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My feet were extremely sore after the journey to deliver gifts to the Knights of Eden. I didn't regret going though, not in the least. It had been a good experience, and to be honest I was enjoying the small moments spent with Guts. He reminded me of Jerome, and though he didn't seem over social he'd been kind eough to me since I'd arrived to begin thinking of him as a friend. And it was a nice thought; to have a friend and not be alone anymore, even if it did make me feel a little guilty about not being able to find and protect the friends i'd become seperated from.
My first instinct upon returning was to get off of my paws. Not only had I spent the last few weeks wandering aimlessly in search of my comrades, but I hadn't exactly done any of the resting I was supposed to be doing here. Things had just been so overwhelming, and like the child I was I'd gotten caught up in it all easily enough. The territory was too beautiful to not explore after all, and the people were all so nice I'd had to stop and meet some of them. After that I'd taken out a hunting patrol to give back the fresh kill i'd eaten, and soon after that I'd volunteered to head out with Guts to deliver the gits. It made sense that I'd take the chance to relax while I could.
And then Guts words came to me, about the River.
I'd been worrying about it the entire time in the back of my mind. Riverclan had been good to me, but from what I understood they were in trouble. Their River was a part of them and the damage is was sustaining by the humans was unsettling. Was it really as bad as they said it was? Did they really need help from the other clans it was so big a problem? Suddenly, I didn't feel quite so interested in resting anymore. Instead I gave a sniff of the air and quickly determined which direction the river was in and began to head off in that direction. I could lay around when I got back, but first, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
It was indeed as bad as they said. I stood on the river bank gazing down into the brownish, garbage filled water, nose wrinkled in disgust from the harsh smell it gave off. All the plant life near the waters adge was dead and withered, unable to get what it needed from this dirty water. How many Riverclanners had gotten similarly sick over drinking this? The thought made my stomach churn.
To be honest I'd never really encountered much of man in my life. When I'd lived in the village as a child with my mother we'd called an empty hut on the edge of town our own, and were mostly left to ourselves. From what I'd seen humans, much like dogs, had good people and bad people, but I hadn't thought they were capable of this. Did they just not realize that they were effecting others, or were they really that cruel and careless? I didn't want to think that was the case.
Often I was called foolish or too young to understand, but I couldn't help but feel as if true evil was a rare occurance in this world. Sure, some people did bad things and acted badly, but usually their were unseen circumstances causing it. When you gave them the chance to do something good, most did it. Once, shortly after I lost my mother, I'd witnissed a child being used and mistreated by a gang of wild dogs. The Leader of that pack had ordered his men to kill me and was later struck down by a car. Still living I'd run out to try and pull him out of the way of oncoming traffic, but when I finally reached him -just as the truck was about to strike us... He pushed me out of the way, sacrificing himself to spare me.
Someone who was willing to do that, they couldn't be all bad. Which was why I couldn't feel the rage toward the humans that many of these Riverclanners likely had. I understood that humans did bad and stupid things sometimes, but there were just as many decent ones for the bad ones. Still, their intent didn't change what I was looking at. The swirling brownish red river was disgusting, and just looking at it filled me with a desire to help change this. I wasn't sure what someone like me could do, but I was set to help in some way. For them to take on an extra mouth like me when already their territory was under such stres- I had to repay them!
Spinning on my heels I began the short treck back to camp, completely forgetting my intentions to rest. My paws didn't hurt that badly, and even if they had this seemed to take precident over some raw pads. Besides, there were already a number of people that I could spot lining the banks farther down, no doubt fishing out the trash I'd seen floating along. I wasn't sure how we were going to do it, but with everyone banding together to help one another out it was impossible to feel hopeless. Somehow, some way, this river would be made clean again.
Sprinting off toward camp I knew only that I wanted to find an HP, someone who could confirm that I would be allowed to join in. I wasn't technically a clanmate, but they had sent us to find help from Riverclans allies so surely they would be open to outsiders lending a hand, right? I sure hoped so. I wouldn't feel right staying here if I could do my share. Deciding that the HP area would be the best place to find someone of authority I made that my target, only mildly nervous as I approached. Hopefully this would go well. I wouldn't be much help, but still...
Word Count; 1026
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