private heart of dynamite | stormywing

Apr 28, 2024
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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
 

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.
 
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."
 

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.
 
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.