Staring Down (Ember with Arcanemind)

[dove]

Crescentnight had just been announced deputy. She had to wonder why. She was a warrior, just like anyone else. She had bore kits to BoulderClan and now, they are fine warriors. She was in love with Arcanemind and she had good friends. Now, she was named deputy. She didn't know how to be a deputy. She was scared, confused, and excited. she was climbing Boulder Ridge to have time for herself, and to wallow in her thoughts.
Crescentnight was jumping a large gap that fell away into the river. As she jumped, she lost her footing, for she did not know how loose the stones were, and landed up short. Now, she was clawing, trying to get up on the other side, and stones and boulders fell away across from her. She panicked and lost grab of the stones. Away, she fell on top of the boulders. Her landing was swift, and painful. She wasn't badly injured, but she had momentarily paralyzed herself. When she thought that she would die, she heard the most wonderful, familiar calls ever. Arcanemind and Beechbreeze were racing toward her.


Beechbreeze was patrolling with his father. Crescentnight had ordered them to patrol the south border, but everything was peaceful, so they were going to hunt. Beechbreeze, took crouch, and before he could catch his mouse, he felt a thud, and then several more. Without knowing what it was, he raced toward it, passing Arcanemind along the way. Ignoring his father, he kept running faster and faster until you could barely see him.
He started sliding, trying to stop before the edge. He succeeded, but to his dismay, saw his mother, lying at the bottom of the gargantuan gap. "MOTHER!" He cried.
To the side of him, were several ledges, that were shaped like stairs. Hurriedly, he scrambled down the rocky ledges, until he reached his mother. "Arcanemind!" he called, his strong voice echoing around the gap. "Get help! Crescentnight is wounded badly!"
He turned his attention to his mother once more. "Don't worry mother. Everything will be alright."
Crescentnight groaned, and opened her eyes. 'Beechbreeze..." She sounded breathless as if she had run from Dream Falls to BoulderClan.
Beechbreeze purred loudly, knowing his mother wasn't hurt in her head, but stopped abruptly, as she tried to move. "mother, what's wrong?" He asked.
"Mouse-brain," She cursed herself. She turned back to her son. "I must have paralyzed my back."
Beechbreeze looked down at her in shock. 'Will you be okay?" He asked.
Crescentnight shrugged "I don't know. I just know that it's not as bad as it looks."
Beechbreeze looked helplessly at his mother, as she cried in pain, as he tried to help her up.
"Hurry up." He whispered to himself, looking up at the sky, hoping to see Arcanemind's silhouette against the weak winter sunlight.

[rem<EMBER me]

Arcanemind skidded to a stop at the top of the ridge. He looked down, his green eyes searching desperately for Crescentnight. "I'm going to get the medicine cat!" He called. "I'll be right back." Then he turned and ran towards camp, hoping Moonlight would be there.

[whitetiger]

Moonlight was in her new den, Looking around. She had just figured out where everything was, when she saw Arcanemind."Arcanemind?? Whats going on?"

[rem<EMBER me]

"It's Crescentnight." He meowed, his breath coming fast since he had ran so far. "She's hurt on Boulder Ridge. I need your help." Then without waiting to see if the medicine cat was following, he ran back out of the camp. His legs were moving so fast that they looked like a cloud of smoke travelling quickly over the ground. In no time at all he was back at Boulder Ridge, looking down at Crescentnight. He slid down until he was at his mate's side. "What happened?" He asked, looking from her to Beechbreeze.

[dove]

Beechbreeze stared at his father, bewildered. "She paralyzed her back in the fall."
Mistyshoal was just taking a walk, clearly sad. but when she saw her mother, she cried out, forgetting all around her. She only saw her mother, there on the ground, not moving. "MOTHER!" She limped her way over, careful not to fall herself, down the ledges.

[whitetiger]

Moonlight grabed cobwebs and a few other herbs. Then she ran after Arcanemind. She jumped down and landed neatly on a rock. Then carefully ran down the rest of the way. She was at crescentnight'side. She examined her carefully and quickly."She is paralyzed in her back. The paralyzed part of her isn't perminate, so she will be perfectly fine." Moonlight said as she was herbs on the wounds. She finally finished with the treatements.

[rem<EMBER me]

Arcanemind looked down at his mate, his eyes filled with relief that she wasn't permanently paralyzed. he looked over as Mistyshoal approached, but quickly switched his green gaze back to Crescentnight. "Thank Dreamclan you're alright." He murmured, bending down to lick the femme between her ears.

[dove]

Crescentnight purred. But when she saw Mistyshoal, her eyes clouded with grief. "She will never feel useful. I've heard her dream. She feels so undecided. She wants to kill herself, and not be a burden, but then, she knows she would bring grief to us." Crescentnight mewed in Arcanemind's ear.
Beechbreeze heard that and looked at his sister in surprise and horror. They had maintained a special bond, and he could not imagine life without her.

[rem<EMBER me]

Arcanemind's eyes narrowed in thought. Since he was no longer clan leader, he couldn't decide what went on within the clan. But he knew he had to do something. "Maybe we can have her talk to Moonlight about becoming her apprentice. You said before that she would like to be a medicine cat but Emberpaw would like to be a warrior."

[whitetiger]

Moonlight sighed."We need to get Crescentnight back to camp. She shouldn't stay out here." Moonlight waited for them to reply or do something.

[dove]

Cresentnight nodded, firt to Moonlight, and then to Arcanemind.
Beechbreeze looked at his mother and father. "I will go talk to Mistyshoal." He murmured quietly.
Crescentnight looked at her son, feeling so sad for him. "Ok." She mewed. She turned back to Moonlight, the old determination back in her eyes. "I am ready." She mewed.