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May 27, 2019 12:07:11 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on May 27, 2019 12:07:11 GMT -5
The young she-cat took a few more deep breaths as Ravenfang stalked his way over to them. She could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. She snapped her head up when the deputy turned his anger on Russetfur and ordered him out of their camp with a silent threat. Her eyes grew a little wider at just how quickly Ravenfang handed down the sentence without knowing just what had happened. She frowned snapping her head towards Russetfur narrowing her eyes again. The gale of this cat. Frowning she stood stiffly as the gathered cats broke the silence muttering amongst themselves. The mumbling of the cats was incomprehensible but, there was clear division in who the cats supported.
”This is Rainstar’s decision to make!” A voice yowled from the crowd. Hazelrunner’s frown only grew as she glanced around the gathered cats trying to discover just who was actually supporting Russetfur’s outrageous demands to stay in this camp. There were a few quiet mutterings of support of cats quietly nodding their heads in agreement. A sick feeling came over her stomach, instinctively she moved herself closer to the young Shadowclan tom who was cowering behind her. The rain pouring down made everything in the camp much tenser and oppressive.
Mousepaw sighed a little to himself as fell back a bit to give her space again. The remaining leg of the journey was rather miserable for all of the cats involved. Looking down towards the ground keeping his eyes down to try and keep the rain out of his eyes. He was just hoping that getting back to camp and talking to Ravenfang would help her with all of this, since he clearly wasn’t getting any help. Frowning he kept his eyes fixed straight ahead. It was clear to see that his feelings were likely a little hurt by her reaction.
The former Riverclan cat lead back across the moor but, kept glancing over her shoulder occasional to make sure they were able to keep up. The she-cat sighed relieved when she saw the camp coming into view. The journey back to camp was still not a fast one. By the time they arrived at the barrier of the camp the rain had even started to soak through her pelt. Pushing her way into the entrance she hesitated briefly when she saw the gathering in front of the medicine cat den. Scanning the faces of the cats gathered she felt the slightest bit of relief seeing Ravenfang had made it camp just fine but, that was quickly trumped by a feeling of apprehension seeing everything else that was going on.
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Shadowstartheleader
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May 28, 2019 6:41:30 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on May 28, 2019 6:41:30 GMT -5
Shadowpaw's eyes widened as Russetfur issued a challenge over the decision, something that he had never heard of before since his father came into power over his clan. This sort of challenge to power wasn't allowed there, and to hear it unnerved him. He sucked in a quick breath as he felt Hazelrunner growing closer--he knew that she was not going to do anything to hurt him, but he was startled by the fiery creature he had seen moments before and to feel her drawing close to him was strange for him directly after that experience. Still, he didn't pull away and kept his gaze fixed on Ravenfang and Russetfur.
Ravenfang blinked at Russetfur, surprised by the challenge yet not necessarily shocked--the cat felt cornered and he was desperate for anything to change his fate. Life out of the clans must be tough for him, leaving the lake with the smell of a clan and going somewhere he was not known. Still, he felt no pity for the cat. He took in a slow breath, trying to parse through how he should respond to this within his mind. He didn't particularly think a one on one challenge was how this matter was meant to be resolved. A warrior did not have the right to challenge this sort of thing. Yet he could also see the violence that was about to erupt when he entered, and if he simply refused the challenge, what might Russetfur do?
Then, as the muttering and murmuring of voices around him continued, most of which he had been shutting out in order to think through the matter in his own mind, one shout cut through the rest and brought him back to reality. Despite the past moon or so, the truth was that he was still the deputy; their leader was fighting same as them, and he needed to remember that he was not Rainstar. He released his pent up breath silently thanked the voice that had called out to him. "She's right." He grunted to Russetfur, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "This isn't truly my decision. We will wait for Rainstar to return from..." He bit his lip. He didn't actually remember seeing Rainstar for many hours inside of the Riverclan camp after the battle. With a thorn of worry poking its way into his mind, he looked about the surrounding cats. "Rainstar will decide this."
Leafpaw would of noticed how he felt if he had been looking towards him, but she was keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead for a reason. Her face showed the anxiety that had taken over her mind regarding Shadowclan and she didn't want to face that, nor the several reasons to feel guilty about her failure to be an adequate contributor to their clan. She continued on until they carried through the entrance, Mousepaw and Wrenflight close by her. Once she did it was utterly impossible not to feel the intense air of the camp and the growing crowd of cats about the outside of the medicine cat's den. Leafpaw sucked in a sharp breath as she saw Hazelrunner and someone's tail poking out from behind her figure, whom she assumed was Shadowpaw. Her eyes turned towards Russetfur, who was facing Ravenfang, neither of them seeming particularly calm and level-headed. She froze completely, knowing this was a bad moment to interject themselves. When she heard Ravenfang's proclamation, she grew somewhat confused, unsure of what exactly was happening here other than the signs of tension.
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Post by wildcharm on Jun 2, 2019 9:26:26 GMT -5
Hazelrunner forced her fur to lay flat against her back again, giving a few stubborn pieces a quick lick to smooth them over. She tried to ignore the pang of worry in her stomach. She couldn’t argue or disagree with what was being said...even if she wanted to. Frowning a little to herself she paused briefly to look towards Russetfur her ears going flat against her head. They couldn’t start ignoring rules like that even for horrible cats like him. It left her uneasy to think about the tom being allowed to walk around camp and continue to stir up trouble. A thought also crossed her mind that made her frown a little more to herself. She couldn’t remember seeing Rainstar in quite a while. She took a half step back from Shadowpaw not looking at him as she did so. It wasn’t clear if she realized how uncomfortable she had made him or was doing it more for her own reasons.
Speckleflower cleared her throat a little, seeming partially relieved with the fact an all out fight had been avoided. She paused looking at Ravenfang for a long moment. She wanted to ask him to go to her mate and tell him what had happened but, it was obvious he already was struggling to keep things together here without the added stress. Stepping back inside the medicine cat den she looked down at her kits who had cried themselves to sleep during all of this. Her heart broke a little more thinking about the fact that their own clan didn’t seem safe for them anymore. Lightening flashed and thunder crashed causing Cinderkit to wake up once again. Waking up with a start the fluffy kit was shaking as Speckleflower leaned down to try and comfort him.
Wrenflight watched the gathered cats apprehensively, not sure what to make of all of this. She glanced sideways at Leafpaw briefly. She had clearly had something pressing to talk to Ravenfang about but, now was clearly not the time. Frowning a little, her whiskers twitched as the raindrops slid down them. Blinking she was surprised when she heard a bit of hesitation in his proclamation, still not certain as to where the leader was. That was the main reason he had come back to camp in the first place, since she hadn’t been in Riverclan camp. Right before she had gone to speak to Otterstar she had stopped to speak to his new deputy, Silverfang, she had no idea where the Windclan leader was either. Even though it maybe a bad time to cut in she made her way forwards to try and get a better understanding of what exactly was going on in this camp. Slipping her way through the gathered cats she balked a little when she got a good look at the cats involved. She wouldn’t have expected to see Hazelrunner and Shadowpaw at the center of this, Tawnyface was a different story of course. The crowd of cats slowly started to break apart, the heavy rain driving quite a few back towards their dens now that the issue had been put on hold for the time being.
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Shadowstartheleader
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Jun 25, 2019 2:28:53 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jun 25, 2019 2:28:53 GMT -5
Shadowpaw could not help but notice as Hazelrunner stepped away from him, more importantly stepping away from him without a word or even a glance. He couldn't help but wonder what lead her to turn away so abruptly as the conflict around them seemed to subside yet fail to rest as he heard Russetfur barking something else towards Ravenfang. Yet, his attention had finally been pulled away from the aggressive and provocating tom-cat as Hazelrunner silently pushed the fur of her pelt down with her tongue to try to settle the tension she had been feeling.
Unease was gnawing at the very bottom of the stomach as he wondered if she was disappointed in the way that he had shriveled up in conflict with Russetfur. She had stepped in and, with an almost rage-like disposition about her, had seemed ready for an actual fight against Russetfur. He couldn't help but ponder if she was unhappy he had failed to speak for himself, even though her spoken rage had been clearly directed at Russetfur for his pathetic and worthless lingering in Windclan. He wondered if she would turn her anger on him if he tried to say anything, feeling, it seemed to him for the first time, anxiety that her kindness might falter for some time and turn to anger against him. This fear was biting at him and making him flinch as he tried to take one step closer to her.
Shadowpaw searched the last two months of his life, forcing himself to take notice of every moment he had spent in the Windclan territory. He remembered the irrational turn Rainstar had taken against him, taking him in only to shortly speak out against him, losing to the voice of Hazelrunner and Ravenfang. He thought about Amberberry and Russetfur, trying to forcefully remove him from the clan and failing thanks to the ready-to-defend tooth and claw of Hazelrunner. He thought of his new training and the patience of Hazelrunner as he failed in practically every matter a basic warrior should of been capable of, perservering through them until she taught him and drilled him to success. And when even Ravenfang began feeling uncertain of his role in Windclan, it was Hazelrunner who met with him out of camp to continue their work even if it would have been scorned by the deputy.
Swallowing the anxiety and uncertainty that he felt as he gazed at Hazelrunner's back, thinking through everything he had been through in Windclan, everything she had guided him through, he finally snapped at the gnawing in his gut. If any cat in the world deserved the trust and faith he only had had for one other cat, Hazelrunner was the cat who deserved it. He swallowed a second time before taking a step closer to her and gently pressing his nose against her right shoulder. "Hey...I...I'm sorry...that I..." He swallowed once more, trying to push back the anxiety from building within him again as he actually approached her and tried to figure out if she was disappointed in him. It was still a fear-provoking thought even if he had pushed himself to trust she would not lash out at him in rage. "...I didn't say anything..." He may have failed to notice it, but he seemed hyper-focused on his cowering before Russetfur's increased aggression, and not paying any mind to the fact he had defended her, another cat--probably for the first time in his lifetime.
"Then go find Rainstar, already! I want to get this over with so I won't have to look upon your cowardly gait anymore!" Russetfur seemed unwilling to back down more than a couple steps as Ravenfang seemed to deny his challenge yet try to sidestep the responsibility by laying it at the paws of their leader. A moon ago he wouldn't think this was the measure he would have to take to keep Windclan from falling to Shadowclan's corruption, but he knew Ravenfang had fallen from his stoicism and was whispering in the ear of Rainstar. Starclan would be turning about in their territory and yowling the foolishness of their situation. He had to make this right, and end Ravenfang's influence here. Then get rid of the Shadowclan pox for good.
Ravenfang turned away from Russetfur finally, not acknowledging or responding to the comment as he turned to look about the camp, not thinking that Rainstar was here. As he searched for her, his gaze passed over the entrance to the camp, and he quickly noticed the gazes of his daughter and Wrenflight fixed directly on him. His attention was immediately ripped from the current situation as he approached the two of them. His gaze first turned to Wrenflight. "What happened?" he quietly murmured as he grew close and gently nuzzled her. He didn't seem to notice the strange stare of Leafpaw as the apprentice quickly looked back and forth between the two of them, like she hadn't exactly...realized what might have been occurring here.
Tawnyface had to pull herself away from this situation. Now that Ravenfang had stepped in and effectively pulled the thunder away from Russetfur and herself, she had a half moment to think about what she was doing. She knew that Longshadow would heavily discourage this sort of vapid combat that truly had no end besides the protection of her own pride, as important as that may be. Ravenfang had taken command and made certain that Russetfur would soon be dealt with, and she didn't particularly believe the deputy would fall short of his word. She did not yet had reason to believe so.
So, she slunk away on silent pawsteps as she made for the entrance of the den. She didn't acknowledge Shadowpaw or Hazelrunner on the way--in fact, it seemed her gaze seemed to avoid completely their direction. She could not admit this to any cat nearby, but in the middle of many of her thoughts was a confused an introspective question--why of all situations had Shadowpaw been able to speak up the way he did, and what had brought him this far?
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Jun 26, 2019 22:02:02 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jun 26, 2019 22:02:02 GMT -5
Hazelrunner had to separate herself from the situation long enough to get a hold of herself again. She reminded herself of the fact that no matter how much she might want to stoop down to Russetfur’s level, to claw his ears out and drive him out of camp, she couldn’t. This was a sentiment she had to repeat to herself over and over again in an attempt to drown out his loud yowls for action. She didn’t want to accidentally misplace her anger and take it out on Shadowpaw, so she stepped away until she could get a handle of her own emotions, which were only amplified from her remaining uneasiness about the Dark Forest. She carefully worked to make her fur lay flat again.
A soft touch to her shoulder, she blinked as it seemed to draw her out of her thoughts and brought her back to reality. She couldn’t hide the confusion from her eyes when he apologized...for not speaking up against the piece of crowfood. The end of her tail lightly flicked on the ground beside her paws as she tried to understand because in her mind he had plucked up the courage to come to her defense during the confrontation. In fact she had been quite proud of him in the moment for finding his voice like that, but unfortunately it had been buried under a layer of outrage. A bit of hurt was felt at the thought that her anger had even made Shadowpaw afraid of. “I’m not angry with you Shadowpaw.” She clarified, mewing softly consciously working to make sure the edge was gone from her voice. “I was really proud of you for standing up for me. It’s a big step for you.” Steadying her tone she did her best to smile to show that she meant it whole heartedly. Her shoulders slumped as she looked away again from the apprentice focusing instead on the ground near her paws.
“I’m sorry I got worked up like I did, I shouldn’t have lost my temper but.....” She trailed off, forcing herself to not even look in the ex-Windclan cat’s direction. “I’m sorry.” She finished snapping her eyes back towards Shadowpaw still keeping her sitting position. The last thing she would ever want was for Shadowpaw to be afraid of talking to her...or feeling like he had to apologize to make her happy. Her ears went back against her head when Russetfur’s continued yowls were getting harder to ignore. Sighing heavily to herself she kept her eyes on Shadowpaw. Her shoulders felt weighed down by her own worries and worries of Dawnstar. It was taking its toll on her.
The queen couldn’t take it anymore, this had gotten so far out of paw. She had carefully pulled herself out the nest away from her sleeping kits. Narrowing her eyes she made her way out into the the clearing as cats seemed to be looking about trying to locate Rainstar if she was even in camp. Speckleflower however was focused on Russetfur. “Russetfur please. I have two kits who have been through a fox attack. They can’t stand all this.” She mewed flatly as she made her way up to the tom with a lightly lashing tail.
The she-cat’s eyes flickered between Russetfur and Ravenfang as he approached the pair of them. Drawing closer to the tom she paused to nuzzle Ravenfang affectionately. Hesitating briefly the she-cat shook her head. “I’m not welcome in Riverclan camp anymore.” Wrenflight said softly with hurt laced through her words having to admit it out loud. Otterstar had clearly felt betrayed by the news that she was leaving the clan. “We don’t need to get into this now.” She mewed softly flicking her ear in the direction of Leafpaw. While she was still processing everything.
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Shadowstartheleader
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~The world may be dark, we may be lost forever, but we stand a chance as long as we're together~
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Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jul 2, 2019 0:53:56 GMT -5
Shadowpaw couldn't help but notice the tension inside of Hazelrunner as he tapped her shoulder with his nose, and gulped as she seemed to leave her fur in its state and stared at him for some moments. He awaited her response as he wasn't certain whether he had said the right thing, or how she was really feeling about his part in the conflict. Still, he had committed to asking her this question instead of leaving his own brain to venture an answer.
He felt like there was some strange tone to her voice as she began responding, promising that she wasn't angry at him, but he tried to push it out of his mind--Russetfur had truly angered her and perhaps it was leaving her with a bad taste in her mouth. It seemed more than possible to him, and if there had been doubt in his mind, it was thrown into the lake as her tone shifted and she praised that he had spoken up at all. He couldn't prevent a small smile from twitching onto his lips as she placed a smile on her face. He was about to open his mouth and say something, though he didn't know exactly what he should say to this praise; though before he could take time to select the words her shoulders slumped, her smile vanished and her head fell. In one instant, his own smile faded and the warmth that had been growing in his chest vanished.
His mind blanked for a couple moments as she began apologizing for her temper, as he just wanted her to look up and smile at him again the way she had--matched with the praise it had brought him a bubbly warmth inside of his chest that he had no memory of feeling before and all he wanted now that it was gone for it to come back. As he, for some reason or another, ached for its return he tuned back in to what she was saying, he only caught back onto her last words, apologizing as her eyes focused on his own in a hard effort to keep her attention away from Russetfur's obnoxious yowling. He couldn't help but notice the exhaustion in her expression, leading him to wonder just how much all of the recent action was weighing down on her. She always seemed so steadfast, with an iron endurance to the Shadowclan apprentice, but was it a camouflage that was now slipping as she lost her temper with Russetfur? Was she struggling to keep her strength against his old clan?
He couldn't help but feel a guilt begin pressing down on his heart as he could finally see something in her eyes that he had not before. He gulped as he had to acknowledge the fact that his presence in the clan was bringing this to their paws and they were contending with so much of this now because of his departure.
He felt her eyes still peering into his, and he almost wondered as he wondered about his own guilt whether she was waiting for him to say something, anything, to hold off the tide of madness that seemed to be their current moment. he blinked once, trying to push his own thoughts away for just a few moments, just long enough to say anything--she had apologized to him for her temper, but he didn't feel like it came to something as simple as her temper. The look in her eyes were leading him to feel that way. He pulled one step closer again, keeping contact with her eyes for half of a moment before beginning to press down some of the fur he had rustled up with his nose on her right shoulder. He did this for a few moments before it lay flat, and he looked down on the ground between their paws. "It wasn't your fault." It was a quiet murmur, but he firmly believed Hazelrunner was responsible for none of what was happening, and that conviction lead to some sort of clarity and firmness in his quiet murmur that lent it a genuineness. "None of this is your fault..." He mumbled more quietly, possibly tipping her off to the fact he might be hypothesizing there was more going about her head than yowling at Russetfur.
His eyes shut as he thought of all the actions Hazelrunner had taken to pull him from Shadowclan and keep him safe here, and he felt a powerful dizziness beginning to take him as he considered the weight it might be imparting on her to take charge of all of this danger. It was danger she had taken for her clan's safety, certainty, but...it had begun with him letting himself fall in a river, with no other threat around, and her decision to pull him out. And hadn't that been the best thing for him, looking in retrospect? Sure, it was hard to say he was 'happy' or felt 'safe.' But he was learning, and there was someone here who stuck her neck out for him again and again. His mother had taught him that was dangerous, yet she sometimes did it anyways. And Hazelrunner...she did it more than sometimes.
All of these thoughts pressed against him and he swayed to the side a little as the weight of their relationships slammed down on him. Thinking of everything she had done, he felt a small part of that same warmth that had risen in response to her smile rebirthing itself within his chest. His eyes snapped open and he tried to catch himself before falling to the side as he tried to bring his mind back to the present and the she-cat in front of him.
Russetfur's gaze turned on Speckleflower as he heard sudden mewling of protest calling out to the she-cat who was now approaching and pleading flatly with him to leave this for the sake of her kits. He thought of the two kittens who were now crying for their mother. How they got out in the first place was another matter to be laid at the paws of Ravenfang, but even as his eyebrows narrowed at her, he couldn't turn his head abruptly to a plea for the sanity of the clans kittens. His goal was to remain here after Ravenfang, after all. He said nothing to Speckleflower, instead turning towards where the deputy had been, ready to bark one final time about finding the leader before seeing that he had turned away and left. Emitting a low growl, he turned back to Speckleflower as he saw the deputy was already conversing with the fish-pelt again. "I won't wait a moon."
Ravenfang felt a weight drop to the pit of his stomach as Wrenflight let him know how well the interaction had gone, and he sighed quietly as he tried to process the dismal news. He opened his mouth to voice his sorrow for her, but she told him they needn't speak of it all here, and with a second quiet sigh he shut his mouth. This might make a positive relationship between Windclan and Riverclan a more difficult one to manage, as well as the fact that they still needed Rainstar's full approval for Wrenflight to remain here for good. He expected, put into a bind, Rainstar wouldn't be predisposed to deny them, but...it would still place Wrenflight in a very bad position acclimating to living here.
He noticed the wide eyes of Leafpaw staring at Wrenflight, thought he didn't know if it was because of the affectionate nuzzles they had exchanged or the news she was now banned from Riverclan. He awkwardly cleared his throat. While it was a very tough choice, requiring a lot of intense and deep thought, it took him half a second which one of those to address. "Wrenflight isn't feeling that her heart belongs within Riverclan anymore, and..." His gaze returned to Wrenflight. "...and, well...maybe I should let her explain it..."
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Jul 3, 2019 22:19:35 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jul 3, 2019 22:19:35 GMT -5
Keeping her eyes fixed on the ground, her noisy thoughts filled her ears in the intervening silence. Her actions had disappointed not only herself, but Ravenfang as well, and seemingly frightened Shadowpaw. That last thought held more precedence in her mind at the moment. It was like a sharp sting from a nettle in her fur. She didn’t know what she expected him to say, or if she expected him to say anything at all. She wouldn’t blame him for leaving her alone with her sudden feelings of worry and guilt. It was a perfect storm of horrible emotions that she was having trouble working past.
His words managed to break through the dark clouds gathering in her head. Picking her blue eyes up again she met his own to stare at him for along moment. Her eyes had softened and rounded. He didn’t say what she expected him to say, but certainly what she needed to hear. While his voice was little more than a quiet mutter, his words carried a certainty she wasn’t used to hearing. That was twice in one day he had surprised her with how sure of himself he could become when he needed to be. It gave way to the resurgence of the warmth filling her chest once again. All at once she was on her paws when she caught sight of Shadowpaw staggering on his paws, like something unseen had collided with him.
“Hey Shadowpaw...” She mummers softly, her eyes clouding over with concern. Hazelrunner carefully observed him for a moment before she moved to approach him. The past two days had taken a heavy emotional and physical toll on both of them. Squaring her shoulders again she picked her head up, forcing those thoughts aside. Taking a deep breath she stepped towards the young tom. “I think it would both do us some good to have some peace to get some peace and quiet.” The molly suggested although doing her best not to let her voice waver too much. He needed her comfort as much as he needed her own at times. Her eyes briefly drifted back to Russetfur. Her own feels of doubt beginning to creep back into her mind.
This feeling of fear and uncertainty was something she hadn’t felt with this much intensity in quite a long time. It made her feel almost sick and nauseous if she lingered on it to long. Sighing she carefully turned away from the gathered cats. She just wanted to be able to make these feelings and thoughts disappear completely. The end of her tail snaked anxiously from side to side.
Speckleflower held herself up tall against the tom. His spitting and anger had hardly done anything to make her waver from her spot. That became, abruptly harder when the mewling of her own kits reached her ears. Frowning a little to herself she watched the outraged tom. She turned and narrowed her eyes in return. “Then don’t. Stop waiting and find Rainstar for yourself.” The queen pointed with a light hiss before turning to make her way back to her kits. This squabble between the toms was not her biggest concern. Her kits were and she would do just about anything to keep them safe, especially now.
Wrenflight was doing her best take this all one pawstep at a time. She was still in shock about it all. It would take time for all of this to really sink in. She knew it was going to be a daunting task to adjust to being in Windclan on her own now. There was no turning back from this point. Blinking she looked between Ravenfang and Leafpaw. She had only interacted with the apprentice a few times so, it felt strange to lay herself bare in a way. Especially when Leafpaw hadn’t asked any questions yet. Nodding her head slowly she shifted her weight from one paw to another while moving to gather her words. “Ravenfang is absolutely right.” She admitted her eyes flickering from daughter to father and then back again. “A lot of terrible things have happened in Riverclan. My leader, my littermate, and so many of my clanmates lost their lives there.” She could still perfectly visualize the assault from Shadowclan. She could still see Shadestar as the last of his lives left him. “It isn’t a place I can bring myself to be anymore.” Wrenflight did her best to explain. She wasn’t sure how good of a job she did. Once she finished she glanced back towards Ravenfang with an uncertain glance. How would all of this sound to a cat who didn’t know her very well at all?
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Shadowstartheleader
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Jul 3, 2019 23:07:28 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jul 3, 2019 23:07:28 GMT -5
Shadowpaw caught himself on his paws, recentering himself and trying to shake the dizziness from his head. He tried pushing this menagerie of thoughts overwhelming him away to keep himself grounded in the moment. Four or five seconds passed before his stance finally steadied and his eyes focused back on Hazelrunner's. He heard her suggestion and he simply gave a nod of agreement as she squared her shoulders. His eyes passed her shoulder to the entrance of the camp. He listened to the arguing still happening around them, and with the weight of the conflict still threatening to break their mental fortitude at any moment, he felt the appeal of stepping out for some simple peace.
He pivoted towards the entrance of the camp, gazing at Hazelrunner to make certain this was her idea as well considering that they were not going to find any peace here. He started towards the entrance of the camp and checked to see that she was at his side. He didn't want to be stopped by Ravenfang or Leafpaw right now, as he saw their group hovering near the area around the entrance. He didn't know how he could explain the emotional weight and stress he was feeling right now, and he might just break down having to think through all of what was happening again.
Leafpaw listened with a sense of astonishment still hovering over her head. She wasn't necessarily shocked that Wrenflight was struggling with what had happened to her clan. She knew a few other cats that were at odds with what had happened to their clan and who couldn't see themselves...or at least...she didn't think would see themselves there again. Certainly Tawnyface might, but...
Pushing the tangent out of her mind, she listened as Wrenflight finished her brief explanation. She finally opened her mouth and said something, though there was a curt and awkward tone to her voice that hinted at her further puzzlement. "I...understand that. You lost a lot of cats you knew...hopefully you can still be friends with those that are alive," She bit her lip as she finished speaking, her gaze drifting to her surrogate father, holding on him for a few moments, before she returned her gaze to Wrenflight. "And...you are...umm..." Her cheeks went a little red as her head filled with a strange rush of uncertainty about asking such a question. "...the two of you...you're...uhmm...you know....a...thing...?" With how vocal Otterstar had been about the matter in their camp it was a wonder that this seemed to be the first tiding of Wrenflight and Ravenfang being somewhat serious that Leafpaw had received. Furthermore, she seemed very put off by it, like it was weird to think about Ravenfang...with some cat.
Ravenfang felt an awkward embarrassment as Leafpaw utterly struggled to voice the realization that she was coming to, although they hadn't been especially secretive; cats had certainly noticed the first night she had joined him in the leader's den back when he slept up there. Now he had returned to the warrior's den, and, well...cats noticed who he was usually curled around, too.
He saw two familiar figures heading for the exit of the camp, and quickly began wondering why they were leaving in a moment like this, but the stammering daughter in front of him seemed to be demanding his attention for the moment, and he knew it might leave her with a very weird, or very poor taste in her mouth if he just left Leafpaw behind...perhaps Wrenflight would chew him up about it as well.
As Shadowpaw stepped outside of the camp, he sucked in a sharp breath of immediately cooler and calmer air. The tension of the camp trailed behind him on his pelt but he hoped to quickly be padding away from it as they looked for something to do or somewhere to meditate a moment on the moor to get away from the horrid tension that only seemed to continue stacking up upon their shoulders.
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Jul 4, 2019 10:24:25 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jul 4, 2019 10:24:25 GMT -5
Hazelrunner felt a tiny bit of the tension leave her when Shadowpaw silently agreed. Turning herself to follow his line of sight she looked at the entrance for a moment before glancing around the still hectic camp. The confrontation between them and Russetfur had seemingly a ripple effect. There were other arguments now erupting in camp. It made a cold chill run down her spine, thinking about her own clanmates fighting amongst themselves. Hazelrunner blinked to get her thoughts in check before nodding her head to Shadowpaw and moving to follow him out of camp.
She kept herself pressed closed to his side as they made her way out of camp. Her tail waved behind her as she spotted Ravenfang, Leafpaw, and Wrenflight all awkwardly standing around. She was relieved that Ravenfang was too distracted to keep them from leaving camp. If she stayed here any longer she might be able to keep her from breaking down right then and there. Now more than ever she needed to be in the quiet sanctity of the moor.
Stepping through the camp entrance the cold wind brushed her face and gently tugged her fur. It brought her back to life in a way. Taking in a deep breath she turned to look at the apprentice. The young warrior slowly sunk her claws into the wet grass underpaw. Finding it in her she smiled ever so slightly to herself before moving to glance towards Shadowpaw. She wasn’t particular as where they might go, just as long as it was far from camp. Hazelrunner hoped that their daunting problems wouldn’t trail along behind them. She hoped they would wait until they were strong enough to confront them.
Wrenflight flicked her ears back carefully, doubt flashing in her eyes. It wasn’t as simple as that anymore. The most she could possibly hope for now that some of her former clanmates would come to understand why she felt like she had to leave. Thea was neither here nor there. She nodded lightly to Leafpaw. “I...hope so as well.” She whispered wistfully taking a deep breath.
The she-cat blinked in surprise as Leafpaw managed to finally get out the question that she had probably really wanted to ask. Oh dear Starclan, it was one difficult question after another that she wasn’t really prepared for really. Wrenflight tried not to dwell too much on the fact that Leafpaw was clearly put off by the thought of her and Ravenfang being together. “Yes...I guess we are...a thing.” She mewed smiling softly not knowing what else to say, they still had a lot of things that were still left unsaid between the two of them. She resisted the urge to look towards the tom standing close to her for his reaction, instead waiting to see how Leafpaw would react to it all.
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Shadowstartheleader
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~The world may be dark, we may be lost forever, but we stand a chance as long as we're together~
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Jul 4, 2019 13:30:32 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jul 4, 2019 13:30:32 GMT -5
Shadowpaw didn't pull away from her as Hazelrunner was pressed closed to him, appreciating the warmth of the warrior and the proximity to her, especially now that her anger seemed to have dissipated and any anxiety regarding that had no standing any longer. Having stepped out of camp, he gave a long sigh of relief as they pulled away from the camp and the sounds of conflict were left behind in exchange for the nearly silent moor, lightly pressed upon by a small shower that was unnoticable and unimportant in the tense clan environment. He didn't mind the light drizzle as it tapped at his pelt, only feeling it cooling down his tense and stressed body. It wasn't anything close to a storm, and he didn't mind it.
His eyes drifted blankly around the moor and they started on its open landscape, uncertain which way to go, and only avoiding the way back to Shadowclan. He simply followed close and was ready to stay close to her if Hazelrunner made any adjustment in direction. He felt like he could breathe now, and he pulled in breaths calmly as the tension from the camp dropped off from him just a little bit with each pawstep. The warmth that had returned to his chest was still pulsing through his heart and leaving him content with their escape.
Leafpaw gazed at her as Wrenflight doubtfully pondered the sentiment, though the apprentice had no way to know just how complex the matter would be given her own youth and lack of experience...leaving a clan.
She had but to brace herself as Wrenflight stared at her for a few moments as Leafpaw pressed the question in the most awkward way possible. As Wrenflight answered the question, she didn't particularly feel surprised, yet was unable to describe how it made her feel. Without saying anything, her gaze drifted to Ravenfang, who seemed to look pensative more than anything.
Ravenfang felt a small swell of affection as Wrenflight confirmed that, yes, they were a thing, despite how many things they hadn't particularly discussed. There were still a lot of questions in the air, about her staying here, about their relationship, about their future, but he nonetheless was pleased to hear the answer and stored her words in the back of his head. Then he had to return his attention to Leafpaw.
As her gaze moved back to him, he recentered his attention on her and prepared himself for any problem his surrogate daughter might have. He didn't know what she was thinking, but it was going to matter to him regardless. He gulped, a talon of anxiety building itself up in his chest. He didn't want her disapproval on top of the numerous issues that were already plaguing his mind. He gazed at her, their eyes locked together. "Is something wrong, Leafpaw?" It was a quiet and gentle mew.
Leafpaw listened as Ravenfang finally said something and asked her a question, leaving the moss ball on her side of the clearing. Biting her lip more intensely she gave a light shake of her head and tried to choose the words to voice how weirdly this was making her feel, though she was not having success and hadn't been for the last minute. Her gaze returned to Wrenflight for a few moments, an intense stare piercing the warrior. She wanted to say something about the warrior code, but hadn't that been tossed aside moons ago by Shadowclan? And even with their commitment to still following it, it was a well known fact that one of the rules frequently scorned was the rule of who could be loved and who couldn't.
Instead, her gaze returned to Ravenfang. "No, its...f-fine..." She finally stammered out something, though it might have been the least convincing thing that she had ever said to any cat. She sounded insecure and uncertain and it was clear something was really bothering her about it.
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Jul 4, 2019 14:41:17 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jul 4, 2019 14:41:17 GMT -5
The young warrior turned her eyes up towards the sky to watch the raindrops lightly drizzling down on her pelt. She didn’t have any particular destination in mind as she slowly moved to walk along slowly taking the lead, but never getting very far from Shadowpaw’s side. Her paws eventually directed her towards the lake. Her eyes would occasionally wander towards Shadowpaw. A feeling of comfort and warmth slowly came over her, despite the cold raindrops. Moving to sit herself down on shore she sighed ever so lightly. The weight on her shoulders had all, but disappeared for the moment.
She flicked her ears forwards hearing the chirping of frogs in the distance. It was so far removed from camp it seemed like an entirely different world. Hazelrunner had luckily started to focus more of herself in the present moment then what was back at camp.”It’s peaceful out here.” She mewed sounding both reverential and relieved all at once. She turned to Shadowpaw wrapping her tail neatly around her paws as she did so.
Wrenflight watched an unknown emotion come over Leafpaw’s face. She wasn’t sure what to think. There was no easy way around this. She didn’t think that Leafpaw would accept the news with open paws. It was a strange position that Leafpaw’s question had put all three of them in. She risked a look at Ravenfang to gauge his reaction. She had been a tiny bit concerned that her answer was going to freak Ravenfang out. They hadn’t actually discussed any of this with each other, not really. He didn’t seem outraged or put off by her answer, but he was clearly concerned by what Leafpaw thought about all of this, even finding his own voice to ask her the question outright. She took that as a good sign of how he felt.
A ball of anxiety settled itself in her chest as she turned to the apprentice, it being their turn to ask her questions. Wrenflight told herself not to be overly disappointed however his adoptive daughter decided to respond. Maybe there was a better way to tell her, but the rabbit was already out of borrow now. While Leafpaw gave reassurances, it was clear that there was clearly something still very much bothering her about all of this. Taking a deep breath the end of her tail twitched from side to side anxiously.
”Leafpaw, I understand if this is all...weird for you. If there’s something bothering you can tell us.” The she-cat newest softly her brow furrowing lightly. She wasn’t sure what exactly she should or could say. This had all just happened and all she could do was try to make sure things weren’t left unresolved. She squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment. If she had had more time to talk with Ravenfang before hand maybe this wouldn’t be so difficult to do, but she couldn’t be sure of that either. Taking a deep breath she looked at Leafpaw seeming to have earnest concern for how she was feeling about all of this.
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Shadowstartheleader
Friendship Rank 4
~The world may be dark, we may be lost forever, but we stand a chance as long as we're together~
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Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jul 5, 2019 2:36:13 GMT -5
Shadowpaw had to agree as she voiced how peaceful it was at the lake. As they had been approaching he had felt a greater calm come over him, knowing being out here with Hazelrunner left no threat to fear and gave them the chance to take a moment to themselves. He came to a stop as she approached and sat at the shore of the lake. A light smile made its way onto his face after he gave a light sigh, coming to a stop beside Hazelrunner as he gazed out at the long, glistening and rippling lake as the drops of water pelleted down beautifully before them.
He gently settled down close to her, feeling most of the stress finally left behind as they got off of their paws for a moment. His ears perked as she voiced what the both of them were thinking and he nodded along a few times in agreement. he let the quiet stay with them a few more moments as he gazed out across the water. "...the rain is perfect. I hope it doesn't speed up...and there's only a little wind...its not...too chilly."
He looked down at his paws, his ears drooping a little and his mood seeming to fall for but a moment. "Can I...tell you a story?"
Ravenfang could see there was something bothering Leafpaw, and he felt immensely underprepared to address whatever concern she had given how sudden this had been. He had not even thought about walking up and nuzzling the she-cat as something bothersome and it hadn't helped that he had assumed word had just...gotten around with how obnoxious Otterstar had been about them at times.
Leafpaw didn't even know what it was that was bothering her, but something about this felt off. There was nothing particularly bothersome about Wrenflight that she could think of, but something was on her nerves at the moment and she couldn't pinpoint her paw on the matter. Not certain what she was supposed to respond to the offer with, she just awkwardly shook her head. "N-no, its...fine..."
Ravenfang felt a headache coming on as Leafpaw simply denied to offer any of what was bothering her, knowing he had already snapped at her a couple times and that this sudden revelation to her, due to his assumption she had already known, might aid in her becoming a little more distant to speaking openly with him. After all, this might make her feel like he wasn't being that open with her. That was the last thing he wanted.
He bit his lip as he felt it was critical he get in front of this and explain whatever he could to her. He took a step closer to her and opened his mouth for a few moments while he chose his words carefully. "P-please tell me what's going on in your head, Leafpaw. Whatever it is. I can take it. J-just...tell me whats wrong..."
Leafpaw stared up at Ravenfang as he pulled in closer to her, insisting that she say something about what was going about her head. She felt a nervous edge overtaking her as he, whether he meant to or not, placed pressure on her to create some answer to explain her thoughts. Stammering for a couple moments as he intensely stared down at her, she finally managed to sputter out a "I-I d-don't know..."
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Jul 5, 2019 10:33:36 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jul 5, 2019 10:33:36 GMT -5
Nodding in agreement to Shadowpaw’s comment she couldn’t agree more. It was rather perfect considering how horrible the rain and wind had been the past two days. It was a metaphorical and literal break from the ongoing storm. Taking a deep breath she took in the pleasant scent of rain. Perking up she turned her attention to him again watching his mood seemingly change again.
When Hazelrunner turned to him she couldn’t help, but notice how utterly deflated he looked again. Flicking her ears back she quickly nodded her head although cocked her head slightly to herself seeming confused by what he meant. “Oh...of course.” She mewed softly as she stared at Shadowpaw intently still not entirely sure what he was going to say.
Wrenflight sighed to herself when Leafpaw stuck to the same answer as before. It was clear that she wasn’t even completely sure what the problem might be. Bitting her lip she felt that ball of anxiety only gaining in size and magnitude. The she-cat had been so caught up in her own problems and the issues with the clans. She hadn’t had much time to consider where her and Ravenfang’s relationship or the ramifications it might have on his adopted daughter. She hadn’t thought she would need to say anything to the apprentice considering the fact she could have seen them or heard about it from Otterstar. Maybe she should have been told sooner than this, maybe not. Was it irresponsible or negligent of her not to consider her in all of this. Sighing softly to herself, there were far more questions than she had answers.
Frowning she watched Ravenfang press Leafpaw for a more concrete answers, to commit to what emotions she was grappling with. She could see the panic rising in his eyes and Leafpaw slowly shrunk away from his near pleading. “Ravenfang.” She mewed as she carefully moved to stand beside the deputy her fur brushing lightly against his side. “I think she’s just not ready to talk. This is all a lot to happen all once. Give her time.” She wasn’t a parent, she’d never had kits so maybe she had no place trying to give Ravenfang advice. Sighing heavily to herself she suddenly felt worn down from the fact all this was happening at once.
She’d left her birth clan, still was unsure of her place in Windclan, and now had no idea what to do when their not-so-secret relationship had come out now to Leafpaw. So much was happening so fast she felt like she couldn’t catch her breath.
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Shadowstartheleader
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~The world may be dark, we may be lost forever, but we stand a chance as long as we're together~
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Jul 5, 2019 20:19:02 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jul 5, 2019 20:19:02 GMT -5
Shadowpaw kept his eyes on the lake spread out before them as he slowly pulled in a breath, then exhaled it as he struggled to remember the story that was buzzing around in his head. He had been very young, young enough that he wasn't sure how old he had been, though his mother had once or twice given him a few guesses. "Well, I...I used to really like the water when I was a kit. I don't remember it perfectly, because my mom told me that I misremembered parts of it, but...we went to the lake one day. She took me there, and...my dad came too. I don't know why, but we all left the camp on a random day and, my mom said they caught some prey and we had it at the lake, and just, umm...relaxed there."
There was uncertainty in his voice as he finished speaking and took a breathe. It wasn't clear if he was sure they were relaxing there, but the truth was he didn't even know. He didn't remember it well enough to know if it was a moment of peace in their family, for real. "So we were all enjoying the prey and, I can't remember anything they talked about, and I didn't even talk much then, but...I remember both of them smiling, like they were enjoying themselves...and at one point, for some reason they didn't notice me padding closer to the shoreline, so I...well...starting entering the lake. And I don't remember why--maybe I was shocked at how cold it was or something and mewed, but my mom noticed at that moment and sprung up to stop me."
"I don't even remember what she said, but I remember her scolding me, and...my father jumped into it and mentioned I should test the water, just to see how it felt. I think he said that I might find some fish parents. My mom told me he used to make jokes like that more often. So...Eventually he wore down my mom and she held me by the scruff, standing in the freezing water on the tips of her toes and bent down, so I could put my legs in the water and try paddling. I...I remember my father laughing, like...real laughter, really really quiet, maybe to hide it, but...from really enjoying our time together." He gulped as he felt a light mist batting at his eyes as he relived the vague memory of that sound, his father laughing quietly with his muzzle scrunched up and his mother mumbling through his fur about having to deal with the freezing water all because Shadowkit wanted to be a Riverclanner.
"My mom never stopped reminding me that I bothered her every day for almost a moon to go to the water. She only took me a couple more times before...well, something bad happened, though I don't remember it well, but..." He pulled in a breath and emitted a deep and loud sigh. "But my mom and I could usually remember that story, and laugh about it together. She had to correct me a lot about...what happened, and what I did, and that it was just us, but...my mom loved that story."
He gulped, finally turning his eyes away from the water and looking back at Hazelrunner. There was an intensity burning in his eyes that perhaps couldn't match Ravenfang's, his father's, or Hazelrunner's, but was present due to the history behind the story. "I don't know how many really really hard things you have been through, but I know you've been through some. Do you know that feeling, when you...you're so lost because of something that happened that you feel like any place other than where you are is better? And that there's some cat that you'd rather be with than anyone around you? Because I thought about that story, and my mother and I together in the water, and I felt like, maybe, if I drowned myself in the water, it would be like...pulling myself closer to her somehow. Its one of the silliest and least logical things I've ever thought, but I...I wanted anything I could think of to be with her again, and I...that story let me do that."
"And I look at my father now, from everything you've taught me about who he...he really might be, and the rules he has broken, and the father I remember vaguely from that story, and I just...it doesn't make sense. The feelings he gave me then are completely different. They feel like two different cats. I keep feeling like something is missing, something I've never managed to figure out about him, whatever made him...change. I feel like he changed, really fast. And it doesn't make sense. And...and I want to know." His voice spoke the words with a drive behind them, yet his voice cracked as his uncertainty and lack of clarity about the matter threw a nettle wall against that drive. "I need to know. I need to know if there is something that happened, something we can deal with and turn around and maybe make him a better cat. Because warriors like...like Russetfur see a bad cat and that's all that he needs. I came from that cat so I must be bad too. And maybe Tawnyface isn't a good cat but she's trying to do good now, or at least...it seems like that. But I...he's...he's still a cat. Not only that, but...he's still my father. And..." He tried to fight the approaching tears in his eyes from spilling. He needed to finish what he was thinking. For once. He needed to speak his mind to the one cat he thought would take him completely seriously, and really care about what he thought. "I know you don't feel what I feel, that he changed and something happened to make him this way, so I don't...." He averted his gaze for a couple moments, feeling a talon of anxiety clawing at his belly as he was about to say something...almost contradicting something that Hazelrunner had said. "...blame you for feeling like he might be too far gone. And I guess I can't really blame Russetfur either when he didn't know my father at all before all of this. But I...I have to know. I have to figure it out, and find out if there is a way I can save my only family. Can you understand that?" His eyes were focused on her again, and there was a shaky nervousness to his voice as he asked her for her thoughts, after he had dumped his heart out on how he was feeling, brought back to the front of his mind by Russetfur's rage at Shadowclan cats fleeing from his father's tyranny. Please. I need you to understand.
Leafpaw had no ill feelings particularly against Wrenflight and she felt a swath of relief as the she-cat spoke up to Ravenfang. She wasn't ready to say anything because she didn't even know what was bothering her. That Wrenflight pointed that out when Ravenfnag seemed so desperate to hear what was on her mind was relieving as Ravenfang seemed to consider it, looking between the two of them before taking a step back.
"O-of course, I..." Ravenfang swallowed a breath and stepped back as Wrenflight pointed out that Leafpaw was clearly overwhelmed and didn't have an answer right now. He felt a little guilt dripping down his back and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah. I...I'm sorry. Umm...just, anytime...you um...want to talk, I'm here. I mean..." He cast a glance at Wrenflight. "Wrenflight too, I'm sure. She won't bite you."
(WOW thats a wall of text)
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Jul 6, 2019 14:16:45 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jul 6, 2019 14:16:45 GMT -5
Hazelrunner listened rather intently to his reminiscing, her blue eyes fixed on him even when he turned away to look at the water. And she smiled briefly at her own image of what the memory might have looked like. Expect when he described Nightstar of all cats just laughing and enjoying a day with his family. It was just a blank spot in her mind, something just impossible to even see. She didn’t have an frame of reference to see him as anything, but a monster. Taking a deep breath she pushed past that ideally nodding her head focusing instead on Shadowpaw’s face instead. She kept her wistful smile until he recounted a Nightstar much closer to the one she knew. Sighing softly she let her face fall, able to sympathize with the feeling of holding on to brief memories that hadn’t seem all that important at the time, only to feel the details getting fuzzier and harder to focus on. She was willing to listen to just about anything Shadowpaw had to say, even if she couldn’t completely see eye to eye with him.
Her spine straightened noticeably when he turned back to her with an intensity that reminded her of the tom she had seen in her...dream, whatever it had been, a certainty that she hadn’t expected to see come out so soon. Sighing to herself she slowly nodded her head finally closing her mouth. Frowning a little she turned to look away towards the water, reaching her paw out to touch the icey cold water. A shiver ran down her spin causing the she-cat to quickly drawing her paw back. “I understand the want to hold on to a memory as tightly as you can.” She mewed gently carefully shifting on the wet sand. Carefully turning her face back towards the apprentice beside her seeming to be trying to choose her next few words very carefully. Part of her wanted to reassure him that whether he knew it or not Dawnstar was watching over him in Starclan, but she kept her maw shut. It was better not to try and explain the fact that she had been speaking with his mom for sometime.
”I won’t ever be able to see as anything, but what he is now Shadowpaw. He’s done so many terrible things.” She mewed breathlessly as she looked Shadowpaw over, she could see the resemblance to Nightstar clear as day now. “But, maybe I’m being short sided. I’ll do anything I can to help you if this is really what you want to try to do.” The young warrior was carefully observing Shadowpaw waiting for his reaction. “There might have been a good cat there once. Maybe it was something that happened with Rainstar.” Hazelrunner added, thinking for the first time as what the why might be behind Nightstar’s tyranny. It wasn’t as if she were trying to justify his actions, just trying to think of it more objectively than emotionally, which was exceedingly hard to do.
Wrenflight let out a low sigh of relief as he carefully moved back a step after considering what he was doing. Clearing her throat she carefully turned towards Leafpaw, carefully listening. She gave a small nod and a smile trying to get over her own awkwardness on the whole matter. “Not anymore at least.” She mewed a note of humor in her voice. The she-cat’s expression softened. “If you ever want to talk I’m here to listen.” She mewed before letting out a very heavy breath, the tired feeling weighing down her limbs.
“I think Leafpaw had something else she wanted to speak with you.” She mewed looking between the two of them. “I’m going to go find my nest before anyone else gets it.” She gave a lingering look to Ravenfang before smiling to both of them. She turned and left wanting to give them their space and also get a bit of her own.
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