private heart of dynamite | stormywing

[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ Alone. That is what she always is. A realization she is slowly starting to understand about her life. Even when she was with her that small blossoming warmth attempting to flare to life in her chest was nothing but wishful wanting. Sparking and never catching into a flame. It still hurts and in the back of her mind she feels like she knows exactly why. Her emotions have been everywhere, anger, dismay, distraught, emptiness...cycling over and over again. She doesn't know what to do with herself anymore. So now she just wanders. What will hunting do in a territory that gives them nothing. Perhaps Starclan has turned their backs on Riverclan after all. Even winning back their territory has yielded them nothing but more bloodshed and pain. Her muzzle crinkles as if se is in pain as she stands upon those very rocks. Looking down at them beneath her paws. She should feel something about them. Pride? Some sort of happiness to tread the grounds those before her did but she just feels empty.

Her brows furrow before her dull eyes lift up. The fire dwindling in her gaze as she finds herself slowly sitting down upon the cold stones. A thought never before had passes through her mind. Is her place really with Riverclan? It makes her eyes widen slightly that she would even think something like that. She has always been fiercly loyal to her clan and that will never change. Yet she feels her own resolve shaking. Yet that is soon forgotten when a scent suddenly surges from the border, strong and fresh. Her head snaps to that invisible line then, paws shifting and eyes narrowing slightly. "Might as well come out. I can smell you."

@STORMYWING ​

 

[STORMYWING]

The wind ruffles Stormywing's fur as she weaves through the treetops, her claws digging into the rough bark of a sturdy oak. Tree climbing has always been her way of clearing her mind - the steady movement of her trained paws, branches bending under her weight but never breaking. It's a dance she knows by heart.

She hears the call before she spots its source. Midnightash's sharp voice cuts through the quiet, a challenge laced with tension. The tabby pauses mid-climb, her ears flicking toward the direction of the voice. She peers down through the branches and catches the silhouette of the RiverClan warrior perched on the rocks below. Her nose twitches. The tortoiseshell is probably just bluffing, trying to spook out a trespasser. It's not her problem, anyway; RiverClan can keep their broodiness to themselves. She shakes her head, muttering under her breath, "Drama queens." With a scoff, she dismisses the call, returning her focus to the branch above her. But for some reason, her paws falter. Distracted is her mind. Was it bitterness from the Sunningrocks battle? Curiosity about her kits and Iciclefang? She can't help herself; her molten gaze drifts downward again, nosiness gnawing at her resolve. Her claws catch on the bark as she tries to climb higher, brushing off the distraction again. "Not my problem," She mutters, a little too loudly. Unfortunately, her wandering thoughts make her careless. As she leaps for the next branch, she misjudges the distance. Her paw slips, her momentum carries her too far, and-

THUD.

Stormywing's shoulder smacks into the trunk of a neighboring tree, and she scrambles wildly to regain her balance, managing to cling to a lower branch with a huff. "Fox-dung!" She growls, shaking out her striped blue fur and glaring at the offending tree like it had done her a personal wrong. From her new, undignified perch, her curious gaze flicks back toward Midnightash. The warrior hasn't moved, still poised like she's waiting for something - or someone. The she-cat grits her teeth, unwilling to admit to herself that she's interested. Great, She thinks, starting to climb down to the river with a bit less grace than before. Now I've got a headache.
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[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ Odd the silence that greets her. But she trusts her instincts more than anything else. If they are too scared to come out then all the better she supposes. Her mood is flippant enough and a part of her doesn't know if she really wishes to cause trouble or not. Thunderclan is her least favorite clan currently, right behind Windclan. Neither deserve any courtesy from her given their history. After a moment she is about to turn her head away when she hears something strange. A bunch of rustling from up above that has her amber orbs lifting up to the trees above. The thud is apparent and her ears pull forward just a little before she can see the silhouette of a cat coming down from the branches. "Uh...." A question lingers on her tongue. A slight bit of concern she does not often feel towards others of other clans. Yet it never passes her maw as she watches the other's descent.

Really she is starting to wonder why she even called out. It is not like she will have any amicable words with a Thunderclanner. But alas she finds herself straighten up a little it. Then she gets sight of them and realizes who it is. Stormywing. The one that had a romp with Iciclefang. Hid kits and their betrayal from both of their clans. It is a wonder they both were not exiled in her own mind. "What is with that face?" Her head tilts slightly as she accesses the other and she then looks back up at the tree that she comes dosn from. But an uncaring shrug shifts her shoulders. "You didn't hit your head, did you? Made a lot of noise coming from up there."​

 

[STORMYWING]

By the time Stormywing drops the last few tail-lengths to the ground, her legs ache from the effort, and her pride aches even more. She squares her shoulders and fixes Midnightash with a sharp glare. "What's it to you?" She snaps, a defensive edge in her voice as she flicks her tail irritably. "Not like ThunderClan cats need lessons on climbing from RiverClanners."

Her golden eyes narrow as she studies the lead warrior's expression. That tilt of the head, that almost-concern laced with judgment…it's enough to set her fur bristling. She's spent moons trying to shake the weight of whispered gossip, but she can practically feel the unspoken words hanging between them. Midnightash knows. Of course she knows. The whole forest probably knows, and her former mate had told her how she'd been put on trial before the entire clan for her crime. The mention of Iciclefang or her kits might not have left the tortoiseshell's mouth, but Stormywing can see the recognition written in her gaze, plain as day.

A mocking laugh escapes her as she takes a step forward, closing the distance to the river that separates them. "Don't waste your breath pretending you care if I hit my head," She sneers, her voice dripping with bitterness. Her claws flex into the cold earth, itching for a distraction from the flood of emotions rising in her chest all of the sudden. Anger, shame, defiance, they all tangle together like brambles, choking her better judgment. It's like the very conversation with a RiverClanner is enough to remind her of everything, drawing it all back out to the surface and tearing the wound open.
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[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ The harsh words thrown back at her makes her spine bristle. Her eyes narrowing on the Thunderclanner and she straightens her posture even as her fiery gaze bores into the other. "It's nothing to me, honestly. Not my fault you are having a bad day." Much like herself but she will not let on that something is happening on her home turf. If anything Riverclan will always remain strong. Much stronger than these rogues claiming to be a clan. Why would she even bother with climbing like that? It provides little when the river does much more. She snorts then, eyes flicking away but she can still feel Stormywing's gaze on her. Sharp and jagged. Knowing. The woman obviously knows that she knows and to the lead warrior that is a good thing. She should be aware that every cat in this forest might know of her folly as they should. The dangers that come from not knowing where loyalties should be is something to be remembered.

But she doesn't like how she glares at her and slowly she stands up. Her gaze snapping back to the Thunderclanner after her mocking laughter. Snapping at her and she curls her muzzle in utter agitation at what she says. "Don't take it out on me just because you had a lapse in judgement. If I ask a question, I mean what I say. But I guess you really don't know any better given your past." Her voice is a sneer right back, biting and harsh. Maybe this is what she needs after the pain she has been through. The tearing of her heart potentially being mended by blood. Though she doubts that this Thunderclanner will be so reckless. Then again...they aren't the smartest bunch.​

 

[STORMYWING]

Stormywing's claws dig a little deeper into the dirt. She shouldn't be doing this. Getting riled up over a RiverClanner's words isn't worth it. Not when she has more important things to focus on - her clan, her apprentices, the she-cat she's trying to win over. And yet, Midnightash's biting tone when she throws the tabby's mistakes back in her face like she's nothing more than a foolish kit makes her hackles bristle.

A sharp, humorless grin pulls at her muzzle. "Oh, I know better," She retorts, voice laced with venom. "I know better than to take life advice from a cat who's sitting around brooding on a pile of rocks." She takes a deliberate step closer to the river, golden eyes burning into the tortoiseshell's challengingly. "But you're right about one thing. I did mess up. I made the mistake of thinking RiverClan cats would mind their own business." Her tail lashes behind her, irritation flashing beneath her skin. She shouldn't be doing this. She should turn around, walk away, let Midnightash stew in whatever storm of emotions she's drowning in.

But something about the way the RiverClanner looks at her, like she's waiting for Stormywing to crack, makes her stay right where she is. Maybe she's just in the mood for a fight. Maybe she wants to remind herself she's still here, still standing, no matter how many cats want her to fall. Or maybe she's just stupid. Either way, she doesn't move from the river's edge.
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[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ Brooding! The nerve of this Thunderclanner. Her hackles flare as she finally stands up, her paws coasting the edge of the waters. Those amber orbs turn into torrents of hellfire as she glares at Stormywing. What small and miniscule amount of concern she had for the other has disappeared into nothing but dust. Burned away by her heinous words. The lead doesn't want to be am ounce of cordial anymore and honestly if she can let out her one pent up anger against an enemy then all the better. Her claws scrap the stone and she sudden smiles. A little too gleeful of the circumstances before it disappears. "That's funny coming from someone who oust herself. Riverclan didn't make you tell us anything. You do realize that you basically ruined your kits lives? Well...should I say ex-kits. I doubt they want you as a parent after the pain you've caused them." Now they have to question how everyone sees them in a home they grew up in.

She should have kept her maw shut. Riverclan would have protected them. Midnight's eyes snap down to the way the other edges closer and closer to the water. Her maw twists into something of a sarcastic smirk before looking at the Thunderclanner once more. "You feeling like going for a swim? Come on then, leap little squirrel. Jump and I'll mske sure to drown you just like all those that came before." Honestlu she would not mind killing a Thunderclanner this day. It'll be good stress relief and time spent on doing something worthwhile for her clan. One less Thunderclanner to hear yapping incessantly about nothing. Pretending they are not in the wrong and listening to them act so honorable. The fools. ​

 

[STORMYWING]

The smirking and taunting sends a bolt of fury through her as sharp as a thorn buried deep in her pelt. Midnightash knows exactly what she's doing, knows exactly where to sink her claws to make it hurt the most. And for a heartbeat, it works. The jab about her kits stings like a fresh wound. She clenches her jaw, her breath coming in tight, controlled bursts through her nostrils as she forces herself not to react. Midnightash wants a reaction. She wants her to break. But she won't.

Stormywing schools her expression into something cold and steady. She meets the lead warrior's smirk with a slow, withering stare, tilting her head just slightly. "Huh," She muses, seething. "You talk big for a cat who needs a river to fight her battles for her. If you weren't actually scared to take me on, you'd swim right on over here yourself." She doesn't take another step. The tortoiseshell wants her to lose control and jump in recklessly. But Stormywing has spent her whole life fighting tooth and claw for every ounce of respect she's ever gotten - she's not about to throw it away over a RiverClanner's cheap bait. Instead, she lifts a paw and gives it a slow, deliberate shake, sending a few loose specks of dirt toward the water's edge.

"Here's the thing, Midnightash," She continues sharply. "You can spit all the venom you want, but I don't owe you a damn thing. Not my guilt, not my regret, and sure as hell not my life." Yeah, no way she's making the mistake of trying to swim. Golden eyes gleam as she takes a step back away from the river as if to emphasize that she's not falling victim to the taunts. "So if you're so desperate to get your sick impulses out, you'll have to find another fool willing to play your game." With a flick of her tail, she turns on her heel, forcing herself to walk away even as her blood still burns with rage.

// out!! I had fun with this thread >:) the galssss hate each otherrrr
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