storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Dec 3, 2023 20:56:18 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/5giGWg2~jpg Her eyes watched the horizon of the valley in the distance, with the sun starting to make its descent below the earth, just in time for the moon to take its turn in looking over the land. It was one of her favorite places to be. Stagleap had shown her this place when they were apprentices. "The perfect place to watch the sunfall," he told her all that time ago, as she led him through the tunnels to this location. It was memories that she had been holding close to herself, before Littlestar went missing.
Mousestep regretted the conversation that soured between her and Cindersong. However, she didn't know what stung more: her overstepping her boundaries with Graypaw or the fact that the tunnels could be closed. It was obvious that she should feel more sorry for her statement about the deputy's apprentice, but the pain of the dismantlement of the tunnels hurt too.
And now the possibility was all to real to the she-cat. Littlestar's fur was found not long after being presumed missing, signifying her death. The next morning, Mousestep watched as Maplefrost gave Cindersong herbs for their travel to the Moonpool. And then, Cindersong returned suddenly that evening. As Cinderstar.
The warrior code ringed in her head. The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code. If Cinderstar so desired, she could stop tunnelers at any second. Foxdung, she could return when the sun goes down and be told to never go in the tunnels again.
What about all the moons she spent tunneling with Smallbreeze when her studious behavior pushed her to advance beyond normal warrior training? And what about all the memories she had made while in the tunnels? Everything would be destroyed.
She had tried to speak to Barkshade about the issues, but it only resulted in another argument from the pair. It seemed like that was all that they could do these days. So, silently, she resigned herself from camp. Along the way, she didn't spot Stagleap, or Shadowpaw, or Robinthorn to accompany her all the way out here. So she silently watched the sky turn purple and pink, hoping the water in her eyes didn't spill over onto her cheeks. Until, a scent filled her nose of a cat approaching.
It was Hazelstream, her close friend. Having been close to Frostmask, Hazelstream's adoptive sibling, while an apprentice, the friendship with the brown tabby only came naturally. The two tunnelers had found comfort in each other's presence, often scouting the tunnels together.
"Oh, hello, Hazelstream," Mousestep quietly squeaked, blinking her eyes rapidly to hide the evidence of the water forming in their orbs. "What brings you out here so late? How were the tunnels on your way here?" She continued to sit, watching them as they approached.
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there i go, turn the page
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Post by bones on Dec 30, 2023 14:58:47 GMT -6
#s://i~postimg~cc/52R2g6S4/hazelstreamposting~png #s://i~postimg~cc/52R2g6S4/hazelstreamposting~png | hazelstream, Pick a star on the dark horizon
and follow the light.
You'll come back
When it's over...
No need to say goodbye
[sorry this is late ;u;] |
When Frostmask had saddled up to them, glancing about in that fashion they always do, Hazelstream had paused in digging to listen - their younger sibling was a very astute, observant soul but often needed somecat to discuss their thoughts and findings with. Besides, today wasn't the lynxpoints turn to help them, so his arrival at their side meant they'd come looking for the older tunneler. Frostmask had been all to happy to take over burrowing for them, sending the brown tabby on their way - and that was how they arrived here. The shift in temperature from the tunnels - always a fairly, comfortably warm no matter that season - gave them a moment of pause; the light of the setting sun, too, was a stark change. It hurt a bit and they squinted against the crisp sunlight - the Leafbare sun always seemed so much harsher than any other, like it fought setting the hardest and so lashed out the most when dragged over the horizon line. It also seemed to happily take all the day's warmth with it, too, when it went. The slender tunneler shivered violently and shook themself out, pelt puffy out in an extra measure to keep some heat, closing their eyes briefly. Bits of dirt fell off of their fur and, though part of them wanted to go back into the dark and warm safety of the tunnels provided, unlike the open and chilly fields, they'd told Frostmask they'd check on their mutual friend. The molly seemed to startle at their arrival, so they offered a loud purr as they reached her, rubbing their flank against her thick, dilute pelt. "Mousestep." They returned softly, smiling at her and pointedly ignoring the slight salty scent that hung around her face, "Frostmask saw you and Barkshade arguing earlier... they wanted me to check on you.""...I hope you're okay." they murmured, settling down to sit within a whisker's length between the two and cocking their head curiously. |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Jan 13, 2024 22:19:10 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/5giGWg2~jpg Mousestep couldn't help but trill as the other tunneler greeted her with a rub to her flank. In a weird twist of events, she was happy that it was Hazelstream that came to check on her, not Frostmask or any of her other close friends. As much as she was friends with Frostmask, they always took Mousestep's side. Of course, that's what a best friend would do. But, maybe she needed to hear a hard truth. That she screwed up.
The dilute she-cat watched. The younger tunneler admired how the brown tabby presented themselves. Authentic at all time. Mousestep's past as an apprentice always haunted her, of when she tried to be included into the popular crowd with Stagleap. Because of her ignorance, she was to blame for Sandpaw's death. Stagleap, as much as he could now, understood where she was coming from, but would tell her that it wasn't her fault. Even today. And yet, she still blamed herself. And now, she has made a huge mistake in talking to Cinderstar the way she did. It was a death sentence for the tunnels now, she just felt it in her gut.
The gentle voice of her superior greeted her by name, as Mousestep nodded in response. She returned the smile that they presented to her. However, her plagued thoughts returned the frown that was common for the once-happier she-cat.
She tensed at the mention of Barkshade, something that she didn't intend on doing. Barkshade was her... yeah, "hers", she guessed. Having fallen in love so young, they have become different cats now. Barkshade was so uncommunicative and untrustworthy, something that she thought he had overcome once she showed him to trust her, to believe in her. Their relationship was so complicated, despite her continued love for him. Or was it just that she wanted commitment to someone?
"Oh, she did?" Mousestep solemnly mewed to the brown tabby. She didn't realize that anyone could hear their argument, even with their choice to be along the walls of the camp. Who else heard them? Did Stagleap, or Robinthorn, or Shadowpaw? What about Darkflame and his friends? "I-I guess I didn't realize they were there. Send my condolences for not seeing them there and coming out here instead."
The next statement stung her a little, as the tawny cat placed herself next to the younger she-cat. Was she okay? It seemed like everything was just going wrong recently. "I... I hate to say that maybe I'm not sure right now." A pause, with anxiety creeping into her chest. "I talked to Cinderson-... Cinderstar, before Littlestar went missing."
The silent night breeze felt harsh against her cheeks, before the frustration caused her to rise. "I wasn't thinking about him. I wasn't thinking about anyone, really." Mousestep stammered on the last part, before she sat across from the other cat, looking up toward their warm, sunset-orange eyes. "I just... I wanted to be right. I wanted to be right, so badly." The tortoiseshell couldn't help but let tears well up in her eyes, before she pawed at them to stop falling down her wet cheeks. It didn't really help that much. "Because if I'm wrong, then I'm... I'm just a kid who has no idea what she's doing."
Mousestep took a deep sigh, while her gaze left to look toward the direction of the biggest collection of tunnels. Her heart, already beating fast due to her upset nature, only seemed to beat harder and faster. "Cinderstar wants to abandon the tunnels. And we started to argue, and I went too far, and... I don't know where to go from here." |
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