- Dec 18, 2022
- 21
- 0
- 1
it has been a long season.
grief had been postponed by traitorous outbursts, exile, claws and teeth — but lynxtooth did not miss the brief agony in juniperfrost's expression, when sunsetbreeze's body was laid before them. perhaps on slatepaw or gravelpaw's face, he would have thought the crumbling a disgrace, would have been cold and cruel. (he had not let them grieve their mother.)
but this is juniperfrost: a cat who holds his respect, something few have earned.
and sunsetbreeze was his apprentice. a warrior of his own making. despite himself, lynxtooth finds sympathy in his heart for that.
he finds juniperfrost returning home from a patrol — lynxtooth has just finished another training session with the boys, and he's headed out for a solo hunt. they cross paths at the edge of camp. "juniperfrost," he greets, dipping his head. "i'm off to hunt — join me? not too busy for your brother, are you?"
a rumbling chuckle, a knowing smile; lynxtooth has always been charismatic where juniperfrost is cold. should his brother follow, he'll start toward a favored spot, amber eyes alert, ears twitching.
when he speaks it is not gentle, but it is not callous, either — he keeps steady, factual in the way juniper has always liked. pity or concern would earn a scoff or hackles raised. (they are soldiers, not mewling kittens. they are warriors.)
"how have you been since the battle? healing up well?"
a thoughtful pause; he thinks again of that anguish. that uncharacteristic pain.
"you must be proud," he adds, "of sunsetbreeze — a noble end for a good warrior. he will be missed."
@Juniperfrost
. . . tags.
grief had been postponed by traitorous outbursts, exile, claws and teeth — but lynxtooth did not miss the brief agony in juniperfrost's expression, when sunsetbreeze's body was laid before them. perhaps on slatepaw or gravelpaw's face, he would have thought the crumbling a disgrace, would have been cold and cruel. (he had not let them grieve their mother.)
but this is juniperfrost: a cat who holds his respect, something few have earned.
and sunsetbreeze was his apprentice. a warrior of his own making. despite himself, lynxtooth finds sympathy in his heart for that.
he finds juniperfrost returning home from a patrol — lynxtooth has just finished another training session with the boys, and he's headed out for a solo hunt. they cross paths at the edge of camp. "juniperfrost," he greets, dipping his head. "i'm off to hunt — join me? not too busy for your brother, are you?"
a rumbling chuckle, a knowing smile; lynxtooth has always been charismatic where juniperfrost is cold. should his brother follow, he'll start toward a favored spot, amber eyes alert, ears twitching.
when he speaks it is not gentle, but it is not callous, either — he keeps steady, factual in the way juniper has always liked. pity or concern would earn a scoff or hackles raised. (they are soldiers, not mewling kittens. they are warriors.)
"how have you been since the battle? healing up well?"
a thoughtful pause; he thinks again of that anguish. that uncharacteristic pain.
"you must be proud," he adds, "of sunsetbreeze — a noble end for a good warrior. he will be missed."
@Juniperfrost
. . . tags.