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Post by Justice on Oct 3, 2017 23:38:28 GMT -5
Leaf-Fall Day 10, Valley Year 5 ---------------------------------- He couldn't get her out of his head. How the last thing he'd said to her was that she'd taken his sister. He'd accused her of stealing a kit, of taking Lark away from her family. Which she had, but perhaps for the best. He knew she wouldn't have survived the brutal leafbare out in the open with him. She was too small, too fragile. And now he would never see her again. The ultimatum of LightningClan's precious leader said so. She could stay, but he couldn't be with her. He was a loner, he didn't belong. He didn't follow their rules, and never would. But today, this trip, was for another reason. Since the blaze that tore through this territory he'd been hunting further and further afield to provide for himself. He'd also been sneaking prey to Lark, now called Larkpaw. He'd leave it in her path, or chase prey from another territory straight to her. Or to her mentor, whichever found it first. At least she would be fed that way. He'd managed a rabbit, the creature large and fat. Chased the thing from NightClan's grounds, but here it was. Dead and a peace offering. LightningClan needed food. The fire had seen to that. So he'd caught the rabbit and brought it all this way, and now sought out a she-cat that he'd slighted in the worst way possible. Rather or not she'd forgive him he didn't know, nor could he figure out why it bothered him so much that he'd been so cruel to her. Had she seen him, he wondered, when he'd come to help them evacuate? Had she noticed him trying to do right? Had she even cared that he'd come by? It bothered him so much, and he didn't know why. Brightpool was just another clan-cat, so why was she so important? He found her scent, distinct among so many others, and followed it. He hoped she was alone, or this could be messy. Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 4, 2017 0:19:44 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL Carefully combing over the area Brightpool was quiet in her task. Trusting her StarClan given gift to help her find the lost souls of fallen Clanmates. There were a few who's bodies hadn't been found and Brightpool grew even more concerned for their souls. She prayed each night that they found peace and wouldn't be stuck inbetween living and dead. Pausing, the she-cat scented the air. Something was different, but the ever lingering scent of ashes made sorting it difficult. She longed for the day when the ash was gone and only new growth was left.
Slower than before, the white she-cat kept her ears perked and alert. The last thing she needed was to be attacked by something bigger than her, which was most things. Turning her head to look out onto the field ahead of her she stopped dead in her tracks. The feeling was back.
Always confused why it happened, Brightpool realized she was nearly powerless to move. Instead, she let the feeling grow into a full-on tugging sensation. Like she was being pulled toward something she had been waiting for. Trying not to get overwhelmed by it, Brightpool eased her paws in the direction she felt the pull.
She walked only a short distance until she realized what the earlier scent was. Shadow.
He seemed to be heading right for her and for a second Brightpool wanted to run but decided against it. She knew the feeling would only get worse and despite being a little afraid of him, she wanted to confront him. Partly to thank him for helping the Clan. It was a well-known fact, plenty of cats talked about him in the days after.
Even if they never mended things, beyond being civil, Brightpool did feel bad that Larkpaw wasn't able to be around her brother anymore. Perhaps it would be good for the two of them to finally talk, granted Shadow wouldn't call her names again. awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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Post by Justice on Oct 4, 2017 0:28:37 GMT -5
And she'd found him. Or he'd found her. With the two of them it was always a toss up on that one. He didn't get it, but chose not to question it this time. He looked at her, yellow eyes boring into her for a long moment before laying the dead rabbit at her paws and nudging it with his nose towards her. He stepped back slowly, tail lashing a little in irratation. Irratation at himself and at this situation. And a pang of his heart that told him he needed to make this right. Brightpool was his only tie to his sister now, he told himself. If he completely alienated her how would he ever hear how she was doing? It had almost killed him when he'd thought she was dead. He loved his sister, was visciously protective of her. And Brightpool held the proverbial key to any information regarding her. He didn't dare risk going too far into the clan's territory, not with everyone so alert after the fire. But he'd left his offer of peace and backed up more, until he felt a respectible distance lie between them. She couldn't feel threatened by him if he wasn't in striking distance. Shadow sighed after a moment and put his rump to the ground, tail shifting around and sending little plumes of ash flying. "Its for you." He finally offered, voice low and gaze intent on the she-cat before him. Hyper focused, ears alert and aware. A state he had never been in, not for any cat in his life. Why Brightpool? Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 4, 2017 0:40:39 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL She noticed the rabbit in his jaw and for a second, annoyance flared within her. Was he planning on gloating about stealing prey? Realistically she'd have no choice but to let him go. She was worn out from walking all over the territory and wouldn't stand a chance against him. Not eager to meet her ancestors yet, Brightpool simply narrowed her eyes. Perhaps he'd take the hint that way. Her eyes softened when he dropped the rabbit. Was he offering it to her? Had he already raided a rabbit warren and taken his fill? Was it a sick rabbit?
Unwilling to engage first, Brightpool watched him. Noticed a few physical similarities between him and Larkpaw and as the younger she-cat came to her mind. Brightpool was reminded that Shadow knew very little of her progress. While it wasn't easy to forgive him without talking to him, Brightpool had decided that she wouldn't hold back any information about Larkpaw. Even if they weren't friends, he deserved the courtesy.
However, he spoke before she had the chance to open her mouth. His voice low but Brightpool wasn't put off by it. In fact, it seemed familiar, like a long forgotten melody. Not moving right away, Brightpool dipped her head in thanks.
"Larkpaw is doing well. Firestar is her mentor now, she is learning to fight I think. I don't see her as often as I'd like, but I'll tell her I saw you. She'd like to know you are okay," Brightpool finally spoke, her voice soft but clearly understood.
"On behalf of LightingClan I'd like to thank you for helping during the fire. I believe you saved a few lives that day," She added, her tail flicking slightly as she mirrored him with ease, sitting down, ignoring how dusty she quickly became with her white pelt. awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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Post by Justice on Oct 4, 2017 0:54:20 GMT -5
He felt a tension go out of him as she spoke of his sister. He didn't like the 'paw' affixed to her perfectly suitable name, but didn't say anything about it. He also didn't like that Firestar was mentoring her. He felt a strong dislike towards that she-cat and her mate. They were the ones that were keeping him away from his sister. It was either join up or shut up and get out. Typical clan behavior. "I miss my sister." He realized his voice had come out hoarse, almost breaking with the words. He desperately missed Lark, worried about her and lost sleep over her. He was all alone here without her. "Are they treating her well?" Brightpool thanking him just made him shake his head. "Don't thank me." His gaze went more intense and his voice carried that same intensity. "I would never leave a defenseless queen in her nest to burn when I could do something to help her. The little ones don't deserve to suffer for the misdeeds of the adults around them." He shook his head and rose to his paws, almost seeming like he was challenging her when really it was because of what he was talking about. "The world ablaze and all I could think about were those in the nests and seeing them safely away from it." He remembered a small trail of little cats following him because he knew where he was going, terrified and wanting him to reassure them. He remembered carrying one queen's littlest kit when she collapsed from the smoke of the fire. Encouraging them to go, going back again and again to make sure all the nests were clear before the fire caught and destroyed the entire camp. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes, feeling how his body was held tense and a hissing snarl was working through him. He was a protective tom by his very nature, but all anyone saw was a violent loner. He took another breath, trying to reign it all in. It ended up with him putting his head to the ground for a long moment. "Just because I choose not to join a clan doesn't mean I don't care what happens to the other cats in this valley." He sat up again then, looking back at Brightpool as his yellow eyes blazed. "I went to Night territory for that rabbit. I know most think the worst when they see a loner, but I would not steal from a place that needs all the food they can hunt before leafbare hits and buries it in snow." Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 4, 2017 1:19:46 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL Hearing the phrase "I miss my sister" had Brightpool qusetioning what she knew about Shadow. His tone and body language spoke voulmes, perhaps he wasn't as cold as he appeared at first. As his question came to her ears, Brightpool offered a kind answer.
"Everyone does. LightingClan has taken in quite a few loner kits. As long as she proves herself loyal there isn't a reason to worry. She and Firestar seem to get along well, but I don't have my own apprentice and so I don't have a reason to join them in training," She explained briefly.
As he declined her gratitude, she did her best not to frown. Instead, she focused on what he had to say. In truth, the chaos of the fire left her with nightmares and she avoided thinking about it at all cost. It didn't help that her gift from StarClan often meant she saw the terrified souls of her departed Clanmates. The fire made it worse, hence the reason she was alone in the field. Doing her self-proclaimed duty of helping those souls along.
He kept talking about the fire and for a moment Brightpool was concerned he was reliving the terror of that day. Putting aside her present dislike of his words and some of his actions, Brightpool made a choice.
She decided to move closer to him. It was a friendly gesture, she moved to sit next to him. Her tail flicking to rest on his shoulder a comforting touch. She kept her ears tuned to his words and as he pointed out how everyone saw him, Brightpool felt guilt pool in her belly. She was one of those cats. She saw him as a loner first and not as a fellow cat. It was her upbringing that had her thinking him of a threat to her Clan's safety, when in reality that wasn't the case. Not moving from his side, Brightpool tilted he head to nudge against his neck, him being the taller of the two.
"I'm sorry about taking Larkpaw from you and I'm sorry for treating you like a threat all the time, but I want her to be safe just like you do and I know she'd be safe in the Clan and when she is old enough she can decide to stay or go. Please forgive me," She meowed softly, her voice crawling with regret. She hadn't realized that she had taken so much from him and given him nothing but more hurt. That feeling from before surged again the longer she stayed near him, but instead of being a pull it was more of an anchor. Stay close to him. It seemed to say. awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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Post by Justice on Oct 4, 2017 23:45:09 GMT -5
He startled, realizing she'd come to sit next to him and not at all expecting it of her. He was so unused to being touched, so used to someone making physical contact with him meaning they were attacking him. His body remained tense when she nudged him with her head, not knowing what to make of it. He eventually pulled away from her, dragging himself away so he could pace a little. Pretend he wasn't totally rattled by a simple act of affection. "Her name is Lark. It will always be Lark to me." He was suprised that his tone was tired rather than angry. His ears slowly laid back, and he sat down in defeat. "She's all I have, and thanks to your leader I will never see her again. Unless I sneak around. She's my sister, my only family, and I can't see her when I want to because of the stupid rules of the clans. Like I want to hurt anyone. Why is it against the rules for a loner to see a sibling within the clan?" For a moment his posture became that of the cat that had thought his sister was dead, because in a way she was really lost to him. "Sorry doesn't bring her back to me, but I do appreciate the thought." He sighed and finally sat up straight, giving her a sad smile. This felt better, the buzzing pressure in his head that had prompted him to hunt for Brightpool in the first place was gone. "She won't choose to go. By the time she's old enough to make that choice she won't want to." He shut his eyes and breathed deeply for a moment, settling himself. Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 4, 2017 23:58:44 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL As he left her side there was a sudden urge to pull him back that surprised her. Instead of acting on it, the she-cat forced herself to sit even dug her claws into the ground to prevent herself from moving. That last thing she wanted to do was upset him further, considering she was for the most part to blame for his current distress.
Watching him pace was almost sickening, but her amber-eyed tracked him back and forth, back and forth. Her ears trained on everything he said and for the first time, Brightpool found herself agreeing with the loner.
He had a point. Why couldn't he be allowed to talk and visit with Larkpaw, outside of camp for safety. Perhaps Firestar was taking things too far, maybe the calico leader was angry about something else. Had her leader given such a strict ruling because of the words exchanged? Firestar seemed more maternal and in Brightpool's eyes always the one to seem diplomatic answers. The only conclusion the white she-cat was able to make was that Firestar's ability to sympathize ran out when it came to loners older than 6 moons. Firestar was the same one that took in four loner kits nearly two leaf-bares ago. Unable to find justifcation for Firestar's choice, Brightpool gave up on the mental task. Maybe she could ask the leader when the time was right.
As he concluded with the statement about Larkpaw not wanting to leave, Brightpool couldn't help but find hope in his words. Larkpaw staying meant that she could be around the bundle she saved so many moons ago. Even if they weren't related, Brightpool felt protective over the she-cat.
Realizing he was done, Brightpool was able to formulate her own reply as he took the time to settle himself.
"Would you like to see her? We can pick a time and place for the two of you to visit. Firestar will never have to know. We can even use the old tunnels I've rebuilt a lot of them and they almost go all over the territory. I'm sure we can figure out a few that connect so you two can see each other," She offered to him, her eyes settling on him with ease not that he wasn't pacing around. awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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Post by Justice on Oct 5, 2017 0:21:38 GMT -5
He startled again, this time narrowing yellow eyes at her. He didn't know why she was suddenly being nice to him. "I do want to see her, but why would you help me do that? Why go against your leader and your rules?" He didn't know how to react when someone tried to help him. He was too used to clan cats chasing him off, or looking at him accusingly and with either loathing or disdain. Brightpool wasn't like that, at least most of the time. "Not the tunnels, she almost died in there." He remembered digging until his paws had bled, and it had taken ages for them to heal. Bleeding paws left marks in the snow, so he couldn't hunt. Bleeding paws made hunting impossible anyway. Which was why he'd nearly starved that leafbare. He remembered leaving her in one of them, hoping it was safe for her so he could provide, and returning to it caved in. It was one of his recurring nightmares. "If...if you can make that happen for me, however it is it happens, I'll owe you one." He sat down, folding his fluffy tail over his paws. Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 5, 2017 0:46:03 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL Brightpool had a very simple answer for Shadow on 'why' she was willing to break the rules for him.
"I have siblings too, we aren't that close anymore but I love them dearly and I would do anything to keep them safe, She replied, flicking her tail as her thoughts traveled to her siblings. How far they had come and on very different paths.
"I also disagree with Firestar and I agree with you. It's not fair you can't see Larkpaw. I don't see why you can't visit her outside of camp without worry. She told him, "Granted no prey is stolen and no secret exchanged," She added as an almost afterthought.
With her statement given Brightpool flicked her tail lazily for a moment. Hearing him say he'd owe her one she simply shrugged. "Consider us even," She replied. /font] awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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Post by Justice on Oct 23, 2017 19:00:17 GMT -5
"No one ever said that life was fair." He sighed, keeping his eyes locked on the she-cat. He had no reason to really trust her, and didn't trust her, but she was his only path to seeing his sister again. And it seemed she'd do so under her leader's nose. He wasn't sure she'd be able to do it, but it was the first hope of reuniting with his sister that he'd had. No prey stolen. He'd already addressed that one, though it seemed she failed to take him at his word. No secred exchanged. What in the depths of the Dark Forest could he possibly care about Clan secrets? He decided clan-cats were paranoid. "Even? I haven't done anything to make it even." He looked away, ears flicking as he listened to the world around him. And decided to change the subject for now. "I've been from one end of this valley to the other, back and forth, for as long as I can remember. I still don't understand why the clans fight when there's so much room here." Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 24, 2017 2:28:03 GMT -5
BRIGHTPOOL TBrightpool's nodded in forced agreement. While she wanted to be opptomistic about life and the fairness of it all, Shadow had a point. Nothing was fair but Brightpool refused to dwell in the unfairness of life. Instead she turned her attention toward the rabbit he had gifted her. Didn't he considered that making them even?
Realizing that it was growing late in her walk and she needed to return home before others missed her, the white colored she-cat rose up. "I will bring Larkpaw to the tunnel that we stayed at when the fire happened eight sunsets from now. I'll say I'm taking her battle training or something that way we can be gone longer. You two can talk all you want. She explained to him before picking up the rabbit and taking a few steps toward the way home, but she paused. The pull she felt deep within her chest once again tugging and begging her to stay close.
"Stay safe Shadow, She meowed around the rabbit in her jaw. She forced herself to walk away and once she was a polite distance away the she-cat broke into a trot. Heading home despite the pull to stay close. awake the stars 'cause they're all around you |
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