xx. old 'n' sore .xx

[ber !]

The day was beautiful, the sun shining brilliantly, the birds singing, the wind rustling through the trees. The world was diamond perfection, without a flaw. But bluish-gray eyes peered out of a dark bramble den, blank and observing. A sigh escaped the parted lips of a cat, aged and old. A frail, fragile body was under the protection of a large bramble roof. The she-cat stretched tiredly, another sad sigh coming from her mouth. Pain penetrated her limbs' joints slightly, but she did her best to ignore it. She drew her tongue over her impossible matted fur roughly, trying to smooth it out. With a grunt, she gave up and lied her head down.

A sour and cold loneliness washed over Berryleaf, and she let out a sad meow. The elder lied in the quiet den, all day and all night, usually alone. Occasionally cats visited and talked to her briefly. She quietly observed Purestar and Robinleaf's exchange, and then watched them go. The she-cat grunted and got to her paws and slinked out of the den, then plopped down at the entrance, letting the sun's rays warm her to the bone.

The elderly cat struggled to her paws once again, then stretched slightly. She padded to the fresh-kill pile and snatched up a vole, muttering to herself.

"I don't need other cats to fetch my food for me. I don't need them to take care of me!" the old queen rasped angrily, shakily padding back to her resting spot.

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[Pureyy]

Purestar arrived back at camp and took the chamomile and thyme leaves back to his den, he would deal with that when he went to bed. He meandered around camp and noticed Berryleaf sitting in her den, all alone. He had known Berryleaf his whole life, she was much older than him and he loved hearing her stories when he was a kit. He made frequent visits to her throughout his life, but lately he hadn't been keeping up with them.

He walked over to her den, he wasn't sure if she was sleeping or not, she had her back towards him. "Berryleaf?" he called.

[ber !]

Berryleaf's torn ear flicked multiple times as she tried to tear the vole's strong hide with her chipped teeth. Her blind eye stared blankly at the prey in frustration. Why, I'll be a blind bat. I'm getting weaker every day, she thought to herself timidly, an emotionless expression fixing itself onto her facade.

Her ears twitched with happiness at the call of her leader, Purestar, She lifted her head from where she was hunched over the prey and turned around to see the tom approaching.

Berryleaf had been a warrior ten moons when Purestar was born into the clan. She was getting old, but she still had fight in her. As he grew stronger and bigger, the she-cat grew weaker and developed more health problems. By the time he became deputy, she had spent three moons in the elder's den.

Now Purestar had became leader, and Berryleaf still was in the elder's den. She wondered if they were just waiting around for her to die. One less mouth to feed, she thought a bit sadly. "Purestar," Berryleaf let out a raspy purr, letting her tail dance behind her.

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[Pureyy]

"Great! You're awake," Purestar purred happily. He entered the elder's den and sat down. He wanted to start a conversation with the old she-cat, he knew she must need some cheering up. These days she was usually lonely in her den, all by herself. There were no other elders around, she was the last one, the tough one.

"How are you feeling today Berryleaf?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

The old she-cat had been a great influence in his life and in his leadership, it was a shame to see her deteriorating before him, while there was nothing he could do. She was one of his best friends, and he was so glad he had her support. I'm probably the only one that cares enough to visit her, other than the kits, he thought crossly.

[ber !]

Berryleaf sneezed in laughter, wearily and shakily picking herself up into a sitting position. "Why, Purestar. What is such a busy, noble leader like you doing wasting your valuable time on a silly old cat like me?" she rasped, wheezing in slight laughter. Her usually dull eyes were glinting with happiness at the sight of the tom. She still remembered his first time at the Gathering...

With a grunt she lapped her tongue weakly over her fores. "Not the best, Purestar. My joints are aching and these ticks are killing me," Berryleaf wheezed, rearing up a hind leg to kick at a scratch.

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[Pureyy]

He purred a little bit out of pure happiness. He just remembered that he had brought a mouse in from when he was out hunting for herbs with Robinleaf. He didn't intend to eat it so he had brought it here for Berryleaf.

"Well, I brought you this mouse and don't say no to it, because I know that's what you're thinking. I am most certainly not wasting my time, you are a dear friend, you were always there for me growing up," meowed Purestar, "as for the aching joints and ticks...I can have the apprentices sent here to do the ticks, and Robinleaf can make your joints feel much better. You tell me anything is wrong, I'll have someone on it before you can say 'mouse,' believe me."

After he was finished speaking he sat down and began to share tongues with Berryleaf. She needed some routine in her life, she couldn't just sit in her den all day unless she was feeling horrible. Otherwise the exercise would do her good she wouldn't have to leave camp, just maybe go around and visit the kits, or Robinleaf, or even me, he thought to himself.

[ber !]

Berryleaf wheezed in laughter, but didn't reject the offering. She bent down and tore through the flesh much softer than the vole's strong hide. She hungrily gulped it down, not hesitating to finish it all off, leaving only the bones. She nudged the skeleton away from herself and settled onto the ground, lying on her belly as she wearily lapped her rough tongue over her matted fur.

After a while, she looked up with a rough purr, her eyes gleaming with affection for the youngster. "You're too kind to me, Purestar. I'm nothing but a weak bag of bones and another mouth to feed. I don't see why you don't do away with me now," she rasped, but her smile remained on her facade and her eyes were still bright.

The old she-cat grunted at a seriously bad pain in her left shoulder, but she ignored it. This was no time for pain! She never got to visit with other cats! Berryleaf was not going to waste it complaining about how she hurt!

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[Pureyy]

"Are you kidding!? I would never "do away" with any cats! Not you, not anyone. Don't bring yourself down...I know where that will take you." Purestar told Berrylef.

Why is she so down on herself, I can see through her smile, I know she's in pain, I should do something about it... Purestar thought to himself. He walked up to Berryleaf and groomed a patch of her fur, he stopped, wondering why she always kept her fur so matted.

"Maybe I should go get Robinleaf. Wait, no, she'll be gone for awhile. Okay, wait here, I'll be right back." he said, concerned for her. He left her den and went over to the Medicine Cat Den, he had just brought some tansy back and he knew where he put it. He grabbed some and took it back to Berryleaf's den.

He placed the leaves he had brought to Berryleaf's den in front of her. "Eat these and they will help ease your joint pain. Don't say no because I heard you grunt, it's not good to just ignore the pain, someone must be told about it Berryleaf." he meowed.

He sat down in her den and waited for her to chew the leaves. While he was waiting he started to groom himself, important business was to be done today. Now he knew that wasn't true but he needed a distraction long enough for her to eat the leaves on her own.

[ber !]

Berryleaf leaned over to lap the leafs up with her tongue before chewing on them thoughtfully, not minding the bitter taste. Soon she reached weakly over to Purestar and lapped her tongue roughly over his cheek before sinking back down to the ground, sighing.

The old she-cat thought over Purestar's words, a sense of warmth washing over her frail body, making her purr shakily. "I wish I had something to do these days. Now I mostly stay in the den or nearby it, never leaving, just mostly sleeping and eating." she mewed, her aged facade deep in thought.

"I remember the first day I went to that place where you share tongues with MoonClan.. what is it called again?" the elderly cat struggled, frowning in concentration. "Oh yes, Moon Falls! Such a beautiful place. I sure miss it there." With a sad expression she lowered her head to the ground and sighed.

[Pureyy]

"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much Berryleaf, you'll get to go back there someday. If I wasn't busy I'd bring you there right now, but unfortunately I have some things to do...." Purestar trailed off, Tomorrow will be a new day though, maybe we can go tomorrow...how does that sound?"

He curled his tail over his front paws waiting for a reply from Berryleaf, he was excited now, that maybe he could take his lifelong friend back to the place that had brought her so much joy when she was younger. He knew she hadn't been there in a long time, maybe only once or twice since she had moved into the elder's den, and that was a long time ago now. He sat still patiently waiting for her reply.

[ber !]

Berryleaf let out such a purr that her whole body quivered with it as she lapped her tongue over Purestar's cheek multiple times. "Oh, that would be simply wonderful, Purestar! I can't think of anything that would make me more happy!" she exclaimed, excitement blazing in her eyes like she was an apprentice again. The liveliness in them returned and her tail snaked out behind aged body. She then parted her mouth, yawning and revealing her yellowing broken teeth.

The elderly she-cat bent her head down to gnaw at the mouse's soft flesh. She savored the foresty taste of it and dug in more ravishly, hunger taking over. Once she finished her meal, she scooted near her leader and shared tongues with him in silence as she watched the sun begin to set on the day.

Patrols were coming in quietly, some dropping prey into the piles, others taking it to the elders. A few warriors snatched up prey and took it over to their dens. The queens were sharing tongues as their kits played, always keeping one eye opened and on them.

[Songmorning]

Songmorning's eyes flickered open, and she sat up stiffly. She licked her fur and looked from Purestar to Berryleaf. "Did I hear something about MoonClan?" she inquired. Laughing a bit, she added, "It's good to see you, Purestar." Light streamed in through the entrance onto her fur, but it didn't shine like it used to. She licked it again, hoping to make it a little nicer.

[Pureyy]

Hello Songmorning!" Purestar purred cheerfully as he left the elder's den. He had to check on the patrols and see how they were doing. He had to see how the apprentices were coming along.

Before he left the den he paused at the entarnce. "Goodbye Berryleaf. I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully we can make that trip up to Moon Falls." he meowed happily, before padding out of the den.

He was excited about the prospect of venturing to Moon Falls with Berryleaf. He hoped that all would go well and they would be able to get there and back within two days. He knew he couldn't spend too much time away from camp in case there was a serious emergency, but he still doubted that this would be the case. It would be nice to have someone accompany him to Moon Falls aswell, he'd like the company of the elder very much.

[Songmorning]

Songmorning yawned and stretched, trying to get the cramp out of her back. "Ahh, Moon Falls," she sighed, "Do you think I'm invited, or is this just for you and Purestar?" She chuckled, thinking that if they were still young, that would have special meaning. Now, however, it could only mean she would have to stay in the Elder's Den. Still, she had her doubts whether she could make the long journey. She wasn't a kit anymore, after all.