Sicky Baby

[♣[Clover]♣]

Cloverstar had refused to accept the fact that she was sick. She'd rejected any treatment and carried on like nothing was wrong to the best of her ability depite her greencough. Currently, she was sitting at Four Creeks waiting for Soulstar. There was no official plan to meet, she was just hoping he would show up.

Her small frame shook as she sat in the snow. Suddenly, she convulsed and started a coughing fit that left her fur standing on end and made her shake even worse. She gave an uncomfortable groan and took a deep breath to try and steady herself. Green eyes flicked up to the ThunderClan border before she started coughing again. She crouched down, pressing her belly to the snow to try and soothe her fever, but it didn't seem to help. She drew a shaky breath and sat up again, trying hard to control her shivering. Quite honestly, she didn't look well; all skinny and listless. It was a wonder she was able to carry herself all the way to Four Creeks. Because she was to proud to accept treatment, Cloverstar was dying.[/color]

[!P.I.E!]

Sootstar!

If i cry, will you cry with me?

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There was one thing on this she-cat's mind Sparrowfang she didn't know what to do, or how to express her feelings for him or if she even should. Life as the Riverclan leader was rather uneventful ever since the water in the camp slowly started to recede. She stepped out of her den under the high rock and glanced around the camp, the early morning snow had collected overnight to dust the landscape lightly with a thin blanket of white. She slowly padded off towards the river, she tried to keep her mind off of Sparrowfang and on something else, maybe she would do a little hunting to try to keep herself busy. She opened her mouth the take in the frigid morning air and the scents of prey and damp forestation. A small water vole's scent caught her attention and she dropped into a hunting crouch and making sure she was down wind of the small creature.

She slowly and silently stalked off towards the direction of the scent, her dark gray tabby pelt rippling over the muscle on her shoulders. The reeds moved out of the way to reveal the small rodent cleaning it's face on the riverbank, she kneeded the ground on her front paws readying herself to pounce onto her prey. She contracted her back leg muscles and pounced onto the rodent and swiftly bit into it's scruff to snap it's small spine. The elder's have been fed by the dawn patrol, so I can enjoy my vole in peace. she pulled the rodent away from the wet riverbank and bit into it. Warmth flooded her body over the light dusting of snow and the cold wind the ripped through the reeds to the camp If it's newleaf then why is it so cold? I hope the apprentices are okay she sighed and quickly finished her vole. A new scent wafted into her nose, Shadowclan.

Why would a shadowclan cat be so close to her territory, to riverclan territory. Sootstar was ready for a fight. She slowly padded towards the scent, it lead out of her territory and close to the four creeks, when she came close to where the creeks met she crouched low in the bush to try to get a good view of the shadowclanner. She saw a small black shape in the brush on the other side of the creek, it was Cloverstar. She seemed to be shaking from the cold but then she collapsed and began to convulse Cloverstar! rasped Sootstar under her breath I have to get Soulstar she darted off towards thunderclan territory.

She arrived at the thunderclan camp and travelled through the entrance, warriors that had awoken early stared angrily at her, she looked back over her silver tabby fur to see two warriors where following her towards Soulstar's den. She stopped at the entrance Soulstar! I need to speak with you she panted, awaiting the soft-spoken tom's reply.

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[[R] a v e n]

(((Okay Haven't RPed warriors in awhile so lets see what I can come up with. x.x)))

Soulstar[/color]

This ain't no temporary, typical, tearful good-bye,
This ain't no breakin' up and wakin' up and makin' up one more time
This is gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

"You mousebrained fool!" The large tom cat glared down at a tiny spotted kit, his tail fluffed out and claws unsheathed. The little kit trembled, his eyes huge like the full moon that dared to peek from the clouds. "You really think your ready to be an apprentice? You shame the title!" The older rust colored tom spat at the kitten and slapped the kit's ear, leaving a large v-shaped niche. "Next time you listen," he growled "you don't move unless I say so, you don't leap till I say so, you don't breath unless I say so." He stepped forward, his heavy breath bellowing down onto the little spotted, and bleeding, kit. "Got it Kit?" All the kit could do was nod and slink back to camp behind his tyrannous father.

Soulstar jerked awake, he found himself staring at his own reflection in a melted snow pool near his nest. He gazed at his reflection, his spotted pelt glimmering faintly in the morning light. He shuttered and shook his head. Leaning forward Soulstar looked at himself in the pool again. He leaned forward and gazed at himself in the pool of water, the v-shape in his ear still clung to his ear like an evil curse. He dipped his head down and gingerly lapped at the freezing water. Lately he had began to loose a feeling of respect for himself and his family, the clan, his clan, seemed to drift apart. The only thing that kept him grounded was his love for one he was forbidden to love. Cloverstar.

"From this moment on you will be known as Soul. Not Soulstar." He told his reflection, in all reality he was not removing his title, but separating himself from the clan so he didn't feel as much guilt for deeds his family had committed. His deep blue eyes burned into the reflection, all in all burning back at himself. He needed someone there for him, like Clover. He did have a few warriors in his clan that stood strongly by his side, but the truth was he wasn't sure if they loved his leadership. Am I doomed to be a tyrant like my father? He shook his head and splashed the water away.

He was jerked back to the reality of the clan when a voice rang out around his camp. He jerked his face towards his den entrance, the voice was vaguely familiar. Sootstar? He would normally challenge any intruder but there was a twinge in her voice that concerned him. Something was wrong. Pushing himself to his paws he padded to the entrance, his eyes glinting with pain from past memories and concern for the present. "Sootstar. What's happened?"

...Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday
Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things that ain't never coming back

[/color][/right]

[!P.I.E!]

Sootstar!

If i cry, will you cry with me?

[/size][/color]

She listened to Soulstar, she noticed the panic rising in his spotted coat and his eyes widened. She took that as a que and twitched the tip of her tail for him to follow, then dashed out of the thunderclan camp. The dark gray leader kept her nose close to the ground as she retraced her scent to find her way back to the dying Cloverstar. She wondered as her paws pounded the hard frosted morning earth, why did she come to Soulstar for help? Why did Soulstar seem so tense with worry back there? She couldn't put the answers of her thoughts together. She glanced back and caught sight of the spotted thunderclan leader hard on her paws as she wove her way through unfamiliar territory. She splashed through a small stream, then looked back, the thunderclan leader didn't even look like he had noticed his paws where wet. She was determined to find her way back to Cloverstar, she wouldn't let Hawkpath take over just yet/

Sootstar never fully trusted the tabby shadowclan deputy, the she-cats light yellowy green gaze reminded her of the stories she had been told about Tigerstar's treachery and how Leopardstar followed his every move, sending Riverclan into a deep hole with Thunderclan and Windclan. This wasn't the time to be criticizing the Shadowclan deputy and get back to finding the perishing Shadowclan leader! Sootstar slowed her pace and lowered her nose to the frosted ground once more, she found had finally found her scent trail that lead to the Thunderclan camp. She glanced back at Soulstar then increased her pace once again, and hopefully wasn't tiring out the older leader. She remained weaving amongst the trees that she had gone on the opposite direction not to long ago Please be all right Cloverstar! she thought of the leaders small stature and weaker frame. Maybe it's too late this thought sent a shiver down Sootstar's spine, making her fur prickle. She finally reached to clearing where Cloverstar lay Over here! she yowled to Soulstar then flicked her ears to the cream and white lump of fur in the middle of the clearing, her sides where rising and falling rather weakly, but at least she was still breathing Thank Starclan!

Ooc; Lotsa muse today!

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[♣[Clover]♣]

Cloverstar
--She packs a punch like a roman candle

>>In the time it had taken Sootstar to leave her side and go fetch help, Cloverstar had weakened considerably. Her breathing was shallow and whenever she tried to take a relatively deep breath, it irritated something within her and then all the breath was driven from her lungs by feeble coughing. Her dusky green eyes were narrowed and her mind was racing. Because she was a mousebrain, this was one less life she would be able to spend with Soulstar. Because of foolish pride ShadowClan's leader would be one life short. She was failing her Clan and her love. She tried to think of something to keep her mind occupied in a more positive way but all she could think about was how many lives she had left. If I die now, I think I have seven more... she thought.

>>It seemed like forever before she finally her pawsteps again. She didn't even bother lifting her head, she knew she didn't have much strength left. Using her nose, she detected to scent of Sootstar once again, but this time she wasn't alone. The woodsy scent that accompanied the RiverClan leader's was so familiar, it made the pale furred she-cat's heart thud painfully against her ribcage. Soulstar... she thought, closing her eyes. They fluttered open a moment later and she weakly tried to sit up. Her paws scrabbled on the ground and she made it up about half way before a violent cough knocked her back down.

>>Part of her didn't want Soulstar to be here, didn't want him to see her this sick. She was embarrassed even more as she thought back to the night when she'd contracted the illness and how she'd promised to get checked by the medicine cat after falling in the frigid water. She felt even worse as she remembered that she'd gone hunting all night in the snow instead. But another part of her was immensely comforted and relieved that someone she cared about was there with her.

((I just made up a number for her lives...))

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[[R] a v e n]

Soulstar[/color]

This ain't no temporary, typical, tearful good-bye,
This ain't no breakin' up and wakin' up and makin' up one more time
This is gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

His pale eyes stared intently now at Sootstars tail as she twisted and sprinted out of the camp. A few panicked and disgusted eyes followed Soulstar as he trotted after the gray Riverclan leader. A young orange tom stopped him. "What's going on?" He was an apprentice, one who had little respect for his elders. Soulstar shook his head, "Nothing, go back to what you were doing." Soul finally reached the entrance to the camp and realized the young tom was following him. He stopped in his tracks, turned and spat at the tom "Go back to what you were doing. No one follows!" Satisfied that the older, more loyal warriors, would heed his call, Soulstar leaped into the forest.

He was following Sootstar as if his life depended on it. The young Riverclan leader was the youngest in history, starting her leadership at fourteen moons. Soulstar watched as she weaved and swerved through his forest. He was a good thirty moons older than she, but he was a fast cat. Finally they burst through the thicket and onto smoother, grassier ground. He shook himself to rid his coat of fallen leaves and stray snow. Why had she brought him here? Or more importantly, why had he followed?

The answer to the second was more clear than the first, he followed because he knew there was something wrong. If he had detected that Sootstar had just entered without permission then he would have been more angry than he was. Was the old leader growing soft in his fourty five moons? Not a chance. Soulstar had to be the most violent leader out of the four clans, he killed his own father after all. Not that anyone knew that though.

"Over here!" Sootstar called. Over where? Soul perked his ears and heard a strange rasping noise, something he recognized from his visits to Mudpelts den. He stepped around Sootstar and gazed at a creamy lump laying in the clearing. His heart dropped to the ground, his breathing shallowed, and his tail dropped to the ground. Clover.... Suddenly, as if his body acted before his mind responded, Soulstar sprinted forward and over the small creek onto the ground where Cloverstar lay. His paws still damp from the stream they trecked through slipped on the damp ground, regaining his balance he slid over to Clover. Laying down next to her he pressed his side to hers and licked her ears. She never visited the medicine cat.

We have to get her to her medicine cat! His mind screamed at him, but his reason spoke back. She's to far gone. No we can make it. She'll die like the others have in Mudpelts den in the past. She can make it. She has lives left. What should I do? Ask her. He felt like his heart was stuck in his throat, how could he ask the one he loved if she wished to struggle for life or die and live a new one? He nuzzled her cheek and softly spoke "Clover....You never visited the Medicine cat. Why?" No she didn't have that much strength. "Do you.....do you want to try to make it to Silvermask's den?"

...Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday
Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things that ain't never coming back

[/color][/right]

[♣[Clover]♣]

Cloverstar
--She packs a punch like a roman candle

>>Cloverstar's ears twitched slightly as she listened to Soulstar speak. He asked her why she hadn't visited a medicine cat like she had promised to. She had so much to say. She wanted to explain herself, but couldn't find the strength to respond like she wanted to. Instead, all that came out was a feeble "I'm sorry." Even then, it was obvious how violent shivering and a scratchy throat was making it hard for her to speak. She tried taking a deep breath only to have it result in another fit of coughing.

>>Silvermask...she desperately wanted to try and make it to her medicine cat and save her life rather then accepting death and starting over, but a more logical side of her knew that there was not way she'd make it all the way back to her camp. She also seriously doubted her ability to hold out as long as it took to run to camp and back to fetch the medicine cat. She wanted to live and she regretted not taking care of her illness sooner.

>>She weakly shook her head and closed her eyes. "Can't make it," she paused for a breath. "Can't...Silvermask." Her voice was barely audible and her eyes slipped closed. She looked like she'd stayed up for a moon straight and was finally able to get some sleep. Her breathing faltered a few times before slowing to a complete stop. Her body lay there, completely still and silent for a moment as StarClan repaired her body.

>>Cloverstar sat before the ranks of StarClan, her head bowed and her ears folded back. She glanced up long enough to see the outline of herself grow one life darker, a bit closer to being as solid as the others before looking back to her paws. That was two lives down, seven to go. What will Soulstar say? she thought, suddenly worried about how he would react. She guessed she would be reprimanded in the kind of way a kit is when it scares its mother. You know, the kit only gets yelled at because the mother was worried and scared. She felt like that kit already and she wasn't even sure Soul would react like that. StarClan suddenly spoke, one voice seemingly coming from hundreds of cats. "Cloverstar," they mewed. "You are ready to return to your body. Remember that ShadowClan needs their leader," they spoke. There was a tone there that made Cloverstar believe that they weren't exactly approving of hers and Sousltar's relationship. She chose to ignore that and interpret it as a warning not to be so careless with her life again.

>>The small she-cat's body twitched to live, suddenly taking deep breaths. She scrambled to her paws, her legs still feeling a bit weak and stiff. And though her fur still stank of sickness, she felt fine again. There was no little tickle in her throat every time she breathed and she felt like she had finally reached a normal body temperature. She looked at Soulstar with wide and tired eyes, though she couldn't think of anything to say to him. There was no real eloquent way to say 'hey how are you. I just lost a life, boy that was an ordeal, huh? What's happening with you?' It just wasn't done.

[/color]

[[R] a v e n]

Soulstar[/color]

This ain't no temporary, typical, tearful good-bye,
This ain't no breakin' up and wakin' up and makin' up one more time
This is gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

Soulstar's eyes were filled with worry, why was this happening? It wasn't a sign from Starclan that they shouldn't be together was it? He didn't care, he loved Cloverstar more than he thought he would, but he couldn't help it. The feeling felt, well foolish. He and Clover were betraying their clans and their ancestors, yet again he didn't care. He rasped his tongue over her ear as she spoke 'I'm sorry'. "It's okay. It's okay." He whispered. He no longer cared if Sootstar was there, they would all have a talk later. Right?

"Can't...Silvermask." Soulstar flicked his gaze back to Cloverstar to see her take a few ragged breaths before shaking and collapsing. His eyes widened and his heart beat faster. No! He lurched forward, standing over her fragile, lifeless body. Tears welled up in his eyes. In the back of his mind he knew that she would come back on another life, but that didn't matter. Cloverstar was dead right now. A low mournful yowl broke loose from his jaws, a sound of complete sadness. His tail lay on the ground as he crouched next to her body and pressed his muzzle into her neck fur. Why? was the only thought that ran through his mind. He stood up then and backed a tail length away, watching and waiting to see what was going to happen. Tears ran down his face.

After what seemed like forever Cloverstar breathed once again. His ears that lay flat on his head perked forward as he gazed at her. As she scrambled to her feet he stepped just one step closer. His eyes were filled with tears and concern. "Clover..." He whispered. She stared at him and after a few seconds he couldn't handle it any longer, he strode forward and planted a few quick loving licks on her cheek then forehead. The sounds of his purr filled the air.

...Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday
Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things that ain't never coming back

[/color][/right]

[♣[Clover]♣]

Cloverstar
--She packs a punch like a roman candle

Something was wrong. Soulstar was crying. Cloverstar felt awful for upsetting him like that. She offered an encouraging smile and took a step forward just as he came over to her and licked her face. "It's alright," she soothed, purring just as loud as him. She licked his cheek in return and rubbed her nose along the other.

"I'm better now, no need to worry," she mewed. She definately sounded better, though looks couldn't really be convincing just yet. And she felt a lot better. She'd been sick for so long she'd almost forgotten what it was like to feel healthy and strong again. It was a good feeling and she made a silent vow that no matter how proud she was, she'd go to Silvermask if she thought she was getting sick again. That kind of death was largely unpleasant.

She was silent a moment more before she smiled again. "You came to see me," she purred quietly. "I wasn't expecting that." The small leader had been hoping her mate would come, but she had been cynical because she was so close to death and thought she'd lose a life alone. She was glad he had been there with her.

[/color]

[D.e.a.t.h & Aphotic]

The medicine cat ran through the brush her tabby fur a mess. Anger flared on her face as she did her best to track her leader. The closer she got the more the pungent smell of sickness came. Shes headed toward the four creeks?. Her yellow eyes narrowed as she sped up getting closer to her destination. Moving through the brush she skidded to a halt in front of the small group. One, two , three leaders. She blinked what on earth?.

Her eyes flicked to Soulstar and Cloverstar disregarding the other leader. A low growl erupted from her as she walked right in front of Soulstar as if he where a rock or a tree. Doing her job she examined her leader and concluded that she was fine. The only way that happened is if... I was to late. Shame flinched inside her had she been earlier this might not have happened. "Cloverstar, we need to go back to the Shadowclan, your clan" she said softly and then added sternly "Unless you have forgotten where your loyalties lay".

Silvermask would not force them to separate it was not her place. Nor would she tell her clan because of her friendship with Clover but all these things didn't mean she had to like it. The tabby got up and walked a few paces before waiting for her leader to follow.

[[R] a v e n]

Soulstar[/color]

This ain't no temporary, typical, tearful good-bye,
This ain't no breakin' up and wakin' up and makin' up one more time
This is gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

Soulstar was so happy that Cloverstar was healthy again, even if it shouldn't have been his place. "You came to see me," Soul flicked his tail back and forth and pulled away from Clover "Of course I did."

[/color] He took a step back so that Clover actually had room to move, to breath. He didn't want to crowed her space as he thought he might have. His ears flicked back as he picked up the sound of an approaching cat. Then, seemingly out of no where, the Shadowclan medicine cat appeared, Silvermask.

Soulstar watched at the Shadowclan meddie took in the situation, his heart wrenched, how could he have been so foolish to show the emotions he had for Cloverstar in front of others? At that moment something inside him snapped, and something was lost. He wouldn't know until later what that was. "Unless you have forgotten where your loyalties lay." Soulstar growled and raised his head, staring defiantly at Silvermask. His ears were flattened to his skull and his eyes shone in anger. However he said nothing.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

...Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday
Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things that ain't never coming back

[/size][/right]

[♣[Clover]♣]

Cloverstar
--She packs a punch like a roman candle

Cloverstar smiled and watched Soulstar for a moment before a growl from somewhere near the edge of the clearing. She seemed almost startled to see Silvermask appear in front of her. She blinked and drew back slightly as if she had forgotten that she had been deathly ill when she left camp. She stared at medicine cat as she was examined. She continued to stare at her medicine cat blankly until she suggested that Cloverstar may have forgotten her loyalty.

Her dark green eyes blazed for a heartbeat before she flattened her ears and lowered her head, though Soulstar beat her to vocalizing irritation. Cloverstar needed to get back to her Clan and she certainly remembered where her loyalty lay, but that didn't mean she had to give up visiting Soulstar. She sighed and looked up at Silvermask, a bit of her fatigue showing in her expression. "Very well..." She walked past Silvermask and stood in front of Soulstar. "Thank you for coming to make sure I was okay," she meowed, trying hard to make it look as if their relationship was no more than a formal one between leaders. She touched noses with the ThunderClan leader before reluctantly turning back towards her Clanmates.

[D.e.a.t.h & Aphotic]

Silvermask stared calmly back into the challenging eyes of Soulstar unimpressed by his show of anger. "Do not give your anger to me, it is not me you challenge but the Starclan". Cloverstar gave the same reaction Soulstar did but she didn't bother to repeat the words but instead her icy calm gaze moved to meet her leaders eyes. Although she wouldn't admit it there was a hint of jealousy beneath Silver's calm exterior. Not only had the leader fallen in love but she had done it so easily and with a cat from a different clan. When Silvermask took her vows it was one of the things she let go of. She could never love she was not allowed the luxury. Silvermask watched as Clover said her goodbye's and shook her head as she turned to walk away. Noticing earlier the fatigued that seemed to plague Cloverstars mind she turned to her leader when they where a few pace's away. "I will not lecture you on you decision friend, for you know the rules just as well as I do but realize this will not and cannot last". Then sighing letting her own tiredness get to her she said "You are tired and so am I when we get back to camp you should rest if you cannot come see me and ill give you some poppy seeds".