Posts by OWLGAZE.

✦ ✧ ✦ the scent was not unfamiliar, wafting strongly over the border, the stench of city, of places which sent shivers down his spine. even now, that scent was burned into his mind, haunting him with every waking moment. it was the decay and rot of those dungeons, so far from sunlight, the tang of blood singing in the air as it trickled from open wounds, the feeling of betrayal and outrage, of watching trust melt away. the scent of bloodclan hit his nose with an overwhelming note, sending his stomach churning, his heart immediately uneasy. bloodclan should mean family to him, allies of the closest nature, friends even, scattered here and there with kin and recognizable cats. it should mean comfort, or at least adventure, a mysterious place it was at that. instead, it just reminded him of darkness, pain clouded thoughts and damp caverns. the feeling of his brother beside him, trembling in the darkness as someone loomed ever closer. imprisonment, torture, the loss of hope that had once sparked deep within his young heart.

the scent wafted nearer, and he allowed the twittering of the birds to calm his thoughts. the scent of herbs from his own pelt comforted him, allowing him to breathe easy. he was on his own territory, deep within his kingdom, a fallen prince, calm and collected was his nature. those thoughts of darkness fell to the back of his mind as slim paws stepped forth, hearing the whispered question from beyond the undergrowth. one feline sat, face set and serious, a ghost in the blinding sunlight that echoed through the mountains. a familiar sight, though they had met but once, and owlpaw felt curiosity spark. the smokey feline stalked from his domain, golden eyes carefully seeking the gaze of this titan. his clanmate had already reached the stark white gentleman, and so the medic would wait, a specter beside the older female.

✦ ✧ ✦ the comforting voice of nightblaze broke his concentration, and he looked up from his hurried paws, patching the gushing wounds of their own accord. hawkmask shouted orders, a glint of authority in his eyes as he spoke, and the medic's apprentice turned to see a shape slinking into the undergrowth. "onyxglint, your duty is with your clan, get back here and help! there's a bear here and you're running away?" his voice was loud and sharp, eyes ablaze as he glared upon the cowardly warrior. as around him, his clanmates attacked, the healer nodded to his two helpers. "i've bandaged him as best i can, now we need to move him. orchidwing, i need your help hoisting him onto nightblaze's back. from there, we'll help her carry him. hurry, while the beast is distracted." owlpaw's motions were swift as he got to his paws, making sure every cobweb was secure. he ached to go to his aunt, to guide her home, shell shocked and grieving as she was. still, she had to be a leader for a while longer before she could collapse. her clan would think her weak otherwise, and they could barely function without a commander. he was thankful for hawkmask, for his leadership at a time like this, helping to snap eaglestar out of it. he'd make a good deputy.

✦ ✧ ✦ // TRACK excited to see him come homeeee

✦ ✧ ✦ as his clanmates barged in around him, the slender male watched this bone like creature with curiosity, observing his body language with a blink. "keaton was the medicine cat for bloodclan. i have met him before. i trust him... more than i would any other bloodclanner, although admittedly that isn't saying a lot." the medicine cats apprentice's words would be directed towards orchidwing, the only one here with any authority at the moment who seemed to be keeping her cool. golden gaze flicking to the bloodclanner, owlpaw would make eye contact with the taller feline, tipping his head. "nathanos suffered many wounds, though he has been treated by dawnsky and myself. he is unable to leave camp at this time, being confined to the medic's den and all that. if eaglestar allows it, you may enter camp, but only if she says it is alright." summerpaw's words had been harsh, though the blue-grey cat was learning quickly that that was simply how the girl was. "he said he left because he found no meaning in bloodclan. i assume he left when you were kidnapped, though he mentioned no mate. if someone here would fetch eaglestar, she can either deny you or allow you entrance."

✦ ✧ ✦ great starclan, as if things couldn't get worse. owlpaw's ears flattened as his name was called from frantic lips, desperate for help. a tabby npc stood in front of him, gesturing for him to follow, saying something about eaglestar and... death. as quickly as he could, the medic raced to the scene, clutching in his jaws the precious flowers and leaves that would help. "mysticfang get back here! we don't need heroes right now!" his words echoed the clearing as the dark warrior dashed off, leaving behind a corpse and three grieving felines. a sob built up in the young cat's throat, eyes glistening as he stared at his aunt for a moment. she had practically raised him, cared for briar and him when their parents had... died. but she was not dead- he had seen her receive her lives. this was but the first of many losses. stalking towards the group with a grim expression, the slim male gently pushed nathanos aside. "she's loosing a life. i need space to work on her wounds. you can cuddle her once she is awake again. it'll be okay." he was not good at sympathy, nor showing his emotions, and so his tone was firm, though gentle as he nudged the huge male away. as much as the tom was grieving, eaglestar would heal- she needed medicine right now, not a fluffy nest of sorrowful clanmates. "i have marigold. here, you chew it up while i finish with the cobwebs." blazefrost was being competent, something he doubted his family would be able to do at the time. thank starclan for a calm warrior. how he wished dawnsky were here.

✦ ✧ ✦ paws working swiftly, a set look on the young medic's face, he'd nod to his helper, swallowing. one competent warrior was helpful- a gaggle of grief-struck cats was not what he was looking forward to. at the tom's words, the blue furred feline narrowed his eyes, turning back to the corpse, who was still being held by her new... mate. these questions, they weren't ones that he had answers to. this was getting in the way of him doing his job, the sole reason he remained here instead of sobbing, alone in the dark. golden eyes glinted with unexpressed emotions, swirling dangerously as he looked the male in the eyes. "it'll be more if i can't do my job. she will be okay. starclan gave her nine lives for a reason." it was harsh, insensitive even, with the hint of frustration. but this tom was grieving as much as he was, as much as briarpaw was, and the medicine cat's apprentice took a breath. "nathanos, eaglestar will be okay. these wounds will heal if i can get to them in time. i know what i'm doing, please-" he was cut off by the screech, a heart-wrenching scream of a cat in bitter pain. a child rushed towards them, another close on her heels, and this was becoming overwhelming. the two buried themselves in their mother's fur, and all the tom could see was bloody snow, the scent of death heavy on the wind, the fading hope in a once-light heart.

"hey... hey, hey, it'll be alright. she's coming back... i won't let her stay away." because all he could see in those pained eyes, tears dripping desperately upon dulled fur, all he could hear in the sobs and whimpers, the hopeful whispers, believing she would return, that she would be alright. all he could see in them, was himself. five moons, alone in the snow with a corpse and a lifetime of paws to fill. if she didn't wake up, if she lay there, collapsed and unmoving like pitchstar... like eve. if starclan didn't fucking send her back, he'd have failed. failed dawnsky, failed himself, failed these kits, his family, his clan. a spark lit in the golden eyes. a look was sent across towards the titan who called himself his kin's mate. the look asked for help, because he couldn't save her if the kids were there. if nate took the hint, owlpaw would reach forward, beginning to soak the blood into the cobwebs, slathering on his herbal mixture, hoping against hope that history would not repeat itself.

✦ ✧ ✦ // retro to nate killing the cub, but after eagle lost her life

low and dangerous came the rumble, a growl of warning within the silvery signs of a storm. two figures stalked carefully towards the tree line, a hurried dash before the sky crashed down, as it was threatening to do. fragrant herbs of emerald and berries of deep purple hung from bundles in each feline's mouth, clutched gently at they hurried on. evening had come on suddenly, lighting up the sky with fire for a brief moment before it had been swallowed by the rain. each step brought them hauntingly close to home, but this was as close as they would get before it all went wrong. the meadow waved wildly in the wind, petals spinning out of their stems, carried off into the unknown by the grey breeze. as fire split open the sky, the youngest feline would gaze up, watching as water began to pour down. it drenched each figure to the core, soaking into their fur, darkening it as the day itself came to a close. still, they needed to get home, and so on tired paws would the two trudge on, heads low, eyes dull. rain masked the scent of their stalker, lumbering as it was in the undergrowth. from the ferns to the right of the two felines came a growl, not as low as the sky's snarl, but still as threatening. fear jolted each cat awake, backing away slowly as the monster revealed herself.

rain soaked as well, her body rippled as she snarled, muscles tensing in a teasing preparedness. the medic's apprentice backed away, hoping his warrior companion would do the same. darkness swallowed the green eyes of the warrior as anger overtook him, tabby fur bristling in the half-light. this titan had destroyed his home, driven his clanmates to fear, scampering around their kingdom like a bunch of mice. the npc would take it no longer, and so he charged, fearless in his rage. owlpaw watched in cold terror, trying to pull his clanmate back from the bear. she rose like the myth she was, gigantic on two paws as she batted down at the npc. claws sliced through tabby fur, creating a new set of stripes, far more deadly than the ones he'd sported before. blood gushed from the wound and the npc stumbled back, focused on the medic. "get out of here! go! i'll hold her off." but he had collapsed, coughing as his wounds stung him. the mother turned on the smaller cat next, slamming both paws down to knock him off of his feet. had he not leapt for safety, he'd be unconscious next to his clanmate. now anger was driving him forward, removing all rational thought from his mind. slender paws would launch forward, digging into the bear's thick fur, pricking her skin. she threw him off, and he landed with a huff as the air left his lungs. blindly lashing out as the dark form moved closer, he would yowl as claws pierced his shoulder, feeling the blood start to well. teeth pierced his scruff, lifting him far above the ground as the mother bear threw him in her anger. pain ripped through owlpaw like fire as he landed with a crack, and, after a moment, the bear lumbered off, convinced that her prey had died.

his entire world was pain, coursing though his body, lava in his veins as he lay there, barely breathing. breath on his ear told him that his npc companion had rushed over, nudging him in frantic worry. had he been able to speak, he would've, but breath escaped him, dizzy and uncoordinated as he was at the moment. he could hear the npc shouting something, something about getting help, and then he was alone again, rain pouring down in sheets as blood stained the ground. the anger in his bones had turned to determination, pushing him to rise to his feet, and so he tried, grasping the tussocks of grass with aching claws. as soon as he moved his front paw, pain ripped him in two, singing through his bones, and he collapsed again. healer instincts kicked in, assessing his situation as he tried to roll his paw around. it was sprained, if not broken, while the wounds on his shoulder were deep, but not deadly. still, he tried to stand again, ignoring all instincts to not do so. putting weight on his paws shot fire through him again, and this time it was too much. the medicine apprentice collapsed, unconscious as blood swirled in water.

✦ ✧ ✦ cousin track!

✦ ✧ ✦ darkness encased the young man's vision; penetrating, deepening, ever present darkness, washing around him like ink in water, a foggy transition from clear to black. dread plummeted in his stomach, and as his mind awakened, he found his eyesight remained clouded. he was floating in a void, a numbing, darkened void. there were no stars where he was, and as his mind whirred, trying to remember how he'd gotten here, and why everything hurt. fire coursed through his veins, a boiling, rumbling fire, and he couldn't move, couldn't feel, couldn't touch anything. he was numb but for the fire.

a voice echoed the void, speaking softly from a place next to his ear. she spoke his name, nothing more, and the medic's apprentice shuttered. from the center of his vision, light suddenly beamed, a shining white light that almost blinded him. as it faded out, stars took form, and the voice spoke again. "owlpaw." her voice was familiar, comforting even, though it sounded young. had he been able to move, he would've spun around, searching for her, looking for her, because he hadn't seen his sister in moons, and he missed her more than his heart could take. "owlpaw, go home. wake up, they're waiting for you. i'll see you when you need me, brother, but it's not your time." his thoughts swirled, begging her to stay, but he couldn't speak and he couldn't see her and he wanted to say so many things. (lilykit... i'm sorry i wasn't there when you passed, i'm sorry i never searched for you, i'm sorry, i'm sorry.) he wished he could scream out those words, yowl it to the universe and back, but silence held his vocals in it's grasp and darkness edged his vision once more, like ink, blotting out the stars, forcing his eyesight to black once more.

rain- that was what he felt first, cold and seeping, dripping ever present along his spine. rain and fire should not mix, but his bones were hot, singing with pain, and the water was not putting it out. he was atop someone, it was hard to tell who in the darkness, but they were strong, and scarred, and the young man could guess who it was. golden eyes flashed as lightning broke open the earth around them, and his claws would grip onto his clanmate's longer pelt. the journey was long and slow, though the apprentice was lithe and light. rain weighed both cats down, soaking into darkened fur as if it belonged there, and owlpaw was so tired that he couldn't tell if the larger cat knew he was awake. the cave entrance came out of nowhere, beckoning with a dark welcome, and as they dove into the darkness, the boy spoke for the first time since he'd awoken. "thank you." words were hard, certainly not his forte, and that was about all he could express before they burst into the warmth of the camp, and the medicine cat apprentice tumbled off of nathanos' shoulders.

✦ ✧ ✦ TRACK OMG I WANT TO REPLY BUT OWL WOULD BE USELESS HERE

✦ ✧ ✦ the male could still barely walk, his injuries ached every time he moved, but somehow, his clanmates just kept getting injured. he didn't know how they managed to do it (was it a curse?) but there was no way to find out. if his assessment was true, then the medics would be dealing with a broken jaw, something that was hard enough to heal without other wounds. cedarpaw wouldn't be eating properly any time soon. the blue feline limped to his stores, fetching what herbs he could find that might stop the pain from spreading. "bring her in here. i've got a nest for her." if you wanted to know how the medicine cat's apprentice was feeling, sometimes all you had to do was notice his speech. today it was gruff, words spoken shortly, never meeting the other's eyes. as he told copperpaw these things, he'd turn back to the nest, arranging the moss so that the injured she-cat could be most comfortable.

DAWNSKY.

✦ ✧ ✦ perhaps he shouldn't be out and about yet, when his leg still ached like fire, bleeding into his veins, flowing swiftly every time he moved. his brain was dark, darker than it usually was anyway, with eyes that hadn't seen a spark since before the bears came. this was a tough time for darkclan- for every warrior and apprentice, for every elder and kit. darkness hung over all of them, he should be the one trying to heal it. instead he lay in his nest, feeling fire and smoke in his body, helpless to help them when he himself still required assistance.

paws pattered at the entrance to the den, and immediately the medicine apprentice was on high alert. jolting out of his nest as the npc arrived, the blue tom nodded to him, wondering what warranted another alert to the medics. "there's an injured loner... well i dunno if she's injured, but she's starving and amos said to get you." nodding, sighing, owlpaw limped to his stores, gathering what he could.

it was difficult maneuvering through the kingdom with his injuries, but the medicine cat's apprentice managed, finally arriving behind amos with the npc close ahead. "where are her injuries?"

✦ ✧ ✦ darkness coated the universe, thick and black, a blanket of soot and shadow, smothering in on a midnight forest. through the haze, the milky glare of the moon rose, a beacon atop a mountain of shade, soaring in the blackness. around it, stars glistened, twisted and warped into shapes and contours that danced along the edge of creation. they shone as if they were the lone source of light in the shadows ahead, guiding each of the seekers on their quest. though forests and moors, mountains and rivers, on and on they strode with purpose, on to meet together at the mouth of the earth itself.

slender paws whispered over grass that sparkled with dew, reflecting the light of the half moon, like a claw scratch in the blanket above. his pelt was slate and coal in this midnight, shadows clinging to it as he stepped carefully down the mountain. they didn't have far to go, but it would take longer than normal, a risk they would have to take. in slow, limping steps would the medic's apprentice move, trying to keep weight off of his foot as he maneuvered expertly towards the meeting place. beside him walked his mentor, taking longer strides, though she would wait up for him when he needed her to. deep scratches still seemed fresh along the young man's shoulder as he took aching steps, feeling the muscles argue against this abrupt movement. at last they had arrived, seemingly the first couple to be there. together the two felines would wait for their counterparts to make their ways here.

DAWNSKY.   Hanakosong   OLIVESLIP   GHOSTEYES   sunflowerglow [Polynesia]   Shoreheart.   finchblossom.   cloudwatcher   HAWKMOTH   -Aleksei-   brookfur -   Autumncub Martell.   veil over silent twilight

// i tagged everyone i could, but if i forgot someone, don't hesitate to tag them. bloodclan and the tribe will be joining the medicine cat meetings. <3