fly me to the moon [nutsprout]

[GHOSTSTRIKE]

---

Spring had finally settled over Windclan, and with it life had returned to the territory. It was the first spring Ghost had spent outside of the Coalitions city, and with it came his first glimpse of the beauty of nature. These days the tom was found in camp even less, drawn to the open skies and endless field of green that were the moors. At first he had hated how exposed he'd felt, and in some ways he still struggled with that. Being so much taller than the average Windclanner didn't help either, but he learned quickly the best ways to conceal himself, blending into the shadows cast by the taller plants and slipping soundlessly through the stalks of grass. He still couldn't catch the rabbits and hares, but he was a formidable hunter in every other regard.

Today the tom had returned to camp just long enough to rally Nutsprout to his side before heading out again. He was well aware that the other was experiencing their first spring as well, and Ghost would be damned if the scottish fold spent their time in camp chatting up the other cats instead of enjoying it.

"Never seen so much damn green in my life." the brute rumbled, tone leaning toward dissaproving, but dark eyes holding a myrth to them as they gazed out over the rolling hills. "What do you think- better view then the city?" he asked, knowing full well that anything was a better view than the bleak streets and building of their last home.

@Nutsprout
​

---

rogue - male - 29 months - single - a very tall, muscular tabby with dark gray fur and white markings. heavily scarred with dark amber eyes​

​

 

[Nutsprout]

Winter seemed to finally leave its clutch on the dangling clans for the forseeable future. The sun shone above as the heather below started to bloom and thing started to become more- green. A warmth soaked into the pelt of the tabby cat as he stood in the middle of camp just enjoying the sunlight. Ghoststrike soon approached him and gestured for him to follow, and of course Nutsprout didn't see any problem with this. The little tomcat fully entrusted that of this grey tabby tomcat more than anyone else here.

It was strange to say the least. Moons ago they had been no more than a slave and its handler, a ruler and his knight, but now they seemed to be- just friends. It was nice. Having freedom was nice too not going to lie, but that was beside the point. Nutsprout looked up at Ghoststrike as they padded out of camp and gave a curious expression on his face. Where where they going anyway? Was there some sort of unspoken location they where to head for?

The lilac tomcat gave a small shrug to himself, did it really matter? Things were peaceful out on the moors. Well for the most part anyway, if one wasn't too close to the Windclan camp it was rather nice to just be outside. The wind pushed back his fur with a warmth carried on it, and he lifted his head a bit happily to enjoy the breeze. Then looked in front of them as Ghoststrike spoke, and he gave a soft gasp before chuckling in amusement, "This is definitely better than anything the Coalition could've given us," He murmured softly and those pale sage eyes glittered in the setting sunlight. ​

​

"speech"​

 

[GHOSTSTRIKE]

---

It was a bit strange how his and Nuts relationship had progressed since first meeting all those moons ago. At first Ghost had considered him an enemy- just some cat from the Coalition who'd been sent to track him and Nineteen down in order to finish the job- but he'd quickly learned that wasn't the case. And after learning that Nut was also on the run, another survivor of the wicked politics surrounding the Coalition, Ghost had felt a sort of responsibility toward the other, pulling them into the little rag-tag pack that he, Nineteen, and Puff had become because that's what a good leader would do.

Now that they were in Windclan, though, there was less of an obligation to keep Nut around. They were safe now, surrounded by cats that Nut could turn into allies if he so chose to, and yet, Ghost didn't drive him away. Somehow, the opposite had ended up happening, the two continuing to shadow one another and seek each others company out despite the fact that there was no longer a real reason to be doing so.

Ghost just wanted to.

There was familiarity in Nut, and that brought comfort. Not only was a he cat that the dark-eyed tom knew he could rely on and trust, but the makings of the world they came from were still recognizable to Ghoststrike within the other. Nut would understand in a way that other cats just couldn't, and that alone made it easier for the shadowy tomcat to exist around him.

"This is definitely better than anything the Coalition could've given us,"

Ghost couldn't help but hum in agreement. Windclan wasn't perfect, but it was leaps and bounds ahead of the Coalition. They would never have to worry about being tortured here, would never have to endure the cruelties of exposure therapy and the vicious condition that came with it. The kits weren't trained as young or as harshly and the cats actually had a system in place that ensured everyone was looked after in a fair manner. Sootstar may have still been a tyrant, but Ghost would have chosen to work for her over Hunter any day.

"Your not wrong." he replied, glancing toward the other for a moment from the corner of his eye before returning it to the moors. "Even with the threat we're facing from the other clans, Windclan is the lesser evil. Prettier, too."

Finaly pulling his attention from the view, Ghost would take a moment to stretch and shake out his coat before turning his attention to Nutsprout fully.

"So Peanut, what are your plans for your first spring as a free cat?"
​

---

rogue - male - 28 months (Nov 18th) - single - a very tall, muscular tabby with dark gray fur and white markings. heavily scarred with dark amber eyes ​

 

[Nutsprout]

.°❁ I WILL NOT LAY DOWN AND DIE

---

Ghoststrike stretched beside him before turning his whole attention onto the lilac tabby cat, and those pale eyes blinked a bit in surprise. Curled ears flicked back slightly against his head and he felt his heart pound slightly in his chest. Ghost was hardly one for nicknames, so when Nut got his used it always made him feel- silly? It was a hard emotion to explain but it wasn't something bad at least. It didn't feel bad in any case, but that was besides the point.

"You know-I have no idea. What is there to do now? Windclan has everything we could need," Nutsprout pointed out to him rather solemnly and he gave a soft look out at the moorlands for a moment before looking up at Ghoststrike. Those curled ears pricked forward with a goofy grin crossing his face, then it seemed to falter slightly as Nutsprout grew rather serious for a moment, "I didn't think I'd live long enough to become a free cat honestly- thought it was just a fairytale,"

The Coalition had been a place of pure hell for any cat on the ouside of it. No cat should survive the way they treat each other back there but yet somehow they do and he never understood how or why. He honestly thought he would've been gone by then too like many of his colleagues had been. They all lost their lives because of him, so why was his life still going? The bleak matter of it was that Nutsprout shouldn't be here right now- enjoying a spring as a free cat. Shouldn't be part of Windclan in any regard, but yet here he was. Watching the sun as it stood in the sky, felt the air on his pelt and the fresh scent of spring on the taste buds.

A soft sigh left the young tomcat as his little bobbed tail flicked back and forth slightly, "Kind of wanna live my life to the fullest ya know? Maybe go for a lead warrior spot, maybe start a family with someone, I don't know- something fun and exciting," He didn't know what that something would be but he knew in due time it would come to him. The young cat shook his head slightly with a soft laugh, "Don't you think it is a bit crazy? How we ended up here and not dead on some mission?" He asked the other.

Did Ghost ever think about that? About what could've happened if it hadn't been for the clans on that faithful day?
"SPEECH"

---

I HAVE THE WILL TO SURVIVE! .°❁

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //​
• Nutsprout named for his small size and springy nature.
  — he/them/zir. 30 months.
  — Windclan Warrior, mentored by Hunter.
  — Ex-Coalition Cat/Rogue.
  
  primary character, medium-high activity. penned by wolf_.​
• 

​

 

[GHOSTSTRIKE]

---

Ghost did think about it- he thought about it a lot in fact. Most nights he didn't even bother with trying to sleep anymore because his unconscious brain was still back there. In a way, Ghost didn't think he'd ever truly be free of the Coalition. He wasn't like Nut, who still had life thrumming beneath their skin, pumping optimism straight into his heart. There was hope for cats like Nut, but for Ghost? He wasn't so sure.

The tabby had considered all of the things his clanmate was talking about now; going for a real rank, making some genuine friends, setting down with a nice lass or bloke and starting a family- but its just... never worked. Ghost could conjure up the concept of those things in his mind, but once he actually tried to see himself playing the role it all fell apart. When he pictured himself as a Lead Warrior, it was just leading cats to their death. When he pictured himself with a family, it was just to watch his mate grow frustrated and distant when his work life drove a wedge between them, their children never truly knowing him because he was afraid getting close to them would get them killed.

He just wasn't cut out for a 'normal' life.

"Those are quite the lifegoals. You've got your work cut out for you if you plan on outranking me one day." he replied with an amused snort. Though in all honesty, Ghost probably trusted Nut enough at this point to follow an order if it was given in earnest. As far the family stuff, he could see Nut settling down. There was a natural charisma to the other, a gravity that pulled others to them. Not even Ghost seemed strong enough to withstand it apparently.

"And yeah. I figured I'd waste away in the Coalition 'til I was white in the muzzle and some dog finally got lucky enough to get a proper hold of me." It wasn't a pretty ending, but no ending in the Coalition ever was.

"So, a family, then? What poor son of a bitch has caught your eye?" he chuckled, a playful edge to his words.
​

---

rogue - male - 28 months (Nov 18th) - single - a very tall, muscular tabby with dark gray fur and white markings. heavily scarred with dark amber eyes ​

 

[Nutsprout]

.°❁ YOU TOLD ME 'BOUT NOWHERE

---

The lilac tabby gave a light chuckle at Ghoststrikes' comment, he honestly thought the same thing. That some dog would've gotten a hold of him at some point or the facade of being a tomcat would blow up in his face. Nutsprout knew he wouldn't have been chosen for a mission or a squad if it hadn't been for his mother playing into the whole 'son' aspect of things. Otherwise he would've ended up like her; another mother to supply the Coalition with soldiers. It was no real way to live, birthing kits till one couldn't see straight anymore but it was the life of many females not in a high ranking position.

Nutsprout gave a slight shrug when questioned about who caught his eye, and he had half a mind to say maybe it was Sedgerunner or something like that- but that wasn't realistic. "I don't know yet, I'm sure someone would come along at some point," He responded with a soft sigh through his nose. Relationships where hard, especially in Windclan with how hostile everyone could be. That and it seemed like there was a lot of younger cats in the clan than older ones like himself or Ghoststrike, but that wasn't really an issue.

Pale sage green eyes looked up into darker amber before he tilted his head to the side slightly, "What about you? Anyone catch your eye?" He asked curiously to the grey tabby. A part of him lurched at the thought of Ghost liking someone. It took moons before he even tolerated Nutsprout and even then he doubted he didn't bother him at least a little bit still. But also part of him was- jealous? Is that what that cold and unsettling feeling was? What did he have to be jealous about? Ghoststrike was his friend, his commanding officer, nothing more. "SPEECH"

---

WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEPLACE I'D LIKE TO GO ! .°❁

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //​
• Nutsprout named for his small size and springy nature.
  — he/them/zir. 30 months.
  — Windclan Warrior, mentored by Hunter.
  — Ex-Coalition Cat/Rogue.
  
  primary character, medium-high activity. penned by wolf_.​
• 

​

 

[GHOSTSTRIKE]

---

He wasn't sure what exactly he was feeling in the moments leading up to Nuts answer, but he knew he was feeling something, which in itself was cause for alarm. Who Nut had their eye on shoudn't have caused any kind of reaction at all, and yet here Ghost was, ready to pick apart whoever they named in search of every flaw under the sun. Protective, that's all. He'd been spending too much time with Nut and even Ghost knew - much to his annoyance- that he was growing attached to the scot. Therefor it made sense that he would want to look out for their well being with potential mates.

Only, there was nobody. Yet

When the question was turned on him, Ghost let out a dismissive grunt in response. "No. Not interested in that sort of thing." he replied, even if it wasn't exactly the truth.

Ghost was sure there were cats out there that could catch his interest if he looked, those who'd have the right look and personality, but what right did he have to ask someone to take on the baggage he'd bring with them? At this point in his life Ghost wasn't going to change; he would always be a workaholic that was haunted by his past, a cat that couldn't function in regular civilian life. There was no 'off' switch for him, and he could never expect a cat who didn't come from their world to understand any of it. Wouldn't even try.

He'd just end up alone in the end anyways.

"I reckon I'll still go out the same way- white in the muzzle and torn apart in battle- just won't be for the Coalition." he said, and there was no dishonesty or vague truth hidden in the words this time.

​

---

rogue - male - 28 months (Nov 18th) - single - a very tall, muscular tabby with dark gray fur and white markings. heavily scarred with dark amber eyes ​

 

[Nutsprout]

.°❁ YOU TOLD ME 'BOUT NOWHERE

---

There was a realization that Nutsprout had started to lean into the grey tabby cat as he waited for an answer- only to get what he half expected. He had expected the whole white in the muzzle and torn apart bit, he was sure that was how Ghost was going to go out anyway, but not interested? The lilac tabby felt himself shrink back slightly as if wounded in a way but he tried to cover it by lapping at his chest fur rapidly. There was a slight clearing to his throat as he twitched his bobbed tail before giving a half-smile, but it didn't reach those pale green eyes like they normally did.

"I was interested in Sedgerunner, but that- didn't work out so well," Nutsprout admitted softly to Ghoststrike as he glanced down at his paws quietly. There was a beat of silence from the pale tabby cat before he lifted his head to look up at the grey tabby cat, "I don't think I'll find anyone in Windclan, or in this life time if I'm honest with you," His voice was soft, distant almost, like Nut was putting himself outside of the thought train instead of in it.

He gave a small shrug of his shoulders, "No one would understand what it was like in the Coalition, ya know? Any outside wouldn't understand the routines, the daily activities and how insane I've felt since leaving and-," Nut took a sharp intake of breath and looked back down at the ground as his mouth slipped up. Sometimes he talked just a little too much, and this was one of those times. The lilac tabby was one to put everything in a bottle and let it build until it just came out as word vomit or anger. Whichever happens first.

Nutsprout bit his lip for a moment before shaking his head, "That sounds crazy saying it out loud, but its true. I haven't felt like well myself since leaving the Coalition. I don't know who I am outside of my number and its kinda- scary in a way," The words just came coming out as the tom unleashed what had been bothering him for moons now, "Like I'm a solider, but now- now I'm not and I don't know what to do with that," He gave a vague gesture with his paw and sighed to himself through his nose.

"You understand, don't you, Ghost?" Nutsprout looked back into amber eyes quietly, expecting some sort of harsh reality or crushing verbage from the other tom. Comfort wasn't really either of their things and it wasn't like he was seeking comfort- he was more so seeking being seen.
"SPEECH"

---

WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEPLACE I'D LIKE TO GO ! .°❁

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //​
• Nutsprout named for his small size and springy nature.
  — he/them/zir. 30 months.
  — Windclan Warrior, mentored by Hunter.
  — Ex-Coalition Cat/Rogue.
  
  primary character, medium-high activity. penned by wolf_.​
• 

​