a walking hazard sign [firefly]

[Soma]

YOU KEEP THE SUNSHINE,
SAVE ME THE RAIN​

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Skyclan had been an unexpected but necessary development. Soma knew this, and yet it didn't make things any easier on him. Junco was pissed at him, he was being forced to sit through class after class, and he was surrounded by cats he didn't know or trust. H would hve just gone back to the streets of twoleg place to live alone if it'd just been himself he'd had to worry about, but with his younger brother in tow there was no way he could subject them to that kind of life. They'd already done it once, back before being scooped up by the shelter and tossed in and out of homes. Being a kittypet had been dull, but it had been safe for the most part- safer than the streets, at least. Junco would have been safe there- if he could stop being a brat long enough for a home to want to keep them.

As it was though, things weren't that simple. His little brother wasn't easily understood by others, and the twolegs hadn't wanted a kitten that wasn't interested in spending time with them or being touched. Soma had tried to make up for it, had done his best to be the ideal cat, but when he started having to take the fall for Juncos tantrums so the humans wouldn't freak out on him for messing up their things, it quickly marked him as another problem that was only adding to the stress of the situation. No home wanted them long term, and soon their luck would run out. Soma and Junco would be seperated, and that was something he couldn't allow to happen.

So, Skyclan was their best shot.

Junco would be looked after here long after Soma was dead and gone, and the idea that his sibling would have a safe place kept his resolve strong in the face of multiple information dumps and a sea of strangers.

Every now and then though, he just needed a fucking break.

Night had fallen, and while the tomcat knew he probably should have been in the warriors den with the other cats, sleep wouldn't come easy to him. His mind had a habit of getting the better at him in the quiet moments, and knowing that he wouldn't be passing out any time soon, he slipped out of camp and into the pine forest beyond to try and tire himself out with a walk.

While the environment was new to him, Soma found the place to be more inviting than foreboding, silver beams of pale moonlight filtering down through the trees to set the night aglow around him. He had always been most comfortable in the places that others would shy away from; walking the city streets at night, sitting out in rainstorms until his fur was plastered to his body- anywhere he shouldn't be, really. The large, inky tomcat liked tempting fate, felt more at peace the closer to death he was. Gods, that was fucking dark, wasn't it? He didn't even mean it like that, he just... liked it. Besides, death was a natural part of life; why should he act like it was something that was entirely bad? So what if he had a weird fascination with skulls and bones. And who fucking cared if he took a little more pleasure in killing live prey than an average cat? If he liked the sight of red spattered across the ground or staining someones fur, that was nobody business but his own.

And if he wanted to stalk through the woods at midnight by himself like some weirdo, well that was fine by him too.

@Fireflypaw
​

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LONER - male - 12 months - single - a tall, muscular tomcat with asymmetrical tuxedo markings and electric green eyes.

 

[Fireflyglow]

Before the Rogues had attacked him, Fireflypaw too had enjoyed wandering through the pine forests at night by himself. He loved the rain, but less for the reasons that Soma did- not because of the danger, but the beauty in the indescribable. Life was a gift, and he lived every day reminding himself of that- living in the memory of his little sister. It's because of Morningpaw that he wanders tonight, a rare thing indeed- Fireflypaw makes his way through the pines on sturdy, hefty paws, his head held high as his nose twitches with every scent. Perhaps that was how he came upon the resting tom, staring up into the sky- while he cannot see it, he knows the tom must be stargazing. Why else would one be so far from camp, if not to get a better view of the stars above?

"A beautiful night, is it?" He meows as he pokes his head out of a bush, tail waving in greeting to the tom. Blind blue eyes peer towards the direction of Soma, though Fi doesn't make much move to get close to him. Instead, he seats himself a short distance away, giving him the space he well deserved. "Is there a lot on your mind, Soma?" He asks softly, voice hoarse above a whisper. His tail drapes itself over his paws, the cool breeze reminding one of Mother's whispers. His paw smooths over the blades of grass beneath them, soothing himself from the growing anxiety. I miss her, He thinks to himself, remembering the smile of Morningpaw's when something satisfied her. She was quieter than her siblings, quieter than himself- he always protected her, because of that. It was always too easy to take advantage of the shy ones, as much as he hated it.

He waits for an answer, or to be plainly rejected by the tom. After all, he didn't know Fi very well- they were still getting to know each other. Which Fi was fine with; space was needed sometimes, he respected that. But it was better that someone was with Soma, in case his father found them. He didn't want Soma getting in trouble because he wanted to take a walk at night. ​

SKYCLAN MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE ✦ 10 MOONS ✦ CHUNKY, BIG-FOOTED SEAL POINT ✦ TAGS​

 

[Soma]

YOU KEEP THE SUNSHINE,
SAVE ME THE RAIN​

---

The pine forest truly was beautiful at night, painted silver by the moon and casting long shadows across the ground. A night like this could live on forever and Soma didn't think he'd complain once about it. Hell, he'd probably prefer it. The sun was a spotlight that revealed too much for his liking. Soma had never enjoyed being the center of attention among strangers. The past had taught him that others were fickle and that life was cruel, and for all his size and capability, Soma would have been much happier flying under the radar, hiding in the shadows where nobody could see him. Skyclan, in that regard, was a total nightmare for the bicolor tomcat with its multitude of curious and judgmental stares.

But for Junco, he endured it.

He wasn't expecting his solitude to find itself interrupted. Most cats were in bed at that hour, and the those who weren't knew better than to leave camp alone, but Soma had never been one to respect rules if he thought he knew better, and since he didn't anticipate the traps to throw themselves at him simply for walking by, he figured he'd be fine if he kept out in the open like he'd been doing.

"A beautiful night, is it?"

The words were enough to make him go rigid in surprise as Firefly popped their head out of a nearby bush, head snapping toward the other as electric green eyes pinned them to the spot. This one was one of the healers, a technical position of authority even if Soma was older. He was half expecting to be reprimanded like some child who'd been caught stealing from the metaphorical cookie jar, but instead Firefly simply sat themselves down and asked him if he had a lot on his mind.

"Not really." he replied hesitantly, voice deeper than one might expect of a cat his age. "Just not used to being around so many cats without walls separating us."

It wasn't the whole truth, but it wasn't a lie either. Soma didn't trust any cat he didn't know, and suddenly being told to sleep in a den full of strangers was an adjustment that would definitely take some time.

Paws shuffled against the forest floor where he sat as he watched the other take a seat for themselves, and a pit of dread and annoyance settled in his gut when he realized that Firefly meant to stay.

To be entirely honest, Soma didn't hate the company of other cats. Hell, most of the Skyclanners he'd interacted with were friendly enough, and from what he'd seen of the seal-point they were definitely on the kinder side when thrown beside a cat like Slate or Silversmoke. It was more that the hulking tomcat didn't know what to do in these situation. He always felt out of his element and like he was being judged for it, and more often than not it frustrated him into just giving up. He always felt like shit after of course, because at the end of the day Soma didn't like being alone. It was just... safer, that way.

Less painful.

"Um." he cleared his throat, trying to seem less awkward than he actually was and - selfishly- found himself grateful that the other couldn't actually see him for what he was; a mess of a cat. "It is a nice night, though."[/] he ventured, figuring that a normal cat would probably not just sit there in painful silence when they had company. "Lots of moonlight tonight. Makes things look all silvery and cool." he offered, figuring the other could actually see it for themselves.
​

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LONER - male - 12 months - single - a tall, muscular tomcat with asymmetrical tuxedo markings and electric green eyes.