[ti]Private[/ti]Are You Alive?

[silverfang218]

Lionpaw’s wounds felt much better now that Elkpaw had taken a look and patched him up a bit. He felt bad for burdening his sister with the news of his otherworldly wanderings at night, but now at least he could come to her for medical help and attention rather than using his extremely limited knowledge to try and fix everything up himself.

As soon as he steps outside the medicine cat den, he spots another unfortunate victim of his nightly excursions. “Frecklepaw.” He greets her softly, but kindly. While he felt terrible for dragging denmates and siblings down with him, it was Frecklepaw that makes him the most concerned. From what he knows of Freckle’s story, it would seem to Lionpaw that she’s had enough struggles and change in her life without being dragged to the Place of No Stars.

[americanfacepalm]

How long had she been waiting there? Who knew. Frecklepaw was about ready to burst from anticipation when, at last, Lionpaw appeared. He greeted her softly, but she still jumped, seemingly on edge from their journey into that dark, dark place. "Are you alive?!" she blurted, then immediately ducked her head in shame. "Sorry, I just... that was really scary, you know? Those cats could have killed you, but you still tried to help all of us. It was brave."

She smiled, but it faded rather quickly. "Were those cats actually dead...? Was that what you all talk about when you say StarClan? They didn't look, well, noble or wise."

[silverfang218]

He isn’t surprised when she jumps away at the sound of his voice; he had spoken softly in order to not spook her, but a trip through the Dark Forest can be a… terrifying experience to cats unfamiliar with the place. A small smile appears on his face as she asks her off the wall question. “I think I’m alive; Elkpaw didn’t mention anything about me being already dead, at least.” He answers quickly. His eyes light up at her complement, though he immediately tries to wave it away like it was no big deal. “Well, you guys didn’t know where you were or what was going on. I couldn’t just… let those cats hurt you without trying to do something.”

As Frecklepaw continues, Lion glances around. Luckily, no cat in camp was paying the two apprentices any mind, but Lion still doesn’t want to take any chances. “Take a walk with me?” He says hopefully, his gaze promising to explain everything. He’ll answer all Freckle’s questions, but not here. He gestures with his tail, attempting to lead his companion towards the exit to camp.

[americanfacepalm]

Frecklepaw breathed a deep sigh of relief. He was not dead, but just a little bruised and battered from those vicious shades. That was good. Yet he seemed so humble about it. He was a hero! Oh, stupid toms and their 'It was nothing's! "Thank you. I owe you one."

"Take a wa-- ooooh, okay, yeah, I'll go with you," she said, not entirely catching what he meant at first. She fell in beside Lionpaw and followed him outside camp. Apprentices were not usually afforded the freedom of coming and going as they pleased, but hopefully nobody would notice them...

[silverfang218]

Lionpaw nods his head in a no problem gesture. With Frecklepaw hopefully by his side, slips out of camp while no one is looking; it is rarely safe to speak about the Place of No Stars in the camp. He tries to lead Freckle with him in the direction with the least amount of fresh scents. Once they are a little ways away from camp, Lionpaw casts his glance around to make sure they are alone. Satisfied that they can speak freely now, Lionpaw brushes against Freckle’s side in a hopefully reassuring manner as he tries to remember what her questions were.

“That wasn’t StarClan.” He says bluntly. “StarClan is supposed to be a bright, beautiful place where all the cats who were good in life go after they die. StarClan cats have pelts made stars. The place we were at is called the Place of No Stars, otherwise known as the Dark Forest. It is where evil cats go when they die; just like StarClan cats can bring medicine cats into StarClan for prophecies, Dark Forest cats can drag living cats into the Dark Forest at night. Recently it seems like there have been more and more living cats down there at night, at least according to the Dark Forest cats themselves anyways.” Lionpaw tries to explain, before giving Frecklepaw a quizzical look, silently telling her she can ask any questions she has. “But yes, all those strange cats are actually dead.”