[Deleted]

Smokestorm

Smokestorm lay nearby the freshkill pile, in the dimming evening sunlight. The day was almost over, her duties for the day were done, and it was time to relax and eat. A bird lay at her paws and though she hadn't eaten all day she just couldn't seem to find her appetite. She had woken up this morning in a mood, and hadn't been able to shake it from her all day. Though not an unusual occurrence, it still was annoying.

The dilute calico warrior sighed, and bowed her head down sinking her fangs into the flesh of the bird. If she didn't eat now, she knew she'd regret it later when hunger pains kept her awake at night. The last thing she wanted was to be sleep deprived and even sulkier tomorrow. Smokestorm slowly chewed the small bite, and swallowed. She felt so indifferent toward everything today.

The she-cat's ears pricked as she heard footsteps from behind her. Immediately she was able to register the familiar scent of the cat that was approaching. Without looking behind her, she acknowledged his presence. "Eagletalon." Smokestorm meowed in greeting, a dry tone to her voice. She wondered if the tom would stay and chat, as she hoped to be left alone. While the young warrior had no ill feelings toward her mother's mate, she just wasn't in the mood for anyone's company.

Fawn | Hope it's okay I made mention of his entrance into the thread?

[Fawn]

77 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

"Smokestorm," he greeted warmly. Her tone's flatter than the sandy plateau. Was something on her mind? Eagletalon's original plans for the evening had been to say goodnight to Kestrelkit and Meadowkit, and make sure they weren't giving their mother too much grief over being 'of age' for apprenticeship. However, he forwent his initial plans for the nursery and decided to sit near his step-daughter, on the off chance what she truly needed was a listening ear.

If she didn't want company, he'd go.

"Congratulations on your first apprentice," Eagletalon mewed, wanting to open the conversation on a positive note. "You have a lot of good traits to share with Dustpaw." He wasn't trying to suck up to her. Eagletalon truly felt that Smokestorm was going to be a strong mentor for the young tom, just starting out his life as a StoneClan cat.

Smokestorm had drive and she had persistence. Two things any warrior could benefit from having.

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Word Count: 158 Words
Tags: @shady
Notes: Totally fine, and sorry this is so short!

[Deleted]

Smokestorm

29 Moons, Warrior, StoneClan

Smokestorm smiled slightly at Eagletalon's praise, even if she found it hard to believe herself. Now that she was a mentor, she hoped she could pass something down of value to her new apprentice. She didn't feel she was as good of a candidate as an older, and wiser warrior though.

"Thank you, Eagletalon. I appreciate it." Smokestorm mewed, still not making eye contact with the tom. Her eyes were dull, and her face expressionless as she stared down at her meal that she had only taken a single bite from.

"I can't help but to feel that someone else would make a better mentor for Dustpaw, though. I'm afraid to mess this up, he's my first apprentice, you know" The she-cat confided in the older warrior, unable to stop her thoughts from coming out.

Although it wasn't what was initially bothering her, it was one of the many things that weighed on her conscious while she was in this state of mind.

Where there is smoke, there is fire

Made By Fawn

164 - Fawn - Sorry if that was a little weak, still trying to find my muse. >.<

[Fawn]

77 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Eagletalon lowered his scarred limbs to the ground beside her, listening to her troubles with a politely interested expression - that grew to genuine interest when it became clear it was a topic he actually knew something about. "Every cat feels that way with their first apprentice. Ask Hawkstar. Ask anyone. But you know something, Smokestorm? Even the most experienced warriors in the Clan all had to start training apprentices at some point - and some of them were even younger than you."

The sandy-coated warrior wore a lopsided grin, trying to pick some of the pieces of her mood back up off the floor. She was moody and withdrawn today, Eagletalon could tell as much. When you put an introvert next to an extrovert, they didn't always see eye to eye - but Eagletalon had adapted enough over the moons to know when a cat needed space.

And know when they could do with a listening ear.

"You can always ask me for advice. I'm old as dust, so don't think I don't know what I'm doing." A self-depreciating jest, his golden eyes warm and supportive. "I've got your back, Smokestorm." The whole Clan does.
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Word Count: 193 Words
Tags: @shady
Notes: Totally fine!

[Deleted]

Smokestorm

29 Moons, Warrior, StoneClan

Smokestorm quietly listened to his encouragement, feeling her mood ebb away slowly, uplifted by his praise. Maybe what she needed after all was company from another cat. Shutting herself out from others always proved to be counter productive, yet it was something she was accustomed to doing since her father's death.

There was a small pause in the conversation after Eagletalon had finished talking, in which she let his words sink in realizing how important her step father was in her life. She didn't tell him enough how grateful she was for him.

"Thanks for being someone I can rely on. I'm just in a bit of a mood today," She admitted. "I'm sure I'll be the same fiery spirited cat everyone knows and loves by tomorrow." Smokestorm mewed with a smirk.

She nudged her piece of prey by him, "Would you like some? I know I won't be able to finish this whole thing by myself and it'd be a shame to waste it." Offering some of her prey was the kindest gesture she could muster in her state of mind, and she was painfully aware of how much kinder Eagletalon always was to her than she is to him.

"You know, it seems no matter how old I get, my heart still grieves for my father. I don't think I have ever stopped missing him a day in my life." The dilute calico mewed solemnly, the emotion clear in her voice now. Smokestorm could feel the moisture building in her eyes, as emotion threatened to pour out of her no matter how much she had tried hard all day to hold it back.

"I was luckier than most cats though. It's not often another cat will come around and love you like you're one of their own after experiencing such a loss. I know I've been hard to handle, and I haven't exactly been vocal with my gratitude." The she-cat went on, admitting her obvious faults out loud to the older tom. Her eyes made contact with Eagletalon's, and she hoped he knew just how thankful she really was.

Where there is smoke, there is fire

Made By Fawn

352 - Fawn - So much dialogue lol.

[Fawn]

77 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Eagletalon accepted her offer in a straightforward way - his usual way - by taking a bite of the fresh kill. His tongue was sweeping over his jaws to get the last remnants of flavor when the conversation took a turn for the... bittersweet. The scarred warrior listened, a respectful audience as Smokestorm confided in him. "I never wanted to replace Silverstorm, or any of the memories you have with your dad." Eagletalon's tone had softened, a kinder, gentler side of a warrior who was known for his battle prowess and his strength of personality.

Eagletalon smiled, the end of his tail touching Smokestorm's shoulder. "But you don't have to be my own flesh and blood for me to be proud of you, Smokestorm. If it's alright with you, I'd like to consider you my own flesh and blood anyway. You're as much my family as Meadowkit and Kestrelkit are." Silverstorm would always be her father. Always. But that didn't mean he couldn't be her step-father. The one who appreciated her and supported her just as much as her biological parent; he had asked Dawnblossom so many moons ago, to ask Silverstorm for permission to pursue Duskflower properly - to ask her to be his mate.

But it wasn't just Duskflower he'd wanted in his life. Eagletalon had welcomed Smokestorm and Mistcloud right in. It had taken the scarred up warrior a long time to finally get the family he always wanted. He wasn't going to be choosy, or take the idea of blood so seriously. Duskflower and their kits - all four of them - were worth dying for.

Worth living for.

With his own eyes starting to water, Eagletalon cleared his throat. The thin end of a faded tawny tail fell away from her shoulder. A grin covered up the sudden burst of sentimentality. "Look at me, I'm as weepy as a mourning dove. Don't tell your mother, okay?"
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Word Count: 316 Words
Tags: @shady
Notes: