pafp ever since i claimed the summer } exhaustion

[RATTLEHEART]

It was oftentimes difficult to see the faults in one's plans until someone else was looking at them from an outsider's perspective. They could see the cracks and flaws that seemed miniscule to one's own mind, brushed aside in an effort to focus. So far, Rattleheart had been under the impression that they hadn't been working themself that hard. Especially not compared to their sister or Wolfsong, or especially not Sunstride, with all the different duties around Windclan that he needed to worry about now. It only seemed natural for them to fill in the gaps, especially when it came to the tunnels beneath all of their paws. Their numbers had bene reduced ever since Sootstar's loyalists had been driven out, and Rattleheart refused to let their sister take all of that onto her own shoulders. Even if that meant being especially careful while down navigating the winding pathways, not wanting to drag any of their still healing wounds against the cramped walls. Wolfsong had told them it would be another day or two until they were completely cleared to head down into them again without worry, but impatience had been itching at their pelt ever since they had returned to Windclan's camp.

With their home base finally at least looking like it was in a decent state, the tunneler had instead set her sights on hunting for a while - even without the tunnels readily available as an option. Hunting on the open moors was far from her specialty, but at least she did have a bit of an advantage at the moment. The white parts of her pelt blended in perfectly with the scattered melting snow, making her into a petite spot of black against white as she laid in wait. It took a while for anything to come by, but relief did wash over her in a wave when a slim looking hare began to bounce by through the snow, clearly unaware of her presence. Rattleheart bolted forward once it hopped right in front of her, jaws colliding with the side of the frightened prey as she almost went crashing down into the snow herself. Her legs were a bit wobbly as she yanked her head back, tiredness threatening to bowl her over even as it mixed with satisfaction.

The walk back to camp was a difficult one, her eyes drooping as she held onto the hare, desperate to curl up in the pleasantly warm nest that she and Venomstrike had built together. But could she truly allow herself to rest, when all she had brought back was a hare slimmed down by the harsh season? She really wasn't sure, depositing her catch atop the freshkill pile before sitting down hesitantly nearby. Her gaze was flicking back and forth between her nest and the entrance to camp, jaws pulled open in a yawn that almost seemed like her body's way of mocking her.

// please wait for @SCORCHSTREAK !!
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[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ These past months have been difficult. More than difficult, even—they have been grueling. With the clan already lacking in numbers out at the horseplace, Scorchstreak had been content to pile up the duties of a lead warrior upon her own shoulders just so that others would not need to carry such burdens. She does not know where she stands now, neither lead warrior nor outcast, but somewhere in between the two; still she carries the heavy weight of responsibility on her back, but it does not crush her. Rattleheart has made certain of that. Back at the barn, her sister had been a steady force to help convince the calico to take a well-deserved rest and not burn herself to cinders whilst performing her duties. Now that they are back in camp, Rattleheart seems to have taken it upon herself to hold up more than her fair share of the clan’s burdens, and while Scorchstreak appreciates it, she refuses to stand by and watch her sister slide down the same slope that she had been headed down before.

Stars, it looks like the other tunneler is hardly holding themself up. Narrowed golden eyes trail over Rattleheart’s frame, assessing them from a short distance before approaching. "You’re being a hypocrite," she says, but her fangs are tucked away. There is no bite to her voice, only gentle concern for their well-being. "You have done enough for today, don’t you agree?" A smile ghosts its way across her maw as the calico sweeps up to her sibling’s side, her tail light as it touches the fur of their shoulder.

Mismatched ears swivel backward slightly, worry shining through the cracks in her armor. Her mind races with thoughts of the worst kind. Illness, injury, death. She cannot lose another family member. "Sunstride would tell you the same thing, I’m certain. There’s no need to get yourself injured or sick." Scorchstreak alone cannot remove the entire weight from Rattleheart’s shoulders, but even the smaller number of warriors left can help to carry the load. Anyone not pulling their weight can be dealt with quickly—but Rattleheart has been an unmoving pillar of support over the entirety of the rebellion. Scorchstreak will not see them crumble now.​

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[RATTLEHEART]

You're being a hypocrite.

The words practically grabbed Rattleheart by the throat, her pale gaze widening in spite of the lack of fire behind her sister's words. They weren't meant as a way to lash out or truly reprimand her - borne out of a sense of familial worry, rather than anger. Yet still she initially shied away from them, claws anxiously ripping at the dirt beneath her as she processed what Scorchstreak had said. Part of her wanted to deny it. Wanted to be stubborn and stamp her paws like an unruly kit and say that she hadn't done enough, because it didn't feel like she had. However, as she looked between her sister and the rest of camp around them, she found that her already poorly built walls were crumbling. Exhaustion was coiled around her like a boa constrictor, squeezing her so tightly that she only seemed to finally be able to let her shoulders slump when she felt Scorchstreak's tail brush them.

A heavy sigh left her, the only way for her to keep another yawn from interrupting the quiet interaction. She didn't bother resisting the urge to lean into her sister's side, grateful for the support of the other tunneler. "You're right... I know you're right. It's been a long day, I thought it might be a good idea to go and hunt some more but..." One bright paw gestured towards the freshkill pile, and the hare that now found itself draped atop it. "I probably nearly knocked a few stars around in my head catching that. Don't regret it, but I think some rest might be in order..." Or downright necessary, considering the strong breezes that often dominated the moors felt like they would be enough to send her tumbling these days. The thought was actually enough to make Rattleheart let out a tired snort of amusement, imagining herself being made a moor runner just because the wind was carrying her along.

Glancing briefly up at the wide open sky, she thought of the annoyance that would radiate off Wolfsong in waves if she found herself in his den once again so soon. That alone was enough to make her shiver, head shaking from side to side. "I'm sure you're right about that, too. I don't want to end up back in the medicine den and out of the tunnels again so soon." She had half a mind to just retire to her nest right now, though instead she found herself looking back in Scorchstreak's direction, head tilted questioningly to one side. "Do you think it'll all get easier soon, when we finally have the chance to relax? Camp has already started to look alright again, and the tunnels need some upkeep, but we know how to deal with that. It's not as if things will be this busy forever, right?" Rattleheart isn't sure if she's just musing aloud or looking for some kind of reassurance, but either way the words lingered in the air between them, punctuated by her tiredness.
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[ PENNED BY EO ]​