"-And the mouse says, well of course not!" Skyrumble joked. Tempestroar snorted.
Tempestroar shoved him, and he shoved her right back. They scuffled for a moment, batting at each other playfully.
"Ha ha! I've got you now, Tempestroar!" Skyrumble said, pinning her to the ground. The grass behind him erupted as a giant dog emerged.
"Skyrumble!" Tempestroar shrieked, and twisted out from underneath him and launched herself between him and the dog. The dog didn't hesitate, and latched onto her and shook her body. Nausea swelled in Tempestroar's throat. The dog let go suddenly, and Tempestroar yowled as she went flying into a tree. She felt something crack, and was blinded with pain shortly after. She would come to hours later in the medicine den, Mintswirl hovering over her, and be told that she had broken a bone in the ordeal.
Algaesky limped over to Burdockheart, who perked up at the sight of her.
"You've been released!" she joked. Algaesky laughed.
"Mintswirl says that the fever's gone," she told Burdockheart, settling next to her with a grunt. "But my leg isn't going to heal any more than it has. Apparently, I have to re-learn how to walk and such." A dark shadow crossed the she-cat's face. "They say that my leg will be weak for the rest of my life, and that I'll probably have chronic pain from here on out."
Burdockheart pressed herself against her friend. "I'll help you," she reassured her. "We can work together on this. I promise. I'll never leave you to deal with this alone."
Beamsnow stared blankly at the little red body laying limply in the center of camp.
"Papa?" Asphodelkit whispered, and he jerked his head down to look at her. "Are we gonna die too?" He blinked at her and her brothers, and his heart cracked a little more.
"Oh, no, darling," he whispered back, curling around his kits. "No. Applekit was... he got sick. Very sick. Mintswirl did their best, but sometimes... sometimes StarClan's calling is too strong. But you three are alright. I'll make sure that you are. I promise."
"Hello," a voice said. Skyrumble whirled around, fur puffing out, and stared at a tabby she-cat. She blinked at him, amusement in her eyes. "Are you one of the Clan cats I've been hearing about?"
"Ah- yes!" He stumbled over his words, eyes wide. "I'm Skyrumble. How... how can I help you, miss?" The she-cat seemed even more amused, and Skyrumble felt his fur grow hot.
"My name's Tumble. I'd like to join your Clan if I could."
"Well, Parsleystar would have to decide about that, but... well, I'm sure we could find a spot for you. I mean, you look very... Muscular. Um. Strong! You look strong." Tumble laughed out loud, and Skyrumble just about swooned.
"I'm a bit too old for you I think, but thank you."
"Mmmm..." He would like to keel over now, thanks.