ALL A BLUR [&] o, announcement + search party

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    TAGS ✦ ✧ ✦ — At first, it all seemed like a normal day. The sun shone overhead as usual, the air clear yet the water still didn't match the serenity of the atmosphere. It was sludgy, an ugly mix of brown and green that stuck to the bank. He had been absorbed in thought, mostly about Sunningrocks. Was this really the solution? A part of him wanted there to be another way, hoped there would be. But a whole other part said otherwise. They had to fight for their rights, for their survival. He was only one coward out of many, determined fighters. Though, still his stomach ached at the thought of having to face off against a Skyclan or Thunderclan cat. Despite them being more well-fed, Riverclan's starvation made them desperate, and desperation made them strong.


    Wrenbreeze lifted his head as an npc warrior approached him, a dark look looming over their face. His heart sank at the expression alone. Before he could ask, they spoke. "Cougarstar...we-we found her fur scattered around, just near the border. There's...blood, too," the whole world seemed to darken, despite the sun shining harshly on his pelt, all the air choked from his lungs. His mouth opened and closed in an attempt to speak. Finally, he gave in, lowering his gaze. He was dizzy and everything spun as an invisible weight hung on his shoulders. He couldn't believe this was happening, he wasn't ready to be leader-he probably would never be-but apparently he had to step up and take responsibility now.


    Taking in a deep breath, he thanked the warrior and stepped away, taking slow steps towards the log that laid sprawled across camp. He could faintly see the outline of the great empress from memories, her form glowing in his view. Then, suddenly, it was gone. He shook his head to dismiss any doubtful thoughts before heaving himself up onto the moss-ridden bark. His eyes roamed over the clearing, a few clan-members looking up expectantly. He swallowed to wet his dry throat before calling out, trying to mimic Cougarstar's powerful boom. "Riverclan gather around the fallen log! I have very important news!" he tried his best to make sure his voice didn't portray the weakness he was currently feeling.

    Doepelt, not having heard what the warrior had said to Wrenbreeze but feeling extremely uneasy at the tone his voice took on, swiftly bounded up to Wrenbreeze, her homely face plainly worried. What had happened to put off the reluctant, but arguably steadfast, deputy so much? The round she-cat sat down before the log, tail swishing in the sand, paws fidgeting slightly.
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    Completely unaware of the seriousness of this situation, the small brown tabby skipped forward clumsily and rubbed against Doepelt gently in a form of friendly greeting. But upon noting Wrenbreeze's distressed face, he tipped his head to the side and sat down, wondering what was the matter.

    The tabby apprentice paused in the middle of her grooming - she wasn't a rogue anymore so she might as well be presentable. Though at the deputy's - or, she assumed he was, given the rest of the clan's willingness to listen to him - call, she perked up before heading towards the growing crowd of cats. She had almost tripped over Ivykit in the process, letting out a soft hiss of annoyance before finding herself a nice spot among the clan.

    rainwatcher's right ear quivered from within the medicine cat den. was that wrenbreeze calling a meeting? perplexed, the tom dropped marigold from his grasp and rose to his paws, stepping out of the medicine cat den. he squinted at the bright light but quickly adjusted and made his way over to the assembling crowd beneath the log. "what in starclan is going on?" he asked aloud, squinting up at wrenbreeze with an expect look in his eyes. "where's cougarstar?" the tom glanced around at his clan-mates. they must have thought of these questions, right?


    TAGS ✦ ✧ ✦ — His eyes lowered towards Rainwatcher, amber that swam with intense emotions he was struggling to contain. The stares of his clan-mates felt heavy, and he had to take a deep breath before speaking, not only looking down at the medicine trainee but at the others gathered. "We've...found signs of a struggle. There was apparently fur and blood scattered, left by Cougarstar," he paused momentarily, searching the cats' faces for flickers of their own emotions. "We are not sure what has become of her yet. For now, we'll send out a search party. However, if we do not find her, I will....," he trailed off, the words barely able to surface in his throat. He could hardly believe he had to speak these words at all. "I will have to step up as leader," the dramatic finish. He once again looked down at their faces, but this time, he searched for acceptance. His uncertainty and anxiety was probably pouring off of him in waves of scent.

    "I'd like for Doepelt, Leafpaw, and Rainwatcher to accompany me on the search party. She's most likely injured, so herb knowledge will be needed," these were the first few to come up, and while he could name others that were more trust-worthy besides two of the three he had mentioned, he was drawing many blanks. His mind was still swimming.

    Previously beaming up at Wrenbreeze, Ivykit felt his mouth twitch down into a more concerned frown upon hearing Cougarstar's absence. Cougie was... gone? Green irises glossing over with upset, the small brown tabby glanced to Doepelt and pleaded, "You've got to find Cougie!" Fear laced his words, the typically-upbeat kitten quivering with nervousness.

    Leafpaw's eyes widened at the announcement. Cougarstar, the cat who had taken her in when she was found injured, had suddenly gone missing? It was hard to believe - the leader had seemed so strong, even in the short time the apprentice knew her. But she was even more shocked to hear that Wrenbreeze was asking her to come along. Surely the leader-to-be didn't trust her, he didn't even know her that well! Still, the apprentice would be foolish to pass up an opportunity like this to prove herself loyal to the clan, and more importantly to the deputy.

    » Sat at what she thought was a reasonable distance away from the larger grouping of clan members, Pigeonpaw's feet had trembled just barely in the distance from the apprentice's den to her choice of seating in trepidation. A perceptive eye caught the lack of a familiar figure of power and a careful ear picked up the very subtly... wrong edge to the deputy's tone. Her amber eyes widened imperceptibly when the news was finally delivered. The apprentice hadn't known Cougarstar too personally, but her respect and the influence of the others' distress made her heart flutter like a trapped bird as her gaze searched the distraught faces in the crowd. She hadn't the slightest idea of what to say. What would she even say? 'Sorry for your loss'?

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    Smokepaw had limped up when he heard the call for the meeting, having been lost in thought, thinking mainly about training and when he'd start. He wanted to get used to his injury as fast as possible, and hopefully, although the chances were slim, become a strong warrior. His blank yellow eyes looked at Wrenbreeze, and, as the news was spoken, his maw parted. Cougarstar, gone? He had just joined the clan and already a new leader, most likely Wrenbreeze, would be stepping up to the task. Wrenstar... The name didn't quite have the fierceness Cougarstar did, and, despite not knowing her personally, he knew she'd be missed. "Sir," called the apprentice, directed at Wrenbreeze. "Do you think we are in danger? That Cougarstar being kidnapped, or whatever happened, was a hostile attack?"

    Doepelt's once-emotive amber eyes glazed over upon Wrenbreeze's words, her soft body immediately becoming tense. Her paws stopped moving, and she was forced to push down a scream with the furious clench of her teeth that made her jaw ache. Her father had slipped into a coma and her stepmother, the monstrous presence in Riverclan that Doepelt had never imagined would disappear, was gone, and it was extremely unlikely that she was going to be rescued. When cats disappeared, they weren't often found.


    She could sense Ivykit, speaking anxious words that Doepelt was unable to hear. The brown ticked she-cat turned to him, eyes blank but still feeling the devastating tug of sympathy, a small echo of the kind reassurance that she would have given liberally to the kit had she not been reeling from Cougarstar's loss. "Don't worry. Whether we find Cougarstar or not, it will be all right." the murmur came from a bland, unfeeling face.


    The round she-cat stood up, feeling as though her lungs were blocked and gave Wrenbreeze a short nod in response to his order. Her devastation was overwhelming, and, not wanting to inform others of her emotional state, she had silenced all apparatus of personal expression.

    The post was edited 2 times, last by doestar ().

    TAGS ✦ ✧ ✦ — He watched surprise light up their faces, cringing inwardly as Ivykit cried out. As he was about to climb down from the log, he heard Smokepaw inquire him, that thought suddenly coming to his mind. He doubted that another clan would do such a thing-while they were pretty wary of one another, they weren't cruel and they knew how much leaders meant to their clan. But that didn't mean rogues or Bloodclan hadn't done this. Quietly pondering, Wrenbreeze met the apprentice's eyes, conveying his intense emotions through the action alone. "I doubt it, though out of caution, for the next few days there will be double the patrols," he wasn't sure if that would help at all, but as long as it cleared his clan-mates' heads.

    With everything said and finished, he jumped down and approached Doepelt. He gave her a solemn nod, glancing around for Leafpaw and Rainwatcher before stepping past the she-cat towards the camp entrance, already bracing himself for whatever they might find. A feeling of dread had long since attached itself to his stomach like a leech, though he dismissed the nausea as a simple side-effect to the poisoned water.

    The brown tabby followed after the clan's deputy, staying alert just in case this whole kidnapping fiasco was a trap - a way to lure cats out of camp. What would a band of rogues need strange cats for? Honestly, she didn't even want to think about it. The patrols would be doubled over the next few days, and that's all anyone could guarantee to witness. What they found out on this patrol - if they found anything - might leave a more squeamish cat unwell. But in her days as a rogue, she had seen things that could rival even things from the darkest corners of a cat's imagination. As far as she was concerned, she was more than prepared to face whatever worst case scenario this world could throw at her - even in the case of her leader's disappearance.

    Cougarstar was gone? No it couldn't be.. She was the strongest cat in all of RiverClan. If they didn't find her, would that mean Wrenbreeze would be leader? Not that the thought bothered him, but his mentor was probably beyond stressed with all the misfortune that was occurring in Riverclan. The apprentice was beyond tired, so he didn't volunteer for the search party, but at least his elder brother was going! That meant he was there in some small way, since he and his brother shared the same blood.

    the kit stood silently, stunned, and as still as a poised bird. cougarstar was gone. it was like a black silk sheet had come across his eyes, bathing the world around him in dull grey tones.

    found signs of a struggle...apparently...fur and blood scattered... left by...cougarstar. the words rose and fell in his mind, unable to grasp and hold onto them as they swam by his ears. within seconds, the kit was trembling and tearing up. "NO!" he yowled wildly, startling many cats nearby into shock. "she can't be gone! she wouldn't leave us..." broken-hearted, he started babbling, tears freely streaming. the kitten whispered. "she wouldn't leave me."

    cranekit blinked up at wrenbreeze tearfully, a deep sadness as deep as an abyss reflected in them before running to the nursery. he couldn't believe it; he wouldn't believe that cougarstar was gone.

    Scooting closer to Cranekit, seeing comfort in his cousin, the child mumbled, "Sh-she's gonna come back... She's gotta..." Frankly, any other scenario was beyond him at this point. Cougarstar was like an older sister to him, and she made him feel like he could do anything. Without her, he wasn't confident he could learn to be a warrior with his disability.

    the medicine cat watched cranekit with a faint sadness. where was that happy, grinning kit? had he gone into hiding, chilled by the cold and bitterness of reality? unintentionally, he assembling a poem in his mind of that moment, of cranekit's trembling form and watering eyes.

    his head whipped toward wrenbreeze when he spoke his name. was he trusted enough to go with him? startled, he began to stalk after wrenbreeze, forcing sad poetry about a sad boy of his mind. he glanced over at wrenbreeze as they walked. he didn't look nervous but looks could be deceiving. if he were in his paws, rainwatcher wouldn't have known what to do. he brushed his tail against wrenbreeze's side with a sympathetic as well as encouraging look in his eyes. "if we don't find..." her name was stuck in his mouth, a weight on his tongue. he cleared his throat, anxiously looking away. "if we don't find cougarstar, what are you gonna do, wrenbreeze?" he tried to disguise the worry lacing his tone; wrenbreeze was probably feeling worse than he was.

    "you don't have to, um, answer that. sorry for asking. you probably have- er, enough things on your shoulders." clear blue eyes would shift over towards wrenbreeze. "but i'm here for you, okay?" his tone was soft, as soft as the murmurs he had said to mistpaw when he was sick in his den. realizing that leaf and doe could probably hear, he rushed afterwards. "we all are, wrenbreeze."

    TAGS ✦ ✧ ✦ — The kits' cries of despair hung heavy inside his ears. He hated the complicated situation they had been thrust into, and although it seemed he had taken a lot of the load, he was more worried about how his clan-mates felt. Especially those who were close to the leader. What would Owldapple think, once he had woken? He dreaded the thought alone of telling him. Shaking his head, he decided that he would deal with this all after he and his party got back.

    The touch to his fur distracted him from the thunderstorm in his mind, turning towards the medicine apprentice with a faint smile. Wrenbreeze was relieved he was doing a good job of masking his own despair and desperation, as he had to be in order for his clan. If they couldn't handle, he had to be the one to anchor them back to the harsh reality. But he didn't ask for the job, either. Heaving a dark sigh, he lowered his eyes, not at all anticipating the events in the near future. He didn't want to, but he had a feeling he would just let them all down.

    "Thank you, Rain. I mean it," he replied softly and met the other tom's eyes. "I...I guess we'll just have to see what happens. If we don't find her...," he trailed off. He didn't want to say it, not again. Instead, he opted for an awkward silence.

    Sniffing the border, Ambersplash growled to himself. To think that a pack of rouge cats would dare cross the border and leave their scent in Riverclan territory! He could tell that the trail lead all around the territory, crossing the border several times, and avoiding the more recent scents of his clanmates. The white tom swished his amber tail in fury as he could pick up a Riverclan scent mixed with the rouge's, but he couldn't pick out whose it was. yet what worried him above all else was the heavy bloodscent he could smell on the trail. When he found the trail after coming back from a hunting trip, it was well inside their borders and as he followed it out here bits of blood were found. "I need to head back to camp. Courgarstar will want to hear about this," he muttered, amber eyes trailing to beyond the border. Please, I do not wish to lose more clanmates. Let everyone be safe.


    OOC: The only reason I had Ambersplash not at camp like everyone else is cuz I didn't want to break his heart by him seeing that Courgarstar is gone. And I figured 'hey, Courgarstar mentioned before she left that some rogues woulda kidnapped her' so it worked out. Er, purposely I tried to have the trail that Ambersplash found to be impossible to track outside of the territory, and being confusing inside to muddle the details and such.

    Shimmerpool's heart sank, she could feel the darkened energy of the cats around her and it hurt even the cold-hearted femme. The blue-and-white cat padded over to join the group of her Clanmates. "I'll help you search for her." she mewed, her voice husky. She could somehow feel the trail running cold, this seemed so pointless somehow. What could a bunch of Clan cats do to someone powerful enough to kidnap Cougarstar?