Breathe new life

[Estelle]

This was new to him, the area, the land; he'd never been around here before and yet the closer he got, the more he seemed to recognise the one landmark and the other. Just a few, here and there, not enough to say he actually knew the piece of territory. Perhaps it dated back to when he used to sneak off to his father, or from when Rugged Range was still Lionsrange.

Either way, it didn't matter. He wasn't out here for simple touring, he was here to find suitable land. Whether it be territory they could take or a camp they could call their home -- the young leader didn't trust their old camp, not after it flooded so easily. It could happen again at any moment, without warning, taking more cats from them than it already had. He didn't want that to happen.

He didn't know whether Crowstorm was following him or not. He didn't bother checking over his shoulder for the warrior either, it was entirely up to him whether he followed or headed back. Gingerfrost didn't mind either way. Looking around, the area was awfully peaceful. Not a sound save for the idly chitter of birds slowly rising, though even most of them still lay at rest. He realised he hadn't been gone all that long yet, or at least he presumed.

Despite the nature of this, Gingerfrost found it to be... Awfully peaceful. Strangely so. Somehow, as he padded along the few trees and edges, returning to Rugged Range with a detour, he got the strange sense of... Calm. He took a deep breath, stopping in his tracks. It felt as though things had been happening so fast that day, with the flood and Beansprout's death, it was difficult to pause and take a breather like he did now.

Was that wrong? Not much time was spent on the question, unlike he normally would. All of a sudden he got the impossible feeling he was being observed... Watched, by something or someone that wasn't the warrior that led him here. His ears perked, his eyes looked around. Who was it?


[ @Abyssopelagic - Spiritual Encounter ]

[Abyssopelagic]

At first, she appeared to be little more than a few wisps of air more solid than the rest, hardly an outline compared to the rest of the muggy and grey backdrop that surrounded her.
There was a swirl of rain flecks that surrounded her and her incorporeal form began to glow, until it settled on something tangibly visible and almost as if it was solid. The large, grey molly took a few steps towards Gingerstar.
Wow, Gingerstar..... how much time had she missed while she slept, peacefully among her other kin?
Enough time she didn't believe she'd seen him become deputy, or see him pass over the mantle of leader to another, less deserving. She did not blame the then Gingerfrost, though.
He had no way of knowing how disastrous Beansprout's reign would be, and had trusted him to lead his Clan, believing himself unprepared. But now, here he was, name obtained, homeless from the recent flood.
And she, she was here to give back to the Clan she had loved so much, and give to the son she hadn't held tight enough.

She breathed a sigh, stardust and frost temporarily painting the air in front of her as she neared the ginger tom, the gentle scent she'd carried in life along with her and settling in the atmosphere around them.
"Gingerstar...." her voice was ethereal and echoed, almost faltering at certain inflections as if a strong wind was carrying away her words, but the name, overall, was clear.
There was love and pride in her eyes as she approached, and her tail instinctively reached to embrace him, but the reminder of what she was here for made her stop just short, and instead gently brushed her tail against his shoulder.
"I'm afraid I do not have much time with you to speak casually. RiverClan needs a home, I will show you the way."
With a grace she'd lacked in life, she walked to Gingerstar's side, brushing her side into his and circled around him so that she was now in the direction of where they were to go and stepped only a few pawsteps forward before looking back, ears perked as she clearly waited for him to follow.
Once he started forward, she trotted onward, the path laid out clear to her, having memorized every twist and turn. Her pawsteps lit up on the ground, the left behind stardust lighting up the path should Gingerstar fall behind, and floating away into a fine, chilly mist with each step he followed behind.
Away rolled the murky and bogged lands the further they trod, replaced with tentatively growing foliage under the canopies of the few trees they passed under and skirted around.
Each plant she brushed against was tinged with her starlight, fading mere seconds after she'd moved onward, not nearly as great a light source as the pawsteps she left behind.
Eventually the presence of trees thickened until there was a gentle treeline they passed beneath, before turning into the deeper depths of this almost-forest. Further in, the gentle slopes and dips of rocky formations passed them by until they breached to a clearing, in the distance they were faced with cliffs bordering a small, winding river that was almost familiar.
"Here," She whispered, her steps finally slowing to a halt and turning to face Gingerstar, sitting for the first time she'd shown herself to the new leader.
"It should suit the Clan's needs."
And now, should he wish, they could speak.

[ @Estelle ]

[Estelle]

It was unbelievable. He must have hit his head, or been dreaming for this isn't possible. She died, Palehound told him so, and yet here she stood, shimmering with ethereal light as her form materialised in front of him. He recognised her in an instant, of course, after all, she raised him after his biological mother... Now was not the time. His agape mouth fell closed. A cold breath of air brushed his shoulder, a cold air in the form of her tail. Still, it brought strange comfort. She had spoken a name foreign to him, yet perhaps one he'd have to carry. That's what reminded him of the situation he was in, the element that woke him up to idle reverie and revealed that he wasn't dreaming. That this was real, all too real and impossible yet... Possible.

He didn't utter a word, far too shocked to speak. But his eyes betrayed sadness and longing for her to be real, to be here in a form beyond that of a mere ghost. Was this the Starcave's doing after all? Were they playing a trick on him? But she would never. And somehow, he could feel it was truly her, and not some figment of his imagination. The spirit in the form of his beloved mother spoke again, he felt a pang in his normally still chest. A home... They needed safety, yet. They needed a home.

Another coldness brushed his side, evidence that her side was touching his. He felt compelled to lean into the feeling, as though he were hugging her, but reminded himself to stay on track. They hadn't much time, she said, he ought not to waste it. All too soon, she stepped away; going forth without him. He, he was glued in place, doomed to watching her form leave in the nearby distance until she halted and looked back at him.

Those eyes, those familiar eyes that familiar look. He locked his green eyes onto hers. And all of a sudden, it felt as though he'd been released from something - released from whatever bound him in place as he took a tentative step forward. Slowly, surely, he began to follow his mother, picking up the pace ever so slightly with each step he took her way, as though afraid he'd lose her all over again.

Soon enough, the canopy of trees opened up. The area was rocky, but showed a little clearing surrounded by large rocks he could only describe as small cliffs belonging to Rugged Range. Some divots and dents littered the walls, but overall it looked stable... And safe. The grounds higher up on a slope, a flood would have a harder time reaching them here compared to their now destroyed camp. And in the centre of it all, the one who led him here, his mother.

After looking around, almost awe-struck, his eyes locked on her again. He almost daren't approach, but then dared take a few steps closer, dipping his head.
"..Thank you."
He mew. But it felt empty. Like it wasn't enough. She'd done so much, but this was the first time he thanked her. The first time he spoke these words to her.
"For everything."
He then added, this time surer than before. He meant it, with everything he had, he was thankful for everything she'd done for him and for the clan. He couldn't have gotten a better mother.

"Can.. Can ...I..?"
Awkwardly, shuffling his paws, the hardened tom who'd grown soft at the paws of his son was almost almost too afraid to ask. But he wanted to hug her. Parts of him wanted to know how this was possible, why she was doing this. But he pushed those questions aside, instead focusing on the fact that she is here now - albeit in the form of an untouchable spirit - the cold air surrounding her was enough for him to feel her warmth.

"I miss you."
Gingerfrost finally said, words falling into a barely audible whisper.
"I need you."


[ @Abyssopelagic ]