𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 (𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘒 2) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 6

The caves were filled with crystals sprouting from the ground and stuck into the rocky walls. The bright, shining light reflected off the crystals and nearly blinded his eyes, which made him squint.

"Hope your eyes are used to this."  Emerald'glare warned, the sound of a rushing water and the waves above became more present as they reached to the long vines drenching over the entrance. Sunflower opened his eyes to see a humongous cave underground, where there were cats, lots of cats living in their crystal domain. There were dens made of large sticks and bushes; some were in the connected tunnels. There was also a waterfall and a large pond on the left side of the cave, opposite to the small pond. 

 A crystallized cliff hovered above the camp, where the leader resides in. "This is WaveClan camp... your temporary home." Said the deputy, trotting down the pile of rocks and shells with his steady paws. "Try not to trip, alright?"

"I'm more concerned about being blind." Sunflower closed his eyes again when he passed by the crystals. "How do you live like this?" He followed the deputy to the bottom of the cave, where they came across a clan meeting. He did see where the medicine den is located.  "You'll be surprised if you have seen the sunstone. It's worse, trust me." Emerald'glare walked to the medicine den, he was still eying at Sunflower's scarred chest. "You still need to get that checked out." He urged. "Get into that den, I'll give my leader a notice, and maybe the medicine cat can help you." 

There was a small pond with water coming from the rocky wall inside the large den. Sunflower was very, very anxious of this. He could hear the voices coming back to him when he's in an unknown environment. He could feel some stares behind his back, stabbing through his guts and his heart that continuously pounded. His ears were flattened, he didn't feel like he wanted to leave Emerald'glare's side just yet. "...Are you sure?" He asked.

The deputy scoffed. "You think we're just as crazy as those cats in the forest? Just stay calm, and don't speak to anyone if you don't feel like it." He said, his head gesturing to one of the unoccupied moss beds. He then walked off, his tail swaying from side to side. Sunflower's tail tucked under his hind legs, walking slowly to his bed. He heard the rushing of the water pouring onto the pond, the murmuring of other cats who was outside of the den.

He was now alone. There were still some regrets he made from disobeying his father's orders. His scar on his chest ached from the ginger tom's claws on him. But his heart remained warm for Ghost'paw after hearing about her story. Peter was right about what he had said, he'll either find a friend, or a foe. He was just hoping he wouldn't have to see that ginger tom again.

But. Something tells Sunflower that there was some similarity, he didn't know why. The ginger tom's green eyes were reminded of a hero whose heart made with fire. Someone that his father had described when telling outsider stories. Maybe he had living ancestors? But that could be impossible coming from someone like Rusty'claw. he hadn't known him fully, but he could tell that he wasn't the cat to befriend with. 

As he sat there, alone with his thoughts that calmed his anxiety down, he noticed a cold breeze behind him. There was no opening to the higher ground, but he felt there were some eyes behind his shoulder. Sunflower looked at the corner of his eye, in the midst of the darkness in the corner of the medicine cave is a black cat. A black cat with icy blue eyes, and a torn neck with dried blood all over his fur. 

The tom's eyes widened when he saw the figure in the corner. His fur shot up when staring at the figure. It looked almost the same to his uncle that he hasn't seen in a long time, and from what he remembered is that he had white paws. But this figure only had one left paw, and his collar was purple, with dog teeth for spikes. 

Sunflower's body became paralyzed, he didn't know why the figure was watching him. He couldn't move, he could barely breathe. His whole body was confined in his spot, his ears were ringing like the loud church bells in the two-leg towns. His claws traced the dirt, digging thoroughly, he thought the worst of that vision, and how similar the cat looked in one of his father's stories. A violent figure filled with bloodlust, the one who slayed the tiger. 

Who are you? Will you hurt me? 

Those thoughts remained in his mind; he could feel himself passing out from the blood that erupted from his neck. What did this spirit want from him? The spirit stood on his four paws, he had a lanky figure like Sunflower, blue eyes like his uncle. Despite how sinister and untrustworthy he looked; he was ominously calm. He padded beside Sunflower, his tail lashing slowly when he sat there. It was weird. 

He glared at him, his eyes so wide it could bulge from his sockets. His eyes tearing up from the sight of the figure standing on ground, near him. It only took seconds to find himself back to reality when someone was yelling onto his ears. 

"SUNFLOWER!"

He jumped up, the spirit sitting behind him had disappeared. He stared at Emerald'glare with two cats in front of him. The cats known as Oleander'cloud, and his apprentice Ruby'paw who was carrying a pile of herbs around her neck with a built leaf pouch. The black tom wheezed heavily; his vision was dizzy. He didn't think that whatever he had saw was real, but only a simple hallucination. 

The Siamese cat noticed how tense Sunflower looked, it immediately worried him. He also looked somewhat similar to the cat who took place in Web'star's murder, but their eyes were different, and he had visible stripes under the crystal light which was odd for cats with solid colors.  Oleander'cloud turned around at Emerald'glare, there was something skeptical about Sunflower. But he wouldn't want to spread the word that'll cause further panic. "Let us take care of him while you go on with your duties, Emerald'glare." 

The deputy affirmatively nodded; he had a look of trust; he was hoping for that this could go well. He goes off on his own to speak with the leader. Sunflower was paranoid, he stared at Oleander'cloud as if he had saw nine heads. Ruby'paw was quiet, she didn't really say anything. But she knew that the Softpaw was odd. 

"Don't get all paranoid now." The medicine cat crooned, approaching slowly to Sunflower who had no words left. "We're only there to help you, no need for claws." 

Sunflower watched as the two began to rummage their pile, he didn't know what they were going to give him. But all he heard from his father is medicine cats feeding the innocent warriors death berries. That put him further into paranoia. Oleander'cloud was being very gentle and quiet. His soft murmur was reminded of the elderly two-legs. He seemed to be around forty moons, but still had an old soul.

The medicine cat dragged a long-rooted, dry poppy flower. He shook its head, causing the seeds to fall below him. Sunflower carefully observed, the quiet environment of the cave late at night was calming. He could barely hear whatever was going on in the meeting the cats had, but he wished he didn't want to hear it. Oleander'cloud moved one of the seeds in front of the black tom, his eyes filled with concern to see the small tom terrified of where he is. "Eat these." He ordered. "It will soothe your distress." 

Sunflower nudged the seed with his tiny nose and licked it from the ground. He swallowed it and sat there to watch the two cats manage the cave. It was quiet now; his worries were finally at ease. He lowered his head onto the soft moss bed, all of his thoughts drowned out from the effective poppy seeds. The cave was cold but not in a way that encouraged fear. But to calm him. He could feel a tail poking his spine, the spirit appearing behind him again, but only he could see and feel it. His body didn't feel fearful of the figure anymore.

When he finally rested, the spirit got on a loaf position. Its head rested on top of Sunflower, and its purring vibrated his entire body. 

Today didn't go well, but it was only just a bad day, and not a bad life. 

Tomorrow, there will be another day. It will be better than the last.