farewell to a life well lived -- death

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    The medicine cat wasn't totally sure why she'd left camp. She had sick to attend to, it was bitterly cold, and she didn't have any particular place to be. All she was banking on was a feeling, the way that her instincts thrummed in the back of her throat to move whenever she tried to sleep. The last time she'd followed them, it had led her to the Great Sycamore, where she had found a suitable camp.


    Tonight, something in the air felt different. It was still, as if the charred forest itself was holding its breath. Her white paws led her through the forest to the abandoned camp, where Asphodelpaw had found her crying. Exhaustion took over her form as she stumbled towards the nursery, all of the strength dropping out of her form with each flake of snow that dropped onto her fluffy pelt. She wanted to sleep, she needed to sleep.


    The tabby curled up in the nest that she had spent her first few moons in, relieved that her exhaustion dissipated somewhat when she did. It returned in full force a couple moments later, forcing the medicine cat's eyes to close. She was so sleepy ... a short nap couldn't hurt.


    Heatherbloom put her head down on her paws, and she slept.


    Heatherbloom.


    The she-cat blinked open green eyes to meet familiar optics of a similar shade, shining with warmth, their pupils pinpricks of pure light. The medicine cat's grandmother, a respected queen named Stonesight, looked back at her with immeasurable fondness. The two had been close in Heatherbloom's kithood, with Stonesight passing away of old age in the last leafbare. Relief surged through the medicine cat as she pressed against the grey-furred molly, her earlier exhaustion falling away.


    I've missed you so much.


    I've missed you too, my darling. We have a lot of catching up to do ... come along. The elder stepped away, moving with none of the effort it had taken her during life, turning her gaze towards the cloudy sky. Heatherbloom hesitated, doubt churning in her belly.


    But I ... I don't want to leave them. Melodyrose and Redstripe have kits, I- Heatherpaw was just apprenticed, she needs a mentor.


    You will see your apprentice and your family again. Just like I have waited to see your face again.


    I didn't get to tell Brinetail I loved her. The thought was regretful, almost bitter, the she-cat's ears falling flat to her skull as it passed into the aether.


    You will see your love again, Heatherbloom. You will be with them, watching over them. I think you knew that this was your time the moment you stepped out of camp tonight.


    I ... I think I'm ready.


    Then it is time to go.


    During a pause in the snowfall, a new star seemed to blink into existence between two parting clouds, solitary but shining strong.


    Heatherbloom's body would not be found until the morning's hunting patrol led them past the old camp. There she lay among the remnants of the nursery, half buried in snow, her fur half-frozen. There was no expression on her face to show that she had gone in pain, her pretty features pressed into a look of calm that had not been seen since she was chosen by StarClan to bear the burden of being their healer.


    Of rest.


    Of peace.


    // i hate to do this because heather is a favourite of mine, but it was necessary. i've had an amazing time roleplaying with you all in thunderclan, and i hope my muse lets me bring a character back here soon. take care, i love you guys<3

    (!!!ALL IC OPINIONS! THIS CHARACTER HAS AN ILLNESS CALLED PSYCHOPATHY (ASPD)!!!)

    AMARYLLIS


    And Amy was sadly the one to find the frozen medicine cat. Wait. What was she going to do now? What did clan cats do? Or ‘normal’ cats? Her mom did something when she heard Sheogorath was dead, didn’t she? Like, mourn... but the medicine cat wasn’t Amaryllis’ mate or something. So what to do? The strong black molly decided to pick the dead cat up, smelling the scent of death not irritating her senses a little. Prey died too. Cat needed to die as well. Even though it was probably stupid to let yourself freeze like that, and just out of camp. When she carried the she-cat to the camp, she sat down, thinking why even did she do that. She heard these cats had some sort of funeral or something? “Uh, guys? I found y- our medicine cat, and I’m worried she froze out there,” she called by the most polite voice she could. She hoped she could get out as soon as possible- these cats all could get overly emotional.

    (c)trexgirl




    And emotional Redstripe would become. Heatherbloom had been her apprentice, her first apprentice, before StarClan had called her to be a medicine cat. She had poured her heart and soul into the pretty young she-cat and had been overwhelmed with pride to see her grow into a fine member of ThunderClan.


    When Amaryllis brought the frozen, stiff body of the medicine cat back to camp, Redstripe felt her heart wrench painfully. First her mother had died to cold and starvation, then her brother had left, and now this. Not only had Heatherbloom been her apprentice, but her friend. She considered her family. They’d had a bond similar to Redstripe’s bond with Blackstar before the two had becomes mates. Now Heatherbloom — sweet, beautiful Heatherbloom — was dead.


    Abandoning her nest in the nursery, the red warrior rushed over to the medicine cat’s body and buried her face in her soft, lilac fur which had gone cold from leafbare’s chill. StarClan... Redstripe prayed silently in her head. Why did you do this? Why did you take her from us? She was a friend, a mentor, our medicine cat! It should’ve been me. A mentor deserves to go before their apprentice. I don’t understand why you’ve allowed this. And perhaps she never would, even when she joined them herself.


    Pulling away with an expression full of sadness, Redstripe sighed as she stared down at Heatherbloom, recounting every memory she could of the good times they had spent together training and talking as friends. She was going to miss her so. “Goodbye, friend,” she murmured, leaning down to rasp her tongue against the younger she-cat’s head. “You taught me so much. You were a wonderful warrior and StarClan had so much in store for you as our medicine cat. I promise I’ll look over Heatherpaw for you.”

    — ❦ —



    //WREN WHY


    I'm worried she froze out there.

    Brinetail hadn't known panic until she had heard those words. She stared at the frozen body being carried in by Amaryllis, and her paws carried her across camp without her even having to think about it. When her body was set down, Brine was the next one to fall by her side, nosing into her fur next to Redstripe. She let out a shake breath. She was so cold. Why had she done this? Why had StarClan taken her away so soon? After everything that the two of them had been through together?

    Her best friend was dead.

    It should have been her. She repeated it over and over in her head. Heatherbloom was an important figure in the Clan. She was the medicine cat, for StarClan's sake. Brinetail was a nobody. Fewer people would have missed her if it had been her to be snatched up prematurely by StarClan.

    And she knew, in her heart of hearts, that she had made a horrible mistake in never telling the molly that she loved her. A mistake that would likely haunt her whenever she passed by the medicine cat den.

    "Heather..." the warrior whispered, trying her hardest to blink back the tears bubbling up in her eyes. There's never b- been a day where I haven't thought of you. And I'll never stop. Oh no, she was really about to cry now. "You'll always be my best friend."


    speaking

    [ TAGS ]

    (!!!ALL IC OPINIONS! THIS CHARACTER HAS AN ILLNESS CALLED PSYCHOPATHY (ASPD)!!!)

    AMARYLLIS


    Oh gosh. Here it went. This reasonable tabby and this random warrior became as emotional as she awaited. Like- StarClan or what they said. Why in the world were they talking to a dead cat- they couldn’t help her by that, could they? But, Amy must admit she felt something like sadness. When she would be injured, who would heal her? A kit-minded cat that didn’t know nettle from a rose? Anyways, this was getting tense. She’d rather slip out of there, and that is what she did, leaving the two to ‘mourn’ or whatever.

    (c)trexgirl




    Heatherpaw had been blissful the last few days. She was officially given her apprentice name and she and Heatherbloom would be visiting the Moonstone together soon! All grief from her father's death had been halted while she let herself enjoy this moment. Sometimes, she even hummed to him as she worked. The tiny cream and blue apprentice was sorting the herbs softly, waiting for Heathebloom to come back and train her more, when she heard the call.


    "Uh guys? I found y- our medicine cat, and I'm worried she froze out there."


    Surely not, right? Surely that wasn't true. Heatherbloom was strong. Maybe this newcomer had it wrong. Stepping out of the den, Heatherpaw's icy gaze found the one of her mentor. Redstripe and Brinetail were mourning close by and the apprentice felt her world stop. No ... Not again. She couldn't keep losing everyone she cared about like this. Everyone's words sounded like echoes in her blue ears that were now pinned against her small cranium. She took unsteady steps forward until she was standing underneath Redstripe, peeking out from between the ginger warrior's front two limbs.


    "R-Redstripe? Why is she laying so still? She's sleeping pretty hard." Her paw thumped furiously against the ground as her anxiety began to flare up. In her position, she knew what it meant when cats died. Heatherpaw was quite smart and it was obvious that the she-cat laying before her had gone to the stars. She just didn't want to believe it. Her throat began to close and within the next few seconds, Heatherpaw's legs buckled and she was lying in a heap between Redstripe's paws, unconscious.


    ""

    — The point tom had heard the commotion from where he had been speaking to a few other NPC apprentices. He turned his head, curious and scared all at once. The voices from the others sounded hushed and sad, as if they were mourning something. Only, the small apprentice couldn't see just what. He got to his paws and hesitantly made his way over, seeing Redstripe, Heatherpaw, Brinetail, and another she-cat he didn't know. Oh, and Heatherbloom. The medicine cat lay still on the ground, unmoving as the others whispered above her. Oh. Oh no. The realization dawned on Sprucepaw. Their medicine cat was dead? He felt a pang in his heart, despite not knowing the she-cat very well. What would they do? What could he do? He had just been made an apprentice and had no clue how to even help. So he stood there, blue eyes watching the still form.



                                                                                                       

    Death had claimed another sole. It was obvious by the cries of her clanmates. Heatherbloom. Flameseeker had never been close with the medicine cat, but she had respected the soft feline. Nobody deserved to die..


    Ears flattened against her skull, the warrior would watch from a distance. Her dull gaze lowered to the forest floor, wondering why Starclan was being so cruel. Too many deaths..Were they all going to die? Who would be next..


    "SPEECH"

    ✧ \ WOULD YOU LIE WITH ME, AND JUST FORGET THE WORLD? \ TAGS



    Skypaw padded into the camp, looking for Brinetail. Her gaze brightened when she saw her mentor, but as she got closer, she realized that a heavy misfortune had fallen upon them. The apprentice's eyes widened as she saw the lifeless, frozen body of the medicine cat. Was every leaf bare this harsh and relentless against them? The tortoiseshell padded over, eyes downcast. Heatherbloom had helped bring her back to life after her collapse. Now Heatherbloom herself had fallen, but was unable to bounce back up.


    "Guys." She mumbled. "He-Heatherpaw?" Skypaw swallowed noiselessly, fear coursing through her veins as she noticed Heatherpaw fall to the ground in the corner of her eye. The molly's thick fur bristled with unease.



    From her position burrowed in her former apprentice's fur, Redstripe heard the distinct bell-like voice of the medicine cat apprentice. It broke her heart to hear the blue point ask her why Heatherbloom was sleeping, to be so innocent to the fact that the camp smelled of death and sadness. She drew the young she-cat close to her with her tail when she felt her wriggle her way beneath her and watched with tears pricking the corners of her eyes as Heatherpaw collapsed at her paws. Oh... oh she'd fainted!


    Falling heavily beside her the queen nuzzled the young she-cat gently with her nose. "Heatherpaw, wake up," she murmured. Looking around with tears making her vision hazy, she looked towards her fellow senior warrior. "Flameseeker... can... can you go get her mother? And Blackstar?" she asked. Redstripe wrapped her tail around Heatherpaw's unconscious body. StarClan, you've taken her mentor from her. I hope you plan on giving her a lot of guidance if she is to be our medicine cat. She'll need it, she thought, sighing as she stared down at the poor apprentice. She didn't even get to visit the Moonstone with Heatherbloom before you took her away! Redstripe had never been so angry with her ancestors, not since her father had died when she was an apprentice herself.

    — ❦ —

    He watched from a distance, eyes of yellow flames glimmering with unrepented anger and hatred. It showed in his body language, the way in which he held himself. Heatherblood was dead, Pebblecloud was dead, Cyclonebluster was captured and there were others whom had died and had been taken from them. His pelt shivered with the need to lash out at something, anything. He did not feel sadness, he did not feel grief or a void in his heart. No, the tom felt anger, pain, rage that bubbled up like a monster in his chest that didn't want to go locked up. Revenge was on the tip of his tongue and he wanted to sink his claws into those that had put them into this position. Even Starclan if he could. "It's all their fault. Riverclan, Bloodclan, Starclan." His voice was but a mere seething mumble underneath his breath as his head jerked to the side as if a fly was bothering him, right eye twitching. "They don't care if we die. They don't care if we suffering each day still there is nothing left of us but skin and bone. Content in watching our destruction." His eyes narrowed as his head jerked again, this known twitch forcing him to press a paw against his own skull in agitation as he looked away from Heatherbloom's corpse.

    ❝ Why should I play this game of pretend?❞

    Moonwatcher would arrive next, her heart had gone through so much, losing so many cats she considered family, that seeing Heatherblooms body laying there frozen, a peaceful expression on her face, made her feel hollow, like when they had found Asphodelpaws' scene. The deputy would walk silently through the tiny crowd that had gathered to step beside her daughter. She would then turn her pale yellow eyes to Redstripe and Stagleap as she meowed, "Bury her...if we try to carry her back her body may not handle being moved....Flameseeker, go and alert Blackstar....I'm taking Heatherkit home..." She would grab her daughter by the scruff after giving her orders and then turned and slowly walked back to camp.



    "Remembering through a secondhand sorrow?"



    ❝ I will sing no Requiem tonight....❞

    Flameseeker ✧ Thunderclan Sr. Warrior ✧ Tags

    Flameseeker gave a short nod, then turned to fetch the dark furred leader. She was ready to leave anyways. There had been enough death lately.


    /blackie is already in the thread so i wont tag (:



    Word circulated around camp fast as Melodyrose was drawn from sleep. Dead...frozen...Heatherbloom. Worried yet another warrior had fallen victim to starvation, the albino pulled herself up and out of the nursery. She followed the procession of cats trickling out of camp and towards the Great Sycamore. There, Melodyrose nosed her way to the front of the crowd, only to choke on air as she gazed at the dead cat in the snow. Her sister, her Heatherbloom. "S...Sissy?" She whined, wide lilac eyes looking around for confirmation, although she didn't really need it.

    The alabaster molly sunk to her belly in front of the fallen medicine cat, pressing her nose into Healtherbloom's fur one last time.


    "Speech"



    (c)trexgirl

    Bury her. His gaze flicked up to look at Moonwatcher for a short moment, his gaze holding anger and more questions then he could ever hope to get answers from. But he supposed that it was just another day, another life they would have to deal with not having anymore. A glare edged his hawk like eye as he pushed himself to his paws and he moved forth to the deceased shell of Heatherbloom. For a moment he stood there and he looked upon Melodyrose, giving her time to grieve because at the end of the day she was someone important to her. Though he had not known the medicine cat well she was definitely someone that was well loved here in Thunderclan. A frown pulled across his maw before he then lowered pressed his own muzzle to cold flesh and bone before he moved off and began to dig a grave for the feline. The ground was harsh but he moved through his own pain and continued to push through the soil.



    Heatherbloom.


    Blackstar was alerted by Flameseeker that a certain molly was found in the old camp. But succumbed to the cold pangs of this living world. A shudder ran through his spine as he finally approached. His green half-blind gaze drifted over the form that looked too peaceful to be a part of this world. The tom could not bear it. The leader knew how exhausted the molly was. Yet he could do nothing to help her. She was young and Redstripe’s former apprentice who was called to be their medicine cat. Saving lives and healing those who needed it, Heatherbloom was a gift to all of Thunderclan in their time of need. The bengal’s cold heart had been chipped away at once more. Oh starclan! Was it not enough to take away their forest?


    So many cats have been taken. Young and old. Many way before their time. Blackstar was not angry. Not this time. The tall leader truly looked defeated at this point, pressing his nose into the fallen medic’s shoulder. Her body was cold and covered in frost, but somehow he finally understood. They should not regret. Life was fleeting.


    “Let us bury her... we can hold a vigil for a select few to come here. The old camp was her life... let Heatherbloom rest now...” he spoke softly, his warm breath condensing visibly as he spoke.


    "i wait for the morning."


    ♚ ･ﾟ: when you feel alone it can change your mind — TAGS