...That was so very poorly timed.

(OOC: Sorry for double-posting, but I need to wrap this topic up to prevent any future paradoxes.)

Stars, it was getting so difficult to breathe. Scorchstar was growing tired. So very ... very ... tired. He was in so much pain. Everything felt hot. He wanted to be alone. Everything was too noisy. He was so very tired. The pressing nausea wouldn't go away. He just wanted this all to end. He just wanted to sleep.

He felt his eyelids grow heavy. He didn't have the strength anymore to fight the urge. He let them fall closed. His breathing slowed. The pain was starting to slowly ebb away. His body convulsed once. Then he fell completely still. The breathing stopped.

---

Scorchstar opened his eyes to find himself standing on the beautiful starlit field in StarClan territory. He blinked, absolutely bewildered, looking around, but he couldn't seem to find any of his Clanmates. Well, duh, he was in StarClan.

Wait. Did that mean he just died?

"Yes, Scorchstar, you have just lost your first life."

The startling, yet very familiar voice, came from behind, and Scorchstar whipped around to face ShadowClan's former leader and his predecessor Littlestar. "Littlestar! Great StarClan, you scared me.... Wait, you said I lost a life?" So this was what it was like to die.... His death came rather peacefully, especially compared to the horrific pain he had been forced to endure during his final moments. He expected the experience to be far more excruciating.

"Death takes many forms," Littlestar mewed, seeming to have somehow sensed what Scorchstar was thinking. "Not every death will be quite as merciful as the one you had just undergone. Yet at the same time, not every death you will experience from here on out will be filled with pain."

"Guess I probably just got lucky then. But.... I really need to be heading back to my Clan, Littlestar. They're all so worried about me. I'm scared they will catch my illness."

"Your body needs time to heal and recover from the disease, Scorchstar," the undersized tortoiseshell molly explained. "You will return to your Clanmates in due time. You have lost your first life, Scorchstar: the life I have given you, the life of absoluteness. You will still hold the nature of the life within you until you have fulfilled your duty to ShadowClan as leader, but you are now in possession of eight more lives. Use them wisely."

Scorchstar nodded firmly. "O-Of course! I wouldn't dream of wasting my lives! ...Like how I just had. I won't do that again, though, I promise."

Littlestar smiled up at her successor. "Good. Now, return to our Clan. And prepare yourself for a challenge the likes of which you have never faced. Protect our Clan. Don't let it fall."

Wait, what does she mean by that? Is something going to happen? Before Scorchstar could ask the former ShadowClan leader to elaborate on what she meant, the world around him grew brighter and brighter until he had no choice but to shut his eyes against the blinding light.

---

Noises filled his ears as Scorchstar finally came to. He softly moaned and slowly opened his eyes. He found his gaze locking with Morningpaw's, and with the gazes of his Clanmates gathered around outside of his den, looking at him with varying degrees of fear and anxiety. He was brought back to life. Now he was on his second life. At least the pain and sickness had finally subsided.

Trembling, seeing as how he hadn't eaten or drank anything in quite a while, Scorchstar slowly eased himself up into a sit. Unfortunately, his forelegs weren't strong enough to keep him lifted just yet, and he collapsed back into his filthy nest with a grunt. "Well.... This is kind of humiliating...." he murmured to himself, his ears now growing warm with embarrassment rather than his previous fever. To think the entire Clan could now see him in such a weakened state.

"Let him come back, now- don't panic, it's only his first life." Rowantalon turned as his son stirred, relief evident on his face. "Son! Welcome back to the land of the living. Take your time getting up, now. You did just die, which is more n' any of us can say we've come back from."

Having been by his best friend's side the entire time, tears streamed down Daisyflame's side as Scorchstar began to breath heavily. Within a few moments, the leader had stopped breathing, which only meant one thing; he was losing his first life.

Trying not to break down in tears at the sight of the darker tom suffering, the white and ginger warrior simply laid next to the leader so that their pelts were pressed together, ignoring the cats who told him to give him space. 'Over my dead body that I'd ever leave your side,' Daisyflame thought to himself as if Scorchstar could hear him.

Just as quickly as he'd lost his life, the leader awoke and a wave of relief washed over the warrior. "Thank the stars, you're back," he purred, nudging his cheek against Scorchstar's as if he was comforting a she-cat who'd just bared kits. He absolutely hated seeing his friend in such a state, but the sickness had just been too much for him and there was nothing even the medicine cats could do about it. But even so, all that mattered was that the leader was back with the clan and him.

Morningpaw's eyes widened when Asterspark began to explain. 'Oh Scorchstar, you are truly the best leader this clan could ask for.' The apprentice ran back to her den without a word, not wasting anymore time. She had to slow the illness from spreading anymore so the leader had the chance of survival.

When the she-cat returned with a wrapped bundle and some moss with water, she was greeted by Scorchstar convulsing then laying still. She dropped them in shock as she rushed to his side then placing her ear near his chest. He had stopped breathing. She had been too late. The apprentice backed up and sighed. She wished he had told her what he had been doing. She could've cured him successfully. Now, she had to stand and wait for him to resurrect. She'll give him a good scolding later once he was comfortable and resting.

"Here, eat this. It's a mixture of tansy, thyme, and ragwort leaves. I've added a bit heather nectar to help you swallow and to sweeten the taste. Oh! And here, drink some water afterward. It'll really help." Morningpaw explained as she slid both the herb bundle and the moss to Scorchstar. The medicine cat then turned to the others and began to shoo them out. "He needs some peace and quiet! I need you all to step away and leave him be for some time."