[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff]  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hazel-green eyes stared blankly down at the ground, looking pale, as though their color had been draining ever so slightly, possibly with every tear she'd cried. It had been two days since the fire. Two days since she'd lost her father. But it was the first day she had actually had time to truly grieve. The day of the blaze had been utter chaos, trying to evacuate everyone to safety. We failed... Yesterday, the chaos had still been present, passing like ripples through the Clan. She couldn't even remember what she had done the day before. It had passed by, almost as though she were on autopilot, moving through duties. Of course, her ability to do so had been hampered slightly.

A fit of silent coughs reminded her of the damage she had sustained. If was beginning to ebb away, considerably better than it had been the day of the fire. She could still remember the burning sensation in her throat as she had tried to breathe in the smoke-filled air. Her eyes stung just thinking about all that smoke. Once her coughing subsided, the beautiful, grief-stricken she-cat shifted slightly, staring down at her exposed pad. They were usually pink, but were stained a gray, from the ash she presumed. She felt almost as though she were being suffocated by it. Whenever she bothered to twist so that she might attempt to clean her pelt, she could taste it on her tongue.

Brokensong ruffled her fur slightly, a sudden pang striking her in the heart. Had she been standing, her legs would have more than likely buckled beneath her. She bent her neck, pressing her chin to her chest, desperately trying to hold back the threatening tears. She felt her teeth grind together slightly, pricking at her lip as she fought the oncoming sadness. A silent sob took her by surprise, passing almost like a shiver, disturbing her whole body.

She wanted nothing more than to bury her head in her father's pelt and cry. He would know exactly what to say to her, what to do do calm her in a moment such as this. But he's gone... The last of my family... Dead. Her thoughts were filled with bitterness, something that would have stunned and horrified her, had she been herself. But grief was a powerful manipulator.

After a moment, Brokensong thought she might finally have gotten herself under control She felt a bit numb, as though she had felt so much pain and grief over the fire, and her father's death, that her body simply wasn't able to cope anymore, leaving her with an emptiness, compared to her usual, happy-go-lucky self.

A sound behind her should have attracted her attention, but the tortoiseshell tabby she-cat simply couldn't summon up the strength to glance behind her. Instead, she shifted her gaze to a rock sitting nearby. She was a little ways away from TreeClan's makeshift camp, having needed a moment alone. Everyone seemed to constantly stay huddled there, unless prey was needed, which meant Brokensong wasn't expecting much company.

[Fawn]

ZUMA!
19 Moons || Loner || In Love With Brokensong ♥

---

A handsome golden brown tabby had been taking full advantage of the burned forest, the empty territory that had used to be StoneClan's territory, and the fact that Lionstar was sending out less patrols than usual. Oh yes. He had memorized the patrol numbers (usually 2-4 cats) as well as the times in which they usually set out, having begun planning for the moments in which he could seek out Brokensong without attracting too much attention to himself. Before those plans could come to fruition, however, the forest fire broke out, and the loner called Zuma could even still feel his heart jump to his throat at the thought of his voiceless songbird caught up in the blaze, unable to cry out for help.

He'd been unable to stop himself from going into the fire after her, determined to at least speak with a TreeClan figure of authority to ensure her safety, or to actively escort her to a safer place, should she be neglected amidst the confusion. While Zuma had arrived in time to save the she-cat he loved, he had not been able to save her father. Fully aware that Brokensong had been crushed by so severe a loss, Zuma had ignored the boundaries that lied between a Clan cat and a cat who wasn't, and had literally refused to leave her side, taking advantage of the confusion to become that nameless cat no one could remember not being there. He made himself scarce except to Brokensong, and so far, had avoided the detection of the TreeClan leader and deputy.

Having scoured all of TreeClan and parts of the wilderness beyond until he had found some, Zuma was finally returning to the makeshift camp - covered in soot to mask his scent - with the prize he'd been looking for. Teeth firmly clamped around a skinny tree limb, balanced precariously on it's end was a broken beehive, devoid of it's usual occupants, the insects having fled or fried in the fire, the hive having fallen down when trees had begun to fall. Despite it's dilapidated state, the hive was still rich with honey, and it was for this exact purpose that Zuma had so desperately sought it out.

He didn't need to hear Brokensong's coughs to realize she'd hurt her throat with all of that smoke and ash. Zuma's heart warmed as he spotted the beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat sitting away from the camp, his steps quickening as he took notice of her slightly dejected posture. The warmth shifted to an ache then, the golden eyed tom setting the branch down as carefully as he could, pelt darkened from the charred debris.
"I brought some honey for your throat," He mewed, voice kind and affectionate, their pelts brushing together as he took a spot beside her, pressing the side of his muzzle into her neck in what was meant to be a comforting gesture.

Having needed some space from the cluttered, dejected cats back at the makeshift camp, a warn out golden tom was gradually making his way towards Brokensong and Zuma.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Primary, gut instinct told the she-cat to leap to her paws as someone stepped up beside her. For all she knew, whoever it was could be there to hurt her. She couldn't pick out a scent she recognized, able only to make out the bitter tang of soot and ash around her. Exhaustion and grief, however, made it so that the tortoiseshell tabby she-cat who lay alone, and completely vulnerable, simply turned her head to the side, dragging her gaze from the rock to spot an approaching figure. To begin, there was nothing behind those blank, hazel-green eyes. She didn't instantly recognize the figure approaching her, because the pelt color was all wrong. It was the build that caused something to click in her brain.

She felt her mouth shift, opening slightly, slowly, and ever so delicately forming the syllables, as though they might roll off her tongue at any moment. Silence was all that could be heard as the broken she-cat mouth a single word. Zuma... She didn't glance at the object he lay before her, her mind too enraptured by his presence. In a time filled with just darkness and pain, if there was any single sparkle of hope for the dejected tortoiseshell tabby, it lay within this tom.

The familiar feel of his fur against hers brought her the slightest bit of comfort, allowing her a momentary break from the pain. Alone, she felt guilt, sadness, everything. When he was with her, by her side... She just felt empty. Empty was better than any other alternative that would present itself the moment he left.

The softest of touch alerted her to his affectionate gesture, a tap against her neck by his muzzle. His voice met her ears, pulling her attention to the object he had set down. She stared at it for a moment, peeking at him through her peripherals. For him... She thought to herself as she stretched forward just enough to reach the broken hive. Gingerly, her tongue flicked out, lapping at some of the honey near the edge. It was warm on her tongue, transferring its warmth as it slid down her throat. It truly was a miracle, soothing her sore throat. Even if it was only temporary, it was enough for her now.

It was right about then that the dam broke. Ducking her head beneath his, she buried her face in his neck fur, not caring about the soot that might transfer to her pelt. Her body shivered slightly, taken over by her jagged sobs. Her claws flexed, digging into the earth as she tensed, feeling so many emotions boiling within her. Anger. Guilt. Sorrow. They all crashed together, creating a torrent of tears and silent heaves, her breathing increasing to a rapid pace, almost as though she were in the midst of some sort of panic attack.

The burden of a broken song bird was the inability to say what was on her mind. She'd heard it said so many times, that if something was bothering you, it could do good to talk about it. What am I supposed to do? Who am I supposed to tell? She screamed inwardly. For the first time in her young life, Brokensong felt the sharp stab of hatred, directed towards herself. For the briefest of moments, she hated her disability. Hated herself for having such a disability. For the first time, she questioned how this could be fair, what she had done to deserve this punishment.

Anger boiled away, leaving behind guilt. Somehow it must have been her fault. She shouldn't have left him like that, she should have gone with him. Surely they would have found a way out. She was a terrible daughter. Slowly, the guilt trickled away, leaving her with the heaviness of sorrow.

Pulling her face from Zuma's neckfur, Brokensong's ears lay back against her skull, as though she didn't have the strength to keep them up anymore. Slowly, she turned her gaze to meet his amber one, the sorrow slowly dissipating as a thought began to worm its way into her head. As she gazed at the tom who seemed to make her world a slightly brighter place, even at times like this, something akin to acceptance washed over her, seeping into her every bone.

Her tail twitched slightly, before slowly twisting itself around Zuma's tail. Shifting her weight, the tortoiseshell tabby allowed herself to lean against the tabby tom, relishing the softness, the familiarity of his fur. Her world had been shaken to the core. But no matter how much havoc was dealt to her world, its core stood strong. He stood strong.

Leaning her head against his neck, the she-cat gently rubbed her cheek against him, a gesture that was both to comfort herself, and a silent way of thanking him. For the honey. For saving her. For being him. Her eyelids seemed to droop slightly as she let herself slide away into her thoughts, even if it was just for the briefest of moments.

At least... At least he'll see mom again...

[Fawn]

ZUMA!
19 Moons || Loner || In Love With Brokensong ♥

---

Zuma had never felt so helpless in his entire life. Under normal circumstances, the emotional distress of other cats had never truly bothered - the tom able to retain a significant level of attachment, a lack of empathy, if you will, but Brokensong wasn't some other cat. She meant the world and more to him, and when his entire world was shaking and panting as though she were drowning right before her eyes, and there was nothing he could do about it. Pressing against her more tightly, Zuma was momentarily at a loss for words - for once - his heart feeling heavy and aching within his chest, as if some big animal had stepped on it without him knowing. Grateful that she had at least attempted to lap at some of the honey, Zuma mimicked the gesture, only with the pretty tortoiseshell fur she was so well known for, tongue making rhythmic strokes over the top of her head and ears in a gesture he hoped would be soothing.
I understand the term 'broken little songbird', though not for reasons Thornshadow and her mother did.

She truly looked the part. As though a pretty little bird that had been robbed of her voice, Brokensong radiating a sense of distress and grief so powerful, even the normally incorrigible Zuma felt a lump begin to form in the middle of his throat, the tom forced to swallow every few heartbeats lest those feelings overwhelm him. Forcing himself to be strong for her, like a rock that would never crack under the weight of all her troubles, no matter how heavy they got. Though he was at a loss for words how to begin repairing her, Zuma didn't dare leave her side. He didn't want to, he couldn't possibly leave her when she needed someone, when he felt she needed him the most. Her other Clanmates didn't understand...when the confusion properly died down, when they realized his presence and questioned him thoroughly, he would face it. They couldn't get rid of him, and he would fight them tooth and nail if they even dared to try.

Despite his thoughts being utterly absorbed with Brokensong, his body pressed close to hers for that silent sort of comfort, his thoughts still gradually rearranging themselves into some form of soothing words, Zuma was aware of someone approaching. Well, 'approaching' was putting it mildly. What Zuma caught on to, was the intimidating stalk of a cat who could and would kill him if he saw fit. The fur along the brown tabby tom's neck bristled, and instinct took over, his body angling in front of Brokensong as a living shield, amber eyes narrowing into cool, dagger-sharp pinpricks.

~*~

With something akin to a roar, the leader of TreeClan stalked forward, heavy, oversized paws revealing the points of white needles that peeked out from between the thick golden tufts, his expression as cold and aggressive as death, promising very much the same.
"Who are you? What are you doing with Brokensong?"
Lionstar had been intending to seek out the one cat he knew to have lost the most in the forest fire, and had been completely unprepared for the sight that awaited him. The beautiful tortoiseshell had been huddled next to a tom he did not recognize - and appearing very distressed - the golden brown tabby tom seeming to loom over her, with his broad shoulders and strong, masculine features.

For all Zuma's size, Lionstar was still clearly the bigger of the two, and he painted the perfect picture of hostility, amber eyes glowing as bright as firelight.

The stranger, to his credit, held his ground. "Taking care of her, since no one else seems to be. They call me Zuma, and I already know who you are, Lionstar."

The golden leader's face twisted up into a snarl partially out of confusion, fur bristling along the nape of his neck. "Is that so? You are not welcome here, Zuma. Get out while I still allow it."

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Admittedly, the she-cat's mind was slow and sluggish, caught in the tail end of her grief. She barely heard the approaching paw steps, the heavy, aggressive paw steps of the leader of TreeClan. It wasn't until Zuma sprang to his paws, putting himself as a wall between Lionstar and herself that Brokensong was aware they had a visitor. Hazel-green eyes blinking slightly in confusion, the she-cat slowly rose to her paws, daring to peek around Zuma's frame, to catch a glimpse of Lionstar. And boy did he look angry.

In fact, his rage seemed to suddenly crash into her, an overpowering wave of it. Brokensong flinched back, cowering behind Zuma for a moment before it finally set it. She was hiding from her Clan leader. She shouldn't have to. This was obviously some sort of misunderstanding. Brokensong's pretty eyes narrowed for a moment as she thought, swimming through the last bit of grief that hung above her head in order to obtain rational thought. She had no idea what she should do in this kind of situation.

She was yet again slow to react, allowing the two toms to exchanged a few words, spitting at each other. Finally, however, the tortoiseshell tabby she-cat jumped up, moving on a whim. She had no idea what she was about to do, or how anyone would react to this. Snaking around Zuma, giving him a warning touch with her plume of a tail, Brokensong continued her path directly towards the TreeClan leader. Placing herself in full view of Lionstar, she paused for a moment, meeting his gaze. She was showing him that she was alright. Zuma had not hurt her, he was a good guy. Aside from the slightest spot of grief in her eyes, she was good as new.

Taking a step forward, she closed the distance between herself and Lionstar, silently telling herself that he would not hurt her. Right? He was only like this because he thought she was in trouble, that she needed to be protected. She pressed her nose to his cheek, before shifting so that the top of her head could bury itself for an instant in the Clan leader's neck fur. It was a silent attempt at calming him, distracting him from his anger with a touch. She was a she-cat that spoke with actions. Anyone who knew her knew that everything she did was something important, and should be paid attention to. Hopefully, in that moment, Lionstar would remember that.

Taking a step away from him once more, Brokensong gazed at her leader yet again. For a moment, an apologetic look crawled into her gaze. I'm sorry... It was quickly replaced by a strange determination, fed by a fire she'd never felt before. Keeping her eyes locked with Lionstar's, forcing him to continue watching her, she stepped backwards one step at a time until she stood side by side with the tabby tom who'd spent so much time with her these past two days. Their pelts brushed, until she leaned against his shoulder, bringing them closer. Her soft tail wrapped itself with Zuma's again, and finally she broke eye contact with TreeClan's leader, pressing her cheek into the soft fur of Zuma's neck and chest, rubbing her cheek against him subconsciously. With Zuma, it just felt so right. As she awaited the TreeClan leader's next move, Brokenson couldn't help but let a thought cross her mind.

I've never felt like this... With Zuma, it always just feels... Right.

[Fawn]

LIONSTAR

TreeClan || 39 Moons

Shock registered on the golden-maned tom as he gradually began to piece together Brokensong's behavior, the ridges on his muzzle caused by the snarling soon started to ebb as his anger receded, making way for confusion and nothing short of astonishment. So Brokensong had been friends with a loner? For how long? Who in the name of StarClan was he? What was even more surprising was the look of earnest determination written all over the mute she-cat's face, and though Lionstar had always known Brokensong to be very solid of character and strong of willpower when she set her mind to it, he had never had the opportunity to have her determination directed at him. As if he were that mountain to overcome. That task to complete.

Golden eyes began to widened, no longer tapering into narrow slits as though he was prepared to go to war right then and there, Lionstar inwardly grateful that he wasn't so worn out that he had forgotten how to use common sense. What is it that's between them? Is it friendship or...? He was under the impression that Brokensong could possibly have misinterpreted the feelings of this loner - had mistaken the tom's temporary infatuation as the real thing, or perhaps not even noticed at all? If he's here to taken advantage of Brokensong I'll-

The word 'flay' and 'maim' came to mind, Lionstar instinctively taking on an aggressively protective stance when it came to she-cats in the Clan, particularly those that had no family to speak of anymore, that could not speak for themselves, and in some instances, could not properly defend themselves. Brokensong was a Clan warrior - but Zuma was a full grown loner who looked powerful enough to fight even a NightClan cat. If he turned violent...

Despite his concerns, however, one good look at the expression on Zuma's face informed Lionstar of how his worst fears weren't going to come true. It was most certainly love. He had not recognized the emotion in quite a while, and had expected it to be glaring back at him through the eyes of a loner even less! Zuma - or whatever his name was - projected a calmly lethal aura that he would gladly destroy everything and anything that went after Brokensong, even the Clan leader, with all his nine lives. Well, seven. Lionstar was inwardly impressed; he'd personally sent bigger, more aggressive cats running with an entrance like that, but this Zuma had held his ground. Of course, those cats didn't have a she-cat to protect. It spoke volumes of the loner that he was ready and willing to battle Lionstar through all seven of his remaining lives if it meant keeping Brokensong safe, and even Lionstar could recognize the burning spirit of determination as well.

Knowing full well that he was opening up an entire hive of bees, Lionstar's postured shifted into a sit, his expression hard upon refocusing to the brown tabby longer.

ZUMA!

---

"What does she mean to you?"

It had taken every fiber of Zuma's being not to pad after Brokensong, not to steer her away from the snarling Clan leader who looked the part of a LionClan warrior at their finest, not that he would've even understood the reference. Body tense throughout the entire exchange, Zuma's claws quickly sheathed once the TreeClan she-cat returned to his side and displayed the nature of their relationship in a few affectionate gestures, a painting a picture with body language that Zuma knew he couldn't hope to paint so eloquently with words, not even if he had the whole day. The warm contact of her fur against his, and Zuma's dislike of Lionstar began to ebb, both toms having realized they were neither a threat to each other, Zuma unable to help himself from purring and nuzzling Brokensong in return, feeling as though his heart might burst out of his chest. She behaved in ways that was often misinterpreted as affection, but was more due to her open personality as well as her muteness, but this time - she had shown him genuine affection, and he couldn't be happier.

At Lionstar's question, however - the first of many, from what the tawny tom could tell - Zuma lifted his chin, flashing a bit of a grin. "That's like asking what sunlight means to me. I love her. She means more to me than the whole forest and the mountains next to it." A small stab of regret at how he had delivered those words, Zuma stole a swift glance into the expressive eyes of a cat he knew he couldn't be without, almost about to mouth the words 'I'm sorry'. He had not intended to tell her his feelings so soon. He hadn't intended to say those words out loud, but Lionstar had asked, and he'd sooner have his claws ripped out than lie for no reason.
It was the truth, and apart from who he was, it was the truth he considered the strongest in his entire life. He was Zuma, son of Shatani and Miko, and he was irrevocably in love with Brokensong, a cat of TreeClan.

The Clan leader seem to draw in a steadying breath.
"When are the kits due?" Mewed the golden tom, his mood seeming to blacken slightly.

Zuma scoffed.
"They aren't. I'm here for Brokensong and nothing else, I'm going to take care of her and help her get over the loss of Thornshadow - and nothing you say or do is going to make me leave. Besides, her Dad probably would've flayed me if I'd seduced her and then run off, but he knew that I'm not that kind of tom."

He could tell the tom was surprised that he knew Thornshadow enough to speak of him, but that was the truth of the matter. He really wasn't here for selfish or indecent reasons. He was here for a cat he loved, and no other reason. To Zuma's slight satisfaction, the golden tom looked incredibly embarrassed.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hazel-green widened slightly as she absorbed the words spoken by the tabby tom beside her. It was so bizarre to her... She'd felt the flutter he brought to her heart, felt the excitement that would rush through her the moment she lay eyes on him... But she'd never put a name to it. Never actually figured it out. When Zuma looked over at her, an apology clear in his gaze. She stared back at him for that brief instant, only half aware of his compliment to her. Even as he looked away, back towards the TreeClan leader, Brokensong's attention stayed pinned upon Zuma.

Love? My father told me about love once... That... When you found the right one, it felt like you could fly, it felt like everything would be alright as long as you were with them... And then it dawned on the pretty tortoiseshell tabby. Just like how I feel with Zuma. Momentary alarm sparked through her, quick to be replaced by an even greater shock when Lionstar asked his next question.

Her head whipped around, eyes so wide, they seemed as though they would fall out of her head at any moment. Her ears were pricked, and her heart stopped in her chest. In the panic she felt, she forgot to continue breathing, feeling the dull ache in her lungs of lack of oxygen. K-Kits?! How was she supposed to answer that?

Luckily it seemed that Zuma had his head atop his shoulders. His scoff had her turning her horrified gaze towards him once more, where she was again bathed with a feeling of relaxation that she could not match with anyone else. Her fur was still brushing against his, but she suddenly became hyper aware of it, a heat burning through her pelt, sign of the embarrassment coursing through her veins.

At the mention of her father, and how he would have destroyed Zuma had he used her as Lionstar seemed to have thought he did, Brokensong giggled silently, a smile coating her features. She suddenly felt extremely timid, as though putting a name to her feelings had made it all the more real. When she lifted her head from where it had been resting on his shoulder, however, they were bright, filled with her laughter and the depth of her emotion. She leaned against him a little heavier than before, allowing him to feel the vibration of her silent purr, letting him know just how she felt.

It was scary, realizing you were in love. But it was also the greatest thing she had ever experienced. She felt light as air, as though she might float away at any moment. There was one thing that kept her grounded. Timidly, as though she were afraid to know what Lionstar might think of this whole ordeal, Brokensong focused her soft gaze on Lionstar.

What happens now...?

[Fawn]

The golden tom seemed to shake his head from side to side as though to get rid of something unpleasant or unexpected, the leader of TreeClan clearly taken aback by the dedicated couple he had apparently stumbled on. Zuma almost felt sympathetic to Lionstar's plight - I'm not going to give him an easy time of it, that's for sure. He would not allow himself to be intimidated or bullied into behaving in a way that would make Lionstar feel better, he wasn't going to bow his head like an ashamed apprentice caught stealing extra prey from the fresh kill pile.

"What are your plans?" Mewed the Clan leader after a moment, voice still tight and dry, as if he could not bring himself to give in so fully to the warmth that existed between Zuma and Brokensong. Zuma's dark amber eyes settled onto the sweet, shy face of the mute warrioress, feeling a purr rise to his throat; he had wanted to confess his feelings to her at a more appropriate time, but... She doesn't seem upset by them. No, on the contrary she looked happy, and for a split second, Zuma could picture Thornshadow's small nod of approval, her father being the one cat who loved her just as much as Zuma did.

"My plans are to join your Clan, Lionstar." Replied Zuma smoothly, composure still holding - even when he saw the surprise register on the golden tom's face. "When I saw her in the fire with a few of her Clanmates, it was the scariest moment of my entire life. I don't want to think about what would have happened to her if I hadn't been there - I don't want to have to worry about that ever again. So I'm going to join as a warrior, I can hunt and fight probably just as good if not better than a cat my age, and I'll take any test you throw at me." I am not doing that ever again. I'm going to take care of her, even if Lionstar refuses to let me join.

The Clan leader looked exasperated, Zuma frowning in return, ears coming forward and head cocking to the side in an obvious question, not planning to pick the cat's brain but silently ask him to speak his mind. So the golden tom did.

"The forest doesn't work like that, Zuma. Do you even understand what you are asking? To have an outsider join the Clan at a time like this--"

"--all the more reason to let me in. I helped dig your fallen Clanmates out of the ash, I know you need strong warriors." Zuma cut him off, inwardly hoping the patron wouldn't take too much insult at his behavior - he was just in a hurry to stress his point, that was all.

"Look at things from my perspective then, Zuma. What would be the point of allowing an outsider to join the Clan, if only so he can be united with the she-cat he loves? I may get a strong warrior, but will I get a loyal warrior?"

It took him no time at all to respond, and a small smile slowly began to spread and widen across Zuma's muzzle, the tom pressing back against Brokensong with obvious affection. "The Clan is Brokensong's family, right? Then I'll fight to protect her family, no matter the cost. I'm not going anywhere, Lionstar - not if it means being separated from her."

~*~

The strength of his compassion and tenacity was made apparent, Zuma's words ringing with a solid resolve that to Lionstar felt almost spoke of the Clans of old, as if he'd been plucked out of the elders' stories and dropped into the present. He is really serious about this... Well...Zuma was certainly more decisive than most cats Lionstar had ever met, but had circumstances been different, Lionstar would have liked to have known him a little better. Glancing over to Brokensong, he addressed the mute she-cat in a gentler tone, as if he might coax the truth of her feelings out rather than interrogate them out of her apparent sweetheart.
"Is this what you want, Brokensong?"

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the mention of fallen Clanmates, Brokensong's thoughts were once again resting on her deceased father. A heaviness weighed her heart, dragging it to the depths of her paws. She pressed her face into Zuma's fur, desperate not to begin crying again. Not in front of Lionstar, please, StarClan... She busied herself by listening to Zuma's voice, feeling the gentle vibration in his throat as he spoke. For an instant, the she-cat wondered what it was that had gone wrong to make her unable to produce that same vibration. Forcing her attention back onto Zuma and Lionstar, worried that thinking about her disability any more would only succeed in plunging her back into her grieving state, Brokensong caught Lionstar asking Zuma to view the situation from his perspective.

With a slight pang, Brokensong realized that the golden tom was right. Had they been selfish, not considering how hard it must have been for Lionstar, as leader of TreeClan? What was he supposed to do in a situation like this? With a quick glance towards the brown tabby sitting beside her, she felt a small flame of determination flourish within her, sparked by the fire that seemed to blaze within Zuma. His words, his body language, everything just seemed so sure, like he knew exactly what he wanted, and when he wanted it. It was a little shocking to think that the one thing he desired so strongly... Was her.

Her ear twitched suddenly as Lionstar's voice softened, directed at her. For a heartbeat, she was unable to pull her gaze away from Zuma, as though he were a magnet commanding everything around him. Eventually, her hazel-green eyes locked with Lionstar's. A silence stretched out between the three as the songbird who could not sing her song gazed evenly upon the mighty lion before her. For a moment, there was nothing. And then there was everything. No words were needed, not when her eyes said it all, flashes of emotion racing by.

Grief. I've lost my last family member. I've lost friends in this fire. Loneliness. Who can be there for me now, whenever I need them? Despair. I thought I had no one left, no light waiting at the end of the darkness. Hope. I was saved. Saved from the fate that had taken my father from me. Passion. I feel as though he understands me, perhaps better than I understand myself. Love. I do love him, no matter how scary that might be. Determination. He is everything to me.

Brokensong nodded her head.

[Fawn]

It did not take long for the tom with the golden mane to realize the predicament he was in. If he did not agree to Zuma's joining of TreeClan then would Brokensong leave her birth Clan behind? Any other leader, or at least one with a slightly practical if not cynical approach to the Clan would possibly view Brokensong's departure as nothing special. Lionstar, however, viewed her as a member of the Clan in full, and, given how the fire had claimed so many lives of the cats he'd grown up with and had watched grow up, to do anything that would cause the loss of another TreeClan cat was out of the question.

"I will need time to think." He mewed, meeting their gazes evenly, first looking to the proud, confident Zuma with his incorrigible determination, and then over to Brokensong, whose emotions were clear even if he could not hear them spoken aloud.

Zuma nodded.
"Sure. I can wait."

Lionstar had a feeling that if he asked the tawny tabby tom to wait until the entire forest grew back, he would. Though he was leaning towards turning this into a winning situation rather than an overly complex one that would likely displease several Clanmates, Lionstar still wanted to discuss it with Daringheart and Stormchaser.
"As for you, Zuma, if you refuse to leave Brokensong's side, then at least help with the rebuilding of our camp until decided otherwise. It would be greatly appreciated." Putting subtle emphasis on the last line, Lionstar met Zuma's eye carefully, the tom pausing and then responding with a subtle nod.

Though he was far from completely won over by Zuma's commendable personality, the tom was at least very relieved that what existed between Brokensong and Zuma was nothing short of pure love. It was rare to see, he realized, two cats who had found each other, and Zuma did not doubt that either one would move the sun and the stars if they had to in order to be together. Approaching Brokensong, Lionstar licked the top of her head, almost as if to give the mute she-cat his blessings and condolences both. To rip Zuma away from her now.... The golden tom had no intention of finding out what sort of repercussions might come about if he did. A wane smile and a squaring of the shoulders, the lion of TreeClan made his way back to the makeshift camp, probably intending to delegate the next hunting and border patrols for sunhigh.

~*~

Zuma's posture, though relaxed as it was, gradually began to loosen, and he looked a lot brighter than he had moments before, twisting his head to nuzzle Brokensong, speaking gently but with obvious excitement. "Well that went well. He didn't really say no, did he?" Not that he said yes either but... As for that small bit of eye contact they had held between them, Zuma had grasped immediately onto what it was the golden leader had been getting at.

If he helped out around camp, if he made himself the vision of productivity and efficiency, then if he was accepted into the Clan, then perhaps the Clan would view him in a more favorable light?

There was nothing left to do but try, for Brokensong's sake as well as his.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff] 

~~~~~~~~

The pretty tortoiseshell tabby hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath. She simply stared at Lionstar, giving a slight nod of understanding as he warned them that he would need time to think. Big, hazel-green eyes watched him as he spoke with Zuma one last time, before walking up to her. She bowed her head slightly as he licked her between the ears, and she touched her nose to his chest as a counter-gesture. As the large tom padded away, back towards the make-shift camp, Brokensong slowly turned to face the tom she loved. Blinking her eyes at him, her ears swivelled to listen to his words.

With a sharp, rather startled exhale, the she-cat remembered she hadn't breathed in far too long. The sudden rush of air was enough to irritate her still-healing throat, and her body was once again racked by a fit of coughs. Immediately ducking and licking up more of the honey Zuma had brought for her, Brokensong prayed that the coughing would soon subside. She didn't want to worry Zuma anymore than he was already worrying about her.

To her relief, the honey soothed her throat enough that, after one of two more delayed coughs, she was able to stand up straight once more. Offering Zuma a sheepish smile, she stepped forward and nudged him. As she met his gaze, though the sadness was still visible in the depths of her eyes, there was something else at the forefront. The sheer joy of the moment, the happiness she felt because he was there with her. It would take time for her to overcome the grief that clawed at her due to her father's death, but if anyone could get her through it, he was standing at her side.

As much as she would have liked to just curl up beside Zuma and tuck her head beneath her tail, the tortoiseshell tabby knew they had a job to do: show Lionstar what Zuma could bring to the Clan. And she was determined to help him. She waved her tail in the direction Lionstar had disappeared, looking at him questioningly, asking if they should follow, and help with more reconstruction. She was a little stubborn, and no matter what excuses Zuma would come up with, about her throat, or other, in an attempt to make her take it easy, she would continue to help. They were in this together.

And they always would be.