Bravery Or Foolery? *Bracken* (Week 8)

[flighty]

Paws moved swiftly, velvet pads brushing the ground lightly. Whiskers quivering, tail streaming out behind him, emerald eyes slitted and nearly shut as he ran... Tawny pelt flashing brightly in the sunlight of the bright afternoon sun, the snow around him glittering and reflecting onto his dappled fur.

Dustwhisker slowed, his pawsteps lightening as he made his way to the pool. His eyes observant, he took in every detail of his surroundings. Reaching the edge of the pool, Dustwhisker curled his tail around his paws as he sat down, staring into the crystalline waters. He was in silent mourning for his lost sister, thorn sharp claws burying themselves deep into the ground. His rough-and-tumble edge was beginning to fall weak; his usual ready to go attitude was replaced by a slow, gradual drop into a darkness that maybe nothing could pull him free from.

His forelegs gave way under the strain of trying to fight away the wave of grief that tried to roll over him. He wasn't used to this.. this... helplessness. He always knew what to do, what to say, what to think... And now.. everything was leaving him! He was alone out here, but not inside his mind. No, he was far from alone within the confines of his mind. His whiskers quivered, emerald eyes shut tightly, trying to block away the war that went on within his head. A part of him so wanted to show his bravery once again and confront the dog that had murdered his sister, but the other half of his mind screamed for him to not, that it wasn't bravery to throw yourself into certain death like that.

As his inner mind battled out the decision of bravery or foolery, the outside of him wasn't taking it so well. Sweat dripped from his whiskers, wettening the fur on his flanks, long, sharp claws, buried into the ground. Teeth clenched tightly, lips parted to show his ivory whites, muscles strained beneath his rough-looking pelt. He was a bit thinner then usual, and his fur wasn't as glossy as usual; the depression that was slowly taking hold was also wearing him away, bit by bit.

He needed rescue, and soon. Without someone to support him again very, very soon, he wouldn't last very long.

And still...
On raged the battle...

Of Bravery..
Or Foolery...

[brackengaze]

Ottermask stepped lightly towards the pool, the she-cat needed a relaxing moment after having a spat with Raggedclaws, what Lightningfoot saw in the cocky, disrespectful tom was beyond her. The slender chocolate hued she-cat stepped lightly, a grace she had never aimed to perfect, something that came naturally. Eyes with a dull yellow color finally spotted the pool, yet it was not secluded as she originally thought, but instead spotted the tawny male, Dustwhisker. She knew him, not well but the two had never had a problem. Flicking her slender tail she approached cautiously, noticing he was not exactly in a friendly stance. He looked... distraught.

As she came up to him slowly, ears pressed back slightly in mild concern. "Hello Dustwhisker, I hope you don't mind me coming here,"/b] she said in a soft soprano tone. Her neck stretched out, head turned to one side in a curious manner, trying to seem helpful. The Havana brown sat curling her long tail around her paws. She hoped she was not intruding, but the she-cat wanted company. Even Raggedclaws had found a friend in Lightningfoot, and she had found nothing. Glancing back she noticed how depressed he seemed. Perhaps Dustwhisker needed more than she did.

She was not used to seeing the tom this way, he was normally the carefree cat of the clan, not this cat of despair. Blinking she touched his shoulder gently with her tail tip, still ensuring there was space between them. They did not really know each other, she felt no more need to help him than any other cat that was her clan mate. She did not even really know the tom.

[flighty]

Dustwhisker, so involved in his mental war, did not hear the sleek chocolate she-cat until she was right there and speaking to him. His whiskers flicked as he slowly raised his head. He tipped his muzzle slightly, acknowledging her and letting her know he did not mind. Then the tawny tom let his muzzle drop into his paws once more, trying to forget about everything around him, trying to forget about life and death and family, and living altogether. After a while, he lifted his head once more and forced himself to his paws; he wasn't forgetting anything. In fact, the darkness of his conscience actually helped to portray the pictures better.

Feeling a tailtip brush his shoulder, he nearly flinched. He'd forgotten about Ottermask. Coughing to clear his throat, he shook out his fur, the damp fur of his flanks spiking out slightly. "Uh, yeah.. it's fine. I just..." He sighed, shuffling his paws. "I'm really taking Starsong's death hard. I never imagined that I would lose her like that." He mewed quietly, suddenly craving the company of this beautiful she-cat. He needed interaction, he needed to talk and trust and spend time with someone.

The dusky tom set about straightening his fur, wondering about Ottermask's own history. He wondered how she thought, how she lived, what she liked, what she hated... He found himself trying to decipher her quiet gaze, trying to pick apart her every move, trying to figure her out.

This onrush of sudden insight startled the young tom; he'd never quite felt like this. He'd never had to. The only she-cat he'd ever gotten close to- and cared enough about to- was his sister, Starsong. Now that she was gone, it seemed he needed someone to take her place. And Ottermask, the beautiful, friendly warrior, seemed just that cat. But, still, Dustwhisker fought the feeling away. He would not suck the Havana warrior into his own, dying world.

No. He would not allow himself to let her get close enough- it would only end in pain for her when he didn't recover and wasted away to nothing. He couldn't let anyone else bear the pain that he felt right then. But what if...

Well, what if she could save him? What if he didn't have to waste away? What if he let the pretty she-cat into his life and, maybe, just maybe, she rescued him from his almost certain death? Perhaps it was the way to go... Maybe... maybe a friend would be good for him... He'd be cautious, though. He couldn't bear the thought of letting anyone else struggle along with him. Only if she was willing...

"So.. What brings you out here?" He mewed, his voice still slightly rough. "You look a bit upset. What's going on back at camp?" He asked, tilting his muzzle slightly.

[brackengaze]

She had been unsure if the tawny cat had heard her. He seemed lost in his own world, beyond something she thought she could reach. Until he turned and finally seemed to see her. The whole clan knew he was taking things badly after his sister's death. They knew how close the siblings had been, a bond Ottermask had never understood as the only kit in her litter. "The clan grieves for Starsong, but she would not want you to wallow in misery, and you know that," she said trying to sound comforting, but the she-cat had never been good at these things. As he finally seemed to look at her she felt incredibly self conscious, licking her chest fur trying to appear more presentable. Ottermask was constantly aware of how her pelt was never as sought after as the multi-hued ones, or even ivory or black solid colors. She was simply brown, the color of dirt.

She was no sued to being watched so much, to having a tom want to tak to her. Perhaps he was just being nice, it would be like him to take pity upon the she-cat with few friends. As he questioned her she listened carefully, not wanting to seem as though she did not care about his questions, she relished in the fact that someone would want to talk to her, want to be near her. "I just needed to go for a walk, I enjoy the pool, it's a quiet place most cats don't come, but I am glad there is someone else here," she said quickly, realizing the first part of her speech could be considered that she had wanted time alone. Cursing herself mentally she wished she was not such a mousebrain, why did she have to say such idiotic things around others, especially cats being kind to her.

As he asked his final question she glanced behind her, towards the path leading to camp, "It's just Raggedstar, he thinks he can say and do whatever he wants to another clan mate, and Lightningfoot is mooning over him so she lets him, I just needed to get away from it all before I raked my claws over their ears," she said growling in annoyance before realizing and forcing her hackles to lower. She needed to relax, the last thing she wanted was for Dustwhisker to think she was jealous or anything to that effect. "And you? I hope you don't mind if I sit with you for a bit, I could enjoy some sane company," she said with a gentle chuckle trying to seem friendly.

[flighty]

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[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=437b62] Dustwhisker almost smiled when she started to fix her own fur. "You look fine, don't worry." He mewed softly. He could tell she was trying to make him feel better, and eh appreciated it. She was a very nice she-cat, and maybe he could use a friend. This time, he did smile. Just slightly, but it was there. The dusky tom stood, tailtip twitching slightly, the light breeze ruffling his fur. "Well then, shall we go for that walk?" He asked, beginning to pad along the bank, listening quietly as she explained about Raggedclaws. He laughed lightly when her appearance changed from comforting to furious, and then back to smiling again. "Seems like someone's never been subject to love at first sight before, eh?" His tone was teasing as he flicked her nose gently with his tail."Once you feel it, you'll realize how Lightningfoot feels. And Raggedclaws...." His gaze hardened. "I'll deal with him." He growled shortly. "Don't worry about it. He's a mousebrained fool and I can certainly handle him." The tawny tom's gaze wandered back to the she-cat that stood beside him. "Not all toms are mousebrained fools, though, you know. Some of them can be fairly nice, once you get past all that depression and whatnot." He grinned, a purr rising in his throat. "Maybe some hunting could help cool your temper?" Dustwhisker suggested, suddenly dropping all grief into the black abyss at the back of his mind, the carefree, life-loving tom reappearing just as soon as it had vanished. "I bet I can catch more prey then you." His tone was taunting her, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Ready... One.. two... three... Go!" He suddenly flipped away, darting into the bushes and then suddenly dropping down from a branch to land in front of her. "Boo!"He ducked in case she tried to swipe at him, dodging around her, all the while laughing. "Come on! Standing still never catches any prey! Of course, we can hunt together." His eyes glittered mischeviously. Maybe it would be better if they hunted together. He was feeling good again, and it seemed that he might play a prank on Ottermask if she didn't know where he was... Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

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[brackengaze]

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[atrb=width,300,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=a69f6b] Ottermask glanced up pausing from her grooming as Dustwhisker complimented her. That was certainly new, she had never had anyone compliment her before, let alone take so much time to speak to her. Most just humored her at best. "You are just being polite, but thank you,"she said to ensure she did not insult the tom. She was incredibly flattered by his compliment. Silently she thanked Starclan her fur was dark and he could not see the red that was probably forming beneath the chocolate hued fur, as her ears grew hot. "Well then, shall we go for a walk?"she heard him ask, nodding as she began following him, padding beside the dusky cat. "This is nice, thank you for inviting me on the walk,"Ottermask said nudging his shoulder with her nose in gratitude. As they continued on their walk she nearly stopped in her tracks, instead stumbling over a branch as he hinted at love at first sight. Regaining herself quickly, trying to seem composed the she-cat swallowed hard "No, I suppose I am one of those cats who has always thought love was just out of my reach," she said looking at him, trying to see if there was something there, something more. Perhaps there was, she could feel something for him, something within her core. She could grow to love this cat, perhaps she already was. Once he mentioned Raggedclaws her attention immediately went back to him, "No, don't worry about him. Let him stay conceded, he's not worth it and neither is Lightningfoot for condoning his behavior,"Ottermask said hoping she was dissuading Dustwhisker from confronting the powerful tom. Although she knew he could hold his own Raggedclaws was just too powerful. "You are one of those toms, I remember you when you were your happy-go-lucky self, it is good to see you like that again,"she said with a gentle purr, her waxed moon colored eyes glancing at him with a softness she had never known to another cat. At the mention of hunting she nodded, "I am not so bad tempered I cannot beat you in a hunting competition,"she said as he bolted away counting too fast. Growling playfully she darted after him, only to have him appear before her, scaring her. The she-cat yelped jumping backward, her fur standing on end. She was one cat that scared easily, anything jumping out infront of her made her jump half way back in response. Panting slightly she finally relaxed, licking her chest fur again to smooth the ruffled fur. I'd like that very much... to hunt with you," she said after a pause. The chocolate hued she cat caught up to him, awaiting him to lead the way. Although really she could care less about the hunting. She was perfectly happy to remain there, getting to know Dustwhisker better. Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking" And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night"

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[Dove]

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[atrb=width,300,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=c6ab50] Ookaclaw sprints across her territory, her longs lithe legs pushing her forward with each step, she spots the little rabbit darting away from her. “Just a little more…” she thinks stretching her large head forward the silky fur flat against her skull against the wind. Sprinting down the side of Frostclan territory, making haste, to catch this one rabbit – a quick, fat and long legged rabbit – “Just a little further!” Ookaclaw leaps forward, clamping massive jaws onto the now dwarfed body of the rabbit. As she digs her ivory fangs into the rabbit, her mouth tightening, Ookaclaw stumbles falling straight down the rest of the mountain. She flies wildly down the hill, narrowly missing trees as they zoom past. She rolls to a stop at the reflection pool, realizing that she has just fallen down a mountain, “Good thing I was already most the way down… Otherwise I would have died…” She mutters breathing hard. She looks at herself and sighs, “I’m a bloody mess… I have to clean this rabbits blood off soon… Poor rabbit… it could have been good meat.” As she glances around she realizes she is in the forest covered territory of Aspenclan. Ookaclaw gets up and pads further in. As she looks about her thinking, “I’ve never been here before! I have always wondered what it’s like…” She looks around running through the trees until she hears a she-cat and a tom talking. She stops cold but it is too late and she walks in on the scene of them playing. She swivels her massive head back and forth, thinking, “It’ll be tough… but I’m a big cat I could get out of here without really serious injuries… I hope…” Ookaclaw stands there disheveled, blood covered and slitghly disoriented.

[flighty]

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[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=437b62] Dustwhisker nodded slowly as she explained her views on love at first sight. He glanced at her, feeling warmth flicker through him as he met her gaze. He could see it in her eyes; she was searching his own expression, for something... He nearly had it pinpointed when her gaze focused again and the topic changed, to Raggedclaws this time. "Alright, alright. I'll leave him alone for now. But if he dares hurt you, even tries to lay a claw on you, he'll have me to answer to." He lashed his tail, his gaze darkening. And very suddenly, his ears grew hot as he realized what, exactly, he'd said. "Erm, um, I mean.. uh... if he hurts.. anyone.... um.... Anyone in the... Clan.." He trailed off weakly, unable to save himself. It was out, then. He liked her. And now she knew it. Unless, for some odd reason, that stammering had made sense to her... Fortunately, he was saved as she said that she would enjoy hunting with him. His heart pounding, he was about to ask if she actually liked him, more then a friend, when another cat padded out. She was large and covered in scratches, looking dazed and confused, and holding a rabbit. Dustwhisker immediately stepped in front of Ottermask, his fur rising and glittering teeth beginning to show. His eyes narrowed as he realized it was Ookaclaw, Darkstar's new deputy. "What are you doing here?" He demanded, his muscles still tense, but fur relaxing. "And why do you have a rabbit? You'd better not have caught that on AspenClan territory!" He hissed, his claws sliding out. He flicked an ear behind him. "If a fight breaks out, get back to camp and get Icestar." He murmured under his breath to Ottermask. "No arguing. I don't want you getting hurt." He added as an afterthought, in case she decided to argue. Whipping his tail, he faced Ookaclaw again, taking several steps forward to get closer. "Well? What are you doing on AspenClan territory?" Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

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