[Hellion]

Gullswoop  & Hawkfall

Gullswoop nodded in agreement to Stormstar's suggestion of spreading out. He didn't want to waste any time. The gatherings provided him a rare time to see his older brother and as eager as he was, Gullswoop kept himself under control. He glanced toward Lotuswhisker with a small, slightly nervous smile. They weren't anything formal, but Gullswoop couldn't deny he had a small crush on the beautiful she-cat. It was too early to suggest anything beyond that, so he kept his feelings to himself. He kept close to her without hovering as he waited for any of the other clans to arrive.

Sure enough the next scent to fill his nose was the smell of StoneClan. Perking up instantly Gullswoop rose to his paws, his tail twitching as he waited to see who followed after Hawkstar. A loud purr escaped him as he saw his brother's green eyes from the crowd of StoneClan cats. Glancing toward Lotuswhisker he was half tempted to ask her to join him in greeting his brother, but instead he waited until Hawkfall sat down before walking over by himself.

"Brother," Gullswoop meowed, bringing attention to himself. Hawkfall's head turned sharply a sense of surprise in his green eyes.

"Gullswoop!" Hawkfall greeted his brother warmly by rising to his paws and pressing his nose to Gullswoop's cheek. While they may have never shared a meal together or even a nest, Gullswoop would always treat Hawkfall fairly. He didn't know what drove his brother to leave RainClan, but even if he didn't understand Gullswoop would always love his kin. "So much bigger then the last time I saw you and it seem you have gotten into a few fights too, Hawkfall commented, flicking his tail to the scars over Gullswoop's eye. While the silver tabby was still hyper aware of the scars, he had started to embrace them a little more each day, it helped that Hawkfall's words weren't meant to be hurtful.

"A lot has changed, Gullswoop replied, realizing that Hawkfall didn't know what had happened. A slight flash of hurt filled Gullswoop eyes as he cleared his throat, emotions suddeningly threatening to overwhelm him.

"Is something wrong? Is Crowblaze okay? Are you feeling ill?" Hawkfall asked suddenly picking up on Gullswoop's distress.

"No, everything is okay now, but I have to tell you something. Um..Dad is dead. There has been a lot of bad stuff happening in RainClan, its all better now for the most part, but we lost dad in the process," Gullswoop told him, watching his brother's green eyes cloud with a strong look of pain and hurt. A long silence broke out between the two brothers.

"Thank you for telling me," Hawkfall managed to say, doing his best not to let his voice shake. Gullswoop moved forward to press his nose into Hawkfall's shoulder, holding back the urge to wrinkle his nose at the scent of his brother's pelt, instead he focused on providing his brother some kind of comfort.

"Everyone else is okay and I uh sort of have someone I want you to meet," Gullswoop meowed, this was his attempt to change the subject and lighten the mood. Hawkfall forced a smile, pinning his emotions to the back of his mind to process at a later time, likely with his mate beside him. Hawkfall simply nodded as Gullswoop took the lead, taking his brown tabby furred brother back toward Lotuswhisker.

Lotuswhisker! I'd like for you to meet Hawkfall, my older brother. He and Crowblaze are the same age," Gullswoop explained, stepping aside for Hawkfall to join him. Side by side it was no mistaking that they were siblings, Gullswoop and Hawkfall were almost the same height and carried similar fur types. Their noticeable differences were in their coloring.

"Nice to meet you Lotuswhisker," Hawkfall offered in greeting, dipping his head in formality.

_{Words: 644
Tag: Fawn
Note: first time Gull and Hawk have been at a gathering together!!}

[Fawn]

Lotuswhisker

36 Moons, She-Cat, RainClan Warrior

------

It was a relief to go to the gathering with Gullswoop. Lotuswhisker wouldn't pretend to know how widespread word of RainClan's civil war had gotten, but on the off chance that she was about to be the subject of whispers and furtive looks, Lotuswhisker wanted someone she could trust standing beside her.

When Gullswoop trotted off on his own to greet a StoneClan cat - his brother? They definitely looked related - Lotuswhisker hid her dismay behind a careful smile and a final washing of her whiskers. Despite the silver tabby warrior making it clear that he wanted to speak to the StoneClanner alone, Lotuswhisker couldn't keep herself from watching; anguish passed between the two toms. Lotuswhisker's stomach curled in on itself, and she felt a pin-prick of guilt. Gullswoop wasn't leaving her behind, he was telling his brother what had happened to Vultureback.

And here you are being selfish and worried only for yourself.

By the time Gullswoop turned towards her, the brown tom following close behind, Lotuswhisker had regained her composure. Vowing to be as good a friend to him as he had been to her, she put aside her own emotions to greet them both warmly. "I was a little worried you'd ditched me," she mewed gently, and gave Gullswoop's whiskers a gentle bat. Looking to the handsome StoneClan cat, she dipped her head in greeting, relieved to know that he had spoken up first.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hawkfall." The lithe brown warrioress looked between them, and her sea-green eyes filled with light. "Hawkfall? Gullswoop? Did you two plan that?" With mock suspicion, Lotuswhisker eyed up the brothers as if expecting them to start chuckling conspiratorially. Privately, Lotuswhisker was very glad that their names were similar. Even with the distance between RainClan and StoneClan, the brothers would have a link through their names. Their mother's decision to give them bird names had paid off well.

Word Count: 315 WordsTags: Hellion Notes:

[Hellion]

Gullswoop  & Hawkfall

Gullswoop was silently nervous about Lotuswhisker meeting his brother. It was one thing for him to be half-clan but something entirely different to be on friendly terms with a brother who left RainClan. However, all concern washed away as Lotuswhisker greeted Hawkfall warmly. His elder brother offered a pleased smiled and short laugh once their names were called into question.

"I was given -fall as my warrior name because I am pretty good at hunting hawks, which is comical in a way," Hawkfall explained with a sparkle in his eyes.

Gullswoop nodded, approving his elder brother's name. "Timberstar was my mentor and she always said I swooped a lot when I swam so I'm sure she suggested my warrior name to Razorstar," Gullswoop added as a way to build the conversation. He watched Lotuswhisker for a moment, trying to see any signs of her disliking his brother or feeling uneasy. It was foolish really for him to be so concerned. Regardless of what came of his and Lotuswhisker's relationships, it wouldn't be decided if she liked his brother or not, that was simply unfair.

Hawkfall was and would always be a rival cat. Something that never was spoken between the siblings but simply understood. There was a strain on their relationship, but Gullswoop prayed to StarClan it would ever come down to them being on opposite ends of a battle field. His thoughts were clouded that he nearly missed Hawkfall looking toward him, it seemed that he missed a question.

"Do you have fish brains?" Hawkfall asked with a teasing smile, using an old RainClan insult. Gullswoop dipped his head in mock apology. He had clearly been distracted.

"I asked how your apprentice was. I heard you were training a cat, Coldpaw was it?" The brown tabby asked, fixing his brother was a gaze that meant he was truly interested.

"Oh yeah! We finished training he is Coldrush now. I'm very proud of him." He answered thinking fondly of the white tom-cat he had mentored. Hawkfall smiled at his brother's words before turning to look at Lotuswhisker with a flicker of amusement.

"So Lotuswhisker, you seem to be a close friend of Gullswoop, anything you want to share? Does he snore? I remember Crowblaze snoring when we were kits, I'm sure Gullswoop inherited something from our brother. I'm grateful it wasn't his temper," Hawkfall meowed, carrying the conversation easily. Clearly a tom-cat that despite being half-clan was comfortable in his own skin and able to joke about his siblings as if they all went home together.

_{Words: 430
Tag: Fawn
Note: sorry i took so long.}

[Fawn]

Lotuswhisker

36 Moons, She-Cat, RainClan Warrior

------

Lotuswhisker laughed. "The whole Clan is grateful it wasn't his temper." One ill-tempered enormous tom was bad enough, but two? The warrioress looked at Gullswoop, taking in his silvery features, the bright green eyes and the distinctive scars. Something in her heart fluttered, bringing a smile to her dark brown muzzle. "I think we can safely say he got Crowblaze's height." Lotuswhisker was a petite feline, and this was clear even without having to stand shoulder to shoulder (more like shoulder-to-elbow) with him. However, even Gullswoop's shadow made her feel almost tiny by comparison.

But she'd be lying if she said she minded. His company was still valued, well beyond any kind of superficial nonsense or shallow reasons.

There was an ease about Gullswoop's older kin that helped Lotuswhisker stay relaxed. She blinked gratefully at the amicable tom, and took a risk - deciding to tease him back as gently as he'd teased her Clanmate. "Aren't you going to introduce us to any of your friends? Anyone... special?" A playful lilt of the voice accompanied the serpentine swaying of her tail, a laugh at the edge of the pretty feline's throat. Hawkfall must've had someone to curl up with at night; he seemed like a good warrior, and a kind tom. What more could a she-cat ask for?

As if following a current down stream, Lotuswhisker's gaze drifted naturally to Gullswoop. A blush crept under her pelt, hot as sunlight, and she turned the glance into an observing look, as if interested in the cats sitting just past the handsome silver tabby. Get a hold of yourself. But... why should she? He was a Clanmate. He was a good warrior. Mother would never approve, whispered a little voice in the back of her mind. That rebellious seed in her heart took root further. So? Answered a stronger voice.

She didn't need Shadefrost's approval. Not anymore. I can make decisions on my own. It felt strange, not to have that kind of support system in her life. Strange, to have no one to consult with. No parental figure. A sister was just as good though; she would get Willowbreeze's opinion before anything else.

Word Count: 360 WordsTags: Hellion Notes:

[Hellion]

Gullswoop & Hawkfall

Hawkfall joined Lotuswhisker as she laughed. He wasn't on the greatest of terms with Crowblaze but he found it okay to join in the laughter. Gullswoop felt his cheeks flush, he wanted to defend his elder brother but decided to sheepishly go along. His laugh was shorter and much softer than the other two.

At the mention of his height, Gullswoop shot his brother a knowing look. The two were close in height but if Gullswoop stretched out just a bit more he'd be taller. Not that it really mattered in the grand scheme of things. His look toward Hawkfall was short lived as his attention returned to Lotuswhisker for a brief moment. He felt a desire to press his nose into her shoulder, slouch down to be closer to her level. He wondered if his height bothered her. Did she mind that he was nearly double her size? or did she feel safe beside him? Those questions burned without Gullswoop but he kept them push back, he couldn't risk them bubbling up.

The air between the three of them remained light and turned almost painfully sweet as Lotuswhisker asked if he had anyone special. A purr escaped him as Hawkfall's cheeks flushed. He was always eager to talk about Shadowdance to anyone that would listen to him.

"Yes, I do have someone special. His name is Shadowdance. I care for him deeply despite our relationship being a little unorthodox. However, he wasn't able to come to the gathering. I hope that he can during the next gathering. I'd love for him to meet Gullswoop at least once," Hawkfall explained. It was almost sickeningly sweet and obvious that Hawkfall cared deeply for his special someone.

"What about you? Not that I'm trying to rush or anything, just curious about my little brother." Hawkfall asked innocently enough, but his voice did lean toward teasing. Gullswoop felt his cheeks heat up and he quickly looked down at his paws.

"Um no..I don't have anyone special...I mean no mate or anything..," Gullswoop said unable to look up at Hawkfall. His elder brother read the signs easily, Gullswoop was uncomfortable with the topic. The brown tabby tried to recover the mood by turning to look at Lotuswhisker. His green eyes showing a playful shine.

"Do you have someone special? Or do you prefer to focus on your duties? That was how our mother was before she met father, then it was all down river from there," Hawkfall explained simply. It was clear in the lightness of his voice that he valued his parent's relationship. He got to experience the love between them, more so then Gullswoop had been exposed to. Hawkfall's memories of his parents were often light and cheerful, not riddled with the smell of sick like Gullswoop's memories. As Hawkfall waited for Lotuswhisker to reply he used his forepaw to poke at Gullswoop's paws, a playful gesture.

_{Words: 485(ish)
Fawn
Note: maybe end with Lotus? Then we can start a new Gull/Lotus thread based off what she says.}

[Fawn]

Lotuswhisker

36 Moons, She-Cat, RainClan Warrior

------

Hawkfall was in love with a tom! Lotuswhisker's eyes widened, but to her own surprise, she didn't find that as strange or unusual as she'd thought she might. It was... rebellious. Hawkfall clearly went against convention, and Lotuswhisker, who had always been under the heel of her mother's expectations and personal preferences, could respect that.

Besides, it was nice to see him so happy. They were good toms, these two. Enormous and fluffy, but good.

Does he have someone special after all? Lotuswhisker's dark ears rotated, pricked keenly to catch Gullswoop's answer. Instead of laughing off his brother's question, the silver tabby seemed embarrassed, enough to fumble over his words a little. Torn between extreme curiosity and finding his awkwardness endearing, Lotuswhisker stifled a purr. Maybe he had become self-conscious after he had gotten those scars... Lotuswhisker thought they made him look like a survivor. A tough warrior who could handle it when the valley through everything it had at him.

It made sense that Hawkfall would ask her next, but Lotuswhisker's expression still lit up with some surprise. A laugh pushed it's way out, drifting between them like dandelion seeds in a slow breeze. "I have someone in mind. I've always looked forward to becoming a queen." Lotuswhisker enjoyed warrior duties, but she knew what her true calling was; it would be so fulfilling to be a mother for the next generation of RainClan kits.

She was... unpopular right now... but that wouldn't last forever.

And Gullswoop was willing to talk to her. Right now, that felt like enough. The pretty warrioress flushed under her pelt, wondering just when exactly Gullswoop had started to mean so much to her.

Word Count: 279 WordsTags: Hellion Notes: Finished? New thread?