[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

It had been stupid. She hadn’t been paying close enough attention. In fact, she’d been paying close to no attention to what she was doing. It had seemed harmless enough. After all, what danger could walking pose, right? As it turns out, walking around numbly while your mind is hard pressed with thoughts, determined to crush your spirits, can be a very dangerous experience indeed.

She didn’t mind the pain. Not so much. Yes, it hurt, but she preferred the hurt to the emptiness she’d been stuck with otherwise. The calico she-cat limped into camp, making her way towards the best place she could be right now. The medicine cat’s den. There was a thorn protruding from her left front paw, and she knew she should probably get it looked at, just in case. Her little form sighed softly as she approached the den. The scents of many herbs wafted around her, soft scents, harsh scents, all sorts of scents. There was one, however, that had the little calico she-cat hesitating, faltering in her step. She’d once been told that her mother had scented of tansy frequently. Every time Echobreeze encountered the scent, something stirred within her, an ache that wasn’t quite painful.

Not many spoke of her mother now, and certainly no one spoke of her father. How could they, when he’d abandoned her and the Clan. Not many knew how to approach it. It was too awkward. And no one really spoke to her either. Echobreeze hiccupped slightly as she choked back a sob. She should stop thinking about this, she knew it. But it was so hard… There were times when she thought that it might actually be easier if someone, anyone approached her and spoke to her, got her to speak about her parents. Yes, she’d been young when her father had abandoned her. But that didn’t mean that she didn’t remember it anymore.

With every moon that passed, she pleaded with StarClan to make it fade away a little more, so that one day she might forget it and be happy. But every moon, the memories stayed, haunting her dreams, and plaguing her days. With how her life was now, she feared she would never be happy, not truly.

She spent every day in a Clan, pretending to herself that she belonged, that they really cared about her. And every day, it was harder for her to continue doing so. NightClan was strong. Ravenstar was a cat to look up to. Echobreeze was not. She was of pitiful size for an adult she-cat. She was timid, scared of almost everything. She was as near to useless as you could get, and still be walking. And she had managed to go ahead and step on a thorn. Now she had to bother the medicine cat, Smokefur, with her stupid little problem, when the other cat could be working on something important.

She debated simply walking away, away from everything she had ever known, but she’d already poked her head through the entrance to the den. There was no going back now, she might as well make her presence fully known. The sooner she did so, the sooner she could be treated, and the sooner Smokefur could get back to more important things.

”S-Smokefur? Are… Are you busy right now..?” The she-cat managed to squeak out. She must look so silly right now, her small frame hesitating outside the medicine cat’s den with one forepaw lifted, and a wonderful thorn planted comfortably there. Even if you couldn’t see the thorn, her tail was low, head vanished among the entrance to the den. She was a pitiful sight indeed.

OOC - Wasn't sure if you were still up for this thread between Smokefur and Echobreeze, but I really just needed to write something like this. Echobreeze and I both needed that. If you don't want to do it, ignore this.

[Deleted]

Smokefur wasn’t doing much at all, it was getting later in leafbare and so much of the work had dried up. There were no more herbs to collect even though she would keep trying, and there wasn’t really much in her stores to organize. Nobody was dying from greencough as she had seemed to curb the illness until next season so she was just waiting for someone to need her. That someone came in the form of a small, timid she-cat that Smokefur knew well. She was very familiar with Echobreeze because she had always taken a personal liking to her, she was a rather feminine she-cat making her soft and gentle albeit a bit skittish. “Come in dear, what’s the matter Echobreeze?” The silver medicine cat said in a gentle tone trying to ease the scared she-cat as she moved and laid her tail across Echobreezes’ shoulders guiding her into the den.

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~

The little she-cat stared down at the ground as the medicine cat led her into her den. She felt embarrassed, yet comforted as the other she-cat lay her tail on Echobreeze's slender shoulders. There was something about this she-cat that just made Echobreeze feel a little less intimidated by the world around her. The scent of herbs wafting through the air probably helped as well. She knew that the medicine cat had asked her what was wrong, but Echobreeze couldn't seem to conjure up the words to explain it. She suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to tell the medicine cat about everything. Everything from feelings pathetic and useless, feeling like a stranger in her Clan. Everything, even about Gorgelight. Just the thought of him had her fur heating up. She came to a stop in the medicine cat's den, and she took a seat where she was. She opened her mouth, as though to speak, before shutting it again. Her breath came out in a soft, long sound, before she turned her head away, embarrassed, and whispered as she lifted her paw. "I... I s-stepped o-on a th-thorn..."

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“Sweetheart…” Smokefur chimed in the gentlest voice she could find, she knew this she-cat had to be handled very carefully. She was even a bit surprised she was made a warrior, not because she was incapable of doing the duties but because she was so timid. “Just sit and calm yourself, we will get thorn right out…” She continued in her gentle tone. She gently her left paw to lift Echobreezes’ injured foot, gently she would grab the thorn between her teeth and without much warning she would yank it out fast. She was prepared for the she-cat to lose it and become rather afraid, she wasn’t sure if she would go into a danger mode response even if she knew Smokefur was just removing the thorn. “Shhh…” She whispered trying to calm Echobreeze, moving to sit beside the she cat and push her weight into her in silent support.

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

The little she-cat kept her head low as the medicine cat crooned gently to her. The voice was much softer and sweeter than any of the other voices she heard every day, so it was a relief. Still, it was nothing compared to the sound of Gorgelight's voice. She didn't mind that he stuttered, or had problems speaking, because she stuttered too. But the words he did speak... His voice sounded so gentle. She wondered what it would sound like if it all flowed together. She thought she would probably be able to fall asleep to his voice, regardless of whether it flowed or not. There was just something about him... A soft smile played upon her lips, looking out of place all this considered.

It was then that a sharp pain lanced through her as Smokefur hauled the thorn from her paw. Echobreeze's eyes shot open and her head came up. A squeak escaped her as the three paws stilled remaining on the ground scrabbled slightly. She pulled her paw away from Smokefur, taking a few limping steps back. She stood by one of the walls, her green eyes shining in the slight darkness. One paw was lifted as she stared at Smokefur, her body trembling slightly. It took her a moment, but as the medicine cat continued to croon, she limped back a little closer to the gray cat, her head low. "I... I-I'm sorry..." She whispered. "Y-You... C-Caught me off g-guard..."

[Deleted]

“It’s okay Echobreeze, no harm done right?” She asked in her same soft tone, she hoped the she-cat didn’t take offense to the tone she was using. It was a rather gentle one that most cats would have taken with a bit of scorn, they all seemed like they didn’t want to be crooned at and calmed down that way. Smokefur was sure it was the right choice for Echobreeze though, not because she was immature but rather because she figured something bad had happened to the cat and had left a rather large scar on her that determined her behavior. “Now that that’s all done care to talk about anything else, I’m sure theres quite a bit you don’t get off your chest. Excuse me in saying but I don’t really ever see you talking to other cats around the clan.” Smokefur said giving the she-cat a soft nuzzle trying to get her to open up a little.

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~

“It’s okay Echobreeze, no harm done right?” Smokefur's gentle voice met Echobreeze's ears once more, and the little calico she-cat looked up at the smoke gray she-cat. “Now that that’s all done care to talk about anything else, I’m sure theres quite a bit you don’t get off your chest. Excuse me in saying but I don’t really ever see you talking to other cats around the clan.” Other cats might take offence if someone came up to them and said something along those lines. Echobreeze, however, simply stared at the medicine cat, her eyes wide. A little tremble took hold of her body as she slowly placed her paw back down at the ground. Her initial instinct was always to duck away from conversations, especially if they involved her at all. But they were the only two in the den, and there was't exactly anywhere the she-cat could go.

For a moment, there was only silence, and then, as if pushed by some unseen force, she managed to stutter out her version of a blurt. "N-Not m-many cats p-pay attention t-to m-me. I... I'm n-not g-good for m-much... Ei-either th-that, or... or they d-don't kn-know h-how to ap-pproach m-me... Bec-cause th-they kn-knew m-my f-father...." She trailed off softly, glancing down at the ground, where she had started shuffling her paws, drawing lines in the dirt with her claws.

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And there it was, Smokefur knew the injury would show eventually. However for this poor girl it happened to be a one of a girls weak spots, her father. Smokefur knew she had to thank her father for a lot, he had made her feel like the prettiest little kit in the world when she was still in the nursery and even though she had been busy and their relationship had changed his death still struck her hard. It wasn’t too long ago and the thought of her dead father still caused her pain. “Oh sweetie…” Smokefur cooed as she sat at Echobreeze’s side and pushed herself into the she-cats side in support. “I am so sorry that’s how things are, but please talk to me… I want you to know that I really do care Echobreeze.” Smokefur said nuzzling the she-cat another time. She was sure the timid warrior hadn’t received attention like this in a long time, she wondered if it would help her at all.

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

The calico she-cat's body tensed suddenly when the medicine cat continuously nuzzled her. She had never had a lot of this attention, as she had never had a true parent of her own. It was bizarre, but... Echobreeze couldn't tell whether she liked it or not. “I am so sorry that’s how things are, but please talk to me… I want you to know that I really do care Echobreeze.” With a soft shrug, a slight gesture that it didn't really matter, simply because she did not matter. With a soft shuffling of her paws, Echobreeze contemplated saying anymore. Really, she had stuttered out more to this medicine cat that she had to anyone in a long time. Yet... To a certain degree, being able to share that with someone, it almost felt... Good, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ... Maybe not lifted, but certainly shifted.

She wasn't even aware of it, but the calico she-cat's mouth seemed to simply start working again, without her actually meaning to at all. "Th-They d-don't kn-know what to s-say to me.. What d-do you say to a sh-she-cat who's f-father... Walked away f-from the Clan life, ab-bandoned his o-own daughter... A-And blamed h-her f-f-for s-something she had n-no control ov-ver.. I-I mean.. I-It wasn't m-my f-fault sh-she... Died g-giving birth... R-Right?" Echobreeze whispered, her green eyes moving to look at the medicine cat. There was a pleading glint to the she-cat's eyes, as though part of her really was worried that her mother's death had been her doing.

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The medicine cat sat and listened to everything the she cat had to say, for a while there she wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to get anything out of her at all. However out of nowhere she started speaking, and she opened up and everything started to become a bit much clearer to Smokefur what ailed Echobreeze. It was a mix of fear, heart-break and disappointment… all under laid with more than her fair share of sadness. “Of course it wasn’t your fault sweetie, these things just happen… it was wrong for your father to try and put any of the blame on you. It’s one of the risks you take but you do it because you love your kits, make no mistake Echobreeze your mother loves you and watches you from starclan…” Smokefur said softly, she hadn’t noticed that as the other she-cat had been speaking she had been pressing into even harder in silent support. Smokefur wasn’t sure if she had ever snuggled a patient like this before but it seemed necessary.

[BlooRey DVD]

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[atrb=background,http://i45.tinypic.com/6ihf8l.png] The little calico she-cat blinked at Smokefur as the other she-cat spoke. “Of course it wasn’t your fault sweetie, these things just happen… it was wrong for your father to try and put any of the blame on you. It’s one of the risks you take but you do it because you love your kits, make no mistake Echobreeze your mother loves you and watches you from starclan…” Echobreeze felt a shudder take her body without warning, suddenly aware of fur pressed against her side. She tried to hide her trembling slightly, not used to the feeling of someone else' fur against hers. She shut her eyes tightly, doing everything she could to attempt to cope with Smokefur pressed up against her. Her mind knew that it was simply the medicine cat's way of trying to comfort her, but the calico hadn't even really had someone to pull her close before. It was something she wasn't sure she would ever get used to. She tried for a moment longer, but in the end had to step away from Smokefur, her head low in apology. "I-I'm s-sorry Smokef-fur... I-I kn-know you m-mean w-well... B-But I c-can't... N-Not yet... I'll t-talk... B-But..." She fell silent for a moment before slowly lowering herself to the ground. She crossed her little paws slightly, laying her head on them. "I... I d-don't kn-know if y-you are the right c-cat to ask.. B-Being a m-medicine cat... B-But.. H-How do you kn-know wh-when... When an-nother c-cat l-likes you..?" Her green eyes slowly looked up at Smokefur, embarrassment clear in them. She had no idea why she was asking these questions at all. She just seemed to not be able to keep them in any longer. It seemed that, after moons of not having anyone to talk to, she couldn't stop.

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“Well, believe it or not I have been asked that question many of times…” Smokefur said in a soft voice, she was not at all put off by Echobreeze’s inability to handle her being in close proximity. It didn’t surprise her at all how could the cat go from no contact physically or verbally to physical and verbal support from another she-cat. “Nobody ever believes I will have anything to say on the subject, but I have had my option of suitors in the past. Sadly even though he was practically committing one of the biggest offenses to the clans I let him down evenly, you can’t choose who you have feelings for after all. Not only that love makes you do silly and crazy things.” She said explaining her experience before she launched into her advice, “As for telling if a cat likes you, it depends on the cat sometimes it’s easier and sometimes it can be much harder. If you tell me a bit more I may be able to help you much better.”

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~

The little she-cat hung her head slightly as she heard what the she-cat said. That response was what she had feared. Not the first part. There was something... Uplifting, hopeful about hearing that she was often asked this type of question. It gave her a little bit of hope, hope that maybe she would get some sort of answer from this gray she-cat. But then the words had continued and Echobreeze's heart sunk ever so slightly. Her tail was still as she stared at the ground, her breathing soft and even as she thought sadly.

Carefully, she lifted her head, green eyes looking up at Smokefur for a brief moment before they returned to the ground. She found herself shuffling her paws once more, her nerves rising. She forced herself to stop, giving a gentle sigh as she closed her eyes, whispering softly. "I... I can't... T-Tell y-you a-anything about h-him.."

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Smokefur was saddened by the cat in front of her, not because she disliked her or felt pity or disgust for her behavior but rather because she was an example of how one cat could have such an influence on another. Through no fault of her own Echobreeze had been broken very badly, and Smokefur wasn’t sure if she was able to be fixed. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.” She said in a gentle tone, trying to coax her towards a decision, “The easiest thing to do in a situation like this would be to take a leap of faith and see if he likes you too, you would have to put yourself out there and see if he returned the gesture.” Smokefur almost felt like she was playing a cruel game, she knew perfectly well Echobreeze was not capable of doing this. She was either going to give up with Smokefur which the medicine cat hoped wasn’t the case, or she was going to give just a little more information so Smokefur could help.

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

The little calico she-cat shook her head from side to side, hunched over in the middle of the medicine cat den. She looked rather pitiful, but she didn't even care. She fought for something to say, anything to say, but no words seemed to come to her. Smokefur had told her she should tell him. How could she tell him? How could she show him? It wasn't only her personal barriers that put greater pressure on this. She was a NightClan she-cat, and he, a RainClan tom. She shouldn't feel this way about him. But if it was so wrong... Oh StarClan, why did it feel so right?

When her green eyes lifted from the stone floor below her, many things were clear in the little calico's gaze. Despair. Agony. And fear. Her mouth slipped open as she all but whimpered. "What.. W-What if h-he... What if he's n-not h-here..."

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