[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

It was odd, being in a place so protected as this one was. It was also eerie for a cat that was used to being around others, to see the Nursery sitting so empty. Did this clan truly have no Queens of its own just now? The thought of kits still made her sad but she would have enjoyed seeing other small kits for her son to play with. Today was about her though, and with Sandkit being kept occupied by Dawnblossom, she was using the opportunity to settle herself in this place she would call her home. In some ways, it reminded her of the caves she had lived in before, but it was also so very different. As a Queen, she didn't constantly have to leave her kit unattended to hunt for the group. She still had so much to learn, but maybe now that she wasn't in danger of dying during the coming leafbare, she would be able to find out all that she didn't know.

So many were curious about she and her kit, Silverglade knew this, but thankfully none had really approached her about it just yet. It was for the best, really it was, as she had needed the time to regain her strength from the ordeal she'd been through. She still showed the signs of stress on her body, but not as much. Now that she was eating more regularly and not simply giving it all to Sandkit, she'd finally begun to put weight back on and that meant she could stand firmly on her own four paws once more. It was a good feeling to know she was strong enough to fight once more if the need arose, but it did bring to mind questions about what her future in this place would hold. She could fight and hunt and defend, she'd proven that already. Still...

Maybe she should speak to others in the clan and make friends, but what would she have to speak to them about? She wasn't that old, but she'd been through so much that she doubted a clan cat would ever really understand. She'd lost kits, she'd lost her mate, she'd failed in her duty of protection of those that needed her. She knew it wasn't her fault as she'd been out hunting and the fire had caught them all off guard, but she still had nightmares where the eyes of her group were on her and their voices rang out in pain cursing her existence and blaming her for living where they had not. It was troubling, but time would heal the worst of what plagued her, she just had to manage until then.

Still, something on the wind told her that her brief moment of solitude wouldn't last long. Without the buffer of her son's presence, she wondered just how bold the cats of the clan would become. She would fight if she had to, but she didn't think Hawkstar would like it much if she had to explain why she'd gotten into a tussle with one of his cats so she hoped her feelings were wrong this one time.

--

Words: 525
Tags: Phoenix

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[Phoenix]

i'm an angel with a shotgun fighting 'til the war's won

Everything something of particular note occurred, word traveled like wildfire through the clan, and news of the arrival of a loner she-cat and her kit was no exception. He had not been in camp when the pair had arrived, accompanied by Duskflower and Eagletalon, but it seemed as if the entire clan had learned of the presence by the time he returned. Curiosity had brought the camp back to life. Whispers traveled in and among the small groups of cats gathered around, and every now and then, a head would scan the clearing as if hoping for the subjects of such rumors to appear. With the entire clan swept up in the excitement, Ospreywing could do little to avoid being carried along like the rest. Indeed, their interest was infectious, but while others’ curiosity had been piqued simply out of ignorance, his came with more weight.

There was an unfamiliar loner resting somewhere in the middle of StoneClan’s camp.

Of all the places on their territory, this was supposed to be the safest, the hardest to attack and easiest to defend – StoneClan’s refuge – yet they had brought a stranger into the middle of it. Granted, a weak mother and her injured kit hardly posed any threat to a clan full of well-fed, well-trained warriors, but he thought one could never be too cautious around strangers. StoneClan had been hurt before by believing false truths (most notably that they were safe in the valley), and they had paid for it dearly in blood and lives. He was not about to let them make the same mistake twice, even if his intentions were not solely aimed toward the well-being of the clan as a whole. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his clan mates’ judgement, he reasoned as he picked out a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and glanced around. It was simply that he would much rather verify the stranger’s harmlessness for himself.

Now where would she be? Yellow eyes peered around camp thoughtfully. If the kit was injured, the medicine cat’s den was his first thought, but perhaps enough time had lapsed that she and her kit had moved to the nursery. With no other queens, that den would be comfortable and quiet – not too overwhelming for a she-cat who had probably never been around so many cats before. Decision made, the tuxedo warrior directed his steps toward the nursery – where he had hid, as a kit, during the attack on StoneClan, and watched as a white demon with red eyes slaughtered his parents – slowing only as he approached it to poke his head in. He had guessed correctly.

Sitting in the stillness of the nursery, the she-cat seemed in relatively good health (idly, he noted the curious absence of her kit), but if he peered closely enough, he could see signs of her recent ordeal. She was just a little too thin, and she carried that ragged wariness that followed every loner. They were, above all, survivors, accustomed to defending themselves against anything and everything. Theirs was a hard life, lacking in the security of a den to which they could return every night and the combined hunting prowess of a clan of trained warriors. She was a stranger in a foreign land, and though his instinct told him that she did not seem a threat, he still felt the urge to verify. This was for Skunkspots, he reminded himself. She was the only one he had left. He could not afford to lose her, too, because he had been careless.

Carefully, slowly, he drew a little closer to the she-cat, not quite knowing how she would react and not wanting to spook her. ”I brought you something to eat,” He offered, dropping the mouse and nudging it forward with a paw. ”In case you were hungry.”

i don't care if heaven won't take me back

ospreywing | stoneclan | warrior | Silver

angel with a shotgun | background image

[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

Out of everything she could have expected to happen when a cat finally did venture into the Nursery to properly greet her, this tom with an offering of food wasn't one of them. Blue eyes went wide and her ears perked forwards in surprise. He'd...brought her food? Of course she'd heard him coming but kept her seat for now as he wasn't offering her any harm. The offer of food though...She looked down at the mouse, then at the tom in question, then back to the mouse before finally rising to her feet and leaning over to take the offering. Her first thought was to give it to Sandkit but he wasn't with her just then so she snorted and nibbled on the food for a moment before putting the rest to the side to eat later. It was rude to eat when one had company, after all. Still, she wasn't quiet sure how to react so she'd do the easiest thing first.

"I...well thank you for the food. Honestly I...wasn't expecting anyone to come offering me food like I'm a proper Queen. The group always hunted for each other, yes, but even those with kits had to feed them on our own so we took turns. So this...I...thank you. Really." Her tail flicked behind her and she offered a small, almost shy smile to the large tom before her. He was being kind, but she could tell he was uncomfortable and that made her think he was there for a reason. Slowly, she sat back down and settled her fur back into place before leveling her gaze on the stranger before her. "I can tell you didn't just come here to offer me food. So then tell me, if you would, what is it you want from me? Though I can probably guess, are you worried I'll harm your clan? That's smart of you, since I'm a stranger. I'd worry too in your position."

She went silent for a long moment, tail flicking in front of her face for a moment as if she was hiding before it flicked back and away around her body once more. At last she spoke again, her tone calm and patient as she waited for the questions to come. "If you are to be here speaking with me for a while, then you might as well know my name. I'm Silverglade. I would say it was a pleasure, but I haven't decided yet." She didn't expect his name in return either, but it was her way to give her name to those she would be speaking to at any length. She really hoped this didn't come to blows. She was weakened, but she wasn't useless. She could still protect herself if the need arose. She just used the fact that many wouldn't think a loner queen was a threat to her advantage if she had to fight. She just hoped it didn't come to that.

--

Words: 498
Tags: Phoenix

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[Phoenix]

i'm an angel with a shotgun fighting 'til the war's won

He had not brought the mouse along with him because he held any concerns about her well-being and comfort but rather because it gave him a good excuse to talk to her. If someone had seen him disappearing into the nursery for no apparent reason, there would be questions later, and though he did not think his intentions were unreasonable, the warrior was not particularly fond of humoring those in his clan who seemed to exist only to spread useless gossip. But the loner seemed to take his actions at face value, undoubtedly thinking better of him than she would had she known the truth of his thoughts. With what seemed like genuine surprise at his generosity, she took the mouse and set it to the side before addressing him.

Inclining his head slightly, he acknowledged her gratitude with a polite, ”You’re welcome,” and waited until she sat back down before doing the same. A small smile had made its way onto her lips, which he did not return – he had not truly smiled in what felt like a lifetime, and sometimes he wondered if he still knew how – though he made a slight effort to soften his stare into something less intense. Ospreywing might have been there with a purpose, but he had no need to intimidate a she-cat who was likely already on edge. She seemed willing to talk as it was. A moment later, his look turned slightly more calculating as he considered her next words. First impressions began shifting slightly to give way to other observations. Though he had hardly expected it to be the case, she was not a dumb cat. She had a loner’s astuteness, practical and sharp, and unlike some of his clan mates, who were entirely too trusting at times, she could cleverly pick out when she wasn’t receiving the whole story.

The warrior considered her. While others would like to believe the best in strangers, he was not inclined to trust her and then later have his trust thrown back in his face. Ospreywing knew better than to give her any potential weaknesses to use against him, and any information, particularly about the single she-cat whose continued safety was of the utmost importance, ranked high on that list; with the right knowledge and a strategic mind, one could turn even words into weapons. To divulge his purpose would be handing her knowledge of Skunkspots’ existence on a silver platter, and he knew that sometimes anonymity was the best protection – no one could target someone they didn’t know existed.

”That was one of my concerns,” He offered vaguely, tail flicking behind him. ”We’ve trusted others before and paid the price for it.” Though it paled in comparison to that of his sister, the well-being of StoneClan was still a matter he considered important, but it wasn’t truly for his clan that he felt concern. They could – and would, should such action be necessary – defend themselves against a single loner and her kit; he just wanted to be prepared, to know what he was up against, if it came to that. ”Nice to meet you, Silverglade.” As in any conversation, there were the obligatory pleasantries that had to be observed, and though he was not the most convincing at sounding completely welcoming, he did not go out of his way to be rude. ”I’m Ospreywing. You seem to have made yourself comfortable here.” A pause. Without any kits running around and chasing each other, the empty den was very quiet when neither of them was talking.

How to proceed? Admittedly talking and wheedling information out of others was not his strong point. He understood claws and fangs far better than the numerous intricacies of conversation, but to leap into the nursery to simply threaten the loner into submission would earn him not only the disapproval of his clan mates but an enemy deep in the heart of his own land. In the silence, yellow eyes flicked around as if the next thing he should say had been etched into the walls of the nursery. Again, he noted the conspicuous absence of the kit, before wondering if perhaps she had come to camp alone after all. Having only heard rumors of its existence but not seen it himself, he assumed she had a child – had heard from a fairly trustworthy source – but he could have been wrong. A continuation of this train of thought, the next words slipped out before Ospreywing could rethink them:”Ah… don’t you have a kit?”

i don't care if heaven won't take me back

ospreywing | stoneclan | warrior | Silver

angel with a shotgun | background image

[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

Silverglade's tail twitched as she realized just how difficult a time this tom was having in interacting with her. She felt amusement fill her and snorted faintly to herself before deciding to help him out a bit; especially when he asked her directly about why she was alone in the Nursery. "It's odd isn't it, to see a place like this so empty. I was surprised to discover that this clan didn't have any other young kits. As for my son, he's with Dawnblossom right now so I can have a bit of time to myself. He's eating solids for the most part so it's not like I have to have him stuck to my side all the time. Besides, I can't hover over him so much anymore; it's not good for him. So he's following your Medicine Cat about and I'm sure he's talking her ears off."

Her words were full of a deep sense of fondness as she spoke about her young kit; the smile that came to her face making her expression much softer than it had been. She did love her kit so, but who wouldn't love him really? She slowly shook her head and decided to address the issue at paw. He wasn't here to talk about her kit, after all. So she'd try asking him directly and see where that got her. "You didn't come here to ask me about my kit though, Ospreywing. If I had to guess, you have someone to protect and my being here could endanger that cat in question but you aren't sure how to go about finding the answers to whatever it is you want to ask. So I'll say this, you don't need to beat around the bush, just ask whatever it is you want of me."

She sighed, tail twitching next to her as she shook her head and offered up a tidbit of information in the hopes of getting the tom to relax a tad bit so that maybe he'd get to what he really wanted from her. "I used to belong to a group, you know. It's how I learned bits and pieces of the Warrior Code and about Star Clan and what that all meant. It's all I really knew so when everything happened...well we were lucky they found us when they did. I asked Hawkstar to just let Sandkit stay when he first approached me."

"I thought it would be better that way. The clan had a better chance of adjusting to a kit than to a strange loner and her kit. I thought...it would be better, really I did. But then he said I could stay as well. I wasn't...honestly I hadn't thought about myself when it came to this clan. All I had asked of him was time to be able to walk out of here on my own four paws. But he said I could stay, so whatever worries you have about me go ahead and ask me about it."

Blue eyes locked onto yellow ones and didn't waver. Her expression was serious and calm and showed no signs of her backing down from this conversation. Yes, it clearly bothered Ospreywing and she was sorry for that, but this entire thing had to be done if she was ever to really make a home here for she and her kit. She almost wanted to stand again where her pose was stronger, but she sensed that may be seen as a threat so she used her words instead.

"Let me be clear in this. All I want from this clan is a safe place to raise my son. I want to see him grow and learn. I want to be able to hunt and know he's safe and that at the end of the day I have a safe place to sleep with him. If that means taking a turn to help the clan in return, then that's fine with me. Because I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep Sandkit safe, and if that means risking my life to make sure this place stays safe, then that's what I'll do."

Let him consider that then. Probably he hadn't expected that she'd be so direct with him about her intentions for the clan, but she hoped he appreciated it. She was honestly a tad surprised with herself over how fierce she felt when it came to the protection of this clan that had taken her in. She owed them so much, and she'd do whatever it took to repay the kindness shown. No matter what.

--

Words: 769
Tags: Phoenix  

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[Phoenix]

i'm an angel with a shotgun fighting 'til the war's won

When he had asked the she-cat about her kit, he had not expected that her answer would strike her as deeply as it did. Confusion flickered across his consciousness at the first hints of emotion – sadness, perhaps? But that made no sense – that reached his awareness, for her words were neither particularly moving nor inspiring. A moment passed before he realized that it was not what she had said that tweaked his heartstrings but rather how she had said it. The unconditional love of a mother had warmed her voice, and the fond smile of which he wasn’t even sure she was aware lit up her face. Her tender fondness for her son shone with such brilliant clarity that he found himself glancing away. Watching her speak had roused something in him, something that had long since shriveled up after being abandoned in the darkest recesses of his mind: longing. His memories of before-the-war were vague against the stark terror that had crystallized his experiences of that horrific night, but he knew they were full of that same glowing warmth. One to avoid the nursery, it had been quite a while since he had witnessed such love or had anything of the sort directed toward him.

He hadn’t even realized that part of him still missed it.

It was lucky that she seemed willing enough to talk and let him simply listen, for he wasn’t entirely sure he could speak around the knot in his throat. Just like before, she had very astutely picked out his purpose for visiting her, and he could only nod in confirmation of her guess. Silverglade continued on, uninterrupted, and he listened with some curiosity as she divulged her story. She spoke as though she and Sandkit had been near-death when Hawkstar had stumbled upon them, and unbidden, Ospreywing found himself wondering how the kit was handling whatever ordeal they had been through. He knew first-hand the confusion and sense of helplessness that came with having everything happen around him, to him, without having any say in it himself. There were things that had happened when he was a kit that he hadn’t fully understood until he was older, yet that hadn’t stopped them from leaving their mark like everything else.

Again she invited him to be blunt and honest with her, but now blue eyes locked with yellow. He held her gaze evenly, saw the fire burning in their depths. Silverglade might seem friendly enough, but she was not to be underestimated; if he had not already been convinced of this, the look in her eyes would have done it. Something akin to respect flashed in his own eyes as he regarded her, acknowledging that he had received the message with a slight nod. Then the conversation shifted slightly, and she explained very candidly what she wanted out of StoneClan. As he listened, he realized that the sentiment she described nearly mirrored that which he felt for Skunkspots. In this new light, he reconsidered her yet again. They both held their loved ones close to their heart and would always watch over them with a ferocity unrivaled by most around them.

”I have a sister,” Ospreywing spoke finally, voice quiet. ”She’s the only one I have left…” And I can’t lose her. The latter half of the sentence went unspoken, silenced by the sudden tightening in his throat as he considered that horrible prospect. Skunkspots was the only cat he had left, and though theirs was more a parody of a relationship than a true one, she meant more to him than anyone else in the world. He had trained hard, become the warrior he was today all for the sake of being able to ensure her safety the next time they were attacked. Ospreywing was the guardian angel she didn’t even know she had. ”I just need to make sure you won’t hurt her.”

The tuxedo tom had a feeling that the she-cat across from him would understand the intensity in his voice, for she had her own charge to protect. A thought flickered through his mind – he wanted reassurance from her, so perhaps it was only fair that he offer the same to her. After all, she was among an entire clan of strangers, whereas he was only concerned about a single newcomer. ”Your son,” He started after a brief pause. ”Sandkit – he’s safer here than out there.” A moment passed as he considered his words. Perhaps that hadn’t been the best way to put it. ”Not that I don’t think you could do a good job protecting him,” Ospreywing added hastily, tail tip flicking. ”But StoneClan is a good clan. We look after our own, and we look after our kits, clan-born or otherwise.”

And in the end, that was all he could promise. Sandkit wasn’t completely safe here – the warrior of all cats knew that – but he believed that it was for the better that the kitten had found his way to a clan. They had more prey and more accessible medical attention. There was a strength in numbers, and he hadn’t been lying when he said that they looked after their own. StoneClan did, and he knew it – but that didn’t mean he was willing to trust them entirely with that which was most important to him: the life of his sister.

i don't care if heaven won't take me back

ospreywing | stoneclan | warrior | Justice

angel with a shotgun | background image

[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

Silverglade sensed the moment that she had gained some respect from the Warrior before her and nodded slowly to return that respect. She did note that he seemed troubled about something, but that was hardly any of her business. It did make her wonder though, just what this clan had been through to put such an expression in the eyes of one of it's Warriors. Her long tail twitched with a sense of concern, but she said nothing about what was on her mind. When Ospreywing admitted that the thing that had really brought him here to speak with her was his desire to protect his sister - the only family he had left by his own words - blue eyes went wide for a moment then gentled with understanding. She couldn't blame him, then, for his worry about her presence there.

It made her sad to think of everything he and his sister must have gone through for it to only be them that survived out of their entire family. She could sympathize because of her very recent loss, but said nothing about it as she had already acknowledged it to herself. Instead, she quietly expressed her opinion of the Warrior's determination to protect his family. "It's good she has someone so devoted to protecting her then. And for what it's worth, my priority is my kit and I will do nothing that could jeopardize his well-being." Meaning his sister was safe from any threat coming from Silverglade, but she wasn't sure if he'd believe her words. Still, she had said something and she meant her words rather he believed her or not.

She finally sat back down, adopting a more relaxed pose to show she didn't view Ospreywing as a threat to her well-being just now. It was the biggest sign of respect she could give him and she hoped he took it as such. Her ears flattened just slightly at the mention of her son before they tilted forward again to show she was listening. Sandkit's safety was still something she was concerned about, but Hawkstar had said he would be safe in the clan territory and now a Warrior was saying so too, she'd offer her trust - tentatively so - and hope for the best. Still, at least he was trying to put her at least as well, and that meant a lot to her. "I know no place is completely safe, but at least his chances are much better with a clan behind us to help me."

Her tail flicked in gentle amusement as the tom said something then backtracked quickly in an attempt not to offend. She chuckled faintly as his words, purring gently to try and sooth him as was her way. "Don't worry, I know you didn't mean that you thought I couldn't protect him. I understood what you were saying. He's safer here within the Clan, and Stone Clan protects it's own. Which is a good thing, for the both of us. It means we can keep our loved ones safe a bit easier."

She settled herself into a more comfortable sitting position and flicked her tail idly as the conversation continued. This tom was certainly an interesting one, and she couldn't help but wonder what her son would think about him. The answer was one she knew and it amused her to no end. Sandkit would think Ospreywing was constipated because he may seem grouchy to a small kit. She kept her thoughts on that to herself though, for now at least.

--

Words: 589
Tags: Phoenix

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.