Our Rubble and Wreck [Open; Clan Topic]

Like most of the clan, he'd once thought their return home would have been instilled with notes of rejoice and some semblance of peace. But it was obvious that a solemn tone had settled over their clanmates. It was what had brought them home that had set the mood, an image he had yet to wipe from his conscious - Sagelight's death. The medicine cat deserved a proper clan vigil, at home, and to be laid to rest on the lands of his ancestors. Their patrol had driven off the foxes, who likely wouldn't want to return, especially when the entire camp would be filled with far more warriors than before. Wrenspring had reported back what they saw, refusing his wounds be treated until they returned to bury their clanmate. Bloodstrike and Redfall had been left to guard the body.

The gray and white warrior had padded back to Riverclan silently, quickly relayed the news to their clan's leadership, and helped to gather the clan. They would rebuild later, it would take time. One thing was certain, Wrenspring's paws wouldn't stop moving for some time. A low sigh left the sides of his maw as he padded back through the entrance, where the stains of the carnage were still there, the medicine cat's body was still limp in the center of camp.

What a welcome home.

ooc; this is set before the missing kits/gathering

Sagelight was dead.

Wolfcall's expression was blank as he padded solemnly after Wrenspring, his head low, tail level with his spine, paws heavy against the chilling ground. The patrol sent to do reconnaissance on their camp had been both a success and a failure. They could return home... but it had come at far too great a cost. His eyes found the medicine cat's body as soon as he pressed through the camp entrance, and grief flooded his body from his ears to his toes, drenching him like a cloud had opened directly above his head. Wolfcall padded forward, the scent of blood and death fresh in his nostrils, and his legs grew weak as he approached the body.

"Oh, uncle..." his voice was a whisper, nearly silent, and he sank to his belly at Sagelight's side, squeezing his eyes shut and pressing his face against the medicine cat's cold pelt.

They'd left Bloodstrike and Redfall to guard Sagelight's body, and Smokefeather wearily trailed Wrenspring back to Riverclan's camp to deliver the blow. The clan had lost their leader, had lost their medicine cat, within not even the span of a moon. Coming home should've been something to celebrate, but instead, the victory felt hollow. Her pale fur was stained crimson with blood, gray-green eyes dull.

Sagelight had been a capable medicine cat. He worked his tail off to keep the clan safe. Jovial and cheerful, his absence was felt, and Smokefeather had dreaded telling Beechpaw. She fully expected an explosion of rage, a flash of temper, bitter resentment aimed in her direction. She hadn't expected to be met with a look of defeat and silence as her daughter retreated, trying to hide the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes.

---

Beechpaw had been almost eerily calm when she'd received the news, at least on the surface, and now she padded at her mother's side in silence, eyes downcast, tail drooping and ears pinned flat to her head: the only outward sign of whatever emotions lurked beneath.

Dimly she registered the sorry state of Skyclan's territory as they headed towards camp, a few sporadic bits of greenery left in the wake of the fire and leaf-fall's chill. Beechpaw carried what she could of their herb store back to camp, Smokefeather had similar bundles in her jaws. They'd prevent Beechpaw from speaking, and that was fine. She didn't think she could without choking up.

Dull eyes registered the unmoving body in their camp, before the now-mentorless apprentice slipped into the ruins of Sagelight's former den to get the herb bundles organized and out of the way.

Blossomstep's neck ached from carrying her son over streams and sharp, charred wood, but even though she had seen the state of her home in the journey here, nothing could have prepared her for what she faced as the entered what had once been their camp. The damage of the fire was still horrifically apparent, and as she set the little tom on the ground she swallowed the lump in her throat. Had this been where her daughter had finally succumbed to the smoke and flames?... Wolfcall had walked ahead, sinking at the dead medicine cat's side. Torn between wanting to go comfort him and mourn the medicine cat and tending to her son so he didn't wander off, she herded Blazingkit over to his father along with her, curling herself around the little tom kit as her back brushed against Wolfcall. "Be still, little one," she murmured, nuzzling their son's ear gently before turning to Wolfcall and pressing her head to his shoulder in silence. They were home... But it certainly didn't feel that way.

Bloodstrike had dutifully stood by while he waited for Wrenspring to return with the others. He stared for a few minutes at a time at Sagelight, his crumpled and bleeding body too still. The longer he looked, the less the body looked like Sagelight. Bloodstrike could almost believe that Sagelight had been in Riverclan camp all this time... if he hadn't witnessed the death for himself. The blood from Bloodstrike's wounds had mostly stopped flowing and had dried to his fur by now, but if he was in any pain (which he was), he wasn't showing it. The adrenaline had worn off and he could tell that he was going to be regretting that decision to let the fox bite him for quite some time now. His injuries ached and throbbed with every pulse. As Wrenspring returned with several other Skyclanners in tow, Bloodstrike's expression remained emotionless.

That is... until he saw Wolfcall's reaction.

As Wolfcall's legs weakened and buckled under him, Bloodstrike's breath caught in his throat. His chest tightened and his claws buried themselves into the ground beneath him. He'd always seen his father so strong, a stonewall even in times where most stone walls would crumble. And now he'd collapsed and was in tears over Sagelight. Bloodstrike stopped breathing and tore his eyes away from his father. An emotion overwhelmed him and threatened to come pouring from his eyes...

Bloodstrike turned his head and his body away from the other cats, keeping his injured shoulder where they couldn't see, before he bit into the red flesh with a sickening force and a crunch. Pain exploded throughout his body as he reopened the wound and let blood flow freely down his foreleg again. The pain shocked away any feeling of grief... or fear that he had previously felt. It was a welcome relief. Now that his tears had dried up before they had even started, Bloodstrike turned his attention back to the gathering in front of him.

He focused on the pain from his injuries that now threatened to overwhelm him. At least his emotional turmoil had vanished....

As long as he didn't look at Wolfcall again.

His eyes instead settled on Blazingkit, which had captured his interest in earnest. A brother. He had a brother now! He was so small... A small smile was briefly seen on Bloodstrike's face before he forced it away. Now was not the time for this. Later perhaps.

Spottedstar had left them, Sagelight was dead, and his own father had chosen to stay in RiverClan. What in StarClan's name was happening? It seemed as though this past moon all of SkyClan had been falling apart and now the loss of three cats? He'd thought that returning to camp would be a joyous occasion but it seemed more disheartening than ever.

Having just made the journey from RiverClan and back to SkyClan's ash covered camp with his twoleg-pelt in tow, the abnormally long legged warrior stood near the back of the crowd, his legs shaking and tail tucked under his rump, per usual. Dropping the pelt, he peered over the clowder of clanmates as they gathered around the mangled medicine cat. The stench of fresh blood wafted into his nostrils and shaking his head back and forth he let out a huff as if trying to blow the smell out of his nose.

Shuffling his paws back and forth, the lengthy tom didn't know what to do. Usually, he found comfort in his father, but now he wasn't here; one of the only consistent things in his life and he didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Now, he was all alone in a clan of cats who weren't particularly friendly with him, and for good reasons he supposed, but why? Why did Tinylegs have to stay in RiverClan and why did Spottedstar just up and leave them? And why did StarClan feel the need to take Sagelight away from them?

The more he thought about everything, the more he became worked up once more, and plopping his rump on the ground, tears began to leak in his amber eyes and before long, soft yet audible sobs filled the once stifled area that sat around the camp clearing as tears splashed onto the cindered earth bellow. Of course, he didn't enjoy crying in front of others, but with all that had been happening as of late, he couldn't possibly hide his fear and sorrows, and so he sat there; a spectacle to all, though of course it wasn't much of a surprise.

Willowpaw watched the scene play out in silence. She was afraid that if she spoke, it would come out with a gulp. She felt tears prick at the back of her eyes again and fought to stop them.

Leaving RiverClan meant leaving one of her best friends, Shimmerdust, behind. Willowpaw knew how much support her presence had been to Shimmderdust, and she wasn't really happy to leave-but there were others who needed her as well here. After fierce debating, she reluctantly decided to leave with the rest of SkyClan.

Now, as she stood there, she heard a low sob from beside her. Turning, she saw that Sunflower was was sobbing quietly. Right-apart from Shimmerdust, she could still offer comfort to someone.

Willowpaw stepped closer to Sunflower and gently nudged him. "It's okay, I'm sure it would turn out well, yeah?" She whispered to him quietly.

He'd never expected the first time seeing his new clan's camp, and a dead body, would be on the same day. But as Tigerpaw followed the rest of SkyClan into the scorched clearing, he did just that. The medicine cat's limp form was curled near the center, and the smell of blood and battle made the ginger apprentice's ruff stand at attention. He had no desire to approach the body - he'd barely known Sagelight in life, and it felt wrong to mourn him so intimately, as their deputy was doing now. So instead he hung back, moving closer to his mentor who, as usual, looked like he was ready to tear the fur off of someone's pelt.

The massive tom intimidated Tigerpaw, and he wasn't afraid to admit it. But he was also comforted by the fact that Bloodstrike was his mentor... that he would get to learn the ways of SkyClan at this impressive cat's paws, even if he was short-tempered and blunt. "What happens now?" He whispered to Bloodstrike, staring up at him with wide, concerned eyes.

Redfall moved away from Sagelight's body. His pelt was streaked with blood and ashes. He needed to sit down... and take a break. He had time to mourn and absorb Sagelight's next. The sting of the wounds were the only thing preventing a long sleep. And he guessed it was best for Beechpaw to not treat him right now and spend time mourning. Unless she came to him. He wouldn't object.

Redfall closed his eyes and exhaled shakily. He had let Sagelight die at his paws at the essence of it; both cats had been fighting a fox and he failed to save his medicine cat. The tabby's ginger fur had tufts of the fox's fur sticking out of his pelt, and dark russet dried blood (and some larger wounds that had yet to scab up). He was a mess, and slunk around the mass of grieving cats towards the medicine den. He carefully laid down on his uninjured shoulder and took in shaky breaths. He had done his part in guarding the body and fighting the fox. And though he wouldn't admit it, he needed mental rest more than physical rest. It wasn't hard for him to deal with death. It was hard for him to deal with the guilt of letting it happen.

Smokefeather said nothing, merely leaned into Beechpaw's shoulder for a moment while the apprentice silently sorted through the herbs, tail curling gently over Beechpaw's back. A quiet murmur of apology, and the pale tortoiseshell wearily slipped from the den.

Smokefeather's pawsteps were quiet as she moved across the clearing to where her mate and Wolfcall mourned the tall, tail lightly trailing across Wolfcall's flank as she stepped over to where Bloodstrike stood, pressing her cheek into his uninjured shoulder.

---

Beechpaw stared at the back wall of the den, struggling with what to do. She should be out in the clearing, mourning with her clanmates, tending to the injured... But she had no desire to interact with anyone now, and even less desire to feel the weight of her clanmates' gazes upon her shoulders. Yet she'd seen the blood streaking her clanmates forms, and the thought of leaving them bloody and without herbs rankled.

With a shaky breath, the apprentice slipped from the den, a bundle of cobwebs and a poultice of marigold petals and oak leaves in her jaws. And naturally, nearly tripped over a figure that was sprawled just outside the den.

Dull eyes stared at Redfall for a moment, taking in the bloody wounds for a moment. In silence she set about pressing the poultice into his wounds, using the cobwebs to hold them in place. Beechpaaw's expression a very clear indicator that attempting to talk or comfort her would be a very bad idea.

At least doing this small task kept her eyes off of the too-still body in the center of camp. Until there was little left to heal, and knowing there was little point in approaching Bloodstrike or Wrenspring, dull eyes lifted to stare at the dark sky above, purposely not looking towards the gathered cats.

Beechpaw used Minor Heal on Redfall for -10sp.

Beechpaw
35 / 35hp
80 / 90sp (-10)

Redfall
53 / 80hp (+3)

Sagelight was gone, their clan was in ruins and their territory's destroyed. Primroselight was weary after their journey home from Riverclan territory, and just as wary of the surrounding areas. Foxes had attacked (and been defeated by) the scouting patrol, sending their medicine cat to StarClan in the process. Sensing Beechpaw's grief at the loss of her mentor, the young warrior padded towards her sister, but soon hung back and thought better of it. The huge she-cat was too deep in her mourning and would be impossible to comfort, no matter how hard she tried. Deciding that she would wait a little, she turned to pay her respects to Sagelight.

"Goodbye Sagelight," her voice barely audible amongst the subdued chatter of her clanmates, "I never really got to know you properly, but I hope our paths will cross someday again in the far future." With her solemn words said, she briefly touched her nose to the fallen cat's head, before withdrawing to inspect the recked camp.

Bloodstrike hardly moved for several moments. He caught a flash of orange at his side eventually, but never really acknowledged it as his mind went back and forth between being numb and and being fascinated with Blazingkit. Once Tigerpaw spoke, he actually snapped out of it and looked at his apprentice. Something squishy was under Bloodstrike's paw too... what...? Oh right.... the fox ear. Back to Tigerpaw's question.

"Losing a medicine cat is... not good." He explained softly to the orange young tom. His voice was hoarse from a battlecry he had unleashed earlier. He swallowed a few times trying to fix it, but to no avail. He would have to rest his voice for at least a day probably. "For now, our clan needs to mourn. A lot has happened fairly quickly. I know you're still new, not just to Skyclan but to our way of life as well. This isn't typical for us. You just happened to be apprenticed at a very... trying time for us." Bloodstrike couldn't help but try to swallow again. His vocal chords were sore.

"The only thing we can do is carry on. We will hunt, we will patrol and we will rebuild. Stay strong, Tigerpaw. Stay strong for yourself and your clan. I will help you." None of Bloodstrike's words were loud enough for the others to hear, unless they were standing quite close. For now, Bloodstrike still couldn't look at Wolfcall. It killed him to see his strong father like that. What killed him almost as equally was that Beechpaw was now alone, her training incomplete. What in the world was he going to do for her?

His toes squished against the bloody fox ear again. It was then that he realized that Beechpaw should have it, though not right now. In time, she would be given the ear of the fox that killed her mentor.

Swansong felt vaguely... lost. Spottedstar, Sagelight, Redfall's return, leaving Tinylegs.... Everything had been a whirl lately, and now... walking back into SkyClan. It didn't feel like home, the ash underneath her paws, the towering black forms of dead pines. Yes, there were hints of life, green springing up again, but... it wasn't the home she'd known. Her eyes inadvertently drew to the middle of camp and a still form there, her chest tightening, and she dipped her head, squeezing her eyes shut, a quiet sigh slipping from her maw.

The lanky form of her brother plopping to the ground, tears slipping from his eyes, caught her attention, and she padded over, gently touching her nose to his shoulder, his familiar scent comforting in the lack of familiarity around them. From close by, she heard the quiet voice of her apprentice, and a slight smile rose wanly onto her maw. "You're right, Willowpaw. We'll... we'll rebuild. We'll make it."

Feeling some-cat's pelt brush against him, Sunflower looked up from his paws to see Willowpaw standing next to him. He'd grown fond of the apprentice and although she couldn't possible rid him of all his sorrows, he appreciated her caring presence. Hearing another familiar voice, he turned to see that Swansong had joined them. It was a blessing that nothing had happened to his sister during all of this and he silently thanked StarClan that she was still with him, even if their father wasn't.

Sniffling, the lengthy tom shuffled his large paws, turning his defeated gaze from Swansong and then back to Willowpaw. "H-how," he honked softly, not feeling much better about anything despite her efforts.

Willowpaw was glad for Swansong's arrival, another comforting presence nearby. As Sunflower asked a "how", the she-cat smiled as comfortingly as possible and leaned in against him. A weirdly warm feeling bubbled in her chest despite the current situation.

"Because we're together, and all of us will get through this together, yeah?" She told Sunflower, trying to sound comforting to him.