Bad Dream [Windclan Meeting]

He didn't know how he didn't notice. The constant head counts, always checking on his clan mates.. how did he not notice that two of them slipped right out from under his nose?

...

Okay relax don't panic. They just had to be near by right? Surely someone has seen them. Surely they told someone where they were going.. yeah that had to be it. He would just call a meeting and speak with everyone, and they would know right? He hoped he just missed something. That Smallstars and Jayfrost weren't actually gone.. missing. Or worse yet.. dead. It was all just a bad dream. Yeah just a bad dream.

The striped tom stepped up to the slight hill he used to call meetings, hoping, praying someone had seen the missing duo. He let out a shakey breathe followed by a coughing fit. Air filled his lungs, before exhaling as he spoke. "Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather here for a clan meeting!"

Ooc: mobile hehe

Sootstorm raised his head as Tigerdance's voice rang out once more. Even when their deputy was sick, he stilled did his duties. Smallstar as well, he supposed, though he hadnt seen the WindClan leader since he took Jayfrost out for a talk. Had they not returned yet? Sootstorm wanted to belief that this was just another ceremony, but it was clear from Tigerdance's face that it was far more serious. Had something happened to Smallstar? Anxiety churned in the tom's belly as he approached the small hill.

Finchspeckle barely heard Tigerdance, and would have remained where she was if it was not for Sootstorm moving off towards the tom. The calico raised her tired head from where she was curled up with the rest of her sickly clanmates. Berrypaw stirred beside her, and with a tired sigh she prodded the apprentice awake. She beckoned her forward and they both settled down close to Sootstorm, leaning on each other for support.

From beneath her bush, Minkpaw heard Tigerdance call out for a clan meeting. She blinked, wondering which kit it was that would become an apprentice today, and didn't bother hurrying as she uncurled from her makeshift nest and pulled herself out into the open air. A few of her clanmates were already gathered, but Minkpaw paid them little mind, focusing instead on trying to unsuccessfully decipher whatever expression Tigerdance currently wore.

Curious, she glanced around, looking for her mentor, but Jayfrost was nowhere to be seen. She flicked an ear, slightly annoyed that he'd gone off and left her again. How was she supposed to become a warrior if she never got to train?

Minkpaw padded over to sit near the front of the crowd, blinking a greeting at Tigerdance just before settling down and curling her tail around herself. It did little to warm her, but these meetings rarely lasted too long.

Lavendercloud went over to Daisy and Berry and sat with them. She curled her tail around her kits hoping to keep them at least somewhat warm during the cold. She didnt appreciate having to go to a meeting all sick and esspecially didnt appreciate her kits having to be in the cold for it as well. Whatever Tiger wanted it had better be important thought the queen irritated.



Eaglefly bounded over upon hearing the call and sat next to Minkpaw. He did not the apprentice super well. All he knew is that his brother Jay was her mentor. So that was pretty cool.

"How is training going Minkpaw?" he asked sneaking in his question before the meeting officially started.

Finding his way over to his mother and sisters, Molepaw sat beside them closely, not caring about the lack of distance that was between him and their illnesses. Usually he would worry about things such as becoming ill himself, but he wasn't about to let some coughing keep him from being around his family. Short ears perked, he looked towards Tigerdance, curious as to why the deputy was calling them, but also concerned about the fact that Smallstar wasn't up there with him. Perhaps their leader had the worst of it and was unable to speak in front of his clan? Yeah, that made sense, he supposed.


---


Sandwiching his son between him and Lavendercloud, Fuzzface sat with his family, his short tail curled neatly around his plump paws. Him and Molepaw had somehow gotten lucky as far as not contracting any sickness and he thanked StarClan that he was able to continue to hunt and provide for his mate and kits. This meeting was a curious one, with every-cat's anxious gazes focused on the deputy and the round warrior wondered what could possibly be of concern other than the illness that was running rampant throughout the clans.

Kestrelchirp stumpled towards Tigerdance's call. His fever was bad and a drool of blood curled from his lip and dropped to the ground like a fallen tear. Wheezing, the tom sat and glanced around frantically. Where was his brothers? His mother? Everything felt so weird and far off, he didn't even notice his mother guiding him to the ground.

Coyotegrin too had noticed Jay missing... But the tom was rather elusive. Now, though, she was starting to worry. If it was foxes...

Eveningpaw raised her head from where she was curled up - trying to get some sort of rest as she had been running herself ragged trying to hunt for the Clan. She was doing everything she could to put prey in her family's paws - to make sure Finchspeckle and Nectarflower had enough strength to fight the sickness as it felt like the only thing she could do. It had to be enough, she hoped - prayed - as she didn't know what she would do if she lost either. Finchspeckle was so much better than her - she was stronger, faster... After all, she had become a warrior so quickly when Eveningpaw was still stuck as an apprentice. And her mom... Her mom was everything - she couldn't imagine a single sunrise without her.

...But none of that was what this was about. She didn't think it was a ceremony - certainly not hers at any rate as she pushed herself to her paws, creeping forward as she took a spot a little bit away from everybody - she couldn't risk getting sick herself, not when she had to try to care for her family. Her eyes were focused on Tigerdance, her expression dropping as she could see that something was eating away at him even as the deputy tried to hide it. Was something wrong...? Her mind raced to try to figure out what this meeting was about but she had been so focused on hunting... She wasn't sure.

Green eyes looked over his gathered clan, noting most of everyone was nearby, he could probably get a move on this meeting, and the others could catch up later. The tall tom let out a sigh as he collected himself, opening his maw to speak but just as he did so he felt a wave of dizziness cross him. He sat, curling his tail around himself, squeezing his eyes shut tightly waiting for it to pass, hating that it had to happen right now, not in front of the clan.

As soon as it passed the tom finally spoke, his voice hoarse and tired. "As some of you may know Jayfrost and Smallstar stepped away a while ago to have a talk, but as I'm sure you are realizing now.. neither has returned." He stated, unsure if he was even choosing the right words. "It has been a considerable amount of time since they stepped away.. and while I don't want to assume the worst.." The deputy trailed off, not wanting to speak it into existence.

"I would like those of you who are able-bodied to split into pairs, and search the surrounding area, look for traces of their scents. Do not go past the twoleg place that is near. We can't afford to lose more cats." As much as he wanted to lead a search party himself, he needed to remain here, to be a pillar for those who stayed.

"In the mean time, I will be acting leader, if you have any questions or concerns bring them to me. If you have any information about our missing clanmates please report it immediately, any information at all could be incredibly helpful." Green eyes scanned the crowd again. "All of you are dismissed, if you are willing to search meet with me." Tigerdance sat straight, and still, trying to remain strong but as soon as cats started to step away the tom couldn't help but slouch slight. His body ached, and his mind was filled with concern. How was he supposed to do this without Smallstar? Hopefully the duo could be found, and soon.

Ooc: mobileeee

Sootstorm felt as if his worse dreams had come true when Tigerdance began speaking. So Smallstar and Jayfrost had yet to return... he shuddered to think what would happen to them in such unfamilair lands. As soon as the meeting drew to a close, he shot to his paws and hurried to where Tigerdance was. "I can help take a search party out," he offered instantly, though at the back of his mind he was already wandering who he could take as well. His own apprentice seemed as healthy as his father, Fuzzface, but they would need some strong warriors to remain here to guard the weaker cats as well. Worry crawled over his pelt as he stood beside his former mentor, tail twitching nervously.

Goldenpaw was, perhaps, a little late to hear the deputy’s summons. For a moment, panic surged through her as she blinked away her exhaustion and found her brother’s nest empty, but then she caught a glimpse of his pelt, sat by Sootstorm. Right. She was not going to let him out of her sight, sick as he was. Thank StarClan she hadn’t fallen ill yet.

The golden she-cat trotted out into the clearing, choosing to sit by her brother’s side, flicking her tail against his flank in a silent invitation to lean his head on her shoulder. He didn’t look good. Stars, none of them did, and yet he- she didn’t know where he was. Here, or in a time long ago, where she could no longer reach him.

It took a moment for her to focus her attention on the deputy, worried as she was. Oh. Great. More good news. Their leader was missing. Search parties? Part of her wanted to stay here, here with her sickly brother, and yet… she might be needed. “I can come, Sootstorm, if- if Tallshadow’s alright.”