Amberhaze's pink-rimmed lips would peel back into a grimace- his equivalent of a smile- in response to Ternstar's lighthearted comment, though admittedly it did not give him the respite that she had intended for it to.
"Uh- N-No...I mean, not recently." A halfhearted chuckle escaped his stiffened maw, the same joking nature present within the glint in his eyes that seemed a bit less intense in her presence. But only a little.
He would follow her command with swift obedience, the two of them exiting camp and falling into a leisurely step with one another, the marshland growing darker the further in they travelled. He did not mind the silence that stretched between them, her presence beside him something grounding in of itself. She was a strong leader, a capable one, and although he did not fully agree with every decision she had made thus far- namely, opening the borders- he would still follow her without question, and he knew she would never alter any of the previous rules if she believed it would cause her clan to come face to face with any serious danger. He admired her, and secretly willed himself to someday be as steadfast and headstrong as she- even if only a miniscule fraction.
Momentarily, the lengthy tom wondered if perhaps this was all she wanted of him- company- nothing more. She had not said a word since they had left the prying eyes and curious ears of those within camp, suddenly feeling like perhaps he had jumped the gun in thinking her request for his presence was anything more than an extension for...could you call it friendship? He wasn't sure, but he did hope so.
"Shadowclan has been your home for a while now..." He swallowed thickly, suddenly feeling on edge again. What was she trying to say? Did she no longer want him there? Was he not pulling his weight to her satisfaction, not meeting her expectations? Had she decided she no longer trusted the presence of those who were not clan born, regardless of how long they had been there? Was she going to exile him, here and now, where nobody could see in an attempt to let him down softly? His stomach roiled at the thought, his breath hitching inside his throat.
"I'd like you to join my council."
Amberhaze stopped in his tracks.
What? Had he heard that right? No, surely not...there was no way.
"...Me?" His tone was much harsher than he had intended it to be, though it was not a force unleashed by anger or being ungracious- it was shock, the utter disbelief at her suggestion- her
desire- for him to be significant or deserving enough for a position any higher than simply a warrior. Surely she had the wrong cat, this must be some sort of mistake. He was lackluster in everything he did, a shadow blending seamlessly into the bulk of his companions who shone much brighter than he ever could. He was not the best fighter, the best conversationalist, the most reasonable or level-headed cat by any means...and yet she still saw something in him, the reason as to why he could not even begin to comprehend. But what he could comprehend was that amidst the astonishment, her proposal made him feel warm inside. Like maybe he was worth more than he was able to see on his own. Or what other's could see, for that matter.
His expression would lose some of it's rigidness, the oriental clearing his throat and shuffling his boney knuckles against the peaty earth beneath him.
"I-I'm...honored, Ternstar, but- a-are you...sure? I'm not- I mean-...I'm just- me, y-y'know? Haha..." Harvest-moon eyes harbored a certain sadness as he spoke, as if the concept of being
him was a horrendous burden, a curse he would not wish upon anyone.
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☣
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AMBERHAZEㅤTAGS
⚛ㅤmale (he / him) / bisexual aroace, single
⚛ㅤ20 moons old / ages semi-realistically, every 21st
⚛ㅤlead warrior of shadowclan for 0 moons
⚛ㅤ
npc x
npc / younger brother to
wormwatcher
⚛ㅤmentoring
talonpaw / mentored by
wormwatcher
⚛ㅤpenned by
sloane /
encarcerated on discord
a short but lengthy black cat with a boney build and luminous ocher eyes
⤷ black oriental shorthair x cornish rex
