[P] Whispering Flora, Hiding Fauna

[Nahbois]

Smokefern
|| She/her || 35 Moons || Warrior ||

The last few days had been busy, at least for Smokefern. All the usual warrior stuff seemed to just take up her time, and when it wasn't, she found her thoughts drifting to her mate or many of the other things her mind liked to ponder over. As Smokefern padded out of the warrior's den, her pale blue eyes scanned the clearing. Looking for someone who might be in need of something to do.

There was Mosstangle, staring at the entrance of camp. It had been a little while since they'd exchanged anything other than pleasantness. The last time had to of been when they went to grab flowers. You know, she never knew how that ended up going for her and Blackjaw. The gray and white she-cat padded over and settled on the root besides her. "Waiting for someone to bring you back some flowers?"

( @namen_roodles -Mosstangle)

[namen_roodles]

MOSSTANGLE
Shadowclan Warrior | 19 moons | Large, dark brown-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes
~~~

His nest was cold. Mosstangle had been busy. She had been working on making her own relations within the clan, interacting with her clanmates in events, distracting herself with sparring and training apprentices, and at this point she was fairly certain that she and Blackjaw were flirting quite heavily. Yes, that had slowly started to clear up for her. What hadn't been clear? Aldersnarl's nest was losing his scent. Quietsparrow, too, so she couldn't even try to ask his mate-to-be where he had gone.

Her brother had disappeared, and there was no one who knew where he had gone. Did they run away together?

Mosstangle wasn't sure where her mind was. She had looked for him to ask him for advice. She wanted to know what to do next with the silly, white tom, but... He hadn't been there. He hadn't been there in a while.

And she hadn't noticed.

Mosstangle made her way out into the clearing and sat atop a root of the giant pine. She found her eyes automatically drifting to the entrance as though she expected Addersnarl to come back. He would return with a patrol, a mouse in his maw for her. She knew it wouldn't happen, but her tail tip twitched back and forth as she tried to stick with the thought. He wouldn't have just left her. Right?

She heard someone sit beside her. The words were momentarily distant. A twitch of the ear. Waiting for someone too...

Smokefern was beside her as the world returned to reality for Mosstangle. She was asking about Blackjaw. Right. It took a moment for that to process, because it seemed odd for her brother to bring her flowers. It wasn't something he had ever done before. "Oh, uhm..." Mosstangle blinked a couple times as she looked at Smokefern. "No... He did, though. It was... nice." She told her, trying and failing to pull her mind away from Aldersnarl.

@Nahbois

[Nahbois]

Smokefern
|| She/her || 35 Moons || Warrior ||

The casual levity that Smokefern had carried herself with sapped away at Mosstangle's response. She tried brushing her tail against her friend's, a small touch made out of concern. It was clear something was wrong with the usually more upbeat tabby, though was this about Blackjaw? Or maybe something happened with her apprentice? Stars, it could really be anything.

"What's on your mind?" Her voice was quiet, the humorous hints replaced with notes of concern. She followed Mosstangle's gaze towards the camp entrance, and let out a soft hum. Sometimes the camp was never private enough. "Want to walk and talk about it?"

( @namen_roodles -Mosstangle)

[namen_roodles]

MOSSTANGLE
Shadowclan Warrior | 19 moons | Large, dark brown-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes
~~~

Well, it hadn't occurred to Mosstangle that her tone was so... low. She was used to her voice always coming out exactly how she intended... So, when she sounded so... Unenthused, it surprised even the dark tabby. She had really wanted to tell someone about the honeysuckles that Blackjaw had brought her, how nicely they made up, and how frustrated she had been that something just hadn't been right.

That all felt very distant, now. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind a walk." She mewed, standing and shaking her pelt before sliding off the root she had perched on. She felt a bit sore. How long had she been sitting up there, staring at the entrance of camp? She had lost track of time, it seemed. Maybe it would be good to talk to someone. Not just anyone, especially with how sharp many in Shadowclan could be. There were a certain few she felt truly comfortable with, though. Blackjaw, Aldersnarl... Smokefern.

Mosstangle had been unsure exactly how she felt about Smokefern for only a short while, and had started to feel fairly familiar with her. The sharp tongue was not just entertaining, but battles of wit were good for the mind. The tabby had been looking forward to their next bout. It was a petty that she didn't have her mind on it when they finally did get the chance to talk again.

As they exited camp, Mosstangle wasn't quite sure what to say, at first. Really, a moment of silence was the most helpful thing for her to get her thoughts in order. It took a while before she noticed that they were heading straight for the Dawning woods. It was a nice place, as well as where she and Aldersnarl had hunted together quite a few times. Her tail twitched at the thought. She supposed she had spent enough time gathering her thoughts, though they were still much like a hurricane in her mind.

"Aldersnarl... He's gone," The warrior said, "My brother... He's been gone... I didn't even notice until I looked for him today..." She shook her head, eyes watching the ground as she stepped, paying attention the the flashes of white as her paws carried her along. What kind of sister didn't notice her own brother's disappearance?

@Nahbois

[Nahbois]

Smokefern
|| She/her || 35 Moons || Warrior ||

Smokefern slid off the root, skipping out on any stretches that she felt the urge to do. Now wasn't really the time for them. As they stepped out of camp, Smokefern kept pace with Mosstangle, letting her take the lead on things. She didn't even ask where they were going. Sometimes it was best to simply wander. There were dangers in the territory, which she knew all to well, but a pair of warriors could handle most of what came their way.

She let the silence hang between the two of them. It was how Smokefern was. Though their friendship was one that formed from verbal sparring, the one earred warrior always was more comfortable in silence. If there was one thing she had to pride herself on, it would be patience. Not to mention being comfortable enough with herself that she never felt the need to unnecessarily fill the void with chatter. The singing birds and rustling leaves did that plenty.


And after Mosstangle's confession, she held that silence for several heartbeats longer. Thinking, considering what best to say. She hadn't known Aldersnarl all that well, outside of hearing the name on the rare occasion. "I can't speak for his motivations," Smokefern finally said. "but were you close? Maybe he wished for you to not notice, to not hurt you. However strange the logic might sound."

( @namen_roodles )

[namen_roodles]

MOSSTANGLE
Shadowclan Warrior | 19 moons | Large, dark brown-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes
~~~

Mosstangle didn't really think Smokefern was going to scold her or judge her harshly on this topic, but the pause almost made her bristle as her own thoughts spiraled. Was today the day she lost a brother and a friend? It wasn't a thought she expected to come up, but one that immediately brought more pain to the surface. Just the idea added more cracks to the wall that barely held back a tidal wave of emotions.

The space around them opened up into Dawning Woods as Smokefern finally spoke. Mosstangle stopped her walking and looked down at the ground, not even sure if Smokefern stopped as well. "We were... very close, growing up... Everything just... became so busy..." Apprentices. Patrols. Relationships. So much was going on and every single thing that she hadn't stopped and talked to Aldersnarl about... It was just another crack.

"I... Don't know..." Mosstangle finally said to Smokefern's suggestion. The idea of leaving and not telling her anything... "He wouldn't... Why would he do that?" She shook her head. There was a small flare in her chest. A deep frustration... Perhaps even anger at the idea. If he had left, willingly, without telling anyone... Especially her... "Just... Leave everything? Everyone?" The dark tabby finally looked up at her one eared friend, green eyes brimming but tears had yet to fall.

@Nahbois

[Nahbois]

Smokefern
|| She/her || 35 Moons || Warrior ||

Smokefern stopped a short distance away from Mosstangle. A quick look and sniff told her that they were alone, which was good. Well, perhaps not so good. The best situation would be for Aldersnarl to show up and explain it all. That, however, was about as likely as finding a source of unlimited prey in leafbare. Quietly, she sighed. "I don't know, Mosstangle."

Her own mind wandered to her father. Ever withdrawn, never saying what he needed even when he should have. Smokefern was projecting on this surely. Her lack of knowledge on the missing warrior didn't mean she could fill it with her own loved experience. "'Why' is always the question, isn't it? Maybe he was dissatisfied by clan life, or he felt he had to leave. Or maybe he couldn't come back."

Sometimes, the answers weren't satisfying. It was a truth that Smokefern had learned herself. Her own light blue eyes met Mosstangle's watery green. "What I can tell you is that it isn't your fault. For whatever reason he's not here, it was ultimately up to him. Don't blame yourself for something out of your control."

( @namen_roodles -heading to bed, will respond tomorrow morning)

[crow.]

Alder
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Wither ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
He/Him | Loner | 28 moons | Outsider

Purrks:
⛧⛥⛦⛧

- - -

Alder stalked the edge territory of shadowclan, exhaling deeply. He had left everything behind. His sister, Quietsparrow, his apprentice.. all because of his new mate- Quincy.. Quincy wasn't a bad cat- but- he got jealous easily- and he asked Alder to leave everything for him.. and he did.

He did just wish to see his sister.. one last time.. if just for moment- to explain everything. The large tom was smaller compared to his new mate, he had grown lean and lithe, perfect for stealth.

@namen_roodles // @Nahbois
(can delete if needed)

[namen_roodles]

MOSSTANGLE
Shadowclan Warrior | 19 moons | Large, dark brown-and-white tabby she-cat with green eyes
~~~

Mosstangle listened to the older molly speak. It was painful. She couldn't help but to wonder further into the various reasons he might have left. Mosstangle sat and wrapped her tail around her paws. The gears started to turn as she tried to find a good reason for him to leave. Maybe he was out there... injured? Alone? Afraid? "You're right... Maybe something's happened." She offered, asserting more to herself than Smokefern.

That meant that, perhaps she needed to find him. Find him before something terrible happened. "Maybe he's still nearby... I... I don't know if we could pick up his scent again... Something..." She was bargaining with herself. Would she risk getting caught outside of the territory to find Aldersnarl?

The answer was easily yes. Mosstangle wasn't sure how she felt about that sharp of a split in her own loyalty.

Then, a scent.

Was she imagining it?

Mosstangle froze, still as stone, as the scent wafted over her nose. It was far. It was as though Starclan themselves had sent the message. "Alder...?" She whispered, head snapping towards the scent. It couldn't be true. It was too good to be true. Surely, it was a sign from Starclan to go find him...

She refused to risk waiting.

Mosstangle tripped over her own tail, barely managing to stay upright, as she jumped from seated into a full sprint. All thoughts left her mind except the sole need to find him. It was just a wisp of a scent... but it wasn't stale.

Mosstangle skidded to a stop at the border, green eyes darting in every direction, but she didn't immediately see him. His scent was less faint, now. He had to be here. He was coming back. Aldersnarl had returned to Shadowclan. "ALDERSNARL!" The cry was so loud, she immediately felt the strain on her vocal cords, a dry and sharp pain ripping from her throat. How dare he worry her like this! He had it coming to him, the earful she would give him after pinning him down so he couldn't leave again.

Was he even there, or was she going crazy?

[ @Nahbois - Smokefern | @crow. - Alder ...Honestly, I'm down to roll with it. Here's a chance to slip away if you want, though.]