It felt as if her fur was about to fall off her and her heart was gonna rattle out of her chest. The wisps of the wind tugging at her ears and the crunch of snow underneath paws. Nightshade pressed herself more into the warm colored fur of Honeypool, “What are we looking for?” she asked as her voice shook with cold and teeth clamped tightly around the small stocks of plants Honey told her to carry. She wasn’t gift with fluffy fur like Thornpad or thick fur like Hawkstar so the cold elements easily cut deep into the fur causing her fur to stand on end. “Herbs with leaf bare and the fact that there’s been a cough around camp Heronfeather wants us to just find something. ‘Anything!’ he said,” Honey said with a laugh as she lightly mocked the elders snappy tone making the shivering she-cat laugh at her tone. Honey wasn’t lying though, with the come of the cold chilling leaf bare sickness was starting to spread though the camp. Throat tearing coughs were heard when the clearing was quiet and sniffles coming from returning patrols. The medicine den was small and the grumpy tom could only do so much with the power he had, herbs being limited and due to the lack of an apprentice he couldn’t just leave camp to go look for herbs himself. Nightshade shook her head, he was also too stubborn to openly ask for help too, she thought when she remembered the mumbled tone of the elder when she had spoken to him prior. Continuing to walk, the she-cats shared words, catching up, sharing gossip, and just talking to one another. As time passed the cold chill that clung to Nightshade seemed to thaw as she just lost herself talking to someone she finally considered a close friend. That was until the thick, intoxicating smell of blood hit both of the she-cats' mouths. With wide eyes Honeypool was the first to have her paws strike the ground leaving the she-cat to stand in the cold a moment before Nightshade too joined after her. Watching the golden tail in front of her her mind raced, did someone fall while hunting? Maybe stepped on a jagged stone while patrolling? As the scent spilled more over her her throat started to fill with vile as a new sick smell of fox molded in the air. Snarls loud against her ears, trees thinning, and just as the she-cat bounded into the clearing to stand beside Honeypool did the snarling stop. Loud sobs now followed suit as the scene before her came together. A gasp left when she saw the pool of blood, the shaking form of the gray tabby, the frozen form of the brown tabby of the she-cat she swore hate her, and the lifeless body of the white tom who’s eyes were now empty. — The news of Skyfalls death reached through the clan like wild fire when the group of she-cats brought the limp tom to camp. His fur normally being able to get lost in the snow now stood out with its red tinted fur from the wound of his neck. Honey had took the herbs to the medicine den as Heronfeather was exciting. Nightshade stood, eyes set on Skyfall as cats gathered around him, tails resting on the grieving she-cats back and Vinepaw was nowhere to be seen. Ears lowered as she let her body sagg. Thornpad was the first to come over to her, eyes lowered. The bags under his eyes were deep and it was clear that the tom hadn't gotten much sleep. With Roseheart being sick he chose to spend most of the time with her even if it meant him not getting much sleep himself. She knew the effect on him, the way he mumbled to himself when he finally was able to get sleep, he was a mess. Feeling the soft brush of his fur against her side she leaned her head over to lick his shoulder. “Fox attack….they think it’s the same as before,” her voice was low. They both knew what she meant. The same fox that killed Brightkit. Letting out a shaking breath Thorn felt himself lean more into the she-cat. The clearing cold and chilled with the feeling of death. Soft whispers and cries were one of the only things that could be heard. Closing her eyes she allowed the warmth of the tom to slowly warm her frozen pelt. Death always seemed to loom over the night colored she-cat, either it be those close to her or her clan mates. Was this a sign from Starclan? Is it her fault? She didn’t try and stop the slow tear that fell down her face. What if she wasn’t here, would everyone still be alive?
