[More drowning... Firepaw's fur raises up, as the memory washes over him and reminds him of Shoka's death. There are... scraps of that in what Dark Heart receives, the feeling of the water and the acceptance that never fit correctly into Firepaw's mind. He knew, even when he was experiencing it, that he would never stop fighting to keep his head above the water.
But a different memory follows, much more clearly. In February, Firepaw had gone with Emporio, Ingo and Emmet into the Southern Forest. He had fallen into a cave, and gotten stranded for a while. In his own memory, he had crawled back out into the forest - his own forest, and made his way back to ThunderClan's camp. Except it was empty, the ground was slick with cat blood, and yowls of pain echoed in his ears. He had seen Tigerclaw up on the Highrock - a large brown Maine coon with wickedly large claws, his fur coated in blood that Firepaw knew had to belong to their other Clan members.
It hadn't been real - his teammates had found him afterward, and helped him shake the illusion. But it felt real, and some part of it still weighs on him.
Back in the present, though, Firepaw feels nothing but relief to see Dark Heart out and about again. He sprints over, wearing a brand new bandana that's already as soaked and waterlogged as his fur. If Dark Heart lets him, he's going to bump their foreheads together as a greeting - otherwise he'll just knead his paws excitedly.]
hilariously he just DOESNT HAVE MANY OF THOSE,,, (cw: suicide, and also cat injury/death)
But a different memory follows, much more clearly. In February, Firepaw had gone with Emporio, Ingo and Emmet into the Southern Forest. He had fallen into a cave, and gotten stranded for a while. In his own memory, he had crawled back out into the forest - his own forest, and made his way back to ThunderClan's camp. Except it was empty, the ground was slick with cat blood, and yowls of pain echoed in his ears. He had seen Tigerclaw up on the Highrock - a large brown Maine coon with wickedly large claws, his fur coated in blood that Firepaw knew had to belong to their other Clan members.
It hadn't been real - his teammates had found him afterward, and helped him shake the illusion. But it felt real, and some part of it still weighs on him.
Back in the present, though, Firepaw feels nothing but relief to see Dark Heart out and about again. He sprints over, wearing a brand new bandana that's already as soaked and waterlogged as his fur. If Dark Heart lets him, he's going to bump their foreheads together as a greeting - otherwise he'll just knead his paws excitedly.]
Dark Heart - you're awake! How are you feeling?