[Hellion]

STORMRIPPLE

tell me that you love me

Even if it's fake

"Deerpaw, please meet me in the blackwoods after you finish eating," Stormripple's words were gentle but left no room to be avoided. He needed to clear the air between himself and his apprentice. The last season of training had been rough for them both. Stormripple found himself questioning his skills as a mentor and even his own place a warrior. None of it was Deerpaw's fault, Stormripple wanted to make that much clear but there was a nagging sensation in his chest that reminded him that Deerpaw likley blamed himself.

Choosing to get a head start, Stormripple left the camp clearing and headed for the black wood. He didn't have a reason for picking the blackwoods as their meeting point, but he did like the area. There was something eerie and peaceful about all the soot and ash that seemed to have made deeper roots then all the trees in the valley combined. His tail drooped slightly the closer he got to the black wood. He wasn't sad but he was away from camp enough to let his guard down, at least until Deerpaw arrived.

Finding a place to sit, he fixed his ears to rotate so they could better catch the sounds of Deerpaw's arrival.

Silver
###
notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Silver]

Sometimes the strongest among us
are the ones who smile through silent pain

❅

Brown tipped ears twitched at the sound of the familiar voice before Deerpaw flinched visibly and had to take a deep breath to steady himself. He'd been expecting this for some time now, but he was still extremely nervous to be around his new Mentor. Stormripple was just too much for him to deal with most days, but if he ever wanted to be a Warrior he had to put up with him for a while longer. With this in mind, the Apprentice finished his meal and silently made his way out of the dens and towards the designated place he was to meet Stormripple. 

He'd been an Apprentice long enough to know how to move with absolute silence, but he still expected that Stormripple would be able to hear him since he was a Warrior after all. Still, it was one of the few things Deerpaw enjoy about himself. He was lightweight and could moved with more fluid grace than the males bulkier than himself. Yes that meant he couldn't do very well in a fight against a larger opponent with brute force, but he was smart enough to know that physical strength wasn't everything. 

He caught Stormmripple's scent before he saw him and it made the young tom hesitate for a long moment before he forced himself forward again. The last time they'd been near enough to each other to speak....well it hadn't gone well. He just needed to remember to never speak his mind and everything would be fine. Brown eyes dropped to the ground and he finally presented himself before his Mentor as he waited patiently to see what Stormripple wanted from him this time.

❅

Table Made By Fawn
Tags // Notes

[Hellion]

STORMRIPPLE

tell me that you love me

Even if it's fake

Deerpaw's scent crossed over his nose and instantly the mask Stormripple had perfected was back on. Turning his head toward his apprentice, the silver tabby dipped his head in a formal, polite greeting. His tail flicked as a gesture for Deerpaw to sit as he stood up.

"I asked you here because I wanted to talk. Get to know you a bit. Figure out what you want from me," Stormripple's had been carefully chosen but the longer he talked the quicker they started to unravel but he caught himself before his tone could reveal too much. He didn't want to give Deerpaw another reason to hate.

"Do you want me to be a father figure to you? maybe a brother, perhaps just a friend. Or do you want nothing from me beyond my approval you've trained long enough to earn your warrior name," His words were harsher near the end, but he was able to maintain some level of evenness in his voice. His tail, flicking back and forth, was the only sign of his unease about the conversation.

"Please look at me," Stormripple added as his last request, the longer Deerpaw stared at the ground the tighter the pressure in Stormripple's chest got.

Silver
223
note: song - here

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Silver]

Sometimes the strongest among us
are the ones who smile through silent pain

❅

Large ears flicked at the words spoken as he approached and Deerpaw knew it was obvious he was uncomfortable as his entire lean frame tensed up before he finally forced himself to sit down. He kept himself absolutely still and didn't dare to move an inch as Stormripple moved around him, the older tom clearly agitated. Deerpaw didn't dare to move so much as a muscle, but there was something in the ready stillness of him that told of just how much it was normal for him to have to run away from others that meant him harm. He didn't trust this tom that was his Mentor and the fact that he found the other tom attractive didn't help in his comfort level.

The questions that came he'd been expecting, honestly, and the harsh tones made him flinch badly and his ears flattened against his head in startled alarm before he got control of himself. Finally he turned his brown eyes up to meet his Mentor's startling blue when he was asked to before his gaze dropped again after a moment as his nerves overcame him once more. Taking a deep breath for calm, he found he wasn't sure what to say. Honesty hadn't gone well, confidence had backfired, asserting himself had made Foxstar think something was wrong with him. So what did this tom want from him? Yet...that was what Stormripple was asking him, wasn't it? It was ironic.

After a long, tense silence, he settled for answering the questions asked and see where that got him. "I suppose it depends on if you are being honest when you ask to get to know me. And if you want the honest truth even if it might be painful or if you want me to lie to you and spare your feelings." He wasn't a mean-spirited cat by nature, but this caution was necessary to keep himself safe from harm. He learned from experiences.


Taking another deep breath, he kept answering the questions presented to him. Brown eyes came up again briefly before dropping again as his confidence failed him. He could do this. "I...I don't want much. I'd just like a Mentor that won't give up on me. I want someone that can teach me, even realizing him not as strong or as smart as some of the other Apprentices. I want someone that will work with the strengths I have and not shy away from me when I do finally decide to speak my mind. I don't need a brother, StarClan knows I can barely keep the ones I have away from me, and if friendship happens then it does I'm not opposed. I just...don't want you to give up on me like everyone else. I think that's fair."

He fell to silence and tried not to fidget, but now he was nervous. Had he said too much?

❅

Table Made By Fawn

Tags | Hellion

[Hellion]

STORMRIPPLE

tell me that you love me

Even if it's fake

The silence that gathered between them was stiffling, Stormripple ached for any kind of sound but kept himself quiet out of respect. He fough the urge to encourage Deerpaw to speak quicker and the sign of relief that escaped him couldn't go unnoticed.

Thankful that Deerpaw finally decided to answer his question, Stormripple hung to every word. It stung a little for Deerpaw to question if he was being honest about wanting to know him, but the silver tom pushed it aside. His ego wasn't important now.

However, after a moment he realized that Deerpaw had asked him a question. Forcing his shoulder to relax away from the tension of his bruised ego, Stormripple opened his mouth to reply. "I am being honest with you and I want you to be the same with me. I've had my feelings hurt enough to have a tough skin," He reminded Deerpaw, tail flicking as he sat. "Don't lie to me to spare my feelings," He added tucking his tail over his paws.

Meeting Deerpaw's gaze for a moment was enough for Stormripple to solidify his dedication to his new apprentice. He had a painfully visible low self-esteem, Stormripple wanted to help. Not just to become a warrior but in all aspects of his life. Deerpaw deserves happiness no matter what.

"I'll never give up on you. I promise you," He replied by offering a smile to try and prompt Deerpaw to do the same.

Silver
###
notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0