" malice shall corrupt reality,
and turn blood on blood
for a rotting wait of revenge "
There is the Star Realm, a place for cats who have served out of pure loyalty and benevolence, and the Dark Realm, a resting place for those who served out of t...
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-❂-
A crater was formed beneath Lynxpaw with every pawstep, crafted out of the anxiety and pain that made her body feel heavy and tight. She was submerged in a realm of her thoughts as they hastened their paces towards HeathClan camp. Her heart throbbed and a shocked silence rippled over the three of them, but it only allowed their worry spike. There was no safety even amongst the haven they called HeathClan, and the heartwrenching truth kept their jaws latched shut as they ambled quickly back to the camp.
Growing closer to the camp, Lynxpaw watched as the sun began to peek over the distant horizon. Golden waves flooded the plains stretched out before them and grass and flowers pirouetted with the wind. Lynxpaw's gaze was drawn from the alluring sights of the sunrise instead to the hills of the land. Light simmered over the top and crafted long, dark shadows that molded over the medicine cats as they traveled onwards. A shiver rolled down Lynxpaw's spine and her breath remained trapped in her throat as she slinked through one of the shadows.
The whole time they had seen the benevolence of HeathClan and the glory of it, they had ignored the signs of discourse and menace. Lynxpaw had ignored it all. The warning from Galeflower and the odd behavior of the two HeathClan cats the night she spoke to Nightfrost. As much as the truth hurt the apprentice, she knew it was not a safe place for her and the other RidgeClanners. Not now, and maybe not ever.
When they froze in front of the camp entrance, Lynxpaw's ears rose as she heard frantic voices inside. Normally HeathClan was up rather early, but the voices were weaved with panic and sorrow. She winced when Nightfrost glanced back at her, worry lining his round gaze. No, please Star Realm no. Don't let another cat be hurt because of me.
As they stepped into camp, Lynxpaw's heart dropped. She felt as if she had stepped into RidgeClan camp once again, eyes plastered onto her with a limp body haunting her from the center of the clearing. Their smoky pelt reminded her so much of Marshleap's and she faltered in her steps as she followed Nightfrost and Robinwing forward.
All the former RidgeClanner's were gathered around the body of a familiar face, their faces shadowed over by melancholy and terror. Only some HeathClanner's sat amongst them and whispered words of comfort, including Mousestar. The HeathClan leader was pressed close to the trembling form of Shiverbee, the mother wailing as her kits buried their muzzles into her fur and joined her. Meanwhile, other HeathClanner's watched from afar, and some of their darkened, blank expression burrowed themselves into Lynxpaw's mind.
The medicine cat scrambled over to Shiverbee and Mousestar's side, her ears falling as she examined the body. Smokebite was sprawled out, his fur knotted and his tongue lolling out the side of his gaped mouth. Trepidation crawled over Lynxpaw and harsh memories left her tense and struggling to find words, until a grieving Shiverbee spoke up.
"He woke us all up by thrashing and calling for help. We didn't know what to do but we tried to hold him down and keep him calm," Shiverbee started, struggling to not choke on her words. "H-He told us something was hurting him... from inside of him. He then started choking and coughing and his eyes... my stars, I don't even know how to describe them. He even grew violent and left a nasty scratch across Pebblestep's cheek."
