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Post by tor on Apr 29, 2023 16:21:39 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg There were many conversations that played on loop in Shadowgaze's mind, trapping him in the past no matter how desperately he knew he needed to look toward the future. In recent moons, he'd forced himself to become good at setting such memories aside. Now more than ever, with RidgeClan still in a state of healing after Wolfstar's death, his attention couldn't waver. Except, he couldn't stop thinking about the damned conversation with Ravenheart. It hadn't gone well. Shadowgaze knew it was time to draw back from the piety that Wolfstar instilled in so many clanmates. With any luck, drawing back would pull cats with him, exposing only the cats that had no desire to change. Yet, instead of trying to sway Ravenheart, all he did was soothe her. Comfort her. Soften himself around her. It was infuriating to be perceived as soft by her when it was her father's blood on his paws. The thought was cruel. He didn't recognize the cat who had it, but often these days he found himself unrecognizable. He needed a victory. Some sort of proof that Ravenheart wasn't beyond help. And he thought there was no better place to start than with her siblings, which was why he found himself here, paws following familiar paths toward the northern reaches of RidgeClan's territory as he walked alongside Batsong. He wasn't often here, among the mountains, but it seemed an innocent enough place for he and Batsong to speak, with hunting as an excuse. Even more innocent was the pair of guardians who followed a distance, ears perked for danger while Shadowgaze and Batsong hunted. Close enough for protection, far enough for privacy. Perfect. "How have you been, Batsong?" Shadowgaze asked as they walked, still too close to camp for any real hunting to be done. "We haven't spoken in a while. Have you been settling in to your life as a warrior well?" |
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Post by Erose on May 5, 2023 10:54:23 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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Life in RidgeClan had changed. Some days, Batsong felt as though she were watching her clan through a reflection in a puddle, distorted by the mountain winds. An uncanny sense of impersonation had crept in; was she really Batsong, or just a reflection? Today, she was Batsong the hunter. Some part of her still balked when her claws sank into prey, unable to banish the blood and caterwauls from ten moons ago. Ten moons? This passage into leaf-fall officially marked one more moon since the battle than she'd been alive at the time, and it still felt like yesterday. The thought of its anniversary this leaf-bare lodged like crow-food in her throat. The sound of Shadowgaze's voice jerked her back to earth, and she stumbled over some scree before righting herself. She at least had enough awareness to bristle in embarrassment, and quickly smoothed her fur down. Ah, Shadowgaze. Her father had loved Shadowgaze. She remembered how his eyes would shine with approval when he spoke of him—had Wolfstar seen a bit of himself in the tom? Had he seen his idea of RidgeClan's future? At the time, she'd been envious. Was she still? Nervous energy prickled through Batsong's fur at the consideration of his question, but she smiled and flicked her tail. "Well, I've got a brand new appreciation for how many chores the apprentices do," she joked. "Warrior work is hard enough." Casting a glance back at their escorts, she brought an amused purr to her throat. "Though I almost feel like an apprentice again when the guardians lurk like that. It's like an assessment." Shaking out her pelt, she quickened her pace to catch up to Shadowgaze again. "And how—how have you been?" She kept her tone light, but almost winced at the half-brittle quality that had crept in. She'd seen the way Spiderstorm had withdrawn, a haunted, hollow look in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Cougarcloud often lost herself in thought. Bristleclaw seldom spoke to her anymore. And Ravenheart... She shivered. How far did the pain spread? Did Shadowgaze harbor the same hollow-shell grief as everyone else Wolfstar had left behind? |
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Post by tor on Jun 2, 2023 19:05:39 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg Batsong spoke so easily compared to her sister that it put an immediate sense of relief in Shadowgaze when her voice filled the space between them. There was never a moment in his life where he wasn't on edge, ready to defend his every action. But at least for now, he wasn't gripped with the anxiety-inducing sensation that Batsong was looking for him to fail. "Hard, but rewarding," he said idly in response. "It's like an assessment," Batsong said. Shadowgaze flicked his attention back to the guardians as Batsong did, a small smile crossing his face. "I will let you in on a secret," he said, attention returning to Batsong. "That feeling never goes away." Watched. He always felt watched. Maybe that was his own fault. "I've been well," he continued, not missing the strange way Batsong spoke the question. There were a million reasons for her tone and he thought it better not to speculate, less he fall into some trap of his own creating. "Busier than I expected, so forgive me for not making time for you sooner." Truly, he did regret it. "But busy is good. Busy means growth." For himself. RidgeClan. From the war and the chasm left behind by Wolfstar. However Batsong wanted to take that, Shadowgaze wouldn't protest. "Tell me your favorite parts of being a warrior?" He smiled again, angling their path just slightly to dip into a thicker patch of the forest. "When I was your age, I loved the freedom of solo patrols, even if they bored me quickly." |
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