an accidental guest... [p]

[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 12 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

Okay, so this whole dream thing was... sort of new to Berryshine. She'd been pulled into a few dreams now by Fawnlight, traversing the lands of StarClan as her actual body lay asleep. But having recently discovered the ability to consciously walk and think in dreams herself, meandering through the berry-bushed meadows of her mind, she was finally gathering the courage to try it out on someone else. Maybe on Cobwebfern first? At least if she accidentally startled someone, it'd be her best friend, instead of some warrior she didn't know as well. After all, if dreams let just about anything happen, she could at least try it, right?

As Berryshine dwelled on this, padding through the soft grasses mindlessly, she didn't even notice how her own dreamscape was becoming a bit... darker. Her consistent anxiety and unresolved issues of the past hung like clouds, shadowing much of the clear skies and green grasses she tried to upkeep. Clouding her, clouding her judgement... and now, clouding her ability to properly pull off something she didn't even know how to do in the first place.

Shaking her head, Berry willed herself to concentrate. C'mon... just try it! She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the image of Cob in her head, as if trying to manifest the cat in front of her. But it wasn't working... dangit. Frustration bubbled in her chest, as well as the insecurity that came with feeling incompetent. Why was everything getting darker now...?

Without even realizing it, the small brown she-cat had marched her way deeper into the shadier parts of her own head, to where the green grasses and soft sunlight faded into a darker, choking landscape that was being filled with gray clouds that shrouded her mind. All the while, she was still doing her hardest to summon somebody — anybody...? — now into her head. Stars, just something to show that she could pull this off; she tried to pull from her racing thoughts, too fast to really comprehend what she was thinking—

And that's when she felt a strange jolt, as if a transfer of energy had left her and done... something. Huh. Did it work?

The medicine cat didn't have a chance to figure it out. At once it was like everything around her darkened, swirling around and shrouding everything in a blanket of thick fog. She froze, eyes widening and darting around, a vain attempt to try and see anything. And stars... was it cold? She felt herself shivering, a great contrast to the warmth of the meadows she'd often traversed in her own dreamscape. There was a strange, chilling sensation that made her realize... maybe she wasn't in her own head anymore. Or, if she was, something had completely altered the state. Was that possible? That someone else's dream could overpower her own?

Fish-dung... never should've messed with stuff I don't know anything about.

But panic was rising in her chest, realizing she couldn't see anything, even as she kept walking and trying to find a clearer view. Nothing... nothing cleared, none of the fog thinned. And now she was getting the eerie sense that maybe she wasn't alone right now.

Breathing growing more rapid, Berryshine reached the point where she finally raised her voice, shaky and uncertain in the strange environment, unable to stand the idea of being silently watched any longer.

"U-Uh... hello?"

[ @alec - this post is a mess lmao lmk if i messed any details up and i'll fix it >:3 ]

[alec]

ROOKFIRE
[ he/him | shadowclan medicine cat app | purrks ]
[ #rookMCA24 ]

rookfires dreams had long ceased being something he was able to share, going from being able to so precicely target a particular felines mind to no longer being able to reach out even to the very cat he slept next to each any every night hurt. besides gatherings and marigoldpaws apperant newfound ability to dreamwalk there was really no way to keep in contact with his friend, though, how moral was his connection anyway? at the end of the day, wasnt he supposed to leave behind and despise every single part of riverclan? perhaps the distance was good.
still, even though he retained some control over his dreamscape, the ability to conjure up easy, familiar herbs or objects had not left alongside the loss of his dreamwalking ability he couldnt help but wonder why starclan had taken this ability from him and then chosen him to fill a position almost built on a connection to starclan. a part of his wanted to believe it he had only held this ability to meet mossfreckle, to use it like a tool and lead him towards his fate. now that he was where he was supposed to be, where was the need to continue allowing him this ability. perhaps everything was meant to happen like this, perhaps every cat with a connection to dreams and life beyond death holds this gift for a certain time until its task if fullfilled. he wondered if this extended beyond this alone, if there was more to it, more special abilities that were gifts from starclan but not valued to their fullest until it was too late.
whatever the core reason behind anything happening was, rookfires believe in starclan stand unshaken at this moment in time, and the medic didnt have a lot more time to think about it as timid tones carried over to his, wrapped in thick fog and almost quieted enough to be mistaken for the voiceless whispers he had grown familiar with. yet, this wasnt like usual, the voice wasnt hollow as if sounding from every direction and none at once, it didnt carry the unmistakable unfamiliar language, sharp tones wrapped around soft edges and knowing feelings, no, this was certainly normal speech and put rookfire on high alert in an instant. he had no worries for his physical safety but the thought of someone wandering amongst the fog only meant to bear himself and those closest to him, it was wrong.
on the other paw, he was intrigued, the voice had been to quiet and muffled to make out much more than its vague directional origin and a edge of fear, uncertainty. and boy what a fool he would be to pass on a opportunity like this. on quiet paws, as if the thick fog and quiet hissing on wind wouldnt drown out any sounds like it was too late anyway, rookfire approached the stranger, following the memory of their voice for what felt like far too long. by the time the vague outline of the stranger was visible he was in leaping distance, able to make out the cats build, small, and lash his tail, fog curling around dark fur before hesitantly clearing between them.
"who the hell are you" the enforcer,, medic?..whatever he was, spoke up, straightening up a bit more, actively towering over the smaller brown furred cat yet keeping his voice neutral enough to perhaps not make them run in fear immediately.

[ short </3 hope this makes sense @squidz ]

[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 12 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

It almost felt like Berryshine was walking in the fog for what could've been hours, days... or a mere few minutes. Regardless, the small brown feline wanted out, and tried anything to make herself get out, to no avail. But after she'd spoken her shaky words into the air, it wasn't too long until she sensed the movement of something rather... lifelike, in the otherwise still and deadened air. Finally, that sense of eyes on her was validated, though part of her had quietly hoped it wouldn't be.

And then suddenly, the form was above her — a cat taller and larger than her with a pelt of varying grays with cool, stony eyes that reminded her of a midday overcast sky in leaf-bare. Something about him was vaguely familiar, though the medicine cat would never quite be able to place it on her own, especially with her thoughts racing in alarm.

While the stranger's voice didn't inherently hold malice, Berryshine still shrunk back a bit — although oddly enough, she didn't run. It felt as if her paws were rooted to the spot like an old tree, realization dawning on her: she hadn't just wandered off deep into the recesses of her own mind and failed to do the single thing she'd been trying at... but had yanked a complete stranger into her messy attempts, disrupting whatever they had going on.

"O-Oh! Stars above..." Berry whispered half to herself, ears flattening in embarrassment (and perhaps intimidation, though she didn't sense the other cat necessarily being... hostile, yet. Could she get hurt in dreams? Oh no. She didn't really want to find out). Clearing her throat, the young she-cat let out a nervous half-laugh, half-shaky breath and tried to straighten up a bit to explain herself; her skin felt like it was burning fire under her pelt, and she was all the more grateful for her dark brown covering to hide it.

"I-I'm so sorry, I, uh... I must've... gone much farther than intended, heh. I was trying to, eh, dream-walk, I guess you could call it, and... must've stumbled on into you instead, heh. I-I didn't mean to intrude, honest, I, uh—" Swallowing hard, Berryshine took in a deep breath to cut off her anxious rambling, trying to settle her racing heart and control the way the words were spilling out like water. Great StarClan, calm down, explain why you're accidentally intruding on some random cat's sleep... Another deep breath. Calm. Down. She was alright; all she had to do was explain, and maybe this cat would kindly show her the way out if he was so inclined... no claws needed! Right?

"O-Okay, let me start over. I'm, ah... I-I'm Berryshine." She managed an attempt at a friendly yet sheepish half-smile despite her nerves and clear embarrassment, silently praying that this cat wouldn't shred her ears from her stammerings — because StarClan knows Berry has never been the best at talking herself out of situations. Well, talking in general, really.

"A-And... I've sorta messed up what I was trying to do here, and disrupted your, uh... sleep." Was this really restful sleep? A foggy, cold wasteland? Mmm... Berryshine would certainly be keeping those thoughts to herself. "Ah... sorry about that."

[ @alec ]

[alec]

ROOKFIRE
[ he/him | shadowclan medicine cat app | purrks ]
[ #rookMCA24 ]

cool grey eyes narrowed he watched the smaller cat sink into themselves a bit once recognising him as another living being in the fog, unknowingly coaxing rookfire into letting his guard down slightly. if they were so easily intimidated there could hardly be anything to worry about. but he wasnt stupid, even if they backed up at his presence, he didnt make it to being a high rank by acting foolish. where the younger cat met the situation with jittery surprise, nerves so evident it was hardly a problem picking up and dissecting them one by one, the dark furred medic remained calm, curiosity and a healthy dose of suspicion the only things really swirling around his chest.

what followed the cats startled first words was a apology, one rookfire did not expect in the slightest but reminded him faintly of when he himself had been in a similar situation, to have his spirit make his way through space and invaded mossfreckles mind oh so many moons ago. something about this was familiar, too familiar to be merely dumb luck.. "interesting.. i'll let it pass this once,, because im curious. but don' expect that same treatment if ya end up here again" rookfire replied, head tipped to the side slightly to eye the younger cat in an almost unnerving manner, briefly unmoving apart from the shallow rise and fall of his chest (or would it be considered contraction and expansion of his ribcage..) before seemingly snapping out of it and continuing the conversation like nothing happened.

"so..berryshine tell me about you" barely guarded curiosity on his lips, and amusement swirling in his chest the medics voice took on a slightly more enthusiastic edge than the usual rather flat tone, unguarded in a way that failed to make him feel anxious in this setting, confident that he was in full control with nothing to fear. sinking back into a seated position, tail coming around to wrap around white tipped paws, rookfire subconsciously communicated he wouldnt leave without answers or at least a few informations to write home about.

[ this is so bad im so sorry @squidz ]

[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 13 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

Berryshine had tensed, as if expecting the larger feline to immediately claw her ears off for intruding in his dreamscape. But, seeing as she was a rather pitiful mess when her inherent anxiousness tied her tongue, the cat didn't seem to think of her as a threat. Which was quite fine with the medicine cat herself; she'd never been good at threatening. Why else would StarClan take her from the path of a warrior to instead become the Clan's medic? Like even they knew this anxious, outsider-born she-cat couldn't measure up to a bit of what a Clan needed in a strong warrior?

Pushing aside those needless rambles that clouded her ever-racing head, Berryshine cleared her throat, forcing her fur to lay flatter once this mystery cat said that he'd let her pass. Thank the stars... she was just about to nod off, utter a quick and panicked goodbye, and then dart off to figure out how the heck to get out before he changed his mind—

But then, the gray-furred cat in front of her sort of... unsettlingly stared, as if assessing her. Or the situation? She couldn't tell; whatever it was, it was making Berryshine even more unnerved now. The initial, expected hostility was now replaced with an almost icy calm. Which was worse? Honestly, to the small brown she-cat, it made her tremble all the same. She shuffled her paws in nervous habit as she willed herself to stay still, clearly seeing that the fellow feline wasn't just going to let her dart off into the mists and disappear without some details. Okay... fair enough, right? If someone intruded on her dream, Berry would want to know who they were too, right?

"Ah, well..." Berryshine cleared her throat and straightened up, trying not to betray by every twitch in her jittery body just how nervous she still was, being in such an unnerving environment and totally not in control of the situation. And stars, it was cold; she suppressed a shiver down her spine, her short fur doing her no favors. "I'm... I-I'm RiverClan's medicine cat app— ahem. Medicine cat." That still took some getting used to; really, she'd been RiverClan's sole medic for a lot longer than her name had portrayed, but finally earning the full title and her new name was something her brain struggled to keep up with. Wait, was this a Clan cat at all? She assumed so, but with the heavy fog nearly suffocating her already-overwhelmed senses, Berry didn't even attempt to figure out if the cat could be scented properly.

After a beat of silence, Berryshine hesitated; would this be rude to ask? Was she in any power to ask? Or was she just overthinking every interaction in this incredibly strange situation? With a flick of her tail, the herbalist glanced over the cat in front of her, attempting to sound somewhat polite. "A-And... you are...?"

[ @alec ]