The Gorge

Rippleblaze nosed Dreamstar slightly.

"Dreamstar?"

She opened her eyes, feeling like she hadn't slept in a moon.

"Will you come with me?"

Dreamstar yawned and shook out her fur.

"Where?"

He looked away.

"I just wanted to visit Quiverstar. See how MarshClan as doing."

She licked his cheek.

"Of course. You gave up your clan for me. You can visit anytime."

Rippleblaze smiled slightly and padded out of the leader's den with Dreamstar. She looked at the new warriors. The dawn patrol would be going out soon. She nodded at them.

"You can go now. Get a good sleep. But be up for Sunset."

They nodded a thanks and padded groggily to the warriors den. She watched as their fur stood on end as they peered in before padding into their new den.

"Let's go."

She padded out of the camp beside Rippleblaze, sniffing the air. She glanced at Rippleblaze before bolting towards the river. He ran after her, and she stopped panting by the river. Memories flooding over her.

"Remember? Way back then?"

Rippleblaze nodded.

"I was deputy. And you suddenly looked like you were being attacked. Instead of bringing you to your camp I brought you to mine. I wanted to make sure you would be okay."

Dreamstar laughed.

"Come on."

She padded to the log and glanced at the river below. Lapping at the tree's bark. The gorge was only a shirt distance away, and the river was raging. She started to pad across it, she could feel Rippleblaze's breath on her heels. The log was slick after a fresh rain the night before, and Dreamstar's curved claws dug precariously  into the wood. She felt her back leg slip out under her, and Rippleblaze leaped forward ready to catch her. She heard him stop, and shook her thick fur out.

"I'm fine Rippleblaze, it's just my leg."

She padded a few steps forward then realized she couldn't feel his breath. She looked behind herself and gasped.

"Rippleblaze!"

She looked down the brown river, but couldn't see his dark gray pelt. She leaped off the log and ran to where the waterfall was. She looked down and started to shake. He was no where to be seen.

"Rippleblaze... where are you?"

She turned around and raced to the MarshClan camp. She burst through the entrance, panting. Warriors met her with bristling pelts.

"What are you doing here?"

"I-i need Qu-Quiverstar. Quick!"

The warriors looked at each other and went to get Quiverstar. Dreamstar collapsed on the ground. Her body wracking with sobs that were sure to come. She saw Featherblaze come out of his den.

"Dreamstar? What's wrong?"

She gasped.

"R-rippleblaze. He fe-fell into the..."

She couldn't continue and Featherblaze helped her up.

"Come to my den. Quiverstar will follow."

He nodded at Quiverstar when he saw the leader come out. Dreamstar padded clumsily to the medicine cat den, Featherblaze supporting her.

"Dewfall, can you get me some thyme?"

The medicine cat apprentice nodded and quickly got some thyme. She gave it to Dreamstar.

"Here, eat this. It will help."

She ate the herbs quickly, ignoring the bitter taste. She gasped for breath as she felt her body relax slightly.

"Now, what's wrong with Rippleblaze?"

Quiverstar sat down, his long tail wrapping around him.

"W-we were coming to v-visit and he-he..."

"Dewfall, maybe some Chamomile too."

She nodded and quickly got it to Dreamstar.

"Continue"

After Dreamstar had taken the herbs, she closed her eyes.

"He fell into the river... I-i don't know where he is!"

Quiverstar exchanged a glance with Featherblaze. He rested his tail on her shoulder.

"Stay here. We'll find him."

Quiverstar padded quickly out of the den, his silver pelt gleaming as the sun hit it. Dreamstar gasped for breath as sob wracked her again. She closed her eyes tightly, and she heard Featherblaze whisper in her ear.

"They'll find him Dreamstar. He's a strong cat. Just eat these last herbs."

She heard a leaf being put down in front of her. She lapped up the seeds that were on the leaf, feeling herself drift into sleep.

::---::

When she woke up, the den was dark, and the moon was coming in. She could hear Featherblaze and Quiverstar talking outside the den. She lifted her head slightly, feeling like it was a rock. She saw Dewfall pad in, her mouth full of herbs. She stopped when she saw Dreamstar up. She dropped the herbs and padded back out. She padded back in behind Featherblaze. Quiverstar had padded away, his ears flattened. Dreamstar looked up at Featherblaze, all hope she had had vanishing.

"R-rippleblaze...?"

Her throat was dry, so what she said came out very quiet. Dewfall padded out of the den, coming back with a piece of prey and a moss ball dripping water. Dreamstar lapped at the water, but barely touched the prey.

"W-where is he...?"

Featherblaze padded to he herb store and cam back with some herbs.

"I'm so sorry Dreamstar. They couldn't find him."

Dreamstar closed her eyes tightly, a low moan escaping her mouth. It grew louder and louder until she was full out yowling in sorrow. Featherblaze scooped up some poppy seeds and quickly put them in Dreamstar's mouth. She tried to spit them out, but he coaxed them down, acting like she was a kit who had just lost her mother. Her head fell to the ground, and the den started to spin. Featherblaze stood in front of her, his eyes full of sorrow. Dewfall watched from behind, expressionless. Dreamstar sighed, one last moan leaving her.

::---::

She woke up in StarClan, her large tail dragging on the ground. No cats appeared to her, and loneliness overwhelmed her.

"Why are you leaving me alone! Why didn't you protect Rippleblaze! Why won't you show me where he is!"

She hissed, her teeth clenched together. The light around her was submerged into darkness. Her eyes snapped open, and she stood up on shaky legs, exiting the den. The sun was up, and Quiverstar looked over. He leaped up and padded quickly over to her.

"Are you okay?"

Dreamstar ignored him and continued to pad to the camp entrance. Quiverstar leaped forward, grabbing Dreamstar's scruff. She was jerked backward onto her back. She glared up at Quiverstar.

"What!?"

She spat through closed teeth.

"You're in no condition to be wandering out in the forest. I went to LakeClan personally, and they know where you are and what happened. You're in shock Dreamstar. It can lead to problems if you go out."

Dreamstar bared her teeth.

"You're not my leader. And this isn't my clan. You have no right to tell me what to do."

She pushed him away, but Quiverstar leaped in front of her.

"As a leader I want you to lie down. You're mentally unstable. Your mate is missing, possibly dead. You're in no right condition to be up. And plus, you haven't ate since you came here. And that was yesterday. "

Dreamstar snarled.

"Get out of my way. I'm fine."

"Dreamstar! I'm telling you you're not! You won't be able to make it across the river. As you walked over here it looked like you were about to tip over! You'll fall in."

Dreamstar narrowed her eyes.

"Maybe that's what I want."

Quiverstar closed his eyes.

"You can't go and kill yourself. Your clan just got you back. What if Rippleblaze made it? He'll come back to find you dead."

"He couldn't have made that fall! He would have drowned or been killed by the rocks."

"You have to believe in StarClan!"

Dreamstar scowled.

"They left me when they let Rippleblaze die."

Quiverstar narrowed his eyes.

"You have a family Dreamstar. From what you said at the gathering, Markstar's mate is about to have kits. These will be your kin."

"I died once before by Rippleblaze's side. He DROWNED."

Dreamstar yowled, and Featherblaze came rushing out of his den.

"Quiverstar! I'm so sorry. I didn't realize she was awake aleady!"

Dreamstar turned on the medicine cat.

"I'm not a kit! "

He dipped his head.

"I understand. Please come back to the den. As a medicine cat, it is best for you."

"You are not my medicine cat!"

"But would Nestflame not say the same? I help all and any cats. I'll get an apprentice to get you some fresh prey and some water."

She bared her teeth, but felt her legs buckle underneath her. Quiverstar and Featherblaze were right there at her side, leading her back to the medicine cat den. Quiverstar looked around and spotted an apprentice.

"Fleetpaw, go out hunting with Skypelt. When you come back bring a piece to the medicine cat den."

The young apprentice nodded and ran off to get his mentor. Quiverstar let Dreamstar lay down gently. He pressed his nose to her shoulder comfortingly.

"We've still been looking. There's a patrol out, following the river. We'll find him."

Dreamstar closed her eyes and didn't respond.

::---::

A long ways downstream, a scrap of wet fur lay a little ways of the bank, barely breathing. A leg was torn very badly, from a dog, and a pool of blood lay around the fur...

::---::

Ridgefeather paced back and forth by a door. The twoleg wasn't letting him into the room. He heard the twoleg getting up, and he backed up, going to try to dart in. When she stepped out, he bolted forward. She stopped him with her leg, and he snarled angrily, trying to push his way past. He saw a glimpse of Maple, and her pelt was red with dried blood. A gasp left him.

"Maple!!"

She needed his help! A two-leg couldn't help her! He tried harder to get through, but the twoleg pushed him back. He bared his teeth at her and scratched at the door, putting claw marks in it. She swatted at him and he leaped away. He narrowed his eyes and raced away, crawling out the slightly open window. He leaped up onto the windowsill of the room Maple was in. He heard the twoleg talking to someone in side. 

 He realized that it wasn't glass blocking him, but a screen. The window was open! He slashed again and again at the screen opening a small hole. He then ran back the way he came, going to get the hidden herbs he had found. The twoleg wasn't there so he grabbed the herbs and headed back. he squeezed through the whole and ran to Maple. He nosed her shoulder. She was damp, and contractions ripped through her.

"It'll be okay. You have to eat these."

He nosed the already prepared herbs to her.

"They'll help you. They won't taste good, but they'll help."

He gave her the raspberry leaves first. She ate them quickly, no emotion on her face, her eyes slightly open. He looked back at the door as he gave her the next herbs. Coltsfoot, to help her breathing. Then juniper berries and crushed iris petals, also to help her breathe easier. He heard the twoleg coming and as a spasm ran through her he quickly passed her the last herbs.

"Borage. It'll help your milk come for your kits."

She nodded weakly and ate those too. He lay down beside her back, licking her fur clean as he eyed the door. The twoleg came in and she started to reach for Ridgefeather. He bared his teeth, then continued to clean Maple, his eyes narrowed as he watched the twoleg. Ridgefeather stiffened as he felt a spasm run through her body. He placed his paws on her stomach, which caused the twoleg to shriek. He whispered in her ear.

"Shouldn't be long now, but you've lost a lot of blood. I think two kits."

He purred weakly, and felt the twoleg grabbing him. He snarled, and struggled vainly. She dropped him by accident as he struggled and he snarled. She closed the door on him, keeping it closed with her foot as he watched through the crack of the door. She scooped Maple up gently and put her into a cage. He yowled in anger and backed away as the twoleg came out. 

"Maple!"

He heard her whimper in pain as her kits came nearer.

"You can't take her!"

The twoleg walked out the front door, shutting it before he could get out. He stood on his hind leg as he watched Maple be put in a monster, then be taken away. He ran to the windows, and noticed they were all closed.

He curled up under the couch, staying awake all night, waiting.