|
|
|
|
Post by Kaeldra on Mar 7, 2023 4:53:10 GMT
Shellspots || Queen || 40 moons
It seemed an eternity before Shellspots reached the rock, the only sound the rushing of the water and the blood roaring in her ears. When she finally made it, she scrabbled onto the smooth stone and grimaced; a cat falling onto it would have a hard time getting a secure pawhold before being swept away by the current.
The branch was low enough that Shellspots could rear up on her hind legs in order to sniff at it, though it took a couple of tries before her footing felt secure enough to really check the scents that still lingered there, if any.
It was very, very faint, but it was there.
Shellspots’ front paws dropped back down to the slippery rock as her stomach sank into the river below. Why would Miku have been clinging to that branch in the first place? Had she been trying to get away from something? She stood frozen for a long moment until her son’s voice brought her back to the present.
The silver tabby looked back at Heronpaw, eyes solemn, and nodded. There was no trace of her on the stone at her paws, the surface too smooth and hard to keep any record of things that had passed by. With nothing else to investigate, she began the swim back, all of the urgency gone from her paws. Miku could be anywhere by now, if she’d fallen into the river.
If she’s even still alive, a small, unwelcome voice whispered in the back of Shellspots’ mind.
ulla
|
|
Riley
Head of Advertising
349 Posts
|
Post by Riley on Mar 7, 2023 5:06:47 GMT
The world tilted sideways at Shellspots' nod, and he had to grip the ground with his claws to keep himself from falling in too. Heronpaw closed his eyes tightly, squeezing them until he saw stars in the dark (was one of them Miku? No, they weren't real stars, but he'd be looking for her tonight), and only opened them when he felt his balance return to him.
Heronpaw looked back toward his mother to see her already making her way back. "Wait!" he called back to her before she was too far. "Can you grab the fur? We can bury it in place of... instead of... We can use it to honor her." He couldn't say it. He couldn't say 'in place of her body', because that made it real.
He hoped Shellspots was doing what he'd asked, because Heronpaw couldn't watch anymore. Instead he walked over toward where Flare had hidden himself. The ginger tom clearly hadn't been paying attention to them, keeping his senses geared toward the bridge, but he glanced over at Heronpaw with a questioning look.
Heronpaw solemnly shook his head, hoping Flare understood the gesture. He must have, because he closed his eyes and murmured something under his breath before joining Heronpaw, giving the apprentice a nuzzle that Heronpaw supposed was supposed to be comforting. "I'm sorry, Heronpaw... I'm so sorry."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kaeldra on Mar 9, 2023 6:23:03 GMT
Shellspots || Queen || 40 moons
She had made it a tail-length or so toward the shore when Heronpaw’s voice cut through her thoughts again, slightly panicked. Shellspots lifted her head slightly over the water, worried something else had happened, but then she realized what he was asking.
Her heart twisted in her chest as he stumbled over his words. He was too young for this. And the silver tabby knew he would only blame himself, even though none of it was his fault. If anything it was her own, for not ensuring that Miku was sent out with more protection. The busy energy of the last few moons had made her a bit too complacent.
Shellspots was glad he had called out to her before she made it all the way back, but she would have swum the span of the river a hundred times if it was for something that would ease her son’s heartache.
She stood on her hind paws once more and delicately plucked the fur tuft from the branch, careful not to pull too quickly lest she leave some behind. Then she set out for the riverbank once more, head held high to keep the fur from getting wet. Miku’s scent flooded her nose, and Shellspots felt a heavy melancholy settle over her as she pulled herself out of the water. This might be the last trace of the gentle grey she-cat they would ever have.
Padding over to where Flare was attempting to comfort the apprentice – and likely trying to rein in his own grief – she gently placed the scrap of fur at her son’s paws.
“We can hold a ceremony at moonhigh,” she suggested, though purposefully did not go into detail about the type of ceremony. She knew none of them were strong enough yet to admit that they would be saying goodbye. She wasn’t sure if they ever would be.
ulla
|
|
Riley
Head of Advertising
349 Posts
|
Post by Riley on Apr 5, 2023 6:48:36 GMT
The two toms stayed quiet, each stewing in their own silent grief, when the sound of pawsteps heralded the arrival of Shellspots. Flare was the first to look up, and his heart twisted when he saw the bundle of fur in Shellspots' maw. Shellspots deposited the tuft at her son's paws.
Heronpaw stared down at it, expression unreadable, and Flare would have given almost anything to know how to make this better for him. Flare wasn't close to the young tom, would even go as far as to say Heronpaw might hated hated him, but he was too young to have to deal with this.
Without a word, Heronpaw ducked his head down to take the scrap and started in the direction of camp. Flare held his tail out for Shellspots to wait and just watched the apprentice until he was far enough before he spoke, pitching his voice low so he couldn't be overheard. "I'll give him a couple of days off from training. To process." he informed Shellspots, slowly following in Heronpaw's pawprints.
|
|
