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Post by Hellion on Jul 1, 2018 18:06:54 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. Stretching out under the warm Greenleaf sun, Willowbreeze rolled onto her side and yawned. The quiet day had been spent hunting just after dawn and napping beside her niece Owlpaw. The young apprentice was exhausted after training so frequently with her mentor. Willowbreeze found it comforting to spend time with the clever Owlpaw, a cat too smart for her own good.
But it didn't last much longer. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Silverstar walking toward his den. Concerned for the Clan's young leader, she nudged Owlpaw away from her, the she-cat only groaned before rising up and heading for her apprentice den. Willowbreeze headed for the fresh-kill pile, she didn't stay long and picked up a decent size trout and headed for the leader's den.
She thought about waiting for his permission to enter but decided against it. The worst that could happen would be him asking her to leave. Swallowing the apprehension in her throat, Willowbreeze poked her head into his den.
"Silverstar, I brought you a fish and I was wondering if you'd like to share tongues with me," She asked never going further then just the threshold of the den, the fish placed on the ground near her paws.
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Post by Justice on Jul 1, 2018 22:05:36 GMT -5
He'd really just retreated to his den for a moment since nobody really needed his attention at least for now. He wasn't going to sleep, just...He needed a moment. It was difficult on him, being leader. He wasn't terrified of the prospect any longer, and the days of hiding in his mother's nest were long past him. He just sometimes needed a break from his clan, from all the expectant faces and needs and demands for his time. He hadn't had the time for his proper courting of the she-cats in a long time. And he didn't think it was appropriate any longer for him to carry on with them as he once was. Some of the she-cats seemed more keen on him, but that could just be because he was now leader. No more kits for him, no more siring offspring by one of his many flings. No risking it. He couldn't risk them using kits to demand he become their mate exclusively. He couldn't just have fun, he couldn't be reckless with himself. Though he had many lives to burn, he didn't look forward to dying and reviving. For a cat as social as him it came as a hard truth that he could no longer trust that his clan truly saw him. He knew his past was likely to be brought up many times during his time as leader, as he'd left a trail of she-cats with his kits in his wake and not become theirs exclusively. It had worked when he was just some warrior, but now it was different. He was different. Silverstar heard her voice before he saw her, sighing loudly and rising to his paws before sitting down and wrapping his tail around his paws. "You can come in Willowbreeze, I'm not doing anything." She wanted to share tongues? And perhaps a meal, by the fish at her paws. "I don't mind, just leave the ears alone please." He had a mother, he didn't need any more maternal cats mothering him. His mother was his mother, and only she was allowed near his head and ears. "What's on your mind?" Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Jul 1, 2018 22:21:39 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior.Welcomed into his den, Willowbreeze was careful to place the fish in front of him and once given the okay to share tongues, she settled beside him. "Leave the ears alone," She thought it an odd request but considered perhaps they were sensitive and nodded in agreement. She wouldn't in a million moons try to upset him or hurt him in any way.
Tucking in closer she began with grooming the portion of his fur near his chest. Slow even strokes to lull him into a comfortable state, which in turn relaxed her as well. At least until he asked her a question.
Ears pitching forward she stopped for a moment. She didn't have much on her mind aside from possibly going for a light swim later once the sun started to set. "Nothing, I just wanted to check on you. See if you were doing okay. I remember what you said that day at the willow stream and I want to help you. So please eat." She prompted him, flicking her tail toward the trout sitting there in front of him. "You can talk to me if you want. I'm not much company or we can just sit here," She added lamely, still unsure of herself. It was hard work to gain enough courage to talk to someone as handsome as Silverstar. She chalked it up to knowing he needed someone to talk to. If she had a role she could fill it, she had done well in her apprentice moons with that mindset. Now with freedom at her paws, she didn't know where to go and she struggled with it for countless moon. More then she'd ever admit it.
Not that it mattered at the moment. Her task was to help Silverstar relax, provide him with some sort of friendship that asked for nothing but mutual respect. She could do that, she could fill that role. Returning to groom a bit of shoulder fur that seemed to have a small burr stuck in it, Willowbreeze realized her anxiety had shifted. It still buzzed just under her skin but it didn't feel loud in her ears or tight in her chest. Smiling to herself to avoid Silverstar noticing, Willowbreeze refocused on him.
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Post by Justice on Jul 1, 2018 22:51:23 GMT -5
He let her go about her fussing, but at first didn't return the gesture. He was contemplating rather or not he was hungry, then realized he hadn't eaten since he'd gone on a short fishing trip the day before. Why hadn't he taken the time to get a small fish from the fresh-kill pile? He'd simply forgotten. Under the effort of keeping everyone else happy and fed, he tended to forget to take care of himself. Which would get his furry hide skinned by his mother should she find out. And she would. So he shifted out of her grooming in order to nibble on the fish. Small, dainty bites as he always tended to eat this way. He was a slender cat, and took his manners and his time as very precious to him. Even when no one could see him he wouldn't simply plow into a meal. Prey was plentiful in this season, but there still shouldn't be any wasting of it. That was stupid. When he had his fill he nudged the fish towards Willowbreeze. "Do you want some, there's still quite a bit left and I'm full." He took a deep breath and let it out, looking at the top of his den. "Willowbreeze? Am I a bad leader? Am I a coward for not wishing us to go to war with another of the clans? I've had the conversation with someone before that maybe a war would bring the clan back together, but...wouldn't it just destroy us as we stand so divided? I see it as we would persevere, but at what cost? How many more families have to be torn apart? How many lives must be sacrificed in the name of reuniting the clan? No, I don't wish for war. I don't wish to fight when we have all we need here. Prey, water, enough territory to provide for all of us. Why fight?" Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Jul 4, 2018 15:49:06 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. WarriorFeeling her tasking nearly completion Willowbreeze almost missed the offer of food. She gave his fur one final fuss before pulling forth the given portion of food. Careful, like him, she ate her meal and finshed off what was left. Her forepaw nudged the bones away to be disposed of later. Another task she'd be happy to do for him.
She almost suggested he get a nap and she'd depart but instead, he asked her such a loaded question. He then proceeded to talk more not that Willowbreeze wanted to stop him. He seemed to have a lot on his mind and it was only fair he got it all out in the safety of his own den. Her mouth opened and shut a few times, deciding it wasn't fair to interrupt him.
Once he was finished, Willowbreeze pushed herself to sit up a bit more before focusing her gaze on him. "I don't think you are a coward, fighting for the sake of bloodshed is monstrous," Her tone was straightforward and stern, unlike her normal lit.
"I stood on the wrong side of the civil war. I followed my mother because I didn't know any better. I was a fool and a regret everything I ever did. I shared meals with those monsters who killed our Clanmates. I ignored what was going on in front of me. I was the coward because I didn't stand up and stop it sooner." Inhaling sharply, Willowbreeze forced herself to rein in her emotions. It didn't need to be about her.
"You are a good leader because you recognize that starting a war will only hurt the Clan more. We need only need to hold our borders and keep our bellies full. Let the other Clans fight each other for stupid reasons. RainClan can stand above it all and you are a strong leader. You are the leader we need to keep us safe and happy," Her words ended in a purr as she bent her head to nudge his shoulder, careful not to come off maternal.
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Post by Justice on Jul 27, 2018 15:13:43 GMT -5
"The hurt and distrust Swanfeather fostered in the Clan is still present, but it wasn't entirely her fault. I believe that the entire split happened because we simply destroyed ourselves. Worrying more about where our members came from than in protecting each other and defending our territory. In those moments were we any better than the ones that roam these lands clanless?" He let her finish eating and came back to his paws, starting to pace back and forth as he worked through his thoughts. "My entire family was ripped apart. Parents neutral, and I stayed with them. But my brothers both had mentors on Swanfeather's side, and my sister..." He shuddered. "I don't even know anymore. I feel as though I'm chasing my own tail in a continuous circle. Running myself ragged, forgetting to eat, worrying constantly about everything and everyone. What good is war Willowbreeze? What good is the bloodshed, the fighting and the strife? The dead piling up and the mourning of those that leave us too soon? And for what? For a small scrap of territory that we don't need!" He dropped his head, sides heaving as all the negativity of his leadership started pililng up inside him, ready to erupt. He was supposed to be having a quiet day, a day where he could just relax and not worry about things. But he just couldn't. His thoughts were always with the clan. "I'm not suited to this." He plopped to the ground, letting his paws come out from under him. "I'm too young, its too much. The other leaders are all much older than me. StarClan, most of the medicine cats are older than I am, save their apprentices. I can't be myself, I can't casually flirt or have the slightest bit of fun without someone patronizing me or telling me a leader shouldn't act like that." He put his paws over his head, hiding his face. "I spend so many nights in my mother's nest, and I'm grown. I'm not strong at all." His tone had gone dark, the sheer terror that had plagued him since his trip to recieve his lives coming out again. He told everyone he was okay, he pushed himself through it to function and do what he had to. He hadn't lost a life yet, and he hoped he never did. "Nine lives given to me, who never deserved them." Hellion |
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Post by Hellion on Aug 14, 2018 3:23:19 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior.
Her pale green eyes tracked the silver tabby with concern clearly written on her face. She had been on the wrong side of the civil war but when all was said and done she came back. She didn't worry about the repercussions because there weren't any for her. She hadn't put a claw to a Clanmate she was simply complacent by following her sister and her mother. While not a crime per say, it didn't make her feel any less guilty. Especially considering just a few days into the start of mindless bloodshed, Gullswoop was nearly killed. At the time he wasn't her sister's mate but Willowbreeze had a feeling.
He kept talking not that Willowbreeze minded. For some it was easier to get everything out verbally, she was the opposite not that it mattered.
Waiting for when it felt right to speak, Willowbreeze and finally her moment came.
"Lionstar was a young leader too. Everyone was shocked at the Gathering to see him standing there just shortly after being made a leader. TreeClan hasn't fallen into ruin, in fact, I'd consider them a sort of ally. Think of yourself as the next generation of leaders. There will come a time you are the oldest" She softly reminded him, mimicking his posture by laying down across from him, eyes focused on his despite his attempt to cover his face.
"And I'm sure that your mother doesn't mind. I bet all moms want their kits safe with them regardless of their age. Now if you try to hog the nest that's a different story," She offered in a weak attempt at humor. "If it's any help I think StarClan made a great choice making you a leader. You will keep RainClan safe and together. That is all that matters,"
Scooting closer to touched her nose to the paws covering his face. A friendly gesture to coax him out of his stupur. "If it's okay with you I'll make sure you eat everyday. I promise not to pester I'll ask you in passing all you have to promise is that you won't lie and say you did when you didn't,"
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Post by Justice on Aug 15, 2018 17:02:36 GMT -5
SilverStaR 37 Moons RainClan Tom He shuddered, the world and his own fears starting to crush him. He could hear the ones that had given him a life, remembered their words to him and how much had changed. Strength, loyalty, courage, patience. The things he needed to persevere but that scared him all the same. And everyone expected him to be fine, to push on and make the smooth transition from deputy to leader without having a fit about it. So he had, and privately fallen apart.
Silverstar listened to Willowbreeze speak to him, the tips of his ears twitching towards her to show he wasn't ignoring her advice even as he fought with his own drowning fears. "My mother tells me I should pick a mate to keep in my nest with me, that I would feel better." He snorted at that, peeking out from under his paws at her finally. "I think you would be the..." He paused, really thinking about it.
"Echoshade told me the same thing when I came back from getting my lives." He had a faint smile, speaking of his closest friend. "I forget who really does support me when I start to panic like this. You stuck by me, and I think you for it. I do have friends and family that support me, I just have to let them. I guess I thought I had to do it by myself, that a leader shouldn't need to ask others for help when it came to matters of leadership itself."
He sighed and plopped his paws down then wiggled on the ground so he could groom Willowbreeze's ear from that position for a second. "You're sweet." He sat up slowly, circling his silver tail around his paws. "I would like that. I'm sure others remind me too, but its like I don't always hear it when someone is trying to help me. If that makes sense?"
The future lies before you, like freshly fallen snow
Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show
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Post by Hellion on Sept 26, 2018 3:37:05 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior.
She admired the way he spoke fondly of his mother. Her own memories of her dam were tainted with the civil war, she'd never been able to think of her the same again. Her admiration continued as he went on to speak of Echoshade.
It was well known that the two of them had a litter together and while it wasn't usual for kits to be born out of committed relationships, Willowbreeze found their relationship unique. She wasn't jealous about what they shared but she did find a little envy tucked away. A relationship as wholesome as their's was meant to be cherished. She hoped Silverstar recognized that. The aforementioned envy came from wanting something like that but for herself.
Refusing to duck away from his gentle grooming, Willowbreeze instead embraced the kindness and smiled faintly. A quiet look.
"I think I understand," She answered, moving slightly to be a bit closer to the entryway of his den. "I'm going to leave you to rest. I feel sleepy myself and I really ought to visit Owlpaw before I nap. I'll visit you tomorrow to make sure you have eaten," She promised before dismissing herself with a parting dip of her head.
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