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Post by absurdjinx on Apr 27, 2023 12:48:45 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/3vhfrsZ/laurel~jpg | laurelfern, "far away from your trouble and worries
you belong somewhere you feel free"
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Laurelfern had never really liked Wolfstar, but she’d also never allowed her opinion of him to affect how she viewed his kits. They didn’t deserve to be treated differently just because their father made some poor decisions. Granted, they weren’t minor mistakes, but rather choices which would change the clans, especially RidgeClan, forever, but the children weren’t to blame for them. Laurelfern remembered visiting Cougarcloud in the nursery after her sons had become apprentices and looking down on the four bundles of fur nestled against their mother’s belly. They weren’t hers, but she’d known then that she’d love them like they were her own - and she did. Not all of them seemed likely to be fond of her idea to leave RidgeClan, some more than others, which is why she hadn’t approached any of them about it until this moment. As she continued to put the pieces of her idea together, abandoning her clan became more and more of a reality. Soon, she’d be making her announcement, and she knew she needed to talk to some of her kin about leaving before she actually did. She’d asked Batsong to accompany her on a walk to the rapids, which is where Laurelfern held her confidential conversations - and she was sure she wasn’t the only one to have private discussions there. Batsong was a selfless cat, much too altruistic, but that was something Laurelfern could relate to. Today, all she wanted to do was convince Batsong that sometimes, it was okay to be selfish. Numerous times, she’d skipped meals in the midst of leaf-bare so her clanmates could eat and she’d filled in for her peers on patrols so they could get some extra rest. But she’d also been the one to eat her share when there was little to no fresh-kill and she’d slept in some days, allowing someone else to take her spot on patrol. It was a tricky balance, but it was possible to achieve. And so as Laurelfern led Batsong out of the forest and to the edge of the river, the rapids roaring below them, she pondered how she could phrase her thoughts perfectly, but ultimately settled for a simple, “ How have you been, Batsong?” She sat down, her gaze warm, and hoped Batsong felt comfortable enough with her to speak honestly. |
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Post by Erose on May 22, 2023 11:21:55 GMT -6
#s://media~discordapp~net/attachments/992081341405466624/992134921189597226/forum_img_2~png | batsong,
"it's not my fault i have my father's eyes."
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As Batsong picked her way down the rocky slope, following the plume of her aunt's tail, her chest gradually tightened until she could barely breathe. Was it to the rapids that Laurelfern was leading her? It was a notorious spot for private conversations; her mind whirled with the knowledge, gleaned from on off-paw comment on a training patrol with Spiderstorm, that he and Wolfstar—back when he was a warrior—would meet at the rapids to discuss their plans for RidgeClan. Would the stone be marked by their dark words? Would she be able to see them etched there, unable to hear her aunt over the roar of them? Anxiety already sparking through her pelt, the sudden cut of Laurelfern's voice made her tail poof out. But she wasn't the first cat to ask how Batsong had been. It was starting to seem like some sort of conspiracy. Just earlier today, Salmonstream had leaned closer, concern in his warm amber eyes, and asked her how she was doing. She had no idea how to explain how she felt. Like she was stacking stones, unsteady and shifting, ready to topple at any moment, but desperately clinging with her claws to keep them stable. For a moment, Batsong considered trying to explain that to her aunt—warmed, and disarmed perhaps, by the approach of family. But it didn't make sense even to her. So instead she said, "I've been okay, Laurel."
Putting on some speed, she fell into pace beside the older molly, taking comfort from the warm brush of her fur. Some more of her guard slipped, and a pebble clacked off her mental stack. "But sometimes it's been... less okay." Realizing how lame that sounded only when it'd left her mouth, she huffed an amused breath that fell just short of a laugh. "You're not the first cat to ask me that; I feel like everyone expects me to fall apart."
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Post by absurdjinx on Jun 10, 2023 8:19:03 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/3vhfrsZ/laurel~jpg | laurelfern, "far away from your trouble and worries
you belong somewhere you feel free"
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Okay wasn’t the word Laurelfern wanted to hear from Batsong and she reacted with a small, concerned frown. When she went on to say it felt like everyone expected her to fall apart, Laurelfern’s frown became even more prominent and her eyes narrowed so slightly that it was barely noticeable. Who dared to even think that Batsong was breakable? She was the daughter of Cougarcloud and Wolfstar - two of the strongest cats the clans would ever know. For all his faults, Wolfstar was charismatic and driven, a natural leader. And Cougarcloud was the most dedicated cat in all the clans. Laurelfern couldn’t imagine anyone believing Batsong, of all cats, was fragile. All she’d been through and only now she was about to fall apart? Clearly, their clanmates underestimated her. “ Love, I don’t ask because I think you’re breakable,” Laurelfern purred, her frown giving way to a fond smile. “ I ask because I care.” She then promptly released a quiet bark of laughter, shook her head in amusement, and added, “ I know that sounds mushy, I do, but it’s true.” Hopefully, Batsong would chuckle right along with her, equally as entertained by her overly sentimental response, but also trust that Laurelfern meant what she said. She cared very much for her sister’s children and even treated them like they were her own. If Batsong didn’t believe she loved her as much as she did, then Laurelfern did a very poor job of showing it. How would the younger molly handle hearing Laurelfern’s intentions to leave RidgeClan? Would she consider it abandonment or would she consider it an opportunity for her to also escape? “ Now, if you don’t mind my asking, what’s wrong? You don’t have to tell me if you’d rather keep it to yourself, but I’d like to help in whatever way I can.” If someone was bothering Batsong, perhaps about her father, Laurelfern was prepared to step in and put an end to it. But what would she do if Batsong’s issue was internal? In the back of her mind, she wondered if a fresh start would be any good for the dark-furred she-cat. But that was just Laurelfern’s selfishness speaking. She’d love nothing more than for her kin to follow her wherever she went, but she knew that was asking a lot. Many of her family members, particularly Cougarcloud’s kits, fought twice as hard as most to earn their place in the clan. Why would they give that up? But she couldn’t help thinking: was it worth it? |
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