.winter.rush.[thunder/river]

[Roxie !]

Smokepaw blinked as a black RiverClan warrior slipped into the battle and pulled Honeypaw away. Before he could react, another one of the RiverClan cats had grabbed him roughly by the tail and was dragging him away as well. Smokepaw gave a furious squeal and twisted painfully until he rolled away from Sleetghost's attempt to pin him to the ground. The ThunderClan apprentice scrambled to his feet and gave his paws and chest a few rapid licks under the pretense of nonchalance. His amber eyes stayed fixed furiously on Honeypaw, but even he didn't quite dare to attack her with two RiverClan warriors at her side. "Careful, mousemeat," He spat scornfully at his opponent instead. "Your Clan-mates won't always be there to protect you."

Brighteyes growled deep in his throat as Honeypaw struggled. Yet he ignored her protests, his brilliantly orange eyes narrowing dangerously as the ThunderClan apprentice taunted his own. Hackles raised, he set Honeypaw down roughly, but kept his position between the two apprentices firmly. He'd deal with Honeypaw later. "Leave RiverClan territory," He hissed at Smokepaw. "Or we'll make you leave."

Smokepaw's ears flattened against his head, and for a moment he held Brighteyes' stare challengingly. Then his gaze shifted from Sleetghost over to Honeypaw. He twitched his whiskers once, a simple, but mocking gesture, and then whipped around. Tail lashing, he padded back into the undergrowth of the forest.

OOC//Grrr, terrible post. But I can't post with Foxy, as he's out cold.

[le Dawnz]

OOC((Wait, remember Graystripe in the first series, he felt into the freezing cold river and he okay enough to walk back to camp. He just caught a cold. And Foxy might be worse off but still, can't they do something to wake him up? (although throwing cold water on him wouldn't really fix anything would it? lol) Maybe Massie and/or Mikkikko or somebody can be walking by or looking for someone and sees them and tries to help. Or maybe I'll make a temporary meddy cat for ThunderClan or something, or no, maybe Dawnfur does a head count at camp and realizes he's missing and goes looking for him, because she knows a insy bit about herbs, but she could probably just get him back to camp until they find someone to help him. How about that?))


The golden she-cat spat as her mentor pushed her aside roughly. Then whirled around to glare maliciously at Smokepaw over Brighteyes's back. He squeeled as Sleetghost pulled him away, and Honeypaw couldn't surpress a purr of amusement at seeing her enemy squeel like a kit. "Careful, mousemeat. Your Clan-mates won't always be there to protect you." he hissed threatenly. She wanted nothing more then to leap over the tom's back and tear out the ThunderClanner's fur. But she restrained herself, just barely, and snarled back.

"I don't need protection from a scrawny little piece of foxdung like you!" Brighteyes dealt out a threat of his own to the ThunderClan apprentice. The two stared each other down for a moment, then he looked around at all three RiverClan cats before resting his gaze on Honeypaw. His whiskers twitched, mocking her one last time. We'll meet again. his eyes taunted. I'll be waiting. her own replied. Then Smokepaw turned and disappeared into the brush, his fur blending into the shadows. "Come back when you can keep up." she growled angrily after him, wishing she could have finished him off right then and there. It was over now, but she knew this wasn't the last battle between them. She'd get him then.

Sleetghost shot Honeypaw a lethal look before glancing at Brighteyes and padding back toward the river. She flicked her tail, tapping the black warrior's shoulder gently. Good luck. she was saying. Then thought to herself, You're on your own with this one. She bounded down the sloping rocks to the river, then carefully made her way across, leaping from slippery stone to slippery stone until she was safely on the other side. Her tabby pelt quickly disappeared into the reeds as she headed for RiverClan camp.

Nudging him harder, Rosebloom felt like an icy paw was clutching her heart, its claws sinking into her flesh. "Foxtail please wake up." she said again, pleading this time. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes, making them glow. She rested her muzzle on his side for a few moments, praying to feel the steady rise and fall of him breathing. It wasn't steady, and it wasn't much, but he was still breathing. He was still alive. She bent close to his ear, forgetting the other cat sitting close. She whispered to him, "Foxtail, can you hear me? Please hold on. Just please hold on for me." She paused, waiting for a sign that he'd heard. A twitch, a flick, a deep breath, anything! "I have wonderful news, Foxtail. But I can't share it with you unless you're around to hear it. Please don't give up, Foxtail. Not yet. Just hold on. Please don't leave me, because I don't know what I'd do if you weren't around anymore."

Rosebloom licked his chest, trying to regulate his breathing the way queens did when their kits were born. Perhaps if she could get his blood flowing, it would warm his body up. Then she remembered the tortoiseshell who had pulled him from the river. "My name is Rosebloom." she managed, looking up from her furiously grooming. "Thank you for rescuing him, but is there anything more you can do to help? Anything at all?" The RiverClan deputy didn't know a thing about herbs, except for poppyseeds eased pain and yarrow made you vomit. But she didn't think either of those things could help here. Maybe the yarrow, if he had swallowed too much water, but she didn't want him coughing up blood again. Was there something internally wrong with Foxtail?

[Roxie !]

OOC//Okay I just had a blonde moment, like, seriously. I re-read my post and I was all "WTF? Since when is Brighteyes in RIVERCLAN?!" And I was about to point out my mistake to the world when I realized "Oh wait...it's Hazelstripe whose in ThunderClan." Yeah. Its been too long since I've posted here =P. But yeah, your idea works! Ill just wait for Tess to post then, maybe her character can like, revive him and then Dawnfur can come and do her thing?

IC// Brighteyes watched the ThunderClan apprentice retreat into the shadows silently, his ebony fur still bristling slightly. Finally, the brief flick of Sleetghost's tail on his shoulder distracted him, so that he tore his gaze away and glanced after her. He felt his paws prickle slightly; he and Sleetghost both knew that as Honeypaw's mentor, it was expected of him to deal with her. Suppressing a sigh, he looked away from his clanmate's retreating back, his orange eyes fixing on the light-furred form of his apprentice instead. She still looked angry and spiteful, and Brighteyes knew that in her mind, she hadn't fully left the battle yet. His ears folded backward slightly as they always did when he was annoyed. Honeypaw was a fiery apprentice, and though she was young, she already had a spitfire personality. This was her first battle; I should have been more careful with her! He thought bitterly. He should have known that her temper wouldn't be easy to control in the heat of a border fight!

All self-blame aside, however, this was something he had to make sure was sorted out. Attempting to contain his anger silently, Brighteyes stepped forward so that he was at Honeypaw's side. For a long moment he said nothing. Although his flame-colored gaze was emotionless, his lashing tail betrayed his frustrated emotions. Brighteyes was proud to serve his Clan, and although his apprentice showed promise and was even likable in her better moods, he couldn't deny that mentoring could be so...infuriating at times! Still, sulking in silence like this wasn't going to solve anything. The warrior knew that Honeypaw most likely wouldn't take kindly to being scolded, but there was no way around it. It was all he could do not to snarl at her for it, anyway.

"A warrior fights for honor and loyalty, and to defend what belongs to their Clan. Not because of petty insults and personal grudges. I wouldn't have expected you to stoop to that level." Though his words were calm, Brighteyes spoke in a low, icy growl, staring hard at Honeypaw. His voice was edged in anger and disappointment as he fought the attempt to raise it. At the moment, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do more: rip the fur off of that senseless ThunderClan apprentice that had provoked his own, or give Honeypaw a good cuff around the ears and try to yowl some sense into her.

"So," He continued frostily. "Do you mind telling me exactly what you were thinking?"

[{ tessa }]

OOC: Oh sorry!! I didn't realize you guys were waiting for me. Ugh Im so museless, but I'll try.

Rosaline watches the scene in horror. Her paws feel frozen to the ground. However much she distrusts Clan cats, she doesn't want to see anyone die. She looks up as the black cat speaks to her, naming herself as Rosebloom. Rosaline hasn't been around too many Clan cats before, so she doesn't know their individual scents. She has no way of telling that these two are in separate Clans, and she just assumes that this is the hurt tom's mate. Her tortoiseshell fur fluffed out in alarm, she looks down to study the cat, and then back at Rosebloom. "I'm Rosaline." She states quickly. There's little time for introductions here, and she knows it. "I don't know anything about healing herbs, but if can keep on licking him, I'll try to get some of the water out of his stomach. That might revive him." She adds.

She remembers her mother doing this to her sister back when they were kits, and only hopes she remembers the procedure correctly. Rosaline doesn't know about StarClan, so she has no one to pray to. She can only hope. Placing her paws firmly on the tom's upper stomach, she pushes down hard with her paws. Once. Twice. Soon she builds up a rhythm, searching for any sign of life from the clan cat.

[Roxie !]

First, it was black. Just utter, endless nothingless, and Foxtail wasn't even really aware anything more than a sensation of tumbling numbly through an abyss of darkness. He did not struggle or blink, even, and his body did not move further except to breath shallowly as Rosebloom and Rosaline stood over him. Then, it was as if a giant paw had suddenly hooked under him and held him steady. He now felt as if...as if he were floating. He closed his eyes. What had happened? Where was he? Dreaming?

All at once, he flinched, and his eyes snapped open. Yes, he remembered now. Sunningrocks. There had been cats fighting all around him, yowls of fury and pain echoing around the clearing. And then the water. Icy, churning, so cold that it burned. He'd been helpless against the cruel current as it had stiffened his limbs with the cold and forced him downriver. But...what had happened after that? Had be been washed up somewhere? He no longer felt cold...no longer felt anything, really, but how was that possible? There were scents of the forest all around him. They were vague, but slowly growing stronger and stronger. It was as if Foxtail was surrounded by a thick mist, and he was slowly growing more and more aware of his surroundings. There was cat scent in the air...ThunderClan. But as he looked around wildly, Foxtail could spot no one.

Then, the sound of pawsteps caused him to whip around. A few foxlengths away, he could just barely make out the slender, shadowed outline of a cat. Foxtail narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, trying to make out the figure's identity. But something blocked the scent from coming to him clearly, that same frustrating, figurative fog that seperated him from the world around him. "W-who's there? Who is that?" He meowed warily. Why wouldn't this cat show itself? Was it too trapped and confused? But...it was a ThunderClan cat. Why was it hiding from him?

"Foxtail," the cat spoke to him. "Foxtail, you must follow me now." The voice was that of a she-cat's, tender and soft, and yet strangely fate. But why...why was it so familiar? Warily, Foxtail rooted his claws into the ground. He knew this cat...that voice...a flash of tortoiseshell fur.

"Dawnfur?" He asked hesitantly. "What do you mean? We...we should be back at the battle. We have to hurry!" Foxtail spun around, his fur bristling, and made to charge through the woodland. But the tortoiseshell did not move.

"The battle is over, Foxtail. It is time." she spoke again.

Foxtail froze, his eyes narrowing. What did she mean?! If the battle was over, why were they here? Why wasn't Dawnfur back there fighting with her Clan-mates? They needed her! They had to find a way back. Their clan-mates could be hurt, or worse...Foxtail couldn't think about it. What if some cat were destined to join StarClan tonight, and they were just sitting around making small-talk? Hazelstripe, or Destinystep, or Smokepaw, or...or Rosebloom. He shivered and pushed away this heart-wrenching thought, snapping impatiently back to reality. "Time for what? Look, Dawnfur, we have to--" But he stopped mid-sentence. It was as if a veil had lifted from the clearing. They were at Four-Trees, and now he could see the tortoiseshell clearly as she stepped into the light. That...that wasn't Dawnfur...that was...Foxtail's eyes widened, and he took a step back in utter shock.

"Darkshadow?" He breathed his mother's name in disbelief. Darkshadow was gazing at him with gentle sympathy in her leaf-green gaze, her head lowering slightly. She was no longer the elderly she-cat who had died in the elders den, but the slender, youthful queen she had been in her first days as a ThunderClan warrior. But this couldn't be real. Darkshadow was dead. He'd mourned her and sat vigil with her when she had died, just as he had done with his father. But then...if she was dead, that could only mean that he, Foxtail, was dead as well.

"Time for you to join StarClan." Darkshadow meowed, her voice rigid with sadness. She padded forward and rested her head on her son's shoulder as he bowed his head in shock.

Foxtail stood still for a moment, before stumbling backward wildly, as if he had been burned by his mother's touch. "No...no! I can't be dead. Please--I can't be." His voice had started out in a carrying yowl, and then softed to a whisper gradually. Darkshadow was still eying him sadly, but made no move to approach him again.

"You are dying." She whispered in return. "I'm so sorry, Foxtail...it won't be long now..."

"NO!" Foxtail didn't want to hear this. Denial seethed through him like a forest fire as he shook his head stubbornly. "There's still so much I have to do...my Clan needs me...the battle, and...and Green-Leaf's almost over, and..." He trailed off. He had been about to say 'Rosebloom', but couldn't bring himself to do so. It would be too traumatic, losing her. And his mother...what would she think? Was she dissapointed in him? Did she think him disloyal to ThunderClan? He averted his gaze and said no more, shaking slightly with shock.

Darkshadow surveyed him quietly, her eyes searching his expression. "It's alright," She meowed finally. "I know about Rosebloom." Foxtail raised his head to look at her in surprise as she continued. "Life in the forest is as fragile as a snowflake before it touches the ground. The warrior code is what holds the Clans together, and keeps them strong. Without it, the life that you lead...the life that your Clan-mates lead, would mean nothing."

Foxtail stiffened. Was she about to rebuke him for loving a cat of another Clan?

"However," Darkshadow went on, raising her tail for silence before he could protest. "There are some things that go beyond the rules of any code...any lifestyle. Things none of us can control; that don't even make sense." She raised her chin slightly. "Whatever you have felt, Foxtail, I know that you have done what you believed was right, and that ThunderClan could not have asked for a more loyal warrior." The she-cat smiled slightly as Foxtail blinked at her speechlessly. "I could not be more proud of you."

In all honestly, Foxtail had no idea what to say. He knew what he felt for Rosebloom was against everything the warrior code stood for, and yet she was the best thing that ever happened to him. Perhaps, if his Clan ever found out, things would not work out as well--but the fact that he had his mother's blessings meant more to him than he could say. With a soft purr, he stepped forward and brushed his cheek against hers. "I've missed you," He murmured at last. "But I don't know if I can--"

Suddenly, a force that seemed stronger than a tornado's wind shoved him backward. The moment that he broke contact with Darkshadow, the mist seemed to return. Foxtaill unsheathed his claws instinctively, glancing frantically around the clearing. "Darkshadow? What's happening?" Foxtail growled, attempting to step forward again. He was shoved back once more, further this time, until he felt as if he'd be swept off his paws. Darkshadow was fading quickly now, as if she'd been some sort of illusion. Her voice was growing fainter, and he could no longer make out what she was saying. Clearer now were the voices of cats, yowling and screeching in pain, and suddenly the whole of ThunderClan were streaking past him. Fear scent chilled the air, making Foxtail shiver. Whatever was making his Clan run like this, it had to be something horrible. He opened his mouth to call out to them, but then another shove sent him tumbling into the dark.


With a powerful shudder, Foxtail jolted upward. He had barely opened his eyes when a fit of violent coughing overtook him, and soon he was spluttering and coughing out mouthfuls of river water from his lungs. His claws clutched the soft ground beneath him, his ears flattened. He was beginning to need oxygen, and fast. However, every time he attempted to gulp in a breath between coughs, he would choke and be sent into more wheezing fits. After what seemed like an eternity, the ThunderClan warrior slumped limply against the ground, to exhausted to sit up. He breathed as quickly and deeply as he could, although it still felt as if he were fighting for every breath. Foxtail was too stunned to even register what had happened, or where he was now. He barely had the strength to look up. But when he did, he was met by the sight of two cats standing over him. One was a tortoiseshell he did not recognize, while the other...was the familiar, beautiful form of his ebony-pelted mate. "Rosebloom?" He murmured quietly.

[le Dawnz]

The adrenaline rush from the battle was still raging on in the fiery apprentice's head when she turned to glare at her mentor. Brighteyes glared back angrily, clearly upset with the scandal. His ears were folded back. Honeypaw knew from experience that whenever he flattened his ears, it meant he was very annoyed. She held his gaze as he searched for the right way to begin, taking it as a challenge. When he finally found the words, she looked away, unable to look him in the eyes while he scolded her.

"A warrior fights for honor and loyalty, and to defend what belongs to their Clan. Not because of petty insults and personal grudges. I wouldn't have expected you to stoop to that level."

An icy feeling made the fur along her neck bristle. She hadn't thought she'd done anything wrong. What she wanted to say was that it wasn't her fault. She wanted to shout that it was that stupid ThunderClanner who had started it, that he'd attacked first! But she kept silent. She felt ashamed, because despite all that, she could have stopped anytime. She didn't have to stoop as low as ThunderClan. She could have been the better cat and let it go, but instead, she'd made a fool of herself and her clan, and she'd disappointed her mentor. The only cat whose opinion even remotely mattered.

"So, do you mind telling me exactly what you were thinking?" Brighteyes asked coldly. The she-cat simply shook her head and shrugged, letting her fur lie flat again. She hadn't been thinking. At least, not about anything besides ripping the fur off that stupid apprentice. Just the thought of his smug grin made the acid in her gut churn. She narrowed her eyes, still staring intently at the ground to avoid Brighteyes's amber gaze, and flattened her honey-colored ears against her head in shame.


Rosebloom nodded and did what she was told. After a few minutes of continuous licking, the calico tom coughed and sputtered. Rosebloom gasped in relief, but her hopes fell again when he dragged himself to his feet quickly and started wheezing. It seemed he couldn't catch his breath. He was coughing and gasping for air so hard that Rosebloom was feeling more frantic now than she had when he had refused to stir. She was afraid that maybe the many collisions with the rocks in the river had crushed his lungs.

The black she-cat was so frightened that she was frozen to the spot, unable to think of a way to help her poor mate. It was clear that he was in pain, and she just wanted his suffering to end. He finally stopped, took a few deep breaths, and collapsed in a heap on the ground from exhaustion. But he was consious, and he was alive. Oh thank StarClan, he's alive! "Rosebloom?" he muttered softly, looking up at her.

She rushed back to his side. "Yes! Yes, it's me! I'm here!" she exclaimed quietly. She was unable to contain her enthusiasm, but she had an instinctive feeling that she ought to be quiet. Rosebloom looked over her mate, seeing his spotted coat completely soaked through, the exhausted look in his eyes. She could count every single one of his ribs. The deputy was so glad that he was still alive, but now an overwelming feeling took over. A sort of anxiety. All the stress, within RiverClan as well as ThunderClan, her and Foxtail's secret, and the forbidden one she alone carried now. "Oh Foxtail." she whispered, flattening her belly to the ground and pressing her muzzle into the fur of his neck. She completely forgot about the she-cat sitting nearby, watching the scene unfold before her. And she couldn't stop the tears that spilled from her rose-colored eyes.

[Roxie !]

Brighteyes watched the apprentice react for a moment, silently demanding an answer with eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. To his surprise, however, Honeypaw was equally silent. He'd never known her to be much of a talker after her mother had died, but usually when challenged, she always had a fiery comeback on hand. If anything, she'd proven that a few moments ago in her spar with the ThunderClan tom. Brighteyes' frown deepened and he dipped his head slightly to try and meet Honeypaw's gaze. But she was staring determinedly at the ground, her ears similarly flattened against her head like his own. The RiverClan warrior scowled, his fur prickling in irritation--but then it struck him. Though she wouldn't admit it aloud, Honeypaw was ashamed of what she had done.

Brighteyes was a bit taken aback. He'd confronted the apprentice out of sheer anger and shock from what she had done. Apprentices were such a senseless bunch, and sometimes he hardly had the patience to deal with any of them, let alone his own. Somehow, he hadn't really expected his words to reach Honeypaw, or maybe he just hadn't paused long enough to consider that they would. Well, thank StarClan. At least now, he could continue hoping in vain that she'd see sense. With a snort, Brighteyes straightened up, and was silent a little while longer. Still no answer came, though whether this was out of spite or shame he couldn't guess.

They needed to talk about this. As a warrior, it was his duty to keep his apprentice in line. But Honeypaw was obviously too stirred up to speak right now, and trying to scold her again could provoke a shouting match. That wasn't something a mentor did. But then, what did a mentor do? They certainly didn't let things like this happen. Brighteyes sighed and turned away, switching his gaze to the river. Tensely, and without looking at Honeypaw, he spoke again. "You know what? It's my fault. I shouldn't have let you fight today." His voice was no longer laced with anger, just dissapointment. "Let's just get back to camp."

Lashing his tail, Brighteyes slipped into the river.


Further down the bank, Foxtail relaxed as he heard his mate's familiar voice. Rosebloom was here. She was safe. It had been too much, having to fight her Clan in the battle. The tom wondered how much longer this could go on...everyone had fought hard today, but their conflict had been purely physical. But for Foxtail, it had been an emotional battle as well. And if this warring continued, how much longer could they keep their forbidden relationship a secret?

He paused, his eyes closing again. He didn't have the energy to think about this right now. He was just glad to be alive, and reunited with the beautiful black she-cat. As weak as he was, a steady purr rose in his throat. Summoning his strength, Foxtail tried to speak again. There was so much he wanted to say to her. Nearly dying had made him realize that. When he had thought he would never speak to Rosebloom again, everything he'd ever wanted to say to her came rushing back to him. And even now, he wasn't out of the woods yet. If anything happened to him, he had to make sure that she knew how much he loved her. But where to start? Lifting his head up ever so slightly, he rasped his tongue over his mate's ear. "Rosebloom...I..."

But it was then that Foxtail registered that they were not alone. His gaze shifted to the tortoiseshell who stood nearby. He blinked several times in shock. She did not have the scent of any Clan, but even so...what was she doing here? Instinctively wary, Foxtail tensed, and then immediately regretted it. Painfully, he went limp again. This was all too much to take in. And now, he was also aware that the screeching battle cries from upriver had ceased too. What was going on?

Still unsure how to react to the unfamiliar cat's presence, he turned his questioning gaze to Rosebloom. Coughing briefly, Foxtail tried to speak. "Are you okay? What's going on? Who--" He stopped, coughing more violently this time. Foxtail needed help, and he needed it soon.

[le Dawnz]

Honeypaw let herself drown in the silence, still refusing to meet the black warrior's eyes. Why did Brighteyes stop? She expected the impatient tom to go on again about how stupid she had been. Her fur bristled bitterly, bracing herself for another flare of anger and disappointment to come sprouting from the cat before her. But her mentor seemed to have given up. With what Honeypaw would describe as an internal sigh, Brighteyes spoke again.

"You know what?" he said. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let you fight today." The golden apprentice looked up in surprise at this new turn of events. Shouldn't have let her fight? How could he say such a thing?! His voice held an unbearable amount of seething disappointment. "Let's just get back to camp." And then he turned and raced back to the bank, his dark pelt melting into the water as he slithered into the river like the snake Honeypaw now thought he was.

Not let her fight?! All because of a stupid, petty disagreement?! This was beyond the cruelest thing the she-cat could have ever imagined her mentor saying. She glared after him, her claws unsheathing and sinking into the hard ground. Anger swelled up inside like a bubble, ready to be popped. But deeper then that, something in her heart was writhing in pain just from knowing how much of a failure she was in the eyes of the cat whose opinion was the only one that mattered. She flattened her ears against her head and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then followed her mentor's example and started back for RiverClan's camp.

Yet another unpleasant day to add to Honeypaw's already depressing life.



[OCC] I'm not replying with Rosey until Tessa does with Rosaline.

[{ tessa }]

Rosaline lingers a few tail lengths away now, crouching uncomfortably. Now that the battle has died down and the sounds of screeching cats have faded, she releases some of the tension in her shoulders. As a loner, she isn't used to being around so many cats. However, she still doesn't feel quite right being here in Clan territory. Her instincts are telling her to return home as soon as possible, but she wants to make sure that the cat she rescued from the river will be okay. He has woken up now, which is why she has retreated a few steps back. These clan cats aren't a threat right now, but that can't erase years of wariness.

Still, she is concerned. As the black she-cat who introduced herself as Rosebloom presses her face into the tom she had called Foxtail's fur, Rosaline realizes just how deep these two cats' bonds run. As a loner, she doesn't see or understand the clan barrier that runs between them. All she sees is the way that the two look at each other, and the love in her eyes. Though she's almost transfixed by this, Rosaline averts her eyes for awhile. It feels as if they need a moment, and she is willing to give them one. She remembers feeling this way about her own mate, before he died. She remembers feeling that no matter what the world threw at her, she would take it as long as he was by her side. And losing all of that, well, she wouldn't wish that kind of pain on any cat. Foxtail has to be saved.

Rosaline kneads her paws anxiously on the ground. When Foxtail tries to speak, she looks up in surprise. He doesn't get very far; only ends up coughing violently. This can't be good. She knows that whatever happens, this tom has to save his energy. Rosaline dips her tortoiseshell head. "You should try to save your breath." She comments gently. "I'm sorry for invading your territory. I'll be going." That said, she looks at Rosebloom and talks to the she-cat now. Out here in the cold, Foxtail isn't going to last much longer, and she's pretty sure that the black cat realizes this. Before she leaves, Rosaline wants to make sure that they get the help they need.

"Do you have...is there," she pauses and wracks her brain for the term that clan cats use. "A...medicine cat nearby?"