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Post by Fawn on Feb 20, 2018 14:37:48 GMT -5
Appleshade The journey to the Tribe had been meaningful. It had closed a chapter in her life, and the lives of her two siblings. By now, the whole Clan knew they were Lionstar's cousins, not half-siblings. Everyone accepted it without question, and Appleshade found it fascinating to see who treated them a little more kindly now that the truth was out in the open.
With her sister back where she belonged and a new young apprentice to shape into a warrior, Appleshade should have felt content.
Instead, her dreams were a confusing swirl of snowfall and scents she could almost place. Sometimes she saw Sprucefur and Feathercloud, or Lichenfrost and Fogsight, walking into the whirling snow. She would shout not to be left behind, but Appleshade always found herself alone.
Alone, and uncertain.
It did not take a brilliant cat to interpret that dream. So when Appleshade had it again that night, she did not struggle as much to catch her siblings' attention, and gloomily watches them walk away into the winterscape until they disappeared.
Appleshade sighed. It was her dream, why couldn't she control how it ended? Just then, she felt a brush of fur against hers. Startled, Appleshade tried to see through the blustery wind. "Lichenfrost?"
It wasn't. The snow began to lessen, and with it came clarity. A feeling of warmth and safety blossomed in Appleshade's heart as Skyfall materialized out of the snow. The warrior, her dependable companion all these moons, smiled at her. Appleshade's heart became dove's wings, beating frantically and out of her control.
"Skyfall!" Appleshade leaned in to touch her nose to his. He opened his mouth to speak - but Appleshade never heard him.
With a jolt, Appleshade woke in the warrior's den, fur fluffed at the dream's abrupt end. Appleshade at once looked for Skyfall for a sense of reassurance and comfort. But he wasn't here. Heart sinking, Appleshade tried to fend off the urge to seek him out and tell him about her dream.
About what she thought it meant.
Oh I'm being ridiculous. Who can ignore a dream like that? I HAVE to find him.
After a quick groom (and a forlorn look at the fresh kill pile), Appleshade left camp. According to Gorsetail, Skyfall had gone hunting. As Appleshade traipsed through the snow, she mentally rehearsed what to say.
I've been thinking of you a lot lately. And it's made me realize something important. It's so hard to say these words, but I think I need to say them anyway. Skyfall, I think I'm in love with you. Stars above, that was such a dramatic thing to say. But if it was true, then did that matter? Speaking from the heart couldn't be wrong.
Appleshade's steps turned jittery - before unpleasant memories surfaced. What if he didn't believe her? What if he couldn't take her seriously, just like his brother? Oh stars, his brother...
A familiar white pelt near the base of an oak tree caught Appleshade's eye. She gulped, and put on a burst of speed. Her voice was a cheerful trill, a little higher than usual from her nerves. "Skyfall! I'm so glad I found you--"
But it wasn't Skyfall. It was Swandive. 64 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] BlooRey DVD | fergie | background image | table by phoenix
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Feb 21, 2018 10:58:30 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
The white tom had stirred early that morning, unsure what it was that had bothered him. Although he'd considered remaining in his nest near Appleshade, the senior warrior worried about waking her too. And so he'd risen, padding out into the cool morning air. Not long after, his sister Swandive joined him, approaching silently to sit next to him. For a flicker of an instant, Skyfall had thought the brush of fur against his might have been Appleshade. Realizing it was Swandive... Disappointment wasn't the right way to put it, but... It had been unexpected.
Mustering a warm smile, the medium-length furred tom greeted his almost-twin. "Good morning, Swandive." She returned his greeting with a dip of her head, blue eyes flicking to meet his bi-colored gaze briefly. There seemed to be something bother her that morning, and Skyfall found himself frowning. "Is everything alright?" He asked softly, and for a heartbeat the white she-cat seemed flustered. It wasn't long before she reined in whatever alarm she had felt, flicking an ear as her blue gaze cast out toward the trees. "Yeah. Just... Been thinking about mom and dad recently." Skyfall's ear flattened slightly at the mention of their parents, and the tom's tail swept around to drape over Swandive's flank.
"I miss them too." He admitted, following her eyes to the territory around them. "But, I am certain if they could tell us anything... It would be to not let grief over their loss disturb our lives. Remember that they are together, and... That is what is important." He felt certain about his words. Skyfall never once doubted Cloudpool and Blackwing's love for their kits, but... The love they felt for one another... That seemed unrivaled in Skyfall's mind. How else could a tom as stoic as Blackwing and a she-cat as warm and outgoing as Cloudpool have ever ended up as mates otherwise?
With a slight chuckle, the white tom backpedaled on his words. "Or at least mom would say that. Dad would scold us for not using our early morning wake up to benefit the Clan." Swandive made an amused snort from beside him, which he took as agreement. Glancing back toward his sister, the senior warrior flicked her shoulder with his tail. "Would you care to go for a hunt? Just the two of us?" He asked, and for a moment Swandive looked... Surprised.
It didn't remain long, replaced by something akin to relief. "I'd love to." Swandive meowed, and the pair rose to their paws. The journey was mostly uneventful, lacking conversation, yet... Not really needing it. The two siblings seemed content with each other's presence alone. It had been moons since they'd spent time together like this. Wordlessly, both white warriors slipped into hunting mode. It didn't take long for Swandive's sharp ears to latch onto something. With a flick of her ear, she signaled to her brother where she was going. He nodded to her, before veering off in an opposite direction to search out his own prey.
Ensuring he was far enough that he wouldn't disturb Swandive's hunt, Skyfall set off to track other prey. Being out of regular speaking range of his sister, the tom with the mismatched gaze went unaware of the encounter that began to unfold nearby. Swandive had just secured the mouse in her jaws when someone half-squealed, half-shrieked her brother's name. It didn't take the senior warrioress long to figure out who the voice belonged to, but it did take a moment longer to decipher what had occurred.
Apparently Appleshade had mistaken her for Skyfall from behind. Her tail snapped to one side in a momentary display of annoyance as Swandive turned her sharp blue eyes on Appleshade. Setting the mouse down a little unceremoniously, Skyfall's sister scrutinized the other warrioress with an unforgiving stare. "Sorry to disappoint." She meowed flatly, her stance just shy of aggression. Swandive had often been told she could come off as intimidating. Well, if that happened now, she wouldn't be displeased about it. Whatever it took to keep Appleshade away from Skyfall. "What do you want from him, Appleshade." She challenged, her tail flicking behind her once more. 71 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.DUN DUN DUN //Fawn // ~700 words
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Post by Fawn on Feb 25, 2018 22:32:08 GMT -5
Appleshade "O-Oh, Swandive. Did you do something new with your fur? It looks lovely!" Appleshade smiled meekly, a compliment often her first layer of defense against a disgruntled clanmate. This wasn't just any clanmate, however, this was Swandive, a she-cat that always gave off the impression that she didn't like her very much. It seemed to edge beyond 'dislike' and into 'resentment', but Appleshade couldn't put into words why their relationship had deteriorated so. A silver-sorrel tail swayed nervous s-patterns in her wake.
Oh stars, what did Whiteclaw say about me? Her heart was split down the middle into curiosity and horror. Maybe it was better that she didn't know?
Appleshade, upon realizing her coat had fluffed under Swandive's unfriendly gaze, collected herself. "I was just looking for Skyfall. Have... Have you seen him?" She most certainly had, but the real question was whether or not Swandive felt like telling her the truth.
Though the pretty feline had managed to bring herself back into physical order, inside that burning need to confess her feelings began to hiss and fizzle into nothingness. Her bravery had cooled in Swandive's presence, and Appleshade began to doubt herself.
With an embarrassed laugh, Appleshade flippantly waved her tail, taking a half-step as though to head back to camp. "Never mind, it can wait. I'm terribly sorry if I interrupted your hunting." What if this was StarClan's way of telling her that the dream had just been a dream? Look at me. Getting so worked up over my overactive imagination again. She could already picture Sprucefur's quiet, chiding shake of his head, as if he thought she indulged her theatrical nature a little too much.
Despite reasoning clashing against that dream, Appleshade's feelings were not so easily dismissed. It would be good to see him, even if she didn't work up the nerve to tell him. Even if she had no business telling him those things in the first place; at least his presence would make her feel... okay again. 64 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] BlooRey DVD | fergie | background image | table by phoenix
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Mar 23, 2018 13:46:54 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
From a distance, the white furred tom had thought he'd picked up on a familiar voice nearby. To his ears, it had sounded like Appleshade, yet... He'd be the first to admit his ears liked to play tricks on him every now and again, simply because he wished for Appleshade's presence so often. Although he couldn't speak for what she thought (he was so often wrong about she-cats, it seemed), Skyfall was drawn to the elegant she-cat and her never-ceasing energy. Where some saw a she-cat full of dramatic antics, Skyfall saw someone endearing with a gift for livening up even the darkest of days.
Flicking his ear to clear him mind, Skyfall chuckled to himself. You'll come back empty-pawed if you let yourself get lost in thoughts of Appleshade. He scolded silently. Focusing back on the task at paw, Skyfall dismissed the distant voice as a figment of his imagination, a conjuring of a wish and nothing more.
Swandive, on the other paw, remained very much focused on Appleshade. With a displeased downturn of her lips, sharp blue eyes were nothing more than minuscule slits as Skyfall's sister listened to the creamy she-cat's attempted cover up. Ignoring the inquiry concerning her grooming routines, Swandive's pristine white tail snapped from one side to the other impatiently. As far as she was concerned, Appleshade was wasting both her and her brother's time. Surely this whole shenanigan would end in disaster, and what would be left of her brother then?
She didn't bother to answer Appleshade's question concerning Skyfall's whereabouts. In fact, the white warrioress ignored pretty much everything Appleshade had to say in her stammering, scrambling mess of words. With a single step forward, claws curling into the ground below, Swandive's sharp tone returned. "What is this to you, anyway? Some sort of sick game? Can't have Whiteclaw, so you go for his brother? What, do you expect Whiteclaw to suddenly fall in love with you just because you've got Skyfall hanging on your every word?" Her lips curled with each syllable spat out in the tawny she-cat's direction.
"Whiteclaw won't care. So if that's your end game, if you're toying with Skyfall's heart to get back at Whiteclaw in some twisted, convoluted way, stop it. I'm not going to let you break Skyfall's heart like the rest of them. Not again." She snarled, ears flattening to her skull as she stared Appleshade down. Lionstar frowned upon battling with Clanmates, but if it was to protect Skyfall? She'd shred Appleshade to bits. 71 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.... Christ, Swandive //Fawn // ~420 words
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Post by Fawn on Apr 10, 2018 12:16:23 GMT -5
Appleshade Horror and shame crashed upon Appleshade's face like a rogue wave; all that water had gone straight to her eyes. Tail fully fluffed, as if it might protect her from Swandive's glass-sharp words and hate-filled glowers, Appleshade took a step back on wobbly legs. "N-No! It's nothing like that! I swear it on my life," she pleaded. She didn't want to hurt anyone, she didn't want to pay anyone back. "I-I was wrong--about my feelings for Whiteclaw. I only wish him to be happy."
StarClan, would Swandive even believe her? No wonder she hates me so much. She thinks I'm a selfish, horrid creature who only plays with toms' hearts. Who had some kind of sick interest in going after Whiteclaw and Skyfall. Though Appleshade could see how this looked from a protective sister's view, it still created a deep wound in her heart. Thoughts reeling, Appleshade tried to piece together some kind of argument, some kind of counterpoint that would diffuse Swandive's hatred. That would prove those awful things she'd said false.
Appleshade hung her head, rendered speechless for how to defend herself. Though it took effort to work past the lump in her throat, Appleshade sacrificed eloquence for honesty. If she could speak from the heart, perhaps Swandive would listen.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Swandive. I know you hate me, and I understand - I-I really do - but I can't lie about my feelings. I think I love him. More than I've ever loved anyone." These were not words Swandive would want to hear, and Appleshade flinched, picturing the white-furred warrioress - such a likeness of Skyfall, a mirror that reflected Appleshade's appearance in a way no one wanted to be seen - clawing her face to ribbons. Battle prowess was something other warriors could claim, and even if Appleshade had anything considered an edge in fighting, would she truly fight back?
No, she would run away.
"I don't want to break anyone's heart... least of all Skyfall's," Appleshade whispered, seeming to shrink down as the wind in her sails, that warm, blossom-scented breeze that carried her along through life, seemed to vanish. "Am I hurting him?" Was her friendship with Skyfall doing more harm than good? Would a confession, at this point, be the straw that broke the camel's back? Confusion and distress flared within her at the thought. "Please, please tell me if I've caused Skyfall any pain. I don't mean to - truly, I don't." Please believe me. Hurting him is the last thing I'd ever want to do. I couldn't live with myself if I did.
64 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] BlooRey DVD | fergie | background image | table by phoenix
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Apr 30, 2018 10:03:37 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
"Love him?"
A screech-like snarl caught the white tom off guard, scaring away any prey he might have stumbled upon. Not that he was focused on prey anymore. His mismatched gaze blinked in a display of confusion as he processed just what he'd heard. Although the tone and pitch had been strange for her, Skyfall could have sworn that voice belonged to his sister, Swandive. Immediately pivoting on his paws, the senior warrior pelted back in the direction he'd come, retracing his steps in hopes of finding out just what in the name of StarClan Swandive was so worked up about.
"Love him?" The white warrioress snarled, blue eyes blazing as her tail snapped from one side to another. "And what happens when you decide you were wrong about your 'feelings' for Skyfall too, hm? Maybe he's not hurting yet, but what then Appleshade. Planning to leave him in the dust? You'll ruin him. Ruin, you hear? You can play innocent and bat your eyelashes all you want. I'm not falling for your pathetic act." She spat the words into the other she-cat's face, taking an aggressive step forward as she bared her teeth. Barely withheld rage bubbled throughout, muscles tensing as though she actually planned to leap at her so-called Clanmate.
"Swandive. What is the meaning of this."
A voice thundered from the surrounding forest as Skyfall emerged from the underbrush. Anger blazed in his usually calm gaze, though it was different to Swandive's. Whereas the white she-cat's gaze burned with unchecked rage, Skyfall's was reminiscent of disappointment as he stared his sister down. Without hesitation or question, Skyfall stopped near Appleshade, putting himself between the two she-cats while remaining quite obviously on Appleshade's figurative side of the 'argument'. Swandive looked startled, momentarily losing some of the flame that drove her.
"I'm waiting." The tom's tone was eerily calm, though his tail tip betrayed his own anger.
"She's just trying to use you!" Blurted the white she-cat, with enough force to momentarily quell Skyfall's rage. Unable to find the words to respond, the white tom simply tilted his muzzle questioningly. "She was after Whiteclaw before you, Skyfall! It's.. It's a game to her! She'll just end up hurting you, just like the rest of them, and I can't just watch it happen!" Swandive hissed, her gaze sharp as thorns as she glanced toward the she-cat in question.
"That's preposterous."
"It's the truth!"
"A truth you've concocted, perhaps."
"She's poisoning you! Has you believing in something that isn't there!"
"Swandive."
"How can you be so blind!"
"Swandive." He warned.
"Ask Whiteclaw, since you won't believe me! It's all a lie. She's a li-"
"Swandive, enough!" He snarled, truly raising his voice for the first time.
The white she-cat staggered back, the sudden aggression in his voice unexpected. "The only poisoned one here is you, drowning in your own fabrications. You only see in her what you want to see, and that is not what I see. You are my sister, and while I appreciate your concern, this is not your place to intervene."
"But Skyf-"
"I do not wish to hear anymore of this nonsense, Swandive. Appleshade is different. I have spent enough time with her these past moons to be certain of this. This is my judgment to make, and if I am wrong, then so be it. But what I do know now, is that I love her. More than any of the others combined, more than I could ever put into words. And if this is fated to be nothing but another mistake, then that is my mistake to make. I would rather try and fail, then never to have tried at all."
"But she-"
"This conversation is through, Swandive. And I think our hunt is through as well."
Although the white senior warrioress looked as though she might say something else, Swandive spun on her toes after only a moment's hesitation, and disappeared into the undergrowth. With a heavy sigh, Skyfall closed his eyes to steady himself. An ear flicked atop his head as he slowly shifted to face Appleshade. "I... I am sorry you were forced to witness that. And... My sincerest apologies that such a confession arose amidst such an event."
He paused a moment, uncertainly waving his long furred tail behind him. "Know that... That it is the truth. I swear it on our ancestors." For all the moons he'd lived, all the battles he'd fought...
This wait was the hardest thing he'd ever faced. 71 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.Uh... Surprise..? //Fawn // ~720 words
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Post by Fawn on Jun 9, 2018 16:25:44 GMT -5
Appleshade Skyfall's arrival broke through Swandive's fury like the dawn through a nightmare. Appleshade's eyes watered, a sob clutched in her throat as if afraid it might take it heart with it if she let it escape. Oh Skyfall, I--
But Swandive wasn't finished.
The silver-sorrel she-cat flinched back behind the tom with the bicolored eyes, unable to look at Swandive when she was spewing such hateful words. Would anything she said get through to her? What could she say, or do, to change this? Swandive was Skyfall's littermate. One of the few family members he had left. Appleshade had never wanted to be the kind of Clanmate that had enemies, and now that she had fallen for Skyfall ... the last thing she wanted was to come between him and his family. She couldn't bear it.
Swandive spat in the air between them, words coated with venom.
"She's just trying to use you!"
"N-No! Please, it's not true--" Her shrill protest was lost as Skyfall's and Swandive's voices overlapped hers, the argument gently but firmly taken over by the older tom. He stood before her like a shield, combating everything his sister said with fairness and firmness both. The she-cat's heart was pushed and pulled between them, protected by the faith Skyfall had in her, before Swandive would sink her claws in and rip her heart away - all to keep him safe. Appleshade had truly made an enemy of the white-furred warrioress; a hole opened up in the ground under paw, Appleshade's heart seeming to fall through to rest among the cold, dark earth.
I never meant for any of this...
But then Skyfall snarled, as fierce and noble as a warrior of the fabled LionClan, his stance protective and his words true. Appleshade stared, feeling the world tilt this way and that, as if she'd become a newborn kitten trying to take its first steps. Did he mean that? Did he really say th-those words? that he loves me? He loved her.
Swandive's departure was seen through blurry, watering eyes as the tears finally broke through to the surface. Appleshade rushed forward, pressing her muzzle into the short white fur on the tom's chest, breathing in his scent even as she broke down. "Oh Skyfall. I love you too. I-I was on my way to tell you--" She hiccuped "--I mistook Swandive for you and then all of this h-happened! I'm so sorry I've made trouble in your life, Skyfall. But it's the truth. I love you, and I don't think I could go another day without telling you how I felt." Appleshade pulled back, sniffling as she mustered up a teary smile.
She hiccuped again, the sound more of a strained laugh. "Oh, stars. I must look so awful right now." So many emotions were piling on her at once, it was like being buried under heavy snow; relief, embarrassment, shock, heartache... But love was there, too. It was outshining the others, just like Skyfall did. Like he was still doing. Oh StarClan, if I could have just one thing...
Appleshade wanted it to be him.
64 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] BlooRey DVD | fergie | background image | table by phoenix
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