[Insidious]

Hellion

There was nothing for him in camp. He was but a wandering set of paws, equivalent to that of a speck of dust, being just as easily forgotten if even noticed at all. But that was okay. For someone like him, the spotlight wasn't the place to be. It was no secret that he wasn't fond of verbal exchanges, or perhaps it was a secret – who would know such a thing about him, anyway? Sure, the quiet got lonely sometimes, but he didn't think about it too much. If anything, it was blissful, one hundred percent peaceful. He didn't have to fret over silly encounters, nor did he have to worry about saying something wrong – he had a way with his words, this only being natural with the abundance of free-time upon his shoulders. Throughout the silent evenings he'd spent alone, it was sometimes comforting to pretend it was easy talking to his clan mates. Acting like he had someone to lean on, even though he knew with his heart and soul such a thing was nonexistent. But that was okay. Some cats were simply meant to be alone, so who was he to question it?

The Branch Trail was one of his favourite places to visit. It was occasionally a busy location, but Spidervenom knew how to disguise himself to avoid the unwanted attention when others unknowingly crossed his path. It was exciting to scope out the friendships that existed within NightClan – he'd seen a variety of cats spending time with one another, walking along the Branch Trail side-by-side, unaware to the concealed life-form high above, having been there so long prior that his scent hardly even lingered upon the ground. Sometimes, those who traveled by seemed to have something between them that sparked beyond the boundaries of friendship, but Spidervenom didn't like to think about that. It was too unusual a thought for him to have, too unusual a situation for him to ever consider thinking about. He didn't have friends, and he most certainly didn't have she-cat friends, such an unsettling relationship being too much for Spidervenom to endure.

A soft huff sounded from the tip of the small tom's jaw, paws lightly descending the tree he rested within to settle comfortably at its base. There was barely any claws marks in the bark to indicate he had been perched there, the newbie warrior having spent a large portion of his time perfecting his movements, his recently deceased mentor having claimed it to be one of his most admirable traits. It was encouraging to know that, at one point, there had been someone there for him to look up to. Pitiful, Spidervenom hadn't taken advantage of the possible relationship before it was too late. But wasn't that how things worked for him? He had been alone for as long as he could remember, not even his father having provided the tom with a sense of security when he had been alive. It was a sign that Spidervenom was meant to remain isolated: the one opening that had ever been presented to him, the one possible friendship... it was taken as soon as he began to consider it. Oh, how he missed Emberclaw dearly. But that was all behind him now, and yet here he was, so comfortably alone.

But that was okay.

[Phoenix]

Ratfur
so prepare for a chance of a lifetime
be prepared for sensational news
a shining new era is tiptoeing nearer

- - -

Unable to deny his lack of talent when it came to procuring food for his clan, he had long since given up the pretense of hunting. With his dark form slipping in and out of the shadows, the tom moved on quiet paws, using his uncanny and underappreciated ability to remain unseen to wander the familiar, marshy landscape. It was debatable that he not hunting was more productive than him trying to hunt, for failure after failure tended to alert the nearby prey to the presence of a predator. That thought had crossed his mind more than once, causing a flicker of self-deprecating amusement to flash across his consciousness. He was not exactly sure why NightClan had tolerated him for as long as they had; Ravenstar was far from the softest, most lenient leader, and Ratfur had the impression that he was little more than a parasite living off of the hard work of others. Not that he had an issue with the arrangement, as his inability to hunt meant that he would not last long on his own.

Paws carried him toward the Branch Trail, one of the more pleasant landmarks around the territory. The ground seemed to have been warded against the perpetual wet that infected the rest of NightClan’s land, where the surface was more often mud than firm ground. With spindly legs and short fur covering his wiry frame, the tom often felt a chill that bypassed others with thicker coats; cold, wet, muddy paws were an unnecessary and unwelcome addition. Perhaps the only downside to the tree-lined path was the frequency with which it was visited by others, more often than not, mentors and apprentices. His own apprentice, Oakpaw, whom he had given the day off, did not seem to have decided to wander in this direction, and for that he was glad because he lacked the patience necessary to deal with the younger tom’s infinite energy and unrealistic hopes. However, his faint hope for solitude was dashed as green eyes soon noticed the form of another feline resting at the base of the tree.

Somehow he recognized the other warrior by sight as Spidervenom, though that was all he could recall about the reticent tom. With his focus claimed mostly by those who made themselves known, usually by antagonizing him – like Blackwolf – Ratfur had little time for the quiet ones who preferred the shadows just as much as himself. The small part of him that desired companionship of those who would not find humor in his numerous failures regretted this oversight, but the regret was easy to ignore and shove aside. He had no need for friends; he never had, and he never would.

Ratfur approached the subject of his thoughts, brushing aside the sentimental notion of friendship with a flash of irritation. As he normally did when interacting with his clan members, he completed his actions without a trace of pride or a hint of the analytical nature of his thoughts. The act had become so ingrained in him that it was now a habit, and the submission and admiration for those more competent than he came without a second thought. Despite realizing long ago that hopes of overthrowing NightClan were just as unrealistic as Oakpaw’s hopes of becoming a successful warrior of whom NightClan would be proud, he had found no reason to shed the skin he had worn ever since stepping into the apprentice’s den. Then, on the off chance that he did act, others would underestimate him and the much-needed advantage would be on his side. But that was all irrelevant to whatever conversation he might hold with Spidervenom, and it was in his usual, relatively insecure voice, that the wiry warrior greeted, ”Hi, Spidervenom.”

- - -

i'll be king undisputed
respected, saluted
and seen for the wonder i am

[Insidious]

It was with genuine surprise that Spidervenom regarded Ratfur's presence, pale green eyes locking upon the wiry haired tom, a hasty spur of discomfort revealed with the slight backward shuffle into the tree the young warrior performed. A silence lingered between the pair for a prolonged period of time, Spidervenom awkwardly glancing over his shoulder into the base of the tree to ensure it was truly him of all cats being addressed and not, factually, the tree itself that he contemplated the chances of Ratfur likely preferring. Familiarizing with the realization that it was indeed him, Ratfur having used his name (this being a shock for the pale tabby all on its own), he swallowed his immense fear of verbal conversation in any form and... didn't overcome it.

A curt nod was offered to the older tom in the placement of any hello he could have mustered, his haunches shifting into an uneasy sit from where his thinly furred tail curled atop it, his arising stress indicated with the way his tail tip constantly fluttered in every-which direction. Pale green eyes, with great consistency, averted from Ratfur's own green stare to the shadows just over his head, back to Ratfur's eyes, and then repeating the process again. If he could manage to run fast enough, he could hopefully get passed Ratfur and escape into the abundance of shadows, leaving this unusual situation behind the both of them to never be brought up or considered again. But, then again, what were the chances that after this conversation was finished he'd ever be approached for verbal purposes again? Spidervenom considered this new perspective, pale eyes regarding the dark brown warrior thoughtfully.

He mused the probability of taking his chances and them being successful. The quiet had, regrettably, lingered for such an elongated amount of time that by now it was likely just as uncomfortable on Ratfur's part. But perhaps it was still worth a shot? “Hi,” the tom spat out, nearly choking on the simple word. His anxiety levels were still sky-rocketing, but he'd at least managed to greet the tom, so wasn't that a decent place to start? Spidervenom rose from his seat, body angled in such a way as to indicate that if Ratfur was also finding this conversation to be complex and not worth their time, it could be ended just like that. “Sorry, I just – I – I didn't expect company.” The stutter was a setback, but it remained a sentence nevertheless. Embarrassment momentarily inscribed itself upon the young warrior's facial features, hoping with all of his heart that it would be a good enough excuse to relieve him of the life-long tension such a display would likely implement between Ratfur and himself after this was over.

[Phoenix]

Ratfur
so prepare for a chance of a lifetime
be prepared for sensational news
a shining new era is tiptoeing nearer

- - -

The tom seemed genuinely startled that Ratfur had addressed him, even going so far as to glance behind him at the tree, as if the wiry tom would waste both time and breath talking to a tree. As the silence lengthened and the younger warrior before him fidgeted with the energy of a kit about to become an apprentice – except he was nervous rather than excited – he could see quite clearly why every time he had seen the other tom, Spidervenom had only his own thoughts for company. Any sympathy that the obvious anxiety would have sparked in him was drowned in the flood of disgust at such obvious weakness; considering he donned a skin of similar trembling and anxiety every day, one which he still wore even as those hypocritical thoughts cross his mind, he had hardly any room to talk, but he cowered and quivered in the presence of those who could easily break him in half if they so chose to. Spidervenom cowered and quivered in the presence of Ratfur, who physically posed as much threat to him as a kit did to an experienced warrior.

With the skill of a master in the art of hiding, he buried his disgust behind layers of something akin to sympathy and understanding. Brushing aside the apology with a flick of the ear, he replied, ”It’s okay. Everyone’s surprised at some point, right?” A smile flitted across his lips, even as the actor cringed inside. Comforting a warrior so timid that he had no idea how he had even gained the title – but then, so had he, so perhaps he should not have been so surprised – was hardly how he wanted to spend it his time, and if he was honest with himself, it would probably benefit both of them if he just stepped back and left. He was hardly a talker, but even if he was, any conversation the other tom could offer would probably have to be deciphered before he could understand any of it due to the stutters that were bound to occur. The time spent struggling through simple sentences with him was time better spent, if not being productive, wandering NightClan territory with his thoughts for company. For Spidervenom, his absence would mean a chance to compose himself and lower his anxiety levels – but that made it sound as though he cared for the cowardly tom’s well-being, which was far from true.

”If you’d rather be alone,” He offered the other tom a way out, tone carefully neutral as he did not want to sound too hopeful that Spidervenom would take him up on the offer, ”Then I can head off. I’d understand if that were the case.”

- - -

i'll be king undisputed
respected, saluted
and seen for the wonder i am