The Maple Forest

A forest filled with maple trees that yield sticky sap. Deep in the middle of this forest lays the Raspberry Glade.

Acutely aware of the lack of sound in the forest, it drove her mad as if she'd never hear anything ever again, wondering if this was what it felt like to be deaf she jumped herself when she snapped the twig the noise sounding unnaturally loud due to the silence. Annoyed when Ghostwhisper distracted her by playing with some leaves, she finally noticed the scene before her once it was silent again. The branches of the maple trees that should be filled with bright green leaves were bare, on closer inspection she could see thick bright crimson sap flowing out of cracks of the trees as if they'd been cut and were slowly bleeding out. She didn't know much about plants but remembered vaguely learning that sap was like a trees blood, if the trees were bleeding then what did that spell for the rest of the clan? Was it a sign from Starclan? No wonder the dog had been spooked, she was spooked just standing here, gathering herself somewhat and pushing her fears below the surface where they could simmer in place a cold look from the shadows caused the red leader to spin about rather sharply. However there was nothing there, scowling darkly she growled sharply intending to discover who or what was watching them with a look that felt like teeth were being ripped into her scarred hide.

Ghostwhisper ignored Leopardstrikes look and instead focused on what was around her, her pale blue eyes picking up on slight movement in the bushes. Desperately wanting to tell the others what she'd seen the white wolf didn't get the chance, the huge white male of the dark forest rushed forward and knocked her to the ground pinning her beneath his paws. His white fur glowed unnaturally as if he was thriving in the semi darkness without the sun, struggling silently she tried to whine and call out and as usual could not. She'd wandered off from the others and so they didn't notice her plight especially without her to call out, the male was quick he didn't take the time to torture her like he would have enjoyed instead he killed her with a good sharp bite to her neck and in doing so tore out her throat. Watching as her spirit ascended from the warm corpse tha tmoments ago had been a body the male grabbed the spirit and vanished with it, dragging it with him to the dark forest. He hid in the shadows watching with a savage glee as Ghostwhisper awoke. The white female awoke with a start and sat up staring around not understanding, was this where starclan was? It seemed too dark, too quiet, too creepy, shifting her weight on her paws she didn't realize where she was until Eclipsestar revealed it ot her making her go cold with terror. She was in the dark forest, and she'd never escape.

Due to the silent nature of the attack, Rosestar hadn’t noticed what was happening to Ghostwhisper as she was distracted by what she thought was a wolf watching them from the bushes. Something however got her attention, and spinning around a shout of pain left the leader, galloping forward to Ghostwhisper pain and guilt over came the she wolf. Ghostwhisper had only just returned home to Thunderclan, and now she was dead “Crystalheart? Crystalheart no!” forgetting what she’d renamed the wolf in favor for her original name that she’d known the white she wolf by. Somewhere during her grief she noticed the red wolf, with strange violet eyes that padded over and did the best she could for Ghostwhisper however it seemed that she was too late. Washing her tongue over the silent warriors ears and fur, the small red wolf felt an immense amount of guilt that threatened to drown her. Taking a long deep breath the female turned her gaze and focus to the stranger, it was kind of her to try and help “I’m Rosestar of Thunderclan, thank you for trying to save Ghostwhisper, what is your name stranger? Why are you in these parts?” her voice was soft and thick with pain, there was no way in her mind that the quiet red wolf was the culprit of this attack. No, there was no way, it was more than clear to her, that whomever had done this was cruel and wicked and evil. She had to keep it together, until she was by herself, keeping the unhappiness and misery to herself, continuing to take long deep breaths, breathe, she had to breathe.

The bright orange she wolf listened quietly as the wolf introduced itself as song of the sky, her mind naturally changing it into a name she understood. Skysong. Nodding the leader spoke "You were, however I have no intention to punish you for it" the other wolf had tried to save ghostwhisper after all, looking down at the defeated warrior her gaze saddened again. Crystalhearts bright white fur had been darkened, stained with crimson red blood, they needed to get her back to camp and they needed to send out a patrol, likely with her at the head to get rid of whomever had done this to poor Ghostwhisper. "Leopardstrike, we need to get her home to bury" her voice again betrayed her grief, the death of the white wolf the first death with her as leader of Thunderclan. Gently nudging the cooling corpse, Rosestar silently apologized and picked up a mouthful of thick scruff, they needed to sit vigil with her and bury her as a warrior of the clan. She wasn't sure what the shaman would do, whether she'd choose to come with them or not, for now she was more focused on Ghostwhisper, once Leopardstrike had a mouthful she began slowly carrying the corpse back to the camp her usually fierce features tainted with grief. it was a long slow walk that seemed to take forever, her jaws starting to ache from keeping them dug into the scruff and carrying the heavy limp body. She Did her best to keep Ghostwhisper from dragging in the dirt or bumping along unceremoniously, what if she'd done something differently? What if she'd taken another warrior instead? Ghostwhisper might still be there signing as she always had, her eyes squeezed shut a moment and she tripped over a root managing to catch herself before she fell forward.
~Thunderclan Camp~

~ThunderClan Camp~

Rainstar trotted through the forest slowly sniffing the air for the prey that was around. She could smell many small prey scents but one that caught her attention was that of deer. Slowing her pace as it grew stronger the female dropped low and crept up as close as she dared to the herd looking to see if there were any injuried. With only two warriors to hunt such big game it would be the only way they could take one down and luck seemed to smile upon them as she saw a large doe limping at the edge of the herd.

Rainstar had been planning on sending Cherrypaw to hunt smaller prey but she nodded at Berrywhiskers words. "Very well. Be swift." she mummered softly. She only hoped that the buck went with the main section of the herd and not towards them as they cut the limping doe off. "Come with me Cherrypaw." she whispered nudging the red and white female leading her around with care to be closer to the injuried fae as snow began to fall slowly.

Rainstars eyes widened as the buck turned on Berrywhisker but she couldn’t leave Cherrypaw alone to deal with the doe that was hurrying towards them. ”Cherrypaw go for her throat.” she ordered breaking away from the apprentice. She dove in from the side and latched onto one of the doe’s foreleg. With her tight grip it sent the prey crashing to the ground heavily. Once Cherrypaw was on its neck the patched female broke away racing over to where she could see the buck down with the other fae staggering to her paws. ”Berrywhisker are you ok?” she asked skidding to a halt besides the Ethiopian wolf.