WindClan Camp

Snowflower was astonished. She knew this day would come but not this fast. Her expression calmed down and she looked into his royal blue eyes. "Yes."she said with the happiest and most genuine smile you'd ever see on her face. She then pounced on him and licked his cheek.

Duskfang's face reflected her own happiness as her answer reached his ears. His face was beaming like never before and the whole world seemed to move in slow motion. Had he heard her right? Had she just said yes? Laughing as she pounced in him, knocking him over as a result and giving him a lick on the cheek he decided that that was conformation. "Really?" He puffed breathlessly, nipping her ear playfully. "Do you mean it?"

Snowflower stepped back once to let him stand up. "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"she said. Those were the same words she had said to this male when he asked if they were really friends. It would be likely to strike memories in either wolves head.

Jadepaw giggled a she watched the two warriors pounce at each other. I bet Dusk finally asked Snow to be his mate..., she thought as she watched the two wolves happy as they'd ever be. Wonder if anyone will ever ask me..., she thought be shook it out of the head. There was no point losing herself in those thoughts when there was reality happening in front of her. It probably wouldn't happen and she was happy for Duskfang and Snowflower.

Duskfang, still smiling, scrambled to his paws. An instant memory flashed across his mind at her words and his zoned-out for a split second. Both Snowflower and himself had been out on the moors (I believe so anyway) and he had asked if they were really friends. Snapping back to reality he shrugged teasingly and swung his head sideways, beginning to study his paw that he had lifted on the air in a mocking gesture of superiority. "Well, you know. Just thought maybe I was too awesome for you." Winking he put his paw down and chuckled a little. "Nah I'm just kidding. It's more the other way around." He grinned.

Snowflower laughed. "We're equal."she said and rubbed her cheek on his. She smiled and gave a wink back. "I'm still a faster runner. But your a better fighter."she said with a grin on her muzzle.

Duskfang smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Equal indeed." Listening as she Made her statement about her being faster and him being a better fighter his eyes switched from being soft with affection to glittering with amusement and challenge. "Do you want a bet?" Batting her muzzle gently with his paw he jumped back and bent down low into a play crouch. His sudden rush of happiness had left him in an odd mood and he felt as if he were a pup again; he was carefree and excitable all of a sudden. His tail thumping contently upon the still slightly snow dusted ground and a goofy grin hung at his lips.

Jadepaw thought her mentor looked hilarious and started to chuckle to herself. I can't believe I'm being mentored by THAT!, she thought cheekily and thought it best not to say that out loud. Jade rolled onto her back and huffed bored. She didn't know what to do.

Snowflower grinned and crouched down playfully. "Sure."she said and giggled. The white fae smiled at her mate and opened her mouth to speak. "Race to where?'she asked in a delighted tone.

"Where ever you want." Duskfang rumbled joyfully, gazing back at his mate. The way her fur seemed to melt into the snow leave only her caramel eyes made her look almost angel-like. Then again, it might be more ghostly than angel-like... He smirked at the thought.

Spottedpaw awoke with a jolt. Something was wrong. She didn't know how she knew, but she could feel that something was different. She looked around, panicked. But nothing was going on outside. The She-wolf padded inside the Medicine Wolf Den. She gazed around trying to calm herself down. Then She looked down at her mentor. That's when she noticed it. Shadewhisper was still. There was no slow breath making his fur move up and down. The Apprentice leaned against him, knowing she'll find the steady beat of his heart. Instead she found silence. Spottedpaw took a step back, as one thought linked to another, almost slowly. Her mentor was dead. A horrible, sad howl came from her mouth before she could stop it. She buried her face into his fur, feeling tears run down her muzzle.

Wolfpup heard the sorrowful howl of his clanmate and ran to see her. "What's wrong Spottedpaw?" He asked his apprentice, he then saw Shadewhisper's body past on. "I saw him when he came back, his wounds must have been too great." He murmured. He nuzzled Spottedpaw's shoulder in comfort.

Spottedpaw gazed up at Wolfpup, sorrowful. She didn't say anything to him, but she was grateful for the comfort. For a few minutes the She-wolf just sat there by her mentor. Her Amber eyes closed, as she thought of the times with Shadewhisper. Then She opened them and looked at Wolfpup. "Wolfpup..." She began and trailed off. "Wolfpup, can you help me move his body into the clearing?" Spottedpaw asked softly. It was not right for Shadewhisper to be in here. She wanted him to be layed out under the stars, where she could find comfort knowing her mentor was still there in Starclan.

Wolfpup nodded to the apprentice. "It would be my honor." He said as he took part of Shadewhisper's body onto his back. He waited for Spottedpaw to get his back half, it was sad to lose a medicine wolf. But Shade was old and he could not survive his wounds.

Spottedpaw gently lifted Shade's scruff and walked with Wolfpup into the clearing. "Here." She said quietly and put the Medicine Wolf down. She looked at him sadly and sat down again. Her eyes were dull with grief. "Thank you Wolfpup." She croaked, not taking her eyes off her mentor.

Wolfpup nodded, knowing that she needed to be alone for a little while with her mentor. He padded into the nursery to rest for a bit, he was tired after the mornings activities. He wondered if Spottedpaw would be alright, after all she was the only medicine wolf in WindClan now. He drifted into a sleep. He was cold too.

Dawnpaw watched her mentor and Duskfang. They were making googly eyes at each other. Dawnpaw giggled. She rolled onto her back and looked up to the sky.

"Su-"she was cut off by Spottedpaw's howl. "That doesn't sound good..."she said. "Let's go over and check it out."she said to her mate and stood up. Snowflower padded over to where Spottedpaw was and gasped. "Not another, not again."she said referring to Moonwhisper's death. Snowflower felt tears roll down her cheeks as she gazed upon the dead corpse of her friend.

Sandwing looked at Okamipaw, beaming. "So Okamipaw I- She was cut off by a loud sad howl. "What in Starclan is going on?!" She thought. She sprinted towards where she heard the howl. She gasps and stopped dead by the sight of Spottedpaw and Wolfpup bringing Shadewhisper's body into the camp. "What..." She trails off as Spottedpaw sits down mournful by Shadewhisper. Sandwing shook her head wearily and felt sadness fall over her.

Okamipaw froze with shock, that howl someone had died. As she was used to blaming herself for things the white apprentice began backing away her tail under her. her ears back she began saying rapidly "im sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry". she continued saying the same two words over and over again until foam came to her mouth she had said it so fast so often. she backed away and yelped as her prosterior touched the cold hard surface. they were going to kill her it was her fault. her black eyes shone with a wild fear.

Jadepaw leapt to her paws with her fur standing on end as she heard the terrible howl. What in StarClan's name..., she thought and padded further into the clearing to see what had happened. A horrible choking lump appeared in her throat and she had to suppress a whimper of sadness. Oh StarClan... Not another one..., she thought and lashed her tail angrily. How could their ancestors be letting this happen to them!

Duskfang's ears swivelled round as a mournful camp echoed through the clearing. His eyes filled with confusion as he followed Snowflower over to investigate the source of the howl, but stopped abruptly with a sharp snort of disbelieving. No sound other than that left his maw for a couple of moments as he gazed at Shadewhisper's dead corpse, although seeing the tears rolling down Snowflower's face he placed his tail on her back in a comforting gesture. "There was nothing you could have done." He said quietly into her ear, all essence of his previous 'puppyishness' gone. He knew that Snowflower had grown up with Shadewhisper, and would take his death very hard. But then again, Heatherstar had also grown up with him and had been his den-mate. Searching around for Heatherstar's brown and white pelt he wondered how she would handle the loss.

Heatherstar froze on the spot as an unexcected howl pierced her thoughts. What is going on? The small leader wondered as she continued towards the Medicine Wolf den - and the place from which the howl came from - with dark thoughts starting to edge into the corners of her mind. However, the sight that soon met her eyes left her standing there, utterly dumbfound. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she watched Spottedpaw and Wolfpup carry Shadewhisper's limp, lifeless body across the clearing and lay it down in the centre of the camp. The female's entire body and mind felt numb with grief as she padded steadily over to her once den-mates body, his eyes clouded and empty of their usual sparkle. Reaching her friends black figure she slowly placed her muzzle into his neck fur, hoping to feel the regular beat of his heart...but nothing came. All was silent and still. His body was as cold as ice as it lay there, and Heatherstar found herself laying down beside him, memories flashing past her eyes. He would have to be taken out of camp for burial soon, but first she would let the Clan mourn.

Snowflower sniffled as Dusk tried to comfort her. She looked to Okamipaw and tried to put on a more cheerful face but failed. "I-it's not your fault."she said still sniffling. The white Fae buried her face into Duskfang's neck fur and continued crying silently.

Duskfang sighed and stayed still as Snowflower buried her face in his neck fur. Removing his tail he wrapped it around her in a different gesture of comforting. His gaze flickered over to Heatherstar as she approached and lay down next to Shadewhisper to mourn along with the rest of the Clan. Why was StarClan taking so many needless lives? He pondered with a flicker of anger flashing across his features making him flinch. Did they not care anymore?