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Post by Justice on Oct 11, 2018 15:12:50 GMT -5
Leaf-Fall Day 13, Valley Year 5 --------------------------------- The changing of the seasons had come again. It seemed to him that time was now moving at an ever faster rate. It almost felt like it had been no time at all since he'd become leader, and now both his youngest offspring were adults. He was clan leader, and finally felt more settled into that role. He still didn't wish to be declaring war or skirmishes even. Their territory provided all they needed, so what was the point for pressing for more? He felt that RainClan was best left internalizing rather than pushing out, and would hold that point for some time to come. His goal was for them to be mostly neutral in the terms of inter-clan politics and apart from the machinations and fighting from the others as much as possible. He knew clans formed alliances between one another, and then would use those alliances to fight a third clan. Seemed a reckless waste of lives to him. But none of these thoughts he spoke of, not to anyone. Certainly not to his clanmates, or even his deputy. He couldn't keep them neutral forever, but he could bide his time and not be the one to instigate the fighting if it came to the clan. Silverstar was just sort of walking camp at the moment, listening to the sounds on the wind and the water flowing close by. Soon his beloved leafbare would be upon them once more and his starkly silver pelt wouldn't stand out so much for a season. He noticed Willowbreeze, a she-cat he was slowly becoming better friends with, bringing food in to the queens and couldn't help but smile. She had been a real help to him these last few moons, more help than he'd thought to ever have. And he trusted her in a way he trusted few others. He finally went over to her, greeting the queen before addressing the warrior. "Willowbreeze, how are you today?" Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Oct 15, 2018 4:49:16 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. "Thank you Willowbreeze, it means a lot," Lizardleap's words were soft and gentle, the mentioned she-cat dipped her head. It was the least she could do to help out the young queen. Pausing for a moment to pull the dirty bedding toward the nursey entrance. She knew the apprentices would carry it the rest of the way out of camp. She figured it was best not to disturb the nursery too much. The last thing any of the current queens needed was some over zealous apprentice make a ruckus.
Leaving the nursery the milk scent quickly left her nose and for a moment she missed it. Her paws shifting from the plushness of the nursery floor to the worn camp floor. That didn't bother her, it was more about the emotions that stirred in her heart.
Her sister had borne healthy kits for the Clan and provided RainClan with more kits to grow and become the future of RainClan. Jealousy lingered and guilt quickly followed after it. She wanted that for herself. Feel the quickening of kits within her and bring forth the future of RainClan. She grew anxious at the thought that her own kits would be in the shadow of Lotuswhisker's. It was a complex that Willowbreeze found herself still caught up in. She would never be equal to Lotuswhisker no matter the effort.
In an effort to ease her mind all things, Willowbreeze opted to bring a meal to Lizardleap before declaring her nursery care to be finished. Exiting the cozy den for the last time that day her ears perked at the sound of Silverstar.
Dipping her head in formal greeting to the clan leader, Willowbreeze offered him a small smile. "I'm well, just helped Lizardleap clear out her nest and brought her a meal," She explained her day with ease before flicking her tail toward the fresh-kill pile. "Have you eaten?" Her question was sincere and she expected him to answer truthfully but would not push the issue if he said he hadn't. She only tasked her self with reminding him not smothering him.
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Post by Justice on Oct 16, 2018 17:50:55 GMT -5
"I have." He remembered her telling him she'd remind him to eat and take care of himself. It was a relief, reminding him very much of his best friend and her tendency to scold him when he forgot to take care of himself. He felt that Willowbreeze might have been conspiring against him with Echoshade when it came to his health. And that was okay. He wasn't smothered by either she-cat, and they meant the best when they did it. Or perhaps they did these things by themselves and he just needed a little bit more reminding than some to take care of himself. He smiled to himself when he thought of that. "I was thinking of walking down to the river for a drink, if you would care to join me?" He wanted to go for a swim as well while the waters were still flowing and not so cold that a cat risked sickness going from a short swim. Leafbare was a time he adored, where he spent most of his waking hours outside enjoying it while it lasted. But the time before was for making sure they had what they needed to get through that time. Not everyone enjoyed leafbare the way he did. Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Oct 17, 2018 6:08:21 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. Her eyes lit up a bit as he confirmed he had eaten. It made the rumble of anxiety that often sat in her stomach settle. A pleasent peace for her, finally. Afixing him with her gaze, the palenss of her green eyes was met with the blue of his. She wanted to say he looked better, like he was looking forward to something. Was it wrong of her to hope it was to see her. She carreid a bit of affection for Silverstar, that was noticeable. But to the level not even she knew. He was charming, a tom who faced the challenges of being a young leader with a strong sense of duty. It was second nature to admire him. However, Willowbreeze was wise to be careful with her feelings for him. Things were never as they seemed.
Silverstar had never settled down with a mate, not that she saw that as an issue. Plenty of cats never had a permanent mate. But that didn't stop her silent wondering. Was he guarded? She could relate. Her mother's betrayal and her own choice to join the purist had made her feel as if her paws were stained with the blood of those Leopardyowl had killed. Even her own mother was guilty in those crimes.
Perhaps that explained why others looked at her as if she was a river snake waiting to strike. There had been a time moons before she gotten close to Silverstar that she considered leaving the clan altogether. Uproot her life and find the company of loner-hood. But still, she remained in the safety of RainClan's reeds, now for other reasons beyond the security.
She stayed for her nieces and nephew and of course for her sister. She found a way to support the Clan's leader and that added to her purpose. The thought of leaving had faded away and thankfully so.
But she couldn't help but feel she could be doing more. The thoughts of kits crept back into her mind but luckily Silverstar pushed them away by suggesting the two of them go to the river. It had been a few days since her last visit. Unlike her clanmates, Willowbreeze found it more comforting to climb the willow tree in the territory, but she could enjoy a trip to the river.
"I would," She answered, waiting for him to take the lead.
Words: 395 Tags:Justice Notes: random thought, polyarmous Silverstar
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Post by Justice on Oct 21, 2018 14:52:31 GMT -5
"Excellent." He beamed at her, ears flicking at some of the chatter he heard around him. He almost wanted to hiss at the she-cats that were talking about him like he couldn't hear them, but that would just give them more fuel for gossip. They would talk regardless, so he could simply hold himself to a standard that left little of interested to talk about. So he had an older friend, and she happened to be a she-cat. Why couldn't a tom be friends with a she-cat? Perhaps a tom could be, but when that tom had the reputation he did towards the fairer gender perhaps it was more unbelievable a thing. To be just friends. He sighed and walked on, keeping his pace steady but slow enough so as not to outpace the female at his side. "The leaves are finally changing." He took a deep breath of the crisp air and let it out slow, feeling his ire dissipating as he got further from camp. The river wasn't far, but it was enough to make him happy. "I feel as though I have finally gotten a feel for this leader thing." He flashed her a bright smile. "I can finally sleep in the leader's den by myself." As before he'd been sleeping curled up in his mother's nest. His stress levels had been so bad that the she-cat that birthed him had even chased off other cats that came to check on him. It had been a rough time that lasted far longer than it should have. But he was much younger than most any other leader in RainClan history, and he didn't exactly have much support at the time. Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Nov 7, 2018 14:59:32 GMT -5
54 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. She smiled as he talked of the changing leaves. Leaf-fall was always stirred up a mix of emotions. Being able to stare at the shifting leaeves and recongize that change was always happening. Then came the reconition that Leaf-fall always faded into Leafbare and that meant harsh times that would stirr up bad memories.
Pulling herself out of the depressive stupor, Willowbreeze smiled back at Silverstar when he mentioned he was sleeping on his own. She wanted a share of his happiness. It was an accomplishment that was to be proud of him. She hoped he considered it a milestone on the long path he walked as a leader.
"I'm really happy for you, I'm glad you are settling in. You've come a long way," She praised, a purr ending her words.
Turning her attention to the shift in the air, the soft but building sound of the river filled her ears. Flicking her tail over his shoulder she picked her pace, trotting ahead of him for a moment. She stopped just short of the river and drank in the cool crisp air made by the moving water. Looking back toward him she gestured with her tail for him to sit beside her, the air was cool and it would be nice to sit next to him.
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Post by Justice on Dec 28, 2018 23:45:17 GMT -5
"Thank you. At least someone aside from those closest to me realizes how far I come." He gave a derisive snort, blue eyes darkening as he plopped himself down next to her at the river's edge. "They think I don't hear them." His tail lashed but he didn't elaborate further on it. He just took a deep breath and settled himself, absently starting to groom his long tail as he pushed the negative thoughts from him. Silverstar's ears flicked back towards camp as he heard a familiar bark of laughter and turned his head as he saw his long time friend chatting with one of her friends. Echoshade always made him feel better, like Willowbreeze always made him think more of himself. He had the slightest smile when he returned his attention to the she-cat at his side, reminded again that even though not everyone was on his side, the most important cats in his life were. "Forgive my poor temper, I've simply grown tired of them believing I'll fail without ever giving me the chance to settle in." Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Dec 29, 2018 0:17:08 GMT -5
60 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. She watched him from the corner of her eye. It was hard to see him doubt himself, even harder for him to believe the talk around camp. Yes he was young, yes he had a history but Willowbreeze would remain loyal to him. StarClan had chosen him and he proved himself, that was enough for her. Nevermind how he made her feel, how he seemed to value her for her recent actions not her civil-war stained past.
"You have every right to be upset, you are the leader of RainClan, chosen by Stormstar and StarClan, that should be enough for them," She purred in an effort to vocalize her support. Taking a moment to comfort him further by offering a gentle nudge to his shoulder. "There will come a time that those who didn't support you will realize they were fish-brained," She added, a poor attempt to bring humor to the situation.
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Post by Justice on Dec 29, 2018 0:36:17 GMT -5
He let out a startled sound of laughter at her words, feeling his hackles go down and the urge to shred someone easing away. He hadn't really been angry, just anxious. His clanmates made him anxious at times. He settled, his thoughts moving forward again. "They grew into beautiful she-cats didn't they? My daughters?" He didn't often acknowledge his offspring, but he was very proud of these two. The best he'd ever done was sire the pair of them for Echoshade. It had made her so happy to be a mother, and seeing her happy had made him happy. It was nothing to his reputation, even if everyone thought his best friend was just another notch in the side of his den. His mind was leagues away again, this time with far happier thoughts. "I was never suited to raise kits, and I never really want to be someone's mate, but I'm happy they turned out well. Is that odd?" Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Dec 29, 2018 1:30:25 GMT -5
60 Moons. RainClan. Warrior.
For a second she was confused on who he was talking about but it came together quickly. His daughters, Ferngaze and Dewpaw both charming she-cats with ambition. Willowbreeze knew a little about each of them but hardly considered herself a friend to them. Not that it mattered in the long run. They were moons younger and likely closer to their age-mates.
Hearing Silverstar talk about them so fondly had her smile widening but it stayed soft. Overhearing the pride in his words was special and she didn't want to spoil it for him.
He went on to say that she wasn't suited to raise kits. The statement confused her for a moment but decided it was his choice in the end. Some toms were actively involved in their kits lives others less so. The mention of not wanting to be someone's mate didn't surprise her either. Silverstar always seemed dedicated to the big picture, focused on the Clan. An admirable trait in any cat.
"It's not odd to be proud of them. I'm proud of my nieces and nephews, I'd like to think if I ever had kits that I'd be proud of them no matter what," She told him, offering up the only comparison she had.
"Kits provide us with hope like nothing else in this world. Newleaf after a long leafbare doesn't compare to the soft purrs of newborn kits," She added, looking almost wistful before she hid it behind a mask of polite distance.
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Post by Justice on Dec 29, 2018 23:00:10 GMT -5
He watched her closely, listening to her speak and how she thought of kits and their place in the world. "Why is a she-cat like you without a mate and kits of your own? You are kind and gentle, and beautiful inside and out. Why isn't there a tom at your side?" He'd wondered this for some time, how someone like Willowbreeze was still single and kitless at her age despite her wonderful personality and lovely form. She was a pretty she-cat and her kits would be perfect just for having her as their mother. And like his beloved friend Echoshade, he could see that this she-cat would flourish being a queen. He shifted a little, looking at her as his fluffy tail stilled. "Feel free to tell me to back off, I know that's a personal question and I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just wonder why you don't have a mate and kits when you clearly want these things and any tom would be lucky to have you at his side." Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Dec 29, 2018 23:48:25 GMT -5
60 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. Her eyes widened as her head turned to look at him, caught off guard by his statement. It wasn't easy to hear those words. It was painful to know that others saw the absence of a mate at her side. She blamed herself, who else was guilty?
Tilting to look away and toward her paws, she sighed heavily holding back the rush of emotions. "I don't know, I'm not great at flirting and honestly I wouldn't know what to do with myself half the time," She admitted, unsure of how to tell him her feelings. "Not to mention I have a pretty dark history. I sided with my mother in the civil war, I left RainClan to follow Swanfeather and I'll live with that awful choice for the rest of my life," She added, finding a shred of courage to look back at him, her eyes soft.
"Besides, mates are hard, with or without kits. Not to mention I'm sure my undetermined mate would consider our relationship strange and I value it and you too much to ever break it off," She told him, her honest sounding awkward in the air.
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Post by Justice on Dec 30, 2018 0:12:11 GMT -5
"Being someone's mate has nothing to do with flirting. Your mate will love you for who you are, no matter what you do. They will see that you are perfect, be your best friend and companion. A mate's place is protector and friend and soul mate all rolled into one." He looked up at the sky, silver pelt shimmering in the light. Silverstar admitted he was the worst cat to be talking about a commited relationship. He didn't want a mate, his great love was leafbare in all her glory, he didn't think any she-cat would ever live up to that ideal. "My brothers left when the clan split, and I stayed behind with my parents. Echoshade's parents were Loyalists. We are not defined by the Civil War, Willowbreeze. That is a dark stain on our history that I wish could be erased. RainClan knows peace now, and as long as I am leader I will strive to keep it so." He snorted at her final point. "Ah yes, my sordid reputation. And apparent inability to simply have a she-cat for a friend. The reason everyone teases Echoshade even though she's clearly not infatuated with me and we've been friends since kithood." Hellion
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Post by Hellion on Dec 30, 2018 3:24:47 GMT -5
60 Moons. RainClan. Warrior. Willowbreeze took in evey words that Silverstar, nodding along when she felt it was right. He had a point, a mate was meant to be a soulmate but Willowbreeze wasn't quite sure her soulmate exisited. Or if they did if she would ever find them. It all sounded too romantic to be realistc. Not that she had the hard to say that to Silverstar. It was nice to hear him talk about love and she found it comforting, even if she didn't believe it for herself.
He brought up his own family and how the civil war shaped them. She felt a little more at ease. Even if it was a huge mistake, it was good to know that she hadn't been the only one that made it. Purring in agreement that RainClan would know peace under Silverstar's leadership. He had a way about renewing her faith in her clan's future. Proving he was a great leader.
The mention of Echoshade had her smiling. She knew little about the she-cat but any cat who was a good friend to Silverstar was alright in her eyes. "I will admit I am envious of Echoshade," She confessed, her cheeks flushing. She wanted to take back that slip but found it impossible to do so.
"You two found a way to make it work. You remained friends after having kits together," She added, doing her best to make it clear. "I think what you two have together is special even if its not typical," She added.
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Post by Justice on Dec 30, 2018 13:33:50 GMT -5
He startled at her revelation, looking to the she-cat at his side rather than up at the sky as he had been, lost in his own thoughts and memories. "Echoshade? Whatever for?" As she elaborated Silverstar ducked his head as he felt a flush that probably showed through his pale pelt. "When I was a kit I was very fragile and sickly. Mother wouldn't let me play with the other kits, even my own siblings. But Echoshade played softly and sweetly, and she stayed behind in the nursery with me even when all the others went outside to play. She kept me going, encouraged me to keep fighting, that I'd get stronger once I was an apprentice. And she was right. I never forgot what she did for me, and she will always have a special place in my heart for that alone. My most loyal friend." He looked to Willowbreeze and his smile was gentle and enigmatic. "She lost her mate, did you know that? Echoshade had a mate before, and he was killed." He looked away, blue eyes watching the water in front of him. "She was in a very dark place for a long time, wanting only to join him in StarClan. But me? I'm selfish. I didn't want her to go, and I fought to keep her here. StarClan wasn't ready for her yet, she still had things here that she needed to do, cats that needed her. So I stayed with her and I made sure she ate and drank and slept, and eventually I promised her if she would just get better, if she'd just live so I wasn't..." He trailed off, shaking his head and unable to continue the sentence. Before he'd really gotten to know Willowbreeze it had been Echoshade that knew him the best, and Echoshade that saw him as the tom he was rather than for his tendency to flirt and break hearts in his path. Hellion
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