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Description

today i said goodbye to an older character of mine, grouseclaw ): FEELS BAD MAN!

Stop! You are not allowed to use, re-upload, trace, reference, or claim as your own. This art belongs to me.

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Hawkstar
He wasn't ready, far from it. But what could he do? His paws were screaming and he was pretty sure he lost at least one or two claws from the friction. He could feel the water on his tail now, and he was ready to be plunged into the cold depths before a sudden pressure bloomed at the base of his neck. At first he had thought he hit his head, but found himself stilling. He hadn't realized his eyes had been slammed shut, but slowly he opened them up to realize Grouseclaw had caught him. No sooner than that, he was flung upwards, which gave Hawkstar the momentum he needed to securely grasp onto the cave wall and pull himself up. That was twice now, that Grouseclaw had done something to save him. Hawkstar would have to thank him when they were both out of this mess. Hawkstar worked double time now, doing his best to climb up as efficiently as ever. Closer he drew himself upwards, the opening just fox lengths away. They were gonna make it, freedom was just a few paw steps away. He glanced down now, searching for Grouse to make sure he was doing just as well. "Come on, the water's rising!" He encouraged, finding a stable outcropping of stone as he reached out to help his brother up.

Grouseclaw
You THINK? Grouseclaw wanted to yowl in response, grunting as the resulting expulsion of strength to launch Hawkstar upward resulted in his paws losing their own traction. His back legs slipped, and his abdomen struck the rocky slope awkwardly. The warrior let out a grunt of discomfort; hind legs scrabbling to find another foot hold. But no sooner had Grouseclaw slipped that something else was disrupted by his efforts to save his brother. The fragile layers of flint just ahead of him slid away; which had been keeping several large boulders in place on the incline. The boulders lurched forward, tumbling down the hill and sending a shower of slate and silt towards the rising water below. Grouseclaw let out a caterwaul of alarm, ducking his head down instinctively as he struggled even more to find a foot hold on the slippery rocks. But it was futile… The boulders rolled off a slope just above him; missing his neck and head, but landed on his back legs. His alarmed caterwaul turned to one of pain. He was trapped.

Hawkstar
”You’re almost th—“ The encouragement fizzled as Hawkstar’s bicolored gaze widened in horror. He lurched forward, prepared to pull his brother out of the way, but he was far too late. His brother’s pained wail rung in his ears as he carefully descended the slope, doing his best not to disturb the rock and flint. ”Grouseclaw!” He called out, wide eyes desperate as he slid over. ”Can you—“ The words then died in his throat as he noticed fully what had happened. Grouseclaw’s hind legs were crushed beneath boulders, and Hawkstar had a sinking feeling in his belly. The water was filling the cavern at a rapid pace, and the lanky tom knew they had very limited time. ”I’m gonna get you out, okay?” He reassured as he slid forward to assess the damage. He tried first to see if he could dislodge the rocks, but that task was far too dangerous. He knew he would slip and fall if he did so, and they would both be lost. Scrambling for a better foothold, Hawkstar glanced back to his brother once more. ”Okay I’m going to have to pull you up, alright? Once I start doing that, you try pulling yourself with your front paws, you think you can do that?” Hawkstar suggested, completely uncertain but desperate to try anything, he wasn’t going to leave Grouseclaw behind. He refused. He knew this would be painful however, but he hoped that their combined strength would be enough to get Grouseclaw to safety. ”Alright, on three!” Hawkstar called over the roar of the water. The rumbling was becoming more violent than ever now, threatening to dislodge Hawkstar from his position. But he luckily grounded himself enough so that when he positioned himself near his brother, he remained secure. ”One.” He wrapped his jaws around his brother’s thick scruff. ”Two.” Hawkstar then bit down, his voice garbled and unclear as he spoke the next words. ”Three!” Bracing himself, he pulled backwards with all of his Starclan given strength. His new life was still coursing within him, giving him the energy he needed to put his all into the action.

Grouseclaw
His first reaction was to panic; desperately attempting to yank himself out of the predicament he was in. It was visceral, primal, and certainly wasn't well thought out. Hawkstar was returning to him now, even as the next wave of rumbling caused stalactites to start falling from the roof of the cavern; plummeting towards the ground and splashing loudly in the rising water. He nodded breathlessly to Hawkstar as the leader arrived at his side, still trying to yank his legs from underneath the boulders. He wasn't thinking about doing more damage to himself, he wasn't thinking about the possible state that his legs were in, all Grouseclaw was thinking about was getting out. What Hawkstar recommended sounded better than doing what he was currently trying, or doing nothing at all, and the marbled tabby grunted in agreement; flexing the muscles in his shoulders and front legs as he braced himself to expend as much energy as possible. The water was at his mid stomach now, and Grouseclaw realized that their time was waning. One, two, three! As Hawkstar yanked him forward, Grouseclaw hauled himself forward with his forepaws, his back legs scrabbling feebly under the stones... He didn't budge.

Hawkstar
The tom had pulled with all his might, but in the end, nothing came from it. Still though, Hawkstar was determined. They were going to leave together! They had to! "I'm going to get you out, okay? Just hang in there, Grouseclaw." He spoke, the reassurance both for his brother and for himself. His voice shook and trembled, but it was clear the tabico tom meant what he said. Hawkstar was willing to bet his life for his brother's. "Okay, I'm going to try something." It was dangerous, extremely dangerous. With stalactites falling all around them, threatening to cause irreparable damage, Hawkstar knew that if he failed, it would mean certain death for the both of them. "I'm going to try and and see if I can dislodge you by going under." He gestured towards the water, rapid and threatening. Without waiting for a protest, the lanky tom took a deep breath and dove in. He was an acute swimmer when he wasn't knocked clear out, and his aptitude showed as he allowed himself to sink below the depths. It was cold, and dark but Hawkstar made sure to keep himself close, as to not stray. Immediately his bicolored gaze located the rocks and began hurriedly trying to remove them. He pushed, he pulled, but even he couldn't manage to make the earth move. His lungs were reaching their capacity and eventually Hawkstar had to come up for air. Bursting from the depths, the tom exhaled gustily, drawing in a large breath as his hungry lungs replenished themselves. He looked to his brother once more, and while he tried to keep the panic from his eyes, he could feel it settling in. He had to try again! "I'm gonna try again, this time, when I start moving them try to pull yourself up!" Once more, Hawkstar dove back him, allowing himself to swim towards the rocks. He gave his brother's side a poke, and hopefully Grouseclaw knew that to be the signal to start pulling himself upwards as Hawkstar tried again to desperately dislodge the heavy rocks. But before he could get much done, a stalactite came plummeting down. While it's momentum was partially slowed by the water, it managed to deeply graze Hawkstar's shoulder. Immediately blood bloomed from the wound, and the pain caused the air in the tabico's lungs to leave him. He almost choked, inhaling a lungful of water, but he managed to kick himself upwards towards the surface. Breaking through, Hawkstar coughed and sputtered, paddling towards the closest rock as he pulled himself up. He was bloody and wet, but still the leader found himself far too stubborn to let go. They had to leave this cavern together, they had to! "Grouseclaw!" He coughed, eyes desperate as he slid closer. "I think... Maybe I was able to move the rocks just a little.. Maybe" It was wishful thinking, but Hawkstar had to try.. He had to. "Maybe I can try pulling you up again?"

Grouseclaw
His front legs collapsed after several attempts of heaving himself out, his already low energy reserve quickly depleting. The fact that neither him nor his brother had eaten a meal since landing in this predicament wasn't helping his case. At Hawkstar's affirmation, all Grouseclaw could do was nod wordlessly; his sides heaving as he took a moment to gather himself. If I were fed, I'd be able to get out of this far easier. He vented internally. As Hawkstar dove beneath the rising water, Grouseclaw realized what he was trying to do. Adrenaline hit again, and Grouseclaw started to attempt and yank his back legs out from the boulders. But even with his brother's help, they seemed to not budge. Hawkstar came up for air, and Grouseclaw took that moment to allow himself to rest. His adrenaline was completely heightened, and he was convinced that if it weren't for that? He wouldn't even be able to lift his own head from the ground. He was exhausted. Images of Paleshine and his children flashed through his mind's eye at that moment; serving as a reminder to what he was fighting to return to. When the Riverclan leader dove under once more, Grouseclaw, again, hauled his upper body up. He felt the rocks give a little, just a little, and triumph flooded through him. If we keep this up, maybe I'll be able to get out. Just bit by bit. But as Hawkstar surfaced again, and as the trapped warrior allowed himself to sink back down to the ground, he was met by icy water that threatened to splash up his nose. In mere minutes, the water had risen tremendously. The stench of blood hit his nose abruptly, and Grouseclaw's broad head whipped around to stare at Hawkstar's lacerated shoulder. His brother was panicking, eyes wide, as he stammered.

Grouseclaw's expression shifted at that moment; his facial features relaxing into something eerily solemn. He... He understood now. He understood what had to be done, and what he must do. "Hawkstar." Grouseclaw interrupted his younger brother's musings, gently reaching a large paw to rest it on his bleeding flank momentarily. His blue eyes were blazing with ferocity, and yet? His tone was gentle.

"You have to let go."

"You have to let me go."

Hawkstar
"You have to let go." "You have to let me go." The words echoed harshly in Hawkstar's ears. It reminded him of the whispering in his dream, and he shook his head violently. "No!" He protested, his expression a hybridization between pain and desperation now. "Don't say that Grouseclaw! Remember Paleshine, your kits... And Owlmoon, you have to talk to her! You can't just.." He trailed off, unshed tears welling in his bicolored eyes. "No, you're going to get out of here, Grouseclaw. You have to." Choosing to ignore the way the water rose, and the way his shoulder hurt and how fatigue was beginning to cling to him, Hawkstar once more grabbed onto his brother's scruff and began to pull. He pulled and he pulled, the ground beneath him shifting dangerously. It was the sharp pain in his shoulder that had Hawkstar releasing his brother, wincing harshly as water now began to lick at his body. If he didn't get Grouseclaw out, he would drown! "Grouseclaw, please!" He begged, his voice almost child like in nature as he shook and trembled. "Don't do this... You can't do this... We.. I... I just got you back.."

Grouseclaw
The determined flames that blazed within the depths of his blue hues momentarily extinguished into something far more tender at the mention of his mate and children. Paleshine... Oh, Paleshine. Her voice, her scent, her. She and their three kits were all that he'd been able to think about while he and Hawkstar were trapped below the earth. Hawkstar then started to cling to him, to yank and yank at the tom's scruff... But all Grouseclaw could do was tip his head upward as the water rose towards his chin. For the first time in Hawkstar's life, he'd see tears in his brother's eyes. "Hawkstar, listen to me." He mewed, his tone low and soft. "When you get home, you tell them..." He broke off, closing his eyes as a massive shudder rippled down the length of his body; his eyes growing hotter. "You tell them that I love them. Each and every one of them. And you tell Owlmoon to go. Tell her to live life to the fullest; go out, explore, try new things, fall in love..." When he opened his eyes again, tears spilled over the waterlines of his eyes, and the determination that had been present in his gaze had returned. "You tell my family that I died a hero." Hawkstar's pitiful whimper resulted in a visible flinch from Grouseclaw, who reached out his paw and hooked it around Hawkstar's neck; bringing the lankier tom towards him in an embrace. "It's Starclan's will." He hissed painfully, trying to keep the sob that rose in his throat at bay. "And it's my last chance, my last chance to do what I should have always done, what I should have done for our entire lives..." "...And that is to protect my little brother."

Hawkstar
He wanted to scream at Grouseclaw, but he couldn't find the strength. All the words he wanted to say died in his throat as he watched the tears well in his brothers eyes. Hawkstar had never seen his brother cry before. He was always the epitome of strength, of decisiveness, of leadership. While crying was never a weak thing, at least not to Hawkstar, he was still surprised. Stunned in silence as his brother relayed to him his last words. "You tell my family that I died a hero" Hawkstar was about to protest, to deny Grouseclaw, but he found himself being pulled into an embrace instead. Tears spilled past his eyes then, sobs wracking his body as he pushed his muzzle into his brother's fur. "We're family.." He murmured, the sound muffled by a face full of fur as he sniffed. "We're supposed to protect each other." His words no longer held a stubbornness to them now. In fact, there was a clear sense of defeat in his tone. His heart felt like a stone, as he connected the dots. In the distance, he could hear whispering... "H̸a̶w̴k̶s̸t̵a̷r̶,̵ ̴y̶o̴u̷ ̶m̴u̸s̵t̷ ̴l̴e̵t̵ ̸g̷o̷.̸.̵.̶"

Grouseclaw
"And this is me protecting you." His counter was firm, but the gentle nature of Grouseclaw's tone remained ever present. The water was coming up even farther, and it would only be moments before the two of them were swallowed by the water. There was a grim sort of numbness taking hold of the warrior's body and soul; and as he took a moment to ponder it, he realized that this was acceptance. Acceptance of his own death on the horizon. "Like I should have been." Grouseclaw weakly rested his chin in the space between Hawkstar's shoulder blades as his younger littermate cried into his fur; his resolve melting as despair started to bite at his belly. He didn't want to go... But he would be damned if Hawkstar were in his place instead. "I'm sorry." He rasped, "I'm... I'm so sorry for everything." There wasn't time to go into the detail that Grouseclaw wanted to, like Hawkstar deserved. But somehow? He felt that his brother would know exactly what was left unsaid.

Hawkstar
The tears came freely now as the world raged around them, but Hawkstar was able to tune that out as his fur became sodden once more. He nuzzled further into his brother's fur, savoring his scent, the feel of his pelt. He knew Grouseclaw was right, and in that moment, the whispered words began to make sense. He had to let go, he had to leave... Brook had once given him a life, and it was of the same virtue. It made sense now, the dream, the familiarity in the disembodied voice. Hawkstar sniffled, nodding softly as he finally managed to pull away. He dried his tears and gazed into the blue pools of his brother's eyes, and in them found meaning. There was no time to convey all that they were sorry for, but Hawkstar knew in his heart what Grouseclaw had meant. He pressed his forehead against his brother's, a shaky exhale leaving him. "I... I'm sorry too." He stood now, his gaze never leaving Grouseclaw's as he nodded. There was such a sadness in his gaze, but a promise too. "I'll let them know.. That.. That you died a hero.." He'd make sure his brother's death meant something.

Grouseclaw
He nodded firmly, fighting to keep his lower lip from quivering as Hawkstar backed away from him, affirming that he would do what the senior warrior had requested. "Now go." He mewed, just as a large stalactite crashed into the water just behind them; sending a wave of water towards them that lapped over Grouseclaw's back. "Go!" He snarled out over the roar of the water, "Go and don't look back!" Go. Go live for Riverclan.

Hawkstar
"Go, go and don't look back!" Another wave of tears threatened to spill over, but Hawkstar did as his brother encouraged. With one last glance at Grouseclaw, he nodded and turned tail, quickly making his ascension as the water began to lick at his heels. Freedom was right there, awaiting him, but it was agony every step of the way. Fatigue was already gripping him, between the pain in his shoulder and the energy exhausted to try and free Grouseclaw he was moving a lot slower than he would like. But now he was only a few paces away. So desperately did he want to look back, to see his brother one last time. But he knew.. He knew at this point, the water would be over his head. His brother, was probably, at this very moment, drowning. His lungs burned, his throat felt tight as grief struck him. More tears threatened to make themselves known but he held them back with a sniff. No, he had to get out first. Grouseclaw's sacrifice wouldn't be for nothing. He would escape, and he would tell the Clan that his brother died a hero. Died protecting him, their leader. Gathering the rest of his strength, Hawkstar leaped forward and up through the hole, pulling himself just in time as the water hit the ceiling. Immediately, the earth crumbled and while Hawkstar had made it out alive, he knew that his brother's tomb had been sealed. Forever. There would be no way to get his body back. He squeezed his eyes tight as grief burned through him. He wanted to stop, to beat his paws bloody on the stones, to cry and scream. But he had a job to do. A duty to his brother, to Paleshine, to his clan. So he swallowed it down, lifted his chin, opened his eyes, and ran.

Grouseclaw
He watched as Hawkstar climbed up the steep incline, and as his banded tail vanished out of the small exit that lay out of his own reach. His blue eyes did not leave the spot where his younger brother had been, even as the earth started crumbling, and the cavern roof started collapsing. The water had risen to his chin, then above it... And now all Grouseclaw could do was wait. He instinctively held his breath, though his conscious self knew it was all futile. As the darkness above was obscured by water, Grouseclaw was surrounded in complete, muted silence. His lungs burned, his head swam with dizziness, and then his chest became heavy... Almost like it was plugged. Then, just above him, there was a dark figure that seemed to be swimming down towards him; a small paw reaching for his, a pair of bicolored eyes gleaming at him through the rippling current. Hawkstar?... No, no it wasn't. These eyes were much more... Feminine? In his delirium, he couldn't quite recognize them. Maybe he'd close his eyes for awhile while he waited for them to reach him, just for a few moments. What felt like mere moments passed before Grouseclaw was no longer entrapped under the ground or soaked to the bone with water. Soft fur brushed his, the sound of gentle purring reaching his ears before an achingly familiar scent wreathed around him.
Wherever he was, it was warm, it was safe...

It was beautiful.

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total: 3,529 words
fernyfeline --> 1,550
TheFearlessHamster --> 1,979

Description

today i said goodbye to an older character of mine, grouseclaw ): FEELS BAD MAN!

Stop! You are not allowed to use, re-upload, trace, reference, or claim as your own. This art belongs to me.

-------------

Hawkstar
He wasn't ready, far from it. But what could he do? His paws were screaming and he was pretty sure he lost at least one or two claws from the friction. He could feel the water on his tail now, and he was ready to be plunged into the cold depths before a sudden pressure bloomed at the base of his neck. At first he had thought he hit his head, but found himself stilling. He hadn't realized his eyes had been slammed shut, but slowly he opened them up to realize Grouseclaw had caught him. No sooner than that, he was flung upwards, which gave Hawkstar the momentum he needed to securely grasp onto the cave wall and pull himself up. That was twice now, that Grouseclaw had done something to save him. Hawkstar would have to thank him when they were both out of this mess. Hawkstar worked double time now, doing his best to climb up as efficiently as ever. Closer he drew himself upwards, the opening just fox lengths away. They were gonna make it, freedom was just a few paw steps away. He glanced down now, searching for Grouse to make sure he was doing just as well. "Come on, the water's rising!" He encouraged, finding a stable outcropping of stone as he reached out to help his brother up.

Grouseclaw
You THINK? Grouseclaw wanted to yowl in response, grunting as the resulting expulsion of strength to launch Hawkstar upward resulted in his paws losing their own traction. His back legs slipped, and his abdomen struck the rocky slope awkwardly. The warrior let out a grunt of discomfort; hind legs scrabbling to find another foot hold. But no sooner had Grouseclaw slipped that something else was disrupted by his efforts to save his brother. The fragile layers of flint just ahead of him slid away; which had been keeping several large boulders in place on the incline. The boulders lurched forward, tumbling down the hill and sending a shower of slate and silt towards the rising water below. Grouseclaw let out a caterwaul of alarm, ducking his head down instinctively as he struggled even more to find a foot hold on the slippery rocks. But it was futile… The boulders rolled off a slope just above him; missing his neck and head, but landed on his back legs. His alarmed caterwaul turned to one of pain. He was trapped.

Hawkstar
”You’re almost th—“ The encouragement fizzled as Hawkstar’s bicolored gaze widened in horror. He lurched forward, prepared to pull his brother out of the way, but he was far too late. His brother’s pained wail rung in his ears as he carefully descended the slope, doing his best not to disturb the rock and flint. ”Grouseclaw!” He called out, wide eyes desperate as he slid over. ”Can you—“ The words then died in his throat as he noticed fully what had happened. Grouseclaw’s hind legs were crushed beneath boulders, and Hawkstar had a sinking feeling in his belly. The water was filling the cavern at a rapid pace, and the lanky tom knew they had very limited time. ”I’m gonna get you out, okay?” He reassured as he slid forward to assess the damage. He tried first to see if he could dislodge the rocks, but that task was far too dangerous. He knew he would slip and fall if he did so, and they would both be lost. Scrambling for a better foothold, Hawkstar glanced back to his brother once more. ”Okay I’m going to have to pull you up, alright? Once I start doing that, you try pulling yourself with your front paws, you think you can do that?” Hawkstar suggested, completely uncertain but desperate to try anything, he wasn’t going to leave Grouseclaw behind. He refused. He knew this would be painful however, but he hoped that their combined strength would be enough to get Grouseclaw to safety. ”Alright, on three!” Hawkstar called over the roar of the water. The rumbling was becoming more violent than ever now, threatening to dislodge Hawkstar from his position. But he luckily grounded himself enough so that when he positioned himself near his brother, he remained secure. ”One.” He wrapped his jaws around his brother’s thick scruff. ”Two.” Hawkstar then bit down, his voice garbled and unclear as he spoke the next words. ”Three!” Bracing himself, he pulled backwards with all of his Starclan given strength. His new life was still coursing within him, giving him the energy he needed to put his all into the action.

Grouseclaw
His first reaction was to panic; desperately attempting to yank himself out of the predicament he was in. It was visceral, primal, and certainly wasn't well thought out. Hawkstar was returning to him now, even as the next wave of rumbling caused stalactites to start falling from the roof of the cavern; plummeting towards the ground and splashing loudly in the rising water. He nodded breathlessly to Hawkstar as the leader arrived at his side, still trying to yank his legs from underneath the boulders. He wasn't thinking about doing more damage to himself, he wasn't thinking about the possible state that his legs were in, all Grouseclaw was thinking about was getting out. What Hawkstar recommended sounded better than doing what he was currently trying, or doing nothing at all, and the marbled tabby grunted in agreement; flexing the muscles in his shoulders and front legs as he braced himself to expend as much energy as possible. The water was at his mid stomach now, and Grouseclaw realized that their time was waning. One, two, three! As Hawkstar yanked him forward, Grouseclaw hauled himself forward with his forepaws, his back legs scrabbling feebly under the stones... He didn't budge.

Hawkstar
The tom had pulled with all his might, but in the end, nothing came from it. Still though, Hawkstar was determined. They were going to leave together! They had to! "I'm going to get you out, okay? Just hang in there, Grouseclaw." He spoke, the reassurance both for his brother and for himself. His voice shook and trembled, but it was clear the tabico tom meant what he said. Hawkstar was willing to bet his life for his brother's. "Okay, I'm going to try something." It was dangerous, extremely dangerous. With stalactites falling all around them, threatening to cause irreparable damage, Hawkstar knew that if he failed, it would mean certain death for the both of them. "I'm going to try and and see if I can dislodge you by going under." He gestured towards the water, rapid and threatening. Without waiting for a protest, the lanky tom took a deep breath and dove in. He was an acute swimmer when he wasn't knocked clear out, and his aptitude showed as he allowed himself to sink below the depths. It was cold, and dark but Hawkstar made sure to keep himself close, as to not stray. Immediately his bicolored gaze located the rocks and began hurriedly trying to remove them. He pushed, he pulled, but even he couldn't manage to make the earth move. His lungs were reaching their capacity and eventually Hawkstar had to come up for air. Bursting from the depths, the tom exhaled gustily, drawing in a large breath as his hungry lungs replenished themselves. He looked to his brother once more, and while he tried to keep the panic from his eyes, he could feel it settling in. He had to try again! "I'm gonna try again, this time, when I start moving them try to pull yourself up!" Once more, Hawkstar dove back him, allowing himself to swim towards the rocks. He gave his brother's side a poke, and hopefully Grouseclaw knew that to be the signal to start pulling himself upwards as Hawkstar tried again to desperately dislodge the heavy rocks. But before he could get much done, a stalactite came plummeting down. While it's momentum was partially slowed by the water, it managed to deeply graze Hawkstar's shoulder. Immediately blood bloomed from the wound, and the pain caused the air in the tabico's lungs to leave him. He almost choked, inhaling a lungful of water, but he managed to kick himself upwards towards the surface. Breaking through, Hawkstar coughed and sputtered, paddling towards the closest rock as he pulled himself up. He was bloody and wet, but still the leader found himself far too stubborn to let go. They had to leave this cavern together, they had to! "Grouseclaw!" He coughed, eyes desperate as he slid closer. "I think... Maybe I was able to move the rocks just a little.. Maybe" It was wishful thinking, but Hawkstar had to try.. He had to. "Maybe I can try pulling you up again?"

Grouseclaw
His front legs collapsed after several attempts of heaving himself out, his already low energy reserve quickly depleting. The fact that neither him nor his brother had eaten a meal since landing in this predicament wasn't helping his case. At Hawkstar's affirmation, all Grouseclaw could do was nod wordlessly; his sides heaving as he took a moment to gather himself. If I were fed, I'd be able to get out of this far easier. He vented internally. As Hawkstar dove beneath the rising water, Grouseclaw realized what he was trying to do. Adrenaline hit again, and Grouseclaw started to attempt and yank his back legs out from the boulders. But even with his brother's help, they seemed to not budge. Hawkstar came up for air, and Grouseclaw took that moment to allow himself to rest. His adrenaline was completely heightened, and he was convinced that if it weren't for that? He wouldn't even be able to lift his own head from the ground. He was exhausted. Images of Paleshine and his children flashed through his mind's eye at that moment; serving as a reminder to what he was fighting to return to. When the Riverclan leader dove under once more, Grouseclaw, again, hauled his upper body up. He felt the rocks give a little, just a little, and triumph flooded through him. If we keep this up, maybe I'll be able to get out. Just bit by bit. But as Hawkstar surfaced again, and as the trapped warrior allowed himself to sink back down to the ground, he was met by icy water that threatened to splash up his nose. In mere minutes, the water had risen tremendously. The stench of blood hit his nose abruptly, and Grouseclaw's broad head whipped around to stare at Hawkstar's lacerated shoulder. His brother was panicking, eyes wide, as he stammered.

Grouseclaw's expression shifted at that moment; his facial features relaxing into something eerily solemn. He... He understood now. He understood what had to be done, and what he must do. "Hawkstar." Grouseclaw interrupted his younger brother's musings, gently reaching a large paw to rest it on his bleeding flank momentarily. His blue eyes were blazing with ferocity, and yet? His tone was gentle.

"You have to let go."

"You have to let me go."

Hawkstar
"You have to let go." "You have to let me go." The words echoed harshly in Hawkstar's ears. It reminded him of the whispering in his dream, and he shook his head violently. "No!" He protested, his expression a hybridization between pain and desperation now. "Don't say that Grouseclaw! Remember Paleshine, your kits... And Owlmoon, you have to talk to her! You can't just.." He trailed off, unshed tears welling in his bicolored eyes. "No, you're going to get out of here, Grouseclaw. You have to." Choosing to ignore the way the water rose, and the way his shoulder hurt and how fatigue was beginning to cling to him, Hawkstar once more grabbed onto his brother's scruff and began to pull. He pulled and he pulled, the ground beneath him shifting dangerously. It was the sharp pain in his shoulder that had Hawkstar releasing his brother, wincing harshly as water now began to lick at his body. If he didn't get Grouseclaw out, he would drown! "Grouseclaw, please!" He begged, his voice almost child like in nature as he shook and trembled. "Don't do this... You can't do this... We.. I... I just got you back.."

Grouseclaw
The determined flames that blazed within the depths of his blue hues momentarily extinguished into something far more tender at the mention of his mate and children. Paleshine... Oh, Paleshine. Her voice, her scent, her. She and their three kits were all that he'd been able to think about while he and Hawkstar were trapped below the earth. Hawkstar then started to cling to him, to yank and yank at the tom's scruff... But all Grouseclaw could do was tip his head upward as the water rose towards his chin. For the first time in Hawkstar's life, he'd see tears in his brother's eyes. "Hawkstar, listen to me." He mewed, his tone low and soft. "When you get home, you tell them..." He broke off, closing his eyes as a massive shudder rippled down the length of his body; his eyes growing hotter. "You tell them that I love them. Each and every one of them. And you tell Owlmoon to go. Tell her to live life to the fullest; go out, explore, try new things, fall in love..." When he opened his eyes again, tears spilled over the waterlines of his eyes, and the determination that had been present in his gaze had returned. "You tell my family that I died a hero." Hawkstar's pitiful whimper resulted in a visible flinch from Grouseclaw, who reached out his paw and hooked it around Hawkstar's neck; bringing the lankier tom towards him in an embrace. "It's Starclan's will." He hissed painfully, trying to keep the sob that rose in his throat at bay. "And it's my last chance, my last chance to do what I should have always done, what I should have done for our entire lives..." "...And that is to protect my little brother."

Hawkstar
He wanted to scream at Grouseclaw, but he couldn't find the strength. All the words he wanted to say died in his throat as he watched the tears well in his brothers eyes. Hawkstar had never seen his brother cry before. He was always the epitome of strength, of decisiveness, of leadership. While crying was never a weak thing, at least not to Hawkstar, he was still surprised. Stunned in silence as his brother relayed to him his last words. "You tell my family that I died a hero" Hawkstar was about to protest, to deny Grouseclaw, but he found himself being pulled into an embrace instead. Tears spilled past his eyes then, sobs wracking his body as he pushed his muzzle into his brother's fur. "We're family.." He murmured, the sound muffled by a face full of fur as he sniffed. "We're supposed to protect each other." His words no longer held a stubbornness to them now. In fact, there was a clear sense of defeat in his tone. His heart felt like a stone, as he connected the dots. In the distance, he could hear whispering... "H̸a̶w̴k̶s̸t̵a̷r̶,̵ ̴y̶o̴u̷ ̶m̴u̸s̵t̷ ̴l̴e̵t̵ ̸g̷o̷.̸.̵.̶"

Grouseclaw
"And this is me protecting you." His counter was firm, but the gentle nature of Grouseclaw's tone remained ever present. The water was coming up even farther, and it would only be moments before the two of them were swallowed by the water. There was a grim sort of numbness taking hold of the warrior's body and soul; and as he took a moment to ponder it, he realized that this was acceptance. Acceptance of his own death on the horizon. "Like I should have been." Grouseclaw weakly rested his chin in the space between Hawkstar's shoulder blades as his younger littermate cried into his fur; his resolve melting as despair started to bite at his belly. He didn't want to go... But he would be damned if Hawkstar were in his place instead. "I'm sorry." He rasped, "I'm... I'm so sorry for everything." There wasn't time to go into the detail that Grouseclaw wanted to, like Hawkstar deserved. But somehow? He felt that his brother would know exactly what was left unsaid.

Hawkstar
The tears came freely now as the world raged around them, but Hawkstar was able to tune that out as his fur became sodden once more. He nuzzled further into his brother's fur, savoring his scent, the feel of his pelt. He knew Grouseclaw was right, and in that moment, the whispered words began to make sense. He had to let go, he had to leave... Brook had once given him a life, and it was of the same virtue. It made sense now, the dream, the familiarity in the disembodied voice. Hawkstar sniffled, nodding softly as he finally managed to pull away. He dried his tears and gazed into the blue pools of his brother's eyes, and in them found meaning. There was no time to convey all that they were sorry for, but Hawkstar knew in his heart what Grouseclaw had meant. He pressed his forehead against his brother's, a shaky exhale leaving him. "I... I'm sorry too." He stood now, his gaze never leaving Grouseclaw's as he nodded. There was such a sadness in his gaze, but a promise too. "I'll let them know.. That.. That you died a hero.." He'd make sure his brother's death meant something.

Grouseclaw
He nodded firmly, fighting to keep his lower lip from quivering as Hawkstar backed away from him, affirming that he would do what the senior warrior had requested. "Now go." He mewed, just as a large stalactite crashed into the water just behind them; sending a wave of water towards them that lapped over Grouseclaw's back. "Go!" He snarled out over the roar of the water, "Go and don't look back!" Go. Go live for Riverclan.

Hawkstar
"Go, go and don't look back!" Another wave of tears threatened to spill over, but Hawkstar did as his brother encouraged. With one last glance at Grouseclaw, he nodded and turned tail, quickly making his ascension as the water began to lick at his heels. Freedom was right there, awaiting him, but it was agony every step of the way. Fatigue was already gripping him, between the pain in his shoulder and the energy exhausted to try and free Grouseclaw he was moving a lot slower than he would like. But now he was only a few paces away. So desperately did he want to look back, to see his brother one last time. But he knew.. He knew at this point, the water would be over his head. His brother, was probably, at this very moment, drowning. His lungs burned, his throat felt tight as grief struck him. More tears threatened to make themselves known but he held them back with a sniff. No, he had to get out first. Grouseclaw's sacrifice wouldn't be for nothing. He would escape, and he would tell the Clan that his brother died a hero. Died protecting him, their leader. Gathering the rest of his strength, Hawkstar leaped forward and up through the hole, pulling himself just in time as the water hit the ceiling. Immediately, the earth crumbled and while Hawkstar had made it out alive, he knew that his brother's tomb had been sealed. Forever. There would be no way to get his body back. He squeezed his eyes tight as grief burned through him. He wanted to stop, to beat his paws bloody on the stones, to cry and scream. But he had a job to do. A duty to his brother, to Paleshine, to his clan. So he swallowed it down, lifted his chin, opened his eyes, and ran.

Grouseclaw
He watched as Hawkstar climbed up the steep incline, and as his banded tail vanished out of the small exit that lay out of his own reach. His blue eyes did not leave the spot where his younger brother had been, even as the earth started crumbling, and the cavern roof started collapsing. The water had risen to his chin, then above it... And now all Grouseclaw could do was wait. He instinctively held his breath, though his conscious self knew it was all futile. As the darkness above was obscured by water, Grouseclaw was surrounded in complete, muted silence. His lungs burned, his head swam with dizziness, and then his chest became heavy... Almost like it was plugged. Then, just above him, there was a dark figure that seemed to be swimming down towards him; a small paw reaching for his, a pair of bicolored eyes gleaming at him through the rippling current. Hawkstar?... No, no it wasn't. These eyes were much more... Feminine? In his delirium, he couldn't quite recognize them. Maybe he'd close his eyes for awhile while he waited for them to reach him, just for a few moments. What felt like mere moments passed before Grouseclaw was no longer entrapped under the ground or soaked to the bone with water. Soft fur brushed his, the sound of gentle purring reaching his ears before an achingly familiar scent wreathed around him.
Wherever he was, it was warm, it was safe...

It was beautiful.

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total: 3,529 words
fernyfeline --> 1,550
TheFearlessHamster --> 1,979