ONCE IN A LIFETIME \ disappearance

[FERNGILL]

Of course he noticed, of couse, of course. It had been too long since he'd seen his mate, a whole sunrise and sunset since he'd felt the press of her against his side, and he knew something was wrong. Dedication drove every one of Ferngill's actions- and marched him forward to gather a patrol the moment he noticed. It wasn't too weird for Sablemist to go out, of course, but for her not to return? He trusted her more than anything in the world- knew well her strength, and the power of her heart, and her devotion. It wouldn't be willing for her to stay away, surely... surely. If there was one thing he knew in the depths of this choking uncertainty, it was that she would never have left.

Searching, Ferngill's mind played sickening repeats of what had happened to Sablemist's father- missing for a few days, and fount rotted into the dirt. He tried to keep a steady countenance among his patrol, despite the distress that flickered behind a verdant eye. That distress turned emerald to the green of an old bruise when he looked down at soem scattered flower-petals, and a tiny little shred of ebony fur.

Her sweet scent disappeared into the water.

Ferngill sank to his haunches- he couldn't hide the terror on his face, mouth hanging open, eye already glassy with shock and sorrow. He couldn't look, anymore- lifted his head up and tipped it against the breeze, trying to catch another hint of her scent. And it was there, but stale, stale- and tapered into nothing. It had been what he had feared, but being right didn't make it an ounce nicer. "I, uh..." Ferngill's paws fumbled. He felt bruising blackness pressing into the back of his eyes and lurched forward, squeezing them shut and nearly letting his nose strike the cold earth. "No blood," he said, voice already beginning to warble with tears.

Footsteps neared- those on his search patrol, no doubt. "I don't know..." His throat was dry. "She wouldn't have left. She wouldn't have left us. She wouldn't have left me," he whimpered. "Stars, I don't- something's happened to her, something's happened to her...!" ​

✦ penned by pin ✦​

 

[owlcrest]

Regret.

It bubbles in his chest as he moved close to ferngill, suddenly stopping midstep with a paw in the air- the lead warrior crumpled in on his words that stung even his own throat. So many cats missing, so many cats disappearing in the wretched waters that Riverclan possessed.

A frown twisted on his maw, not at the sight before him but because- he threatened to have left. To leave behind Riverclan in desperate needed times. Would Sunpaw- he didn't even wanna think about it if he had chosen to leave. His friends, his clan... And now- it was possible Sablemist left, nothing enough to settle a broken twisted heart of loss. But the lead warrior let out a whimper, that she wouldn't have.

And owlpaw believed ferngill. The silvery chocolate tom pressed closer, teeth biting into his tongue at the hesitance to not speak, to not fuck up. He was here to help, not harm.

And his gaze of ice and moss searched the ground for words to say to better the situation. But there was nothing he could say. "Well.. keep looking." He said hesitantly. "Maybe.. we can check borders for.. fur tufts.. " he murmurs his idea, gaze falling on the tuft and flowers before him. "Something happened and we- we are here to figure it out-" though a gnawing feeling tugged at him. We're any of them prepared for the worst?

​

 

[PIKESPLASH]

Sablemist had been gone for far too long. He couldn't say that he was close to the younger warrior, but he did know her mother. Boneripple, who he had failed before. Before her mother had disappeared she still had not lost a limb. It was when he had brought her to a monster he stumbled across moons ago, inviting her for a sun bath. It was no sunningrocks, but it was close enough. The two had shared a conversation then, dare the silver tom say they grew close. However, he failed to see her hesitance in returning and sharing another moment between each other.

And swiftly, she was gone. He couldn't ask her what he had done wrong. What was it that drew her away from Riverclan. The silver tom had seen how she distanced herself from the clan, and yet he couldn't help bridge the gap. He had understood it. After all, he too was an outsider. Even though he remained in this clan for many moons, he was still rather weak. Those who knew of his kittypet blood scoffed at him. His saving grace? Learning how to swim and hunt. While he may be weak, he provided for this clan. It wasn't enough to stop Boneripple.

Green eyes trail to the ginger pelt of Ferngill. He did not know of the lead warrior's relationship with Sablemist. It was evident that the pair were close and her loss was agonizing. For a moment ginger becomes a familiar silver. I was like that once. And when you returned, you were different. I couldn't reach you anymore. His maw parts, though no sound escapes. I hope things are different for you, goes unsaid.

Pikesplash is thankful for Owlpaw. The apprentice understands to some extent that finding Sablemist is not a certainty, but says what all of them are here for. They are here to find answers. While Sablemist is not as close to them as Ferngill, she is a clanmate. She is one of them and they must find her. "... We'll keep searching. Owlpaw is right, something's happened." All he can offer is a small smile towards the lead warrior, "I don't believe for a second she would have left you." In the grand scheme of things it's not much in terms of comfort. There's much to be desired, but he is not close with Ferngill. They are moons apart and their duties are vastly different.

If you believe she loves you just as fiercely, then I'm sure she's going to find her way to you again.​

 

[iciclefang]

Her brother leads the patrol to the water's edge, his breath misting before his ginger muzzle. He walks with purpose, but Iciclefang can feel the frazzled determination sparking from his pelt. Her own doubts simmer behind her cautious blue gaze — many had not survived the floods, and she will not soon forget Apricotflower, limp and waterlogged on the river's bank. The tortoiseshell's expression is a mask, though — if her littermate were to turn and look at her, he would see nothing concerning, nothing doubting.

It's not until they reach the cusp of the river that Ferngill's limbs begin to shake. The tufts of black fur, the scattered petals floating atop the water — his breath trembles as he tries to convince himself she would not have left.

Iciclefang's chest feels cold. She thinks of Bonejaw, the girl's mother, how she had arrived at their border, pregnant and sour from her escape from ShadowClan. How she had vanished without a blossom to commemorate her disappearance. Sablemist has only ever known RiverClan, she thinks to herself; her blue gaze falls onto the water, haunted. She remembers those kits well, splashing in puddles, their fur wet and slick with mud. And I know... I know she loved him. The way she had blushed beneath her dark fur, the way her blue eyes had been light, full to the brim with hope for their future.

She clenches her teeth. Damn it. Damn it all. No, she does not believe Sablemist could have willingly left Ferngill behind. Owlpaw tries, in his feeble way, to comfort the ginger warrior, and Pikesplash echoes what she believes — "I don't believe for a second she would have left you."

Iciclefang thinks about Apricotflower, how cold her fur had been, how stiff her body. She thinks of Lichenstar, dragged to shore by Salmonshade. She thinks of the cats who had entered the waters and never returned.

"I'm so sorry." Her voice is low, for Ferngill only. She presses her flank to his, her troubled gaze on the petals Sablemist had left behind. "They're right. We'll keep looking. If there's any chance she lives... we'll find her."

It's the only comfort she knows to give.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Iciclekit . Iciclepaw . Iciclefang, she/her w/ feminine terms.
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — 29 moons old, ages realistically on the 17th.
  — mentored by Smokestar ; mentoring Pinepaw ; previously mentored Cicadaflight
  — riverclan lead warrior. mudpelt x icesparkle, gen 2.
  — former mate to Stormywing ; current mate to no one.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh tortoiseshell and white she-cat with ice-blue eyes. confident, capable, proud, dry, conceited, condescending, distrustful.

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