Dance to the F. a . l . l [ of Angels ]

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>Rustshade approached the father and son from behind and joined his friends from the side. He sat flanking Umberpaw and Shadowstreak behind the two she-cats, eyes dim and appearing to be at a loss of words or actions even to describe this devastating yet touching scene.

He closed his eyes, wanting to cry out in pain and suffering, but he remained silent, slowly stopping to move as he sat there, nursing his deep wounds that would never heal. Death was something beyond Rustshade's comprehension. How would he be able to get over this recent shock and tragedy...?

But Oddeye was free. Her soul had parted and escaped into Starclan, to remain with her ancestors, and many more from every clan that remained on this earth. She died painlessly, as so many had been denied this type of escape. He shuddered as a cold breath of air shot soundlessly through his parted mouth, trembling.</sub>

[.::Umberwings]

Umberpaw gently touched Rustshade’s shoulder, the look within her yellow eyes filled with understanding…and something more. Btu she remained silent as she looked away, upon the mourning father and son.

‘Be free…’

The medicine cat apprentice closed her eyes, breathing out slowly. She could sense Oddeye spirit there, could see the she-cat in the glory she had once been before illness struck her so savagely.

And then the spirit ghosted away and was no more.

“She’s with Honeymist now…and Demonkit.”

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>Rustshade only gave a careful flick of his ear in recognition to Umberpaw. He didn't question who Demonkit was.. He didn't pause to question it. All's he knew was Honeymist. The bright she-cat he had met many moons before remained clear in his mind. Unlike Oddeye, she had died painfully, and by her own love and kin.

It chilled him to the bone...

He opened a clear, sage-blue eye and looked unseeingly past the she-cats, past Oddeye and her mate and son, past all that was around him. All's he knew now was gentle reassurance that Oddeye was okay in Starclan.</sub>

[Shadow Spirit]

Lillystar slowly raised her head from Oddeye's body, looking to the heavens. She prayed that StarClan would take care of Oddeye in her afterlife. Stepping back to allow the others their time to grieve, she walked over to Shadowstreak.

Sitting down beside her, she spoke softly to the frightened warrior. "How are you doing Shadowstreak?" she asked as calmly as possible. "Do you need to go and rest for a while?"

Shadowstreak looked up at her leader's words, but the shock had not left her dark blue orbs.

"No I'm.........fine..." she managed to lie. "You can't have any need to dote over me...there are things to be done...I'll just go now..." With that she stood shakily and padded away, seeming a bit ungainly on her paws. Lillystar stared after her worriedly.

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>Rustshade looked down sadly, ears flattening before turning and walking away. He needed to leave the family to mourn for her, but he also needed to reassure his friend.

.. Everything was going to be okay...

He cast his eyes one last time and perhaps a second longer upon Umberpaw before turning to join Shadowstreak and pressing his nose into her flanks reassuringly. "It is as Umberpaw said," He said softly to her, catching up to her to walk astride her. "Oddeye, she is free to hunt among the ranks of Starclan, with those before her. She is free, and one does not mourn freedom. Her loss of ours was great," He said, also speaking on behalf of his lost friend and warrior Honeymist, but also on Oddeye and the touching scene he witnessed. ",But Starclan has better need of her." He bowed his head before padding towards the fresh-kill pile to retrieve a single ptarmigan and relaxing outside the warriors den, eyes gazing unseeingly upon his slowly eaten food. He wasn't hungry, but he needed to put his mind at ease. So many friends fallen, and so many friends needing him to be there for this bitter times. He gave a soft growl.</sub>

October stalked towards his warrior friend, eyes watching him sadly as he had left his 'toy' (Murderkit) somewhere elsewhere to join his friend. He'd witnessed the tragic scene, and it even put a damper on his own spirit. He lay down before Rustshade, still looking up to welcome anybody to join him and nudged him. "Cheer up. Live by your words, Rusty." He said sadly, but even a hint of hope at cheering the guilt-ridden warrior.

((Had to get the thread going. Anyways, we'll just say October left Murderkit somewhere, unsuspecting of revenge. XDDD ))

[Shadow Spirit]

Lillystar lifted her head sadly from Oddeye's soft flanks. Even though her body was cool to the touch, there was still a resounding wamrth in her very presence. She took a general evaluation of her situation, looking to each of the cats that stood with her. She stood and turned away from Oddeye, no longer able to look at the white queen's body without feeling agonizing remorse.

"The rest of the Clan must know what has happened...but do I really want to call a meeting for news such as this...?" she thought out loud.

[.::Umberwings]

“Bring the clan here to celebrate the shining star Oddeye’s life was.”

The mew was from one unnaturally small medicine cat apprentice, those unusually bright yellow hues watching the leader unblinking. She needed to go and make sure Timescar was settled in, relaxed and ready for her forced delivery of the deceased kits, but there was still time.

Silverthroat had been gone for so long now, it wasn’t too difficult to shoulder the full weight anymore.

Umberpaw finally blinked, that blinding gaze wavering before dropping slightly, ears flicked back as she listened to the family’s grieving over their loss.

Family...

...Demonkit.

The ebony she-cat rose, paws silent as he padded over to join October and Rustshade, her muzzle, briefly, burying into her dear dear friend's fur for comfort.

Yes, even the strong Umberpaw needed comfort every once in a while.

"...I will always be here."

There was an odd softness to her voice; words for his ears only.

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>His ears met hers briefly before she settled into his dark fur. Black on black, with just a tinge of rust in Rustshade's pelt. "I know.." He said softly, just as softly, arching his neck to lay his chin upon her head and lick fondly at her ebony ears.

He guessed that her need for comfort lay beyond Honeymist's or Oddeye's death, one beyond Rustshade's comprehension. But he closed his eyes, not questioning. She would tell the young warrior when she was ready.</sub>

Something flashed in October's eyes, something intelligent in his depths, and he gave a soft smile before getting to his feet and stalking away. He knew they needed to be alone..

And with that, he padded outside to visit others outside the territory.

[.::Umberwings]

“My brother….died right before I came here to Mistclan, all those moons ago. We had been very close, having been the only two of our litter to have survived our mother’s…hunger.”

Her voice was shaky; this was something she’d never told anyone before.

“She ate him Rustshade. Ate my own brother. I…saw it all.”

It had taken the small she-cat a long, long time before she was able to forgive herself for the helplessness, the inability to try to save her brother from those blood-drenched jaws.

But death…she felt as if she was coming more and more to understand it.

[Shadow Spirit]

Lillystar slowly made her way out of the medicine cat's hollow and out into the main camp...

OOC: Now she'll break the news to them...;_;

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>It took him by surprise, if not even disgust that any living thing would live with itself after eating it's own kits. But he showed no signs of it as he rubbed his tongue caressingly between her ears. He was glad she hadn't picked up her mother's taste for cat blood and flesh.

"Everything is over, Umberpaw... Your brother.. Demonkit..

I'm sure he'd be proud of you, watching you from Starclan. I'm sure he's watching you now. You've come a long way since that night when we were kits.. And Bane, and..." He didn't continue.

"I'M proud of you. You seem to always carry the weight of the world, but you don't say a word of it or complain.." He arched his neck and lay his chin on his paws, looking up at her, seeming to see her in a different light.

"Your mother is no longer part of your life, and you are safe here. Someday, you can find her. Someday, you can fight her, and kill her. But not now.." He said.

Just stay here with me.." Rustshade murmured.</sub>

[.::Umberwings]

“That night…”

So much had happened since that time, so many moons ago. So long, it felt like she had merely watched the entire battle, not entered it, not nearly died to protect her friends.

To protect him.

Those yellow hues turned, flicking and absorbing the light until they almost literally glowed.

Starclan’s light.

For so long now she walked with a paw in both worlds that she never had a choice but to bear everything.

But now…

Now?

“I won’t leave. Not you. Not ever.”

The words were in that same, unusually soft tone, and she stepped forward to rub her head against his with a gentle purr.

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>He let out a deep purr as he leaned his chin into his chest to accept the affection from the medicine cat.

.. And then it struck him. It terrified his heart, and he suddenly ceased his purring. "You can't... We can't... You are a medicine cat.." He whispered sadly, burying his nose into her small chest, eyes dim with sadness when he realized he couldn't be with her.

"I don't want you to leave me, nor do I want your fate to be destroyed by being with me," He said gravely, tail flipping in distraught mourning.

[Ah, but some rules were meant to be broken!! XDDD]</sub>

[.::Umberwings]

No…

He had struck on the one think that held her to this world; while Demonkit continued to bar her from the next.

A medicine cat…her dream…

“It…it doesn’t matter Rustshade.”

It didn’t. Not anymore.

Not when he was so close, remained so strong…there had always been a closeness between her, Rustshade, and Ripplepaw. Always.

And now?

“Fate changes. Everything that ever happens is called into place by those fallen and gone to Starclan.”

How could she explain it? It was like her desire to heal, that pulsed under her breath like life’s blood. Like sheer madness.

Umberpaw didn’t think she knew how, really.

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>"But you've waited your whole life to be a medicine cat," He protested quietly, closing his eyes in a more settled matter. "Do not throw it all away just.. For me," Rustshade murmured in her ear, eyes still slanted shut.

"Perhaps Starclan would want you to follow your path; It was the fate you chose so long ago." He opened his eyes once more to stare deep into her warm gaze, tail flicking comfortably. "But perhaps Starclan.." He continued, his eyes deeping in hue as he contemplated - ", led us together on this path. Perhaps Starclan led us down the road, Ripplepaw, you, and myself, and Trillium and.. Honeymist," He murmered, speaking of the cat he'd had a close bond to. Not in a relationship way, no, but she was kind to him, and they shared a friendship Rustshade still held dear.

No, Umberpaw was only ever the one for him..</sub>