Private Medicine Cat's Den DISORIENTATED — WAVESONG

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

To be honest, he was dreading this moment. However, he couldn't run from this. Riverclan couldn't run from this. The moment he was dragged into the medicine cat den with the aid of Pineheart and Frostmoth, Jinglemoon rushed to his side. Pikestar had been dropped gently into an empty nest, as Jinglemoon fretted about. The current residents knew something was wrong before he had even entered. The scent of blood growing closer would alarm anyone. The unusual silence from camp was unsettling. Something dreadful had transpired, as if the blood caked pelt and new scars from their leader wasn't enough of a clue.

While Jinglemoon tended to him, he could feel Wavesong's gaze on him. He knew she wanted to ask what had happened at the gathering. To him specifically. Or maybe she's thinking why Adderfang hasn't checked up on her yet? Then again, I'm here. She might try and find him after making sure I'm okay. He isn't given any more time to ponder, as Jinglemoon asks him how he feels or move a certain way. The obvious question of what happened from the medicine cat is met with a I'll explain later. Of course, Jinglemoon is unhappy with this answer. Even unhappier when Pikestar asks for some privacy between him and Wavesong. I'm going to have to apologize big time ton him. Maybe he'll forgive me once he hears what happened. I'm sure he's already out there asking what happened.

Awkwardly, the silver tom twists so he can face the queen. A glance is spared towards the kits nestled against her stomach, sleeping soundly. Guilt eats at him. Their lives are never going to be the same.

"Wavesong... T-t-there's no easy way to say this, a-and I'm sure you're going to hear some awful things from now on. I. I know Crescentpaw is going to tell you this too, but I feel like it would be best to tell you myself."

While it would be easy to let Wavesong's child to tell her the horrid news, he couldn't allow it. The child had suffered so much. The anguish in her voice as she desperately begged him to reconsider. To allow their father, the very tom who had killed him to return home with them. As if nothing had happened. It pained him to tell her it couldn't be.

"I lost one of my lives at the gathering. The cat who killed me was Adderfang."

Silver paws rush to cover his eyes as his frame begins to tremble.

"He won't be coming back. He's been exiled from Riverclan. I'm... I'm so sorry Wavesong."

The sorrow within his words are genuine. He never wanted this. All he wanted was for Adderfang to listen and try. Stars, just try to contain his rage. If only Adderfang simply hissed at him and walked away. Maybe then they could've salvaged something, but it wasn't meant to be. Adderfang sealed his fate the moment he dug his claws into him. No one forget what Adderfang had done. How could they? To trust the former life guard? Impossible. Adderfang had thrown everything away due to his rage.

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆩♱𓆪 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• @Wavesong WOAW THE PRIV WHERE SHE GETS THE NEWS
• PIKESTAR

  — leader of riverclan, former shipyard cat
  ♱ 39 moons — he/him — ages realistically on the 1st — mentoring iciclepaw
  ♱ speech is

  "#00caa2"

  — thoughts are italics — attacks are underlined
  ♱ short haired silver mackerel tabby with green eyes
  ♱ peaceful & healing powerplay permitted — underline & tag when attacking
  ♱ penned by velou — kasaven on discord — open to plots & dms
  

 

[Wavesong]

I hope you know we had everything
When you broke me and left these pieces

.

Wavesong had been nothing but anxious since the patrol left for the Gathering. Curled tightly around her kits, she had only left her nest once, to do her business and briefly speak with the clanmates who hadn't gone. She'd prayed, hoped, waited. Any moment now, Adderfang would return. He would grumble at the entrance, tail flicking with that usual frustration of his. But he would come home. Any moment… She still clung to that fragile hope when Pikestar entered the medicine den instead. Not Adderfang. Not her mate. Just Pikestar, bloodied, his face marred with fresh scars, padding slowly toward Jinglemoon.

Her heart dropped. Her breath caught.

No... no, it had to be something else. A predator. ShadowClan. Anything else. But the cold, creeping dread in her bones said otherwise. And despite every instinct screaming at her to stay put, she couldn't stop watching. Not as Jinglemoon fussed over Pikestar, not as the latter tried to assure their medicine cat he was okay now... She couldn't stop staring, tight-lipped and fearful for the answer she would eventually get...

And then Pikestar turned to her.

She sat straighter, trying to hold herself together. She tilted her chin, proud even as the ground gave out beneath her. Her ears flicked back. Her heart pounded. She wanted to believe still that Adderfang was just behind him, just waiting. Just... She braced for it. And then Pikestar told her. He had lost one of his lives. Because of Adderfang. Because he had done this. If StarClan hadn't granted the leader more than one, he would have died. Permanently. And Adderfang, her mate, had known that. He didn't believe in StarClan. To him, the strike was final.

Wavesong felt her breath hitch. Pikestar couldn't even look at her, he'd hidden his face beneath silver paws, unable to meet her eyes. And still she sat there, unraveling silently, her world collapsing like a sandcastle in the tide. Exile. Adderfang had been exiled. He would not be coming home. There would be no more gifts, no soft prey dropped at her paws, no quiet murmurs between them in the night. No more arguing about their future, no more clashing over what RiverClan should be. No more tail brushes, no more kisses, no more warmth. He was gone. And Pikestar was sorry.

Stars, he was sorry.... And Wavesong, despite everything, knew he meant it. She had asked him to be patient. Begged him to try. But what was she asking for? What was she holding onto? Tears stung her eyes as she glanced down at the sleeping kits tucked close to her belly. One mewled in their sleep, gnawing moss, unaware of the ache about to settle in their mother's bones. Adderfang wasn't coming home. He wouldn't see these kits grow... He wouldn't be there for their first steps... Their first words. The moment they were to open their eyes... He wouldn't be there when Troutkit and Shellkit finally pulled through and would l i v e... Adderfang was exiled. Adderfang had killed Pikestar... Adder had...

With trembling legs, she pushed herself upright, carefully, so as not to wake her children and took a few unsteady steps forward. Then, with a sob lodged in her throat, she bowed low, ears pinned back as tears dripped onto the dirt below. " No, Pike... " she whispered, voice breaking. " Ye shouldn't be apologizin' t'me... " Her breath hitched again, and she blinked rapidly, trying and failing to hold back the wave. " Ye were patient... Ye tried... I asked too much... I... I am so sorry, Pike. I'm so sorry, little star… Ye didn't deserve tha'... Ye didn't deserve any of tha'! "

Her voice cracked, rising sharply as she tried to swallow the sobs that threatened to rip her apart. " Ye have nothin' t'apologize fer! " She leaned forward and gently rasped her tongue over his ear, then ducked her head once more as sobs overtook her. He was gone. " I should've done more... " she choked out, remembering all the moments... All the foul looks... The tension in camp ever since the shadow heist... " I should've... I should... "

And that was it. She broke.

Words fell apart into blubbered sounds, tears slipping down her cheeks, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had wanted them to be a family. She had held on so tightly to that dream, watching RiverClan grow, teaching the young how to swim, how to dive, how to live. She had continued guiding Galepaw even when she was high pregnant. Adopting Rainpaw, Galepaw, Thunderpaw, loving them as her own... Watching the clan thrive, laughing with her clan mates, her family... Helping Jinglemoon with his herbs, showing interest where she thought she could help. Laughing with Peachtrot, her sister not by blood but by heart.

And Pikestar... Pikestar, her brother, her leader.

She had wanted it to work.

But if this...? This was what it had come to… if Pikestar told her she needed to leave for the safety of the clan, for the sake of her kits, for the peace of their family... She would go. She would understand. Because she had never wanted to bring danger home. Not from the one she loved most.

" I'm so sorry! " she sobbed, voice ragged and hoarse, her grief spilling out like a river that would never stop.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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