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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 20, 2011 19:28:32 GMT -5
Icepetal's alarm was building as Brackenstar seemed to have trouble keeping his balance. She squeaked in panic when he seemed to collapse before her eyes, his voice and expression so dim she was scared he would die.
"What do I do?" She panicked, her legs almost frozen in terror. She wondered if she could save him by running to fetch the medicine cat. She turned to go, her heartbeat nearly exploding in her chest. If Brackenstar died, she would doubtless blame herself. No thoughts of nine lives crossed her head, and she could only think of how terrible it would be to lose him.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 20, 2011 19:44:27 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
His eyes fogged, and a breath drew out of him, as if he was incredibly tired. The leader was incredibly still.
Brackenstar stood up, blinking what felt like sleepiness out of his eyes. Before him stood centenaries of glowing cats, the closest to him those who had bestowed upon him nine lives. A true, clear voice rang through the ghost-like clearing. "Brackenstar, you have lost your eighth life. Even in minor battles, great wounds can be inflicted. You must remember this. Don't take any threat too lightly." The leader dipped his head, and the glowing cats began to fade. "Go now, go back to the warrior that awaits you. She is worried."
Brackenstar opened his eyes and drew breath again. |
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 20, 2011 19:47:56 GMT -5
Icepetal heard something and turned to see Brackenstar was breathing normally. Torn between wanting to get help and wanting to make sure he was alright, she stood for a moment, undecided. Finally she ran up to him, her eyes wide with worry.
"Are you alright? What happened? Should I get the medicine cat?" She meowed so quickly her words seemed to slur together.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 20, 2011 20:29:15 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The leader was a little taken aback at the warrior's worry, but smiled nonetheless, a bit touched. "Calm down, Icepetal." He said softly, flicking his tail. "I've just lost my eighth life, I'm fine now." Brackenstar got to his paws to show good faith, his wounded paw still bleeding, but no longer encumbering him. "I can make it to camp, no need to bring the medicine cat."
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 20, 2011 20:34:17 GMT -5
Icepetal's eyes widened considerably.
"You just died and you're telling me to be calm?! You're crazy!" She exclaimed, knowing that she was overreacting a little but she was still very worried and guilty. She wished she could have done something to prevent her leader losing a life. If he had been any other warrior he would have been gone forever. That thought made Icepetal feel cold in the pit of her stomach.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 19:05:57 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
"Icepetal," The leader said, calmly, yet with a strong undertone, fit for a leader that wants his orders followed. "Calm down." He padded to her side, running his flank against hers in a soothing manner. The simple contact sent shivers down his spine, but he ignored them, focusing on calming his warrior.
"It is not your fault that I lost a life, but my own carelessness." Brackenstar mewed, turning to face her, holding her eyes unwaveringly. "It is a leader's duty to do everything he can to protect and lead his clan, and if it cost me a life to get rid of that threat, then so be it. I'll just have to be more careful in the future." He allowed his serious amber gaze to soften, and bent his head slightly to give a few comforting licks to the she-cat's ear. He now noticed, that he wouldn't have made this gesture to any other cat. "I'm still here, Icepetal." He mewed softly.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 19:11:18 GMT -5
Icepetal felt warmth return to her at Brackenstar's gentle touch. She took a few deep breaths as he spoke, trying to calm herself. Her heart ached painfully still, the thought of losing someone close to her still echoing inside of her mind. But as Brackenstar spoke, Icepetal looked into his eyes and allowed herself to believe his words. When his tongue touched her ear gently, she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. She was so thankful that he was there. His last words to her were the most comforting of all, and she looked up at him with a calmer expression on her face, though still tinged with worry.
"Well don't scare me like that anymore," she meowed softly, "I don't think my heart can handle it." She muttered, wondering if one could die from panic attacks.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 19:41:16 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
"I'm sorry.." The tom mewed quietly, shifting his weight to his good paw. The wound was beginning to sting, although Flameheart always told him that if it hurt, it meant that it was healing. "I don't think I'll have to go back to see Flameheart, Icepetal. I few cobwebs should do." Brackenstar said, trying to change the subject to get the warrior's mind off her worries. "Help me find some, we can continue with the patrol." As he turned to look over his shoulder at the ferns that lined the much treaded path, the leader couldn't help but think of the warrior's last words. I don't think my heart can handle it... Had she said it with the worry of a warrior for his leader, or...? Brackenstar shook his head, maybe, who knew.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 19:46:43 GMT -5
Icepetal sighed in exasperation.
"I'll find you your cobwebs, but to heck with patrols. You can send some other warrior. Your paw needs time to heal." She scolded, turning towards a nearby bush where she was certain to find some spider webs. She sniffed about, sighing when she couldn't find much. Looking up, she saw a fine web dangling from one of the trees. Great, she thought. Climbing. Flexing her claws, Icepetal began scaling up the side of the tree. The bark was slippery, which was annoying, but she was determined to help Brackenstar if she could. She reached out warily for the web and began wrapping it around her paw slowly, grasping the tree with her other paw.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 20:02:14 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The tom whirled around at the warrior's outburst, blinking in surprise. Had she just scolded him? Brackenstar just stood there, perplexed. It had been many moons since someone had talked to him like that. He didn't resent it in the least, he knew she was right.
He shook his head, gathering himself together, only to see Icepetal already reaching for the delicate threads of the spider web. She had climbed a tree. She, a RiverClan cat.
The leader's heart almost reached his throat in one jolt of fear. The she-cat was inexperienced, and the bark was moist to boot. "Icepetal!" Brackenstar rasped, raising his voice for the first time since the gathering. It hurt, his vocal cords not used to the sudden force without preparation. "Get down from there!"
If she fell, it would all be his fault. Just because of some cobwebs. |
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 20:05:28 GMT -5
Brackenstar's outburst frightened Icepetal. She lost her hold for a moment and slid down the tree. Pushing down on her hind paws, she managed to slow her descent and keep herself from totally falling on her face. She glanced down nervously, glad that she'd avoided breaking her spine or some other incident. With a grunt, she slid farther down on the wet bark and then let go, landing rather sturdily on her four paws. She padded back to Brackenstar on three legs, one paw wrapped in cobwebs.
"Geez," she meowed, wrinkling her nose, "Don't you know not to scare a cat when she's concentrating?" She sighed, holding out the cobwebs expectantly.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 20:15:31 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
Brackenstar didn't know whether to scratch her ear off for doing such a stupid thing, or to thank her for doing such a stupid thing for him. She would be the cause of his loosing all his remaining lives in one single act, he just knew it. Either way, he bent his head and took the cobwebs from her, not uttering a word but nodding his head in silent thanks.
It wasn't only his paw that burned now, his throat felt as if he had swallowed a paw-full of thorns, too. His heart beat rapidly inside the concavities of his chest, reminding him, somewhere in the back of his mind, of the heart beat of a frightened mouse.
That lovely idiot..
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 20:18:17 GMT -5
Icepetal watched Brackenstar closely, wondering if he was angry with her. She looked down at her paws, feeling ashamed of herself.
"I'm sorry," she said miserably, "Brambletail always tells me I'm too rash about things but I never try to think things through." She meowed apologetically.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 20:30:01 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The leader eyed the warrior from time to time as he wrapped his own paw in the cobwebs, watching her beautiful face shadow in apology.
Once his paw was secured in the soft touch of the delicate thread, did he allow himself to fully look at her. His heart hadn't slowed down yet, he could still hear it's strong beats in the blood flowing in his ears. "How would you think," Brackenstar began, in a voice that sounded like the roar of a monster passing down the Thunderpath, "I would have felt if you had fallen down from that tree?" The leader got closer to her, his amber eyes boring into the she-cat's. "I would have lost you, just because of some cobwebs.."
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 20:32:53 GMT -5
Icepetal wondered, as she stared into Brackenstar's eyes, why he was so upset. It would be awful if one of his Clanmates died, but would he really get this angry? I'm just fooling myself, she thought. Why would Brackenstar have special feelings for me? She blinked and then looked down at her paws.
"I except you would have felt like I did when I watched you die just now... right before my eyes..." She meowed, her voice quivering a little.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 20:45:47 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
He felt his anger being to ebb away as his eyes took in Icepetal's state. Her quivering voice reverberated in his ears and made his whiskers twitch in shame. This she-cat was making him behave the way a leader never should. He sighed, making his throat burn. "Yes, I probably would have.." He murmured, his amber gaze softening. Brackenstar closed the small gap between them as he gently placed his head over hers, bringing her head under his chin. He couldn't bear to see her so pained. "I love you, Icepetal.." He murmured, thankful that he wasn't looking at her face directly.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 20:52:01 GMT -5
Brackenstar's quiet words calmed Icepetal. She closed her eyes at his touch, wishing she could stop acting like such a kit. She was a warrior. She was strong. But she wasn't used to being yelled at. She wasn't used to having to watch someone she cared about die. She wasn't used to all of the feelings raging within her heart. Her eyes shot open when she heard Brackenstar's words. She stared forward for a few moments, her mind almost numb with shock. He loved her? Could it be possible? She took a step back so that she could look in his eyes, wanting to affirm that he was speaking the truth. He looked embarrassed perhaps, but honest. He wasn't pretending or teasing or anything she would have expected from a lesser cat. No, he wouldn't joke with her. It must be true. Icepetal smiled gently, feeling as if all the happiest moments she had ever known combined could not rival the joy that filled her now.
"Oh, Brackenstar..." she sighed, "I love you, too." The words felt a bit strange. They were so new to her, since the only other cat she was very close to was Brambletail, and he wasn't the overly affectionate type. Icepetal liked the feeling of saying those words, though. She liked hearing them even better.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 21:07:51 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The moment felt highly unreal. Brackenstar expected to wake up at any minute in Flameheart's den, he probably had fainted from the blood loss.
The feeling of Icepetal under his chin was real enough though, just as much as the wind that ruffled his fur and the hard ground underneath his paws. If this was real, then what she was saying was real, too.
He allowed for her to step back, and looked at her passively, if somewhat embarrassed. Only to feel warmth spread from that singular spot in his chest to the rest of his body as he saw Icepetal's gentle smile. His naturally neutral features altered themselves in an answering smile, a spark lighting in his amber eyes. It was bliss.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 21:14:36 GMT -5
Later that day... Icepetal walked back into camp, feeling surreal to say the least. It seemed like ages ago - that moment when Brackenstar asked her to patrol with him. She had admired him, if not feared him, before that day. But getting to know him, seeing his strength and his pride, she couldn't help but love those things about him. She felt proud to walk alongside him, although her pride was a little smothered by the inkling of worry that still lingered in her mind concerning his injuries. She hoped he would be healed soon, and that he wouldn't do something stupid to make it worse. Like I'm one to judge... She thought with a small sigh. Icepetal glanced around the camp but didn't see her brother anywhere. Good. She thought, satisfied. I'd rather not face him now. She glanced at Brackenstar and couldn't help a little smile. |
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 21, 2011 21:36:45 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The leader bent his head to pass under the bracken arc that guarded the camp entrance. He padded in quietly after Icepetal, keeping his weight off his injured paw. The cobwebs were definitely doing their job at keeping the wound from bleeding too much.
He looked around the camp, trying to spot Flameheart, his medicine cat, among the mass off cats that went about their business. He hoped everyone was on task.
Brackenstar felt Icepetal's eyes on him, and turned his head down to look at her, feeling a small, answering smile tug at the corner of his muzzle.
His attention was called back to more present matters as one of the more grown kits scurried unknowingly over his paws, only to tumble away into the gorse. Brackenstar winced in pain, biting his tongue not to make a sound. He watched the kit's mother apologetically go after them, and he bowed his head in acknowledgment. No serious damage done.
Brackenstar looked around again, still no sign of Flameheart. "Let's go to her den." He mewed, barely above a whisper as his throat still hurt almost as much as his paw. |
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jun 21, 2011 21:42:00 GMT -5
Icepetal glanced up at him, wondering if his paw hurt him. The kits hadn't meant any harm, but she was sure they'd trampled on it. Nodding wordlessly, she walked with him towards Flameheart's den, which was situated in a little cave near the riverbed.
"Flameheart?" Icepetal called out, "Flameheart are you here?"
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Post by flameh on Jun 26, 2011 20:34:52 GMT -5
A ginger she-cat was quietly sorting her fresh herbs into the store, avoiding the hustle and bustle of the clan. The she-cats picked up her name being called from outside in the camp. Flameheart stuck her head out of her den and noticed Brackenstar and Icepetal approaching. "Brackenstar, Icepetal" she mewed, dipping her head. brings you here?" she asked.
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Post by ρυяє on Jun 26, 2011 20:47:18 GMT -5
[Brackenstar]
The leader brought up his paw at the medicine cat's question, bloodied cobwebs clinging to it. "A small accident." He said simply, but hoarsely, his throat still hurting and not wanting to tell the whole story.
Brackenstar padded into the she-cat's den, sitting at a spot in which he had been treated previous times. "I don't think it's as bad as it looks.." He said, his voice lowering. The proud leader wrapped his tail around his hind paws, setting his back straight and using his good paw to hold himself up.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jul 17, 2011 9:45:45 GMT -5
Icepetal glanced nervously from Flameheart to Brackenstar. She'd been told, once, that medicine cats could tell how many lives a leader had left. Will she know that Brackenstar has lost a life? Icepetal wondered. She felt as if it had all been her fault, though the voice of reason tried to convince her to feel otherwise. But no matter what arguments arose in her mind, she couldn't help feeling responsible for the accident that had cost her leader one of his lives. Icepetal still shook from the thought of what would have happened had he been a normal cat, without the nine lives given to him by StarClan. I would have lost him. She thought sadly, looking at the cat she loved and trying not to appear too upset, though every bit of her being ached for him and wished him well.
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Post by flameh on Jul 19, 2011 11:03:54 GMT -5
The ginger medicine cat studied the bloody paw presented to her. She then looked up at Brackenstar, noticing how weak he seemed. "Right, a small accident" she mewed in a disbelieving tone. "Go sit over there" she said, flicking her tail to the nest inside the den.
She then turned and headed to her stores. She began looking through them, pulling out some marigold, and gathering cobwebs.
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