The Forest Roars

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Tunneler/Fury | He/him | 51 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

A part of Crowtooth felt awkward and disjointed, not being a cat of affection or words. He wanted to be in a way, less clumsy about being close to others and with company bar just his own and more adept at explaining himself and the world in a way that soothed but.... Well some part of Crowtooth wasnt made for that, more made for silent tunnels and vicious battles the nurturing.

He'd try though, for the two toms who'd come under his care and the little family he'd built for himself from a great many loose ends.


So reaching out a paw to bring Rabbitpaw closer and sweeping a tail around to wrap around Winterpaw was an obvious, if hesitant move.



"Ya dont have ta feel 'good' about battles kiddo. Some cats do, an' thats a thin line ta walk I know well as ya 'ave ta learn ta balance bein' a good cat an' the bloodlust that comes from yer battle rush. But some never view battle as more then a duty an' a burden an' theyre not wrong.


Many a good cat will avoid battle at all cost knowin' the cost, its why Twi tries so hard ta only use it as a last resort. Battles are bloody an' painful fer both sides an' always come wit' death, again oft on both sides. The truth o' it is 'winning' a battle aint really 'winning', its just comin' out wit' less loss. So yer valid if ya dont feel good or if ya dont want more battle in the future, like yer Mama.



But yer not a monster fer fightin'."
Crowtooth took a moment to wheeze, knowing he needed to get these words out and just struggling to do so a bit. Both mentally in figuring out how to word them and getting those words out. The state of his breath would no doubt worsen on the long trek home but for now he could manage, sitting in the calm after the storm.


"A good cat fights when only pushed ta it by ill acts, like prey stealin' an' tresspassin' an' such. An' those conflicts are usually small compared ta this carnage sure but just remember how far we an' all the clans were pushed ta get ta this point.
Murders, invasion, no sorrow no remorse no culpability. If nothin' was done we risked thin's bein' that way forever, an' as brutal as it is this battle was done in the hope o' preventin' future bloodshed.


Ta be called a monster by a cat who's clanmates started this whole mess is ironic but the truth is this; if ya fight fer good reasons, even if the fightin' is horrid, yer not a bad cat. Least not in my mind.
An' even then ya can make it better by fightin' honorably. By lettin' cats flee when they wanna even if ya couldve killed 'em, only killin' when forced ta, tryin' ta avoid maimin', not fightin' cats below ya like a warrior fightin' an apprentice or anyone goin' after elders queens medicine cats or kits.



Honor can exist within' bloodshed an' from what Ive seen today? Ya two were among the most honorable here today."
And Crowtooth frankly wasnt, but he wasnt as inherently good as these two were. He wanted to be though, so he told them the truth and taught them the lessons that were hard learned and he was still trying to live by at times. He could do that and hope it was enough, that he was doing good by them in the end.


Though for now it seemed all was packing up and judging by the two apprentices ears they best not delay and get to Lightningstorm. So after on last squeeze the fury stood and gestured for the two to follow, musing a raspy "Ya'll feel more at ease in the comin' days an' distance, I promise. Lets get home now though." before he lead them out of the decimated camp and back to the moor.


@Dolomedes @zozelen (forgot to wrap this up but we can count it done now!)