A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 20, 2015 1:32:26 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. What.. was there to say? What could Starlingfur say? She and Boltfang hadn't spoken in moons. Seasons. Years. Starlingfur had never been the most chatty cat, but of course she had questions. What cat wouldn't? Even if any remaining threads between them had been burned long ago, Boltfang and Starlingfur had been through so much together. Any cat would be curious about what sort of life a former apprentice- friend- lover-.... whatever had gone on to live, whether they denied it or no. But Starlingfur didn't even know where to begin. Let alone whether what questions she had that he would or even could answer.
Sigh. This was going to be a long wait until the rain let up. Curling into a more comfortable position, Starlingfur pressed deeper into the tree and began to groom herself once more. Best to at least get some of the water and muck out out of her fur. The last thing that she needed right now was to be catching a cold. Plus, it might just bring back some sense of normality to this strange situation.
After a few moments of cleaning, Starlingfur felt eyes burning into her once more. She stopped mid-stroke, looking up to find Boltfang staring. Had... that been a rude action? Spending so long on her own save for Birchtail had had her resorting to her loner behaviors. It was.. strange being around other cats again, let alone relearning how exactly the social arts worked. Especially for a cat who had never really figured them out in the first place. Her thoughts were washed away after just a second when he spoke however.
She stared blankly for a moment. "Its... good to know that you're alive too." Starlingfur meowed finally. She hadn't exactly expected that. Her words were true though. Starlingfur had often wondered what cats had lived and died in the chaos, and had quickly assumed that Boltfang had been one of the first to perish. It was all she could assume, considering his nature. She would never say such a thing aloud- even Starlingfur's social abilities were better than that. But it ... was nice to know that she'd been wrong.
"Where have you..... been, since the war started?" 388 words | Starlingfur | Time: Noon |
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Post by Thunderstruck on Aug 20, 2015 1:56:59 GMT
Boltfang had paused at the question, Where had he been? He had been pretty much everywhere, doing whatever he could to avoid the darkness. "I know, for a time, I was protecting my own clan. But then... When the war happened, we were separated from each other, and then... It was just a game of trying to avoid being found."
Boltfang spoke with a slightly nervous tone to his voice. He was so use to having to run from any cat who wanted to harm him that sitting still for a prolonged time made him start to worry. But no cat was stupid enough to be out and about in this weather.
"I lost my memory during the journey too.. So I've been dealing with that..."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 20, 2015 15:27:18 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. Starlingfur listened patiently, nodding occasionally. That sounded like what most warriors had been through. What she and Birchtail had been through, as well as Ravenmist at the very least. Cats trying to stay loyal and protect their own for as long as they could before the forces swept them all away. They'd tried so hard, and yet nothing... Nothing had worked. What had caused this war? Prey, land, or something greater than all of them? Starlingfur didn't even know. Couldn't even know. "This war has torn the clans and every cat in them to shreds." she sighed, shaking her head. "At times I wonder if the forest will ever recover." Despite having not been clan-born, the clans had become an important part of Starlingfur's life. She'd been with them longer than she'd been without. And when they'd destroyed each other, she- like so many others- had lost almost everything. Some days it was easier not to think about it than others, but the weight of the dead always lingered in the back of her mind. If the forest ever did recover... It would take a long, long time.
But at the mention of memory loss, Starlingfur's copper eyes grew wide. ".... What?" she meowed, voice quietly shocked. She... hadn't even known. How had such a thing happened? How much did Boltfang remember? This wasn't something that she'd expected at all, especially from him. Although... It could certainly explain some things. But even so.. "Are you certain?" a stupid question for sure, but Starlingfur didn't exactly care. She was in shock. "How far back does your memory reach?" she'd never had the best memory herself, but losing ones past entirely... Had to be devastating. Especially being hurled into this world of war and death so soon after.
310 words | Starlingfur | Time: Early Afternoon |
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Post by Thunderstruck on Aug 20, 2015 15:43:08 GMT
IDIOT, WHY DID YOU TELL HER THAT!??!!?!
Boltfang winced slightly as Starlingfur's shocked voice entered his ears. They twitched slightly before he looked at her more fully.
"I'm sure. I.. uh... I woke up, next to a pond. And then found a bunch of cats, and Crookedstar and Fernheart filled me in, kinda. No one was very direct about it."
Boltfang paused at the thought. No one WAS direct about it, to be honest, he hadn't thought much of it before. Funny enough, he didn't care enough at first. But as time went on, his curiosity grew. But after asking and not getting a straight answer, or in some case being outright lied too, Boltfang stopped caring again.
"It happens..."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 20, 2015 18:55:13 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. "I see...." Starlingfur murmured thoughtfully. So that was obviously a part of why he'd been acting.. well, odd. Other than the obvious reasons. How much of his memory was gone though? Did he remember her? Thrushwing, Dapplefall, or Ravenmist? What about Cicadasong, Mothfrost, or Waspwing? Shrikestar? Granitestripe? An already strange situation just got even stranger. How could a cat just forget everything? That would also explain how different he seemed. She'd expected him to have changed in the years since they'd last spoken, but now he was like a different cat entirely. "That is.... strange. To say the very least." she meowed, brow furrowed.
The she-cat had to resist an odd laugh at his next words. Instead, she settled for a quiet snort. "No, I'm afraid it doesn't. A cat losing their memory isn't exactly a normal experience..... Well, as far as I know at least." she wasn't exactly an expert on all things normal herself. In fact, her life had been far less normal than she would have liked. But she knew at least that. "You always did have a habit of getting yourself into trouble, though." She shook her head, although it was more exasperatedly amused this time. In a tired sort of way. She was glad that she'd left when she had if Boltfang had continued to get himself into trouble even afterwards. But it was still so him.
251 words | Starlingfur | Early Afternoon |
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Post by Thunderstruck on Aug 20, 2015 19:09:54 GMT
.... I'm loosing you....
Boltfang's ears twitched when Starlingfur snorted. She found it funny. Funny that he was always in some sort of life threatening danger, funny that he can't seem to find a place to settle in, Funny that he's lost everything he worked so hard to rebuild for himself. He thought it was kinda funny too. As far back as he could remember, which wasn't that long, he still couldn't seem to stay out of trouble, it just didn't seem to be his destiny. No, he was destined to cause havoc wherever he went.
"Not a normal experience wouldn't begin to describe what it's like to suddenly come into existence. And that's the best way to describe it. I just woke up and suddenly, here I am. But it is interesting, hearing stories and half assed walk-around stories about my past. You couldn't begin to understand how awkward it can be when you have no idea who someone is, but you feel like you should, and it's even worse when you really hurt them. But.... I don't know, I really wish I wasn't.... this, I don't have any idea what my life was like before. I'm still not sure I want too...."
Boltfang paused for a moment and then sighed.
You really don't know how to shut up
I feel like I can talk to her
You can't, she'll just hurt you again!
I don't believe that.
Boltfang's stomach made a low rumbling noise which drew his eyes to his stomach, almost like he was startled. Well, He was startled, he had gotten use to eating so rarely that he usually forgot he even had a stomach.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... Run on like that."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 20, 2015 20:15:33 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. "It has to be a strange feeling." Starlingfur agreed. She couldn't imagine what it would be like. To wake up one morning knowing nothing. Her thoughts drifted back to Lightfeather, a former warrior of Dawnclan who had gone through something quite similar. She hadn't been as close with the she-cat as she'd been with Lightfeather's mate, but she knew all about the memory loss that the warrior had experienced twiceover. Existing, having a history, but knowing none of it. It was just... Strange.
As Boltfang went on, Starlingfur began to get more of a sense that this really was Boltfang. The more he spoke, the more he seemed like himself. Longwinded and expressive, this was the Boltfang that she'd known. She was sympathetic to his situation, and let her guard down ever so slightly. If what he said was true- she'd never been the best at reading cats and so she couldn't be completely sure, but she was beginning to be convinced- then he wasn't too much of a threat. She wouldn't relax completely, but unneccesary stress would be good for nobody. So, she shifted more comfortably and nodded. "I can imagine. It must be difficult."
The sound of Boltfang's growling stomach interrupted the two, and Starlingfur twitched an ear as she looked over the tom. He looked... hungry. She still couldn't even guess when the last time he'd eaten was. And yet.. Here she was, two pieces of prey and eating neither. Yes, food had been difficult to come by over the course of the past year, and it still was even now that she'd returned to the forest. She'd gotten lucky in finding the crow and mouse. She needed the food for her pregnancy, and Ravenmist needed it for her wounds. Not to even mention Birchtail. But... The crow was large enough for a few cats, and she could catch another mouse on the way back. "...... It's fine. There isn't much else to do here." she shrugged, looking out the entrance for a moment. The rain still fell.
Seconds later, she turned back and pushed the mouse towards him with a paw. It was well sized- a good Green-Leaf catch. Self preservation should rule above all else. They were loners now. No clan code bound loners. No honor, no loyalty. Not as if those were the things that she joined the clans for in the first place. All she'd wanted was easy food and a dry place to sleep. "............. Here, it sounds like you need this more I do."
439 words | Starlingfur | Early Afternoon |
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Post by Thunderstruck on Aug 21, 2015 21:10:22 GMT
food? She's toying with you, don't accept it!
Boltfang reached his paw out and pulled the mouse closer, taking a small bite out of it and savoring every bit of flavor that washed over his tongue. It was refreshing to say the least. Boltfang looked back up to Starlingfur.
"Thank you"
His words were clear and quiet. But clear, His speech so far had been nothing short of oddly toned since the conversation began, but for this brief moment, he sounded almost normal.
Boltfang slowly finished the mouse, as he did though, his posture had changed if only slightly enough to reflect his full stomach. His eyes looked around the log before setting on his own paws.
Now you've done it. You're going to regret that mouse. Just wait.
"Lovely weather we're having today"
Boltfang's whiskers twitched in amusement at the thought, the rain sucked, hard.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 21, 2015 21:52:51 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. There was plenty to think about as the rain fell. Starlingfur had nodded a reply to Boltfang and now watched the weather as he ate. The past of the clans, the future of the clans. Her own past and her own future. Where Boltfang fit into all of this mess. Starlingfur had decided to chalk this up as a positive experience rather than a negative one. There was no flying fur, and any negative feelings she'd had towards Boltfang hadn't resurfaced. Yet, at least. She'd never been a cat to hold grudges. That had always been her son.
Family was something that she thought about in her silence. This meeting had brought back memories she'd hoped buried. Her time in Duskclan, her conversations with Granitestripe. Boltfang's apprenticeship and Starlingfur's first fumbling steps into the experience of being a mentor. Would he even remember those days? Doubtful. However there would be more time to think on them- more time to think on her actions as a young cat as well- when she returned home. Home. Now that was a strange thought. But she did have a home, even if it was messy and makeshift. After all the moons wandering, she'd come back. To more things than one.
After a time, the thunderous roar of the raging storm began to subside. Pelting drops that shook the foliage turned to a gentle but steady drizzle, and from behind gray clouds the sky began to darken. Sunhigh had passed now, and evening would be on it's way. Even without being able to see the sun that much would be evident. There hadn't been many words between the two as Boltfang had eaten, but Starlingfur thought it just as well. Never had she been a cat to fill silences with needless chatter after all, even when there was so much that could be discussed. Perhaps there would be another day for that. Perhaps not. Starlingfur narrowed her eyes in thought, and didn't realize that Boltfang had spoken until a few moments later.
"..........Ah? Oh, yes. Perhaps to some." she meowed, tilting her head. She'd never liked the rain much herself. A wet coat was not an enjoyable experience. Wait... Had that been sarcasm? She'd always had a rather difficult time grasping such things and could never be quite sure. "I myself don't exactly enjoy having a wet coat, but I'm sure that there are Birchclan cats enjoying the rain." Birchclan cats. Were there even any still out there? No doubt there were. She'd smelled their scent- diluted as could be but still recognizable- over the course of their trek to Dawnclan's territory. It was more of a question of whether they were still cat or beast, now. So many clanborns were unused to the life of a rogue, and in the end she'd seen it destroy many of them. Shaking her head, Starlingfur sighed inwardly.
"It seems to be letting up now at the very least. I'll be able to return home before long." she meowed thoughtfully, twitching her tail as she watched the rain. The word still sounded so odd rolling over her tongue after not having had a stable one for so many moons. Seasons, even. Did Boltfang have a home, she suddenly wondered?
"Do you live here?"
563 words | Starlingfur | Afternoon |
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Post by Thunderstruck on Aug 22, 2015 2:30:48 GMT
Boltfang's eyes looked up and met Starlingfur's when she asked about his home. His mind was suddenly filled with memories of his clan, Fernheart, Eaglestrike, Stormclan. Boltfang was far from his home.
"No... I... Don't have a home... I've been wandering here and there lately"
Boltfang's eyes showed more hurt than he realized because his face matched his eyes in terms of how much it hurt him that his home was no longer around.
Our entire clan is gone, and she has the gull to ask if we live in this shoddy log?!
We don't need a home, we're stronger on our own.
We are stronger on our own, but....
That doesn't change how lonely we feel.
At least we can agree on that.
Boltfang yawned as the storm calmed to a slow, almost stopped drizzle. His eyes drooped slightly, and he yawned again and stretched.
"But that's ok, I get the feeling most other cats would enjoy watching me suffer alone, it's just a good feeling to know I'm still alive."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 22, 2015 3:01:13 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on. No home then. It wasn't as if that answer should have been unexpected. Few cats these days did have homes. "I see. Most cats have been doing the same, from what I've seen. It's hard to keep territory these days. Clan cats don't know how to live as rogues." she shook her head. She had a choice to make then. Starlingfur paused. Should she tell him how nearby she lived with Ravenmist and Birchtail? Did... he have a right to know? Ravenmist was his daughter after all, even if he'd seemingly forgotten. Or perhaps it would be better off if he didn't know. Less memories dredged up. For now, at least. Still.. The idea of her former apprentice straying too far and getting himself into even more trouble wasn't exactly appealing to her, despite the attachments that she'd cut off.
"........ This area seems more peaceful than most. It would be as safe a place as any, if you decided to set up a den." she shrugged after a moment's silence. That was as good as anything she supposed. She didn't want to jepordize what she'd finally managed to build for herself, even if Boltfang didn't seem too aggressive. It was hard to trust cats anymore, especially those who had a history of being distrustful. She could give him a gentle nudge in the right direction though. A safe direction at the very least.
But now as she watched the rain, it seemed light enough to walk through. The drizzle was a steady one, but not unbearable. She... should go. Birchtail was no doubt worried sick (a thought which was both endearing and nerve-wracking to her- she still wasn't used to such thorough affections) and she needed to check up on Ravenmist. The sun was falling and her crow had long since gone cold. She had best return from her hunt.
As she rose to her paws however, Boltfang's words stopped her. The tabby looked at him, tilting her head with a strange look in her eyes. Bordering between inquisitive and accusatory. It vanished as quickly as it appeared however, face turning to stone again as she shook what water remained from her pelt. Not that it would do much good once she'd gone back out. "....... We must be thankful for what small victories we have in these times." she murmured, "..... Things will get better. For all of us."
With that, she dipped her head and picked up her crow. Starlingfur slipped out of the log with ease, stopping at its entrance and blinking in the rain for just a moment. The pause lasted seconds, and then she was on her way again, padding back into the depths of the ravaged remains of Dawnclan's territory. Things would get better. If history had taught her anything, it was that from the ashes of things once great bloomed the most beautiful flowers.
496 words | Starlingfur | Afternoon |
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