Lillyheart's Secret

Chapter Thirty-five

They set out as soon as possible, leaving the rest of Riverclan standing in the camp, unsure of what to do next. They had no deputy to give patrols, and Creekstar had vanished back into her den, leaving them without a leader as well.

Mossfang cleared his throat roughly. "I think it's about time we stop sitting here like dazed mice. Cloudnose, grab a couple of warriors and patrol the Shadowclan border. And Minnowstripe, why don't you grab a couple of others and check out Windclan. They've been a bit pushy lately, so make sure all of the markers are in the correct spots.

"The rest of you, divide up to go hunting or something. Just don't waste time around camp. If Creekstar needed us, she would let us know, and she's also got Snakeslip and Leopardcry to do anything she could need."

Mossfang hesitated at this, and shook his head. "On second thought, let's keep an older warrior here, just in case. Fallowsong, why don't you stick around? The rest of you, head out."

The cats in the camp clearing obeyed him, desperate for any shred or semblance of normality or leadership to guide them.

Softpelt lingered at the camp entrance, casting her gaze back to the leader's, where Snakeslip sat just at the entrance, staring back at her.

Lillyheart watched as the silvery tabby dipped her head and then left the camp, her own paws eager to head out, to no longer be tied to the camp by fear for their deputy. She took a deep breath, and pushed her way into the weave of cats leaving out into the territory.
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They were nearing a quarter moon since the patrol had been sent out to find the mysterious herb, and Lillyheart caught herself sitting at the edge of camp every night, waiting for any clues or signs of the patrol returning.

There was a slight cough.

Lillyheart turned to see Larkbreeze settle next to her, green eyes pinned on the horizon outside of camp, her pale brown tail twitching.

"Any signs of him?"

Lillyheart shook her head. "None. I'm not even sure which way they went, so I have no clue where to start looking if they don't—" her voice hitched, and she tucked her muzzle into her chest, curling her tail around herself. "But I'm not going to think about that."

"Agreed." Larkbreeze turned to look at Lillyheart, studying her with those green eyes that used to be full of malice, and yet now only showed resigned concern. "How are you with... with the loss of the kits?"

Lillyheart took a deep breath. "Better than Murkfall. I have Wavelight to lean on, and your brother was there to help me through everything else. But Murkfall, he— he's lost so much of his family already, I feel like the kits were his breaking point."

Larkbreeze hesitated, then gingerly settled her tail across Lillyheart's shoulders, a cautious look on her face. "Believe me when I tell you that, he just needs you to lean on. I've seen him broken before, Lillyheart, and trust me, this isn't it."

Lillyheart cast an uncertain look at the other she-cat. "What do you mean?"

Larkbreeze gave an impatient sign. "Great Starclan! You're still as thickheaded as always. You disappearing into Thunderclan broke Murkfall. Honestly, it was all we could do to keep him together enough so we could trust him not to fling himself in the lake. You haven't seen the half of his worst times, because you weren't here. And I can't blame you for that. You were kidnapped."

Lillyheart wrinkled her nose, but Larkbreeze continued on. "Just, go talk with him. Don't let him sulk about this, just be there. I was pretty awful when you were brought back, but you know who wasn't? Murkfall. He was always by your side, and right now, you need to do the same for him.

"Don't just give him space just because you are scared. Grieve together. You two aren't going to get anywhere if you're too afraid to actually talk things out. You got off fine before because you couldn't talk, but once you could, what did you do?"

"I told him everything," Lillyheart whispered, curling into herself at the thought of what had happened in Thunderclan.

"Right. So you need to be there so he can tell you everything. And even if he can't talk about it, just be there. For Starclan's sake, Lillyheart, he's your mate! And if you're not willing to love him right, then I sure as all the stars will!"

Larkbreeze got up with a huff, stalking away and leaving Lillyheart alone at the entrance to the camp, things clearer yet more confusing than before.

Once thing was for certain. Murkfall had to come back soon, and not just for her.
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"Somebody go get Creekstar!"

Leopardcry burst out of the Leader's den, amber eyes wide with fear and worry. Creekstar had been all but dragged out of camp by Fallowsong, who insisted that the leader needed time away from camp, away from her mate who had lain in a wakeless sleep for the past quarter moon.

Lillyheart streaked to her paws, panic crashing into her lungs, chasing a shadow of a breath from her lungs as she bounded out of camp. Why today? Why today, when Creekstar had just started to trying and return the clan to normal?

She saw another cat ahead of her, and they reached the two she-cats first, the look on Creekstar's face moving from irritation to shock, then to horror.

Creekstar took off in a sprint, eyes so wide Lillyheart could see the whites. She raced past Lillyheart, and all the warrior could do was stare as she felt something breaking inside of her, something that was undoubtedly larger in Creekstar's own heart.

She knew.
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Murkfall followed at the back of the patrol, green eyes cast downwards as they searched the forest ground for this mystery herb.

He could hear Him whispering in his head, but he was trying his best to block it out, to ignore the thoughts growing in the back of his mind.

A mouse scuffled to his left, and he turned his head to watch it, just to see as it dissapeared underneath a plant. A plant with long, feathery leaves with white tips. A plant with small purple flowers reaching from the center. A plant that matched exactly what Reedfoot had described to the patrol.

The voice in his head grew painfully loud, and he dug his claws into the dirt trying to ground himself. The voice screeched a sharp ringing tone, and Murkfall's vision went dark.

Heyyyu!!!

I've decided that I'm going to toss some Murkfall pov's at the end of each chapter, and this one was fun to do!

I like writing as Murkfall.

Also!! I wanted to ask if you guys enjoyed these different pov's, and if you had any ideas on who I should write from next.

Have a great day!