Dying Lake

Jumpfoot can't take his eyes off the starving queen. "Yes," He mutters. "We should hunt for them." Blackcherry nods. "At least this way, Oakstar won't be mad..." She seems relieved. Mistypool begins to guide you to a stream so close to camp you think for a moment it's inside. You're confused, but Mistypool suddenly heads deeper into the pool, up to his ankles. He then hops up onto a huge rock. "Come on," he grumbles. The three of you head upwards, and you find yourself struggling slightly. When you stand safely on the top, you realize this is a den. Heavy, wet vines hand over the top of the den, making you push your way in. Inside, shells and shiny two-leg things decorate the floor and some are even intwined into the vine and bramble walls. Streamstar raises her head, looking at your patrol uncertainly. "What do you want?" She rasps. She looks so tired..you feel bad for her. Blackcherry dips her head. "We would like permission to show your cats how to hunt for prey other than fish," She mews. Your ears twitch; you had agreed to catch for them, not teach them...Mistypool's hackles rase, and he bares his teeth. "We can hunt for ourselves," Rasps Mistypool angrily. "We-" Streamstar glares at him. "Quiet, Mistypool. Your pride will not fill your belly, foolish warrior." She growls. She turns back to your patrol. "We accept," She mews. "But that can be for tomorrow. I need to address my cats," she says. Streamstar sits up, wrapping her tail around her paws. Painfully, you realize the reason she's much calmer than the gathering, is because she's even hungrier. "I trust you need no cat to show you back to your border," Streamstar mews. "You may leave," Without another word, she turns from you and lays in her nest, resting her head on her paws. You feel a twinge of pity; Oakstar would rather die than look weak in front of an enemy, and yet here was Streamstar, who was normally as snappy as your own leader, laying in her nest weakly. The three of you turn and begin to leave. "I hope Oakstar aggress," Jumpfoot says once you all begin to approach the border. You hear a horrified gasp from Blackcherry, who runs past you. You stand in confusion for a brief moment, then blink hard at what's in front of you. Shellpaw was crouched close to the ground with a sorrowful, shocked expression. His ear twitched, and you could see scarlet blood running down his ear. Applepaw is snarling at him, and Shadedriver and Snowclaw are wrestling on the ground. Blackcherry, with a furious snarl, rips Shadedriver off of Snowclaw. Shadedriver turns and swipes her paw, claws extended, but your mentor easily ducks this clumsy blow. "Shadedriver, please! I am not here to attack you; in fact, Streamstar and I just had a conversation. Please, do not judge us for Snowclaw and Applepaw's foolish actions." She dips her head to the black she-cat. Shadedriver breathes heavily, her flanks trembling. Her eyes flash, and she speaks. "Okay." She says slowly. "Shellpaw...let's go." Together, the starving cats leave, and before they're even out of earshot, Blackcherry lets out a truly terrifying snarl, lowering herself slightly, her claws digging into the ground. Her tail lashes furiously, and her eyes have a furious glint. "Snowclaw, you mouse-brained, fox-hearted, feather-brained tom!" She roars. You flinch back in surprise, and feel Jumpfoot cringe from beside you. "Those cats are starving." She stresses the word starving. "And yet, here you are, attacking one of them! They are sick and in need of help, and yet you can't see beyond your whiskers! And Applepaw! I expected more from you; as someone who spends so much time with Frostpaw, I'm surprised you haven't picked up on any of her behaviors!" Snowclaw looks a bit shocked and struggles to respond. By the time he's opened his mouth, Blackcherry has stood, though she still looks like she wants to claw the warrior's ears off. "Don't waste your breath," She hisses. "Oakstar and Smokyfang can deal with this; I can't believe you would attack a cat who's in a Clan we have just made a truce with. Come on." Without waiting for a reply, your mentor begins to trot towards the MoorClan camp, and you can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for your friend. Poor Applepaw. An awkward silence follows as you make your way back home. Once at camp, you notice Blackcherry storming into Oakstar's den, her tail erect. You glance at Applepaw, who looks so utterly depressed and hopeless. You sigh, and...