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Post by Justice on Oct 25, 2017 22:10:50 GMT -5
Leaf-Fall Day 17 Valley Year 5.
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She was having to hunt and fish closer and closer to her nest, the risk of being caught was highest this time of year when everyone was out gathering food and preparing for leafbare. The grown cats were training the littler ones, warriors in patrols were hyper vigilant, and the prey was starting to get scarce as it did most winters. She was glad she lived somewhere that the cats didn't go unless they were courting someone, so she rarely had to hide near home. But she'd come further down stream today in search of food, trying to be more careful than the last time. She'd been caught last time, but in her defense she had been swept downstream while rescuing a fox kit.
Rushwhisker hadn't hurt her, or even been particularly cruel to her. She wondered if the very sad tom had found a way of feeling even slightly better since last she saw him. Jade wished him well. Kindness should be granted by kindness, right?
The small she-cat sighed and got a drink from the river. She didn't mind hunting and fishing in the cold, she'd lived by those skills, but wet fur in leafbare froze and she didn't need to get sick. Where would she go if she were to get sick? The clans wouldn't care if a loner were to get sick and die. One less threat to their supremacy of the valley. But in the grand scheme life went on, and she was one to go as the river flowed, unbiased and uncaring of who she encountered.
The small she-cat shook her head and angled her body, ready to swipe a fish from the slow moving river. She could wait all day if she had to.
@zen
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 19:12:53 GMT -5
In the end, everyone ends up alone...
This was the second time Jade had returned kits to RainClan's camp. Which meant it was at least the third time she'd been wandering around on RainClan territory, two times after he'd warned her to stay away if she didn't want to get hurt. Was she some of thrill seeker or something? Rushwhisker didn't give a rat's tail what she did on RainClan territory, but the rest of Clan likely wouldn't be so apathetic to her continued presence. Hopefully the fact that she'd saved their kits not once but twice now would grant her leniency and mercy if she was ever caught by anyone but him.
He shook his head as he headed out of camp, picking up traces of her scent (which was becoming more familiar to him than it should be) on the other side of the camp stream. He padded on, toward the river, wondering where she'd gone, and when she would be back. She clearly hadn't taken his warning seriously, luckily for the two kits that had nearly gotten themselves drowned. He sighed, padding along the bank and watching the water rush by. He thought about her question again, about where the river started, and paused to stare off into the distance where the river wound away and disappeared from view. He'd been thinking about that question more and more lately.
Shaking his head again, he padded on, wondering what in StarClan's name was going on when kits kept traipsing out of camp and making it to the river before any cat noticed and brought them back. The obvious conclusion was that RainClan wasn't fit to care for kits, which was more than apparent to Rushwhisker. What cat in their right mind would raise kits in a Clan like this? He caught traces of Jade's scent again and rolled his eyes. Why didn't she listen to him? Then he realized it was fresh scent. His ears angled forward sharply as he spotted the she-cat at the river's edge, poised for fishing. Tail flicking behind him as he glanced around, checking for any signs of his Clanmates about, he padded straight toward her, his voice a frustrated growl, “You have a death wish or something? Why do you keep coming back here?”
You've got some kind of nerve, taking all I want. Justice
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Post by Justice on Nov 10, 2017 19:59:52 GMT -5
Her ears canted forward, hearing the approach of the tom before she caught his scent. Her body had been bunched, ready to bolt in case it was someone hostile, but relaxed as she realized it was just Rushwhisker. She snorted at his comment and decided she was done fishing for the time being. She'd been about to greet him, but changed her mind. "Because the fishing is good." Her words were chirped out, bright and sarcastic.
Jade shook her head and padded over to the tom, tipping her head to one side. "And seeing as some higher intervention keeps me fishing kittens from the river I doubt anyone in RainClan is going to do more than chase me at this point. What is it with your clan and tossing their kits into the river? Do they just not want them?" If that was the case she'd take them back to her nest and they'd be happy, fat, little loner kits. At least then they'd be somewhere they were wanted. Jade believed strongly that every kit deserved that small grace. No matter what happened everyone deserved to feel like they had a home and a place where they could be safe and cared for and wanted.
"Are they alright?" The kits were on her mind again, as they often were since she'd decided that RainClan had simply lost its collective minds.
She sighed, staring at the river as she contemplated things. "I'll have to hunt further into the valley once the snows come. Then you won't have to put up with me." Her tone was sad, thoughtful even. She moved into the valley, closer to her parents, when leafbare came every year, and always returned to clear out her nest in the beginning of newleaf. It was the only way to survive, as the clans became very aggressive during leafbare, she'd noticed.
Her gaze went back to the large tom before her, suddenly feeling sad that she wouldn't see him even by chance until newleaf. Would anyone here even bother to try and help him? She didn't think his clan cared about him anymore. They'd given up on his family, and in a way it seemed to her that they'd given up on him as well. Which was a horrible thing. She shook her head.
Jade wasn't a clan cat. She didn't belong here. She wasn't wanted here, despite only trying to help and only taking what the river could provide. It wasn't like the fish were dying out or anything, so why couldn't she feed herself when there was plenty for all? And this tom was only a stranger she managed to run into, who decided he didn't want to hurt her despite her being a loner. And she felt like he needed someone to just care. Care that he was, to her eyes, terribly unhappy. She wondered again why he didn't just leave if he was so unhappy, but figured he had his reasons. Maybe they'd never have the chance to be friends, circumstances what they were, but she could still listen. If the time ever came that he cared to speak, that is.
@zen
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2017 0:11:30 GMT -5
In the end, everyone ends up alone...
Her sarcastic reply was met with an unamused, blank stare from Rushwhisker. Fish were no more worth dying over than they were worth killing over, but he didn't doubt that his Clan would do such a thing anyway. She continued before he could say anything in response, bringing up the kits she had saved thus far. He snorted at her suggestion that RainClan was tossing their kits into the river and shrugged, “I don't know. I stay away from the nursery. They don't need me there.” He knew he wasn't good company, but he didn't care, he wasn't trying to be.
“As far as I know they're fine. Probably got scoldings they won't soon forget. Maybe the queens will watch them better now, who knows,” he shrugged again, dismissive, “RainClan doesn't deserve kits, and those kits deserve better than what this Clan has to offer them. Maybe StarClan is trying to call them early and save them from whatever tragedy they have planned for us next. It would be a small mercy, but StarClan isn't exactly known for their mercy.” His tail flicked behind him, dismissing the Clan of ancestors outright.
StarClan would do as they pleased and no living cat could stop them. A cat could do everything right and StarClan would still take from them. And StarClan forbid you ever went against their Code... then they would just take everything. He hated them, he really did. He understood his sister's complete lack of faith in them after she'd come back from her trials in the mountains. She was right. They had taken Icepaw from them, gave an innocent cat a horrible death. Ashflight had never been able to forgive them, and he couldn't remember now why he had. He shook his head, refocusing on Jade as she mentioned he wouldn't have to put up with her during leaf-bare.
His ears flicked back briefly, but the flash of feeling that caused it was gone before he had a chance to recognize it. He rolled his eyes slightly, “I don't mind you, I just think you're foolish to keep testing your luck. But, so long as you keep pulling kits from the river, I guess you'll be fine.” It was hard to tell if that was an attempt at a joke or not, even for Rushwhisker. But his next words were serious, his voice dropping, gaze narrowed slightly as he met her eyes, “I just don't want to see my Clan hurt any more innocent cats.... So I'm glad leaf-bare is coming, and you're leaving.”
You've got some kind of nerve, taking all I want. Justice
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Post by Justice on Nov 20, 2017 16:08:07 GMT -5
She looked at the ground when he told her he usually stayed away from the nursery. "Oh." But then he followed up by saying he thought they were fine and she relaxed, letting out a low breath of relief. "That's good. The should have gotten scolded, and I hope their mothers fussed over them after." She did agree that the queens needed to watch their kits better if these things happened so often. They could have drowned, all three of the little trouble makers.
Rushwhisker's next words made Jade's ears lay back to her head, eyes going slowly bigger. A slow burn of anger hit her heart, and for the first time in her life she actually felt the need to do violence to another cat. In this case, she swiped a paw at the large tom, barely catching him in the face and hissed. "Don't say such terrible things! If RainClan doesn't deserve them then they should go where they'd be taken care of better, not called back to StarClan. Life is precious, Rushwhisker, don't you know that?"
For all that his clan had abandoned his happiness, didn't he at least know that one fundamental fact? She felt a lump form in her throat, tears stinging her expressive green eyes. "I'm sorry I hit you."
She felt like someone was trying to tell her something, that these encounters weren't random at all, like she could do something to help this tom with his broken spirit and deep despair. He seemed, to her, like he could use a friend.
He didn't mind her, he said. Well that was reassuring. Maybe she'd be his friend someday after all. She wanted so much to help him, or to at least try. If persisting in this territory eased his pain even the smallest bit, then that was enough. She hated seeing other cats in pain, and this tom had been nothing but cordial and kind to her, if in his own way. Innocent cats. He felt like she was an innocent, which she supposed she was, at least she wasn't involved in the conflict. She had to try and help him, even if he laughed in her face.
"Come to the mountains with me." She blurted it out, coming back to her paws and perking her ears. "I know you're a clan-cat, and its your home, but couldn't they spare you for leafbare? Its just...you're so unhappy here, even I can see it. Maybe...maybe you'll feel a little better getting away from all the hatred and darkness that had taken over your clan. Please, at least consider it?"
@zen
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 15:28:25 GMT -5
In the end, everyone ends up alone...
The blow to Rushwhisker's cheek surprised him and he stared at Jade in shock for a few heartbeats as she chastised him for his cold words. Shaking his head, he brushed it off. He didn't care if it was a terrible thing to say. He snorted, “I never said life wasn't precious, just that StarClan doesn't seem to care.” He swiped his paw over his cheek once, smoothing the fur her blow had ruffled. Another moment of silence after she apologized, and he shook his head, “I'm sorry if I upset you... but I'm not holding back anymore, even if the things I have to say might hurt someone. I'm done keeping my thoughts and feelings hidden....” If only he'd come to this decision sooner.
His eyes went wide with surprise as she asked him to come to the mountains with her. His ears flicked back against his head, uncertain, as she continued. To get away from his Clan and everything they represented for him.... He wanted to go. He thought about the start of the river, how far away it might be. He wanted to find it, just to say he had. To do something that HE wanted to do, because HE wanted to do it, not because he'd been ordered to, not because it was expected of him, not because some stupid Code demanded it of him. To do something for himself, for once in his life....
He sighed deeply, “I can't.... My sister....” He looked up at Jade, regretful longing in his eyes, “I can't leave her. She was gone so long and I finally have her back. We're... we're all we have. She's been through so much, I can't....” He was sure Ashflight would be okay with him. She was strong, so much stronger than he was. But after losing Icepaw, he couldn't leave her too. She had trouble trusting her Clanmates just like he did. It helped to have each other, to be able to depend on each other, trust each other.
His voice softened, “I really wish I could, Jade. Talking to you... it makes me think I don't really belong here anymore. I don't want to be here anymore.... But I can't leave my sister. And I have apprentice.” He thought of Fernpaw suddenly, wondered how she would feel if he just left her in the middle of her training, “I can't abandon her either. They would assign her a new mentor, but... she... she's my chance to help RainClan heal, just a little. If I can help Fernpaw grow into a good cat then... maybe one day she can be part of the solution, instead of just contributing to the problem.”
You've got some kind of nerve, taking all I want. Justice Taxx (Fernpaw mention~)
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Post by Justice on Dec 7, 2017 17:16:41 GMT -5
"Its the way you said it. Its not the kits fault RainClan doesn't deserve them." She looked at the ground for a long time, sighing sadly. "I'm not asking you to keep it to yourself, Rushwhisker." She tipped her head, finally returning his gaze again. "I just can't promise I'll take them well all the time. You deserve to speak your mind, and if nothing else you can do that to me. I think you've been denied the simple right to express yourself opening for too long as it is. So say what you say, and excuse my reaction." She was simply too gentle spirited not to react to certain things. The kit comment had really hit her hard, and it tore at her heart to realize how unhappy he really was. Rushwhisker seemed to her like a decent tom, and yet his clan couldn't see him drowning in his unhappiness. Or they didn't care.
Wasn't being part of a clan supposed to be about never being alone? Not having to face the world by yourself, having the stability to feel safe in your home, and know you can rely on those around you? If that wasn't what the life of a clan cat was anymore, then she was glad she wasn't part of them.
She saw him struggle with his choice, and recognized the regret in his tone. "Family is important. I understand." He wondered if maybe if she offered to take his sister too they could all go elsewhere. Was this sister of his as unhappy as Rushwhisker clearly was? She didn't mind company, and she could teach the clan cats how to do things outside the reach of their clan and their code. Without hurting anyone, preferably.
She nodded as he explained his reasons for staying. She wondered if those reasons would hold him there much longer. He didn't want to be there, he'd said. She wanted to comfort him, she really did. She just wasn't sure he'd take it well after everything he'd been through. She didn't need to know the specifics, she knew what unhappy and miserable cats looked like. "You are a good cat, better than most. If you feel that you have things yet to do, then do them. Anyone you train will make a difference, if they take anything at all from who you are and how you have taught them. I hope it goes well for you, and I wish your family well. Maybe someday I can meet this sister of yours." Though she doubted that. Most Clan-cats didn't take well to loners.
Jade took a slow breath and sighed, stepping back from the large tom. "Then, for now, this is where we should say goodbye. I'll try and catch you before I leave, but I'll be gone into the mountains all leafbare so you aren't going to see me. I don't want to take from the clans when leafbare is so hard on the valley."
She looked at him quietly for a long time then decided it was worth it and stepped up a little so she could flick her tail at him enough to touch. A friendly gesture, careful in case he didn't like to be touched. "Take care of yourself. Please. I want to see you again when newleaf comes." She flashed a smile and trotted a few paces off, grinning at him. "I'll bring you one of the big fish that live upstream when its cold. They're as big as I am." Being as she was small that was only a slight exagerattion. "Be well Rushwhisker, be well and maybe keep an eye on the kits for me? I won't be here to fish them from the river again should they stray from their mother's nest again."
@zen
Note : Done? or one more post from you, your choice.
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