{haunting fates.} ref!ected/spell/nova.

[LYNX ♥]

The sky was melting into a soft lavender at the seams, the rosy pink seeming to leak into the cloudless vastness from the tree-dappled horizon, but the tawny-splashed feline was blind to these sluggish changes of hue, as the enormous evergreens jutted toward to heavens around her, blocking out all but the sporatic patches of periwinkle overhead, studded with ever-so-faint stars which twinkles between dark emerald needles. She couldn't help but become so captivated with her environment, and though she could help being so destracted by it, the massive sand-colored female was worried as to where her thoughts would wander should she allow them. So she didn't. But still, why had she allowed young Spellpaw to tag along? Lynxstar shook her head distractedly, hoping she didn't bewilder her clanmates after she did so, and she checked on them with a quick glance. Let them chat, let Novawind get to know the two apprentices, let Reflectedpaw experience his final patrol before his assessment would be held, let Lynxstar hold her breathe with anxiety tickling her throat.
No, of course she didn't think she needed to mark the borders, having told her clanmates that the other clans would recognize the scent of VertigoClan's leader and leave their land alone, because ZephyrClan couldn't navigate their rocky border, and CelestialClan were far too proud to try and steal land. The only ones she would ever even consider worrying about was Voidstar and his quick-to-fight puppets, and they didn't even share a border. The stocky she-cat let loose a soft sigh, which she hoped could be mistaken for pleasure with the dazzling twilight, though should a patrolmate catch her gaze, they would quickly realize the leader's amber-gray gaze held nothing but worry. Something was wrong, and she had known it at once, for she had given herself the small gift of a hasty nap, when she had woken with dry sobs wracking her thickset frame, and though she didn't remember the dream which had so firmly shaken her, Lynxstar knew it had to have been awful for even in the worst of times she never wept. However, she had deftly brought the iron curtain down across her fraying emotions and called for a quick evening border patrol of her clan.
And here they were. The crisp mountain air was palpable, and Lynxstar's breath caught in her throat every so often, but she tried to ignore the sense of dread her intuition was bringing about her, and once more allowed the land to absorb her mind with its beauty.
Suddenly, the big female halted, coughs shaking her torso rather violently as the foulest scent she had ever encourntered flooded her senses. Though her gag reflex was triggered, she choked the nausious sensation away and held her breath, turning to face the two apprentices, though her gaze remained most prominently upon Spellpaw when she spoke, her voice strained with the effort of avoiding the odor, "You two may stay behind." She meowed with surprising tranquility in her smoothing voice, despite the fear she felt welling inside of her chest, "I do not know what lays ahead of us, but it will not be pleasant, and it may be dangerous. I cannot ignore it, but I cannot force you into danger's way." As an afterthought, she added, "There is a reason we fear the unknown." If she was honest with herself, Lynxstar knew they would come along no matter what she told them. They were brave young cats, she couldn't scare them away. Lynxstar's dull-colored gaze moved to meet Novawind's eyes, "Whatever these two choose, I would like you to come with me, Novawind." Desperately she wished she could instill some sort of assurance into her three companions, but she couldn't even muster the feeling into herself.

[bliss]

The evening sun glided across the faint star-lit sky burned in hues of gold at its tips with darker shades of cobalt blue melting into inky black as a dappled tom padded out into the forest abundant in growth. Slow in cadence, Novawind padded, paws silent, at the rear end of the evening patrol he had been called to. Neat, pointed ears perked this way and that at the softest rustles of leaves or the distant callings of a bird song. The forest itself was alive in peace, and the warrior couldn't help but feel quite blissful with this trek.

Toffee brown eyes ran over every minute detail he could find, lost in the grand scale of the earth that his paws stopped on their own accord to marvel at nature. Novawind shook his head quickly, stopping out of his stupor when he lagged behind the patrol; this was no time to fool around. His eyes glanced over at the two apprentices for a moment, and memories of his slightly bitter days as an apprentice washed over him. Golden pools curiously brushed over his leader; Novawind was never quick to judge, but he felt that something was slightly...off. Only...he wasn't quite sure what it was about Lynxstar that was different. As curious as he was, the tom chided himself internally that it was not his place to meddle into affairs. So he simply went back to gazing, letting his mind wander off every so often.

Novawind halted, nearly scrambling on his paws as he almost ran into one of the apprentices. Eyes blinked in confusion; why had they suddenly stopped? The answer slipped in the forest air, its reeking stench strong like an oncoming wave. Novawind felt his stomach clench in nausea and the warrior bit back the notion to vomit. His senses were heightened by this foul scent as the dappled tom ambled up front, his limbs slightly quaking. But there was no time to feel this anxiety and creeping fear when his leader needed him. He dipped his head politely.

"Of course. I'll come with you, Lynxstar," he meowed softly.

[[Sorry, it's a bit rusty. I haven't written for a while ><]]

[/size]

[raid]

SPELLPAW!
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, that’s alright because i like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry, that’s alright because i love the way you lie. I love the way you lie.


-.Where was she? Better question was...why was she still here? Her father was gone, far away with some stupid she-cat by the name of Serenewinter. They probably had their own happy little life. They probably had kits who loved their mother and father, who lived lives of happiness and were treated fairly by the other cats of the clan of whatever the place they were. Spellpaw just had to convince herself that she didn't care. She still had her brother Gloompaw and even though she hadn't seen her mother in awhile, she had Abyssbird...the black she-cat was whom she had gotten her looks from. Cats seemed to watch her every movement...apparently resemblance of your blood was something you weren't allowed to show. The young apprentice held back a snort and head shake. Why was she even bothering with these thoughts? She was on a patrol...wasn't she supposed to be paying attention to what was going on? To tell the truth she wasn't sure. Her training wasn't as normal as it should be. She never seemed to care much and perhaps that was her problem. She didn't like to follow the rules laid down by cats who didn't know what her family was like.

Her gray eyes followed the sky, the stars being pulled out as they tried to shine brightly through the thickness of the evergreen trees. They pulled her thoughts away from the mess of what her life was. Novawind...she didn't know who he was. In fact she didn't know much about her fellow apprentice Reflectedpaw. He was a great deal older than herself, so why would she bother. Although who was to say that mentor and apprentice couldn't be together. The thought hit her mind with thoughts of her family again and the young she-cat held back the real emotions that wanted to pour out. She wanted to scream, claw, and blame everybody around her. Her blood began to boil and she couldn't wait for the next moment she saw her mother. She'd get a mouthful of what was on Spellpaw's mind. The feelings were stopped short as a sudden halt from Lynxstar occurred. The wave of stench was unstoppable. It hit the ebony she-cat like a tidal wave and there was no way of stopping it. She thanked Starclan for not eating moments before she took off with the small group. Even without food in her stomach she couldn't help but feel herself begin to gag. But Lynxstar's words saved her as her attention was brought to them instead of the smell.

Stay here? Leave her with Reflectedpaw....what lay up ahead was not sure and Lynxstar made it clear that it was even unknown to her. As her leader and Novawind began to make their way forward, she gave a look to Reflectedpaw..."I'm going if you're going..." For once the young she-cat seemed to use a soft tone. Fear seemed to creep into her soul and she wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. Her gray eyes hit the ground before looking back at the tom...she could only hope he was going in the direction of the smell...for Spellpaw wanted to go as much as her heart said otherwise.

[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[lily ♫]

REFLECTEDPAW

Anxiousness had drove itself deep into his bones. He was eager to follow his leader on a patrol, even if it was in the cool and crisp evening air. Excitement blazed in his eyes as the small auburn tabby carried himself onward, not expecting to see the sights he would so bredgrudingly witness in the coming moments. A slight smile expressed itself across his maw, and he looked to the other apprentice, a lean, obsidian she-cat that was sister and cousin to a few of the other apprentices in the Clan. Her name was Spellpaw, and Reflectedpaw didn't really know her extremely well. Thinking to himself for a moment, he realized she was one of Abyssbird and Darkfog kits. What a sad life she had led so far, then. Rolling his blue and green speckled lights back onto the lynx she-cat he was following so diligently, he watched her tense up suddenly. What was wrong? Something definitely was.

Stepping forward and pausing, the young tabby tom allowed his mouth to open and foul scents rushed in. Before he could begin to retch, he swallowed the lump in his throat and blinked rapidly to clear the tears from his eyes. There was a very faint familiarity to the stench, but Reflectedpaw couldn't put his paw on it. Frankly, he didn't really want to. It was then that his strong-willed leader began to speak, warning of the dangers and unpleasantries awaiting them ahead. The tom nodded solemnly, taking in each of her words. He didn't wish to stay behind - he had to learn to face the unknown sometime in his life. Before he could speak up with his last shred of confidence, the other tom present in the patrol began to speak. "Of course. I'll come with you, Lynxstar.

[/i]" were the tom's words, and Reflectedpaw bit back his anticipation.

Spellpaw stiffened beside him slightly, and he looked over to the she-cat. Her sparkling grey eyes met his and he stared into them with confirmation. Reflectedpaw wished to carry on. "I'm going if you're going...[/i]" She mewed to him, and the tom cleared his throat before speaking. "Y-yes. Of course. We must, really. I shall follow you, Lynxstar." The almost-warrior cried, shifting his gaze once more to his leader with high self-esteem. "Wherever you may go." He carried on, almost in a whisper. And with that, the young auburn tabby tom stood there, feeling the tension in the air and his lungs begin to tighten.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[LYNX ♥]

The effects on her clanmates as they encountered the odor, followed by what she knew to be her own cryptic words, seeming to tumble from her gaping maw of their own accord, was devistating. The she-cat collected all of her willpower to supress the shiver that fought to race down her spine, but weakness in the face of fear was not what the she-cat would prefer to show before those she was supposed to be leading. She wished she could escape the three cats before her as they all tried their hardest to ignore their gag reflexes acting up when the acrid scent infiltrated their breathing air, while they put on their brave faces for her. Worthless mousebrain! Lynxstar scolded herself, for of course she had known what she would encounter out in the territory would not be pleasant. Why did she take a patrol? Why didn't she simply slip out of camp? The leader almost sighed, but Novawind's deep voice shattered her self-loathing reverie. Lynxstar forced herself to dip her head with what she hoped looked like gratefullness.
The apprentices, of course they would come. They had to, and they both knew it. More than ever the tawny tabby wished she hadn't brought them, most of all Spellpaw. Perhaps she had only as an act of denial.
The young, sleek black she-cat spoke not to Lynxstar, but to Reflectedpaw, and the leader only wished she could hurry their decision, for each heartbeat only pained her more, haunting her of her miscalculated choice on this night. The tabby apprentice struck out with his noble words, warming Lynxstar's heart ever so slightly, though the only expression which graced her brought visage was a wavering, sad smile as she dipped her head again, in the direction of Reflectedpaw. "Very well. Stay close, stay light on your paws." With that, the brawny female turned about and forced herself to pad into the thick of the odor, holding her breath as if that would ward it off, but it only stung her eyes and made her head ring. She easily pushed through the copse and was faced with an awful sight, she instantly averted her amber gaze as tears blotted out her breath.
The stream had wound around, tumbling down the territory as the leader knew it did. Halfway dragged into the lazy current lay the remains of what she knew was a cat. She knew which cat, too, for the patches of silky black fur here and there, deteriorating in the water, indictated that the young she-cat beside her had lost her mother to a most unmerciful fate. There was gore, yes, almost too much for the she-cat who had seen it all to handle, but she had missed most of it being lodged into her memory by looking away as soon as she had. Still, the brilliant vermilion that had seeped from the carcass was now a deep burgundy, she knew that much. Not much else was left of the corpse, for, yes she realized, much of it had been eaten away. It was not the smell of death which riddled the small patrol like this, it was the scent of whatever had devoured half of the young obsidian queen.
"I... I-," What could be said? Surely they had all seen the macabre sight by this time. "Abyssbird." Lynxstar finally mewed with a solumn tone of finality.

[bliss]

Fear. Apprehension. He didn't know what was coming next, but he definitely knew it wouldn't be pleasant. Whatever laid out there, unknown, terrified him as much as Novawind didn't want to admit it. He forced himself to stay and pad after Lynxstar on solid feet even when his heart wanted to turn back, to run back to the safe refuges of camp. The tom took a deep breath and let it out slowly, silently murmuring a quick word to their ancestors above to keep this patrol safe until the end. As he dragged his paws deeper and deeper, the stench only worsened, invading his senses with thick fumes of vile, putrid scents.

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, head throbbed almost painfully, and for a heartbeat, Novawind saw black dots dancing across the screen of his vision. He shook his head slightly, making the ache worsen, and continued on with the journey. His dull golden eyes shifted back to the Spellpaw and Reflectedpaw, just checking to see if they were all right, and darted slightly to his leader. The fear only continued to grow, coursing through his body, wave after wave with each step he took. He was on the brink of his limits, feeling suffocated through the dense vile-ridden air. His paws wearily dragged on after Lynxstar, slipping through the scrappy brush only to stop in puzzlement. Novawind followed the gaze of his leader and his eyes narrowed in confusion only to widen with shock.

It was a cat. He wasn't exactly sure who, but the minute remains of the fur on the carcass showed otherwise. Flesh beneath his dappled pelt flushed with goose bumps, shivers running up and down his spine and the tom let out a shudder against his will. He watched the current flow by, lapping the corpse, and the serene, quiet flow of the river was so ironic against this...horrid sight in front of them. What cruel fate this had been and the morbid sight only made the warrior want to flee. But he had to be strong. The tom heard the grim tone from Lynxstar and his heart plummeted, stomach knotting in nausea.

"How could this have happened...?" the tom murmured, his timbre quivering ever so softly.

[raid]

SPELLPAW!
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, that’s alright because i like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry, that’s alright because i love the way you lie. I love the way you lie.


-.So they pushed onward with the words of their great leader. Spellpaw wasn't about to let herself die so she of course could stay light on her paws. The stench reaching its dark fingers around the small patrol and holding them in its thickening aroma.The sleek she-cat stared ahead, knowing now that there was only one thing that perhaps lay ahead. Death. Though the darkness around death could bring a predator, or in this case something that even Starclan couldn't of prepared her for. Her paw-steps were slow, placed just a stride behind Novawind. As Lynxstar halted, Spellpaw found herself looking away. Death she had never been around, only heard of. And she wasn't about to let her eyes take in the first sight easily. It was only after she had waited a few moments did she lift her eyes. Her focus was more the stream than anything. Her gray eyes were filling with water faster than she could take in the stream. The young apprentice didn't know how to take in death quite yet. It was a mixture of emotions she had never come across. What was going to hit her next was even worse.

The words came from Lynxstar, it was no doubt. Spellpaw knew her voice from listening to her words at ceremonies and through this patrol she had become more acquainted with the tone. The words were stuttered at first, though the ebony cat couldn't make out why. Then she lowered her eyes, catching sight of the pelt. It was enough to send her into hysterics though this wasn't her first reaction. Her eyes widened, the tears suddenly stopping as if somebody had frozen Spellpaw in place. That cat was...Abyssbird. Lynxstar confirmed what the dead cat's daughter had been registering. She didn't move except for her sides taking in the breath that she needed to live. Her vision blurred and she began to scramble back. "No. No, no, no, no. It...it...this can't happen!" Her voice was a harsh yowl, sadness combined with anger as the situation began to fully take its effect.

Her legs scrambled to grab hold of the land beneath her. Novawind's words had came out...but she didn't hear them. Her ears were buzzing as she turned to leave. "I-I need to leave...need to go...need to..." The words blabbed out of her maw and she let her legs pull her away from the scene and far out into the territory. The tears stung at her eyes as the air hit them. A disloyal and hateful father, a dead mother...what was she to do now?

[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[lily ♫]

[whisper=admin]what the heck is a whisper?[/whisper]
REFLECTEDPAW

As the patrol proceeded to march slowly onward, the young auburn tabby tom's heartbeat accelerated into a quick thump-thump-thump. Anxiety pulsed through him as Lynxstar continued down the stream. Clumps of fur here and there told him of a sealed fate of a cat from his Clan, but he refused to acknowledge who. Instead, he looked to the she-cat with almost identical obsidian luster and shuddered as he stepped into a sticky patch of blood on the ground. Eyes rolling back to the front of his head, he silently said a few prayers to StarClan. Anything ahead of them, no matter what, he would face it alongside others, and not alone. Worry for Spellpaw filled him, but he disregarded it as his paws started to stick to the ground from the blood. His cerulean tinted eyes met her innocent grey eyes as Lynxstar ceased their walking with devastating words.

The sight before him broke his heart. A crumpled she-cat laid before them, one that had birthed the very she-cat that accompanied them and a tom that rest unsure of his mother's fate in their camp. Bits of bone traced the ground nearby the body, and Reflectedpaw could do nothing but stare. He had never seen so much blood or even imagined it. Picking one of his paws up, he found it heavy from the amounts of the liquid that had not dried up yet. Swallowing hard, he realized tears had begun to form in his eyes. It wasn't time to mourn, though. His mouth opened gently, like a well-oiled machine. Rancid scents accompanied by something bestial and canine raced through him. Nostrils flaring, the tom nearly bent over and vomited. Instead, he heard the cries that came from the pretty little she-cat.

Turning about, he watched, astonished, as Spellpaw began to violently toss herself about. Tears streamed from the very same innocent grey eyes he had been peering at just moments before. Screeches and yowls erupted from the now parentless she-cat and Reflectedpaw felt a familar ache come over him. He felt her pain in many of the same ways, but he still had his mother. She had nothing. Frozen to the spot, he watched as the she-cat bolted from the gorey mess and began to blink away the first tears of mourning. A clanmate was dead and another was hysterical. This was bad enough, but something worse would more than likely happen before it was over. Harsh waves of anger and grief poured over him as he whipped about to face Lynxstar and Novawind. "Lynxstar, may I go after her? We don't want to lose another Clanmate to this monster." The tom managed to choke out before looking back in the direction that Spellpaw had gone.

[LYNX ♥]

[whisper=lily]only the user you're whispering to can see your whisper.[/whisper]

Reality was thundering down around her, and she could feel the roar of blood pulsing through her ears which now pinned themselves against the nape of her neck, as the she-cat lowered her head at last. A mix of grief and respect for the young she-cat who had been her daughter and her friend and her loyal warrior, who would not have ran from the monster that tore her to shreds, btu would have stood and held her ground, as if her feeble, gentle frame could hold off such a demon, Lynxstar knew Abyssbird would have done it if she thought it would help the clan just a little. The leader bowed her head to mourn for the loss of such a beautiful she-cat, who had heart and bravery that would be missed by at least herself, though Lynxstar knew that she would truly be missed by many, even if her voice had not been loud. Lastly, the tawny female bowed her head to avoid taking in the gore which had been presented before the little patrol, but she could not ignore the maroon streaks now staining her massive paws, and she itched to throw herself in the stream as Abyssbird's blood burned and stung her very flesh.
The tabby-spotted she-cat addressed her warrior first, for though she knew the two apprentices would be suffering the most at her hind, taking in the woeful sights, Lynxstar found his question far more relevant than the whimperings of juvenille cats. "I... I cannot be sure, Novawind," She stated honestly, swinging her great head up so that she could meet his bright-eyed gaze, "However, the smell leads me to the thought of dogs, though I haven't encountered many, I could recognize the scent anywhere. Still, it's different. It's more terrible than a dog could ever be. It was bigger, too, than any two-leg cur I could imagine." Wolfwolfwolfwolfwolf. She shook her head. Wolfwolfwolf. "I'm... fairly certain it was a wolf, but I very much hope that I am mistaken." Wolfwolfwolfwolf. Lynxstar only realized she had been holding her breath when the light-headed, dizzying feeling interupted her haunting thoughts, and she released a lungful of stale air into the putrid atmosphere. Suddenly, she noticed Spellpaw behind her, and mentally kicked herself. How could she be so foolish, so ignorant? Where had her wisedom and intuition gone? "No Spellpaw, please!" She hadn't meant for her cry to end in a snarl, but it had, and Lynxstar bounded after the fleeing black she-cat in vain, but came to a halt only several tail-lengths away, gaze following the smaller female, shining with sorrow. "No! nonono, Reflectedpaw I know you'd like to save Spellpaw but you can't, I just, I cannot possibly let anyone else run off into this StarClan-forsaken forest again!" The she-cat's voice was rising in pitch rather dangerously, and at the risk of seeming to have lost her sanity in the face of those who so faithfully followed her, the tawny female drew a deep breath - cleaner now that she was away from Abyssbird's half-devoured corpse. Her amber gaze flew wide, and she turned to face her two remaining patrol mates, meowing softly, "There is evil embodied roaming our very land at this time, and I cannot take any chances with more lives. What Spellpaw has done is foolish and her wits are muffled by grief, but I cannot possibly allow anymore of my children to die. This, at least, can be in my control."
Lynxstar was winded by the sudden turn of events, although she had forseen this all along. How she so wished leading a clan could be easy, for she knew one thing was certain - sacrificing a youth in the face of a crisis was no walk in the park. "I will send a patrol to search for her as soon as I see the sun tomorrow." She managed to assure Reflectedpaw, and then addressed them both, "Our... our clanmate's body, I fear, is dangerous to try and transport. Only StarClan can guess what sort of disease and illness have been exposed to her corpse, we have to leave her here. We... we ought to get back and warn the others."

[LYNX ♥]

xx closed.