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

[pixieknees]

Tornstar nodded his head at Watermint before speaking again, "This isn't the time to turn against each other. What we need right now is unity, and that extends beyond just Swampclan... All border skirmishes have been banned. Right now, we have to focus on survival, and if that means a boundary or two is overstepped, we just have to take it."

More mutters rippled across the camp and he sighed, "I know it's not what any of you want. This is frightening. But it's our only choice. In five sunrises, Watermint and I will take a few warriors to the edge of Mountainclan's territory. If all goes to plan, that will be our last day in our current territory. I know that's not what you want to hear, but we truly have no choice if we want to survive as individuals and as a clan. So far, our plan is to travel with Mountainclan and Forestclan as a unified group once we're given the all-clear. That means that you must put away your prejudice."

He glanced around camp and made meaningful eye-contact with a few particularly prickly cats. "It's not about preference right now, it's about survival. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to come see me - but don't overwhelm Watermint or Mudpaw. They are simply carrying out orders."

"Clan meeting dismissed," Tornstar nodded once before he walked away from the cats, crowd splitting before him, and made his way inside of his den. He exhaled deeply as he hid from the prying eyes of cats. Finally, relief.

[FriskTheHusky]

Watermint watched Tornstar lumber to his den with a strange longing in her heart. "Watermint? Are you alright?" Coacoaleaf asked gently as she approached her daughter. "You seem to have your eye on something," Mudpaw added. Watermint dragged her thoughts away from the handsome tom and back to her kin. "What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. My mind's just a little hazy. It's been an exhausting day, after all."
Coacoaleaf nodded. "I understand. Why don't you get some rest for a while?" Watermint remembered this was the same question Tornstar had asked her as they were entering camp. "Yeah," Mudpaw chirped, "go take a nap. Mother can help me with any small tasks you may have." Watermint nodded. "Thank you, Mudpaw. Yes, I'd love to get some rest for a bit." And with that she padded over to the Medicine Cat Den and slumped down onto her bedding. She sighed. She thought about the journey ahead, and what Tornstar might be thinking as of now.


(sooner or later we might have to do a time skip lol)

[pixieknees]

(good idea >:D)

Tornstar's stomach rumbled, feeling empty, yet he didn't move. He laid on the floor of his den, the cold ground soothing the aches of his paws. He knew if he had anything to eat, he wouldn't be able to stomach it, because after a full day of planning and journeying, anxiety stirred at his stomach, sinking like rocks. He let his eyes close over, ready for sleep.

There was peace for a moment, until-

Turtleshell cleared her throat, "Tornstar, can we talk?" The said leader exhaled deeply and sat up, blinking the sleep out of his bleary eyes. He looked at her and nodded slightly. "Of course. What is it you needed?"

Turtleshell sat down by the corner of his den and sighed. "So, we're really doing all of this? What about the kits, Tornstar? The elders? The queens? Dear Starclan, even the apprentices are at risk! My daughter... I can't... If anything happens to her..."

"We have no choice," said Tornstar realistically. "I will do all in my power to keep Sunnypaw safe, but we must find a new territory. It's our only choice at this point and you know that. I understand how frightening this may be, and-"

"-No, you don't Tornstar. You don't because you have nobody you love. I have a daughter, a mate, two nephews. I have a family. I cant lose them just because Starclan has told us to. This can't be our only option! I can't lose them. If you had a family, you'd understand just how hard this is!"

Tornstar stared at her with steely eyes. "As the clan's leader... The clan is my family. It's my duty to protect and lead and organize. I will put the clan's betterment before me or any single cat, and having no strong blood or familial relations only makes that easier. Turtleshell, you have to trust me."

His mind drifted to Watermint as he spoke. He wondered how she was taking things.

"I can't trust you when my daughter's life is at risk, Tornstar!" hissed Turtleshell.

"Then don't trust me. You may separate from the clan if you wish. But don't you dare stand in the way of anyone else," Tornstar hissed back, his tail wagging in irritation. After a moment of tension, Turtleshell stood up and silently left his den. He sighed and shifted his paws against the cool soil before laying down, needing a rest.

He closed his eyes and, soon after, fell asleep.

[FriskTheHusky]

It was morning once again. Sunlight poured into the Medicine Cat Den and onto Watermint's fur. She groaned as the bright sunbeams flashed into her eyes and she buried her face in her paws in an attempt to shield them from the bright light. No longer comfortable, she sighed and heaved herself to her paws, yawning as she arched her body in a long stretch and then padded out in to the opening.
She fished a gopher out of the fresh-kill pile and took it under the willow tree. Turtleshell was there with her mate and daughter. "Good morning, Turtleshell, Branchstripe, Sunnypaw." Watermint greeted the SwampClan deputy and her family cheerfully as possible, "how's it been lately?"

[pixieknees]

Tornstar stretched and awoke from his slumber. Doing himself a favor, he decided to stay inside of his den for a little while longer - just to get back the rest he'd lost.

From outside, in the heart of the camp, Turtleshell eyed Watermint carefully. She felt Branchstripe's tail twitch against her flank, a silent show of support, and it gave her all of the confidence she need. "Watermint, it's good to see you. I was hoping to speak with you." She hesitated and vexed her claws against the soft soil underpaw.

"Actually, there's a lot I need to say," Turtleshell muttered.

Branchstripe looked at her with fondness, "It's okay," he whispered, and Sunnypaw looked at her parents in confusion. They were acting strange.

"Do you really believe that... it was a message from Starclan? That there's no possibility that Tornstar is just wrongly interpreting it- that he's putting too much faith in our ancestors?" Her ears pinned back in slight frustration as she spoke, her anger aimed at her leader, and a cat she'd usually call her friend outside of such tense circumstances.

"...Mum?" Sunnypaw meowed, seeming confused. "What's going on?" but Turtleshell ignored her.

[FriskTheHusky]

Watermint’s expression darkened. Poor Sunnypaw, She thought. She didn’t deserve to have to go through all this trouble. No one did. But it was Turtleshell she was talking to, not Sunnypaw. She took a deep breath.
“Turtleshell,” Watermint breathed, “As much as I wish that were true, I don’t think it is. We received a direct vision AND a message at the Moonstone, which is probably the most reliable source when it comes to messages from StarClan. As unbelievable as it sounds, I think that the sources are actually quite reliable.” She continued.
“Either way, I don’t think we want to take risks. If what StarClan predicts is true, then we’re more likely to die here than we are on a journey.” She stopped. “Is…there something in particular that you’re worried about?”

[pixieknees]

(sory for my late response! this week and next week, im gonna be pretty busy with tests basically everyday :D)

Turtleshell's whiskers trembled from the intensity of her emotion. She didn't know what she was feeling, but she felt hot and cold at the same time. She felt both enraged, like she wanted to fight, and terrified, like she needed to flee into the thickest part of the forest. Dear Starclan, she felt like she was going crazy with stress...

She stared at Watermint, her eyes swarming with contradicting emotions and intensity. "I... I don't... want anything to happen to my family." Her ears flattened and she looked down. "This would be so much easier... If Tornstar was wrong..."

Branchstripe gently rested his flank against hers and she inhaled shakily, "Thank you for your time Watermint. I understand how stressful this must be on you..."

[FriskTheHusky]

(It's totally cool! Thx for telling me )

Watermint sighed. Poor Turtleshell. Sunnypaw looked generally confused at her mother's distress. "It's no problem at all, Branchstripe," She meowed. She bent down until she was at eye level with Turtleshell. "Turtleshell, look at me," she meowed seriously. "No matter what happens, I promise we won't let anything happen to you or your family." She brushed the deputy's shoulder and gave her a gentle smile. "We're all in this together, aren't we?"
She stood up straight again and remembered the gopher she had dropped at her feet while she talked to Turtleshell. "Mind if i join you for meal time?" She asked cheerfully, "it's hot out, and this seems to be the shadiest spot in camp!"