──── ─ ( ♚ ][ ❝ JOURNEY OF HEARTS ❞ )──

[pixieknees]

Tornstar nodded, feeling more and more optimistic by the minute.

Although the journey ahead of them was going to be mercilessly cut-throat and cruel, with deaths a many, he was sure that it'd be for a good cause. Starclan was leading them, right? Still... If that was the case... Then why did he feel so sick to the stomach just at the thought of his clanmates dropping dead?

His optimism quickly fizzled out and he shuffled his paws distractedly.

"Then it's settled," he said. "If we're going to do this, then we'll take the mountain route... Is everyone ready to start... planning with our clans and each other?" He glanced between his fellow leaders and the medicine cats, eyes gentle in hopes of easing the pressure of his words. Tornstar knew, vaguely, what he had to do. He needed to go back to Swampclan and have a long discussion with Beetuft - then inform his clanmates. He was sure that's what Acornstar and Cranestar needed to do as well.

"...Yes," said Cranestar quietly, but her voice was stern. "When should we... meet again, after this? To discuss our courses of action?"

"Swampclan doesn't have long," said Tornstar quickly. "We can only go so long without much prey."

Cranestar sighed, "And the mountain is unsteady. Mountainclan can't wait long either, not more than a half moon."

"How about, in a four or five sunrises, we all meet at the edge of Mountainclan territory? If you think you need more time than that, that's perfectly acceptable." spoke Tornstar uneasily. The reality was setting in and it was making his claws ache with anxiety.

[FriskTheHusky]

(Lol did you mean Turtleshell when you said Beetuft?)

Acornstar nodded. “That sounds good to me. I guess we’ll see you all then.” And with that the ForestClan and the SwampClan cats turned to leave. Cranestar assigned two warriors, Echosong and Specklesnow, to assist them down the mountain.
Nervousness bubbled up in Watermint’s belly. She didn’t want to slip on the rocks again. But also the idea of everything that lied ahead in the days to come. She shifted her weight a little, and accidentally bumped into Tornstar. “Oops,” she mewed, “Sorry, Tornstar,” she meowed apologetically, and quickly moved away.

[pixieknees]

( oh oops!! lol my bad >:D)

Tornstar faced Watermint and was surprised to see the look of nervousness on her face. His paws scuffed against loose rocks, sending small plumes of dust into the air. "Are you alright, Watermint?" he asked. "If you're a bit uneasy-" he paused and quickly interrupted himself, "-as we all are, don't worry. You could always lean against me. I'm pretty sturdy." There was a playful glint in his eyes as he spoke, indicating he wasn't as serious as he probably should've been, considering they were walking down a steep, over-sized mound of rocks and boulders.

[FriskTheHusky]

Watermint felt her face grow hot. “Uhh…” she gazed down the steep path of rocks and snow. “Are-are you sure?” She asked.

(once again, another short paragraph)

[pixieknees]

Tornstar blinked at Watermint gently, a hint of affection marring his amused expression. "Of course, there's no need to be shy," he gently bumped his shoulder against hers in a comforting, but playful gesture. A few steps away, Moonflight looked over her shoulder at the duo in curiosity. She watched their interaction with some semblance of interest as Patchfur chatted away, filling the tense atmosphere with brainless noise.

[FriskTheHusky]

Watermint giggled and gave her friend a warm smile. Together, along with Acornstar, Patchfur, and the two MountainClan warriors, they began their descend to the bottom of the mountain. Watermint made sure to stay close to Tornstar.
Echosong stayed near them to make sure they didn’t slip, but politely kept her distance far enough away to let them enjoy each others’ company. Meanwhile, Specklesnow assisted Acornstar and Patchfur.
When they finally reached the bottom of the mountain, Acornstar turned to the two MountainClan warriors. “Thank you for your help, Specklesnow, Echosong,” he nodded to each of the cats as he said their names. “Eh. No big deal,” Specklesnow shrugged. “See you around, I guess. C’mon, Echosong.” And with that the two MountainClan warriors began their trek back up the mountain.
Watermint turned to Tornstar. “So,” she mewed, “shall we head home?”

[pixieknees]

"We shall," said Tornstar with a slight smile. So onwards they went. The journey back didn't feel as long as the journey there, but Tornstar's paws were blistered and aching, so he couldn't move as fast as he wanted. By the time they reached the outskirts of Swampclan territory, night was falling and the air was unpleasantly muggy. It had been a while since Acornstar and Patchfur had split off from them to go to Forestclan territory when Swampclan camp was finally in sight.

Tornstar yawned sleepily, "You should rest," he suggested - and although it wasn't an order, his voice held sincerity as he spoke, "your body must be exhausted."

The two cats entered camp just as he finished his sentence. A vast majority of the clan was still awake, and Tornstar saw Turtleshell snacking on a thin mouse. He took a quick glance toward the fresh prey pile and was glad to see that the warriors had found a few mice, frogs, and gophers in his absence.

[FriskTheHusky]

Watermint was just as pleased as Tornstar to find that the warriors had found more prey in the time they were gone. She let out a sigh of relief. It was good to be home.
One of the warriors, Honeyrock, took notice of the return of the two important cats. “Hey! Everyone,” they called, “Tornstar and Watermint are back!” The cats quickly snapped to attention and soon had the medicine cat and the Clan leader surrounded, bombarding them with questions.
“What did StarClan say?”
“Why were you gone for so long?”
“Was it something bad?”

(I like to headcanon Honeyrock as non-binary for some reason lol)

[pixieknees]

( ooh! >:D i love that)

Tornstar quietly cursed Honeyrock in his heart. Although he knew it wasn't their fault - they were just innocently stating the obvious, he would've done anything for another moment of silence with Watermint by his side. Quickly, he re-arranged his expression to be one of nobility and vague confidence. Leadership.

"We have some serious news," he said, watching as the clan cats circled them. "Starclan sent Watermint and the other medicine cats a message."

Quiet muttering spread across the camp and cats stared at Tornstar and Watermint with wide, nervous eyes. To avoid leaving any cats hanging, Tornstar continued speaking right away, in a calm and languid tone of voice to relax any racing hearts, "Clan territory is dangerous right now. As you've already experienced, there's been a shortage of food - but that's only the start. If we stay here, we will experience flooding and fires in the same moon. Mountainclan is set to have avalanches and in Forestclan, sicknesses will spread."

"Starclan told us this to help us," he said and paused meaningfully. "And they've instructed us to seek a new home."

More gasps broke out. Tornstar could hear quiet hissing coming from the back of the camp, where queens stood with kits. He couldn't blame them for being angry.

"Everything is okay," said Tornstar quickly, "Cranestar and Moonflight have told us of a place beyond the mountains where we could live." He finished his speech bluntly, and awaited the clans reaction.

Turtleshell looked like she was about to faint from shock or attack Tornstar from anger. Her eyes unfocused and she plonked her behind on the ground, stunned by the outcome of her leader's journey.

[FriskTheHusky]

"Watermint! Tornstar! You're back," called a familiar voice. Mudpaw pushed his way to the front of the crowd. Stormshine, one of the queens, and Watermint's littermate, glared at the young brown tom. "Mudpaw, you didn't know about all of this, did you?" she hissed, "Why didn't you tell us?" Some of the cats began to give Mudpaw shameful glares. Mudpaw flattened his ears and tucked his paws beneath his chest. He looked somewhat pressured. "I-I uhhh..."
"Leave him alone, Stormshine," growled a voice. It was Coacoaleaf, the mother of Watermint, Stormshine, and Mudpaw. Her pretty brown and white coat and leafy green eyes gleamed in the beating sun. "He's only an apprentice. I don't understand how all of you could put so much pressure on an apprentice's shoulders. Besides, what difference has it made that this information has arrived a little later than you all would've anticipated?" She narrowed her eyes at the cats who had glared at Mudpaw, who now had their heads hung in shame, refusing to meet the elderly she-cats' gaze.
Coacoaleaf was highly respected by all of SwampClan. Despite her snappy and arrogant nature, she was very wise and was not afraid to speak her mind. Especially when it came to defending her kits. Watermint definitely held a high level of respect for her mother. "It was me who put Mudpaw under orders to wait for me and Tornstar to tell you about StarClan's message," Watermint added to her mother's point "this was a message for me to deliver, not him. Anyway, back to the point." Watermint nodded at Tornstar.