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Post by Silversong on Nov 23, 2012 12:29:32 GMT -5
Silversong Silversong clung to the dead log with everything in her. Right now the log was representing her life and how badly she wanted to keep it. If it was up to her StarClan wasn't going to take her for a long time! Her vision was black, she couldn't see a thing, her body was numb and didn't seem to respond to her apart from her claws sunk deep into the slick bark of the log. If she didn't get out soon she would die, whether she wants to or not.
A mass of wet something slammed into Silversong, tumbling her over the edge of her log and releasing its hold. No! She screamed internally. It had taken her one chance at life away! And now they were swerving and slamming into rocks under the water. Being pulled by the current above, under, side to side like a doll. It was rough, it was forever. After a particularly hard slam against what Silversong believed was a stone, they were sent spinning to the opposite side of the river.
The mass of wet something still clung to her. What little body warmth they would share was passed between them. The next things she knew she was laying on the bank of the river, out of the water. Safe.
"Silversong?" The wet thing panted. Silversong tried to open her eyes to see who it was, but the effort was too much. She could hear him though. It sounded like Twistedface...could it really be Twistedface? "Are you... alright?" He asked again. She wanted to respond. She wanted to so bad, but her body wasn't going to allow her to do that so easily. She couldn't respond, only lie there hoping that he gets the message: I am not well. Take me back to camp. Please...don't let me die.
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Post by Twistedface on Nov 23, 2012 17:32:30 GMT -5
He waited only a few moments for a response, but there was nothing. He nudged her with his nose, and when her limp body didn't respond, he hissed to himself. Foxdung! He gathered himself and nudged under her shoulder, wiggling and moving until her dead weight was draped across his back. His left back leg, stiff, sore, and numb, dragged slightly as he began his slow trek back to the camp, gasping with effort as he forced himself to move through the dense reed marshland.
When he finally pushed himself through the barrier, into the camp, he gave a soft yowl, throat hoarse, his lungs sore from holding his breath in the water, but it was enough. The cat on guard duty jerked up and rushed over, eyes wide. Questions were being flung around as Silversong was taken from him, but he didn't answer, simply guiding the cat to the medicine cat den and gruffly ordering him to put her down, while he moved to his storage, searching through it. The tom that had aided him was still going on and on, til Twistedface halted, not turning to look back and hissed threatening.
"Get out"
There was silence and hesitation, but the tom did leave. He gathered. Simply grabbing some lavender for it's scent's soothing properties, he hurried to her side and began to knead her chest with his paws, attempting to clear her lungs of any water. A few minutes of that, and he crouched down next to her, beginning to lick her fur the wrong way in an attempt to warm her up.
Meanwhile, he took inventory of his own battered body. A deep gash ran across his forhead, and another across his back, the rest of him covered in bruises and he couldn't yet find the problem in his back leg- not did he pay it any serious mind- right now, his focus was purely on more trivial things he could think about and feel, unlike his numb leg, and the she-cat that was battling for her life, due to his selfishness. |
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Post by Silversong on Nov 23, 2012 23:51:49 GMT -5
Silversong Silversong had blacked out, trapped in a never ending darkness it seemed. Few times she had escaped the blackness only to realize that she was on Twistedface's back, still freezing in the night air. Each time she woke up she could keep her eyes open a little longer, but only a little.
A little warmth reached her senses. A sharp tang filled her nose and then the forceful, but soft, kneading of paws on her chest. She coughed up a little water, but not much. It wasn't how much water she had breathed in that worried her. It was how cold she was.
"So...cold..." She whispered. Her teeth chattered and her body gave little shakes. A sensation that reminded her of her kithood followed her words. Twistedface was licking her fur the opposite way as if he could warm her up that way. It worked well for kits, but not so well for full-grown cats. When she opened her eyes he was still working on her, trying to warm up her dead body.
"I'm...s-s-sorry..." she said. If it wasn't for her getting mad he wouldn't have run from home, she wouldn't be in this position and he wouldn't be either. She felt so bad...it was all her fault. Why can't I ever control my anger... She closed her eyes and a hot tear rolled down her cheek and hit the ground. A little circle in the dust.
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Post by Twistedface on Dec 30, 2012 9:30:29 GMT -5
As he worked on licking her, a desperate attempt to warm her he knew was futile, her chest heaved and she spoke, apologizing- for what, he didn't know, but for some reason, it fueled rage within him. He paused his licking for a moment to growl harshly at the she-cat.
"Oh shut up won't you? Save your breath and your energy, you'll need it."
His licks turned rough and uncoordinated as he began to shake. Was it the cold, anger, or fear? It was surely desperation and fear that turned his gentle lapping into a harder stroke of his rough tongue. With a growl, he suddenly stopped, taking a few steps back and surveying the situation, before turning tail and darting into his own den, taking mouthfuls of the downy bedding the apprentices brought him, and bringing them back to Silversong, placing them around her, until all that was left of his nest was reeds, and he had the silver she-cat in a warm, plush nest of down feathers and soft plants.
He began to pace around the den, thinking of anything- anything at all to improve the she-cat's chances, and finally ruled that he had done all he could do, save give her his own warmth. The thought stopped him for a minute. Although he was also cold and wet, warmth was slowly spreading through his fur as he began to dry off. Crinkling his nose, he huffed a heavy sigh and tentatively approached her, before biting his tongue and snuggling close next to her, curling his larger body around hers and shutting his silver eye tight. It was almost painful, being so close to another cat, almost intimately the way he tried to keep her warm, and she wasn't Silverstar. He felt as if he was betraying her, choking back a sob before it could make a sound, apologizing profusely in his own head, the pleas and pain only quieting when he found himself asleep. |
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Post by Silversong on Dec 30, 2012 23:17:06 GMT -5
Silversong Twistedface's rasping tongue paused for a moment, a deep sound in his throat forced its way up at her.
"Oh shut up won't you? Save your breath and your energy, you'll need it."
A smile played on Silversong's lips, a pearly fang peeked out. She was still so cold. A racket of shivers sent spiraling up her body, wracking her body like the dead thing it was slowly becoming. At least if she died she would have someone with her. Even Twistedface's angry company was worth having when you were so close to death's door. She appreciated him for giving her that company, even if he didn't know it. When she had felt the pressure of him plumping things around her, the familiar smell of goose down and reed leaves wafted over her. She was slowly getting warmer from them. Good. Maybe I don't have to die... Silversong kept her eyes closed, hoping to catch a few winks of sleep.
When she woke, Twistedface had curled himself around her. His large body swallowing her small frame, but she was warm. She had only been asleep an hour or two when she woke. The moon had barely moved since she had last seen. Or was it yesterday the last time she saw it? Silversong didn't know, and neither did she care. Gratitude seeped through her heart, pumping into her veins for Twistedface. He had saved her. Not only would she be eternally grateful, but she would owe him her life. How could you repay that to someone?
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Post by Twistedface on Dec 31, 2012 11:04:18 GMT -5
His dreams were dark, laced with nightmares. He was forced to relive the death of his beloved over and over again- and at times, instead of Silverstar passing, he was looking upon Silversong, taking her last breaths. How foolish he had been, nearly driving the young she-cat to her death. This was his punishment. The two died over and over, each time becoming more and more brutal- then his brother was there, pinning him down, asking why Twistedface let him die. He pleaded with his brother, apologizing, but there was no forgiveness, not from the claws and teeth that ripped his body apart, not from the wails of terror and fear from the dying she-cats.
When he sharply awoke, sides heaving, he found himself still curled around the she-cat, watery sunlight beginning to seep through the opening of the den. He looked at his young ward, relieved to find her peacefully asleep, breathing regularly and strong. He had managed to save her. The night's chill had burned off, and now a subtle warmth was creeping into the den, alluding to the warm, if not hot, day ahead. Careful as to not wake her, he uncurled himself from her and stood up stiffly, gritting his teeth against the sharp pain in his hind leg. He twisted his head to evaluate it, scrutinizing the injured limb. It was slightly swollen and a deep gash ran along his tendon. He narrowed his eye at it, running over the possibilities, fractured, or direct trauma to the tendon- either way, it was going to be a long recovery. He sighed and quietly limped from his den, out into the bright morning in RiverClan. Despite the horrors of the night prior, the clan was oblivious to anything being wrong. Warriors rose and stretched, emerging from their dens and greeting Twistedface. The cat that had been on watch the night before, was just now heading to bed, and send the Medicine Cat a questioning look before relenting to his exhaustion and going to his den.
Twistedface limped his sore body over to the fresh kill pile, not hungry himself, but picking a plump water-vole and bringing it back to his den to place besides Silversong. He sat back on his haunches, looking at the she-cat, smooth silver fur, lithe, small frame, sleeping so peacefully. She reminded him so much of Silverstar- but there were the two most different cats he had ever met. Quickly he rose and left the den again, leaving the prey for the she-cat when she awoke. He hurried towards the camp entrance, this time no one asked him where he was going- not uncommon for the medicine cat to go out during the day, although he'd be questioned later over his injuries and why Silversong had to come to him last night. He looked first off to the direction of the mountains, a slight pang hitting him, but now he knew it wouldn't be. It couldn't, it was selfishness on his part. Ignoring his longing, he shook his head and hurried as fast as his bad leg would allow, pushing to the reeds and heading to the lakeshore. The water was calm and the breeze coming off of it was a pleasant feeling against his thick fur. He sat on the sandy bank, staring out over the placid lake, his thoughts reeling turbulently. |
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Post by Silversong on Dec 31, 2012 23:35:09 GMT -5
Silversong Silversong slept peacefully. The final time she awoke a water vole was laying in wait for her. Greedily she gobbled it up. When all was said and done she licked her lips and scanned the den. No Twistedface. A little sadness crept into her heart at the realization, but it was okay, he'd come back. Slowly Silversong tried to get up and with a gasp realized that it was futile. Her body ached so much. How could one cat hurt that bad and still be alive?
She panted as she tried to wriggle herself into a comfortable position. The sharp pains in her sides and back making the effort almost pointless, as if her body didn't want her to rest soundly. She lay in her next of goose down and reed leaves, her tail curled neatly around her; this was about as comfortable as she was going to get.
The sun shown brightly outside, soon the heat would start to wave and the warriors would be quick to find shade, or retire to the streams to hunt. The day would get hotter and Silversong would have to find a way to cool down. Great. First she was freezing to death, and now she had to find a way to keep cool. She sighed a heavy sigh. Oh well, at least she was in the shade, but that did not stop her from feeling guilty.
Cats trudged through the heat in the camp doing their duties as warriors. Apprentices begged to be taken to the streams or begged to have a slack off day -of course this was out of the question. RiverClan's leader and deputy were arranging patrols and lessons. And Silversong was stuck in a den all day! She hated being a burden. Not to mention a burden that didn't quite know what to do with all the power she held, much less control it. Another sigh escaped her lips. When could she ever be normal?
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Post by Twistedface on Jan 8, 2013 22:40:14 GMT -5
The calm, placid lake soon seemed eerie, the silence that filled the air seemed thick and smothering. He slowly flattened his ears to his head, a low growl forming in his throat. Danger seemed to edge on everything, even with no physical threat around. He could almost scent blood in the air, his ears rung with the scream and cries of battle and death, and when he blinked, faces contorted in pain and fury, splattered with blood, flashed violently in his vision. When he would again open then, the serene lake stood quietly before him, water lightly lapping at the shore. His vision tunneled and his shook slightly, the mixture of the lake and the violence playing some cruel trick on him, until with a hard shudder, the lake water was blood, death lay all around him, and his own body was mauled and broken- then as quickly as it happened, it ended.
He blinked once, twice, the lake was there, the water murky but clean, shimmering with sunlight. The air was clear, and even the silence was pierced with the buzz of insects in the air and the cry of a bird in flight. Despite the normality, the large tom trembled violently, as if trapped in a snow storm. His gaze darted around wildly and his breath came in short gasps. What sort of witchcraft was this? How exhausted was he truly from the night before to hallucinate so? He slowly pulled himself together, forcing away the chill under his fur and murmuring to himself to sooth his ragged breathing and stammering heart. The sun was rising high in the sky- as if he had been standing there for hours, and his body was stiff as if to echo that notion. Obviously he had dozed off on his paws, in a trance like state, and hallucinated, or been plagued with terrible nightmares. He just needed a nap- that was all.
Quickly rising to his paws, he limped back to camp, this time murmuring a greeting to the cats he passed. He still gained an odd look or two from cats, but for the most part, his greeting was cheerfully returned, before the cat would hurry off to the shade. Twistedface himself made a beeline for the shelter of his den, pushing past the reeds and into the cool shade of the arching fronds. He blinked a few times, his vision adjusting from the glare of the sun to the shadows of the medicine cat den. Instantly, he became aware of Silversong in her nest, and hesitated, looking the at her, lost for words and unsure of how to greet her. After a few moments, he shook himself. He was being foolish.
"Good to see you're awake. And in here still, I half expected you to run off like a foolish kit confined to the nursery and get yourself into heaps of trouble. Or, perhaps instead of some unspoken yet obvious necessity to stay in your nest there, you simply are using both my generosity and my little abode here to avoid the oppressive heat outside. I'll assume the latter." He lifted his head high, arching his brow at her stiff, crooked posture. "Or perhaps your little display of how not to swim like a River Clan cat got the best of your body, hm?"
Abrasive words, a sarcastic and cranky undertone, the normal Twistedface yes, but it was forced now, given away only by a tremor in his voice, a light to his eyes that could only be stress, an ache in his bones and a severe limp to him from his ordeal by the lakeside. He swallowed hard and turned away, limping slowly towards his own section of the den, closed off by reeds. Sticking his head inside, his heart dropped. The apprentices had put in new bedding, as he had torn out his old to save Silversong from a frosty death, and now the den smelled so... empty. That was it. The last traces of Silverstar were gone. His heart throbbed painfully and he backed out of his den, his gaze dark, his face lined with exhaustion, stress, and pain, a young tom looking more like a well worn elder who had seen too many deaths of too many loved ones. His gaze was glued to the floor, mentally trying to pull together shattered bits before he looked up at his young ward, a hollow look to his silver eye. The abrasiveness and normality of Twistedface faded there in that moment. He opened his mouth as if to speak to Silversong, but nothing came out, and he heaved a sigh.
If you need anything..." The statement finished itself. He needed distraction, and he hurried to his store of herbs as fast as his torn up leg would allow, sitting back and beginning to paw through them desperately, counting, checking, cleaning, checking again, anything to keep his mind busy, lest he crack. |
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Post by Silversong on Jan 9, 2013 22:21:04 GMT -5
Silversong Silversong had just become accustomed to being alone in the spacious -and now cool- den, when Twistedface walked in, his eyes squinted trying to get used to the dim. He looked at her with a kind of vacant look in his eye, as if something were bothering him but trying desperately hard to cover up. He said a few things in his normal tone of voice: crabby, grumpy, a little annoyed, so maybe there wasn't anything wrong with him.
And then that thought was so quickly taken back by Silversong she regretted even thinking that. A look of horror bestowed upon his face. Something was wrong with the den, but Silversong hadn't done anything to it. He stood there with a terrible look in his eyes, as if his world was crashing all around him.
When he spoke, all venom had left his voice. "If you need anything..." he left the air to finish his sentence before he hurried back to his herb stores and began to fiddle with the leaves. Something was truly bothering him. A wave of concern rushed over Silversong. What happened? Was it a recurrence of depression over Silverstar? That had to be it...this cat cared nothing for everyone else except Silverstar. Silversong flipped herself over, a gasp escaping her lips as she remembered the bruises surrounding her muscles, but she fought it. She sat up and scooted closer to the herb stores.
"What's happened?" She asked. Her brows scrunched together with concentration and attention. Whatever he had to confess, she'd keep it to herself and no one else. He had to entrust someone with it, and just maybe that someone was her.
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Post by Twistedface on Jan 25, 2013 10:48:59 GMT -5
Oh herbs, herbs, nothing but herbs. He wanted nothing else to cross his mind, anything and he risked shattering. Gritting his teeth together so hard that his jaw creaked, he continued roughly going through his stores, accidentally crushing some leaves in his hurry, and paying them no mind. He didn't react to the gasp of pain behind him, but he did jump as if in a trance when Silversong spoke, and slowly turned around to face her, his gaze almost glazed with pain, his body suddenly limp as he watched her. Oh, how she looked like his lost love. His voice was thick with emotion when he finally spoke after a long silence.
"Were you ever told the story of how I lost my brother, and my chance to be a warrior in one blow?" He didn't wait for an answer, he knew the answer, but his mind was far from focused, his gaze darkening but never straying from her. My brother and I were almost warriors, promising ones at that. Ghostpaw and Wildpaw. They said we'd be legends. Ghostpaw was quick and cunning, and me with my size and strength, we'd be a deadly duo- but jealousy was there, we always were arguing, and one day while out hunting, it got heated. He tore out my eye. We fell into the river, still locked in battle, I ended up shattering my jaw on a rock, and Ghostpaw..." Twistedface shuddered, "My name and potential weren't the only things lost to me that day. My only kin was gone, and I was alone. I was forced to be a medicine cat, or join the elders, and yet still subjected to the mockery of the apprentices for my appearance. Did you know in the nursery, they whisper my name in horror tales like they do ShadowClan? A dark evil, a danger, to keep kits in at night."
He turned away from her then, back to his herbs, but he didn't touch them, only stared down at them, a bitter familiarity with them in his mind. After a long heartbeat, he finally spoke again, shoulders hunched and head low, his voice gruff, defeated.
"... And then Silverstar came into my life. She was my best friend, and I, her most loyal adviser. She didn't care I looked like a monster, or had a temper like one. Who would have known we would have fallen so madly in love. Madly is the correct word- it was wrong, and insane of us, but... I regret nothing. However, history has a way of repeating itself, and you know the story of her death. I lost yet another loved one that day."
A groan of pain escaped his throat and his shoulders shook with unshed tears. Claws pierced his heart and a vice in his throat kept any sound from escaping. He never showed weakness, he always thought it would destroy him- but he had done it with Silverstar, and now, Silversong, but this time, he was alone, and unloved. |
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Post by Silversong on Jan 25, 2013 17:04:05 GMT -5
Silversong She asked two words. Two words. And Twistedface began to spill everything that was bothering him. Things that she thought had long since crossed his mind, but she never thought about him being alone. Never thought about the kits that had looked at him like he truly was a monster. Maybe it had been because she's been around him a lot in the past couple days, but she didn't notice his twisted jaw and missing eye anymore. She only saw a lonely tom who lost his chance at being a warrior, but he was still strong. She hadn't known strength like this before and she longed to know the secret to that kind of self-control.
"I know that I never had any of my loved ones die," she began. Her words came out tumbling, her lips trembled. "But they were scared of me too." That feeling of loneliness she felt as a kit when she'd go ask her brother and sister to play but they'd shrink back and make an excuse. They were scared of her. Memories of those times rushed through her, causing her eyes to glisten with tears. She whispered, "I was always alone."
She looked to Twistedface's hunched over shadow. The true look of a defeated warrior. Defeated but not dead, that was what was most important. He still had a life to live and as long as Silversong had a say in it he wouldn't be alone anymore. If she had to fight him tooth and nail she would, he would not be alone. She gently laid her silver tail on his shoulders to comfort him. "You are not alone anymore." She told him softly. "I don't care what other cats say. I'll be there for you when you need me." She gave him a gentle smile and hobbled back to her nest with gritted teeth. She'd have to get better fast, but not too fast. She'd miss being around this cranky tom all the time. It was the first real conversation he's had with someone without trying to tear them to pieces in a very long time. She would miss it...
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Post by Twistedface on Mar 18, 2013 22:05:28 GMT -5
He listened to the she-cat, and for awhile, he didn't know how he would respond. His internal turmoil was causing his head to spin and the room to go with it. She understood. She didn't judge. Behind him, he heard Silversong stand and limp back to her nest, yet he couldn't will his legs to immediately move. After a few minutes of silence, he stood and slowly turned to her, his gaze dark and brooding, taking a few steps forward. He seemed so lost and confused, as if everything was trying to close in and suffocate him, but he kept his intent locked on her, swallowing heavily and closing the distance.
"Thank you..."
Nothing seemed to pierce his conscious as he moved to her side, not the pain in his hip, nor the desperation in his mind. So alone. That's all he had felt for ages now, and he couldn't stand another minute of it. It seemed in that moment, Twistedface was gone, a younger, more capable of emotion cat was in his place, and all he suddenly knew was someone who actually cared was there, and then he was in the nest with her, much like the night before, his large frame curled half around her, face pressed into her shoulder. It would have been unusual for him, if he was comprehending, or looking in from the outside, without all of his walls down. Electricity raced through his bloodstream, prickled his fur from the simple, warm contact. The night prior, it had been based on exhaustion, and all other touch he had for many, many moons now, had been the rough, brisk motions of a medicine cat at work, so it was no wonder now that her scent burned through his lungs, his body and hear feeling heavy and lead like, his breathing shallow, almost non existent- and oddly, it was a moment like no other- it was also a moment of vulnerability. What a predicament to be caught in! Just as he seemed to be drowning in the abyss, something inside of him clicked, at just the right moment.
It was barely a split second inbetween, but the very next second it seemed, he was across the den, standing tall, eyes narrowed in a typical Twistedface scowl as a big orange tom came bounding in, the only evidence of the past few minutes- or had it been far longer? His mind said no, but his stiff muscles protested otherwise, and suddenly it was if nothing had been going on, the only proof being the lingering sparks in his blood, the dark look to his eyes and a husky drawl in his voice as he interrogated the tom on what he wanted.
"Uh, s-sorry T-Twistedface- but ah... One of the apprentices they ah..."
Trying to pull himself together, his head feeling fuzzy, he huffed- an attempt to rouse himself that thankfully seemed and came out more like an annoyed grunt, he brushed past the tom, complaining loudly, and secretly praying the bright sunlight would burn away his actions like guilt seemed to now be burning under his fur.
"What did those fishbrained brats do this time...!" |
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Post by Silversong on Mar 19, 2013 21:41:33 GMT -5
Silversong A mumbled thank you was what she received from the medicine cat, but that was all she had needed. Even a nod would have sufficed. But she had not expected what happened next. He looked at her with such a burning intensity that she couldn't even tear her eyes from him. She had heard stories of cats and animals getting caught in the bright eyes of the monsters that roll past on the thunderpath, and now she knew why. She was captivated. Swimming in his remaining silver eye. Caught in the misty intensity. Before she could even refuse or reprimand him (not that she had wanted to though) he was in her nest, curled around her. Electricity shot through every single hair on her pelt. Her paws tingled and her breathing quickened. She had never been this physically close to another cat before. She relaxed into his pelt, breathing in the familiar smell of RiverClan and river water, something that had always comforted her in those lonely nights. She wasn't alone. On top of all that she felt as if she was becoming intimately close to this tom cat. The thought chilled her to the bone.
Intimate. With this tom. She tried not to shiver, thinking that it might wake him and he just looked so peaceful that she couldn't bring herself to stumble from the nest in shock. He was a medicine cat bound to a code different from her own. He couldn't have a mate. But Silversong and Twistedface had something together. They had found a common ground and began from there. They clicked. They understood. They didn't judge the other as they had been so callously treated before.
It's not love though, She told herself. We're just...close. Yeah. Real close. She touched his cheek with her nose and lay her head down on the edge of the nest.
"What did those fishbrained brats do this time...!" She heard him rage from her sleep. It had been so peaceful. She had dreamed that Twistedface and his brother were together again, bounding through the territory without a care in the world. She sat up from her nest to see Twistedface, a sneer contorting the soft features he had on just a couple hours ago, snarling at a tom in the den's entrance. Silversong felt her pelt burn with embarrassment. What had been the harm? He could have just been...keeping her warm. Yes. She was still ill anyways, giving her a good alibi.
"Go on," She began. "I'll still be here when you get back." She flicked her ears. Just to make sure no one thought anything of the comment she sealed the comment with "I'll still need you to mix up my herbs for me." A light laugh tipped through her lips before she lay her head down once more. Thoughts flooding her mind. Filling it to the brim with questions that have an immediate answer, and questions that will take some forethought. The question that seems to occupy most of her time is:
"What am I going to do?"
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Post by Twistedface on Mar 19, 2013 22:16:21 GMT -5
Instead of the blinding sun clearing his mind, it only drove the tom to realize the dark cloud he was under. His gaze was hard and fixed ahead as he stormed off towards the group of apprentices, the sound of one wailing loudly, but it hardly concerned him immediately, his thoughts still flitted around emotions of confusion, affection... forbid, could that be love stirring in the old tom's heart? Before he could dwell on it, he penetrated the circle of apprentices and stared down harshly at one little tom, flailing about madly and moaning. Training kicking in, he pinned the tom down and began to examine him, catching tidbits of the conversation around him. While what he focused on was the mention of the tom eating a bad mouse, something vile rose from the cats around him, apprentices who backed away, eyeing him suspiciously. Cats had never been comfortable around him, but it seemed perhaps the new generation had something against him...
Hauling the apprentice up, unable to sit around the scrutiny of the others now, he guided the apprentice to his den, and into an empty, almost unseen nest in the corner- something opposite of what he had put together for Silversong. He noticed as be sorted through his herbs, looking for something to soothe the stomach of the apprentices, that said cat had it's eyes pinned on him, the moaning had ceased and now a mixture of curiosity and distrust stirred in his blue eyes. Crookedface turned to face the apprentice, eye narrowed, but before he could speak, the young one did. Here came the interrogation: again.
"Is it true you're a monster?"
"No."
"You're from the Dark Forest-"
"Where do you brats get this stuff?"
"-And you killed Silverstar, and are out to destroy us all."
He froze, heaving a sigh, but refusing to let the kit win this- all thoughts of aid gone, he picked and chewed up some yarrow, demanding the apprentice open his mouth, and showing it in. Seconds later, the tom's eyes got wide, and the mixture was spit back into the medicine cat's face.
"You gross old tom, what was that!" the apprentice squealed like a stuck pig while Twistedface bristled and hastily wiped off of his face, the yarrow stinging in his cuts from the night prior. Now the apprentice was on a tangent, complaining, insulting, bristling with agitation- and suddenly, he stood, hobbled out a few steps from the den, and retched again and again- now with the sour mouse of his system, and feeling better for the time being, the apprentice darted across camp, spewing vile things about the medicine cat trying to kill him to all of his little friends. Twistedface could only attempt to calm himself before he ran after the kit and flayed him open, stalking across his den and putting back various herbs he had pulled out while preparing for a less... drastic measure. After a few long moments, he spoke.
"It is reasons such as that, Silversong, that I contemplate leaving every day. It's not just the apprentices, either. Sure, they're hot headed and reckless, but it's not above a young warrior to mutter vulgarities under their breath after I aid them- Ah, of course, I can spar in the ways of the voice too, I suppose. The fact of the matter remains."
He turned back to her, his gaze soft and calm, despite the going ons moments before- proof for how used to it he seemed to be now, as if that wasn't an uncommon occurance- mind you, it rarely came down to cats directly confronting him, and even he questioned his calmness in the situation. Maybe it was age making him wise- his gaze further softened and melted with a soft of affection as he watched her- or maybe, it was her presence making the cranky tom a little less cantankerous.
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Post by Silversong on Mar 20, 2013 16:42:03 GMT -5
Silversong Silversong waited patiently in her nest for Twistedface to get back. Anxiety and excitement creeping along her spine only made laying in her next more difficult. Eventually her excitement completely passed her anxiety and she grinned from ear to ear. Her first close friend. Even as a kit, Silversong didn't have someone she could call a best friend. At the age of an apprentice she was working on ways to control her anger while other apprentices were trying to become the best warrior in the territories, or maybe even trying to find a mate. Nothing in her training had prepared her for last night.
Electricity had ran rampant through her fur and body. Every time his tail brushed her fur, or he moved a little bit sent another shudder of shock through her. And she liked it. What could be the harm? StarClan couldn't possibly be against something like this could they? No. It was impossible to believe that.
Twistedface came back into the den leading a very sick looking apprentice. His fur was tipped with sweat and his eyes fleeting and wild. Unceremoniously Twistedface pushed him toward a nest in the corner that Silversong hadn't seen before. She had to lean over her own nest and peek around the corner of the den before she could even see Twistedface at the wall of herbs. Then she heard the interrogation:
"Is it true you're a monster?"
"No."
"You're from the Dark Forest-"
"Where do you brats get this stuff?"
"-And you killed Silverstar, and are out to destroy us all." Silversong's heart broke for him and anger surged through her blood. How could parents ignore their kits' outbursts and talking about things like that? She would never understand the mind of those parents. How heartless...
A few scuffles and a spluttering sound later came the outraged voice of the sick apprentice, spewing vile things at Twistedface that made Sivlersong's jaw drop and her anger only to pique. Twistedface seemed to ignore it as if he had heard it all and nothing anyone could ever say would surprise him. She ignored the apprentice as he ran out of the den and began to retch outside. She knew that if she looked at him she'd probably flay the fur and skin right from his back, making sure that he was permanently disfigured. But she held off the anger, at least briefly. Twistedface was putting back the herbs that he had gathered for the 'paw. After long moments of pausing and beginning again (almost as if he was contemplating something) he spoke to her. Not with any particular hatred toward the apprentice or Clan. It was more like an extreme exhaustion.
"It is reasons such as that, Silversong, that I contemplate leaving every day. It's not just the apprentices, either. Sure, they're hot headed and reckless, but it's not above a young warrior to mutter vulgarities under their breath after I aid them- Ah, of course, I can spar in the ways of the voice too, I suppose. The fact of the matter remains." He turned to her with a soft gaze. It felt as though he could see through her, into every facet of her mind. Suddenly, without warning or preparation, he became not only a friend, but something precious that she had to protect. With a fierce determination she hardened her heart to any pity she might see outside the den, steeled herself from gasping at the pain from her injuries and got up from her nest and stormed outside. The bright light blinded her only for a moment before she found the tom. He wasn't hard to find. Scared apprentices circled around the cat who was talking exaggeratedly about how Twistedface had attempted to kill him with the yarrow.
"-and then he-" She cut him off before he could speak another word. Teeth bared, claws unsheathed and rage pouring through her words.
"You apprentice, regardless of your illness, will be spending the entire rest of the moon cycle until the next Gathering caring for the elders. Searching their pelts for fleas and ticks, changing their nests and bringing them food!" Acid flooded the words and the apprentice shrank to the size of a small kit, huddled close to the ground with his ears flat. She continued before he could talk once more. "You do NOT talk to the medicine cat that way. Forget him being the medicine cat. You do NOT talk to any cat that way! Are we clear?!" The apprentice mumbled a yes after Silverwing had already turned away spitting mad. She stumbled back into the den and her anger faded into tears. But they were silent tears.
She curled in her nest before Twistedface could see her tears. Her body hurt, her head ached, her shame felt like lead in her bones, and above all her heart ached for different circumstances. If Twistedface hadn't fought with his brother, and his brother was still here and Twistedface was still a warrior, would things be different between them? Or would Silversong and Twistedface's connection remain? She hoped that it would be the same as it is now.
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