Dark Forest Territory

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Skelly

Tawnypaw had fallen asleep in the apprentices' den after pulling another secret all-nighter with Ratpaw, and yawned as she woke up from her nap, only to find that she was not where she'd fallen asleep, and she was standing up. This place was dark and gloomy with a black starless sky laced with gnarled gray leafless branches. The air was thick and musty, like a place that'd never known sunlight or a good breeze, or . . . well, life. She shuddered a little at this, although she tried to hide it. She could faintly smell a rather fresh smell of cat not too far from where she stood, and she flattened her ears, telling herself that it wasn't real. This was all just a dream, and she was alone. Anyways, Tawnypaw was not really fond of other cats, as few cats in her life were kind or understanding, and those that were were very busy and she rarely got to talk with anymore. Her mentor was not one of those cats, and Tawnypaw suspected that Tawnymouth took pleasure in insulting everything she did, whether right or wrong. Shaking away those thoughts, she remembered where she was and decided to explore a little. She didn't really know where she was, although she wondered if this was the dark forest? She didn't know, but it did fit the description, as long as her source wasn't making everything up and she was just dreaming, which seemed likely except for one little thing: it was very realistic. Sighing, she padded in silence through the musty and peaty landscape, which was rather barren other than the thick, gnarled and dead looking trees that rose up around her. Each step created a wet sloshing sound, and her paws came away covered in dark slimy mud. She wrinkled her nose, and that's when she noticed the dark shape ahead of her.

It was clearly a cat, although it seemed rather transparent. It was a dark tabby with one white paw, but that was all she could really see from her angle. Tawnypaw squinted at the figure, but didn't dare go closer in case it was some figment of her imagination about to turn around and taunt her. Of course, she wasn't scared, she was just being cautious. At least, that was how she saw it. She took a long, deep breath that came out rather shaky and unsteady, for something about the cat seemed achingly familiar, and her heart seemed to skip a beat. She didn't really remember very much of who she thought it reminded her of, but she knew well enough to know that the cat looked an awful lot like, well, her mother, and cautiously, she took a few steps in advance.

Ash held very still for the few moments it took for the other cat to notice that she was standing there. Her intention hadn't been to call her daughter here. The molly hadn't even had the chance to be with her children long enough for them to remember anything more than a hazy image of her and imprint her scent, and her theirs. Her tail curled nervously as she watched the young cat's eyes focus in on her with a confused recognition, guilt bubbling deep within her chest. Her heart had always ached for them, though it was easier to just watch them from afar and not bother them. They were likely better off without her influence and direction. She had been a good leader, but not the kind that the majority of the clan had wanted.

Ash's golden eyes settled on the young molly and her maw hung slightly agape as she scrambled for words. There were so many questions she could ask, so many that she wanted answers for, but at the same time didn't. How were they doing, were they all healthy? How was Burdock, was he making out alright? Though she didn't want to hit any sensitive topics. So rather she just stared for a solid moment, letting the silence stretch between them. Finally, with a deep breath, she gained the courage to speak, speak the only word she could manage to get out to confirm all the instincts that screamed to her that this was her daughter.

"Tawnypaw?"

[graves]

Originally Posted by Bright

Great. Now the tom’s legs would turn into an even softer jelly every time he spoke his name. He was allowing himself to have feelings with a cat again- and he’d say he actually liked it. He liked this feeling. He liked being loved, to feel special, to feel like a cat’s number one. He wanted to keep it that way, to have it last for as long as they lived. He just feared Venomscratch’s death; it would be sooner than his if he didn’t go through some accident. They were both fading, every dead cat fades. But Venom began fading sooner since he died long before Moon did. Most cats on the Dark Forest wouldn’t have mates, since they’d be ‘a waste of time’ and ‘it’d be useless since everyone dies.’ Why not save yourself from the grief? Well, there was no going back now so he should just enjoy it while it lasts. “So, I guess we’re, like..” He look down, paws shuffling and fidgeting in unusual anxiousness. This was strange, he was always more.. Confident and smug, his fur heated up even more at the thought of them being.. Official mates. He just hoped the other tom knew what he meant and wouldn’t ask him to repeat himself. He'd understand, right? He couldn't be that oblivious even if he was new to this whole 'love' thing.. At least, from what he heard and picked up from his personality he was. Not to mention his reaction to.. This. He had to have been new to these feelings, right? Well, he'd just have to help him and show him what he knew. It's not like he was a love expert or anything, but he was at least somewhat experienced with the feelings. What both of them didn't know would have to be found out together.

"Mates." he finished his sentence bluntly,not wanting to delay on the words any longer. He had just poured out his heart to him basically,even if it was three simple words. He wasn't used to other cats caring about him,he wasn't used to being noticed.It was a new feeling,to be one of the top things in a cats eyes. By all means he still had a bitter attitude when it came to cats, having a tongue not even Moonstrike would be able to control,but that was him being him. Usually he'd think this was waste of time,but there was something that made it a need for him to share his feelings. He was new to love, Moon was not,and perhaps he could teach him how to..love. He looked up at him,heart beat increasing. They were mates,right? He didn't say anything wrong hopefully,seeing as they did just confess their feelings for one another. he hoped he didnt say anything wrong,which was new since he usually didnt care what came out of his mouth. He thought of them as mates. His first mate was after he was already dead,figures. But he didn't mind. He didnt care if he was fading more and more as more cats forgot about him. he'd live his..dead life to the fullest. With Moonstrike.

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Ever

Ash held very still for the few moments it took for the other cat to notice that she was standing there. Her intention hadn't been to call her daughter here. The molly hadn't even had the chance to be with her children long enough for them to remember anything more than a hazy image of her and imprint her scent, and her theirs. Her tail curled nervously as she watched the young cat's eyes focus in on her with a confused recognition, guilt bubbling deep within her chest. Her heart had always ached for them, though it was easier to just watch them from afar and not bother them. They were likely better off without her influence and direction. She had been a good leader, but not the kind that the majority of the clan had wanted.

Ash's golden eyes settled on the young molly and her maw hung slightly agape as she scrambled for words. There were so many questions she could ask, so many that she wanted answers for, but at the same time didn't. How were they doing, were they all healthy? How was Burdock, was he making out alright? Though she didn't want to hit any sensitive topics. So rather she just stared for a solid moment, letting the silence stretch between them. Finally, with a deep breath, she gained the courage to speak, speak the only word she could manage to get out to confirm all the instincts that screamed to her that this was her daughter.

"Tawnypaw?"

Tawnypaw remained her usual tenseness, but something told her she was probably safe. She looked closer at the cat, who still seemed oddly familiar. The molly had golden eyes and a light spot above one of them just like Tawnypaw herself did. She stared at them, confused. She took a hesitant step forwards, her tail tip brushing the musty and wet ground. She wasn't exactly sure who this was, and then an idea hit her, and she actually staggered a bit, as if she'd been hit in the head. Quickly, the dark brown tabby recovered her footing and stared wide-eyed at the partially transparent molly, a thousand unspoken questions burning like coals in her eyes. She had a very good guess as to who this was and as to why she seemed familiar, and she stopped, no longer sure of what she wanted to do. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to turn and run or race to the cat, so she stood, paralyzed by her indecision. Shifting, she lowered her head, her mouth slightly parted to pick up on the other cat's smell, one she knew well from her earlier moons and missed very much.

Her fur was still slightly ragged looking and unkempt, which told of her countless sleepless nights and many unpleasant training sessions with her mentor. She watched the dark furred molly, picking out details that reminded Tawnypaw of both her two remaining siblings and herself, like her rather petite build and black stripes. None of her remaining littermates sported stripes, but she did. She stared at her paws, but not for long for she couldn't take her eyes off of the molly, who she now fully recognized as Blazingnight. There was no other cat it could be, and if it wasn't, it was some very remarkable similarities. She could see the emotions flitting across her mother's face, but she couldn't tell what they were.

As soon as Blazingnight spoke, there was no doubt in her mind, and a shiver ran down her spine, causing her already messy fur to stick up a bit more. “Y-y-yeah.” she stuttered, having a hard time getting the word out. “Blazingnight?”

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Skelly

Tawnypaw remained her usual tenseness, but something told her she was probably safe. She looked closer at the cat, who still seemed oddly familiar. The molly had golden eyes and a light spot above one of them just like Tawnypaw herself did. She stared at them, confused. She took a hesitant step forwards, her tail tip brushing the musty and wet ground. She wasn't exactly sure who this was, and then an idea hit her, and she actually staggered a bit, as if she'd been hit in the head. Quickly, the dark brown tabby recovered her footing and stared wide-eyed at the partially transparent molly, a thousand unspoken questions burning like coals in her eyes. She had a very good guess as to who this was and as to why she seemed familiar, and she stopped, no longer sure of what she wanted to do. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to turn and run or race to the cat, so she stood, paralyzed by her indecision. Shifting, she lowered her head, her mouth slightly parted to pick up on the other cat's smell, one she knew well from her earlier moons and missed very much.

Her fur was still slightly ragged looking and unkempt, which told of her countless sleepless nights and many unpleasant training sessions with her mentor. She watched the dark furred molly, picking out details that reminded Tawnypaw of both her two remaining siblings and herself, like her rather petite build and black stripes. None of her remaining littermates sported stripes, but she did. She stared at her paws, but not for long for she couldn't take her eyes off of the molly, who she now fully recognized as Blazingnight. There was no other cat it could be, and if it wasn't, it was some very remarkable similarities. She could see the emotions flitting across her mother's face, but she couldn't tell what they were.

As soon as Blazingnight spoke, there was no doubt in her mind, and a shiver ran down her spine, causing her already messy fur to stick up a bit more. “Y-y-yeah.” she stuttered, having a hard time getting the word out. “Blazingnight?”

The mother wasn't really sure what to do in this situation.
Sure, she'd been through it a billion times in her head in hopes of being reunited with her children, but it was all too real now. Her eyes were hard and unreadable though, as Ash had spent too much time masking her emotions to be able to reveal them again in front of another. Her tail tip twirled with excited anxiousness. A small step forward and a smile of reserved hope was seen in the molly as Tawnypaw recognized her. However she wasn't sure how to start their relationship. Her motherhood had been stolen from her by the place she resided, she had only barely seen her kits start walking before she was killed. She winced and looked at the ground in shame. She wondered what they thought of her, they were for the most part raised in a clan that used her name as a curse. A clan that saw her as nothing more than a shadow of darkness, a murderous and bloodthirsty image. Ash told herself that she wouldn't be hurt if any of them though ill of her, they had a better chance at life if they did, but it would deeply scar her. All of her decisions did. Though the dark tabby molly also knew that if she got a second chance she wouldn't have changed anything, not one second of it. She still craved the fame and glory of leadership, though she knew it would never come again.

"I-" She didn't know where to start. Should she apologize for her actions, for the shadow she had cast upon this youngster? She took a pawstep back again, knowing this was everything she shouldn't be doing. She shouldn't meet her litter until they either end up here or lead a happy life in Starclan with their father, never to be seen by her. It would be better for them that way. She decided honesty, Ash had never been great with words and had always spoken her heart, no matter how blunt it may be. "I don't know where to start." She said simply, her voice a whisper as her unwavering golden eyes watched her daughter's reaction and movements very carefully. The minute she felt as though things would go sour she would break the communication. Ash just needed to know if Tawnypaw was willing to make a connection between them, or if the new clan had too far pushed her away from her mother's dark image.

[wickedvirtues]

The molly licked blood from her claws, satisfied with her work. Moons in the starless place had made her more joyful at the sight of blood or injury. She leapt to her paws, trying to find the bloodied tortoiseshell but failing. She hissed with annoyance, her eyes narrowing as she scented the air. 'Come on, Fadedwhisper, don't be a mouse-brain! She escaped into the living cats world!' She thought with annoyance, Lichenfur's scent mixed with metallic tang was stale and old. She kept going through the territories, grass pricking her paws and she hissed with annoyance and went to hunt or do some training.

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Ever

The mother wasn't really sure what to do in this situation.
Sure, she'd been through it a billion times in her head in hopes of being reunited with her children, but it was all too real now. Her eyes were hard and unreadable though, as Ash had spent too much time masking her emotions to be able to reveal them again in front of another. Her tail tip twirled with excited anxiousness. A small step forward and a smile of reserved hope was seen in the molly as Tawnypaw recognized her. However she wasn't sure how to start their relationship. Her motherhood had been stolen from her by the place she resided, she had only barely seen her kits start walking before she was killed. She winced and looked at the ground in shame. She wondered what they thought of her, they were for the most part raised in a clan that used her name as a curse. A clan that saw her as nothing more than a shadow of darkness, a murderous and bloodthirsty image. Ash told herself that she wouldn't be hurt if any of them though ill of her, they had a better chance at life if they did, but it would deeply scar her. All of her decisions did. Though the dark tabby molly also knew that if she got a second chance she wouldn't have changed anything, not one second of it. She still craved the fame and glory of leadership, though she knew it would never come again.

"I-" She didn't know where to start. Should she apologize for her actions, for the shadow she had cast upon this youngster? She took a pawstep back again, knowing this was everything she shouldn't be doing. She shouldn't meet her litter until they either end up here or lead a happy life in Starclan with their father, never to be seen by her. It would be better for them that way. She decided honesty, Ash had never been great with words and had always spoken her heart, no matter how blunt it may be. "I don't know where to start." She said simply, her voice a whisper as her unwavering golden eyes watched her daughter's reaction and movements very carefully. The minute she felt as though things would go sour she would break the communication. Ash just needed to know if Tawnypaw was willing to make a connection between them, or if the new clan had too far pushed her away from her mother's dark image.

Tawnypaw stood, frozen in place by shock. She had always wished to get to be back with her mother again, but now? She didn't know what to do. She wished she simply could walk over and act as if nothing had ever happened and she'd been raised by her mother, but Tawnypaw knew she wouldn't be able to do that. Too long had her Clanmates pushed her away or bullied her or ignored her for her to be able to confidently walk up to any catgut Ratpaw and her two remaining siblings, Dovepaw and Onyxpaw. Her neck fur bristled, but the small apprentice forced it to lay flat. She slowly, hesitantly took another step closer, head and tail lowered in uncertainty. She looked at this cat, her mother, who was dead. It was strange, seeing her mother transparent, unlike the vague images she could still remember from when she was very young, they had been solid. Tawnypaw remembered how she'd thought her family would always stay the same: her, Blazingnight, Burdockpool, Blackkit, Mountainkit, Dovekit and Onyxkit. She'd never thought it would be torn apart the way it had been. Shaking her head, she glanced back at Blazingnight with widened golden amber eyes. She wondered for a split second what was running through her mother's mind, then decided it was best not to wonder that. And suddenly, Tawnypaw looked down, her eyes feeling itchy and watery.

When she looked back up, tears soaked the fur under her eyes, and she started walking forwards, forcing herself to keep going, until she stood two tail lengths away, her paws itching, telling her this wasn't right. Finally, she raised her head,
careful to avoid Blazingnight's unreadable golden stare. “I don't e-either.” she choked out, her mouth feeling like she'd bitten into a rat only to find ashes and soot fill her mouth, soaking up all the moisture. Tawnypaw had so many questions, but they all seemed wrong to her, not the right questions to ask. Finally, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. “W-we— I miss you..” she said, hoping that that was entirely true. She knew from the time she'd talked to Dovepaw— Dovekit then, and Onyxpaw— Onyxkit then, that both of them had definitely seemed to be missing both parents at the time. She wondered how Blazingnight was going to react, but all she could do was stand there, kneading the ground with her claws as she waited.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Skelly

Tawnypaw stood, frozen in place by shock. She had always wished to get to be back with her mother again, but now? She didn't know what to do. She wished she simply could walk over and act as if nothing had ever happened and she'd been raised by her mother, but Tawnypaw knew she wouldn't be able to do that. Too long had her Clanmates pushed her away or bullied her or ignored her for her to be able to confidently walk up to any catgut Ratpaw and her two remaining siblings, Dovepaw and Onyxpaw. Her neck fur bristled, but the small apprentice forced it to lay flat. She slowly, hesitantly took another step closer, head and tail lowered in uncertainty. She looked at this cat, her mother, who was dead. It was strange, seeing her mother transparent, unlike the vague images she could still remember from when she was very young, they had been solid. Tawnypaw remembered how she'd thought her family would always stay the same: her, Blazingnight, Burdockpool, Blackkit, Mountainkit, Dovekit and Onyxkit. She'd never thought it would be torn apart the way it had been. Shaking her head, she glanced back at Blazingnight with widened golden amber eyes. She wondered for a split second what was running through her mother's mind, then decided it was best not to wonder that. And suddenly, Tawnypaw looked down, her eyes feeling itchy and watery.

When she looked back up, tears soaked the fur under her eyes, and she started walking forwards, forcing herself to keep going, until she stood two tail lengths away, her paws itching, telling her this wasn't right. Finally, she raised her head,
careful to avoid Blazingnight's unreadable golden stare. “I don't e-either.” she choked out, her mouth feeling like she'd bitten into a rat only to find ashes and soot fill her mouth, soaking up all the moisture. Tawnypaw had so many questions, but they all seemed wrong to her, not the right questions to ask. Finally, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. “W-we— I miss you..” she said, hoping that that was entirely true. She knew from the time she'd talked to Dovepaw— Dovekit then, and Onyxpaw— Onyxkit then, that both of them had definitely seemed to be missing both parents at the time. She wondered how Blazingnight was going to react, but all she could do was stand there, kneading the ground with her claws as she waited.

Ash's expression broke a little as she watched the emotions sweep through the youngster. It hurt her to know that she was in so much pain because of herself, the dark tabby knew all of this was her fault. She wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to become her mother after all this time,
surely the clan would not approve either and she didn't want to give Tawnypaw less chance at a successful life, despite her hatred for the current leader. Though she couldn't just sit back and watch as her child broke down in front of her without offering some form of comfort. Her sole black paw reached out and the back of it gently wiped at one damp cheek.

"You were all better off this way." She admitted sadly. Ash had never wanted to be a mother, hadn't asked for the role. She never would have provided them with what they truly needed, that was Burdockpool's job. She would have simply been the rule giver and created mini versions of herself,
which wouldn't have been good for any of them. They probably wouldn't understand, nor would the kits want to, but truly her being dead and away from them was for the better. They would never have loved her, probably would have learned to despise her rules and attitude. Her constant hunger for power and her fear and constant anxiety surrounding the past King.

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Ever

Ash's expression broke a little as she watched the emotions sweep through the youngster. It hurt her to know that she was in so much pain because of herself, the dark tabby knew all of this was her fault. She wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to become her mother after all this time, surely the clan would not approve either and she didn't want to give Tawnypaw less chance at a successful life, despite her hatred for the current leader. Though she couldn't just sit back and watch as her child broke down in front of her without offering some form of comfort. Her sole black paw reached out and the back of it gently wiped at one damp cheek.

"You were all better off this way." She admitted sadly. Ash had never wanted to be a mother, hadn't asked for the role. She never would have provided them with what they truly needed, that was Burdockpool's job. She would have simply been the rule giver and created mini versions of herself,
which wouldn't have been good for any of them. They probably wouldn't understand, nor would the kits want to, but truly her being dead and away from them was for the better. They would never have loved her, probably would have learned to despise her rules and attitude. Her constant hunger for power and her fear and constant anxiety surrounding the past King.

Tawnypaw tried to hide her thoughts as she usually did. With her Clan pushing her away, she had learned to do it with ease, but why now? Why had it suddenly become so difficult? She dug her claws into the ground, her fur standing up now. She couldn't control it anymore, and for just a moment, her anger entered her gaze again, before leaving her. She shifted, her legs trembling. She didn't want her mother to see her crying, but she couldn't help it, and so, she stood crying silently, her eyes full of mainly confusion. As Blazingnight brushed a black paw under her eye, she flinched, pulling away. It wasn't because of Blazingnight, but because of reflexes, since whenever a Clanmate got that close to her, they usually meant her harm.

Tawnypaw shook her head, stepping back slightly, her eyes narrowed. “No,
we weren't. Without you, we're better off without a Clan.” she said, realizing for the first time that a small amount of her anger was directed at Blazingnight, if only for leaving her and her littermates. She sighed, clearing her head. Her mother couldn't help that she'd died, and no one else could either, but then Burdockpool had vanished. That she somewhat blamed on him. She flattened her ears. “You died, and Burdockpool left us alone in a Clan that hates us. We're not better off without you.” she said, then closed her mouth, teeth clicking as she did. Blazingnight was wrong, she and her littermates weren't better without Blazingnight.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Skelly

Tawnypaw tried to hide her thoughts as she usually did. With her Clan pushing her away, she had learned to do it with ease, but why now? Why had it suddenly become so difficult? She dug her claws into the ground, her fur standing up now. She couldn't control it anymore, and for just a moment, her anger entered her gaze again, before leaving her. She shifted, her legs trembling. She didn't want her mother to see her crying, but she couldn't help it, and so, she stood crying silently, her eyes full of mainly confusion. As Blazingnight brushed a black paw under her eye, she flinched, pulling away. It wasn't because of Blazingnight, but because of reflexes, since whenever a Clanmate got that close to her, they usually meant her harm.

Tawnypaw shook her head, stepping back slightly, her eyes narrowed. “No,
we weren't. Without you, we're better off without a Clan.” she said, realizing for the first time that a small amount of her anger was directed at Blazingnight, if only for leaving her and her littermates. She sighed, clearing her head. Her mother couldn't help that she'd died, and no one else could either, but then Burdockpool had vanished. That she somewhat blamed on him. She flattened her ears. “You died, and Burdockpool left us alone in a Clan that hates us. We're not better off without you.” she said, then closed her mouth, teeth clicking as she did. Blazingnight was wrong, she and her littermates weren't better without Blazingnight.

Her heart sank a little to hear the passing of Burdockpool. He would never have abandoned the kits so he must have passed or the clan exiled him. One or the other. She shook her head at the hard words of the youngster. "You wouldn't understand." She mumbled under her breath, though in a way she understood Tawnypaw's emotions. Ash had been abandoned herself as a kit, and that was what had caused her spiral of greed and obsession with power. Nonetheless she had found momentary happiness, she was sure that all her kits would find the same in their now-stable clan. "Burdockpool wouldn't abandon you." She started, he was the one who wanted kits, she finished internally. "He must have been harmed in battle or sent into exile by Halestar." She said, her tone masked to hide the notes of hostility towards the new leader. She wouldn't put images of distrust in Tawnypaw over her leader. Ash wouldn't give her kits that kind of pain of not fitting in and being against the leader. "Halestorm acted accordingly if she exiled him."

The black tabby then looked away from the kit, it was proving rather difficult for the master of illusion to play her game. It was wrong to lie and deceive family, but she would rather her children ended up with their father in the fabled Starclan than in the darkness with herself. She had been en-educated and untrusting when she walked the earth. It was different now from her perspective. She didn't want revenge through her children, if revenge were to happen it would be through her mini-her. Through Jinxpaw... Ash wondered what had become of her, the black molly was more a kit to Ash than her own offspring were.

[Cosmo]

Night stalked through the Place of No Stars, her daughter Doesong Was a Riverclan Warrior and Disgrace to her blood line. Doesong, was kind and caring, the worst thing ever in Night's Opinion.