Ask to Join Plot Thread Claws Against the Stones

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･*

This patrol wasn't really routine... it was leisure. At least for Goosesong. He was venturing solo through the territory to catch a glimpse of the sights and sounds of the territory he called home. He was proud to call this home. 

However his fur bristled as a fowl, metallic smell cursed the scent glands at the roof of his mouth and his ears fell back harshly, clinging to the back of his head as he tried to find any sort of cat scent beneath it, something that could tell him what had happened, but there seemed to be so much blood that it somehow overpowered the cat scent that would have lay beneath.

When Goosesong saw Stoneclaw, wabbling as if the wind could knock him over and covered in open wounds, one placed on his throat, his ears perked back up. Not in curiosity of intrigue, but in a silent, stone-faced acknowledgement. 

"Stoneclaw, you're hurt, we need to get you to-"

I don’t need anyone! The only one I can trust is myself.

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"I know I'm hurt your mouse-heart!" Stoneclaw snapped, his voice as harsh and gravelly as always, perhaps a little strained and he whirled around and staggered forward. His son? He dares treat him like he's helpless?! Willowfall was too soft on him and now look where that led him.

The pain that rushed through Stoneclaw's body burned like fire but that wouldn't stop the fierceness that burned his his eyes like blue fire. "You don't need to bring me anywhere! I'm not a kit I can take myself." Stoneclaw hissed, the old grey tom began stumbling into the direction of camp, or what he thought the direction was, as blood began to seep into his eyes.

He felt Goosesong press against him... was he expecting Stoneclaw to lean on him like some weak kit? No. Not happening "Get off me!"

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright had only meant to accompany him for the walk nothing more than quiet company. But the moment the scent of blood hit her nose her breath caught.

Then Stoneclaw lurched into view.

Her paws froze. For one heartbeat she couldn’t even process what she was seeing. Fur matted with blood...wounds carved into his pelt. Her heart snapped into motion.

"StarClan!" She rushed to Stoneclaw’s opposite side, pressing her shoulder against his to help steady the staggering tom even though the dark tabby would be against it. Goosesong began to speak but Cottonbright's voice cut in, her anxiety sharpening into focus.

"Goosesong - we have to go."Her ears pinned back, eyes wide with alarm as she scanned the shredded wounds. "We need to get him to camp now. If… if the rogue is still nearby..."

Her voice hitched, but she pushed on. Hoping.

I don’t need anyone! The only one I can trust is myself.

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Stoneclaw let out a growl and snapped his teeth a Cottonbright with a faint clicking, it wasn't to actually bite or threaten her, simply to try and get her to move. He had no interest in being coddled and carried to the medicine den like a sick kitten.

"I said. Get. Off." he growl, voice strained but fierce, though he was cut of by his son.

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･*

Goosesong's eyes landed on Cottonbright as she took the other side of Stoneclaw, much to the chagrin of his fiesty sire. "Cottonbright, we need to-" He paused as he was cut off, but he didn't share much of a reaction, simply nodded "Right" he stated before Stoneclaw's stubborn growl ran through his ears.

The large silver tom narrowed his eyes at his sire, he had just about enough of his attitude today, especially from a small spat they had earlier. "Stoneclaw if we let you walk to camp yourself you won't make it there." he began, firm but not cruel, just honest.

"I'm going to say this and say this once." He continued, dragging the tom forward "If you don't want to die then swallow your pride for once in your life and let us help you." 

His words seemed to make Stoneclaw pause, twitching his tattered tail before rolling his eyes and muttering a simple 'fine' before letting finally letting the two cats flank him without argument. Good, and with any luck, RiverClan won't be with one less warrior.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright flinched at the snap of Stoneclaw’s jaws. Yet it wasn't out of fear but out of the sudden jolt of guilt that she might’ve overstepped. Her ears flattened whiskers trembling… she didn’t move away. Not when he was this injured...

When Stoneclaw finally muttered his grudging fine, some of the tension in her spine eased. A little. "O-Okay… good. Good." Her voice was soft but urgent as she pressed herself more securely at Stoneclaw’s side to match Goosesong’s pace.

Her gaze flicked around the trees as if searching for shadows. "Let’s go. Quickly."