It was sprinkling freezing cold droplets, as the pale tom padded onwards. The mud was thick here. He could feel it coating his paws. His usually pristine cream pelt was tangled and messy. His tail dragged on the forest floor. Not that he minded. Fire was dancing in his mind, replaying the events of a few weeks ago. His home had burned. He was a loner again. Lily was…no where to be found. A shiver rippled through him. Desperately, he recalled her face, her voice, the way she laughed, how she smiled. Preserving the memory like that act alone could bring her to him, even though he knew that was impossible. It hadn’t worked with Foxwillow or their kits. He paused, his eyes misting up. Gritting his teeth, he turned his head to the sky. The bell on his collar jingled slightly as he did so. “Why do you take everything?” He meowed hoarsely. It was a small cry. He could barely hear it over the rain. Perhaps he was meant to be angry. To be clawing at Starclan, begging for them to bring her back. But trial and error had taught him that didn’t work. The stars don’t respond when you are in pain. Dead cats don’t look down with pity on the mournful living ones who call out to them. If they did he wouldn’t be here now. He looked down, and trudged on. If Starclan was listening right now, he doubted they were worth his time. Besides, he had left the clans long ago. His old ancestors weren’t keeping tabs.
Lighting cracked open the sky. Duck looked up again. He was completely soaked. The wind was picking up, and on the horizon he could see thicker darker rain clouds coming. Had all this happened while he was talking to the sky? He needed to find shelter, and quickly. Blindly, he stumbled through the forest. Rain crashed into his eyes, stinging them. Wind buffeted again him threatening to topple him over. This was really really bad. There had to be somewhere he could hide! He pressed on against the cold storm. A shape began to appear in his vision. A hollow tree? Whatever it was didn’t matter, he made a mad dash for it. Almost slipping on wet leaves, he made it in. Finally an area that was dry. He huddled against the tree’s back wall, curling up to conserve his body heat. He would just have to wait out the storm here. Not that it mattered where he was anymore. He didn’t have anyone waiting on him.
It was sprinkling freezing cold droplets, as the pale tom padded onwards. The mud was thick here. He could feel it coating his paws. His usually pristine cream pelt was tangled and messy. His tail dragged on the forest floor. Not that he minded. Fire was dancing in his mind, replaying the events of a few weeks ago. His home had burned. He was a loner again. Lily was…no where to be found. A shiver rippled through him. Desperately, he recalled her face, her voice, the way she laughed, how she smiled. Preserving the memory like that act alone could bring her to him, even though he knew that was impossible. It hadn’t worked with Foxwillow or their kits. He paused, his eyes misting up. Gritting his teeth, he turned his head to the sky. The bell on his collar jingled slightly as he did so. “Why do you take everything?” He meowed hoarsely. It was a small cry. He could barely hear it over the rain. Perhaps he was meant to be angry. To be clawing at Starclan, begging for them to bring her back. But trial and error had taught him that didn’t work. The stars don’t respond when you are in pain. Dead cats don’t look down with pity on the mournful living ones who call out to them. If they did he wouldn’t be here now. He looked down, and trudged on. If Starclan was listening right now, he doubted they were worth his time. Besides, he had left the clans long ago. His old ancestors weren’t keeping tabs.
Lighting cracked open the sky. Duck looked up again. He was completely soaked. The wind was picking up, and on the horizon he could see thicker darker rain clouds coming. Had all this happened while he was talking to the sky? He needed to find shelter, and quickly. Blindly, he stumbled through the forest. Rain crashed into his eyes, stinging them. Wind buffeted again him threatening to topple him over. This was really really bad. There had to be somewhere he could hide! He pressed on against the cold storm. A shape began to appear in his vision. A hollow tree? Whatever it was didn’t matter, he made a mad dash for it. Almost slipping on wet leaves, he made it in. Finally an area that was dry. He huddled against the tree’s back wall, curling up to conserve his body heat. He would just have to wait out the storm here. Not that it mattered where he was anymore. He didn’t have anyone waiting on him.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
A fat drop of rain landed square on her nose startling back into reality. it made her nose shiver. She didn't expect to be so viscously torn from her daydreaming. "This rain just won't do." She stared and the sky annoyed with it's outburst. Despite her best glares the rain kept falling, and as the rain started fell faster she quickly decided that it would take far to long to get back to camp. She definitely did not want to get a cough. Her eyes turned to scan the near by brush and trees for any usable shelter.
"Perfect." She mumbled as she caught sight of a hollow tree." It's just the right shape to keep me from this rain!" She quickly trotted over to it. Ducking down to fit into the tree she caught sight of Duck. He surprised her. It was raining to hard to try and find another tree so she decided they'd have to share. "Excuse me." She said as she squeezed in beside him. His fur brought back some familiarity, but she couldn't quit figure out why. It was way to wet for her to smell if he was a clancat, so she hoped her faint memory was correct. It was weird to her that she barely knew him if he was from her clan, but maybe they just always end up on the wrong side of camp.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
A fat drop of rain landed square on her nose startling back into reality. it made her nose shiver. She didn't expect to be so viscously torn from her daydreaming. "This rain just won't do." She stared and the sky annoyed with it's outburst. Despite her best glares the rain kept falling, and as the rain started fell faster she quickly decided that it would take far to long to get back to camp. She definitely did not want to get a cough. Her eyes turned to scan the near by brush and trees for any usable shelter.
"Perfect." She mumbled as she caught sight of a hollow tree." It's just the right shape to keep me from this rain!" She quickly trotted over to it. Ducking down to fit into the tree she caught sight of Duck. He surprised her. It was raining to hard to try and find another tree so she decided they'd have to share. "Excuse me." She said as she squeezed in beside him. His fur brought back some familiarity, but she couldn't quit figure out why. It was way to wet for her to smell if he was a clancat, so she hoped her faint memory was correct. It was weird to her that she barely knew him if he was from her clan, but maybe they just always end up on the wrong side of camp.
Duck
~*~
His whole body stiffened, as he watched the stranger enter his hollow tree. Green eyes narrowed at her. He tried to get a hint of her scent, but couldn't. The rain had washed any hope of that away. At least that means my scent will be masked too. Even in the dim lighting, there was something about this stranger that was familiar. Had he seen her anywhere before? Perhaps they had crossed paths during his previous loner moons. The alternative was...much less appealing. He smiled warmly at her, trying to diffuse any tension. "It's some weather huh? I was lucky to make it here from where I was!" It almost surprised him, how chipper his voice was. On the inside he felt just as hollow as the tree they were in. But none of that was this cat's problem, even if they had met before. In the back of his mind, a little bit of worry was prickling. Surely this cat was a loner like him and not a clan cat right? He hadn't allowed his paws to lead him back to his old clan, surely. Please just be anything else!
"They call me Duck. Er...what's your name?" These words sounded more like the way he felt. They were hesitant, twitchy. His paws kneaded the ground, and he averted his gaze. If she turned out to be clan he might have just given himself away. He knew all too well the way they treated outsiders like himself. She would run him off if she didn't kill him where he sat. He sized her up for a heartbeat. He could see the well-toned muscles under her pelt as if it were a clear morning. She was young, strong, capable. He was older and unpracticed. There was no question of who would win if a fight broke out. He swallowed, hard and then focused his attention back on her with an easy smile.
His whole body stiffened, as he watched the stranger enter his hollow tree. Green eyes narrowed at her. He tried to get a hint of her scent, but couldn't. The rain had washed any hope of that away. At least that means my scent will be masked too. Even in the dim lighting, there was something about this stranger that was familiar. Had he seen her anywhere before? Perhaps they had crossed paths during his previous loner moons. The alternative was...much less appealing. He smiled warmly at her, trying to diffuse any tension. "It's some weather huh? I was lucky to make it here from where I was!" It almost surprised him, how chipper his voice was. On the inside he felt just as hollow as the tree they were in. But none of that was this cat's problem, even if they had met before. In the back of his mind, a little bit of worry was prickling. Surely this cat was a loner like him and not a clan cat right? He hadn't allowed his paws to lead him back to his old clan, surely. Please just be anything else!
"They call me Duck. Er...what's your name?" These words sounded more like the way he felt. They were hesitant, twitchy. His paws kneaded the ground, and he averted his gaze. If she turned out to be clan he might have just given himself away. He knew all too well the way they treated outsiders like himself. She would run him off if she didn't kill him where he sat. He sized her up for a heartbeat. He could see the well-toned muscles under her pelt as if it were a clear morning. She was young, strong, capable. He was older and unpracticed. There was no question of who would win if a fight broke out. He swallowed, hard and then focused his attention back on her with an easy smile.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
She settled in beside him. His warmth kept strengthened her hope of not getting sick. She smiled back at him hoping this situation wasn't too awkward. I can't recall his name I'll just have to try and avoid using it. Hopefully he won't realize. "It really did catch me off guard." She still held out faint hope that this cat was from her clan. No matter how implausible it was.
Duck? That definitely sounded familiar is it a nickname or... She shook the thoughts from her head there's not much she can do about it either way they're kind of trapped in here. Her eyes trailed away to watch the rain. "My name is Brightshadow." She had come to two conclusions. Conclusion one he is a Thunderclan cat and he forgot her name just as she forgot his. This one was her favorite. It was a very small plausible answer but it was still there. Conclusion two He isn't a Thunderclan cat and she had seen him at the gathering or hopefully on the border. I hope I'm closer to the border then I thought.. Especially if the latter is true. It was a very small hope but it was still there. She guessed his reaction would be her answer.
Green eyes widened as Brightshadow said her name. The fur along his spine prickled. There's no way! She's a clan cat? Quickly, he tried again to draw in breathe, hoping to catch her scent. Nothing. She was looking at him now, a question in her eyes. Is she trying to get information before she kicks me out? There was no way to know. His claws dug into the bark beneath him. He wasn't just about to wait around for her to make the first move. "A clan cat? What are you waiting for then. Aren't you going to run me off into the storm? Do your "duty" to your clan." The panic he felt now began to seep into his voice. His expression, however, was determined. If she decided to start a fight he would fight back. Going out into a storm like that alone would be a veritable death sentence. It was either go into this loosing battle, or the elements. His muscles tensed as he prepared to fight.
That's when he was finally able to catch a whiff of her scent. She had dried enough, it seemed, for her smell to come back. Trees, squirrels, mice, moss. It was eerily familiar. He could recognize that smell in any forest. Thunderclan. He held his breathe, his entire body froze. There was now way! He was in Thunderclan territory! A hiss snuck out from between his teeth. He had heard that name 'bright' before. He remembered it now. She had been much younger then. The past twenty moons had grown her up so much. It almost hurt how familiar she seemed now, even if they hadn't really known each other before. She was a remnant of a time long past. One he didn't want to remember. "I remember you now. So there are cats who were stupid enough to stay under Dogbark's leadership." Now his meow held poison, and his glare malice. It was as if all the things he blamed Thunderclan for were standing right in front of him, instead of Brightshadow. "Tell me who's the doomed leader now? I know he couldn't have lasted for very long. No one can in Thunderclan, it seems." All plans to fight vanished. Anger and frustration and guilt were all he could see. He wanted to hurt her deeper then his claws could manage.
Green eyes widened as Brightshadow said her name. The fur along his spine prickled. There's no way! She's a clan cat? Quickly, he tried again to draw in breathe, hoping to catch her scent. Nothing. She was looking at him now, a question in her eyes. Is she trying to get information before she kicks me out? There was no way to know. His claws dug into the bark beneath him. He wasn't just about to wait around for her to make the first move. "A clan cat? What are you waiting for then. Aren't you going to run me off into the storm? Do your "duty" to your clan." The panic he felt now began to seep into his voice. His expression, however, was determined. If she decided to start a fight he would fight back. Going out into a storm like that alone would be a veritable death sentence. It was either go into this loosing battle, or the elements. His muscles tensed as he prepared to fight.
That's when he was finally able to catch a whiff of her scent. She had dried enough, it seemed, for her smell to come back. Trees, squirrels, mice, moss. It was eerily familiar. He could recognize that smell in any forest. Thunderclan. He held his breathe, his entire body froze. There was now way! He was in Thunderclan territory! A hiss snuck out from between his teeth. He had heard that name 'bright' before. He remembered it now. She had been much younger then. The past twenty moons had grown her up so much. It almost hurt how familiar she seemed now, even if they hadn't really known each other before. She was a remnant of a time long past. One he didn't want to remember. "I remember you now. So there are cats who were stupid enough to stay under Dogbark's leadership." Now his meow held poison, and his glare malice. It was as if all the things he blamed Thunderclan for were standing right in front of him, instead of Brightshadow. "Tell me who's the doomed leader now? I know he couldn't have lasted for very long. No one can in Thunderclan, it seems." All plans to fight vanished. Anger and frustration and guilt were all he could see. He wanted to hurt her deeper then his claws could manage.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
Oh... So he is a rogue. She should have guessed. The probability of him being a clan cat was so low. She could see so it clearly now. "It would be stupid for me to try and kick you out now." His familiar feeling still befuddled her. Who is this cat? His hostility didn't go unnoticed. She wasn't the best fighter, but if she had too she would. Especially, for her clan. It only took her second to size him up. After that she knew she could beat him. Which reassured her .His scent was finally clear to her A kittypet! At least I know I can definitely beat him if this turns into a fight.
His knowledge of the clans was strange, and made her nervous. "Our leader is Bumblestar now." Her voice was tentative like she was sneaking past a sleeping bull. His specific hostility was strange too. Usually when Kittypets have grievances with the clans it's just about us being cat eaters or something along those lines. Why does it feel like he has an inside perspective. or had an inside perspective. He knows Dogbark specifically, but nothing current? Realization hit her like a truck. I know this cat!"Wait DuckFluff?" The memories were hazy, but she did know him.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
Oh... So he is a rogue. She should have guessed. The probability of him being a clan cat was so low. She could see so it clearly now. "It would be stupid for me to try and kick you out now." His familiar feeling still befuddled her. Who is this cat? His hostility didn't go unnoticed. She wasn't the best fighter, but if she had too she would. Especially, for her clan. It only took her second to size him up. After that she knew she could beat him. Which reassured her .His scent was finally clear to her A kittypet! At least I know I can definitely beat him if this turns into a fight.
His knowledge of the clans was strange, and made her nervous. "Our leader is Bumblestar now." Her voice was tentative like she was sneaking past a sleeping bull. His specific hostility was strange too. Usually when Kittypets have grievances with the clans it's just about us being cat eaters or something along those lines. Why does it feel like he has an inside perspective. or had an inside perspective. He knows Dogbark specifically, but nothing current? Realization hit her like a truck. I know this cat!"Wait DuckFluff?" The memories were hazy, but she did know him.
Duck
~*~
She wasn't going to run him out? He narrowed his eyes in suspicion at her, but put his claws away. Clan cat or not he wasn't going to make the first move. His muscles were still taut, however. Ready to attack whenever he needed to. Duck didn't trust this cat as far as he could throw her. There was no reason for him to. He stood listening to the rain pound outside as he watched her brain struggle to work out who he was. First confusion, then nervousness. He didn't expect the younger molly to remember him. She had been just a kit when he had left, after all. Vague memories of the nursery and of being surrounded by warmth and affection flooded back into his mind. The curled up bodies of tiny kits his kits. It stung in a way only the happy tragic past could. He pushed it away. Now was not the time.
Bumblestar? Yes he remembered her. Bumblestreak, the hot-headed molly who had yelled her head off at every clan meeting. He had admired her tenacity once. Now he simply frowned. Was such a cat fit to lead? Am I in any place to judge? Then she said it. His name. His old name. Duckfluff. He curled his teeth in a snarl. "Once, maybe, but it's just Duck now. The clan doesn't get to dictate what I do anymore. Only Lily can do that." This anger. It was so foreign to him. He'd tried to avoid thinking about everything about the past, and about the way Thunderclan had left him. Part of him wanted to run away even into the rain. If he disappeared in that storm he would never have to think about Foxwillow or Thunderclan or Apsenstar or Dogbark or Brightshadow ever again.
But the biggest part of him was angry. Angry that Starclan or whoever was in charge of the world had let things get so bad. Angry that he had given his whole life for the lie of security, protection, and love. Angry that he was the lowest he had ever been. That even when he had tried to rebuild his life Thunderclan was still here to take it all away again. It was irrational, but so was destroying his life! "Bumblestar is nothing but a fiery, angry, passionate joke. I can't believe you decided to stay in a clan that is so obviously burning to the ground. Tell me, kit, do you think that they will be able to save you when things go south? I mean look around you. Where are you clanmates now? If I decided to attack you where would they be then?" He lashed his tail as he spoke, his green glare fixed on her. He wanted his gaze to burn her pelt. To make her squirm. To make her feel the way Thunderclan had made him feel. He wanted her to hurt.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
She sat up. Anger boiling inside her. She closed her eyes. I can't let it take control. With a deep breath she turned her gaze back toward him. Bumblestar is a great leader. Her gaze unwavering. "And I am strong enough to beat you even without my clanmates because they've pushed me to be the best warrior I can be. Just because you were to cowardly to stand by your clanmates when you thought things were getting tough does not mean were too. Her gaze was cold, and strong. He wasn't her clanmate anymore. He had left with his tail between his legs. He did not deserve her pity. "If you had truly loved Thunderclan you would've fought for it. Instead you left to be pampered by a twoleg. She knew she had to stand up for what she believed. She knew that she seemed quiet and fragile, and maybe she was but in this moment she felt as fierce as a cat from Lionclan.
@Bonsai forgot to quote sooo here's what I would've named it lol Duck?
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
She sat up. Anger boiling inside her. She closed her eyes. I can't let it take control. With a deep breath she turned her gaze back toward him. Bumblestar is a great leader. Her gaze unwavering. "And I am strong enough to beat you even without my clanmates because they've pushed me to be the best warrior I can be. Just because you were to cowardly to stand by your clanmates when you thought things were getting tough does not mean were too. Her gaze was cold, and strong. He wasn't her clanmate anymore. He had left with his tail between his legs. He did not deserve her pity. "If you had truly loved Thunderclan you would've fought for it. Instead you left to be pampered by a twoleg. She knew she had to stand up for what she believed. She knew that she seemed quiet and fragile, and maybe she was but in this moment she felt as fierce as a cat from Lionclan.
@Bonsai forgot to quote sooo here's what I would've named it lol Duck?
Duck
~*~
He watched the younger cat puff up with anger and pride. He couldn't hide a smirk at the warrior's words. He hadn't loved Thunderclan? Ridiculous. He had given it everything he had! Thunderclan had been to ones who hadn't reciprocated his warm feelings. They had been the ones who had asked for too much. They had crossed the line! It wasn't cowardly to flee from a losing battle. There was nothing one cat could do for it. He had tried! The clan was too far gone. "Oh my clanmates pushed me alright. All they ever did was push. All in the name of becoming 'the best warrior I could be'. And then what? My kits were going missing no cat even bats an eye! I doubt any of those fox hearts even knew! It doesn't matter if the kits go missing as long as precious Thunderclan has enough territory. As long as we appear strong! That's all that matters to you cats. That's all you ever fight for." He spat this speech out. The words slid from between his teeth like a snake's tongue. His voice low but angry the typical melodious sweetness that came so naturally to him had melted away. There was no point in trying to be civil. Thunderclan had picked this fight, he was just ending it.
His tail continued to lash and so did his onslaught of words. "And as for my love of Thunderclan, I gave those cats my whole heart! I bore my soul out for them! I put my life on the line fighting for them! I would have fought the stars for you. I would have run to the ends of the earth. If you would have told me to die I would have laid down without a second thought. But the clan never thought twice about me. When I was in trouble no one even noticed. When I left no one even cared! How could they when they didn't care when my family went missing too! YOU failed ME." His voice edged up to roar at the last sentence. He had been rehearsing just this moment in his head countless times. He had sat in the garden pondering what he would say if he could talk to a Thunderclanner again. This moment had kept him up at night. The thought of it had driven him through his moons as a loner. The preparation for it had helped him over come every obstacle that had been in his way. The day when Thunderclan would finally notice him. The day some cat would reach out. He had lived for it. He wanted them to have cared. He longed to know what would have happened if some cat had just helped. But it was too late now. He wasn't pleading anymore. He was here for revenge.
He watched the younger cat puff up with anger and pride. He couldn't hide a smirk at the warrior's words. He hadn't loved Thunderclan? Ridiculous. He had given it everything he had! Thunderclan had been to ones who hadn't reciprocated his warm feelings. They had been the ones who had asked for too much. They had crossed the line! It wasn't cowardly to flee from a losing battle. There was nothing one cat could do for it. He had tried! The clan was too far gone. "Oh my clanmates pushed me alright. All they ever did was push. All in the name of becoming 'the best warrior I could be'. And then what? My kits were going missing no cat even bats an eye! I doubt any of those fox hearts even knew! It doesn't matter if the kits go missing as long as precious Thunderclan has enough territory. As long as we appear strong! That's all that matters to you cats. That's all you ever fight for." He spat this speech out. The words slid from between his teeth like a snake's tongue. His voice low but angry the typical melodious sweetness that came so naturally to him had melted away. There was no point in trying to be civil. Thunderclan had picked this fight, he was just ending it.
His tail continued to lash and so did his onslaught of words. "And as for my love of Thunderclan, I gave those cats my whole heart! I bore my soul out for them! I put my life on the line fighting for them! I would have fought the stars for you. I would have run to the ends of the earth. If you would have told me to die I would have laid down without a second thought. But the clan never thought twice about me. When I was in trouble no one even noticed. When I left no one even cared! How could they when they didn't care when my family went missing too! YOU failed ME." His voice edged up to roar at the last sentence. He had been rehearsing just this moment in his head countless times. He had sat in the garden pondering what he would say if he could talk to a Thunderclanner again. This moment had kept him up at night. The thought of it had driven him through his moons as a loner. The preparation for it had helped him over come every obstacle that had been in his way. The day when Thunderclan would finally notice him. The day some cat would reach out. He had lived for it. He wanted them to have cared. He longed to know what would have happened if some cat had just helped. But it was too late now. He wasn't pleading anymore. He was here for revenge.
Brightshadow
{A fluffy calico molly with green eyes.}
She paused. His sorrows were nothing to laugh about. Her ears twitched and she hoped this momentary pause would calm them both down. Getting frustrated too will not help anyone. Besides the state he's in that will only lead to a physical fight. Her moment ended. "Tragedy is like the tide of a river. You have two choices. Let it sweep you away or fight your way back up. You have chosen the former. It is difficult to get back up alone once the water has consumed you, but you can if you shout to your clan mates. They are to busy fighting there way up to see you unless you shout. You have to make the first move, but instead you have stayed quiet and let the water rule your life. You gave up with a whimper." She was half sure this didn't make any sense, but it made sense to her so maybe it could reach his constricted heart. "You've been letting the world pass you by. Instead of seeing your folly you blame others for it. You should know very well by now other cats can't see you unless you seek them out first. I apologize for calling you a coward, but you need to fight back against the tide. Do not let it rule you any longer." She sat tall by her words. She would not back down from this fight. It was her favorite kind of fight a battle of wits.
All the Blame Born of Sorrow(P)
