- May 31, 2023
- 205
- 63
- 28
general cw for descriptions of grief, death, & bodies!
Blood has crusted into a coppery rime on her half-light muzzle. There is a body on her back. It is one she never thought she would carry — one she never should carry, and yet here she is, like a carpenter. "Please prepare Venomstrike. And the kits," Scorchstorm croaks to one of her patrolmates (it didn't matter which; little mattered right now, really). Grasspaw had fetched Sunstar, but the kits... they could not see their parent in this way, not without preparation. Her throat is raw, and her words exit her muzzle half-baked. Still, her patrolmate understands. The shape of them moves ahead, and Scorchstorm is left behind.
Rattleheart had died hours ago, but Scorchstorm could not be moved until now, immobilized by grief and tears. She had sobbed until her eyes and cheeks ran raw. She had screamed until her throat was bloody. She had cursed RiverClan and Beefang and Roepaw one thousand times each, and she had not cursed them to her satisfaction, and maybe she never would.
Dimmingsun hauls her once-aunt, now-corpse into camp with her, spreading the weight of her across their backs. It seems stupid. Rattleheart was a tunneler, so thin and small that Scorchstorm is certain she could carry him herself, but she does not spurn what aid she can get now. It is a step up from a few hours ago, at least. A piece of her, though, is terrified even more than it is sad or empty or angry; she is terrified to bring Rattleheart home where Scorchstreak can see him, where his kits and mate can see him. They have all lost so much. Far too much, she thinks, as Rumblerain and Luckypaw flash through her mind, and Bluepool and Cygnetstare and Lambcurl though she did not know them so well, and she sees even the watery, imagined face of Dappledsun in her hysteria. Would Scorchstreak see another sunrise, if she also saw Rattleheart's body? Would she be able to continue as WindClan's deputy? Would it be right of her daughter to deny her the chance to find out?
Scorchstorm swings her low-hung head to the lead warrior assisting her. "My mother," she begins, a hoarse whisper, and then halts. She does not know how to continue. Her jaw hangs open for a moment before she shakes her head and puts one paw in front of the other, dismissing Dimmingsun's attention.
Finally they have come through the heather tunnel, a black and red and dismal parade. Scorchstorm lays Rattleheart down as if putting her to sleep; in a sense, she supposes that is what she is doing. His fur is so bloody. Too bloody; he should be clean, at least, if he cannot be breathing. The idea wrings new tears from her ducts. Scorchstorm becomes little more than a black and orange puddle, pooling at her uncle's side, face buried in his shoulder fur. Her sobbing is no longer audible — volume and composure had taken their leave back at the border. Perhaps Dimmingsun, or Mossthorn, or Rivewhisper would be strong enough to break the news to the Clan.
Blood has crusted into a coppery rime on her half-light muzzle. There is a body on her back. It is one she never thought she would carry — one she never should carry, and yet here she is, like a carpenter. "Please prepare Venomstrike. And the kits," Scorchstorm croaks to one of her patrolmates (it didn't matter which; little mattered right now, really). Grasspaw had fetched Sunstar, but the kits... they could not see their parent in this way, not without preparation. Her throat is raw, and her words exit her muzzle half-baked. Still, her patrolmate understands. The shape of them moves ahead, and Scorchstorm is left behind.
Rattleheart had died hours ago, but Scorchstorm could not be moved until now, immobilized by grief and tears. She had sobbed until her eyes and cheeks ran raw. She had screamed until her throat was bloody. She had cursed RiverClan and Beefang and Roepaw one thousand times each, and she had not cursed them to her satisfaction, and maybe she never would.
Dimmingsun hauls her once-aunt, now-corpse into camp with her, spreading the weight of her across their backs. It seems stupid. Rattleheart was a tunneler, so thin and small that Scorchstorm is certain she could carry him herself, but she does not spurn what aid she can get now. It is a step up from a few hours ago, at least. A piece of her, though, is terrified even more than it is sad or empty or angry; she is terrified to bring Rattleheart home where Scorchstreak can see him, where his kits and mate can see him. They have all lost so much. Far too much, she thinks, as Rumblerain and Luckypaw flash through her mind, and Bluepool and Cygnetstare and Lambcurl though she did not know them so well, and she sees even the watery, imagined face of Dappledsun in her hysteria. Would Scorchstreak see another sunrise, if she also saw Rattleheart's body? Would she be able to continue as WindClan's deputy? Would it be right of her daughter to deny her the chance to find out?
Scorchstorm swings her low-hung head to the lead warrior assisting her. "My mother," she begins, a hoarse whisper, and then halts. She does not know how to continue. Her jaw hangs open for a moment before she shakes her head and puts one paw in front of the other, dismissing Dimmingsun's attention.
Finally they have come through the heather tunnel, a black and red and dismal parade. Scorchstorm lays Rattleheart down as if putting her to sleep; in a sense, she supposes that is what she is doing. His fur is so bloody. Too bloody; he should be clean, at least, if he cannot be breathing. The idea wrings new tears from her ducts. Scorchstorm becomes little more than a black and orange puddle, pooling at her uncle's side, face buried in his shoulder fur. Her sobbing is no longer audible — volume and composure had taken their leave back at the border. Perhaps Dimmingsun, or Mossthorn, or Rivewhisper would be strong enough to break the news to the Clan.
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ooc. takes place immediately after this thread! tagging @dimmingsun @Mossthorn @rivewhisper as cats helping her / that were on the patrol, but no need to wait :- )
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SCORCHSTORM —— warrior of windclan, mentored by sunstar & badgermoon . scorchstreak x badgermoon . littermate to rumblerain, frostwind, and luckypaw ✦ penned by meghan
✦ a broad-shouldered tortoiseshell with low white and dual-toned amber eyes. extremely loyal to sunstar and her family, and enjoys a deep connection to the moorlands
✦ demigirl / she they pronouns / lesbian / 16 moons & ages every 1st
✦ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
—— will start fights / will not flee / may show mercy. fights honorably and with great ferocity. can tank a few hits, but is not the sturdiest cat in windclan. starts fights with the intention of finishing them permanently, but will not aim to maim or kill obviously young cats
✦ "speech", thoughts, all opinions are in character
✦ full biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
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