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Post by Warrioress on Mar 22, 2019 10:44:25 GMT -6
Dancingflame didn't know what happened, how she had managed to keep it together for the past moon. She had managed to put her feelings aside to look after her remaining daughter, but now that Cherrypaw was an apprentice she had no reason to push the feelings back. She had tried, she really did, to hold them back by throwing herself into hunting and patrols but the rising storm had finally crashed down, sending her reeling.
She had been making her way to the fresh-kill pile when everything hit her, the pain and realization that she had failed. She hadn't protected her kit, she hadn't been able to keep her promises. Dancingflame was barely aware of the fact that clanmates were moving around her, many realizing that she had stopped moving and was simply staring straight ahead without seeing anything in front of her.
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Post by gingerluna on Mar 22, 2019 16:12:23 GMT -6
Brightsplash was worried about Dancingflame.
She kept a close watch on the queens and the kits, and the loss of Mothkit had hit everyone hard, but their sadness was a raindrop compared to the river of Dancingflame's grief. She'd been weaving her way about camp, about to help clear out some nests for the elders, when she saw the queen stop in her tracks. She carefully stepped up to her, struggling to find words.
"Dancingflame?" she finally called. "Do you want to go somewhere to talk?" She was worried about the queen breaking down in the middle of camp.
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Post by Warrioress on Mar 22, 2019 19:49:38 GMT -6
Dancingflame blinked as she heard her name and realized that Brightsplash was next to her. "I don't know what to do" she managed to say, her eyes blearily looking over at the older she-cat. "its been a moon and I... I don't know how to do it anymore" she mewed out brokenly.
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Post by gingerluna on Mar 23, 2019 8:19:30 GMT -6
“I know,” Brightsplash mewed, but she didn’t. She stepped forward and nuzzled Dancingflame’s shoulder. “Come, let’s step over here.” She nodded to a spot in the shrubs at the camp’s edge. “I promise, you can get through this. You’ve been through so much, you’re so strong.”
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Post by Warrioress on Apr 4, 2019 16:58:41 GMT -6
Dancingflame leaned into the touch before blearily stepping over to where Brightsplash indicated. She had a fleeting hope to Starclan that Cherrypaw was out of camp before it slipped away. She had a sense of deja vu that she had gone through a similar process of despair before but this one felt different, with a greater sense of guilt that she had not succeeded in her mission to protect her kit. "I was supposed to protect her"
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Post by gingerluna on Apr 4, 2019 18:24:49 GMT -6
"You did everything you were supposed to," Brightsplash comforted, turning to the she-cat as they reached the secluded spot. "If our medicine cats couldn't heal her, then what were you supposed to do?" She licked Dancingflame's shoulder. "Sometimes StarClan takes cats from us, and we don't know why. You've been through too much for your moons."
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Post by Warrioress on Apr 4, 2019 19:29:14 GMT -6
Brightsplash's words seemed to swirl around her head, some of the settling in among the guilt and lessening it but it was still the larger emotion she felt, next to the despair. "I don't know, I... I just... I'm her mother, I was supposed to be able to protect her from everything" she mewed in answer to the older she-cats first statement. The following one had a small spark of anger flicker through her mind "well they should keep their paws off kits" she huffed.
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Post by gingerluna on Apr 6, 2019 13:33:52 GMT -6
Brightsplash sighed, slumping at Dancingflame's words. "I know," she murmured. "I can't say anything that'll make it better. But you need to know it was not your fault." There was absolutely nothing else the queen could've done for her daughter. "We're all here for you and Cherrypaw, you know."
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Post by Warrioress on Apr 16, 2019 21:46:54 GMT -6
Dancingflame cast a glance around the clearing, noting the many different cats that were milling about, moving to and fro from different dens or leaving the camp. A few glanced in her direction where she was with Brightsplash and she figured they were the ones who had noted her sudden stop near the fresh-kill pile. "I know, I-I just can't...." her voice trailed off as she tried to figure out a way to voice her words.
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Post by gingerluna on Apr 17, 2019 9:45:24 GMT -6
"I know, I know," Brightsplash said, stepping forward and pressing her side against Dancingflame's. She turned her head to lick her shoulder comfortingly, pressing against the she-cat in a comforting gesture. "Take all the time you need, alright? I'll stay as long as you like." She closed her eyes, beginning to purr in an attempt to soothe. The sound was forced, but steady.
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Post by Warrioress on May 1, 2019 11:33:05 GMT -6
Dancingflame leaned into Brightsplash a little bit, hearing the purr the other she-cat was giving off. "thank you Brightsplash" she mewed quietly as she let her mind drift for the moment, her thoughts skipping thru many different topics.
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Post by gingerluna on May 3, 2019 21:31:48 GMT -6
"Cherrypaw is going to make a fine warrior someday. She's a spirited, strong young cat," Brightsplash mused, happy to change the topic. She eyed Dancingflame teasingly. "I bet she's made some tom very proud." It was odd, but not unheard of, for a she-cat not to name a father. A one night stand, or a falling out, perhaps.
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Post by Warrioress on May 5, 2019 20:16:04 GMT -6
Dancingflame could only give a small snort of amusement at Brightsplash's teasing, hiding the small amount of pain that the words evoked. "I bet she has" she agreed with a grin, knowing that she was speaking the truth. Acorndrop would be proud of his daughter. "I hope she doesn't dwell too much on the past. Though I have seen her moving with more vigor and determination, a good combination in a warrior" she mused.
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Post by gingerluna on May 6, 2019 8:04:02 GMT -6
Brightsplash noted that Dancingflame didn't name a tom, but didn't comment on it. She supposed it was the she-cat's right to keep her secret. She just hoped that Cherrypaw knew. "Everyone in the Clan has lost someone irreplaceable," she replied. "My mother and littermate died before I was an apprentice. You're an orphan, and you lost the only mother you ever knew. But we're both here, Dancingflame. I'm happy, and you're going to happy. Cherrypaw will be alright."
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Post by Warrioress on May 10, 2019 13:54:33 GMT -6
Brightsplash's words regarding her own losses had Dancingflame's heart squeezing slightly. She brushed her head against the older she-cat's shoulder. "life moves on, and the hurt won't always be this prominent." she mewed softly, her mind going back to the conversation she had with Floodstar when she had lost Mothdapple.
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Post by gingerluna on May 10, 2019 16:44:37 GMT -6
Brightsplash licked Dancingflame's head as she brushed against her fur. "Precisely," she murmured into the she-cat's ear. The noise of the camp dulled until all she could focus on was the sound of Dancingflame's breath, and the river. Her heart quickened, and she took a step back, looking upon the she-cat with a warm, slightly startled gaze.
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Post by Warrioress on May 16, 2019 16:42:19 GMT -6
Dancingflame's attention snapped to Brightsplash when the she-cat took a step back "you alright?" she asked, her head tilted in question at the she-cats sudden move.
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Post by gingerluna on May 16, 2019 16:55:01 GMT -6
"Yes, yes, of course," she said instantly, tail swishing behind her anxiously. "I just...lost myself for a moment." She turned around, looking back at the camp. "You were going to the fresh-kill pile? Maybe we could share something."
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Post by Warrioress on May 17, 2019 17:15:39 GMT -6
Nose twitching slightly at the explanation, Dancingflame decided not to press the issue. Instead she turned her gaze back towards the fresh-kill pile with some interest. "Sure, sounds like a good idea" she agreed as she stood up, her mind shifting thru the different options for prey.
~ fin ~
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