LakeClan: Wounds That Won't Heal

Dreamstar padded along the shore line. It had been 5 moons since Bluegaze and her had gone looking for Rippleblaze. The clan must be worried. There were ceremonies to be held, and Dreamstar had finally given in and accepted that Rippleblaze must gone forever. No, she would never accept that he may be dead. If he was dead, he would have told her from StarClan. She would still have hope that he could continue his life.
Bluegaze padded beside Dreamstar, his tail hanging low. He felt Dreamstar stop beside him.

"Who are you?"

Bluegaze tried to use his powers, though they were fading. He saw through Dreamstar's eyes a black she-cat with striking almost-white eyes. Her eyes flickered, and she took a step back cautiously, not answering Dreamstar. In her mouth she held a wad of moss, and she looked behind her, about to run. Bluegaze hissed, his eyes narrowed.

"Just answer the question! We don't mean any harm to a loner!"

Dreamstar shot Bluegaze a look, and when she looked back the black she-cat was gone. Dreamstar ran in pursuit. This she-cat seemed to be hiding something. Bluegaze followed close behind, using Dreamstar's scent to guide him through the unknown territory.

::---::

Sola ran on. Her fur bristled. Who were these cats? Did they really mean no harm, if they were chasing her? She couldn't lead them to Rippleblaze. He was still weak, not able to run yet. Would he ever be able to run again? She shook her head. She had to have faith that he would get better.

She yowled as she felt large paws grip her. She was thrown down and the two cats went tumbling together until a tree stopped them. Sola got herself out of the grip and hissed. The moss she had in her mouth was covered in mud and dirt. She glared at Dreamstar, her ears flat.

"What do you want!?"

Dreamstar narrowed her eyes.

"I only wanted to know who you were!"

Sola glared.

"You don't come from here, so it is not your right to be asking questions when you are in my territory!"

Bluegaze padded up beside Dreamstar.

"Well you do a pretty lousy job of protecting it. Running away from intruders!"

Sola took a second glance at Bluegaze, her eyes wide.

"You're blind!"

Bluegaze rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for the information. I always wondered why I couldn't see a thing! But if you think me being blind makes me any weaker than you... Well then I pity your close-mindedness!"

Dreamstar growled in a low voice.

"Bluegaze! Enough!"

Sola's mind buzzed. Bluegaze... A clan name. Rippleblaze told me some of the cats he remembered from his clan. But yet, he couldn't remember his mate's name. Though he said she had faded yellow eyes... Sola stumbled back a step when Dreamstar looked at her again. Those eyes... Could this be his mate? Sola shook her head. What could she say? Did she want to give away the whereabouts of the cat she had grown so close too? Yes. That would be the right thing to do. She sighed, and lowering her head, spoke.

"Please... follow me. There's something you should see."

With that she turned around and padded off to where Rippleblaze lay hidden. Once he had been able to walk short distances she had slowly moved where they had lived farther into the small forest.

Dreamstar and Bluegaze followed wearily, walking cautiously across the forest floor. Sola stopped beside a bush with moss tendrils covering a small entrance. She sighed, and looking at the entrance with sorrow, swept it aside with her tail. Dreamstar stopped dead at the sight she saw. She was at a lack for air, and could barely stand. There, in a small nest was the cat she had been looking for. He was hardly recognizable with still-healing scars running along the length of his body and head. He was sprawled out in a deep sleep. His back hind leg was the worst. Long teeth mark scars covered it all. The skin was still pink and raw, and patches of fur grew randomly on it. His face had three long scars right across the muzzle, and he was skinny. Dreamstar finally collapsed, and tried to regain her breath.

When she finally did she threw an accusing look at Sola.

"What... did you do to him!"

Though Dreamstar knew very well that those scars could not be from a cat, she needed to blame someone, something! Sola's eyes widened.

"What do you mean "What did I do"!? I saved his life! He nearly drowned, then a dog tore him apart. His other back leg and one front leg were broken. And the leg that wasn't broken was sprained. As you can see, his one back leg was totally destroyed! I'm lucky I was able to even keep it on! He broke two ribs and nearly lost an eye. Actually, for about a moon he could've died any second! He came down with Green Cough in the middle of Green leaf! His wounds were filled with infection. You're lucky he's able to walk, even see still! Though his sight is blurry. Actually, you're lucky he's alive."

Sola turned angrily into the den, letting the moss fall back over. Dreamstar shook with sorrow. Would this still be Rippleblaze even? Did he remember anything? Bluegaze licked her ear gently.

"It'll be okay. Just stay out for a second. I'll get her to wake him up."

Dreamstar didn't repspond, just stared with a black expression as she had done when Rippleblaze had first disappeared. Bluegaze followed Sola into the den, his gaze setting into anger. He set his blank stare on Sola.

"Did you have to talk to her like that!"

His hiss was barely a whisper, and Sola looked at him shocked.

"She blamed me for doing this to him!"

Bluegaze rolled his eyes.

"Dreamstar just found out the cat she loves is alive. she's been looking for him for 3 moons! He's been missing for 5. And she finds him like this. She thought he was dead! You don't realize what she went through when he disappeared. She nearly died herself as she wouldn't eat. She's been through so much in her life. She lost two mates before him. One to murder, and then she chose him over her other mate, who died of age. She's lost almost all the kits she ever had except for three. She's been through so much... And if Rippleblaze died, she would have eventually died too."

Bluegaze shook his head.

"You're just an insensitive loner, aren't you? Just... wake him up. We'll go from there."

Bluegaze padded out again, and Sola stood rooted to the spot. She heard Bluegaze whispering softly to Dreamstar. She nosed Rippleblaze.

"Rippleblaze... get up. There's some cats here who want to see you."

Rippleblaze opened his eyes and shook his pelt out.

"W-who?"

He stopped and stared at the entrance as two cats walked in. Though his sight was blurry, he was able to recognize the two cats slightly. He recognized Bluegaze's sharp blue eyes, and was able to put a name on him immediately. But when he saw Dreamstar, his mind grew blank as he sought for a name. He knew he knew her. He could never forget her eyes. And when he looked at her his heart ached less, but why couldn't he find a name?

Dreamstar stared at Rippleblaze. Recognition sparked in his eyes as soon as he saw Bluegaze. But with her, he seemed to stare at her blankly. He didn't seem to remember her. Dreamstar shook her head and lowered it.

"I-i can't do this. He doesn't remember me. Let's go Bluegaze. He'll be better off here."

Dreamstar turned around and Bluegaze looked at her shocked.

"But Dreamstar! Just give him time! You finally found hi-"

Dreamstar spun around and snarled.

"That's an order Bluegaze. I expect you to follow it."

Bluegaze cringed back, and Dreamstar shot one last despairing glance at Rippleblaze before leaving. Sola watched Dreamstar leave, her eyes astonished and filled with sorrow. Rippleblaze looked at her with confusion. She couldn't do this. Rippleblaze couldn't stay with her. He belonged with this she-cat, Dreamstar. She nuzzled Rippleblaze.

"Rippleblaze. Don't you recognize her? That was your mate. The one you've told me about. Dreamstar. Her name's Dreamstar. She loves you Rippleblaze."

Rippleblaze looked down.

"Dreamstar?"

Sola nodded.

"Your mate. The one you need to go back to."

Realization finally sparked in his eyes, and a low mournful wail rose from his mouth. He buried his head in his paws as memories flooded through his head. It was too much. Too much for him right now. Sola backed away, then quickly ran after Dreamstar and Bluegaze. She gasped, and yowled.

"Wait! Please come back! Bluegaze! Dreamstar!"

She listened for a response, but none came. She ran some more until she out of her small territory.

"Bluegaze! Wait!"

Bluegaze stopped running after Dreamstar. He heard her snarl and turn around.

"Come on! We need to get back to the clan!"

Bluegaze shook his head.

"Can't we try again? It's getting dark anyways. We won't get anywhere tonight. Please."

Dreamstar shook her head, her tail finally dropping.

"I can't go back... I can't go back and see him. Knowing that he doesn't recognize me. That he recognizes you and that she-cat. But not me. It's too painful Bluegaze."

Bluegaze closed his eyes.

"He will Dreamstar. If you had stayed a bit longer, he would have. Trust me!"

Dreamstar sighed and started to pad back, her gaze blank. Sola had turned back also, running back to the small den where Rippleblaze was staring at his scars. She stopped in the entrance and watched him as he tried to disguise his horror at what he had become.

"They don't mean anything you know."

Rippleblaze's head snapped up.

"They don't change who you are."

Rippleblaze sighed.

"Ya. But how will I ever hunt again? Fight? I can't even see properly, let alone walk properly."

Sola lowered her gaze.

"Your ear's will adapt to your needs. And if you keep exercising, your leg could get a bit better too. But it'll never get fully better. You just need to be happy to be alive..."

Rippleblaze's ears flickered to the entrance, and his eyes soon followed. Bluegaze padded into the den, Dreamstar following behind. Her head was low, and she looked at Rippleblaze with comprehension. Will he remember me? But she need not to have asked twice, because as soon as Rippleblaze saw Dreamstar, his throat seized up and his whole body seemed to relax. His eyes seemed to shine, and they had filled with tears.

"D-dreamstar..."

He struggled to stand up, and Dreamstar tried not to wince as his scars came into full view. She stayed rooted to the spot, watching as he stood up shakily, his back leg resting against the ground. She felt a nudge from Bluegaze, and she took a few unsteady steps forward. She touched her nose gently to his cheek. Gently probing the new scars. He licked her ear, and whispered gently.

"Are we going home?"

Dreamstar's legs shook and she nodded. She looked at Sola who was sitting in a corner. She was looking in the other direction.

"Would you like to come too?"

Sola looked at Dreamstar, then shook her head.

"I belong here. This is my home."

She waved her tail, then flinched slightly, her eyes flickering quickly to Rippleblaze. Rippleblaze tried to look at her. But her pelt blended into the den's shadows, and all he saw were two white lights.

"Sola. You can come..."

She shook her head slightly.

"No. My life's here."

Rippleblaze looked at Dreamstar, then back at Sola.

"I'd like you to come. You saved my life."

She shook her head slowly.

"I'm sorry Rippleblaze. Maybe we'll meet again sometime. But you have to go back to your clan. You can spend the night here. I'll go get some prey."

With that she quickly bounded out of the den, her eyes starting to sting with tears. Rippleblaze sighed and layed back down. Dreamstar layed down beside him.

"I can't believe we found you. I... I thought you were dead. When you weren't behind me. I thought I lost you..."

Memories of Cloudriver's death came rushing back. Then memories of when Rippleblaze had disappeared. He licked her cheek.

"You would have never lost me..."