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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 11:38:20 GMT -7
she had been a busy girl the last couple weeks- maybe that was just her summer instincts kicking in. the good weather wouldn't last forever and everyone knew it. best to get anything and everything done while you could! she was discovering after all these moons that she actually liked being busy. imagine that! fernshadow was feeling bright and cheery. everything was going well, more or less. she could only ask for so much, but lately she felt useful and loved. that was everything she could possibly want, even if she felt like she hadn't earned it. in her world, just feeling okay seemed like a blessing. with a smile on her broad face, fernshadow ducked into camp after her short patrol, flicking her tail to the folks that she trotted away from. she was looking for one face in particular- those mismatched eyes that made her heart jump every time. she didn't know what to make of him or the way he felt about her or even the way she felt about him but the big tortoiseshell lass knew she wanted to see him. and for once, she was gonna take matters into her own hands about that. periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 12:09:10 GMT -7
for whatever reason, tidestrike was in a foul mood today. he'd been assigned duties he despised, and had overseen the apprentices digging through the prey pile for items that needed to be put out with the dirtplace. a frown sat on his lips, even after he had a few moments to himself. the black and white tom now sat off to the side, observing the glacierclan camp with his multicolored gaze.
it was then that fernshadow trotted into camp, and he felt a smile tug at his mouth. she was such a pretty she-cat, and it was fairly certain by now that she was his girl. they hadn't talked about becoming mates, though tidestrike assumed that in the next passing of the seasons they might begin to think about kits. however, for now, those thoughts were far too early.
thinking for a moment about starting a family got the tom excited - he couldn't wait to be a father one day - but he also couldn't help but wonder where fernshadow had been. he'd been seeing less and less of her lately, and while he tried not to be too possessive, it was just in his nature to make sure she was safe - and not off seeing any other lovers. "looking for me, princess?" the tom called, smirking at the lovely tortoiseshell warrior.
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 12:20:56 GMT -7
fernshadow laid eyes on tidestrike almost at the moment she heard his voice, cutting through camp just for her ears only. she was simultaneously delighted and miffed with the pet name. sometimes that was just what that tom did to her. her feelings were a little more complicated than she let on. she didn't think about that now as she trotted his way, giving her mane a few self-conscious licks before she got to him. " hi," she meowed softly, eyes twinkling. " how.. are you doing?" the warrior added after a drawn out moment of hesitation, tilting her head slightly- the picture of an attentive girlfriend. as if that's what she was. was she? who would know. unless he cornered her into it, fernshadow wouldn't go around confessing all her feelings any time soon. she reached out with a delicate paw and nervously batted a tiny piece of moss out of the tom's silken coat without meeting his piercing gaze. periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 12:27:57 GMT -7
he smiled down at her, his own eyes twinkling. "i'm well enough, now that you're here." tidestrike admitted, warmly, before going on. "that damn brother of mine had me sorting through carrion with the apprentices!" the black and white tom mewed incredulously. such a lowly task, for a warrior like him! the tom rolled his eyes, distracted for a moment.
a long pause fell between them. was it his fault? what had he done? more importantly, what had she been doing? "how are you? what were you out doing?" the glacierclan warrior gestured toward the camp entrance, where the gorgeous tortoiseshell she-cat had just come from. he wondered if it had been a patrol, who she'd been with, and every other iteration of these questions. the air felt odd, and tidestrike shuffled his paws uncomfortably as she picked at a bit of moss in his fur. "sorry, you shouldn't need to groom me like a kit," he added, amused, but also embarrassed. "i should pay more attention to keeping tidy, huh?"
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 12:46:28 GMT -7
she gave a coy purr and let her mossy green eyes drift up to his face, letting his warm tone wash over her. it felt good, why hadn't they been making time for each other in so long when it felt so nice to be around one another? she didn't have time to ponder it. she sat and wrapped her big tail about her paws, giving another lick to her chest. " i'm sorry dear, but i suppose someone has to make sure those kids get it done correctly, right?" she tried to amend his mood, perhaps a bit weakly. her tailtip twitched over her toes, she stared down at it. " oh! i'm good!" she smiled again, more than happy to steer the conversation to a brighter place. " i've had a busy morning. just got back from a border patrol- it's so warm out in the territory today! want to go for a walk?" fernshadow stood, anticipating his answer. surely taking in the sights would sweeten his sourness. " don't worry about that, silly. i'd pick moss out of your fur all day if you'd let me," she purred, brushing his cheek lightly with her tail as she turned, ready to set out. her cheer must have made her feel a bit cheeky. periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 13:04:17 GMT -7
her efforts to make his mood less lousy worked a little, though tidestrike still felt like grumbling. she just didn't get it - he worked so hard to be respected, and yet didn't receive it. the tom licked his chest, highly aware of his mood. "right." the warrior replied, deflated. it was true, but tidestrike wasn't good with apprentices. they got on his nerves, said stupid things, and were almost always mouse-brained.
"i'm glad you're doing well." tidestrike answered when she smiled, and he reflected it back at her. at the mention of border patrol, his face fell slightly. "who else was on the patrol?" he asked, trying to be nonchalant. why hadn't orcafang assigned him to the patrol with fernshadow? didn't he know by now that tidestrike was getting closer to her? perhaps he was jealous of his relationship with the tortie femme! how dare he.
at the mention of a walk, his fur bristled uncomfortably. "i suppose. it's kind of hot, though." he muttered, looking out at the rest of the camp. plus, if they left camp, who would see them being such a handsome couple? tidestrike quite enjoyed every glacierclan warrior being aware that fernshadow was talking to him, especially those who might try to pursue her. he snorted at his thoughts, eyes beaming with pride.
fernshadow brushed his cheek with her tail, and he shivered. maybe going for a walk wouldn't be that bad. mustering up the energy, he began to follow her, his thoughts still conflicted and churning within, but happy to be with the she-cat anyway. "if i had moss all over me i'd look like a green, swamp creature or something! his attempt at a joke wasn't that good, but he tried.
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 13:31:27 GMT -7
" yeah..." she hadn't considered that. it was pretty hot, and tidestrike had all that dark fur... so did she, for that matter. " well strike that, it's okay! i just thought.. w-well," she fumbled now. " i just thought we might want some privacy, to talk... it's been a while hasn't it?" she shrugged. maybe he didn't miss her like that anyway. although he did seem happy to see her, maybe he was like that with other cats too... the thought was a little jarring. she didn't like it. almost as though she were projecting her thoughts on him, he asked her about the patrol. " oh just um, lavaspring and bitternwing. orcafang was gonna come but something else came up-" well now she was just babbling. fernshadow bit her tongue. was this weird or was she just overthinking as usual? thankfully, tidestrike broke the tension she was feeling with a joke. she gave him a laugh, perhaps a bit out of obligation at the attempt, but her grin was genuine. " oh my gosh, that reminds me- dognose told me the dumbest joke yesterday," she suddenly chortled, her eyes crinkling up with a mrrow of laughter. " aahhh, i can't even remember it now. ugh i will think of it, gimme a minute." she giggled, wracking her brain. some ridiculous pun about the weather, what was it? she would have to ask them next time she saw them. periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 13:43:19 GMT -7
privacy? what did they need privacy to talk about? she was going to break up with him, wasn't she? for one of those other cats! of course, it was all so simple. fernshadow must have spoken with her brother, wanting to get them separated. yes, orcafang must want her, that must be it! "why do we need privacy? if you have something to say to me, you can do it here." tidestrike snapped, standing in place, immovable. how dare she lead him on like this.
"oh, bitternwing? how were they?" he asked sharply, jealousy bubbling over. rage began to blur his vision. he couldn't believe this was happening. he had convinced himself that they had something special! ha. what a joke he must be to the entirety of his clan. "of course orcafang was going to come." the glacierclan warrior hissed, rolling his eyes. starclan, it was so obvious that the other black tom wanted fernshadow too.
the tension just kept growing, and tidestrike was about to say something when she mentioned being with dognose, too. he no longer could keep still. "you've been out with dognose too? how have you been everywhere with everyone, and never with me?" he spat accusingly. "i suppose you're close with all of these cats, and i'm nothing to you." the black tom growled the last part, feeling absolutely betrayed.
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 14:01:57 GMT -7
it was like a switch was flipped behind tidestrike's beautiful eyes just before he rounded on her. stunned, fernshadow could do nothing but gawk, delicate maw just slightly ajar. " wh-what?" she managed to squeak at the confrontation, " i don't-" but he went on. fernshadow looked around, feeling a familiar wave of panic rising in her throat. she reeled, trying to remember what she had said to set him off, but tidestrike began going on about all of her clanmates, startling the she-cat only further. she knew by the burn inside her that tears were beginning to leak from her big green eyes. well she didn't mean for that to happen either, and that only made her feel worse, more emotions twisting up in her chest than she knew what to do with all of the sudden. the confusion on her face was as plain as day- but where to start? " tidestrike i-" the words came out as a broken sob. " i really don't know what you mean," fernshadow whispered as another sob shook her dappled frame. it was only a miscommunication, surely, but how could he put this all on her like this? she wanted to ask why he hadn't come to see her lately either, but she couldn't form the words- or the hostility, to get it out. periwinkle Lupine
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☾ Don't say such silly things.
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Post by Lupine on Aug 11, 2018 14:16:16 GMT -7
she'd been sifting through the fresh kill pile, trying to decide what to eat before patrol with cedarstar, when she registered the tension. even without turning to look, coyoteleap felt her shoulder muscles tightening and the fur along her spine prickling. glacierclan's camp was sizeable enough, but its inhabitants simply possessed too finely attuned senses to not notice such a public incident. coyoteleap put extra effort into studying a fat hare, considering whether she'd be able to finish it by herself or should recruit help. it's none of my business, the tawny warrior reminded herself, over and over again. it's none of my business. she'd grown up around the same time as tidestrike, who wasn't much younger than herself, and she'd never liked the tom. being a pain in the ass seemed to run in the family. but when the deputy's annoyance of a brother began to grow louder, hissing and spitting, coyoteleap suddenly became a lot less interested in lunch. her hesitation melted away at fernshadow's reaction. she whipped around, leaving the rabbit behind, and placed herself between tidestrike and fernshadow. the tortoiseshell was in near hysterics at this point, which infuriated her even more. "what is your problem?" the big tabby demanded of tidestrike, her tail lashing. doe ! periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 14:30:37 GMT -7
oh she didn't know what he meant. what an actress! he couldn't believe her. "you're putting on quite a performance, fernshadow." the tom barked, shaking his head at her with disdain. how could she have ever pulled one over on him? had he really not noticed her running around with just about everyone? "and to think i was special to you, treated you like a queen, dreamt of a family with you." he chattered on, growing even more cross.
then a there was a flash of fur before him, and he turned his multicolored gaze onto the she-cat in front of him. coyoteleap? "pffha! hanging out with coyoteleap too?" tidestrike guffawed. "i get it. anyone is good enough for fernshadow." snorted the tom, glaring back at the tabby who had leapt to fernshadow's defense. "you're my problem. you're all my problem!"
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 14:46:25 GMT -7
she was just crying now, she couldn't help it. who liked being yelled at? and now that she was actually processing what his accusations were insinuating, she was appalled and embarrassed. she could feel her ears burning, her nose burning, everyone in camp staring at her in all her shame. fernshadow wondered if someone had been spreading rumors about her that had reached him, but everything had been going so well and she couldn't fathom why- or who would do such a thing. suddenly coyoteleap was barring tidestrike from her vision, and she blinked, sniffling, and stumbled back a step. when even the imposing she-cat couldn't make tidestrike back off, fernshadow suddenly felt a very real fear of the conflict that could follow. her own claws unsheathed instinctively. when she realized this, she hastily put them away again. " i've just been busy," she offered in a very small voice. she sounded like a weak child even to herself. periwinkle Lupine
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☾ Don't say such silly things.
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Post by Lupine on Aug 11, 2018 14:58:44 GMT -7
her stomach churned at the manipulative crowfood coming out of tidestrike's maw. coyoteleap couldn't help but roll her eyes at his accusation that she'd been hanging out with fernshadow. "yeah, we're just the best of friends, see each other all the time," the tabby growled sarcastically, not budging from her position. talk about insecurity. the only cat in glacierclan he hadn't accused fernshadow of philandering with was snowstar, and she wouldn't put it past him. "i suggest you back off," coyoteleap advised the odd-eyed tom, her tone rough. "your pathetic whining is starting to piss me off." at her back, she picked up on the tortoiseshell warrior's tiny response. she wanted to comfort fernshadow, but she didn't trust the tom not to launch into more verbal abuse. "you don't have to explain yourself to him," the tawny female meowed, touching fernshadow's shoulder with her striped tail tip. doe ! periwinkle
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Post by periwinkle on Aug 11, 2018 16:22:56 GMT -7
his anger blurred everything around him, including the crowd of onlookers that kept growing. "i'm soooo happy for the beautiful couple." tidestrike hissed, his short, black fur bristling as he sunk his unsheathed claws into the ground. what else could he do? he had been betrayed. "yeah, fernshadow. i see that." the tom sneered, flashing malevolent eyes at her.
at the suggestion that he should back off, tidestrike snorted. "or what? you gonna fight me?" the glacierclan warrior taunted, not afraid of this tabby she-cat, or anyone for that matter. "the only thing that needs defended is her honor, it seems." he laughed darkly, fangs showing. "yeah, don't explain anything. we're done, brat."
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Post by doe ! on Aug 11, 2018 17:10:03 GMT -7
fernshadow looked down at her paws- her claws were out again. the tension between the two warriors before her must have set off the reaction again. she shivered. that would not do! tidestrike's rising hostility was going to get somebody in trouble. fernshadow despised the thought. as flustered as she was, the tortoiseshell lass didn't even register coyoteleap's touch, but her words sounded so strange and far away. the whole confrontation had unfolded so quickly and unexpectedly, fernshadow couldn't make heads nor tails of the situation. she saw the glint of his claws digging into the warm earth as she peered around her defender. " please-" she started, ready to beg him for peace. her honor or any such nonsense wasn't worth fighting over, that much she knew. and still, his words stung her in places she'd never felt hurt before. she stepped closer to coyoteleap without noticing what she was doing. at least her sobs had subsided to gentle, hurt sighs. periwinkle Lupine
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