Recovering(OPEN)

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawnypaw woke up with a start, looking around for the unknown StarClan cat that had wathced her drown twice. Then she realized she was in the medicine cats' den. A safe place in the camp. Tawny still had nightmares of that day she had fallen into the river after her pathetic attempt to get away from her previous nightmare. She still didn't know who that mysterious cat was.

Tawny got up from her ravaged nest and paid no attention to the moss stuck in her claws and pelt and the slight hurting stab of pain on her side as she headed for the enterence of the den. Poking her head out and squinting at the bright sun. A slightly warm Newleaf breeze brushed her face.

Many cats were out and about carring out their warrior duties. A couple apprentices were outside of the apprentices' den soaking up sun and talking with one another. Tawny didn't see Lynxpaw though. She must be inside still sleeping. Tawny thought to herself. She shook her head to clear it and headed for the freshkill pile and realized it needed restocking. She twitched an ear, but didn't grab anything. Let someone else have those. I'll eat when the hunting patrol comes back.

Tawny started walking, the moss still in her claws making it unconfertable to walk. She had hoped through the night, she hadn't woken Mintheart or scratched her. Tawny lifted a paw to examine it for any fur. Surprisingly enough, there was fur but not Minthearts. It was the same color as the starclan toms' fur. Tawny flattened her ears when she saw it and automatically put her paw down, looking around. How could she have this StarClan cats' fur if she only saw him in her dream?


Note: This follows the riverclan post, Horrid Nightmares.
Note2: April 5!! Happy Birthday to me! :]

[Deleted]

Lynxheart lay in her nest, helpless and innocuous. The sun shone through the apprentices den, alighting on her pelt and making her shine like perfection. She yawned. She couldn't stand this confined torture much longer.

Hunger pounced on her so suddenly that she almost ate moss in her struggle to find something to eat. It reminded her that she was alive and living, yet she wished she weren't. Her stomach ached like she had swallowed a thistle and her mouth was as dried as baked mud.

Finally she went limp. Ragged breaths were pulled from her throat, painful and short. Eyes closed, she let everything go. She wished it would all end. SHe wished she could just die right there.

Through her torture came a quiet whispering. It sounded as if a lot of cats were standing around her worrying over the little shadow. She wondered if it was StarCLan, readying her for her departure from this world to the next.

Suddenly one voice was heard above the rest.
Lynxpaw. Hold on.
She opened her eyes, startled to behold a lovely black/brown tabby. It was Reedwhisker, her mother, grief clouding her eyes. Then next to her appeared a courageous black tom with a tail as short as her own. Lynx was like a clone of her father, Halftail.
Lynxpaw, meowed Halftail. It is not your time to die. secretly, Lynxpaw wished it was. You are strong and smart, RiverClan will need your cunning to defeat battled of the future. You can lay here, pain-filled, and not die. Or you can stand up, despite the torture, and walk out there. Show us you can do it. We are very proud of you and watch over you always.

Reedwhisker stepped forward. I'll will help you.

With that the tabby she-cat nudged Lynx. The only reminder to Lynx that these cats were dead was their transparent pelts that shimmered like stars. Lynx climbed to her paws and leaned against her mothers shoulder. Halftail followed as they limped into camp. The cats around them only saw Lynxpaw, weak as she made her way to the medicine den. But to the tiny apprentice, she saw her parents.

At one she felt strength flow through her and the yearning to live. Smiling slightly, she sat down in the entrance of the med den and waited. Halftail had fallen behind and now came up with a plump mouse. It too seemed to shine like a star. Never again would she taste prey more delicious than her fathers gift.

She looked up, about to say thank you, but found her loved ones had vanished. Still: "Thank you...." She whispered.

[Chewpaw ♥]

Dreams are an interesting topic. Many say they can tell the future or the past. Most had nightmares of the past. Few dreams where happy. Dreams are your subconscious trying to speak to you, well in my opinion. Trying to tell you something about yourself. Have you ever heard of a dream dictionary? I believe them to be very useful. They help guide you through the meanings of your dreams.

Chewpaw was in the middle of a nightmare. Yes a horrible nightmare. He was back when he was young. Even before he was saved from his mother. He was very young. He saw his mother gently killing his siblings. yes, gently. She was killing them instantly and silently, also can be described as gently. She licked them and loved them before she ended their lives.

Chewpaw now saw his father. He also saw his dear brother Yodapaw. His father was furious. Chewpaw, even at this young age knew that the father of a kit was usually the one trying to kill the kit not the mother, it was instinct. Chewpaw felt his neck lifted up. He was being held by his scruff. Next thing you know Yodapaw was next to him.

The journey his father took them on was long. Longer than Chewpaw could remember. He wasn't recognizing the scenery either. To this day, he knew Riverclan territory very well, but none of this was familiar. Where was his father taking him? Chewpaw could see a body of water before him. His father hovering above it. First Chewpaw thought he was going to take a drink, but then he realized that Chewpaw and Yodapaw where both in the mouth of their father. Then Chewpaw felt his neck being released. Hm and Yodapaw fell into the water. The current was strong and the kits were weak. Chewpaw felt himself go underneath the water's surface. He could no longer hold on.

Chewpaw gasped for air. He quickly awakened. He stood. Chewpaw took a deep breath and closed his eyes, getting rid of the images in his head. He shook his head and walked out of the apprentice den. Chewpaw wanted to talk to someone about his dream. He felt as if the Medicine Cat was the one he needed to speak to. He padded into the den. He saw Tawnypaw. He walked to her and licked her cheek. He laid beside her.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny sat in silence. Then headed ack to the medicine cats' den. Tawny thought about that starry cat and his connection with her near death experience. Moons seemed to pass, and Tawny was still uncomfortale because of all the moss and thistles still in her fur and claws. She wished she could tell someone about the starry tom cat but she was afraid others would laugh at her.

Moments later, Chewpaw came into the den. Tawny watched him as he walked over and laid beside her, licking her cheek in the process. Tawny's face felt warm and she couldn't help but smile. Tawny leaned her head on his shoulder and purred softly. She was happy. Would he understand my nightmares? Would he know why the 'starclan' cat appears? Tawny thought to herself. After awhile of deciding, she looked up at him and asked, "If I tell you something, will you think I'm crazy or paranoid?"

[Chewpaw ♥]

Chewy noticed that Tawnypaw smiled. Her smiled comforted him. It made his almost forget his dreams, or shall I say nightmares. He hated his dreams. He wished he passed the rapid eye movement stage of slumber. He wanted to just sleep, with no dreams involved. Some people do have that, they just sleep no dreams. It is when they are in such a deep sleep that they don't have dreams, or they don't remember them.

Chewy heard Tawnypaw's voice. It was like she was singing to him. "If I tell you something, will you think I'm crazy or paranoid?" she asked. "I am pretty sure anything you tell me will be fine. I will listen and try to understand. I would say that I can understand, but I don't know if I can yet," Chewy replied. He was babbling. Tawny made him nervous.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny smiled and chuckled a little as Chewpaw babbled. Tawny sighed a little and thought about how she was to begin.

"You remember when I ran outside of camp to Sunningrocks and nearly drowned? Well one of my reasons for doing so was because of a nightmare I had. Before I ran out of camp, I dreamed of my family. Then everything turned all watery like I was drowning..." Tawny paused. "Well... While I was dream drowning, I saw a starry, dark tabby tom cat with amber eyes. He had this evil look and he just wathced as I drowned, Without helping." Tawny stopped to breathe and looked at Chewpaw.

Continuing, "Then when I was drowning at Sunningrocks, the same cat appeared again and still didn't help me. Then again last night. But the only problem is... I don't know what I dreampt about and when I awoke, I had dark fur in my teeth and claws." And because Tawny still hadn't washed herself yet, she showed Chewpaw the fur in her claws. "I don't know what it means. And I haven't told any other cat yet except you." She looked at Chewpaw again and waited for his response to all this. He thinks I'm crazy! I know he does! She frowned at the thought.

[Chewpaw ♥]

"You remember when I ran outside of camp to Sunningrocks and nearly drowned? Well one of my reasons for doing so was because of a nightmare I had. Before I ran out of camp, I dreamed of my family. Then everything turned all watery like I was drowning...Well... While I was dream drowning, I saw a starry, dark tabby tom cat with amber eyes. He had this evil look and he just wathced as I drowned, Without helping. Then when I was drowning at Sunningrocks, the same cat appeared again and still didn't help me. Then again last night. But the only problem is... I don't know what I dreampt about and when I awoke, I had dark fur in my teeth and claws, I don't know what it means. And I haven't told any other cat yet except you."

He smiled as Chewpaw tried to sink in all Tawny told him. It was a lot. "Did you recognize the warrior?" he asked in interest. Maybe it was someone of her past that didn't help her. It could also be someone of her future. Chewy was always afraid his dreams were predictions, his dreams would be terrifying in real life. "I am happy that you chose to tell me," he added. It was true. it said that Tawny trusted Chewy and cared for his opinion. Chewy looked at her paws, they had dark fur in them. "It is possible you hurt someone," he meowed in reaction.

[Deleted]

With her parents near her, Lynx had forgotten that no one wanted her. She had forgotten that she was a shadow to her clanmates, unwanted. Tawny acted as her reminder. She came back to the medicine den, padding past Lynx as if she weren't there. Lynxpaw didn't know if she even noticed! It was cruel, immediately seizing her in it's rage until she almost suffocated. Her glare turned cold as ice as she watched. Ears flat, she laid her head on her paws and watched the camp, tail swishing angrily.

Then Chewpaw came into view. He looked slightly bed head and must've just woken from a nap. He trotted towards the medicine den, making Lynx raise her head, hungry for conversation. She was like a kit; anticipating, waiting, hoping. But, like Tawny, he ignored her as he entered. Lynx turned and watched as he greeted Tawny. They nuzzled each other and started whispering.

Lynx's heart melted. A sudden sadness washed over her as she stared. The sickness her parents seemed to have chased away came back, but lighter. The weakness flowed into her limbs and she lay her head down on her paws again. Her ears waited for somebody to contact her but nothing came but the buzz of insects and the call of birds.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Determination filled her as she struggled to her paws and turned on Tawny and Chew.

"Why?!" SHe demanded, heartbroken.

Tears burned behind her eyes as she whipped around and raced out of camp. They threatened to spill and she let them, closing her eyes tight and turning her head away as she flew, paws hardly touching the ground.

When Sunningrocks came into view, she slowed. Diving into the water, she thrust her way through the current and dragged herself onto the warm stones. Laying down, she stared at her reflection in the water. Her wet black pelt, her sad blue eyes, her scar..... her scar. She had almost forgotten the blood red stain that crossed through her eye.

Hatred ran through her. She lowered a paw, extending her claw till it touched the water, shattering her image. She climbed to her paws and stared across the rapids. The ice had melted. Looking up into the sky, she again asked the question. Why....?

Then she returned her gaze to the foamy water. Narrowing her eyes, she wondered how long it would take for her clanmates to notice her disappearance, or her death.
Well let's find out. She snarled.

Dashing to the waters edge, she leaped in a perfect arch and crashed into the river, lost under it's merciless rush.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawny flattened her ears and lowered her head onto her paws. "I don't think I've seen this cat. He doesn't look familiar. And who here has dark tabby pelt?" She thought for a second but still didn't know.

Suddenly, Lynx got up and yelled, then ran out of camp. Tawny's eyes grew wide , her fur fluffed up and her claws griped the ground in shock. She hadn't even noticed her friend was there. Tawny wondered what was wrong with Lynx. Besides the fact she still hadn't seen Peachpaw or Mintheart about that scar on her eye. Tawny thought for a moment. Then she understood everything! Cats haven't glanced at her or spoken to her since... Which means she going to seize her pain by... Oh No!!

Tawny's eyes grew wide as she bolted out of the den and out the camp entrance. Tawny couldn't believe this! Why would she end her life! It wasn't long ago that Tawny actually spoke to her! If Tawny's hunch was right, Lynx was at the Sunningrocks river!. Tawny's paws moved fast. She pushed herself by clawing the ground to speed her up. By the time she got to Sunningrocks, she saw Lynx jump. "No!!"

Tawny jumped into the river after her. Tawny knew she was still weak from her drowning but she didn't care. Her friend was in trouble and she had to help. Tawny held her breath and dived. moments later she felt a pelt brush her. Instantly, Tawny pulled it to the surface. Tawny kicked as hard as she could to get to land. She pulled herself and Lynx on the grass and away from the river.

Tawny was out of breath. She hoped Chewy would come. After all, she gave him no warning on where she was going and why in a hurry. Tawny checked for breathing then let out a sigh of relief. She was still alive. Tawny licked Lynx's fur the opposite way to warm her. When Lynx's fur was nearly dry, Tawny laid on her side. Her breathes coming rapid. Her wound never opened up which was a good thing. Tawny sat there for a moment to rest and watched the slow rise and fall of Lynxpaw's breathing and said, "I wont let you die, Lynx. We are friends till we die as warriors!" Tawny smiled.

[Deleted]

Lynx felt herself get dragged out of the water. Tawny's scent wreathed around her. Her fur was almost dry when she opened her eyes slightly. SHe overheard Tawny's whisperings:
"I won't let you die, Lynx. We are friends till we die as warriors!"

Tawny actually cared. Lynx slowly rolled over onto her belly.
"Dying was a better option...." she whispered wearily, but happy she hadn't died.... yet. "Thanks, Tawny."

Lynx turned and gazed at the river. It's rapids swam in foam and hissing currents. The thought that she had almost ended her life was strange and far away. Very far away....

[Chewpaw ♥]

Chewy listened to Tawny. The warrior wasn't familiar. Chewy was afraid of this. That means it may be from the future. Maybe Tawny was going to die in the same way, but a dark tabbied warrior would be with her and watch her die.

Chewy couldn't help but feel bad. His thoughts clouded his head. They were interrupted by Lynx. Her voice was angry, as she stormed out of camp. Tawny quickly followed her. Chewy stood and did the same. He was following because Tawny did. He knew that Tawny and Lynx were close, but he still was clueless to what was going on.

He saw Lynxpaw jump. Would she really do that? Would she really end her own life. Chewy went over to help, but he couldn't keep his head straight. He didn't know what to do, he would never look at Lynx the same.

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawnypaw looked at Lynx and said, "Your welcome, Lynx." She smiled, then turned her head at the sound of pawsteps. Tawny picked up the scent of Chewpaw. "Thank Starclan," she whispered. Tawny got to her paws and watched Chewy as she called out to him. "Over here Chewpaw!" She turned her attention back on Lynx and started licking her fur again. Now I have help bringing her back to camp! Tawny thought to herself as she continued to lick.

[Deleted]

Lynxpaw closed her eyes, breathing slowly. She had almost forgotten about her sickness with all the commotion. It's weakness creeped back up her limbs. Her breath turned a little ragged and she went limp as Tawny licked her fur until it was dry. Lynx stirred a little and curled up tighter.

Her breath jerked then lay flat. She coughed and pain racked her throat. She tried to forget it all but it was almost impossible. Once again, she felt like she was staring Death in the face and pleading for a quick end. She may have gained attention and care from Chewy and Tawny but really, she still had the rest of the clan with their backs on her. She felt small in the world with nothing but to familiar faces and darkness.

"Tawnypaw," She whispered weakly. "Maybe it would have been better to die. I don't have a point in life and no friends but you, and maybe Chewpaw." Her voice lowered to hardly anythig above a whisper as she grew weaker.
"I'm close to death already. Maybe you should just go back to camp and leave me here."

[♫Tawnypaw♫]

Tawnypaw stopped licking as she heard Lynx's voice again and was shocked at what she had heard. "No!" she bursted out loud. She didn't like the way Lynx was talking. "I will not let you die! And who says no one else in the clan isn't your friend!? Do you realize what you're saying?" She shook her head and continued.

"All cats in a clan are friends with one another. And with your illness," she said as she smelled it, "can be cured like any other. No cat is going to die. Let alone someone I know!" She was slightly angery. Not at Lynx or the clan, but at herself. She looked at Lynx again. "I'm not leaving you here to die," she snarled and got up, ignoring her soaked fur that she had never bothered to dry, being too concerned with Lynxpaw to care about herself.

Tawny looked at Chewpaw then went over to Lynx's side. She tried to push Lynx to her paws. "Lets go to camp. Chewpaw, help me lift her please. We need to get her to Mintheart right away," she said, looking at him and smiled her warm smile at him.

[Chewpaw ♥]

sorry it is short!

Chewy went to Lynxpaw's side. He smiled, and nodded. He had never lifted a cat before. He leaned down, by Lynxpaw's back. He shifted his head underneath her body and slid her down to his back. He kept himself crouched so that Tawnypaw could get the other half. if he stood he could hurt Lynxpaw more, because she would be dangling from him. He looked at Tawny and smiled.