Dawn's Patrol

[Ki]

Spottedsky wasn't extremely hungry. True, she'd only had a small piece of fresh-kill this morning. A scrawny little mouse. But Adderstar was being gracious, so she stepped forward and took a few small bites. She'd leave the rest of the others. After her small meal she looked from Adderstar to her apprentice. Though Kestrelpaw was trying to hide it, her mentor could see a bit of excitement. Spottedsky had been a mother twice over. She'd learned long ago how to read emotions and body language. But Spottedsky still hadn't forgotten how Kestrelpaw had made the patrol late. It would depend on her apprentice's behavior on this patrol. That meant none of the usual annoyances, plus exceptional performance. Spottedsky had high standards for her apprentices. And Kestrelpaw had proved more than once that she was capable of meeting those standards.

Spottedsky met Kestrelpaw's gaze and seemed to convey this through her stare: be good or no training with Adderstar. "We will see, Adderstar."

[spike]

Adderstar nodded and thought over the idea of spending a day with each apprentice. It was a lot but he had so much time on his paws. Besides, Brooksky did a fine job running the Clan when he was absent. "Well, I hope you think it over, Spottedsky," the leader chuckled. "I'm quite impressed with Kestrelpaw. She, Blackpaw, and Halfpaw are becoming fine cats. And they're eleven moons old. It's coming close to the time where we don't have to call them by these names anymore, hm?"

He winked affectionately at Kestrelpaw like some old-time friend would. Then he gazed at Lilypaw. "As for you," he mewed, "you have some moons to go but your scenting skills are very in tune for your age. I'd definitely like to see how your other skills have been. I'll talk about it later with Lionstripe though." He stood and stretched out his back with a grin spread across his muzzle. Then light gold eyes opened again and examined the group. "Are we ready to continue?" he inquired with the usual cheeriness to his voice.

[nightstorm]

Kestrelpaw dropped her gaze, trying to hide the resentment that filled her eyes. Spottedsky knew what an honor it was to have the leader watch a training session, much less train with an apprentice! How dare she simply say, We will see? Her indignation at Spottedsky's response disappeared, as Adderstar mentioned her future warrior ceremony. Satisfaction filled her at the thought. She would not be a tiny apprentice to push around anymore. No, she would be Kestrelwing, proud warrior, a force to be reckoned with. Well, maybe not the Kestrelwing part. Adderstar got to choose her name. But still, she would definitely be a force to be reckoned with. She looked up once more as Adderstar spoke again, and suppressed a snort of amuesment. Lilypaw, with good scenting skills? Pshaw. Her skills as a hunter were nothing special. Just your average apprentice. As Adderstar asked if they were ready to continue, she nodded, her previous excitement gone, replaced by a strong desire to please Spottedsky, so that training with Adderstar would be a sure thing.

[:c a i:]

Lilypaw smiled winningly and winked cheerfully at her mentor before she spoke. "I look forwards to it, Adderstar." She replied politely, secretly bubbling with delight at the idea of Adderstar joining her training. That would be something to tell Wrenpaw and Hazelpaw later. Lilypaw's good mood couldn't even be spoiled by the fact that Kestrelpaw was positively reeking of self-importance and disgusting pride, though she did give a tiny grin of mirthful amusement. Kestrelpaw, a warrior? Hah! Kestrelpaw was hardly anything out of the ordinary. Just... Plain. Everything about her was plain.

There was a flicker of disappointment as Lilypaw listened to Adderstar reminding her of the moons she had to wait until she would become a warrior. It was deeply unpleasant to think that Kestrelpaw would be a warrior before her, even though the other apprentice was a full three moons older. Still, Lilypaw could only hope that Kestrelpaw ended up with a tragic name like... Kestrelnose. Kestrelbeak. Kestrelegg. Hah! Imagine that. She'd have to introduce herself as Kestrelegg to any cat who had the misfortune of meeting her.

Lilypaw hid her smirk and bounded up eagerly, ready to show just what a good little apprentice she was to Adderstar. Well, a good little apprentice for today anyway. She would show Kestrelpaw how much more talented she was than her. Oh yes.

[Kitty]

Lionstripe finished his small piece of prey and sat up, whiskers twitching as he swiped a paw across his muzzle to remove all traces of fresh-kill. "I'll be looking forward to it, Adderstar," he meowed, just as eager as Lilypaw was for him to help in her training. Lionstripe thought he was doiung a pretty good job, but it was nice for other cats to help out too. Especially if said other cat happened to be leader of SkyClan.

"Hm, yes, let's get this patrol going. At this rate we won't be back until dusk!" he chuckled, but he was still serious. The patrol had already been sent out a bit late; if they didn't get going soon it would throw every patrol off schedule. The dark ginger tom stood and stretched. "Ready when you are, Adderstar."

[spike]

Adderstar nodded and made sure everybody was aside before burying the remains of the prey. Once that was settled, he lifted his chin and took the lead once more. He was grinning broadly, a happy look just simply plastered on his face. It was like all the world's good had settled on his shoulders. The cat looked around and enjoyed the swift breeze that wafted down his back. This was definitely nice. A nice day, a nice group, a nice time of year.

But all nice ends at some point. The wind billowed again and it buffeted him with a wave of nauseating stenches. No, just one stench. Death. Adderstar flicked his tail before moving ahead. That flick of the tail gave away all his fears. He walked towards the river and scanned its waters warily. The scents were from here. It was definitely Goldenheart and his two kits. Why would they all be out so early? Adderstar shifted closer to the banks before wrenching back his head with shock.

Brightkit was lying on the ground with her lifeless form slumped so carelessly as if she had been coughe dup by the river. He darted forward and sniffed her body. This was where the death came from. She hadn't been dead long but long enough that her body was frigid. "Lilypaw, run to camp," the leader roared out. "Find me a patrol of warriors. I think we might be looking for two more bodies."

With the caution of a father, Adderstar picked up the dead kit and wandered back to the patrol. He laid Brightkit was such ease that one would've thought he did father her. "Brightkit is dead. Honeykit and Goldenheart's scents are there too but they cannot be found."

[:c a i:]

Lilypaw's heartbeat sped up as she caught the terrible scent which had stolen Adderstar's good mood away in a flash. The horribly sweet scent of death was emnating from the riverside; sickly and foul. But what was the cause of this scent? A bitter sense of foreboding settled in Lilypaw's mind as she stepped forwards after Adderstar cautiously, swallowing hard. The earlier peace of the patrol and even the rivalry between her and Kestrelpaw was a but a memory on the edge of her mind now, and nothing mattered except finding the truth. She could feel the wariness radiating from Adderstar, and that in turn made Lilypaw feel on edge. If the leader was worried, then surely it must be a grave situation?

Adderstar's caution abruptly gave way to shock and Lilypaw sensed it. It could only mean he had found the source of the death-scent. Lilypaw moved to look too, and recoiled in horror as she saw the tiny form of Brightkit, lifeless and unmoving. It was all too clear that she was dead. That kit would never again laugh and play, and Lilypaw was suddenly gripped with a biting feeling of shock which froze her limbs and rooted her to the spot. For all her bravado and all her outward confidence, Lilypaw was still just a young apprentice. This confrontation with the harsh reality of a cat's mortality affected her deeply and she subconsciously shifted near to Lionstripe for comfort. She was seeing death with a youngster's innocence and it shook her.

Brightkit was dead. How was that fair? She was a kit. Kits were supposed to grow up and become apprentices and then warriors, not be snatched from life when they were only at the beginning. Lilypaw's blue eyes were wide and glassy and she stood tremulously, dazed. Adderstar's order did not register in Lilypaw; his voice becoming like a blast of wind rushing through her ears, meaning nothing. It was only when Adderstar spoke again that she realised she had been commanded to find help and she snapped out of her state of shock. She felt so confused. She didn't understand why this happened. But she registered Adderstar's words robotically, her paws moving almost automatically.

Wordlessly, Lilypaw began to run back the way they had come, her long, lean legs allowing her to speed over the land like a breeze. This was bigger than her. She was faced with something she had never faced before, something which she didn't like. She was so used to cruising along in life that when the smooth surface of her life was ruffled, she didn't quite know how to handle it. What if Goldenheart and Honeykit were dead too? All she had wanted was to impress Adderstar, but instead she was an observer of a tragedy. She did not stop running, not even for a moment. She sprinted as fast as she could, the dull ache which came from sudden exertion ignored, and barely breathed as she went. Camp was in sight.

[Ki]

((Tsk tsk. Get used to it, Lilypaw. XD Smallpaw isn't going to last forever! Or, really, until his warrior ceremony.))

Spottedsky was pleased when the patrol continued. But then that scent hit her and the rest of the patrol. That sickly sweet scent of death. It made her reel back instinctivly. Spottedsky had experince with that scent. She'd smelled it on her brother when the patrol had dragged his crushed, lifeless body into camp. She'd smelled it on her niece and Finchwing, just a day after Finchwing's kits were born. She'd smelled it on Crowkit after he and Smallkit fell from a ledge in camp. Her eyes widened when she saw poor Brightkit. The she-cat hung her head in dismay. The little kit had drowned, most likely. Her damp fur as a testament to that. But where were Honeykit and Goldenheart? Adderstar set the kit before them, and Spottedsky moved forward and nudged it gently. Just as she had done when Snowkit and Crowkit had died. For a moment the she-cat and former queen hoped that the kit would be suddenly be roused. But no such luck. Death had taken Brightkit already.

"She will be playing in the stars, now." Spottedsky mewed, looking at Adderstar and Lionstripe. She saw Lilypaw take off to the tell the camp. For a moment the warrior sat there and looked at Brightkit. Drowning. What a way to go. It must have been terrifying. The water surrounding you, choking your lungs. A shudder went down her spine and she moved away from the patrol and began sniffing around to find Goldenheart and Honeykit. Had they all fallen in? Were they all dead? Spottedsky tried to occupy herself with this task, so she wouldn't have to think about Brightkit's death. She knew that death was a fact of life. All things that are born must eventually die. Whether they are cat, bird, squirrel, or even Twoleg. But the sight of dead kits had always made Spottedsky upset. She was covering it, but limp little Brightkit had reminded her of Crowkit when he'd laid dead on the ground. Or Snowkit who'd died curled up in a little ball, away from her brothers.

Take care of Brightkit, Ravenflight. Spottedsky prayed, glancing up at the obliviously cheerful sky above.

[Kitty]

Lionstripe was in a pretty good mood. That is, until the stench hit him and the rest of the patrol with no warning. The sickly-sweet stench of death. He'd smelled this smell a few times before - at vigils, even in the medicine cat den when visiting his sister. Adderstar walked off and reappeared with a little kit in his mouth, one Lionstripe recognized because it was the same kit that pounced on his tail yesterday morning outside the nursery. It was little Brightkit. The dark ginger tom's head bowed in sadness and grief for the young life that was lost. It was a shame when young cats' lives were taken from them so early. But Brightkit hunted with StarClan now. Or played, rather, since she couldn't hunt.

Lionstripe barely heard Adderstar's order to Lilypaw, wrapped up in his own thoughts as he was. But he realized that when she took off that he'd ordered her back to camp, in case HOneykit and Goldenheart were around. Great StarClan, their scents were here, too, underneath the death-scent. And surely if they'd seen their sister or daughter dead, they'd bring her back to camp. Unless something happened to them, too.

He shook his head. The lives of three cats lost all in one day? It was sad, really. Goldenheart was a good warrior, even though Lionstripe didn't know him well. And, well, Brightkit and HOneykit were adorable, as all kits are. Watch over her, StarClan. Care for your newest SkyClan addition.

[:c a i:]

No time was wasted in getting the patrol to the river. Rainsong had worked quickly to gather a few available cats and they had moved at speed towards the river. When they neared it, Lilypaw had given a few quiet directions to where she had left Adderstar and the others and Rainsong was able to follow their scent easily. It was a deceptively bright day. Deceptive because it had held events which were far from bright; really quite the opposite. One didn't get much darker than the loss of a kit.

"There they are." Rainsong murmured, quickening her pace. She glanced over her shoulder to check the other cats, then called out to let the dawn patrollers know they were there. "Adderstar!" They approached quickly and were soon within talking distance of the leader. "Lilypaw told us what happened. Is it true? You haven't found Goldenheart?" Clearly what Lilypaw had said about Brightkit was true, since the poor little thing was laid carefully at the leader's feet, and Rainsong's heart ached to see her there.

Lilypaw was still in her uncharacteristically quiet mood, walking beside Hailwhisker and solemnly watching the older cats as they worked. She was the youngest out here and had never before experienced the death of anyone she knew. Though she hadn't personally known Brightkit and Honeykit, she had known of Goldenheart and it was unnerving to think that a strong cat like him could be just... Whisked away. Without a trace. Lilypaw was starting to convince herself that they would never find the warrior and his one remaining kit and she almost wished she had stayed at camp now so she wouldn't have to face the horrible truth. But it was her duty to help look; for once she wasn't content to sit back and let everyone else do the work. She had to know what had happened to Goldenheart and Honeykit and whether they were still alive.

[spike]

Adderstar jerked his head up from where he had it bowed for Brightkit. He really did adore kits and these two had been no exception. Maybe even the opposite of that. Honeykit and Brightkit were playful, Honeykit being a big talker as well. They would've made wonderful apprentices. "There is only the scent of Goldenheart and Honeykit. We can't find them. I'm assuming since there is no scent coming back, they fell into the river. Hailwhisker, Lilypaw, Lionstripe, and Paleface. Stay close to this area, check the river for the next three or four fox lengths. I'll take Rainsong, Spottedsky, Kestrelpaw, and Smokefur further down river. We'll have to run down as far as we can. Leafstorm, take Brightkit's body back to camp and tell Sandcloud and Frostwing what has happened. If we find Goldenheart and Honeykit, they'll need attention at camp. Tell Brooksky as well. The rest of you, spread the patrols out. Lionstripe, I'm leaving you in charge of your patrol."

The leader bumped his shoulder with Lionstripe's then Rainsong's. His light golden eyes cast around until they landed on Lilypaw. "Do you feel well enough to do this?" he questioned quietly. "You can go back to camp if you like. You look a bit faint, Lilypaw." He hated seeing that lost look on her face. He felt lost too. When a kit died, the world was a wreak. An elder that passed from age, a warrior that passed from battle, those things were such great thigns that were almost... suspected. But a kit passing away into StarClan, running among Silver Pelt without a warrior name of their own, was leaving a revolting taste in the back of his throat. Run well with StarClan, Brightkit, he thought.

[:c a i:]

Rainsong's eyes flickered shut for a moment as Adderstar confirmed everything. It was as Lilypaw had said; the remaining two in this little family were still missing. Rainsong prayed to StarClan that they were all right, but she made herself stay calm and not get her hopes up too much. She nodded in agreement, moving over to stand by the leader, ready and eager to begin the search. She studied Adderstar himself, sympathetically knowing that he would be taking Brightkit's death hard. He loved kits. And now one was taken away and it would affect them all. Rainsong didn't say anything, but gave a small, understanding smile for just a heartbeat. Then her concentrated expression returned, for there was a task at paw. They had to find Goldenheart and his kit, no matter where they were.

Some of Lilypaw's usual pride returned at Adderstar's words and she lifted her chin determinedly. "No. I'm... I'm fine." She replied, attempting to put on an expression like all the warriors had. They looked calm and in control, not trembling and weak. And Lilypaw certainly wasn't going to look weak in front of Adderstar. And Lionstripe. And Kestrelpaw. No, she would be fine. Oh, and there was Hailwhisker, whom she hadn't failed to notice was rather good-looking. She wouldn't lose face by running back to camp now. It was more than just not appearing weak, though. Lilypaw needed to know what had happened. She needed to know how this story ended, whether it was tragic or joyous. She could only pray for the latter as she nodded determinedly and went to sit with Lionstripe, ready to search.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Smokefur followed along with the patrol as they raced toward the river. Rainsong had said another patrol found the body of Brightkit, and Honeykit and Goldenheart were missing. The rest of the cats seemed tense and worried, like they didn't want to believe it. Of course, the idea of a kit dying was a horrible thought, much more cruel than an elder or warrior passing away. Smokefur remained quiet most of the way there.

When the reached the river, Smokefur saw what Rainsong had told him and knew it was true; Brightkit's lifeless body was at Adderstar's paws, unmoving. The hardened cat felt a slight pull of sorrow for the kit and anyone who had been close to her. Most everyone in the Clan knew Smokefur didn't have much of a fondness for kits but it was still unfortunate. Even though they were irritating and loud, Brightkit had been the more tolerable one of the sisters. Honeykit on the other hand, was twice as annoying. But this wasn't the time for thoughts like that.

With a strict, detached air and a cold look on his face, he nodded at Adderstar's orders. If there were any chance that Goldenheart and Honeykit would be found, they had to search the entire area as quickly as possible. And if they didn't find them, well, they would either have to keep on looking or give up. Giving his paw a few careful licks, he waited for Adderstar to lead them further down the river.

[Kitty]

Lionstripe nodded sharply at Adderstar's orders. He'd been relieved to see the rather large group of cats that had accompanied Lilypaw back. It hadn't taken long at all, although it had seemed to take moons simply because of the need for them. "Good luck, you all," he meowed to Adderstar and his patrol, and turned to the patrol of his own. He kept his eyes away from the body of Brightkit - she wouldn't want her Clanmates to grieve for her, he didn't think, although they would grieve nonetheless.

He touched Lilypaw's shoulder gently with his nose as she came to join him. "You really don't look good," he murmured. "But you got back very fast. I'm proud of you." He blinkly warmly at his apprentice and looked up. "Okay, we're going to look around here. Paleface, could you and Hailwhisker get to the other side of the river and look there? They might have come up on the other side. Be very careful, though, becasue there might not be a place to walk across. Lilypaw and I will look on this side of the river." StarClan knew that he wasn't going to let Lilypaw cross the smae river that may have taken three cats lives. Paleface and Hailwhisker were warriors, at least, even if Hailwhisker was a newly-made one. "Don't go far; Adderstar told us to stay within three or four foxlengths of the accident." He rose to his paws and cast one last, sad look at the motionless kit, then focused on the task at hand. Leafstorm would get the kit back to camp and then his sister would deal with it.

He prayed that Sandcloud wouldn't have any more bodies to take care of by the end of the day.

[Ki]

Paleface nodded curtly at the order. He looked at Hailwhisker and flicked his tail. The river ran quickly its whole length, so there was no real ideal crossing spot. He didn't see any sort of logs or stepping stones in this part either. So the two toms would have to swim it. They were near a shallower part of the river, at least. He began to move towards the shore and mewed to the youngest warrior, "Be very careful. We don't want the body count higher than it needs to be." Paleface knew that Hailwhisker was smart enough to know better. But given the devastating circumstances and the fact that Hailwhisker was a young warrior, he thought he'd give a little reminder.

Spottedsky was avoiding looking at Brightkit. Everytime she did so she saw her nephew laying dead on the ground, and she felt like yowling in dismary, just as she had done on the day he'd fallen. The she-cat moved towards Adderstar as the groups broke off into two recovery patrols. Her eyes scanned the waters, half-expecting the yellow heads of Goldenheart and Honeykit to break through the surface. Nothing but fast, roaring water. Her tail flicked in sudden hatred for the thing that had taken the life of a kit.