He needed more herbs. It was unfortunate really, having run out of certain herbs, more often than not, and despite his utter exhaustion and sluggishness because of the high need for him and his mentor with all the sicknesses and injuries, he needed to just suck it up and keep it going. A lot had happened in just a few, including two warriors, or rather the deputy and a warrior, and apprentice being injured. Two kittens had shown up, cold and starving, injured as well. Sickness waved through the camp like a forceful wind, destroying everything in its path. It was a miracle that Spiderpaw or Owlgaze didn't get sick. Nonetheless, as he made his way out of camp, rather quickly so he didn't get stopped by a warrior who felt it was their obligation to join him, just to go search for the few bits of herbs he needed. He hated going on herb trips with anyone beside his own mentor. Why? Warriors usually asked questions or felt as if they needed to protect him, and he didn't need that. He could protect himself. He could protect his mentor. He wss fine and he always would be fine.
Spiderpaw found it easier to just go by himself anyways. While his mentor just worked on other cats within the den, he would have a chance for fresh air and time to think and ponder about things. One thing he always seemed to think about was his parents. How he missed them with all his heart. He may of acted distant and cold sometimes but he really wasn't like that. He just didn't feel like he needed to go the extra mile to fake something. He would be faking to say he didn't think about his parents everyday. He missed their smiles, their laughs, seeing them, touching them, smelling their scents, and just generally being around them. He knew they would be proud to know that he had gotten away from the rogue group. That's what they died for anyways, trying to escape. He could still remember the cold and dead looking on his old mentor's face. He had said something, back then, along the lines of "they had deserved what they got." Everything in his body screamed at the mere thought of the black tom cat, but it always came back to that. Back to that single cat that made his life a living hell.
Deno was a cat he refused to talk about. He was cold, evil, and menacing. He was scary and notably strong. He didn't have to go around proving anything. He never lost a fight, less you count a single one as a kit against an older cat. Even then, his movements had been so smooth, so impressive, at first Spiderpaw was excited to be mentored by such as cat. But excitement quickly was replaced with fear. To this day, he feared him, and thinking about the tom brought chills up his spine. Worst than the cold ground he walked on. Shaking his head, the feline pushed such thoughts away, bending down in the snow, pushing it away with his paws and nose. He grabbed a couple of the herbs which had survived underneath the blanket, shivering slightly as he shook off the snow from his paws. For a moment he placed the herbs down, grooming the excess snow and water off of his paw, before he moved and picked them up again, continuing on his journey for more herbs. Though he had to admit there was this tenseness that clung to the air this day, and he couldn't quite place why and what in the world was causing it. The apprentice just shook his head, pushing his ears back as he trailed the next scent of herbs. Faint, but there either way.
It wasn't until another familiar scent waved in the air that caused him to stop dead in his tracks. The fur across his spine slowly raised in response and he could hear his heart beat picking up, causing the thumping to pound up against his own eardrums. He knew that scent. That was a scent he never thought he would have to face again. A scent that caused for his heart to drop so deep, he had half a mind to throw it up with whatever little prey he had within his stomach. "No..." He spoke outloud, before his throat caught his own breath, his body beginning to tremble. It couldn't be him, right? There was just no way that he was found! He had done so good to cover his scent! He made sure that he hadn't been followed! There was just no way! His ears flattened against his head as he gripped with herbs in his mouth tighter, taking a few steps backwards before he hit something. His tail tucked beneath him, as he shakily turned around to see the tall beast of a feline standing over him, yellow orbs piercing through him, and a maliciously evil smile spread across his face. "Hello Spider." It was not a greeting that was full of joy and happiness but rather bitterness and full of resentment. "Long time no see kid. Been looking everywhere for you." He said, taking a step forward as Spiderpaw scrambled back, dropping the herbs in his mouth. He tried to swallow his fears but it was useless. His mouth said one thing while his body language said something completely different. "It's Spiderpaw! And this is DarkClan territory! You need to leave you c-can't be here!" He hissed, fear dancing around his tongue like a spider across a web. His mismatched eyes read fear, anger, resentment, and believe him when he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't fight this cat. And now he knew where he lived. Or at least, the general area which was enough to make Spiderpaw feel uneasy for the rest of his life.
"Now now. Is that a way you greet an old friend?" He words were like tiny daggers, slowly inching into Spider's throat, as he clenching back at Deno's movements. "What do you want?! Just leave me alone! I don't want to go back! I don't want to see you! Just leave me be!" He was almost begging, as pathetic as it was. He just wanted Deno to leave. But Deno had different plans. "You always were so fiesty. That was what I liked about you. But you left. And I can't have that, can I? A disobedient little bother running around through the woods, joining this joke of a clan. Guess you will be seeing your parents sooner than you thought, kid. " Before Spider could even react, Deno's claws slashed across his face, causing for him to stumble back, hissing at the deep pain across his eye. He had to get out of here! He knew this territory better than Deno. He just needed to get away! He needed to.. think! "What's wrong, kitten? Lost your fight?" Deno teased, Spiderpaw snarling as he spun around and kicked Deno in his jaw, the black feline shaking his head in pain and anger, before that smile returned. "So the kitty was paying attention. Well played." He snarled, running forward and head butting Spiderpaw into nearest tree, causing him to gasp for air as he felt an unbelievably sharp pain as his ribs cracked against the cold bark. He looked at the snow as he felt claws rake against his cheek, a wince falling off his tongue, as he shakily stood on his paws, panic filling his lungs. Quickly he looked around, hissing as he scooped up snow, throwing it in his former mentor's face, before he began to limp away. "Grr.. A true disappointment. As always." Deno snapped as he wiped the blood from his eyes following after Spider's scent.
Spiderpaw began to freak out, as turned to hide behind a bush, gritting his teeth, and forcing snow against his wounds, wincing as he tried his hardest to open his eye. It was getting too swollen already. He would have to deal later. He covered his blood with more to throw off his scent. Quickly he gritted his teeth, huffing slightly as he mad whis way into an abandoned fox hole, one that he had found a while back, squeezing his way in. He hid, listening for the sound of Deno, who had been walking around. The scent of Deno and his blood soon drifted off however, and just as it did, he felt the adrenaline leave his body, only for it to be replaced with immense pain and fear. He knew Deno would be back. He just couldn't deal with that. He had to get these herbs back.. he couldn't let Deno get there and he needed to fix his clanmates. Crawling out of the fox den, he coughed, ignoring the pain and blood seeping from his jaw, as he is forced his way back to camp. By the time he returned, the sun way setting and the moon had begun to rise. He pushed his way into the entrance, dropping the herb bundle which had partially been covered in his own crimson liquid, as he fell onto the ground, wincing as he shakily tried to stand up again. Stars forgive him, he really tried.
//1566 words on mobile. Sorry for any mistakes. Tldr; he got attacked by his former mentor from the rogue group he was born into. He had been gone all day which is why I mention that the sun is setting. He should of been back hours ago, so it would make sense for your characters having been slightly worried. His ribs are fractured, a wound over his left eye which is temporarily blinding and right cheek, which as bleeding, along with some slight internal bleeding. He has kind of collapsed near the entrance of camp, but he isn't passed out of sleep. Just in a lot of pain.
☪
