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Jan 6, 2019 22:24:55 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 6, 2019 22:24:55 GMT -5
The she-cat flicked her tail uncertainly when he seemed to be somewhat distracted by Wildberry. It looked like her growing discomfort was obvious to him too. Lilyheart’s eye scanned the tom’s expression and body language wearily. He was acting rather nervous and passive. Lilyheart wondered if he was trying to make up for his resemblance to his father. It had taken a lot of reminding to herself that he wasn’t Nightstar and he wasn’t going to be Nightstar. It try and calm his nerves about asking her she offered a brief smile of reassurance before nodding.
“Of course. Maybe we should go find somewhere a little quieter to talk.” It was an offer to go with him out of camp. So that they could hopefully talk with them. She slowly turned her head to look towards the entrance before glancing back Shadowpaw. He clearly had something he wanted to get off his mind.
Yowling his name was enough to draw him out of the warrior den, specks of moss dotting his black coat. Shaking them off his coat he frowned to himself when he looked towards Hawktail calling for him in camp. Hawktail had been acting rather strange and disappearing often lately, even Dogclaw had noticed that. Walking slowly towards Hawktail clearly curious as to what exactly he wanted. “Yes?” The young warrior mewed as he came up towards Hawktail.
The queen gave a rather tired sigh. She blinked in surprise when her mate’s head flopped on to the ground by her paws. “Don’t hurt yourself honey.” She purred ever so softly as she sighed to hereself. She was finding all of this constant worrying and fretting about her kits plain exhausting. Quieting her tail she looked back towards the nursery. “Do you think changing out moss would be enough?” It sounded rather plain, but it was the only thing she could really rack her brain for.
Between tending to Shadowclan and Riverclan Frogheart was running himself completely ragged. Despite how willing Shadowclan warriors were to nearly maim the captured cats they had in both clans, Nightstar was adamant about keeping as many of them alive as possible. He growled as he had to swim through the freezing cold water to get in Riverclan. After uselessly paddling and flopping around in the water, he hauled himself on to the shore. Shaking out his pelt he slogged through the camp entrance. Dripping wet he appeared in camp glaring this way and that. So much to do and so little time to deal with.
The medicine cat briefly stopped to glare at Petalstream. She’d been the cause of most of his grief. He paused when he noticed the Windclan she-cat trying miserably to sort thtough a pile of leaves. He stalked over to her lashing his tail from side to side curling up his lip. “I need borage leaves.” He ordered to the molly.
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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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Jan 6, 2019 23:48:58 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 6, 2019 23:48:58 GMT -5
Shadowpaw was struggling to read the source of Lilyheart's discomfort, though he could see her uneasiness and was speculating as to why she was. Of course, his first thought was that she didn't want him to yell at her again. Guilt prickled at his pelt as he again remembered this.
When she suggested they move somewhere quieter, Shadowpaw nodded. "That sounds good." In particular the loud yowling from outside the den was distracting, and stepping out of camp for a minute didn't seem like it would be a bad thing. His facial expression seemed to relax just a little bit as she agreed, like he felt he had passed the first hurdle, or something.Hawktail's gaze was strange and unreadable. "Dogclaw. Why don't we speak out of camp for just a minute? I want to ask you something." His question was just as unreadable as his face, perhaps inspiring a bit of uncertainty from the other cat. "What else is there?" Lavenderfur tiredly mewed. He felt the same as his mate, growing more and more weary as he constantly had to worry about the little kittens. Some fathers just left their mate to deal with the kits on their own, but he wasn't particularly interested in doing that. He wanted as much time with them as possible; yet more and more often, each moment with them, and even many without, he was left to worry about them.
His eyes glinted for a moment, and he lifted his head, casting a glance towards Speckleflower. "No Warrior and Mouse for a moon?" He quietly suggested. "or is that just...mean?"Petalstream gazed over to Frogheart as he drew closer and closer, a wild smile coating her face as she did so. Frogheart! He had been one of the difficult ones. Their own medicine cat would rebelliously complain about how much they injured the slaves, as it made more work for him. It was so cute to see him worried the first couple times, but she was growing very tired of it.
She gave out a soft purr as Frogheart ordered Whispersong to gather what he needed. She leaned down close to Whispersong's ear. "Hear that, honey? Frogheart needs some borage. You better give it to him fast." She tilted her head a little, looking at the pile of herbs, and then lifted her head back up.
Whispersong gave a low whine, her stomach aching from pain, growing increasingly sharp. She was afraid, after all of their work in Windclan camp, her wound was infecting and she was going to die. They certainly weren't going to treat it here.
Petalstream's tail lashed as Whispersong whined and didn't obey her orders, and with a low, rising growl, she smacked the Windclan cat with her claws unsheathed, not caring about the blood she drew. The Windclan filth cried out in pain, which only sent delightful shivers up Petalstream's back, as she giggled with an almost kit-like enjoyment. "Are you going to do what Frogheart said? Or do I need to start reopening that belly wound?"
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Post by wildcharm on Jan 7, 2019 0:37:01 GMT -5
The medicine cat nodded before turning to trot briskly away from the medicine cat den before Wildberry took notice. The she-cat had gotten a much nastier temper then she had ever seen it before. Lilyheart trotted through entrance to camp, not paying much mind to the frustrated couple or yowling Hawktail. No, she was more interested in what exactly Shadowpaw was needing to speak with her about. She hadn’t seem him this anxious in a long time, maybe since they were back in Shadowclan. She visibly winced not able to really even think back to that dark place now.
Stepping out of camp she turned around to make sure Shadowpaw was still following. Slowing her pace she waited for him to catch up before walking a little bit further into the moor. When they had made it over a hill she turned to Shadowpaw and sat herself down. “What is the matter?” She asked softly.
The look on Dogclaw’s face was a suspicious one, seeing Hawktail putting up a mask. Dogclaw felt a growing unease about the tom. “I suppose so..why can’t we speak about it in camp?” Dogclaw played dumb tipping his head to the side a little. The young warrior was curious as to just what was making Hawktail so strange. Dogclaw wasn’t sure how to feel about this.
Speckleflower started when her mate popped back up after a moment. She blinked trying to weigh that idea. “It might be but, it’s the least destructive thing we can do to punish them.” Speckleflower sighed, knowing it was going to be a painful moon for her having to hear them pester her to let them play Warrior and Mouse. Still, at least it would hopefully get them to finally behave themselves or...”But, what if they get so bored they start trying to find even more ways to get out of camp.” Speckleflower was very close to tearing out her own fur over these kits.
Frogheart didn’t hide his frown when Petalstream fed into all of this. He had hated her even before Nightstar had sunk his claws into her. Now, he wanted to slice her belly open himself every time he saw that twisted smile of her’s. He watched rather unmoved as Petalstream swiped Whispersong across her face. He learned to keep his mouth shut unless the wounds were lethal. “I don’t know what is more irritating to me. Your uselessness or your constant cackling.” He hissed turning his eyes from Whispersong to Petalstream. His sharp tongue lashing at both she-cats even though doing so was probably not the smartest idea.
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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 Jan 7, 2019 1:13:45 GMT -5
He followed her rather closely as she began exiting the camp. memories were flashing back through his head, of kit hood in Shadowclan and the little sympathy he ever got there. His mother and Lilyheart. That was almost it. The fact that she would still listen to him and hear his anxieties after all this time, after his outburst...it surprised him a little bit. Why would she dedicate time to him still? Then again, he clearly had hoped would, or he wouldn't have asked.
He stopped with her when they were over a hall, planting himself into a sitting position in front of her. He gave a heavy sigh, looking up at her and meeting her gaze. "You know, I um...I talked to Rainstar about this, and I tried to talk with Hazelrunner once, but...um...it hasn't..." He folded his ears down against his head.
"Well, I guess...I'm scared about this planning with the clans, and fighting against Shadowclan, and I just...Rainstar told me it hadn't come to this yet, but...do you think that...they're going to kill my father?" There was desperation in his voice, the desperation of, even despite how evil the cat was and the deplorable things he had done, only a son could still have. He hoped she wouldn't be apprehensive or judgemental of his anxiety.Hawktail picked up on his suspicion, sighing very slightly as he watched the other warrior. he would hope after countless moons in this camp Dogclaw wouldn't doubt him so much. "Its about Whispersong." Thats all he said, not moving but hoping it was enough to bring him out of camp for a private conversation.Lavenderfur nodded his head slowly, agreeing that it should keep them from being too destructive. Even if it was mean, they needed a clear lesson that outside of camp was not for them to stray around. They were always difficult to manage, but this was no joking matter with Shadowclan lurking about.
He gave a frustrated sigh as she suggested it may compel them to think of more creative ways to exit the camp. "Speckleflower...do you think...Would it help if I asked to be able to spend more hours watching them? They don't have to be attached to you anymore...I mean...Maybe...you could...start doing a few warrior duties again and I can do a little less, and spend that time with the kits?" He suggested the idea from the top of his head, not exactly sure how viable it was. They would have to ask Ravenfang. Or Rainstar. Or both. He wasn't sure anymore.Petalstream's gaze slowly moved over to Frogheart, her smile fading in a few moments of tense silence. Whispersong's ears folded back and she tried to make herself as small as possible.
Petalstream stepped forward, the smile on her face, quickly reinstalling itself on her face. Her muscular shoulders stiffened and she pulled it very close to the medicine cat. "I don't think you were talking to her. Were you talking to me? I think you were talking to me. Do I need to show you what happens to those cats who offend me? I thought it was already clear to you that your obedience doesn't give you the right to say whatever you want." A growl was slowly starting to grow in her throat as she spoke more. She wanted him to not back down, that was clear. She wanted him to challenge her so...so she had a reason.
For the moment, he decided to leave behind his apprehension and uncertainty. There was something he needed to do. He had kept her waiting for an answer or even something vaguely like an explanation for too long, and he was feeling too guilty about it to let it sit any longer. Drawing in a deep breath, he looked about the camp, trying to ignore the fact that his brother had just been yowling his head off to find Dogclaw.
"Wrenflight?" It was a soft call, perhaps quieter than he meant--he still felt anxious about approaching the she-cat and trying to explain himself. If he had to guess, she would not be fond of what he had to say, that he felt he had let himself use her to comfort himself. It was a poor thing to do, and he hoped she'd forgive him for admitting and apologizing for it.
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Jan 7, 2019 17:39:57 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 7, 2019 17:39:57 GMT -5
Lilyheart watched Shadowpaw, becoming even more curious when he admitted he’d tried to confide in other cats about this and it was clearly still bothering him. She wondered briefly what knowledge she had to offer that the other cats didn’t. The medicine cat listened quietly waiting until he was finished before saying anything, giving him the chance to say whatever he needed to say. A sigh escaped her lips when he admitted to being scared about the plans to attack Shadowclan. She nodded in silent understanding. It didn’t feel quite right to her either, plotting to take down the clan they called home, it still had some good things that she couldn’t separate out from all of the bad.
Her ears folded back cautiously at his question about Nightstar. It would be better for all the clanss if Nightstar died. She felt a pain in her chest at his desperation of a kit that didn’t want to loose his only parent left. Drawing in a breath through her nose she breathed out loudly before trying to offer an answer. She looked rather apprehensive about answering this. She couldn’t say she would mourn if Nightstar was killed. “I can’t blame you for being afraid. It’s scary to think about fighting against Shadowclan. Some small part of me feels like it’s the wrong thing to do.” The she-cat admitted with a wavering voice before quickly clearing her throat. There was a lot of feels about all of this that she hadn’t addressed herself. “I don’t know Shadowpaw. He needs to answer for what he’s done.” Her eye lost focus as she looked away from Shadowpaw. Even now she could still see Nightstar in him. You couldn’t ever completely seprate him from Shadowpaw.
“But, no. I don’t think that Nightstar should or will be killed. As much as we don’t like the fact he was given nine lives.’ Lilyheart’s response was rather matter of fact as she gathered up her emotions again. Starclan had made him leader, they probably wouldn’t be able to get rid of him easily.
With everything that had happened, Dogclaw would have been suspicious of just about any cat that started acting this much out of the ordinary. Whispersong disappearing only added to that fact. He had gone off on his own on more than one occasion to see if he could find traces of her himself, so it wasn’t that much of a surprise when Hawktail brought up as a draw to get him out of camp. Maybe it wasn’t a surprise then that he slowly nodded his head. “Alright I’ll go.” Dogclaw mewed somewhat reluctantly. Of all the times be out on the moor now was the most dangerous.
Her mate’s suggestion came rather out of the blue. Speckeflower blinked not seeming entirely sure how to react at first. Sure Lavenderfur came to visit them a lot and sometimes took over the job of watching the kits so she could have a break. Speckleflower always considered herself very lucky to have such a loving mate who cared about their kits so much. “It might. They love having you around. Maybe it would be a good thing.” Speckleflower offered a tired smile as she scooted closer to Lavenderfur. “If you think you can keep from dozing off that is.” A tiny bit of teasing, she couldn’t help herself. A bit of humor in their serious conversation.
In the silence that lapsed Frogheart briefly considered the idea of cowering down like the Windclan cat. Maybe if he didn’t have self-respect left than he probably would have. Petalstream practially pushing herself into his face made him drop any thoughts of rolling over. The fur along his spine rose up as he took a half step away from Petalstream. “I just can’t seem to help myself. I have a knack for offending you.”
He took another measured half step back. His eyes briefly flickered to the Windclan cat. He was blaming her for this mess. All she had to do was get him a stupid borage leaf. “I would blame it on your fragile ego.” Hissing through his teeth, his tiny framed tensed. Frogstrike was well aware of the fact with was going to have consequences.
Wrenflight was laying side by side with Redsky, both she-cats dripping wet from their swim earlier. “I don’t get it. We ear the same and your practially glowing.” Wrenflight huffed as she looked over Redsky’s glossy coat and rounded belly. She on the other hand could easily make out most of her ribs and felt rather uncomfortable with the fact. She was so wrapped up in this that she wasn’t really paying attention to Ravenfang calling her name. The only thing that got her attention was Redsky who sharply prodded her side with a paw before motioning towards the deputy looking their way. Wrenflight softly sighed as she pushed herself to her paws. She wasn’t doing a very good job hiding the apprehension from her eyes the closer she got. He had only stopped avoiding her all to together. The sudden urge to talk to her now didn’t exactly make her all that eager to talk to him.
She stopped in front of him. She opened her mouth before shutting it again immediately. She looked at the deputy in a stifling silence. She wasn’t even sure how to greet him.
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Shadowstartheleader
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Jan 7, 2019 18:24:15 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 7, 2019 18:24:15 GMT -5
Shadowpaw's apprehension only increased as a sigh escaped from Lilyheart. Did she believe it was cowardly to be afraid of this coming battle? He knew his home clan would jump on his cowardice the moment he admitted it--he had hoped Lilyheart would react differently to it.
His ears were still folded back against his head as she voiced her uncertainty about fighting Shadowclan. This he had already voiced as well, and to hear it echoed was the smallest bit reassuring. Despite this, his heart plummeted as she claimed that the leader had to answer for the things he had done. It was hard to hear, harder to swallow, and impossible for him to accept right now. To answer for what he's done. There were few ways to interpret that, and none of them were very close to how Shadowpaw wanted this nightmare to end.
He did not feel any better as she then backpedaled and said that Nightstar should not be killed. He felt those two statements were conflicting; most of the cats sheltered now in Windclan very clearly only saw one end to this: Nighstar's death. He felt incredibly alone, possibly more so than after the death of his mother. Even knowing how twisted his father had been during Shadowpaw's whole kithood, to lose his second parent would leave him more stranded and detached than he could even consider.
"There has to be a way that we can show him what he has done is wrong. We can show him reason, just..." His words, despite how desperately he wanted to believe them, were so devoid of any hope, that it was clear he knew it was a pointless strategy. His gaze fell slowly down to his paws, and slowly, quietly, tears began to drip from his eyes, light sniffles coming from the lonely cat. "How many cats in this clan would show mercy to him? It can't be many. They...they want to end him. They want to kill the only family I have left."
Hawktail moved out of camp with Dogclaw, not having a particular direction in mind, but steering away from the Shadowclan side of the territory. They walked for a short half minute before Hawktail began padding and talking. "She just vanished, and it seems too suspicious giving everything going on. Shadowclan has to be involved in some way, there is no other explanation for there being no trail, no witness, no anything. There is only one idea that makes any sense to me."
He cleared his throat, thinking about the tough situation he was in. He couldn't tell anyone, because it would endanger more than just himself. "Amberberry was scented near the border, amidst a group of Shadowclan cats. Given how easily he went against the will of the leader, it seems to me that he has to be involved somehow. The timing is too strange."
Lavenderfur's ears went red as she joked about his recent mistake, and he ducked his head away to try to hide it, with a very oh-so-smooth lick of his paw and washing of the ears to try covering it. His embarrassment and the heat from his fur as she scooted closer was obvious, yet it didn't prevent a purr beginning to form from the tom-cat.
Petalstream gave three more kit-like giggles after Frogheart finished speaking, seemingly delighted by his response. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so happy you said that. You know, I love how scared you look right now, stepping away from me like it will stop whatever is coming your way." She pulled herself closer and giggled once more. "No, I don't think cutting you here is going to change anything. I think its a much better idea...hmm..." She licked her lips with satisfaction. "Yes, I think a chat with Nightstar about you is much better."
Her grin widened as she watched to view the tom-cat's response to saying this, enjoying immensely the control that Nightstar had given her over Riverclan. It was hilarious to her that Nightstar and Dawnheart had been mates when, clearly, Petalstream was the she-cat that he respected.
In the tense moments she was awaiting to see Frogheart's response, Petalstream was shocked by a sudden tearing at her flank as Whispersong rushed at her with her claws unsheathed. She couldn't react before a second pair of claws was lashing at her forehead, pulling blood out and leaving it to stream down into one of her eyes as she cried with pain.
Petalstream was about to react and lash out at the Windclan cat's throat, but by that moment a number of Shadowclan cats had swarmed upon her, restraining her almost effortlessly with their combined weight. Petalstream gave a loud, angry yowl of indignance. "I guess I didn't teach you well enough, you mouse-dung vermin."
Ravenfang very quietly cleared his throat of nonexistent flem, waiting until she drew close. His ears folded down slightly as she opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, seeming to not know what she was meant to say in a moment like this. That only told him that his avoidance of her had been even more damaging.
He sat neatly and took in a deep breath. "I owe you an explanation, because I did something I shouldn't have, and then I responded by doing something else I shouldn't have." He exhaled his deep breath and readied himself for a lot of talking.
"I have avoided you a lot instead of speaking with you and explaining to you, and that's really immature, and it doesn't befit a leader, or a deputy, or even a...friend. I know I left you confused and hurt and, well, thats really really wrong, and I...I don't think an apology is enough for that." His words were soft and quiet; he didn't want to air their feelings to every cat in camp.
"So let me explain. I felt very attracted to you almost immediately upon meeting with you. That first walk we had was strange, yet, you were...amiable, and I guess I wasn't expecting that. And then, when we took you in, you were really lonely and lost and I felt like you needed help. But...I don't think what I did was right. I talked to you a little, and brought you to my nest, and I don't think that was the mature way for...for me to..." His ears were growing red as guilt was prickling down his spine. "I took advantage of how you were feeling." He said it quickly and with apprehension, like it was a terrible fact about how he acted. It almost seemed like, in feeling he had been immature and quick to comfort her, he was forgetting what she had said about not wanting to return to Riverclan, about wanting to find a home elsewhere. That...he wasn't considering that it could mean she was looking for someone, of her own volition.
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Jan 7, 2019 22:57:51 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 7, 2019 22:57:51 GMT -5
Lilyheart’s shoulders slumped as Shadowpaw started to desperately try to think that there was a way to get through to Nightstar. Even he really couldn’t believe that anymore. The medicine cat wished greatly that there was more that she could do. A familiar feeling of powerlessness was creeping into her mind. She sighed looking down slowly at her own paws listening to the tom sniffling rather pitifully trying to come to terms with the fact that the cats of this clan were planning to take away his last remaining family member. She flinched when he used the word mercy. Shadowclan cats had called Nightstar taking her eye a mercy. Mercy wasn’t a word that should be used with Nightstar’s name.
“I’m so sorry Shadowpaw.” The medicine cat mewed touching her tail to his shoulder. That was all she could really think to say really. “You won’t be alone Shadowpaw. You’ve found...good cats here Shadowpaw. There cats here who care about you.” She turned her gaze to look at him with a tear welling up in her eye. She hadn’t even realized the tears had appeared. Sniffling she leaned in to lick the tom’s wet cheek in an attempt to comfort him. She wasn’t his family, but she did really care for Shadowpaw, it hurt her more than anything to see him like this.
He followed Hawktail as they wandered aimlessly across the moor, with no clear reason for going where they were going. When he stopped a moment later Dogclaw perked his ears forwards to listen to what exactly he had to say. He tipped his head as Hawktail went into detail about how strange Whispersong’s disappearance was and pointing out the somewhat obvious assumption that Shadowclan had to be involved. The only other explanation was that she had abandoned the clan, which didn’t seem like what she would have done.
“I can agree that the timing of all of this is off and it’s probably likely that Amberberry or Shadowclan had something to do with it. My question is what can be done about it?” Dogclaw frowned a little clearly unsure. “I’m worried about the wound she has on her stomach. She wouldn’t have been able to get far if a cat reopened it or it got infected.” He mewed remembering how much pain she’d been in with the wound, even a thorn was enough to cripple her. “She would have been an easy target.” The tom muttered with a slight lash of his tail.
Speckleflower giggled softly when she watched him try to smoothly cover up the fact his ears were red. “That didn’t work when we were apprentices. It doesn’t work any better now.” She was purring softly herself. She leaned her head against her mate’s shoulder. “You were always too easy to embarrass.” The young queen continued to purr. She sighed when she saw Cinderkit’s head peeking out of the nursery before watching his parents. “Gross!” He wailed diving back into the den with his brother.
Her eyes flickered over him, watching him carefully as he sat himself down. She very slowly did the same. It looks like he wanted to sit down and talk now. She didn’t know why now, maybe he’d finally worked through what had caused him to turn heel suddenly and act rather coldly for reasons she had racked her brain to find a reason for. Wrenflight’s eyes got larger and rounder at him saying she deserved to know why he had been acting this way. The molly gave a curt nod, keeping her expression somewhat guarded. She started off thinking he had done something truly awful and was too guilty to own up to it till now.
The Riverclan cat sat up rather straight and rigid. She listened to his apology although her eyes flickering him away from him and towards the ground next to him showed the fact that she had been hurt by it. She sighed and drew her eyes back up to him. Wrenflight had every intention of accepting his apology, she thought he’d made himself perfectly clear about how he felt. She let out a quiet shaky breath. She was bracing herself for an outright rejection. Wrenflight looked him in the eye, wanting to keep her divinity while he did it at least.
Despite her best efforts to keep up a brave face, heat rushed to her face as he outright said he had found her attractive. If this was a rejection he certainly wasn’t making it an easy one...Her expression slowly changed little by little, the guarded expression being chipped away. There was no way to prepare herself as Ravenfang explained that all of this was not because he had lost interest in her. Instead he was driven by his own guilt, guilt that was frankly ridiculous. Of all the things to feel guilty about comforting her was not one of them. “I’ll accept your apology for being immature and trying to avoid me. I didn’t know how to feel for a long time after that.” She mewed softly keeping her voice down. She would have felt a lot more comfortable having this conversation elsewhere.
“I will not take your apology for whatever you think you manipulated me into.” Wrenflight’s voice stayed quiet, but was much more firm. She locked eyes with him while saying this. She wanted to speak with as much clarity and certainty as possible. “I wish you’d asked me directly about how I was feeling myself instead of assuming them for me. I am a full grown cat, Ravenfang, if I had felt pressured into anything I would have said so. Let me say it now okay?” Wrenflight appreciated Ravenfang’s intentions of trying to keep himself from taking advantage of her, but he’d made assumptions for her about how she was feeling. She drew in a deep breath her pelt growing warmer still.
”To set things straight, I thought you were handsome and interesting to talk to.” Wrenflight paused for a moment seeming somewhat glad to have relieved to have gotten it out in the open. “Ravenfang it wasn’t some words that won me over. You risked your own life to save mine and Otterfur’s. I felt guilty after I started to have second thoughts about going back to Riverclan. You helped me realize I didn’t have to. When I didn’t have any direction. You showed me that Windclan isn’t a bad place to call home...” She trailed off looking down at her paws. Had she made it clear enough that it was her own decision to want to stay here in Windclan with him. She flattened her ears as she looked towards him to see if he understood now. It left her feeling rather strange to have all this out in the open now.
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Shadowstartheleader
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Jan 7, 2019 23:34:48 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 7, 2019 23:34:48 GMT -5
((Shadowclan cats pinned Whispersong, not Petalstream, sorry about that))
It didn't seem much of a comfort, though she probably didn't expect it to be too much of one anyways. He simply let her advance to comfort him and, after a moment, he pulled in a little closer to her.
Hawktail quietly growled as he pointed this out, and he nodded grimly. "She would have been easy to take down, and that is why...that is why I feel it is critical we try to find her immediately. I...if they found her, I...I don't know she could get away. Its possible she is a prisoner of Shadowclan now."
Lavenderfur's cheeks went red and he still avoided revealing his blushing appearance to his mate. He leaned into her as she drew closer to him, sighing quietly with contentment. This moment was, of course, broken as their kit exclaimed his disgust for this display of affection and dove away from them. Giving a less contented sigh, he squeezed his eyes shut and hoped they could not worry about the world for but a moment.
Ravenfang quietly sighed with relief as she said that she would accept the first part of his apology, knowing it wasn't exactly sufficient but started in the process of fixing the damaging behavior that he had been displaying. Still, he wasn't ready as she turned the conversation around, rejecting his feelings of guilt that he had manipulated her into starting something that she wasn't looking for. His ears folded back all the way as she told him that he had assumed for her how she was feeling, and that where he went wrong was assuming that, because she was in a difficult place, searching for answers, he had acted in the wrong.
"But I..." He struggled to grapple with all of the heart that Wrenflight had just poured out to him, not having been prepared for the perspective that she presented him with. She was telling him that she was genuinely interested in him and appreciated him so much for the ways she had helped him when she was struggling to find a path. How could he have been so off? All this time? He had felt like what she wanted was help and comfort during this difficult time, and that it was his eagerness for something...closer that had led him to do this. But, she was saying she was an adult, that she felt that way too...and that he had acted based off of the wrong assumption.
A crestfallen expression took his face and his skin paled a little as she told him all of this. His gaze slowly dropped to his paws as his mouth remained open, though no words exited. If he had operated in the wrong all off of an assumption...well, didn't that make him just like the worst moment his leader had been in?
"I'm...i'm sorry..." It was almost a mumble as the cat struggled to grip with his grave mistake. Did he even deserve to be near him after making this sort of mistake? If he had just not avoided her and spoken with her so much earlier...
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Jan 8, 2019 15:38:17 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 8, 2019 15:38:17 GMT -5
(Whoops, I’ll fix it then.)
Frogstrike frowned as she started throwing around Nightstar’s name. I took everything in his power not to bite back with the fact that Nightstar’s nest certainly hadn’t been left empty sense she took over Riverclan. He never got the chance though as Whispersong lashed out at Petalstream. Although he was sure she was dead then he had to quickly jump aside not to get trampled by the swarm of cats that easily subdued Whispersong. For a moment the tom wondered if he would be better off walking away or try to help the Windclan cat. He flattened his ears against his head. Sighing in frustration he knew he was going to have to help her. How exactly he didn’t know. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of the red blood welling up on Petalstream’s side.
Suddenly he jumped right into Petalstream’s face as close as he could. “That’s a nasty scratch. If I don’t treat it that’s gong to get infected.” He mewed before giving the scratch on her side a rather sharp prod. Petalstream was going to remember all of this, but maybe he could keep her from killing the Windclan cat at least. He mentally cursed Windclan and their idiotic cats. Waving his tail in Petalstream’s face he circled her this way and that. “Or it will be a nasty scar. It would damage your beautiful pelt.” Frogstrike had to keep himself from wanting to gag on his own words after this.
Lilyheart knew she wasn’t offering him much comfort, but she was trying to help all she could. She tried her best to lick up the rest of the tears and dry his cheek a little. It was all she could think to do, it had worked when he would come to her crying as a kit.
Now Dogclaw seemed to understand why Hawktail wanted to speak out of camp. He sighed at the idea of Whispersong being taken captive by Shadowclan. It was better than the alternative, but only slightly. “She won’t last long if she’s a prisoner. But, how would we know what camp she’s in. She could be in Riverclan or Shadowclan camp? If she was in Riverclan there might be hope to getting her but, if she’s not..” Trying to sneak into Shadowclan camp would be a death sentence without a doubt. Without really realizing it he already seemed on board to going to find her.
The she-cat stifled a sigh pulling away from her mate for a moment to look towards the nursery before shaking her head. This was one of those moments she wished the kits were off causing mayhem somewhere else. Closing her eyes again she leaned her head into her mate’s shoulder again. Trying to block everything else out and just enjoy his company for a moment. She didn’t think that was too much to ask for.
Wrenflight watched him become rather crestfallen after she revealed that his assumptions he’s been acting on weren’t true.She slowly nodded head when he offered a second apology. This one for acting on false assumptions instead of talking to her directly. She slowly looked down at her paws. All of this time she’d thought she’d done something or he had stopped caring. No instead it was because he thought he was protecting her from something she didn’t want.
“I appreciate that you were trying to look out for my best interests.” Wrenflight mewed shuffling her paws a little. She wished he had worked up the nerve to talk to her directly like this far sooner. “From now on don’t be afraid to talk to me directly.” Wrenflight mewed meeting his eyes again.
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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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Jan 8, 2019 16:09:28 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 8, 2019 16:09:28 GMT -5
(Is it Frogheart or Frogstrike?)
Shadowpaw choked down some of the quiet flowing tears to speak. "What am I going to do? If he dies, I will have no family left...I'll have no one..." It was a cry devoid of hope. If both of his parents were gone then who did he have left? he didn't know how to imagine life without anyone alive who he was related to. He had already lost the only cat that loved him.
Petalstream's ability to put on a mask and tease and giggle her way through her threats had faded from this attack. She showed no patience with Frogstrike this time, practically slapping him on the cheek to get him away from her as he jabbed her wound. Now that Whispersong had acted this way and harmed her, the Windclan cat, in Petalstream's eyes, deserved no mercy. "Drag her to Shadowclan." She ordered two of the Shadowclan warriors to come with her as she approached the exit of the 'Riverclan' camp.
Hawktail bit his lip, turning to face Dogclaw. "If she is in Shadowclan, then there is absolutely nothing we can do. We'd die approaching the camp. We have to pray before Starclan that she, if she has been captured, is in Riverclan." He had brought Dogclaw out here because he believed that he would be willing to attempt something this crazy, and that anyone who heard them in camp would put a stop to it.
He slowly breathed her in, cuddling up around her as he let himself focus on her instead of all that was surrounding them. how long had it been since they had this? He couldn't even think of when their last time was.
Ravenfang felt a greater amount of guilt prickling through his pelt and down his spine than had been before, and even as she implored him to speak with him directly in the future he felt like she was letting him off too easily for how he had acted. Yet, he knew if he voiced this she would say that he was still disregarding what she wanted because of his guilt. He instead went quiet, not answering her implorement for him to come to her directly.
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Jan 8, 2019 16:55:32 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 8, 2019 16:55:32 GMT -5
(Frogstrike, autocorrect is killing me )
Lilyheart sighed as she looked down at the tom. Losing loved ones was apart of life, but he’d lose them both too soon. His sister hadn’t lived long enough either. “I wish I had a perfect solution. I think the best thing you can do is give yourself time. Time is the best cure.” Lilyheart knew it probably wasn’t what the apprentince wanted to hear, but it was true. “Have you told anyone else why your afraid to lose your father?” She asked quietly turning her eyes to look at the tom. She didn’t think he had. If she could remember correctly she’d heard about Hazelrunner having a very similar loss. “Have you asked Hazelrunner what she did after she lost her family?” It was a quiet suggestion as the medicine cat stepped away to sit down beside the tom.
Frogstrike reeled back as he got slapped. He hissed and sighed as he watched Whispersong be dragged off towards Shadowclan camp. He’d tried, not very hard, but he’d tried at least. He turned his back on the she-cat and began to shift through the leaves. There was no hope for her now. Once Nightstar got his claws on her she was doomed. Picking up the leaves he needed he slowly trotted towards the segregated she-cat den. She should have known better than to try to attack Petalstream. Maybe she deserved what was coming to her.
Dogclaw lashed his tail as he thought it over. “I guess we won’t know unless we go to have a look for ourselves.” He mewed with a slight frown, turning his eyes towards the Riverclan border. “There isn’t much time to waste. There’s no way to know if they’ll even want to keep her alive for very long.” He mewed grimly turning back to Hawktail.
Purring softly she curled herself up close to him. The thing she missed most about being a warrior was getting to share a nest with her mate. She couldn’t remember when they’d just been able to be together in peace. At least their shows affection had driven the kits back into the nursery. “I bet this is worse punish for them than not being able to play.” She purred very softly peeking open one eye to give him a playful lick under the chin.
Wrenflight sighed loudly when it was clear that Ravenfang was still bogged down in his own guilt. For Starclan sake, he was being harder on himself than she would ever be. “I think we’re done talking.” Shaking her head. “If your really sorry then you should start making it up to me.” She trotted a circle around him before motioning with tail towards the entrance. “I still haven’t gotten very good at hunting rabbits. Will you take a few minutes to show me how to do it properly?” If he really was going to feel guilty than she wanted to offer him the chance to make it up to her at least a little. It would be a start at least.
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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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Jan 8, 2019 17:25:36 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 8, 2019 17:25:36 GMT -5
(Alright XD)
He looked up at her silently, surprised by the question. It brought back when Hazelrunner told him about what had happened with the dog's vicious attack. He shook his head slightly, anxiety clouding his eyes. "I tried to talk to her, but she got busy...she's a warrior, and she has..." He looked down at his paws. "...more important things to do." He knew that Hazelrunner believed in performing all of her warrior duties, and she was going to put those first.
"How are we going to do this?" Hawktail grunted. "Stroll in camp? We need a plan here. The Riverclan camp is still going to be dangerous." They needed something like a distraction, or a diversion. Walking in was probably almost as much of a suicide mission, but he didn't exactly know how else to get sight on the camp...not to mention they had to swim in, which he imagined was far more noticeable.
Lavenderfur quietly chuckled as she licked his chin. "Parents showing emotion? Ewwww..." He joked and licked her cheek in response. "Well, if it gives us a quiet moment...." It felt like moons ago any cat thought about a romance now that the lingering gloom of Shadowclan was around their necks. It was easy to forget what the most important thing was...having something to return to once the evil was past.
Ravenfang's ears flattened back and something like panic almost seemed to fill his eyes as she said they were done talking. He quickly looked back up to her as if trying to figure out how angry he had just made her; yet she circled him and, instead of leaving him behind, requested his help as she had before all of this. Hunting rabbits? Thats what she wanted right now? His look of panic seemed to be replaced by an expression of confusion, but nonetheless he slowly stood up. "Umm...I...I guess. Yeah. If you're ready to run a lot."
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Jan 8, 2019 18:41:39 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 8, 2019 18:41:39 GMT -5
“Alright then.” Her ears fell flat against her head when explained that she ha’d given up because he thought she had more important things to focus on. “I think your downplaying your own worries.” She sighed looking out towards the moor. “I do think she would stop and listen if you asked her to. I know you probably won’t believe me Shadowpaw, but I think you’ve found a lot of cats here who care about you. Just because Nightstar is your family doesn’t mean you should tie up all your happiness with him. I think you’ve grown and thrived here with cats that were strangers than you ever did with him.” Her mew dropped in tone, a note of nervousness when she brought up the Shadowclan leader’s name out loud.
Dogclaw shook his head as he sat back on his haunches. Now, they had to figure out a way to get into the Riverclan camp and possibly even get Whispersong out if she was there. And if she wasn’t, well then they would have to assume she was in Shadowclan. “How about we sneak into the Riverclan territory and see if we can find her scent. If we can then we know she is in their camp.” He suggested with a light shrug. It would be slightly less dangerous, but it would be harder to locate her that way. “Of course we don’t really know the territory very well.” He was thinking out loud trying to work through any possible ideas that wouldn’t work.
She playfully cuffed his ear, continuing to purr contently to herself. Now, more than ever they needed a bit of time to themselves. “It’s not the worst way to get some alone time.” She sighed blissfully even though she could hear Cinderkit’s loud mews of exasperation. She closed her eyes a little tighter. “Why is your kit so dramatic?” Speckleflower lightly teased Lavenderfur. It was a good distraction from the dark times around them.
She gave a very quiet sight of relief when he agreed to help her with her hunting. It wasn’t really about hunting rabbits, but it was all that she could think of that might help Ravenfang be able to get over his self imposed guilt. And she was still hopeless at hunting down rabbits so, two birds at one time. “Sure. Running is fine. It’s just swimming without the water.” She flicked her tail lightly from side to side. She brushed past the tom as she made her way towards the entrance. She glanced over her shoulder before disappearing through it.
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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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Jan 8, 2019 19:27:38 GMT -5
Post by Shadowstartheleader on Jan 8, 2019 19:27:38 GMT -5
(Legend says, if you say his name three times while gazing down into the lake, he'll come up from under the water and snatch you down!)
Shadowpaw felt doubt prickle his pelt as she voiced the opinion that Hazelrunner would stop what she was trying to do to help him with whatever he needed to say. She was a busy warrior, and she didn't have time to micromanage his problems. Of course, his mother had made a point of telling him that someone who loves another cat makes time for them. But, obviously, Hazelrunner didn't love him.
Then again, he recalled what Rainstar had said about her. She helped out of the kindness of her heart. Would she feel compelled to help even if it interfered with her duties? He shouldn't ask her to do that. It was wrong for him to ask her to make that choice.
His ears perked as Lilyheart boldly said how she felt about his short time here. He had grown more here than in...eighteen moons in Shadowclan? That seemed impossible to him, but when he thought about the start of his 'apprenticeship,' and how that really meant being the chore-kitten, fetching prey and biting ticks for the most part, it made him wonder if he did learn anything applicable from his time there. His father...what had he given to his son?
"That's not...but...here I'm just...taking shelter. Its not like most of the clan even...particularly wanted to spend time helping me. It was just...Hazelrunner, and kind of Ravenfang...I don't even know why he wanted to..." Of course, he didn't know about the romance Lilyheart likely had been aware of. "At least...you're here." He murmured quietly.
Hawktail gave a sigh of frustration. Well, it definitely didn't seem like they were going to get anywhere if they didn't at least risk something. "That's all we can do, I guess. Let's try to find her scent." He kneaded the ground a little, anxiety beginning to prickle at his pelt. What if Nightstar was around, and found them? What if Whispersong was in Shadowclan? What would they do then? "Let's go."
"Oh, please..." He scoffed with humor in its tone. "I'm not the one who was, 'Oh, Lavenderpaw is so laaazzzyyy...I better show him how a REAL warrior trains!' Please, sweetie, she doesn't get the drama from me. My only flaw is cluelessness, like...dozing off, or...not noticing a she-cat's interest for..." He bit his lip, a grin on his face. "Four moons?"
"Well..." Ravenfang smiled ever so slightly at her anology as he followed after her, through the exit to the moorland. "Maybe like swimming in a fast-moving current. It takes endurance and...well, training to get the right speed, but...I know you can push yourself to do it." She had pushed herself through much harder moments--continued to fight when her camp was falling apart.
He scented the air, searching for nearby rabbit for several lengthy moments. It seemed the exit from camp and the flat moor near it was empty of rabbits, at least for the moment. They were quickly approaching Leaf-bare now and the prey knew it. "Let's keep walking. I don't scent any here."
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Jan 8, 2019 21:05:01 GMT -5
Post by wildcharm on Jan 8, 2019 21:05:01 GMT -5
(Haha that sounds like the perfect story to make kits never want to go near the lake!) Lilyheart frowned as Shadowpaw insisted that he was just here to take refuge. Lilyheart turned to look at the young tom. It didn’t really seem like he had much more support here than he would have in Shadowclan. Just two cats who heh could think of. She knew that Ravenfang might not be helping just for Shadowpaw’s sake. “I’ll be here for you I promise.” She mewed softly with a light flick of her tail.
“Whatever you are doing in Windclan it was good for you. Not just your training.” She mewed with a soft twtich of her tail. He hadn’t become a little more mature although he still had a lot of growing to do. He had become a little bit braver even to her.
Dogclaw gave a very stiff nod of his head slowly before he followed after Hawktail towards the border. He seemed to be keeping his composure a little better than Hawktail, but he was really a ball of nerves at the very idea of going into Riverclan territory. There were so many things that could go wrong very quickly. He didn’t know if he wanted them to find something or not. If they found her scent, well they’d have to decide pretty quickly decide what to do from there. Prowling forwards he forwards his tail started to lash uneasily from side to side the closer they got to the Riverclan border.
Speckleflower let out a rather loud huff feigning annoyance. “Well you were. I hadn’t met a lazier apprentice. The most thick headed too.” She rolled her eyes and looked away from him. She could only parents to stay mad for so long though especially when he tried to guess just how many moons it’d been until she had to spell it out for him. “Six moons actually.” She sighed softly as she very lightly nudged his side, playfully swaying a paw at him. “Okay maybe I can over do it sometimes.” Speckleflower admitted rather reluctantly although did purr quietly afterwards.
A small smile appeared as she let him take the lead. “And here I was thinking you just ran really fast after them.” Wrenflight lightly opened her maw to try and catch any scents of anything. Nothing. She followed along behind him for what seemed to be quite a while without being able to smell much of anything.
She sighed lightly to herself. “I never had this much trouble finding fish.” She took a deep breath before trying to pick out any fresh scents.
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