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Post by adrian on Nov 4, 2023 19:06:00 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/K7nBVTf/fox~png There was something about the scent of the cold, the way it coupled with the deep sappy smell of the pines, that very much reminded Foxflight of the comfort of home. Odd, when he considered that leaf-bare is when all of them were the least comfortable. More hungry days than not, cold nights, the threat of coughs or worse spreading through the clan - all very real dangers that came with the season. Still, out among the pine trees, he couldn't help but appreciate the chill he felt at a sudden gust of wind, and the crunch of the cold earth under his paws. In the distance, he heard the familiar call of crows, but didn't pursue their voices. The clan was not in so dire straight yet that they needed to report to carrion to make it until newleaf. Especially not when, just ahead, he caught the scent of chipmunk on the breeze. He fell into a hunter's crouch with as much ease as breathing. There was little underbrush here to hide in, so he remained still, waiting for the creature's movement to alert him to it's location. His patience paid off - the chipmunk darted after something it would never reach in the grass and Foxflight snatched it up with his claws, tossing it into the air before catching it in his jaws. Even one catch wasn't a bad streak when most prey was hidden away or moved to warmer climates, but it was still early enough that he thought it was worth it to keep hunting. And he'd feel good about it when he returned to camp with enough prey for the queens to share, since there were little ones in the nursery. He covered the chipmunk in some leaves and then listened, cautiously, as some leaves crunched nearby. He didn't smell anything amiss, but he was upwind to whatever was moving around in the forest, so he could only hope it was a friendly face, one of his clan mates, catching up with him. "Hey," he called out, hiding any nerves with the confidence of a cat on his own turf, "did come to join me for the hunt?" |
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Post by tor on Dec 16, 2023 17:28:18 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg Grey's scent still lingered in Shadowgaze's senses, a familiar mix of a campfire's crackle and a cool night's breeze cutting through gathered gravestones. They'd met that morning, before the dawn, when Shadowgaze slipped out of camp under the pretense of hunting. Grey had caught him a mouse; not unexpected, given how often Grey had done so before - caught something so Shadowgaze could bring it back, lending legitimacy to his excuses - but it warmed Shadowgaze's heart nonetheless. Grey cared so much about preserving what they had. He wasn't sure how much longer it would last. Not with the forest like this, tension building up in layers, like snow atop snow atop snow atop snow. Soon, something would buckle under the weight of it. Reluctantly, he slipped away from his mate and took the long way back to camp, diverting to roll in a rosemary bush and, hopefully, catch something else. The sun was much higher now, not quite sun-high, but rapidly approaching it. Shadowgaze's pelt grew warm under the midday sun, even through the thick canopy of the pines above. Maybe we'll be without snow for a bit, he thought, enjoying the rare leaf-bare warmth just as the wind shifted, bringing him another scent to fill his senses. Shadowgaze smiled. He kept his pawsteps quiet as he approached Foxflight, at least until he was sure his friend had caught his prey, then crunched over a pile of dry leaves to announce his presence. "I happened to be out hunting myself," he said, setting his own catch - Grey's catch - down and pushing the dry leaves over it. He could patrol with Foxflight from here - it would provide more cover and, more importantly, give him some much needed alone time with his friend. "And caught your scent. May I join you? It feels like we haven't patrolled together in some moons." |
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Post by adrian on Dec 17, 2023 17:08:03 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/K7nBVTf/fox~png Oh! Shadowgaze! Foxflight's expression immediately warmed into something more cheerful upon seeing his friend. Odd that he hadn't recognized his scent, but he smelled faintly of rosemary now, so he must've gone through some bushes during his hunt. Foxflight picked up all sorts of scents when he hunted. Some nicer than others. "I happened to be out hunting, myself," Shadowgaze said, covering up a mouse. "Nice catch," Foxflight responded with a grin. Sometimes, he wasn't sure how to act around Shadowgaze, after everything with Wolfstar. Other times, Shadowgaze was exactly the cat he remembered growing up with. While both were the same cat, it was the latter Foxflight wanted to see in his friend. Not the cat who believed in what Wolfstar believed. "And caught your scent. May I join you? It feels like we haven't patrolled together in some moons."That was true; in part, because Foxflight preferred hunting, to patrolling the borders. But he wouldn't mind walking them with Shadowgaze. Especially if they caught scent of more prey along the way. "Yeah, I'd like that," he said. "It feels like a lucky day for hunting. Usually it takes a lot longer this time of year to find anything."But Shadowgaze didn't need the small talk. Stepping back to let Shadowgaze take the lead, he said, "How have you been? I know I've been a little preoccupied..." But Shadowgaze couldn't blame him for wanting to focus on Silverheart. He hoped, anyway. |
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Post by tor on Dec 24, 2023 13:10:55 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg Shadowgaze nodded in agreement when Foxflight called it a lucky day. He didn't actually know, given that the mouse he buried was not caught by his paws, but he could admit that both of them carrying prey seemed inconsistent for this time of year. It was the warmer day, he assumed. And the lack of snow on the ground. "You're right. It does feel auspicious, especially for us to have met." They could hunt together, but more importantly, share their time. He adjusted to being in the lead when Foxflight stepped back, guiding them both toward the closest border - well, the closest in the opposite direction of where he'd come from. The last thing he needed was Foxflight's sharp nose picking up his scent along with a strange loner's. Of anyone in his life, Foxflight would... probably be the most forgiving of his code-breaking romance, but Shadowgaze just couldn't be sure. "I've also been preoccupied," he said, tossing a smile in Foxflight's direction. "Leopardpaw keeps me on my toes." If only that were true. She'd been difficult lately, and Shadowgaze could admit it wouldn't hurt to spend more time with her, but it was hard when Leopardpaw seemed so independent. He didn't want to smother her. "I'm glad to hear you're preoccupied, though. I was so happy to see you and Silverheart speaking more." Another smile. "I've spoken to him a little, myself... He's so forgiving." To a degree Shadowgaze didn't think he deserved. Darkly, he wasn't sure Foxflight deserved it, either. Or any of them. How long had they let Silverheart sit alone before trying for friendship again? Shadowgaze could make all the excuses in the world for himself, but he didn't think they meant much, nor could he think of an excuse for Foxflight. "Do you think you two might pick up where you left off?" |
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Post by adrian on Jan 4, 2024 16:35:45 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/K7nBVTf/fox~png Foxflight trotted along just a step behind Shadowgaze, in part on the lookout for prey but largely interested in chatting with a friend. Maybe it was his imagination, but Weaselsong had been pulling away from him, and Shadowgaze sometimes seemed distracted or distant, and for awhile he wasn't sure Silverheart would ever truly want him around again. It was lonely, thinking he might be left behind by everyone. "I've also been preoccupied. Leopardpaw keeps me busy." Oh! That explained it. Foxflight almost felt silly for worrying. He was a little envious, too - it seemed like everyone they grew up with had an apprentice, maybe more than one, at this point. Maybe he needed to talk to Mushroomstar? Could he have said something that offended him, or made him seem inadequate as a mentor? "I was so happy to see you and Silverheart speaking more. I've spoken to him a little, myself... He's so forgiving." Foxflight nodded in agreement, self-conscious smile stuck on his face. "I really did think he'd never want to talk to me again. I feel like... it wouldn't have been undeserved." But he was of course thrilled that Silverheart didn't see it that way. If he'd truly rejected his friendship, Foxflight was certain that a part of himself would have permanently fractured, unrecoverable.
"Do you think you two might pick up where you left off?"Foxflight grew warm under his fur. "Where we left off?" he asked, embarrassed to find himself sounding shy. He knew how he felt. He carried his hammering heart in his chest every day. But that didn't mean Silverheart would feel it too - or if he did, that he'd want to feel it. Friendship didn't mean he'd want more from Foxflight, now. |
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Post by tor on Jan 5, 2024 10:02:38 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg Undeserved - yes, Shadowgaze felt the same. Except, he thought Silverheart's acceptance of him was even more undeserved, given how selfishly he tricked his old friend. Foxflight had simply made a mistake. Shadowgaze chose to forsake Silverheart, as well as every friend of theirs that refused to side with Wolfstar and his mission. Regret, deep and sour, would always fill his stomach. Shadowgaze wasn't sure he'd ever know life without it. It was when he thought about that, how guilty his tenure as a warrior made him, that he put more thought into Grey's suggestion to run away with him. It would be more selfish than anything he'd done before, but he'd be free. Or maybe he'd be twice as guilty, knowing what he left behind. "Where we left off?"
"Ah, did I misspeak?" He tried to look sheepish, paws hesitating before taking the next step, if only to take some pressure off Foxflight. They weren't standing close enough for him to hear it, but Shadowgaze knew Foxflight well enough to know when his heart was racing. Foxflight knew exactly what he meant. He was just being coy - or maybe nervous? "I only mean, you two were so close when we were young." Gentle. He wasn't trying to gossip, only open himself up as someone who wanted to make sure his friends were happy. "We all thought you'd, you know..." He tilted his head. "Be mates?" |
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Post by adrian on Feb 9, 2024 14:15:58 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/K7nBVTf/fox~png "Ah, did I misspeak?" Foxflight shook his head right away. It wasn't wrong for him to ask. And in retrospect, he thought probably everyone did see that they would be together. It was only him who was the fool. And now it was him who had to face the consequences. Even if thinking that way made his steps heavy and his heart ache. "I only mean, you two were so close when we were young. We all thought you'd, you know... Be mates?"Even though he expected it, he still felt like he'd trip when Shadowgaze said it. He didn't actually, he was too deft of foot to trip on nothing, but he couldn't help but feel the world turned to its side regardless. "I want to be," he confessed, the truth of it flowing out of him like a breeze. "So badly."So badly that it ached in his paws. Like he had to force his feet to not carry him to Silverheart's nest every night. He laughed, nervous, but it came out a little self-derisive. "He won't take me now," he said. Not the friend who abandoned him. Not when he deserved so much better than Foxflight, even if he was putting as much effort as he could into rebuilding their friendship. Maybe he was being unfair to himself? But he thought it was more unfair to Silverheart to imagine that he had a chance with him. Still... "Sometimes, though, he looks at me, and I think it's possible?" There was a certain warmth to his gaze that made Foxflight silly with dreams that they'd wake up beside each other, one day. "But maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see, you know?" |
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Post by tor on Feb 13, 2024 12:07:34 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg It was clear how Foxflight's mood fell. Shadowgaze's heart ached with the weight of his guilt, knowing that if he hadn't chosen Wolfstar, Foxflight and Silverheart may never have separated. Foxflight - and all their other friends - were just following after him. "I want to be." The emotion in his friend's words nearly took his breath away. Shadowgaze hummed sympathetically, unable to do anything else without risk of Foxflight hearing his choked voice. "So badly."You will be, Shadowgaze wanted to say, though he had nothing but baseless hope that it was true. "He won't take me now." Ancestors, Foxflight might've been right. Maybe Silverheart was forgiving them all one by one for abandoning him, but that didn't mean he would ever open his heart to any of them again. It was hard enough getting his old friend to share a meal with him. Shadowgaze couldn't imagine being in Foxflight's paws, trying to convince Silverheart to love him again. "Sometimes, though, he looks at me, and I think it's possible? But maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see, you know?"And maybe Shadowgaze was also seeing things Foxflight wanted to see, but he nodded anyway. "I think it's possible," he said, hoping Foxflight would find even a mote of comfort in his reassurance. "It may take time, but I have no doubt that you're meant for each other. You just need time to heal."Who was he to talk about romance, though? All he had was the occasional visits to Gray, who Shadowgaze was sure would one day get tired of him. "It makes me so happy, whenever I see you two together." |
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Post by adrian on Feb 25, 2024 10:27:42 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/K7nBVTf/fox~png Foxflight gave Shadowgaze a sort of pathetic wet-smile in response to his reassurance. Foxflight liked to think he was confident about many things: his success as a hunter in particular. But other things too, surely. Tracking, as an extension of his hunting senses. A reasonable ability to foresee the weather based on the season and subtle cues in nature. That he was a good listener. He didn't think he was so confident that Silverheart would take him for a mate. It was easy to believe that Silverheart had loved him and perhaps even loved him still, now. It was harder to believe that Foxflight was so forgivable that he wanted that close relationship with him still. But Shadowgaze was good at these things, maybe, wasn't he? The thought gave Foxflight pause. Shadowgaze had no mate and had chosen to follow Wolfstar, so maybe he wasn't so good at reading the intentions of others. Whatever luck they were have hunting seemed to be dwindling. Foxflight heard birds in the distance, somewhere overhead, but unless they landed they had no hope of catching them. And any mice or squirrels they might have snatched up seemed to have hidden away in their burrows. Oh well, he already made an earlier catch, and it was nice catching up. "Meant for each other sounds so romantic," he said, a little wistfully. "I surely forfeited any right to thinking that way when our friendship ended." Even if it was nice. And he thought he could be good for Silverheart, even after everything between them. But Shadowgaze was trying to cheer him up, and he was out here being a downer. "But moping about it won't help. Thanks for trying to reassure me," he said, bumping their shoulders together. |
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Post by tor on Feb 25, 2024 15:28:21 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg There was so much longing in Foxflight's voice, Shadowgaze was nearly moved to tears. Emotion came to him more easily these days. It felt like he was on a tipping point - like the tension in the forest, as well as the tension among his friends, and even the tension between himself and Grey, was drawing him taunt and fragile, ready to burst from his pelt like an icicle shattering across the forest floor. "Romantic," he said, feeling far from his voice. "Yes, it's romantic."Was Foxflight right? Had he forfeited such things in their youth, damning him to only love from afar? Shadowgaze thought it was more tragic. Foxflight could wake up at Silverheart's side every day, but his feelings - his true feelings - were locked away because of a mistake. Something Shadowgaze still blamed himself for. "But moping about it won't help. Thanks for trying to reassure me."He deserved none of his friend's thanks, but, grateful that they could still call each other friend, Shadowgaze dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Let's hunt," he said after a moment. "And escape the troubles of our youth as they come to chase us down." Foxflight agreed, a twinkle in his eyes, and the two slipped off into the woods to ensure the clan would be fed. |
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