Does Life Ever go as Planned? [C]

Gender: Female
Rank: T4 Warrior

Nectarflower heaved a cough, her chest burning from the pressure in her lungs, and found her paws. Her fur was ruffled from sleeping on it too long, but that was the least if her concerns. Finchspeckle, one of her two surviving daughters, was missing. At first, Nectarflower had hoped she would return, weaving tales of a wild adventure, but it was impossible to deny that something bad had happened. Now that she was coherent enough to leave the camp on her own - it was time to resume the search for her daughter.

The search parties had long since been called off and most had without a doubt given up hope that the firey she-cat would return. Nectarflower, however, couldn't bring herself to give up. They'd never found a body or even any signs that Finchspeckle had been hurt. It was as if she'd simply vanished. Green eyes flashing in the pre-dawn light, the tortoiseshell silently made her way around the sleeping bodies of her clanmates, intent on going out alone. 

It was dangerous to go out into unfamiliar territory much less by herself, but she wouldn't be able to rest easy if she brought someone with her and the search went sideways and they got hurt. No, she had to do this alone - even Eveningpaw couldn't know. Nectarflower loved her, but she could get nervous so easily, not a bad trait, but she didn't want to worry the younger she-cat.

Placing her paws lightly, the warrior made her way to the edge of Windclan's temporary camp, hesitating at the edge for a moment as she considered which way to go. It would be best to retrace their path back to the mountain, but they'd combed over the area so many times already...she would have to broaden her search. Maybe Finchspeckle had been picked up by two twolegs and was in a one of the nearby twolegplace? It was a long shot, but she had to try. 

Clearing her throat and wincing at the sting in her throat, Nectarflower steeled herself for the journey ahead and stepped forward, prepared to leave her clan behind until she had found Finchspeckle or, at the very least, what remained of her. Sweet Eveningpaw would miss her, but Nectarflower knew that she would insist on going with her if she knew what was happening. That couldn't happen, she was safer here.

Gender: Female
Rank: T4 Warrior

A brisk wind ripped across the grassy hills, up towards Nectarflower, and raked through her fur with a vengeance. She shuddered at the ferocity of it and pinned her ears back against her head to avoid the dull roaring in her head. This was...certainly poor weather for such an expedition, but it was now or never. She had to leave before she lost her nerve - and Finchspeckle deserved more than a frightened mother who was too scared to look for her. As quickly as it had come, the wind faded, leaving her shaking slightly from the sudden chill that had settled into her bones.

She sniffled quietly, holding back a dry cough, and swung her head toward the mountains they had traversed to get here. That was where she'd lost Finchspeckle and where she would begin her search. She would need to move fast and find a way to cover her tracks, though, so she couldn't be followed. A pang of grief shot through her heart at the idea of her friends and family searching for yet another missing clanmate. They would be fine, she decided, after a moment. If she didn't do this, she would always wonder what became of her daughter.

Mind made up and body beginning to warm up again, Nectarflower turned towards the gray peaks of the mountains, her usually bright eyes dark with determination. Nothing could stop her now. Or, at least, she thought so, until a voice broke through the blissful silence of the early morning. Whipping around with a startled expression, Nectarflower's gaze instantly found Galepaw, and her mood soured. "Oh! Galepaw..." There was almost never a time that she was upset to see her clanmates, but this was an exception. Him being here could ruin her entire plan!

Luckily, he'd had the sense to keep his voice down, but what was he doing awake at this hour anyway? Most apprentices were fast asleep, getting as much rest as possible before being dragged out for training or patrols. Smoothing over her expression, the tortoiseshell she-cat considered Galepaw for a moment. She didn't know him all that well - if she told him her plan, he could easily run back to the camp and tell everyone. Then, she'd be going nowhere.

But, at the same time, she couldn't lie to the young tom and say yes. He seemed dead set on joining her for what he thought was just a simple hunting patrol. But, well, if he would agree to keeping her journey a secret, at least someone would know what had happened to her if she never returned. Taking a deep breath, the she-cat shook her head. "No, I'm not hunting." She lowered her head toward the younger cat, voice soft. "Actually, can you keep a secret for me?"

Gender: Female
Rank: T4 Warrior

Nectarflower considered the young tom's response for a moment, her tail twitching thoughtfully behind her. It was a pretty elusive response...but at least he hadn't outright denied her the chance to explain herself. And if he really would do anything for his clanmates, maybe that extended to finding Finchspeckle too. Gathering a breath, the tortoiseshell stepped closer to Galepaw and dipped her head to him. It was a risk she would have to take since he'd already stumbled upon her

"I'm going to look for my daughter, Finchspeckle." To the average cat, it may seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to do, but to those who knew of the situation, it was worrying at best. Finchspeckle had gone missing on the journey here - not long after Smallstar and Jayfrost dissapeared - and searching for her meant returning to the mountains. The trek here had been perilous at best and that was with the strength of five clans. A single cat making the journey alone...

Nectarflower barely repressed a shudder. No. It would be fine. Besides, Galepaw was born shortly after their arrival at the lake...he likely didn't know the dangerous lands her search would lead her into. With any luck, she could convince him to keep her secret and stay behind. "She went missing on the trip here and nobody was able to find her - but I'm going back to keep looking." Her eyes narrowed at that and she turned to stare at the tall, shadowed peaks of the mountain range.

"I'll come back..." She began slowly, "But I have to at least try. It's the least she deserves." Nectarflower looked back at Galepaw, her determined expression making it clear that her mind was made up. Nothing he could say would deter her now. Even if he woke the entire clan up and they tried to track her down...she was fast, she would simply run until they gave up. And they would give up. One life wasn't worth risking several, apparently. She had realized that when cats began to go missing.