no angst harvest • catching leaves


− ♱ ABOUT : the forest is hidden in shades of orange and russet, flame and ember that smolders him, burning tongues licking up the lengths of his arms and over the emboldened apples of his cheeks. it’s a familiar color now ; a tone that haunts his dreams, his every waking moment. as the days grow colder he finds himself drawn ever closer to the flames, basking in the warmth for as close as they will allow him to get. in this season of mist and dying leaves, ripened and crisping with rot, the man realizes he smells of autumn — inebriating, freeing, like a private eternity buried somewhere beneath his star - studded pelt. like mulberry and rose . . or perhaps his brain was twisting it, thoughts shrouded in phantom memories of pinks and whites. something soft, tender and red within his chest. it was intoxicating, filling his lungs with hyacinth petals and warmth, soft and thick like blood. he wanted to bathe him in light and red camellia.

he thinks of flowers often nowadays.

when he looked at him, he had to remember to breathe. it should have been the first sign — that flitting nervousness, like caged birds fumbling beneath his ribs, pressing his lungs taut against the lining of their ivory - arched confinements. like smog and ash, his throat tightens, tampering his voice and the ache that alights in his chest. he wanted to sigh against him and watch him erupt, blazing and glorious against the night sky. there is a kindling there — he hopes against hope, cultivates the sparks in delicate paws and holds it to his chest. a comfort he lies with, alongside moss and duck feather lining. it helps him rest, the thought of him ; quiet, at night, buzzing with energy and adrenaline that has him grinning into the bulk of his nest, as much as he would rather smile into short, soft wisps of white - studded fur. he feels nearly childlike, impish and giggling — a crush.

a small smile slips upon dark lips, quiet and secretive beyond the autumnal trees. slowly it ascends, bursting up from sharp knuckles, blazing up bicolored limbs into laughter, free and alight. the toms face flits before his minds eye and leaves continue to drift downwards and one — a giant, splitting leaf, dislodges from a high branch. pupils widen abruptly, haunches bunching. maybe it’s the giddiness. the eagerness, brimming in each pulse of blood through his body. images of a broad, scarred face and squared muzzle, a voice like velvet against the soft lining of his ear. a crush. a crush! the leaf continues to spiral and the man waggles his hind for just a second, pushing off his rear paws to swipe it down, feeling all too light on dark pawpads.

it crunches beneath a single paw, landing gracefully amidst the yellowing grass, billowing tail flicking wildly behind him. it stirs already - drying leaves back to life, sweeping them midair to drift along ones just falling. it’s been too long — too long since electricity sparked through his very marrow, kindling joy and nervousness within him like a sandstorm. the tom was a forest fire, not just lifting the weight from his shoulders but burning them alive, turning his worries to a halo ash around them. the leaves continue to spin from trees above, a cascade of brittle red - yellows. he tips his head up, cheeks aching with the weight of an unused smile.

he wishes he were here.

  • CICADASTAR ; he / him. roughly thirty nine months old, riverclan leader
    − handsome, lanky black smoke tortie chimera with curly fur and icy blue eyes
    − gay. speaks with a thick german accent, former marsh cat, penned by antlers

  • none.

 
"you look happy."

it's a simple observation, spoken with a cautious smile of his own. strange to see cicadastar leaping after fallen leaves like a kitten, and beesong feels it is almost too... domestic for him to witness. like he's intruding on something special, something not meant for his eye. yet, he brings himself closer; daring in the bite of the chilly wind. not too close. he keeps that distance between them, where he would have ample time to react should claws unsheathe in his direction. but close enough to kick up leaves of his own, watching as they swirl in the breeze and flutter back to the dying grass.

it's funny how beesong finds beauty in death. in the shriveling leaves, with their warm hues of reds and oranges and browns. they know that they shouldn't. they understand that leaf-fall is the harbinger of starvation and sickness. their herbs have already begun to wither at the edge of their leaves, their petals furling inward as decay sets in. but beesong has always been a selfish creature. they love the chill of leaf-fall like a moth loves a flame. knowing that it would only hurt them in the end, yet continuing to be enamored by it. maybe it is because they loathe the heat that sears their scarred skin more than they fear the cold. or maybe they're just self-destructive.

a leaf lands square on the cinnamon tabby's upturned nose, eliciting a sneeze from the small feline. he laughs suddenly, glancing towards cicadastar as he rubs at the ticklish sensation the leaf left behind. it's nice, he thinks. this strange joy that echoes from the leader's smile and his own laughter. "you mind if i stay a little longer?"
 
❝  Hound's known that heartache only a pawful'f times, but it always wound its way 'round his neck like a noose ready to tighten up. It's nothing so beautiful as fall leaves when it comes from him; he knows the feeling as it is anyway. Curls up and fills his mouth with salt and brine, wraps around his ribs to pull him down deeper. They'll smile at him, and Houndsnarl's careening sideways like a shipwreck battered by the storms. He remembers some of this joy. Remembers the taste of it, sweetness hidden in the drowning. Watching him now, the chocolate tom is more heartsick than he'd ever dare to admit. It's a good pain, as much as it bites. Maybe, like Beesong, the tom found his heart in all the places it shouldn't've been. Leaf-fall, heavy voices, pretty faces too far out of reach.

Wherever his love belonged, there would be no good in dragging it around on its leash. Even as it aches to see Cicada so happy, he lets it loose. A smile starts to curl up 'round his mouth, and he hesitates for just a few breaths more before the fading edges of cheer haul him in. The warrior shoves his forepaws beneath a pile of the crunchy remnants of full bellies, then shoves. A crowd of them gusts up into the cool sky, only to come tumbling back down towards their esteemed leader's head. He's laughing, the sound too much like a bark to be restrained. "Come on now," he laughs some more, nudging Beesong's shoulder with his chilly nose. "He'll put the kits to shame if he's left all on his lonesome. You might 's'well play along." He coaxes another pile into the air, this smaller bunch meant to cover the medic's. It's true– he's got no respect for authority.
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  • hound_outline.png
    ooc:
  • ──── houndsnarl. trans male, he/him pronouns.
    ──── approximately 30 moons old, or 2.5 years.
    ──── bisexual with firm male preference; single.

    ──── a chocolate tabby with ( stylized ) low white and intense lime eyes. lean and lanky,  with whiplike musculature and a long, quick stride. hound's notable features include his impressive height, the long scar across the left side of his face from nose to jaw, his very deep, dense fur, and the confident manner with which he conducts himself.
  • "speech"
 

Run, run, Lost Boy
They had finally fought Beesong enough to get out of the medicine den, and followed the medicine cat without much question. The forest during the autumn use to be one of their favorite things about living here. The colored leaves, the cool air and the warming sense of home usually came through. Though this year, it felt so off. Riverclan was here now, their family feeling like it was on the threads of breaking. Still, there was a warmth feeling as they limped along beside Beesong before orange eyes settled onto- a rather funny sight. Beesong stated he looked happy and Raccoonpaw couldn't help but agree.

Then Houndsnarl joined the group and they gave a little excited squeak before rushing their leader. Aiming to sklid to a halt and shower him with rays of oranges and reds with a loud laugh after the fact.