lost, found, and lost again (c, death topic)

Rosepaw, having just gotten her name, had insisted that they go on an adventure. He assumed by adventure she also meant patrol or hunt, seeing as though they probably should do at least something to help the clan through this harsh season, especially with the freshkill pile looking a bit lower than usual. At first, he hadn't been too sure about leaving camp without a warrior, but boy was Rosepaw good at persuasion. Not to mention the fact that all he wanted to do was spend time with her and what better time than her having just gotten her apprentice name.

Purrs erupting from his throat, the curly coated apprentice trotted happily alongside his bestfriend, content as could be. "I can't believe you're an apprentice already, how exciting!" he mewed as they made their way through the territory. Not long after his comment, a strong scent hit his pink nose and the fluffy apprentice stopped in his tracks, signaling with his tail in the air for Rosepaw to stop as well. The scent was certainly prey, though there was something else mixed with it. Perhaps more prey? Oh how wonderful it would be if they could bring something back to the clan!

"Hang on," he mewed in a more hushed tone than before. "I smell something, I'll check it out. Be right back," he added, pointing with his muzzle in the direct in which he'd caught the scent. Crouching down, he stalked his way through some brush and away from Rosepaw's side. He found himself to be a decent hunter, most of the time, and would be sure to make it quick so that he could get back to the she-cat's side. He didn't want her to be alone for too long, that was for sure.

Pushing his way past some brush and under a bramble bush that snagged several clumps of his curls, Curlypaw made it to a slightly more clear patch of the forest where the thicket wasn't as much of a tangled mess. The scent was still strong, and unfortunately for the apprentice, he'd failed to recognize the other scent that was muddled with it.

Standing a couple of foxlengths in front of him was none other than a gaunt looking fox, which was staring right at him with its deep orange, beady eyes. Next to the fox were several of its cubs and they were chowing down on a scraggly looking squirrel, or what he assumed used to be a squirrel, anyway.

Frozen in fear from the sudden realization that the fox definitely knew he was there, Curlypaw was unsure of what to do as they both kept their eye contact on each other. Neither one of them moved a muscle and for a moment he thought that he might be able to get away if he backed up slow enough, but the hungry fox had other plans.

Charging at him without a warning and bared fangs, Curlypaw let out a yowl of fear and turned around as fast as possible. "Fox! Fox!" he wailed at the top of his lungs. Streaking through the brush, the sound of the fox crashing through the forest behind him was deafening and he could practically feel its hot breath on his tail.

As he kept running, he quickly realized where he was going and his heart sank to the bottom of his chest. He couldn't bring the fox to Rosepaw, she'd just gotten her apprentice name. He wasn't about to put her in danger, no, she meant far too much to him.

Paws pounding against the cold, hard ground, Curlypaw made a sharp turn to the left and hightailed it in the opposite direct of his clanmate. If he was remembering right, the Thunderpath was this way. If he could just make it there, maybe he could catch his breath and try to fight the best off.

Lungs heaving with ever stride, the tom could see the Thunderpath not too far away. And there was... another cat? Peering though the trees, he didn't think that he recognized them, but great StarClan he didn't care who in the forest they were, as long as they could maybe help him with this predicament. "F-fox!" he yowled, his chest feeling as if it was about to burst open. He'd never run so fast in his life and prayed he'd never have to again due to a plight such as this.

'Please be friendly, please be friendly,' he prayed to himself as he neared the stranger and stinky smelling Twoleg path. Even if this cat was a foe and not a friend, hopefully they would stick around to provide their teeth and claws. He'd be sure to ask who they were and inquire about their business being on ThunderClan's territory later.

OOC: It was really a fun time playing Clouddream, and I know I'll miss her, but her story is over, and she really does need a rest :,)

Having run straight past the stranger, Curlypaw turned around. Unfortunately for him, the sight that laid before him was one that made his stomach twist and turn, and his head began to swirl as if he'd spun around a hundred times. It... it had all happened so fast that he had barely been able to process any of it.

He'd been running... then the stranger defended him against the fox? But that loud, roaring monster... where had it even come from? It was as if it had jumped out of the forest just to attacked them and then instantly disappeared. The white cat, whoever she had been... he watched as she was flung across the path, or had he just imagined that? He couldn't remember. That monster didn't even think twice while on its path of destruction... she hadn't even gotten a chance to flee, nor had he gotten a chance to try and help her. Then, within a split second, it was all over, and here he was; standing as still as a rock... a useless rock.

As he continued to look onward, a deafening silence had settled atop surrounding forest. The only thing he could hear now was the pounding of his heart in his chest.

"Hello?" he mewed softly. As he began to move towards the stranger’s broken and bloodied body, each step felt as if the ground was pulling him down so that before long, he’d be engulfed by the dirt. As he approached, on top of the gruesome sight that sat before him as well as the nose-stinging scent of the Thunderpath, the overwhelming stench of blood hit him in the face, and he hurled up the meal that he'd eaten just before this "adventure."

Trying his best to regain his bearings, he continued towards her in a cautious manner. Stopping in his tracks, Curlypaw stopped, now standing beside the she-cat's motionless body. Her side wasn't moving up and down like it should be, but her eyes were open, which gave him a sliver of hope. That meant she was fine, right?

"Hey, wake up," the apprentice mewed. "You can't sleep here, monsters might come back." Reaching out a fluffy paw he prodded her side, but immediately froze. She was so cold, as if she had been sitting out in the cold Leafbare weather instead of a warm den. No one else's pelts were this cold... did this mean...

Tears began to fill his eyes as the realization sunk in. This cat, his savior, was gone; dead. Plopping his rump to the ground, his shoulders shook and his legs began to tremble as he sat there weeping, his tears falling onto her red stained pelt below. Other than Comfreyheart's injury, never in his life had Curlypaw had to deal with something as grave as this and it practically broke him.

She had saved his life and he didn't even know who she was, nor had he been able to thank her. She had such a big heart that in a moment's notice she'd been willing to put her life on the line... what an amazing cat... she must've been the best warrior in the forest. The best warrior... that he would never get to say thank you to. 'I'm so sorry,' he thought silently to himself as he sat beside her cold pelt.

Head hung low and breathing sporadic, Curlypaw's chest tightened as he remembered; Rosepaw. Where was she? Oh StarClan, they should've never left camp without a warrior... please let her be alright.

"R-rosepaw. Rosepaw!" he choked out through heaving breaths as he glanced around the clearing. The fur around his eyes was stained dark from the tears and he did his best to look around even though his vision was blurred.

Thank the stars she was alright.

Relief washed over him as Rosepaw ran towards him, unscathed. As she grew closer to him, he did his best to wipe away the tears with a paw, though he wasn't sure how effective it was. Ears perking up at her comment, he didn't know what to say. How was he supposed to explain that this cat, this stranger, was dead? Rosepaw didn't deserve to carry the burden of knowing how scary life could be, not yet anyway. The innocence that she held... at times it was honestly a breath of fresh air and he prayed that she never grew up.

"She's fine," he mewed softly between a sniffle, doing his very best to pull himself together, for her. "We need to get her back to camp so Fawnshine can help her, okay?"