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 1, 2013 0:38:22 GMT -5
[smear:996600]Hawkstar[/smear:663300] ~~~~~~~~ The sand hued leader padded through the tunnels that lead back to the surface, almost as though he'd walked this same path a thousand times. In truth, he'd done it only once. He was glad Blackeagle was padding behind him, just in case he made a wrong turn somewhere, somehow. He'd thanked the medicine cat earlier, almost as soon as he'd opened his eyes after receiving his nine lives. Neither had said much after that, silently agreeing to return to the surface. Hawkstar almost felt uneasy speaking down below, as though he were disturbing some sort of eternal peace in doing so. Communication could wait until they reached the rest of the escort party.
Slowly, the darkness that was present within the tunnel began to dissipate, and the StoneClan leader knew that they were approaching the surface. His large paw steps quickened slightly, as though he was subconsciously eager to get above ground. He forced himself to pause for a moment, shaking out his pelt, and making sure it lay flat. He took a deep breath, shutting his amber eyes for an instant. He let a sense of calm wash over him, remembering each life he'd been given. Remembering what each of the nine cats had said to him. Even remembering what each of them smelled like. It was a comfort to the tom, to be able to renew that. It kept their memories stronger within his mind.
Now, however, it was time for him to return to his world, the world where StoneClan needed him as their leader. Or... They needed a leader. It just so happened to be him at the time. His mind was already churning, shuffling through various cats, wondering who he should pick as deputy. He knew a Clan needed one. The Clan depended on their deputy just as much as their leader. And StarClan knew he would need a deputy's help.
As he crested the top of the small rise, all thoughts of a deputy were temporarily banished from his mind. He first saw his best friend, Eagletalon, not far away, and he remembered Fallingstar, the tom's sister. He knew that her death had affected him more than anyone else. He'd not only lost a Clan leader, but a sibling. Hawkstar understood the pain of losing a siblings. He'd lost both of his moons ago. He'd seen them what seemed like a few moments ago, that was true, but it was almost as though he were losing them all over again, having to leave them like he did. Still, he padded towards his friend. He would see Frozenrain and Umberpaw, the other two cats on his escort patrol, later. He just wanted to remember to tell Eagletalon what was currently on his mind.
"Eagletalon." With a nod, the newly named leader indicated an area a little ways off. "If I may, I'd like the chance to speak with you quickly." With a sweep of his tail, the sandy tabby tom moved off to the spot he had indicated, glancing over his shoulder, hoping to see Eagletalon following him. He pulled to a stop as he reached his destination, and took a seat, waiting for his friend to sit with him.
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Post by Fawn on Mar 3, 2013 0:44:35 GMT -5
[Smear:805f19]EAGLETALON[/smear:db690f] StoneClan || Warrior || 38 Moons | Gone were the days when he would walk beside a fretting sister, fearful for her Clan, doubtful of her capabilities, gone were the days when he would smile and knock his shoulder against hers as though he could displace some of that worry. Gone were the days where he could declare her invincible, or swear she would outlive him with all those lives of hers.
Gone were the days of Fallinstar, because she had not outlived him, but rather, left him behind.
The walk from StoneClan to the Moon Tree was perhaps the longest journey he'd ever had to make, forced both by the heaviness of grief, the delusional hope that he would be closer to his sister if he went, and by the obligations he felt as a brother to the only cat he could call family anymore. It was odd. Had it been anyone else rising up to take the place of his sister, Eagletalon was certain he would have shredded them, the rashness, the raw anger and inconsolable sadness that had seeped into his fur like an illness would drive him to extreme measures, he was sure. But Fallingstar's replacement had not been just anyone; it had been Hawkwing, his brother in all but blood, and Eagletalon took comfort in the knowledge that a cat he trusted as much as Fallingstar would now take over as leader of StoneClan, picking up the legacy Fallingstar had left behind.
There was no getting rid of the sense of unease, however, that bittersweet, almost childish reaction to having lost so many cats in his life that Eagletalon had come to the conclusion that everyone was eventually going to leave him behind. Nine lives did not lend a cat invincibility, the sadistic claws of fate had proven that by crushing the lives right out of his sister.
Hawkwing too, had grown surlier with the heaviness of living in a world where the cats you loved kept vanishing, kept getting ripped away from you to someplace you weren't allowed to follow. But Hawkwing too, could be snatched away from him. Hawkwing. Silentcloud. Frozenrain. Hailstrike. Cricketpaw.
How many more friends was he going to have to bury before death finally came for him?
Those were the thoughts that fell upon his conscience like rain hitting the earth, his thoughts gradually slowing and becoming more unpleasant the longer the barrage carried on. Unable to really relax into a position more comfortable then a sentinel's watchful sit - shoulders drawn back, chin up, ears forward, jaw set firm - Eagletalon remained in such a position until he had lost track of time.
"Eagletalon."[...] "If I may, I'd like the chance to speak with you quickly."
Stirred out of his sort of wakeful sleep, Eagletalon's expression grew warm, looking not at Hawkwing, but at Hawkstar, a sense of terrible sadness and triumphant joy attacking in quick succession like thunder and lightning. He had intended for Frozenrain to step up and greet him first - even in light of the accident the feelings between those two had not gone over his head - but it seemed, to Eagletalon's surprise, that his brother had something on his mind.
Following after the larger sand-colored tabby, Eagletalon ignored the stiffness in his legs from his prolonged sitting, allowing a reckless smile to light up scarred features, golden eyes sad but alive. "Congratulations, Hawkstar," mewed Eagletalon, breaking in the tom's new name. "What did you want to speak to me about?"
Suddenly, the warrior's chest tightened.
Had Fallingstar left him a message?
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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 3, 2013 2:09:55 GMT -5
[smear:996600]Hawkstar[/smear:663300] ~~~~~~~~ It was like a blow to the head. The light furred tom was surprised he managed to stay standing as his best friend spoke his new name. It clenched painfully in his heart, because he could only imagine the pain the tom was going through. No. He could feel it. Hawkstar hadn't become leader after any old cat. He'd become leader after Fallingstar, his closest friend's sister. He felt no pride, no joy. His ears swivelled back and lay flat on his skull, his pale amber gaze staring down at the ground suddenly. He had received nine lives, and physically he felt stronger than ever, alive. But emotionally, he was so taught and exhausted that he felt almost as though he didn't have the strength to live. He felt old again, as though he simply wasn't cut out for the duty he'd just inherited.
He shut his eyes tightly for a moment, forcing back the lump he felt building in his throat. A sullen look inhabited his gaze as he let it open slowly, lifting his head to meet Eagletalon's gaze. His voice was raw, utterly defeated as he rasped. "Thank you... But in my opinion, an Eagle is more fit to be a leader than a Hawk." His words rung heavy as he finished, and the brief silence that followed depicted that perfectly. It was almost as though the weight of the world had just crashed in upon them, leaving everything in a lethargic state, unable to do anything but sit and watch. He forced himself to straighten slightly, pushing back against that weight, giving himself space in a universe that was desperately trying to crush him.
His eyes were still dull, betraying his exhaustion, but he did his best to lift his ears from their flattened position. He looked serious as he began, but there was a hint of uncertainty. He wasn't too sure what he wanted to tell Eagletalon. He knew that what had happened during the ceremony was not to be discussed with anyone. However... What he was about to say couldn't hurt anyone, right?
"Eagletalon, I... I can't quite figure out why I'm telling you this... But something is compelling me to do so... I suppose I just thought that... That you might like to know that I saw her there. She looked... Good, better than she had in moons. I thought... Thought you would want to know." His voice trailed off in the end, and he lost the composure he'd managed to gain. His back end collided with the ground and his head bowed, eyes focusing halfheartedly on the ground at his paws. His ears had gone back to their laid back position, his voice yet again reduced to the raw croak it had earlier. "I'm so sorry..." [/div]
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Post by Fawn on Mar 6, 2013 4:15:32 GMT -5
[Smear:805f19]EAGLETALON[/smear:db690f] StoneClan || Warrior || 38 Moons
| It was difficult to say which scored his heart deeper; the lack of self confidence Hawkstar revealed in that expression of his opinion, or the mention that his sister was doing well, could be happy even, healthy and hunting and made a watcher eternal in the realm of StarClan. "Yeah, well, eagles are overrated - is that the old age talking? You seem to think that you need to apologize to me for anything." Eagletalon's eyes took on a ferocious - but warm - glow, amber eyes burning through the sandy pelt of his best friend to see all the insecurities lie beneath, wishing no longer to hear him speak those words. He attempted to shove through his own mountain of grief and pain to lightly cuff Hawkstar around the ears, taking advantage of the older tom's bowed head as though he were a younger brother trying to knock an older brother out of his funk.
For a moment, Eagletalon was his old self again, fearless, emboldened by a faith in his own strength, by the support of his friends and his own inborn charisma and optimism. Tomorrow was going to be a better day then yesterday, and if it wasn't, then the next day after that would surely be even better! This moment was not particularly lengthy, however, fleeting really, as though the sobriety of grief, like a chest cough he couldn't quite shake, attacked him soon after, the tom quieting that inner fire a moment to become pensive.
He never used to be this...well...this thoughtful but Fate had decided to give him plenty of things to think about, throwing his life in complete disarray in a matter of a few short moons. "Thank you," spoke the grounded eagle, sparing a grateful smile and a light bump of his shoulder with Hawkstar's. "If she is happy and healthy and safe, then I am at peace. And if she was there for your...ceremony," he almost wasn't sure what to call it, having no idea what actually went on in there, "then you know as well as I do that a Hawk is much better suited to leading a Clan, otherwise Fallingstar wouldn't have chosen you as deputy in the first place. It wasn't a mistake, brother, it was good judgment."
A little bit of that reckless grin returned, knowing he had verbally trapped Hawkstar. To claim he wasn't going to be a good leader would insult Fallingstar's credibility and label her as out-of-touch with her Clan. Hawkstar wouldn't dare do such a thing - not in front of Fallingstar's own brother. Mulling over his words, Eagletalon realized with a slight whisker twitch of surprise that Hawkstar was going to have to pick a deputy very soon. As soon as moonrise tonight, after the return trip.
"Don't pick me, by the way," mewed Eagletalon with his characteristic bluntness. "For deputy. I don't want the job." |
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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 15, 2013 16:13:35 GMT -5
[smear:996600]Hawkstar[/smear:663300] ~~~~~~~~~ Hawkstar felt the trap lock around him before he could react. He gave a smile and a shake of his head at Eagletalon's words. He straightened slightly, gaining confidence as his best friend spoke to him. He owed him so much. Hawkstar's list for possible deputy candidates seemed to grow with every moment. He noted down Eagletalon's name, knowing he'd always be strong if he had Eagletalon by his side. He was about to speak, telling the younger warrior that he was right, and to thank him for clearing his head of the negative thoughts that seemed to plague him recently, when Eagletalon beat him to it.
Hawkstar's amber eyes widened fractionally at Eagletalon. The other sandy brown tom had just specifically asked not to be deputy. On one hand, to the large StoneClan leader, this only made Eagletalon an even better candidate for deputy. However, the will to comply to Eagletalon's choice overpowered any reasoning he could muster to make it so Eagletalon would still be deputy. With a slightly robotic dip of his head, Hawkstar gave the other tom recognition of his desire. "As you wish, Eagletalon. I think you would have made an excellent deputy, however." With a dismissing wave of his tail, the StoneClan leader stretched his body slightly, before focusing amber eyes back upon the tom.
"Well, I suppose we should gather ourselves, maybe hunt a little bit, and then head back to StoneClan. They might begin to wonder where we've gotten to." Giving Eagletalon a grateful flick on the shoulder with his tail, the newly named Hawkstar stepped forward, raising his voice. "Thank you all for attending. It's time we prepared ourselves for the return journey. The Clan will be waiting."
Not long after, the escort party was on their way back to the place they called home.
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