TW: Sensitive Content Border I'm deeper in the abyss || joining - injured

[Talon Talon]

{$title} TW; mentions of injury & blood below! A fight with a raccoon and winded up in windclan!

The world narrowed into the ragged snarl of the raccoon, and claws thrashed wildly in the air. Talon let out a ugly snarl as white hot pain burst across his face, teeth snapping in the pain that was worse than hunger in his belly. Something wet and warm trailed down his darkened cheeks, paws staggering back in a clumsy attempt to escape. Shapes warped and shadows fractured, his vision shredding into chaos of dizziness. The air smelled of fur and blood, the dirt that black claws dug into for any grip of his fractured reality.

As he staggered forward, dizziness warping his mind, the trees elongated, stretched around him. Every rustle of leaves threatened of danger- his fur on end as he felt bushes pull and tug at his pelt. The once familiar path of the little spot in the forest he called home became a swirling maze. Every step was a guess, every sound an echo turning into something he couldnt trust.

His head pounded, and the shadows of the forest dissipated to streaks of brightness as the woods began to thin, and then, stretched out to miles and miles of moor. He felt unsafe even in the openness, when his failed vision could see almost everything around him. his heart still pounded in his chest.

Thudding.

it was the only thing he could hear as blood swept over his face- his vision half of what it used to be. If his face wasn't smeared in blood, maybe, perhaps he could smell the scents of other cats. But instead, he continued forward. He didn't really care where he went, just away. Away from sounds, dangers. But his mind slowly drifted, and his paws felt like they could no longer support his weight. And he found himself collapsing into his own weight, crumpling to the ground finally.

When other cats would find him, he wouldn't smell of other cats- those he moved with were long gone. But a mix of raccoon from the fur snagged underneath his claws- and the piney sap where he resided. His breath rasped from a slightly open muzzle- struggling. Gasping in a gurgled breath, one blue eye fighting to stay conscious.
​

 

[Dustystar Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent "It was this way. Stay alert." Dustystar leads the patrol towards the scent of raccoon that she'd caught on the wind earlier. Cautiously, she creeps through the tall, dry grass, lifting her nose into the breeze. She'd like to avoid an altercation, but she wants to put eyes on it, at least. If it's still in Windclan's territory, they'll need to know. If it moves across the Thunderpath, they should be warning Shadowclan.

indentShe's sure she sees it now, laying in the grasses, motionless. "That's strange. It's real small." Cautiously, she creeps forward, the scent of blood assaulting her. As she gets closer, the still, brown from becomes more clear to her. She realizes the body she sees is not a raccoon at all, but a young cat, lying in a little puddle of blood. "It's a cat! Get over here, now!" Darting forward, she calls the patrol to her side.

indentSoft puffs of air still leave the injured cat's muzzle, as they cling to life. Dustystar turns to the cat beside her, fur bristling. "Go get Meadowpaw, or Bengt, if he can come. Don't waste any time." She's not sure if the cat can be moved in this condition. "We'll try to stop the bleeding, in the meantime."

Dustystar - 27 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[charitypaw]

Charitypaw, with her glowing white pelt and her easygoing nature, doesn't think she'll be of any use on any particularly aggressive mission. She thinks her paws and their daggers would hit their marks true, as she is no pacifist, but she also isn't one to launch into a fight if communication can be achieved beforehand. Dustystar insists that there is a raccoon upon their moorland, however, and last Charitypaw checked, beasts like that couldn't be communicated with.

However, not long into their trek into the night, her leader changes her tune. New information is provided by means of the small lump of bloody fur being decidedly not a raccoon. Charitypaw's eyes light with gentle surprise as she stands nearby, a phantom to this stranger, and doesn't immediately leave with Dustystar's demand. She'd like to be there when the fellow dies. But after a few long moments, she slowly parts from the group, loping her long legs quicker and quicker in order to grab the most herb-minded of them.

[ went to fetch @Meadowpaw and @BENGT ! ]

 

[Morningpaw]

Today wasn't a particularly bad day, but it wasn't a particularly good one either. Morningpaw had gotten out of her nest just find, but she still remained exhausted. It wasn't very good rest. Regardless, she found herself on patrol. - searching for a raccoon.

Her eyes scanned the territory, not wandering far from anyone, but then she heard Dustystar call. A cat? Her eyes widened, and she made her way over to the leader, the scent of blood being the first thing she noticed.

Her breath caught in her throat as she finally approached. This cat didn't seem to be much older than herself. Morningpaw stood frozen in place, staring at them. Had... had the raccoon done this? Or had they been the raccoon all along. They did kind of look like one, in a way. Their pelt, at least.

Thankfully Charitypaw went back to get Meadowpaw and Bengt. Mentally, Morningpaw chastised herself. She could have ran to get them, she had wasted precious moments...

She let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, and instead began to whisper to them. "It's... it's gonna be okay. Just hang on a little longer... You can do it." She had to have hope... Because for some reason, if they passed on, she would blame herself for not reacting in time.​

IN THE RAIN DO LIGHT AND DARKNESS FADE

• OOC: Here
  "Speech."​
• 

  ​

  She/Her | 7 Moons | Apprentice of WindClan | Ages on the 1st
  Short haired blue tortoiseshell with high white and dark violet eyes.
  
  Child of NPC x NPC | Sibling to NPCs / Adoptable
  Mentored by NPC | Mentoring no one.
  Penned by AnemoVictorious | Biography | Image Credit​

 

[Meadowpaw]

MEADOWPAW

x

Bloody strangers showing up at WindClan's doorstep was becoming a regular occurrence. Meadowpaw didn't think she'd ever get used to it, but after the first few times, it had gotten a little easier to stomach.

This time at least, she was better prepared. "H-how bad is it? Did you get a look?" She asked Charitypaw, voice clipped with urgency as she darted from one pocket to the next, gathering what she'd need in a rush. Bengt was welcome to follow, but she didn't wait for him. Her paws scuffed the earth as she tailed after her clanmate.

The scent hit her before anything else. Thick and metallic, blood cloying the air. Beneath it was the acrid stench of raccoon. "We're here! S-sorry to keep you waiting!" Meadowpaw called breathlessly as she brushed past Dustystar and Morningpaw to reach the tom lying in the grass.

He was in terrible shape—his face smeared so badly with blood she could barely make out his features. For a heartbeat, he reminded her of Bengt. Bengt had been strong enough for them both, but he'd still lost an eye. Would this tom lose his too?

She swallowed thickly and dropped to his side. Meadowpaw nosed through her fur, pulling free the cobwebs she'd tucked there, and pressed them firmly over the oozing socket. "I'm going to try and stop the bleeding first. She murmured, face hardening with focus. "Then we have to move him. He'll stand a better chance in the medicine den than out here."

Blood soaks the whites of her paws. She pressed firmer into his cheek, trying to slow the bleeding. "I know you're tired, but don't sleep, okay?" She says sternly, urging him to fight with whatever strength he still has. "I'm Meadowpaw. What's your name?" He might not even be able to answer them, but hopefully it's enough to keep him awake just a little longer...

x

I BELIEVE THAT THERES COURAGE

BUT ITS BURNIN' LIKE ASH IN THE WIND

x

WINDCLAN

MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE

10 MOONS

SHE/HER

Meadowpaw values kindness and remembrance. As a kit, she internalized her mother's lessons, but questioned whether her way is the only way. She has broken free from the heavy burden of her mother's expectations due to their estrangement after the fire. She remains kind and soft-spoken through all she's endured, but is not afraid to speak out for what she believes is right.

Meadow works tirelessly at any task she undertakes, desperate to prove herself capable and worthy despite her disability. Without her mother's guidance, she finds new ways to express herself.

In conversations, she is gentle, thoughtful, and withdrawn, often hiding her struggles, fearing others seeing her as incapable. She continues to have a strong bond not only with her sister, but with her adopted family as well. Meadow uses her new freedom to support and deepen the bonds with her clanmates. Additionally, she has started to explore the more spiritual side of herself…

Her worldview is a complicated mix of hope and frustration. She wants to believe that there's hope at the end of all the suffering, but feels trapped by her limitations. With enough time and support, she may find a way to overcome her limitations and accept herself.

 

[Talon Talon]

Voices- if any sleep were to let him succumb, it was taken away by the threat of dangers. In his very short life this far, he had found cats to be liars. Thieves, just as much an enemy as the raccoon. They'd easily let a child starve then allow the simple niceties of sharing food. Fine, he had said. He'd watch them - lurk from the shadows, learn to hunt. Learn from them.

How they hadn't caught him was a surprise, but for the two weeks he'd watch, absorb, he'd learn a bit. And yes, he had stolen. But they were cruel and vicious, their claws struck each other over their food, blood would be spilled when it could have been savored.

he was glad that he had not joined them.

Talons single eye flittered open, full of danger, mottled muddy fur spiking on end as at first to the grey and green eyes cat- he only saw danger. "M fi-" he started, cut off with weakness, hoarseness in an unused throat. He knew it was a lie. He knew that deep within himself he needed help. He didn't want to-

They did not greet him with hostility. They called for help- and a cat only as big as him cood, as if a light of hope was flickered into deep purple eyes, but it made him uneasy. Maw tense, paws tense against the dirt of the moor.

Another cat, voice stumbling, in and out in his ears. He felt surrounded, outnumbered- ears flattening against his skull. But they were helping. So could he really refuse in this weak state? Slowly, he tried to relax his jaws, a shaky breath taken from his jaws.

There was silence after the Molly's question, eye darting away, searching, closing, remembering. "Talon." Short, curt, voice empty of feeling and emotion. He thinks. He wasn't certain. He hadn't ever really needed a name, no one asked him. It was a distant memory. "Who- where am I? Why... are ya helpin'?" The second question was almost enough to show his distrust- he cannot help them in return. He had no gifts, no food- he imposed on them, and expected them to chase him away.
​

 

[Meadowpaw]

MEADOWPAW

x

She's seen the apprehension in his eyes before. Bengt had looked at her like that once too, though his expression hadn't been quite so unfiltered. Maybe this tom just wasn't as stubborn—he'd needed her help and she'd given it freely (and more clumsily).

Would she be the same if she hadn't grown up in the barn? Was her brother out there somewhere, looking at strangers with the same wary eyes?

A string of questions follows, but she's patient. Before answering any of them, she offers him a sprig of thyme. "Chew on this." Something to hopefully keep him stable with how much blood he's lost.

"You stumbled into WindClan territory."

"But you probably don't know what a clan is, do you?" Bengt sure didn't, and a similar conversation had been had then too. "A big group of us live and take care of one another. Dustystar here is our leader." The calico gestures to the older molly.

While it wasn't too different from how they lived before, she knew not all cats lived like that. Lots were solitary, drifters that came and went, place from place. He had that thin, gristled look that came from that sort of life. Though maybe his journey had been harder than most.

Now his other question was harder to answer. Why was she helping?

What didn't seem like a big deal to her was for someone like him. He didn't know them, didn't trust them, and even now, he didn't have a reason to. "I think helping other cats is what we all should do, but I'd bet that seems strange to you." Green eyes crease, and a gentle smile tugs at the edge of her face. Not every cat had the luxury of helping others, but they did. Leaving him to die just wasn't something she could do. "You aren't the first to ask that, but I don't really have a good answer. Sorry."

As she speaks, she keeps her paw pressed firmly to his face. The bleeding had slowed some. Bengt had been able to walk without her help when he'd been injured. That was nothing short of a miracle given his injuries, but she wouldn't expect that of everyone. "That eye needs more than cobwebs. I'd feel better if you let us take you back to our camp so I can finish treating it." He still seemed out of it... "Think you can walk?"

x

I BELIEVE THAT THERES COURAGE

BUT ITS BURNIN' LIKE ASH IN THE WIND

x

WINDCLAN

MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE

10 MOONS

SHE/HER

Meadowpaw values kindness and remembrance. As a kit, she internalized her mother's lessons, but questioned whether her way is the only way. She has broken free from the heavy burden of her mother's expectations due to their estrangement after the fire. She remains kind and soft-spoken through all she's endured, but is not afraid to speak out for what she believes is right.

Meadow works tirelessly at any task she undertakes, desperate to prove herself capable and worthy despite her disability. Without her mother's guidance, she finds new ways to express herself.

In conversations, she is gentle, thoughtful, and withdrawn, often hiding her struggles, fearing others seeing her as incapable. She continues to have a strong bond not only with her sister, but with her adopted family as well. Meadow uses her new freedom to support and deepen the bonds with her clanmates. Additionally, she has started to explore the more spiritual side of herself…

Her worldview is a complicated mix of hope and frustration. She wants to believe that there's hope at the end of all the suffering, but feels trapped by her limitations. With enough time and support, she may find a way to overcome her limitations and accept herself.