Matter of Time [P]

[Rizo]

~Wolfsong | @Iris~

Watching as the golden sun began its descent in the sky, the silver she-cat began to look around for a brown tabby pelt. The view of the sunset from Lionsrange would be lovely, and it would be fun to share it with her closest friend.
Padding around the camp, Wolfsong poked her head into the warrior's den, letting her blue eyes adjust to the shadows. She blinked a few times before she shook her head and backed up from the entrance to the den. She hadn't seen Hazelstorm's striped fur in there.
I wonder where she could be...

[bailu]

@RiztheHuntress

Frankly Hazelstorm still felt like a warrior. Despite her recent promotion to a Shield, she felt lethargic, and not really of Shield material. The brown tabby knew it wasn't her place to question Skystar's decision, but holding this new rank felt strange, weird even.
She knew she'd fit in soon.

The sky was a beautiful golden shade with hints of rosy pink and bright orange. This Hazelstorm observed as she padded into the clearing, recently having woken from a nap. Her energy bar was completely full as Hazelstorm padded to the camp exit, fur fluffed up slightly. The late afternoon breeze was cool and relaxing. She looked back as she prepared to exit camp, when a certain silver tabby pelt caught her eye. Hazelstorm froze, heart leaping into her throat, as her green orbs widened slightly. The ice keeping her still broke away into shards as she forced herself to move, stepping to the side. The striped molly's eyes raked over the familiar pelt, wondering who it belonged to. She mused over this. Before it finally clicked in her head that it was Wolfsong.
Hazelstorm opened her maw, and snapped it shut again. She would look like a fool if she called out forher friend - lover? - considering there were other cats in the clearing. A deep breath in, and then out. She stood in her position, and edged slowly closer to the warriors' den, sitting down a few steps away from her original position by the exit and curling her fluffy tail around her front paws loosely.
The brown-furred Shield still had to think about her thoughts on her close friend. Wolfsong was great, sure, but the only hindrance was that she was in love with Hazelstorm. Who had rejected her when she confessed. The tabby cut off her train of thoughts abruptly as Wolfsong backed away from the den.
She flattened her ears, and licked a paw, very casually drawing it over her ear quickly before letting it touch the ground again. Hazelstorm flicked her tail to the side, and her whiskers twitched. Would Wolfsong turn around and see her?

[Rizo]

@Iris

Sitting back on her haunches, the she-cat took a moment to think, considering all the places that the brown tabby could have gone.
Maybe she went out for a walk?
Deciding that was her best bet, Wolfsong stood and turned towards the camp entrance. She quickly had to suppress a mew of surprise when she saw Hazelstorm sitting nearby the exit, watching her. Feeling her pelt flush with embarrassment, Wolfsong padded over to her friend, waving her tail in greeting.
"Hazelstorm, there you are! I was just looking for you," she said with a smile. "I was going to head up to Lionsrange to watch the sunset, and was going to ask if you wanted to come along?"
Internally, Wolfsong kicked herself. It hadn't occurred to her that the brown molly might think it was a little weird to invite your friend to watch the sunset with you. Oh well, too late now, the words were already out of her mouth. Secretly she was hoping Hazelstorm wouldn't think it was weird, and that she'd join her.
Don't panic, its fine. Everything is fine, you're just friends. She made that clear.

[bailu]

@RiztheHuntress
Hazelstorm
___

Hazelstorm didn't really know wat she thought of Wolfsong. The first thing that came to mind was friend, but what if it ws more than that? Wolfsong began walking towards the camp exit, and Hazelstorm stayed as still as possible. Nope. Wolfsong's blue gaze spotted the brown tabby, who gave a slight nod of acknowledgement as Wolfsong waved her tail in greeting, making her way towards her.

The brown-furred Shield fixed her green eyes on Wolfsong as a smile graced the silver molly's lips.
"I was going to head up to Lionsrange to watch the sunset, and was going to ask if you wanted to come along?"

Oh. That was a strange request. Silence hung between the two she-cats as Hazelstorm thought about it, face keeping up a serene expression. She shifted one paw forwards, stepping a little closer to her frien.
"I mean... why not? I'll come with you." She blinked her eyes, since they had started to water, and sidestepped Wolfsong. Placing one paw after another Hazelstorm trotted to the camp exit, fresh leaves gently caressing her pelt as the cool new-leaf wind ruffled her fur slightly.

The light of the descending sun cast the forest in beautiful hues of amber and gold. It made everything look so pretty, Hazelstorm observed, as she slowly walked towards the Lionsrange. The soil crunched quietly underneath her paw pads as Lionsrange came into view.

The trees began thinning out as Hazelstorm padded further, exiting the forest. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs reminded her of the brutal way Kestrelstar had passed. Swallowing and pushing that out of her mind, she plastered a small smile on her maw and turned back to where Wolfsong hopefully was.

[Rizo]

@iris.

Heart pounding, the silver tabby felt instant relief as the words she had been hoping to hear left her friend's mouth.
Oh thank the stars, she wasn't weirded out.
Turning to follow the brown molly, Wolfsong let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. This would be fun! So why was she so nervous? She knew why, of course, but every time she was around Hazelstorm, no matter how hard she tried to stay relaxed, the familiar feeling of butterflies fluttered its way into her stomach.

The golden sun, sinking lower in the sky, warmed her pelt, turning her silver coloring to almost a bronze. She let her gaze wander as she trotted after her friend, admiring the gilded appearance of the plants and water. The sky was tinged with oranges and pinks, the scattered clouds in the sky contrasting with purple tones backlit with yellow. It was a beautiful sight.
As the ground beneath her paws changed to the rock and gravel leading up to Lionsrange, Wolfsong brought her attention back to the journey. Hazelstorm had left the tree line ahead of her, and the sounds of the coast drifted towards her. Taking a couple bounds to catch up, Wolfsong returned the smile that the tabby she-cat gave her. She was dumbstruck for a moment as she noticed the golden light had turned Hazelstorm's pelt from its usual brown to a stunning coppery hue. She had to stop her mouth from falling open as she caught up.

"Where do you think we'll get the best view up here?" She asked as she was finally able to tear her blue eyes from the sight before her and focus more clearly on the incline up to the cliffs.

[bailu]

>> Hazelstorm

The brown-furred Shield did not have a clue on why Wolfsong was staring at her as though her fur had been turned into fresh-kill that could feed a clan for moons and moons. Hazelstorm felt a little self-conscious, and flicked her tail, head turning back to the sunset.

The silver molly padded up to her, beside her and Hazelstorm's skin prickled. Her fur tingled. Which caused a sense of irritation and confusion as Hazelstorm's green eyes looked at Wolfsong.

She averted her gaze, turning her attention to the sound of waves. Luckily it was calm. Its faint crashes against the cliffs were like a melody.
Wolfsong was looking at the cliffs.Th rocky formations rattled her for a moment, recalling how Kestrelstar had died.

She placed one paw in front of another, before shifting it back to its normal position. Hazelstorm pricked her ears, listening to Wolfsong. She asked where the brown tabby thought they'd get the best view from, or something. The Shield thought about it, brows arching downwards as her mind worke furiously. She let out a breath.

"I... I'm not sure, you can choose," Hazelstorm said, a touch of uncertainty in her normally flat, level tone. She touched her tong to her teeth, head turning to her side.

@RiztheHuntress

[Rizo]

@iris.

Wolfsong nodded an acknowledgement to the tabby Shield before starting her way up the sloped ground. The dull roar of the surf colliding with the cliffs was a soothing background as she ascended. It felt a little strange, being here, when she knew this was where Kestrelstar took his last steps. She wondered as she walked if the former leader was walking among the warriors of Starclan.
Pushing the thought from her mind, the silver tabby approached the western ridge of the Lionsrange, looking out across the clan territories, in the direction of the descending sun.
Perfect.
She looked back to the sloped ground that had lead her to this point, blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This should be a perfect spot," she called to Hazelstorm, hoping the molly would follow her up the incline.

[bailu]

Hazelstorm { she/her }

The silver molly next to her nodded, and Hazelstorm smiled a small reluctant smile. Her green eyes followed Wolfsong intently as the warrior approachd the western ridge of Lionsrange. The waves smacking the cliffsides were becoming increasingly annoying. Flattening one ear her paws followed Wolfsong, trusting her closest friend. The area the silver molly had chosen was facing the sunset. Hazelstorm observed this as she came to a stop, a certain grey pelt coming to mind again. Ugh. She TOTALLY wasn't afraid of death! Yep, quick, put a smile on that face. That's what Hazelstorm did, like she had no problems whatsoever.

Wolfsong seemed excited. Hazelstorm trotted to her side, standing on all-four paws a fox-length or two away from the edge. She was not going to fall and drown like Kestrelstar, nope. Not today!

"It's a lovely spot," the tabby praised lightly, waving her tail. She gazed out at the rosy horizon.

[ @RiztheHuntress ]

[Rizo]

~Wolfsong | @iris.~

As Hazelstorm spoke, Wolfsong finally had a realization. She had thought that Hazelstorm was acting off, but couldn't figure out why until it struck her like a monster on the thunderpath.
This is where Kestrelstar died.
Turning her blue gaze upon her friend, she let her ears fall back.
"I- I completely forgot that this is... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" she began to stammer, nerves rising.
How could I forget? What was I thinking?
As the grey pelt of the former leader popped into her head, she turned her eyes away, staring at her paws in front of her, head low. The familiar darkness that surrounded her heart, which had abated for a time, grew to fill her chest. Forcing her expression to remain stoic, she felt the shadows fill her body, despite the golden light standing next to her.
She probably hates me for bringing her here... I never should have asked.

[bailu]

Confusion filled Hazelstorm's green eyes. She padded closer to her friend as the silver she-cat stammered out an apology. Hazelstorm's confusion quickly became concern. She rested her tail on Wolfsong's shoulder briefly, before letting it drop.

"No, it's ok," she reassured as confidently and gently as possible. A small smile graced her lips. "I've seen death before. I-I've learned how o deal with the grief that comes with the announcement of... it."

The lie that snaked out of her mouth was there before Hazelstorm knew it. She forced herself to look calm. How easy it was to lie. How hard it was to speak the truth. She hadn't exactly learned yet, but it was too late to snatch the words back.

"So... Anything you want to tell me?" Hazelstorm turned her back to Wolfsong, sitting on her haunches. She stared at the sunset, the setting sun reflected in the green pools of her eyes. The brown-furred Shield regretted that fib that had escaped her maw so easily. If she was so deceitful, even to hrr close friend, what other lies had she told without realising it?

@RiztheHuntress