storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Nov 18, 2023 22:02:41 GMT -6
#s://i~pinimg~com/564x/1a/24/76/1a2476fe9ab2daef64c48b516b301499~jpg | houndjaw
may I stand unshaken...
amidst, amidst a crash of worlds |
"Usually, Swiftwind and I have some great luck 'n findin' some prey aroun' here! Swiftwind caught the fattest hare that I've ever seen not long ago," he continued to talk, as they approached the beautiful rosemary hill. While it was not the spectacle that it was in the spring time with all the wildflowers, seeing an endless coating of snow was just as remarkable to the tom.
Houndjaw seemed to have not been able to keep his... well, jaw, closed ever since Basilheart had been partnered with him to go see if there was any prey to be had in this area of the territory. Really, the brown-and-white tom thought that it was just busy work to make sure that everyone was doing something... and doing something in pairs at least.
Especially after what the patrol found a few moon-highs ago along the RidgeClan border, and Cinderstar stepping up into her new role.
Houndjaw, while having respect for Littlestar and her leadership, wasn't close to the molly. Still, she was personable, reliable, and strong in every capacity. He mourned her loss just as much as any other clanmate. But not as much as her family.
Looking at the alabaster tom walking alongside him, he couldn't help but wonder how everyone was holding up. There was a strong and big family within the clan. All of them, in Houndjaw's opinion, had different aspects of Littlestar that continued to shine through. She was gone, but her spirit still rested within her family.
He had paused to think after the explosion of talking to Basilheart all the way to the hills. Perhaps Basilheart was grateful for him ceasing his conversation-making, but Houndjaw wasn't done. "Ya know, we could also look for some 'erbs for ya brother, Maplefrost. I'm sure he'd be grateful for the kind gesture." Basilheart was selfless and always thought of others before himself. Giving him a task that was also family-oriented would probably help take his mind off of everything happening so quickly around him. "Whatcha think, Basilheart? Want to have a competition to see who can find the most 'erbs?" |
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Post by bee on Jan 21, 2024 15:00:20 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/nCLTxRf/basilavvie2~jpg Despite everything, life continued on. Patrols were scheduled, prey needed to be scouted for amongst the snow, and borders needed monitoring. A small, childish part of Basilheart found frustration in this. Their leader was gone. His mother was gone. How could everything just go back to normal? But that wasn't fair for him to think, he knew that. Cinderstar was leader now, picking up the pieces of the responsibility that Littlestar had struggle to bear near the end. He couldn't help but wonder, could he have provided more support to her? Was there any way to have avoided their current reality? He didn't know. Life always continued on. After Redthorn and Thorngaze, after the war, and now after Littlestar. Knowing and understanding such facts didn't ease the pain, though. Shrikeberry had told him that he would grow strong enough to bear the weight of grief. He had forgotten to ask her what to do when the weight just kept growing. Houndjaw's rambles as they walked weren't as unappreciated as the other might have thought. The stream of words were easy to focus on, a tether to keep ahold of to remain in the moment as he struggled through the fog in his mind. He ached to retreat to his nest, to sit out the hurt again as he had in the past, but he had to be stronger than that now. For his brother, for his little sisters, for his friends, for the clan. As their pace slowed, he blinked as he realized the comforting sound of Houndjaw's voice had stopped due to a question being asked. Herbs...finding herbs for Maplefrost. Yes, he could do that. His brother had been busy assisting Cinderstar with her new role while ensuring the clan remained healthy during leafbare. The act would be appreciated, and Lionflower's teaching had equipped both him and Houndjaw with the knowledge needed to herb hunt. "That's a wonderful idea." He finally agreed with a smile after the delay. He held the smile for a moment longer, but then sighed, feeling guilty for leaving the other to handle such poor companionship. "I'm sorry, Hound. I know I'm not being very good company. After everything, I just-.." He trailed off, shaking his head. He was...what? How could he condense his feelings into something as simple as words? "It's been hard to focus." |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 20, 2024 12:21:01 GMT -6
#s://i~pinimg~com/564x/1a/24/76/1a2476fe9ab2daef64c48b516b301499~jpg | houndjaw amidst, amidst a crash of worlds |
And then, Basilheart liked his idea. Houndjaw couldn't help but reciprocate the same smile that he did. Of course, being a warrior was so important to him, but finding new purpose in herbology had done wonders to keep him sane after the moons from fleeing MistClan. Weaving or learning complicated marks and histories had never interested him much as a young lad, but somehow fauna had peaked his interest. If he wasn't so large, perhaps he would even consider tunneling.
But as quickly as Houndjaw saw the chance in expression, the smile was gone. As Basilheart went on to explain himself, he couldn't help but feel so sorry for the other warrior. It was clear that Littlestar's death was still a fresh wound against his heart, and Houndjaw's heart ached for him.
"Oh, Basilheart, ya dun't have to apologize for that," he started, creeping his walk to a halt to be able to stand across from the other warrior. The MistClanner was slightly taller than the alabaster PrairieClanner, so he hunched himself down to match the tom's eyes. It wasn't much, but he wanted to make sure he wasn't seeming to talk down to him. "Company's just as good as if ya were talkin' to me," Houndjaw nodded, before he settled himself down. How to approach this... Cats react so differently to grief, and being confronted with their grief, so differently.
"Ya know, I haven't been 'round that long, and I'm not much older than ya... but from what I've seen, it's easy to tell ya're Littlestar's boy." Here he was, speaking like an elder of the olden times. He tried to envision himself in Basilheart's paws, trying to figure out how he would want to be talked to about the passing of his family. Knowing that he still kept his family's memory alive... that's a start. "I think the biggest thing ya have in common is that you care a lot more than other cats. That's why I suggested gathin' 'erbs for ya brother."
"I can't imagine what ya're goin' through, Basil. I've not seen Nightfeather since I left MistClan, but that doesn't even scratch the surface of how ya feel." To compare not seeing your mother since she is across the border to your mother being missing was pointless, and he hoped that Basilheart understood that Houndjaw was just trying to empathize. "What's ya're favorite memory of Littlestar, of your mom? If ya can ever narrow it down." |
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