pafp BRIDGES BURNING [confrontation]

[FALCONHEART]

𓍊𓋼 He hadn’t been there. Guilt feels like an unshakeable weight pressing down on his spine, because how could he be so unaware? How could he have overlooked the fact that Skyclaw was pushing his younger sister so hard? Why wasn’t he asked for permission to take his apprentice out for training? The questions only build on one another until there’s a swirling ball of anger hovering in his chest. He’s decided to give Bugpaw a few days’ rest, in spite of what anyone else says about it. He only hopes that this won’t set them back too far in her training.

When he spots the dappled tom from halfway across camp, he can’t keep himself calm anymore. Pale paws stalk across the camp with purpose, fighting the urge to sink his claws into the dirt as he marches up to Skyclaw. When he comes to a stop before the other tom, Falconheart pulls himself to his full height. He cuts an unintimidating figure, but that means little in the face of the fire that burns in bicolored eyes. He draws forward, encroaching on Skyclaw’s space, and though he doesn’t bare his teeth, it’s a near thing.

"My apprentice," he seethes, and it’s only his mother’s stern words that keep him from doing something he’ll regret. Bowling Skyclaw over, defeating him, ending this here and now—it would only lead to his death, and then where would Bugpaw be? Passed on to a third mentor, given more mourning to hold in her small form. He can’t do that to her. He swallows his fury, and it tastes bitter. His lip curls, disgust coloring his expression. "Focus on your own apprentices, and keep your claws away from Bugpaw. We’re set back days now in training because you pushed her too hard." What a leader, he thinks bitterly. Skyclaw can’t hope to keep the clan in one piece. Now that he’s murdered their true leader, he bears all the duty—and shows none of the responsibility—that comes with his unearned position.

Having made his point, the cream tabby takes a step back, his entire body lowering just as his hackles do. "At least have the spine to tell me beforehand if you’re going to work her until she collapses again," he spits, but he doesn’t depart. Not yet. He wants to hear an apology, an explanation—anything to tell him why Skyclaw had targeted Bugpaw, of all apprentices. His gaze searches the other warrior’s face, but he sees nothing that he recognizes. Kithood memories, hazy and rose-tinted, wither away to ash. There is nothing good to remember about Skyclaw, now.

heaven knows 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 how hard i’ve tried

• ooc: @skyclaw
• 
• FALCONHEART ❯❯ he/him, thunderclan warrior
  ⭃ shorter than average cream tabby with white spotting. seems gloomy and has few friends, but is a hard worker and never neglects his duties.
  ⭃ son of flamewhisker and flycatcher ; brother to stormfeather, scorchedpaw, bugpaw, sunpaw, squirrelpaw, sparrowpaw
  ⭃ mentoring bugpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
  ⭃ penned by foxlore

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[skyclaw]

He knows why he pushed Bugpaw. She is but a shadow of her brother's path - a tom that Skyclaw used to have a relationship with. Friendship, courtship, whatever it was... it was there. And Skyclaw had tried to rekindle something between them before all of this, too. If Falconheart had just opened up then, supported him now, then Bugpaw wouldn't need to rest a few days. They would've been best friends again, laughing together, hunting together, being together. In a way, Skyclaw mourns his relationship with Falconheart.

But that does not negate his petty emotions and actions. The new leader does not move to erase them, either.

"Ohh," he hums as sand-pale paws stomp towards him. The other serves him a stern talking to, all but raising his voice, baring his teeth, and unsheathing his claws. The mottled tom can see how his frame tenses, how he wishes he could do more. Skyclaw anticipates that it is not biding time that keeps the other warrior leashed, but instead either fear or longing. "He has a voice," the new leader remarks, all before the other launches into his well posited tirade.

"She was days behind her training anyways, Falconheart. Morningcloud taught her nothing," a pause, his chin tilting up, "and you seem to be doing little different. I was doing you two a favor. By her age, we were hunting our own meals and fighting our own battles. Don't you remember that?" What does he want from this? He got what he initially wanted - attention. Perception. Falconheart is engaging with him, and for the drawing seconds, it becomes more than enough. It'll be nice to know that he's forever marred the other tom in some fashion.

"With my help," he says, mockingly if his tone has to twinge at all, "she won't be collapsing every time she's pushed a little."​

 

[FALCONHEART]

𓍊𓋼 The expression that tugs at Skyclaw’s face makes warmth rise under his skin, heating him from nose to tail. He’s caught off guard, unbalanced for a moment, and then the other tom fires back. He seems more amused, more pleased by this outburst than anything—it makes Falconheart’s blood boil where it races through his veins. When he’s finished with his ranting, Skyclaw begins to make his own point. Bugpaw was days behind, is still days behind. Now, thanks to this kin-slaying snake, she’s lagging behind even farther. It makes him want to scream. He keeps his mouth shut though, jaw clenched tightly shut. But when the other tom mentions Morningcloud, he can’t possibly remain silent for another heartbeat. "Morningcloud taught her nothing because you had her killed." His voice rises suddenly, a rare spike of ferocity sending his fur bristling once again.

The judgment of his own training goes ignored—he hasn’t done a great job, he knows. He’s had other things occupying his time, and his best will never be enough. However, Skyclaw reminds him of their own kithood, how early they’d both been apprenticed, and his self-loathing fades behind the smokescreen of his retort. "And look how we turned out," he says, bitterly. Of their litters, only the two of them stand here now, face to face. (And Stormfeather isn’t gone, but with how rarely he’s able to see her, she may as well be.) None of Falconheart’s younger siblings had received training before six months of age, but at least they’re still alive. His heart aches as he thinks of Bugpaw being sent into battle, even now. He can’t imagine leading cats even smaller than her into a fight.

His tone turns mocking as he asserts that the girl won’t collapse if given his help. Falconheart’s reaction is knee-jerk, venomous. He doesn’t want to hurt Skyclaw verbally—isn’t sure he even can—he just wants to dig his claws into that perfect, unscathed face. Those hateful eyes. He can’t fight with claws, but he can battle with words. He can let his voice hiss out between his teeth, taking another step backward. "Bugpaw doesn’t need help from kittypet heritage. Just… leave us alone." Traitor. Hypocrite. Look what your help has already done.

heaven knows 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 how hard i’ve tried

• ooc: —
• 
• FALCONHEART ❯❯ he/him, thunderclan warrior
  ⭃ shorter than average cream tabby with white spotting. seems gloomy and has few friends, but is a hard worker and never neglects his duties.
  ⭃ son of flamewhisker and flycatcher ; brother to stormfeather, scorchedpaw, bugpaw, sunpaw, squirrelpaw, sparrowpaw
  ⭃ mentoring bugpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
  ⭃ penned by foxlore

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