She's so cheery... despite the hunger that pulls at her ribs and the exhaustion that must hum through her bones, Flowercloud never seems to dull. Her spark is a warm fire that can be curled up near... not so different from the hearth of their home that warms the dark stripe along their back most hungrily. It's the sort of warmth they've felt deprived of, from different sources... some within their control but most not. Auburn fur that will not hold them. Moon river eyes that will not set upon them again. Orange feathers that ruffle under the weight of truth.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch anything this time, I think my nose is too cold," they mew, butting up against her in an effort to share in the flickering flames of a friendship reaffirmed.
The snow grows more brazen in its efforts to bury them out here... every snowflake that lands along their back another attempt to further obscure them from sight. Soon enough even the small black markings that split them from head to tail wouldn't be discernable... a funny retelling of an Edenberry born the color of a lily, unmarred by ink.
Flowercloud hums a nickname they don't think they've ever been called before, setting their heart aflutter with a relieved, kit-like joy. Eed... It's so reductive... something maybe even their kittens could've called them with their limited expanse of language before they'd left.
"Yeah, of course! We can go, I'm right here with you."
They are happy to share the close space with her, as the other warrior seems eager to cling to them like a burr- she's so warm.... alive... the brush of her fur only slightly dampened where flakes have fallen and promptly melted when faced with the heat of her sunshine personality. Edenberry casts her a glance, another grin,
"Hey-
Crack.
There's a sudden jab into their side, the warmth disappears all too suddenly and they tumble into the cold as if ice had given way from underneath them, drowning in the freezing waters they didn't realize they were standing over. By the time they gain their senses enough to look back, to notice that it's quiet... too quiet... their ears ring with a sense of dread.
Where... where is she?
Their mouth runs dry, stumbling to their paws despite the ache of frozen joints,
"Flowercloud! Flowercloud, where are you?" They squint against the blizzard winds, wondering if maybe she hared off in some other direction? It isn't until they see a single paw reaching out from under a pile of snow where they'd once both been standing that the reality dawns on them.
"N...no! No, no no, no no no! FLOWERCLOUD!" They lunge for the bank, digging frantically at the snow to unearth her, praying she had held her breath, that it was just a scary moment, they'd both be able to go home and laugh about this.
But when they uncover the side of her face, there is not even a hint of light in the colors of her eyes.
"Flowercloud! Flowercloud I'm here! I'm here, hold on- just hold on I'll get help!" They stumble over their words, lips numb with adrenaline, fear, and the cold. They know what death looks like... know the way it hollows out the cheeks, the way paw pads turn to stone beneath their touch... they recognize it for the loss it is but cannot stomach to say it out loud. Admit that she's already gone, that there was nothing they could do but stand witness to it.
"Please... please Flowercloud, don't leave," they whine, reaching their nose to try to rub at her cheek to wake her.
She'll come around... she'll come to in just a minute. But seconds pass... and they do not feel her breath stir their whiskers. It grows harder and harder to deny.
"I'm coming right back.. I'm coming back Flowercloud, just wait for me!"
They draw in a deep breath, a last hope to cling to her scent; just in case.
Because I already know it's the last time...
The daylight warrior turns on their heels... and runs. Like they've always been good at doing.
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-- edenberry / skyclan daylight warrior / any pronouns / 19 moons
-- mostly white with black pinstripe and green eyes / scarred face and back
-- color #728c69
