The Tunnels

Tallfeather squinted through the gloom to see Okamipaw's small frame crouched on the ground. He hadn't thought to ask if she was alright; before answering her question, he took a step forward, recoiling in alarm as he realized she was hurt. Tallfeather gently nosed the bleeding wound, and his snout came away stained with crimson. The cut didn't look deep, but it was bleeding, and that enough was cause for concern. Shaking his head as guilt and regret suddenly built up inside him, Tallfeather realized what an idiot he was. They could both die down here and it would be his fault. "Dunno," Tallfeather answered shakily. "The roof just sorta caved in...supports must be weak down here."

She sat up and shoved her face into his fur for a few minutes before she began scenting around. her black eyes quickly adjusting to the no light. she said "there must be more weak spots where we can dig our way out of! maybe if we dig through the clay". shuffling over to where the clay wall was. she began slowly scraping her way through there making disguisted sounds at the feel of the wet slimy claw on her paws. after this she was going to need a definate bath. she felt guilty for shoving her face into Tallfeathers fur. she hoped he didnt realise why she had done it.

Tallfeather barely noticed as Okamipaw buried her face in his fur. His eyes were narrowed in scrunity as he glanced around the small space, looking for a weak link that could lead to their escape. When Okamipaw started digging at a smaller patch of soft clay, Tallfeather immediately jumped on the idea, admiring her ingenuity. He joined the effort, his paws digging into the wet soil and scattering flecks of cold clay onto his furry, dust-ridden pelt.

Okamipaw panted as she continued digging, she had chosen the clay because it was less likely to collapse, she soon began digging on an upward slope. her powerful front legs scooping out clay while her tail and back legs stomped ti around to make a solid base for the tunnel and support for the roof. her black eyes glittered with determination to survive this, she contined powering through. she glanced back at tallfeather every now and then and her eyes would blaze with affection. she managed to mostly hide it though.

Tallfeather was impressed - he'd never seen an apprentice work with such determination and efficiency. Tallfeather knew that if he got stuck in this situation while he was an apprentice, he would more than likely be cowering in a corner and waiting for someone to save them. With the combined help of the two wolves, they finally broke the surface. Tallfeather squinted as small rays of bright sunlight came pouring through the hole. Flashing Okamipaw an excited glance, Tallfeather stepped back. The hole was rather small - she would easily fit through it. Once she reached the surface, it would be easier, as her squirming and writhing would widen the hole.

Okamipaw grinned up at the sun, she began wriggling through the hole. her pure white fur havin glong been turned to a clay colour from their work. she continued scrabbling pushing her claws into the dirt to help get her out of the hole. she worked slowly and surely.
she frowned as she hauled herself out of the hole.
-windclan and thunderclan border

Okamipaw's relentless writhing opened the hole a bit wider, the soft sides caving in as she struggled to get purchase on the land above. As the apprentice's form vanished over the edge of the surface, Tallfeather took his chance. He shoved his upper body through the hole, scrambling for a minute to dig his claws into the land. He finally managed to drag his lower half onto the surface, closing his eyes for a minute as broad sunlight attacked his fur - compared to the dank coolness below, it felt amazing. Just as he was turning to Okamipaw, Tallfeather registered a new scent, and he frowned as he realized they were on the Thunderclan border.

TC && WC border

The warrior stood in the tunnels and closed her eyes, the constant cool wind of the tunnels blowing across her fur. a soft smile appeared on her muzzle and she began walking along. first one foot then the other, she continued walking her eyes closed as to ignore the luminesence of her pelt that was so white it made snow look dirty. as she lifted her paws up and down it gave her time to think

Stormtussle led Raggedfur into the dark tunnels, his tail still on his flank and twitching every now and then. It was quiet in the tunnels. Giving the brute an uneasy or relaxed feeling he didn't know. He sighed softly as he let his tail drop, the appendage swinging between his legs as he turned to look at his brother. "You alright?" Stormtussle asked cautiously, his guard up in case Raggedfur lashed out from his temper, even as he saw in slowly moving away. Raggedfur had never purposely harmed Stormtussle, but he had thrown some pretty mean words at him before.

Raggedfur followed his brother into the darkness into the tunnels. His temper was still rampant and he was ready to lash out at the slightest provocation, but his anger had slowly ebbed on the way there. The dank coolness of the earthy corridors only further diminished his fury, and Raggedfur allowed his muscles to relax as Stormtussle stopped and turned around. Raggedfur had always had a quiet appreciation for his brother's naturally serene and calming effect. When no other wolf could, Stormtussle was always there to bring Raggedfur out of his savage fits. "'Course I'm alright," Raggedfur said gruffly, but his words lacked that snappish fury that had been evident only minutes before. "Ain't I always?"

Stormtussle smirked softly and gave out a low chuckle. "Of course ya are," he said dismissively. He swiveled his body around so that his back was too his brother and crept forward carefully. The two of them hadn't been to the tunnels since they were apprentices and Stormtussle had dragged them out of camp. He had overheard an older apprentice talking about how his mentor had taken him and instead of asking like a good young wolf, the grey male had decided it was best to sneak out. He and his brother hadn't gotten caught or anything like that, but they had had trouble getting out of the tunnels - well, Stormtussle had. With a small scoff at the memory, the male continued his walk forward.

Raggedfur shook his head in slight exasperation and continued to follow his brother as they descended the tunnels. He hadn't been down here in a long time, not since the days when he and Stormtussle were an apprentice. Raggedfur pondered how little their relationship had changed since those carefree days - in fact, how little their relationship had changed since birth. Raggedfur and Stormtussle had always been exceptionally close, even for siblings. Raggedfur inwardly knew he would do anything to protect his brother, even if he would never admit that outloud. Nose quivering, Raggedfur struggled to bring his senses to attention in the darkness of the tunnels.

Stormtussle padded deeper into the dark underground tunnels, his vision sharp even as little light shone. His tail was swishing slowly behind him as he continued on, occasionally bumping into the soil-y walls of the caverns. A huffy growl escaped his lips as he ran into another tree root jutting out of the wall. If he kept that up he was going to just bite the dang things until they were in shreds. As the brute continued to walk a sudden sharp pain went down his side and through his back. He let out a loud cry of pain and turned sharply to try and see what had caused the pain. There, lodged in his side, was another of those blasted roots. The tip of it looked and felt about three inches deep and where it had been attached to the rest of the root it was ragged and torn. Blood had long since started to seep out of the wound and Stormtussle wobbled to the side and pressed up against the opposite wall. "Cr-crikey," he mumbled, "tha-at doesn't look too good."

Not much fazed Raggedfur. He'd gone through his few short years of life with a savage mindset and need for constant violence, be it through arguing or physical combat. The Windclan warrior had taught himself not to be easily surprised, no matter the situation, and it was a rare thing to catch him off his guard. So, when Stormtussle's anguished cry rang out, echoing in the earthy caverns, Raggedfur was more shocked than he had been in years. For a moment he was frozen in place; then, the larger male darted forward to his brothers side, flinching at the rivulets of blood streaming down Stormtussle's pelt. The barbed tip of a root had impaled part of Stormtussle's flank. "God, dang it, Stormtussle!"

Raggedfur's words lacked the fury that he'd spit them out with; his tone wavered in uncertainty and fear. How in good lords name was he supposed to know what to do in a situation like this?! Raggedfur wasn't no medicine wolf - he was supposed to be the wolf inflicting the pain, not getting rid of it. Forcing down the panic that rose in his throat like bile, Raggedfur pressed his massive pelt against his brothers and nosed Stormtussle's panic-stricken face. "How deep is it?" And the heck am I supposed to do about it?

Stormtussle whimpered slightly at Raggedfur's tone. His brother sounded scared and uncertain and that just made him even more afraid. His brother was supposed to be the one that knew what to do in situations involving blood and wounds but never like this. Neither of them knew how to heal. Raggedfur was a fighting, pain inflicting wolf and Stormtussle was a laughing, fun time wolf. With a shuddering breath, the grey brute nosed Raggedfur's muzzle back. "I dunno," he huffed out with a shaky chuckle, "Deep?"

For a moment, Raggedfur clenched his eyes shut, as if the darkness could block out their miserable situation. Though he'd never admit it, Raggedfur had always been squeamish when it came to blood and gore. As violent and quick to fight as he may be, the Windclan male had never enjoyed the sight of wounds or scarring - ironic, as he always seemed to have both riddling his pelt. Knowing that he'd have to push away the discomfort for the sake of his brother, Raggedfur pulled away and surveyed the wound. The barbed edge of the root looked to have sank at least an inch deep into Stormtussle's flesh - probably even deeper. As little as he knew about healing and medicine, Raggedfur at least was sure the first step would be to remove the foreign object from Stormtussle's flank.

Wincing for the pain that his brother was sure to feel, Raggedfur craned his neck and got a good grip on the bark embedded in Stormtussle's flesh. He bit down hard on the wood, hesitating only for a moment before yanking his neck back and ripping the barbs from Stormtussle's flesh. Blood spurted violently from the wound, pooling on the dusty ground, and Raggedfur bit back the panic clawing at his throat. He spat the bloody piece of root on the ground, wondering how his brother would take the pain.

As the root was yanked out of him Stormtussle tensed, knowing the pain would come. What he didn't expect was how much pain would come. A throaty scream escaped his mouth, the agony unbearable. Blood was now bubbling to the surface faster than before and the quick loss of it was making Stormtussle wobble on his feet. He winced slightly as he heard the liquid splatter on the ground, gross thunks of clots hitting the earth. The thick, red liquid had stained his fur a hearty and rose colour. His vision had become blurry and very hazy as he stumbled into his brother.

The apprentice walked into the caves. She heard a yell. She ran down the tunnels dodging roots. "Stormtussle are you ok? You look hurt?"

Raggedfur stared in horror as Stormtussle's bleeding intensified. Thick, crimson rivulets were streaming from the wound, staining Stormtussle's pelt a grisly bloodred. Raggedfur found himself sagging slightly under his brothers weight and the terrified pressure weighing on his shoulders, but he inwardly snarled at himself not to give up. Raggedfur had made a mistake - he wasn't proud enough to deny it - but if he didn't act now then his brother would pass out or even die of bloodloss. Raggedfur barely looked up as an apprentice raced into the tunnels, her concerned voice ringing out around them. "What does it look like?" Raggedfur snarled around a mouthful of fur, his jaws now clamped around Stormtussle's scruff. "Help me get him back to camp, you dimwit."

The male winced again as a higher voice reached his ears which were buzzing and ringing. He couldn't make out what his brother was saying to the new voice and he didn't try to find out. His consciousness was slipping in and out as he struggled to stand on his own two feet. It didn't work. His brother had grabbed him by the scuff by the time he let his body go limp, his eyes half lidded.

Okami walked up and sat down, she and amberpaw were in the tunnels far away from the dramas going on for the others. she shook out her fur and watched its faint luminescense. she shrugged and stared at her paws. watching and waiting.

Hurricanepup walked up and stared around with excited eyes. he wagged his storm gray tail with its steel gray stripe. he sniffed around his gray eyes glittering with intrest. hedid a play bow then scampered off and along the tunnels. he bumped into Amberpaw.

Breezepaw saw that Storm and Ragged had left. She ran to the end of the tunnels. She scented the warriors. She ran to camp.

camp

The gangly wide jawed pup watched the apprentice run away. he stood up from being knocked back and began his gambollying run toward camp. he was awkward and clumsy but he had a big heart and was courageous. hurricane ran as fast as he could in his awkward gait.
-camp