What a Wet Mess!

[PickeBicke]

Crowsight automatically pulled Brackenkit closer and began to swipe his tongue over his son's head to groom him. A sigh rumbled in his throat at the kit's words. "RiverClan didn't steal Gustpelt from us," he explained. "He fell in love and had wonderful kits like you. Do you think your mother stole me when I joined WindClan?"

"I most certainly did," Shadowstar chuckled from her nest. Her yellow eyes glowed with love. "I stole you from the hard life of a loner and brought you into the hard life of a warrior!" At her belly Mothkit had blearily started to suckle, having just woken up.

[Silver]

Hawksight looked to his son when he spoke up. "Good-morning Brackenkit." He purred. He nodded to Sunpool when she came over.

Featherpaw purred when Brackenkit came up behind her. "Hi Brackenkit!" She purred excitedly, she was happy to have someone she liked who hated Shadowpaw just as much as she did. It was hard to find many people who hated Shadowpaw like she did but Brackenkit seemed to so it was all good.

Lilykit purred when she saw her brother come out, "Hey Brackenkit, Sorry if I woke you up." She told him. "Why don't you come and sit in between Daddy and me, there's room." She told him, pushing Shadowpaw over a little and leaving enough room for her brother to fit between her and their father. "Hi Sunpool! Yeah, we're up early but I just couldn't sleep. You know, I'm having one of those days where your wide awake with barely any sleep."

Coralnose padded back into camp, refreshed from her walk. She padded over to Hawksight and touched noses with him quickly before turning to Brackenkit. "You've been doing such a good job keeping your sister in line." She whispered to him, smiling before going into the nursery and relaxing when she saw the Birchkit was still sleeping.

[Evangelion]

Turtleheart meowed softly, "Just tired and hungry...but otherwise I'm glad you're here."

Pricking his ears at the movement at the entrance, he turned and saw that Willowtail was getting up. Padding towards her, Turtleheart meowed, "Willowtail. If you're going to set up a hunting patrol, would you mind taking me and Smog with you? We could give her an idea of what hunting within a Clan is like."

The deputy glanced at the she-cat and gave a perfunctory nod. "Alright. Wait out here for me while organize the patrols."

The tortoiseshell flicked his tail at his mate. "We'll show you how a WindClan cat hunts."


((Pretend Willowtail set up hunt/border patrols.))

[MoonKitty]

Smog's ears tilted backwards as she detected something unusual in his voice. Something that didn't make him sound particularly happy. However, she didn't say anything, just quietly pulling herself up out of the nest as Turtleheart went to speak to Willowtail. The grey she-cat began to groom some bits of moss our of her long fur as she waited, keeping one eye on her mate. I wonder what's wrong...

As he came back to her, she lifted her eyes up to meet his. "Okay," she murmured, nodding obediently, "I'll do my best!" She hoped that she could cheer him up if she acted that way herself.

((I don't know if you meant for him to come off as unhappy, but that's just the way I interpreted it. ^^; Tell me if you want me to change it.))

[Aeria Gloris]

His body was engulfed by flames, the heat scorching his chest. Ravenflight searched for relief, trying to catch his breath. It was impossible. His lungs were no longer working properly.

"Shellfur...Coralnose! Please, where are you?"

He wanted his kits to take him out of this misery. If they wouldn't...surely Gustpelt would.

"Ravenflight..."

Someone was running towards him, her streamlined form approaching. Green eyes shone in the darkness.

"Don't be afraid, my love..."

The dark dream was on Ravenflight's mind as he exited the warriors' den. He did not want to bother Silvertongue or Tinyleaf with it. They already had enough to worry about.

Hearing Willowtail mention a patrol, Ravenflight padded towards her. "Mind if I join? I don't want to stay in camp."

[Evangelion]

Willowtail looked at the warrior, her heart sinking at how emaciated he was. "Of course, Ravenflight...Hopefully the patrols can find...something."

She cleared her throat and continued, "Our group will go to the rolling hills. We might find small prey, birds, and any herbs that Silvertongue and Tinyleaf might need."


(Let's go!)

[PickeBicke]

Oakstripe slipped into camp beside Coralnose and headed straight for the nursery. His jaw was set in a grim line as he slid in to stand beside Crowsight. "Mother, father, I have news from RiverClan," he meowed. "Do you remember when Fawnfur was murdered? I met Gustpelt and Beestripe and they told me they too had warriors killed outside of camp by some other cat."

His golden eyes searched his mother's stunned gaze. Did she realize what this implied? "They say that it might be Scar...she was spotted on RiverClan territory sometime ago. It could also be any number of former rogues...including Claw."

It took a moment for Shadowstar to collect herself. All the violent memories of BoneClan were wreaking havoc in her mind, causing her to shiver. "Thank you for telling me Oakstripe," she whispered. Gently pushing Mosskit away, she got to her paws. "Willowtail is out hunting so I will need to organize the scout parties myself. We must figure out what is going on."

Leaving the nursery she called out for her remaining warriors to assemble. "It has been brought to my attention that the cat who killed Fawnfur might be a rogue exiled from one of the clans...or a member of BoneClan." She paused to let that sink in. "RiverClan too has experienced strange losses, which were brought to my attention by my son Oakstripe's conversation with Gustpelt."

Her eyes scanned the camp. "I need three search parties to look for this murderer. Honeypool, you will lead one patrol. Otterpelt, you a second. I know this will be hard for you, but I know no one could work harder to find your adoptive daughter's killer. Duskshadow will lead the third patrol. I want at least five cats in each group, and no one is to leave camp alone anymore."

[Minou]

Tinyleaf walked with a slow pace into the camp, and over hearing Willowtail, smiled thankfully. “Whatever you find will be greatly appreciated.”

His sunny eyes glowed with fake cheerfulness as he remembered how low on herbs he really was. He had devoted his time searching for some, but every time he returned to camp with a jaw full of air. It had been harder and harder finding the ones he needed most, and didn’t want to overstock on the ones he had more then enough on.

He stepped over Badgerpelt’s tail, twitching unhappily on the ground as she listened. "It has been brought to my attention that the cat who killed Fawnfur might be a rogue exiled from one of the clans...or a member of BoneClan."

He ignored her hiss of outrage, and pawed at her side to shush her up. She lifted her one eye up at him, and narrowed it in annoyance. “RiverClan too has experienced strange losses, which were brought to my attention by my son Oakstripe's conversation with Gustpelt."

When Badgerpelt stood, Tinyleaf took a couple steps back to move out of her way. "I need three search parties to look for this murderer. Honeypool, you will lead one patrol. Otterpelt, you a second. I know this will be hard for you, but I know no one could work harder to find your adoptive daughter's killer. Duskshadow will lead the third patrol. I want at least five cats in each group, and no one is to leave camp alone anymore." She instantly started towards Otterpelt.

[Poffin]

"Can apprentices go?"

Maplepaw clawed the wet ground eagerly, his sorrel pelt bushed up against the cold. He had never seen the Boneclan cats himself but he thought it must be a great adventure to go looking for them! Besides, it should be good training for him too.

"Can I go too, please Shadowstar? Stoneface can come with me and we can join a patrol together so he can teach me. I won't get in the way, I promise!"

His big blue eyes gazed at her in excitement.

[PickeBicke]

Shadowstar couldn't resist a smile when the sorrel apprentice begged her to be let out on patrol. I remember that age, she thought fondly. But should I let him go when there's a murderer on the loose? She couldn't stand it if something happened to the young tom.

"Well," the bi-colored she-cat began, "if Stoneface is with you I don't see the harm. Go get him and join Duskshadow's patrol. Just make sure you listen and do exactly as you're told when you're told, alright?"

Glacing over to the medicine den, Shadowstar felt her whiskers lift in surprise. It seemed Badgerpelt had stomped over to Otterpelt as soon as the patrol announcement had been made. The brown tom looked surprised but didn't say anything as he waited for more cats to volunteer.

The WindClan leader opened her mouth to offer a protest, but snapped it shut again. Badgerpelt would never sit and watch her clanmates leave to hunt down a murderer without her. Even if Shadowstar refused to let her go with the patrol, she would find a way to sneak out of camp and go looking on her own.

"Badgerpelt," she called softly. Hoping the she-cat would understand her concern, she meowed, "Take care of yourself. You've just started to recover from those deathberries and I don't want to see you in the medicine den much longer. I almost lost one of my finest warriors when you were poisoned."

Behind her, Crowsight had wrangled a curious Mothkit back into the nursery.

"But I don't want to sit in camp!" the tortoiseshell kit wailed. "I want to go out and hunt down the rabbit-brain who hurt Fawnfur!" Her tiny forepaws flailed at her father's muzzle. Though her claws were sharp she still had moons to go before the power behind her blows was enough to hurt him.

The scarred tom chuckled and nudged her further into the den. "All in good time little one," he purred indulgently. Reaching out into a corner of the nursery, he dragged an old rabbit's tail forward. "For now you and your siblings can practice pouncing on this."

[RedOracle]

Duskshadow nodded to his leader and took up a spot near the camp entrance. His limp had been slightly more pronounced after the flood, but it was only because of over-exertion. Shadowstar trusted him to lead this mission and he wouldn't let her down.

Over near the warrior's den Poppynose, Tallfoot and Roughclaw emerged one right after the other. The orange tabby she-cat walked purposefully up to the large black tom and stared at him. "I'm coming with you," she meowed in a voice that brooked no argument. "My mom and dad can handle the other patrols, but you need someone from our family with you. I'll work twice as hard as the others to find whoever killed Fawnfur."

All Duskshadow could do was nod. How could he deny her? Even if Fawnfur had been adopted, she was an essential part of their family. "Very well," he meowed. "You can join."

Roughclaw joined Poppynose at Duskshadow's side while Tallfoot glanced uncertainly between them and Honeypool. "I think I'll be joining her patrol," he ventured at last. "It'll be best if we split up."

Milkpool, hearing this, finished up the stale piece of rabbit she'd been eating and joined him by the sandy queen. Cloudwhisker, are you watching over us? she wondered. Please help us find this killer dear sister. I can't lose another clanmate.

"Yeah Mothkit, let's practice pouncing!"

Brairkit wriggled her haunches and jumped at the rabbit tail, missing it by a mouse-length and crashing into her father's leg. Winded, she sat back for a moment. "Oops," the young kit meowed. "Missed."

[Window]

A black-and-white blur launched itself at the fluffy tail, pinning it expertly beneath two small paws. "Try to aim Briarkit," her brother said dully as he clawed at the toy. "Imagine yourself landing on it and try to aim your body towards where it is. Don't just pounce on it all willy-nilly!"

Snakekit prided himself on his excellent hunting skills. He'd watched carefully as his father had explained each step to him, had practiced on grass stems and feathers his mother brought into the den. To him, it was second nature.

By the near-empty freshkill pile Bluefang paused with the other half of Milkpool's rabbit still in his jaws. They were going to find his littermate's killer? Bushing out his tail, the blue-gray tom got to his paws and immediately joined his mother's patrol. "Don't worry Honeypool," he meowed, "we'll find whoever did this and shred them!"

"I couldn't agree with you more," Croweyes called from the shadow beneath the wilting willow. "I'll join Duskshadow's patrol. StarClan knows my old friend and I haven't had a chance to do much lately what with the flooding." Whiskers twitching, the shorter black tom took his place beside his limping comrade.

[Sunpool]

The orange she-cat's tail danced behind her angrily when the announcements was made and the fur along her spine stood on end. Boneclan wanted to play again, did they? This time they'd take care of those mangy fox hearts before they became as much of a problem as before .... killing for no reason was just unacceptable.

Her ears perked to catch the names of the patrol leaders and, tail still doing it's angry dance, she moved over to where Otterpelt was, her milky white claws pricking into the ground. Her blue eyes were fixed on the brown tom for a bit before she started looking around to see who else was in the patrol.

Sunfrost may have been an incredibly awkward she-cat when it came to social matters and even hunting, but fighting? She had a bit of a temper but she could do that, and she wanted to as well. Whatever mange pelt was hurting her clanmates should only hope they weren't found by this patrol.

[Whitestream]

Tinywhisker trotted over to Honeypool, nodding to her in a polite but cheerful way, his heart was still heavy with loss but it was best to get back into the swing.

Darksong stood and stalked right over to Shadowstar, head held high the senile she-cat eyed off her leader.

"Shadowstar, I may be old but my body works fine and we need every able body we have, I want to protect my Clan at least once more, please allow me to join a patrol."

She requested in a strong but unnusually lucid voice.

((Oh lord, Darksong o_o))

[PickeBicke]

Shadowstar drew her ears back in surprise. After Snowpelt died, the elderly she-cat had appeared too lost in sorrow to even snap at anyone when they irritated her. Did she believe that by going on patrol, she might be able to lift some of the pain her mate's death had caused?

Should Shadowstar let her go, even though Darksong had earned the right to relax in camp as a loyal elder?

Would not letting her go affect the old she-cat's already senile mind and make her more depressed or, StarClan help them, be paranoid?

Looking into the elder's eyes, Shadowstar finally sighed and nodded. "Alright Darksong," she meowed softly. "You may go. But I want you to join Honeypool's patrol so you and Tinywhisker can be together. You can watch each other and keep each other safe. That is my deal."

[Minou]

"Badgerpelt,"

Badgerpelt’s one eye was instantly drawn into her leader’s direction. She had hoped Shadowstar would just overlook her, but all hope was now lost. She puffed out her chest, her mouth getting dry as she built up a good enough excuse. I was aloud to join border patrols after my eye was taken out, you won’t keep me back because I ate couple berries. We need all the warriors we have.

She deserved this. She wanted to get back out there and start again, to find this murderer and get justice. The clan deserved that from her. "Take care of yourself. You've just started to recover from those deathberries and I don't want to see you in the medicine den much longer. I almost lost one of my finest warriors when you were poisoned."

“Thank you Shadowstar, that means a lot.”

She instantly perked up. Having permission to do something was the best feeling, she no longer felt nervous.