won't anyone help mamma.

[CROOKY]

She struggled to drag the huge crow back to the nursery. Her mother was dying and no one even cared! The medicine cat had come once or twice but Mamma hadn't gotten any better. Hawkkit was beginning to wonder if anyone in the clan even cared. Her mamma wouldn't get out of her den in the morning and hardly took the time to groom Hawkkit anymore. She told Hawkkit that she would be fine in a couple of days but she didn't believe her anymore.

Her tiny body struggled as she dragged the huge crow back to the nursery inch by little inch. She was aware that a lot of the clan cats were eying her suspiciously but then again she was eying them right back. Why won't anyone help mamma? She wailed in her head.

[Deleted]

Something was amiss. He could just feel it from the tips of his ears down to the end of his tail. It was when the sound of a grunting kit and the rustle of dragging feathers against an earthen path that he pinpointed it. Looking around, he noticed no other cats were getting up to help. It's as if their looking at me, he thought. Having just about enough of this behavior from a clan, Crowwing got up and walked towards the kit. Helping a kit, or any member of the clan, was something that he liked doing even if it wasn't someone he knew. Crowwing was one to keep his mouth shut, but he did use his actions effectively and his voice when needed like now.

Desperately, the kit was trying to move the bird towards the nursery which confused him. A kit lugging the meal to the den wasn't something they usually did. His paws stopped when he was in front of the kit. He blinked down at him in a friendly way. "Where to," he asked as he picked the bird up in his mouth. If anything he could help this little bundle of fluff with this one minial task. It wasn't that hard, but for some reason that had stopped the others from even offering help. However, he wouldn't let them sour his mood at the moment.

His face was one of encouragement as he took a step forward, waiting for an answer.

[CROOKY]

Hawkkit leapt back and hissed as the crow was lifted out of her maw by another cat. Just another cat who doesn't want to help taking my prey! She thought resentfully. She looked up at the huge warrior. She couldn't think of when she had ever seen this warrior before but then she clamped her mouth shut showing her teeth a little bit. She was about to squeal at him to give her back her prey when he talked.

Where to?! Did that mean that he might help her?! She shook her pelt really quick getting any hope out of her after all most of the other cats had seemed helpful in the beginning before they had talked to the medicine cat. Hawkkit nodded towards the nursery before padding a little bit of the way there. "Mamma is in here and she is sick, I was just bringing her some food" Hawkkit tried to sound all grown up.

She led the way walking towards the nursery and then quickly in always looking back to make sure that the cat wasn't going to run off with her crow. "I'm only 5 and a half moons but I am taking care of her so she will get better!" Hawkkit squeaked back at the warrior. Finally they were in front of her mother.

"Mamma I brought you a crow to eat!" Hawkkit poked her mother with her paw but she didn't move. She stuck her nose on her mothers forehead and it felt so hot. I don't think she's any better She thought a bit scared. She nipped at her mothers ears. "Come on mamma" But her mother only groaned a little bit but did not move. "See mama is real sick" Hawkkit said to Crowwing with hopeful eyes. Maybe someone would know how to fix her mamma.

[Deleted]

When he saw her get all fluffed up after he took the crow, he reassured her with a caring look on his face. She apparently thought that he was stealing her crow, but after her inspection she seemed to calm down a bit. The kit then preceeded to nod towards the nursery and he began to follow her steps wondering as to why a cat her age had to fetch her own food.

Crowwing didn't have to inquire that though as she began to tell him just what he wanted. So her mother is sick. What a sweet thing to do, he thought as he continued to walk on. It was when she looked towards him again and explained further that he almost stopped in disbelief. The kit was so young and the way her voice was varying in tone he could tell she was really concerned. From the sound of it all it didn't seem that her mother was in any good shape at all. Fear began to grip at him and his heart fluttered in response faster and faster as he got closer. This kittens mother needed help and he didn't know just how much until he saw her. The fact that he was helping with this crow worried him considerably.

When the reached the nursery, he ducked down to follow and the pair ended up by the side of a pretty she-cat. She didn't seem well at all though just by her demeanor. The hopeful squeal of her kit made his heart wrench. This kit was way to young to experience her mother sick and the fact that she didn't respond made it worse. Even with the kit's prodding her mother mearly groaned. The hope that shined in the kit's eyes as she looked towards Crowwing after prodding her mother made him determined to figure out what was wrong.

The tom put down the crow next to the queen and then he approached her. Delicately, he put his nose to her forehead and then the bottom of a paw. Heat reached him so fast and so hot that he pulled back in surprise. Her fever was higher than he thought. Crowwing's tail flicked back in forth as he questioned what to do next.

"Kit, what did the medicene cat say if you've seen them," he asked the kitten. He didn't know her name or the queen's, but he wanted to help as much as he could. Certainly the medicene cat knew of this and so he just had to ask. With an answer he would know better on how to help the poor family.

[CROOKY]

When Hawkkit saw that the stranger had not run away she began to be much more relaxed and found her self letting her fur lie down a bit on her back her neck hair however remained sticking out. She prodded at her mother a couple more times but there was still no response. "Sometimes mamma takes really long naps and she is a deep sleeper! But she has to wake up to eat right?" She went to her mothers side "these don't show when mamma eats, I want her to eat so she get all better." Hawkkit was pointing to the cats side where her ribs were beginning to show.

When the tom put down the crow Hawkkit looked up at him. His face was really serious like all the other cats had gotten when the medicine cat had talked to them about her mother. She was afraid that he would run off too like they had. Hawkkit looked up at the cat strangely when he sniffed her mothers forehead and then asked her the question. "The medicine cat said there was nothing to be done. Isn't that good because if there's nothing he has to do she'll get better. Right?" The small kit shuffled back from side to side on her paws.

((so tempted to say forget my plot and miraculously save the mother!! lol this is so sad!!))

[Deleted]

After his question he awaited a response for what seemed like a heart pounding eternity. This kit's mother was sick and after a few more prods from her own daughter the future still didn't look bright. This wasn't how he had envisioned his morning, or day for that matter, to go. Actually, he had been pretty sure it would go along the lines of being glared at as he cleaned, glared at as he ate, glared at as he trained, glared at as he did afternoon activities, glared at as he ate dinner, and glared at as he went to bed. Frankly, that's how his life had been once he had been allowed within the clan by Shadowclans' generous leader. He loved clan life except for the rumors that kept being spread about him, all from that one tom he'd knocked the crud out of. Wimp.

Her mewls towards him about her mom eating made his heart drop lower. Did he really have the guts to crush this little one's hopeful thoughts? Not yet. Not till he had heard what the medicene cat had said. She finally then told him what she knew and he suddenly understood why no cat had done anything. As this little kit's paws shuffled about under his gaze his loner heart softened more so than he had ever thought possible. For Runningpath it had softened considerably, but not enough for his roughness and naivity to ever leave a situation. Now though he knew he could speak to this kit and be just as caring as a queen would be with kits. Somehow, this situation made him feel like he had been in the same situation. Without a mother, but full of hope. No! She still has a mother! However, it was time this kit learned of the truth of the statement the medicene cat had given. No more lies. No more walking away from her own clanmates. The truth hurt, but lies dug deeper.

"Kit, I need you to take a deep breath and listen as best you can to my words." Forgive me Spirits if I make this kit cry, he thought up a silent plee to the heavens before sitting down next to the feverish mother of the kitten. "Those words, 'there is nothing to be done', isn't good. I'm not going to lie to such a bright kit so what I say is the truth. Your mother is gravely ill and there is nothing that any cat can do, but care for her like you have been doing," he said softly. He wanted to add 'like everyone should've been doing', but held back his tongue. Crowwing wasn't going to get mad in front of this kit, but the medicene cat would hear from him about these practices. Leaving a kit to take care of her mother was distasteful. From now on, he'd help this ball of fluff help her mother in any way he could. That was one good thing he could do for this new home of his and hopefully the other's would come to and notice he was among them. Clan cats that shared a common view and cared for one another.

[CROOKY]

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[atrb=background,] . notes: ignore the paw I was just thinking ahead haha :] --- Hawkkit was looking at he mother when the stranger told her to take a deep breath. She inhaled as much as her little body could take in and then let it out quickly. He was going to tell her that everything was going to be alright! She perked up and looked at the cat with hopeful eyes. And then he said it. She shrunk back a little bit looking back and forth from her mother to the stranger. "What do you mean? You mean she wont get any better?" She asked in a higher pitch then she had been talking. Her eyes widened and her fur stuck out on end. She pranced over to her mother and pressed up against her looking as if she was hiding. "Mamma you need to wake up! Tell him you'll get better!!" She wailed. "I'm too little to be by myself." She cried licking at her mothers fur. She looked at the stranger. "What should I do?" She asked in a quiet whisper.

Hawkpaw © Crooks!

[Deleted]

There it was. The honest to goodness truth of a harsh reality. She had inhaled with hope, but deflated when she realized the full extent to his words. There was no more hiding from the truth from this kit. Shadowclan as a whole should be ashamed for not offering help sooner. It had taken a new member to see to the clan's well being.

Her pleading tones and pushing on her mother made him choke. It was when she finally turned to him again that he had to open his mouth no matter how close he was to wailing with her. "I didn't mean she wouldn't get better ever. There is hope always even in the darkest of times. You should do what kits during this time would be, spending time with their mother," he spoke quietly back as he tried to make sure he kept a level voice. No need to get just as emotional as the kit. She needed someone strong at the moment and he was the only one.

"I'll take care of you both as we try to nurse her back to health. I'm not making any promises, but I'll try my best, kit," he meowed. He wished he knew her name or the queen's, but he had only just become a member when this one had had her kits. He also wished he could cuddle the kitten to make her feel better, but that was an overstep of boundaries. Even saying what he had was almost as much. He didn't want to end up causing the kit to become defense and think he was weird. I'm going to try to help as best I can. Starclan, guide my paws to the right path to take, he prayed to the spirits that had led him towards the clan. They had power, as the buzzing in his head before had proved. Perhaps, they could finally show their extent of it now. Crowwing also knew it was up to him as well. Starclan wasn't something one had to rely on to do all the work. He had to try his best and in turn they would.

[CROOKY]

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[atrb=background,] . notes: ignore the paw I was just thinking ahead haha :] --- Hawkkit didn't like what she was hearing but she looked up at the stranger and could tell that he wasn't lying or messing with her like the other kits had done. She shook her head. "Between you and me we will make mamma better!" She said resolutely and then puffed out her fur. Kneading the ground she thought to herself. Starclan will help my mamma and so will I! We can do this. She padded up to Crowwing and rubbed her cheek against his forleg since that was all she could reach. "Thank you for hewping" She mewed piteously looking at the bird that she had dragged into the den with his help. She went over and bit a small piece out of it having trouble getting the feathers out of the way. After a few minutes she got the feathers off and pulled off (with difficulty) a small hunk of the meat. She walked over to her mamma and nudged her head. Her mother groaned and looked at her a little more coherent then last time. "Kit you must get away before you get sick" She groaned. Hawkkit looked determined at her mother. "No, eat this now!" She said in the most commanding voice she could muster but it ended up sound very pathetic sounding coming from a tiny squeaking kit.

Hawkpaw © Crooks!

[Deleted]

He was going to need all the strength that Starclan could give him when this was over. To see this kit in such a mood with a heart on the verge of shattering when those words were given. Hopefully, he would never have to utter them and this queen would get better, but from the sound of it there wasn't a lot of fight left in her.

Her squeaky voice agreeing with him that together they could make her 'mama' better tugged at his heart in a way he never thought possible. Then she did the most unpredictable thing ever, she rubbed against him and said thank you. In all the time he'd been in Shadowclan not one cat had ever made contact with him in such a loving manner. Even when he was a loner no one had done so either, other than the occasional cat on catnip. It had been years since the feeling of genuine thanks had met his ears and his heart officially melted for the kit. He was so choked up he could only nod with a smile as his eyes began to well up the fought back tears.

Crowwing's tail touched the kit comfortingly as he saw her get a hunk of the crow and bring it towards her mother. Surprisingly, the queen then uttered the first words he'd heard from her mouth since he had gotten there. She sounded surpised as well by seeing her kit so close as she warned her to stay away. Good advice, but not in this situation when her only stretch for survival had rested on her daughter for so long. Then, Hawkkit's reply would've made him laugh if it wasn't for the tragic seconds that ticked by. She was a fiesty fluff ball and he nodded encouragingly towards her.

Figuring the queen was up enough to understand what was going on, he decided to tell her he was here. He leaned towards the queen in a way that she could move her head just a bit to see him. "I hope I'm not intruding, but I want you to know that I'll be helping take care of you and your kit for you can get better. I saw her trying to bring this crow to you and none of the others wanted to step up and help so... I just want to help," he meowed as clearly as possible with his attention at full capacity for any kind of sound or movement. Frankly, he wasn't scared of getting sickness from this queen. The kit wasn't sick yet so that was a good sign. For him, being a loner for so long had given his natural defenses a barrier that clan cats weren't used to considering the places he had called home. His immunity to sickness was about the same as clan cats, but the ones caught from sewers, two-legs, construction, and overall nastiness was something that he had a bit more fortitude with.

Awaiting her answer, he flicked his tail about. Even if this queen got mad at him and made him leaver, he'd do what he could. It was good for him to feel wanted again and useful; not just some good for nothing free-loader in a clan. No he was better than that and for the first time in a while he felt like he had a purpose, the well-being of this kitten and her mother no matter how impossible the odds.

[CROOKY]

The queen rolled over with great unease and looked at the cat with gray cloudy eyes. It was only a matter of time. The mother looked at her kit and blinked her eyes in pain. "kit....com...here." She said between heavy rasps.

Hawkkit almost leapt with happiness when her mother talked to her! She picked herself up an ran over to her mama purring and rubbing her face against her mothers face. She was so happy that her mother was going to get better. Even now she was talking to her!

The mother saw that her kit was excited and it killed her heart. She looked at her kit and licked her forehead one last time. "Starclan...You...will...see....me...again." She rasped out before pushing the kit towards Crowwing in her way of telling the stranger to protect the kit. She looked at Crowwing with one desperate eye before she collapsed again into sleep. She wasn't dead yet but she was on the doorstep and Starclan would be coming soon to bring her to the hunting grounds. Her breathing was slow and her eyes were unseeing.

Hawkkit was puzzled when her mother licked her forhead and pushed her away. She tried to run back to her mothers side but her mother pushed her all the way back to Crowwing. Then she collapsed and seemed to be asleep. She looked up at Crowwing with large eyes."Mamma sleeps a lot." She said turning her head to the side. and padding back to Crowwing. She rubbed her face against his leg and purred. "I like you though can we be fwiends?" She asked optemistically before looking at her mother. "I will make her eat waiter." She said quietly. "mamma ish twired."

[Deleted]

He was surprised that the queen had even heard him considering the fever she had. She had apparently though because with a roll and a look towards him an answer was made. Instead of telling him, she told her kit to come to her and of course she did. It hurt though that the kitten seemed to take this as a good sign. The kit ran towards it's mother and lovingly purred and rubbed it's face on hers. His heart racked with pain at this, but his mouth stayed closed as his ears strained to listen. The next words or actions could be the answer to his question or anything else.

With a last loving rasp of the tongue, the queen pushed the kit towards him with words that set his ears down low. She knew she was going to die and was giving her kit to him to care for. Tears begged to be released, but he held them back for the sake of the two. A look towards Crowwing from the mother sent reassurance to him; letting him know full well that he was to protect her kit. He wouldn't let her down. This ball of fluff was going to be the greatest warrior Shadowclan ever saw and he would make sure of it. Just because he had grown up as a loner didn't mean he couldn't care for a kitten. As far as he was concerned she knew what she wanted and could stand up for herself which was a good start, but he would be there to teach her and be there. Crowwing was to be a loving 'father' figure towards her and this queen would definitely be watching him to make sure, even from Starclan.

The kit hadn't understood this motion at all. She ran back towards her mother in which the collapsed she-cat pushed her back again. Almost as if a switch was flipped, the mother fell into unconsciousness. Worry darted over his expression, but the kitten immediatly changed that to worry. She had walked towards him and said that her mother slept a lot. He nodded, understanding to an extent the kitten could barely grasp.

The feeling of fur touching fur on his leg caused him to leave his thoughts completely and look down at the new kitten he was responsible for. Her voice tenderly asked a question and then went back to informing him of her mother. Figuring she'd need a response to both he opened her mouth. "We can most definitely be friends. The best ones ever," he said with a smile. "I understand about your mother. Sick cats need all the sleep they can get. Feeding her later is a great idea actually. Perhaps the medicene cat can get her something to eat too?"

[CROOKY]

The old mother let out her last breath and her spirit traveled up to Starclan. She was greatly worried for she had caught a glimpse of Hawkkit's future and she hoped that it would be changed. She knew it had to! The spirit of the mother though it could not be seen waved her tail accross the older cats shoulders begging the cat to take care of her kit and then she was pulled into Starclan.
---

Whispertail padded into the nursery from where he had just been discussing with Spottedstar. He shook his head and tried not to think of the trauma he was about to cause. He sniffed the air and could tell that the old cat had died. He looked at the other cats before he blinked at them. "Spottedstar's Orders" He simply stated before he took the cat by the scruff and started to drag her towards the middle of the clearing.
---

Hawkkit had been rubbing up on Crowwing that she didn't even notice that her mother had died. suddenly a strange cat came in and grabbed her mother. Her eyes grew wide and her fur fluffed out. As her breath quickened she strutted over towards her mother. "Hey leave her alone!" She squealed grabbing her mothers tail in her mouth. She unsheathed her claws and dug them into the earth but she knew that it was no use the other cat was so big. She opened her mouth and hissed at the other cat. "Leave my mommy alone! She needs to sleep! she can't sleep with you dragging her everywhere right mommy!" She spat at the other cat. Her mother didn't answer and she ran up and prodded her mother with her nose. "Tell him mommy!" She yelled and when her mamma didn't answer she sniffed and looked back up at theman and scratched her back claws. She ran and headbutted the big cat with her head and reached around scratching at the cats legs. "Leave Mommy alone!" she squealed as her battle cry.

She remembered the stories her mother had told her about her father how he had bravely fought off a whole petrol before he had been pushed down the gorge backk when Lurkclan was alive. Hawkkit had been so proud to have a brave daddy and now she would be brave to! She didn't care how big this strange cat was he couldn't have her mommy not now not ever. She bit down on the cats toes as hard as she could but her teeth weren't fully formed just yet and she could hardly do any damage. She had tears streaming down her face in frustration that she couldn't even hinder this stranger as he tried to abduct her mother.It's okay keep fighting! She thought. The big kitty will help you if he can! She realized.
---

Whispertail bit back a gasp of surprise in his throat when the she-kit attacked his legs. He had to kick her off of his legs before they got to scratched up. "Hey That'll sting later! Hardly the behaivior I expect from a future warrior." He scolded coldy before he looked at the bigger cat. "Take care of your kit here or I will" He threatened as he kicked the kitten off him again. "Spottedstar's orders" He said again.


OOC totally blubbering here.

[Deleted]

A cold feeling of fur brushed against his shoulder, making him puff out his fur. Confused as to where he had gotten the draft, he looked about onto to see the kit and queen. The more he looked at the scene though the more he got worried. The queen wasn't moving. Her natural breathing pattern wasn't there and fear rose up inside him. Sniffing the air he knew exactly what had happened. The sickly mother had just passed on and his tail naturally wrapped around Hawkkit to keep her safe from the cold hard truth about to tear through her little life.

The tail did nothing to stop the pain about to happen though as a fellow warrior came through the nursery and said something about Spottedstar's orders. He didn't have to wait long to figure out just what they were. The warrior's teeth picked up the limp form of the mother and dragged her out of the nursery and towards the clearing. Crowfeather stiffened and then looked on as the kit realized what was happening and ran to her mother's defense. His black blue form got up to stop her attack as tears streamed from her face. It was when the other warrior kicked her back and threatened that he allowed a low growl to roll out as his fur puffed up.

"You will not hurt her," he said with the growl coming through barely. He quickly stepped between the tom and the kit. "Allow me to take the queen out into the clearing with the kit. Any other way will only cause you to be scratched up," he said solemly with a look towards the kit. All traces of a growl left him and instead a politeness and silent pleading was heard.