private overnight talks ღ addervenom

[whitedawn]

Life has been in constant flow, ever-changing much like water. And it's in this context that Whitedawn could compare to being lost in the rapids. It had only been a few moons since Sootstar's reign came to an end and Sunstar has brought gradual order back to the clan. With Sunstar's rule, things have changed rapidly in the last few moons, both positive and negative. Granitepelt and those loyal enough to Sootstar to abandon their home still lurked on the edges of the territory. Whitedawn had earned her name and discovered more kin that she didn't quite process. And she had her first apprentice, a fact that felt shocking besides that all occurred. Whitedawn was feeling immensely unbalanced. Yet, despite the internal turmoil of everything changing for better and for worse, Whitedawn has been putting forward an optimistic attitude. Despite the struggles and the losses, Windclan was changing for the better and she was happy for it.
Clan life was ever bustling when soft rose hues focused on an ever-familiar pelt of Addervenom as the tom seemed to be talking to a fellow moor runner. Seeing him made her pause in consideration, face furrowing in focus. When was the last time she talked with her dear friend? Sure she pestered him into kitsitting with her... a couple moons ago? Had it truly been that long? She blinked, the familiar sensation of anxiety and guilt prickling under her fur at the consideration. She hadn't spoken to many of her friends as of late, had she? Pinning her ears back at a bit of frustration aimed at herself, she shifted her expression to something more positive as she approached her friend.
"Hi, Addervenom, Bramblebelly." She greeted the chatting duo, though her focus was clearly on Addervenom. "Addervenom, if you aren't too busy could we talk for a bit?" She inquired softly with a smile, giving a nod to the lively she-cat before she led her friend out of camp. Settling in the moorland grass as dusk approached, she glanced at her friend with a soft expression. "I'm sorry if you were talking about something important," She starts with minor hesitance. "We haven't talked just the two of us in a while.." Not since before Sunstar took over Windclan, when the tom had wanted her to flee without him. "And I missed that." She admitted softly, messing with a blade of grass under her paws. "How has everything been?" She finally asked, flicking an ear as she glanced at him once more. He, and his siblings, arguably lost the most even as life continued, and she hated that it felt like she hadn't been here to help him through it.

// @Addervenom ​

[I'M BREATHING]​

 

[Addervenom]

The constant droning bombarding his ears thanks to Bramblebelly's rapid speech was internally driving him up the wall. He couldn't seem to shake the chatty molly no matter how busy he tried to make himself seem or how detached his responses came out. Agitation flared behind the tom's stoic mask the longer it continued. Why couldn't she just take a hint? The swift buildup of his irritation, coupled with her extreme ignorance nearly had the chocolate tabby ready to implode. "Bramblebelly." Addervenom spoke in a deep, curt tone. His intention was to cut her off before she could dive into another spiel about how she caught a rabbit with her eyes closed. However there was no need. For the stars above either sensed his annoyance or wished to save the talkative warrior from the tongue lashing to come. Either way Whitedawn was his metaphorical ram in the bush, his refuge just when he was about to snap.

As she spoke the brute bobbed his head once in greeting. "Whitedawn." He murmured, tone considerably softer in the presence of his savior. Without hesitation Addervenom trailed behind his friend, relishing the taste of freedom from Bramblebelly's buzzing words. "No, you did me a favor. If anything I should be thanking you." He mumbled, meeting her rosey gaze. If he were not still recovering from just how irked he truly was he might have laughed. Soft moorland grass swallowed his figure as he lowered himself upon the ground.

It's not long before the ivory molly eases into what's been on her mind. Of what she wished to talk about. Them. His brows met briefly, pinching together in thought as he turned his attention toward the evening sky. When was the last time they spent time together? Talked together? Her confession makes his gaze fall upon her, his expression bordering analytical. He did too, although the words went unspoken. Once her own eyes lift to meet smoldering amber it was Addervenom's turn to peer into the grass of the field. "How has everything been?" His tail flicks as he responds almost too quickly. "Fine." A lie. "I've been managing." Came his notoriously short answer. There was nothing to boast about, nothing he was proud to share and he'd rather eat his tail than admit it to her. "What about you? You have an apprentice now. How's that going?" He asked, looking back up. ​

»»———- windclan warrior / sixteen moons old / he/him ———-««​

 

[whitedawn]

It was the unusual quickness of his answer that gave her pause, her expression furrowing to one of doubt at the single word. She didn't say anything, not yet, when his usual short answer came a moment after. Her expression was still doubtful, though she did not mention this. At least for the current moment. Flicking an ear, he shifted the questions to her and the events of her life. Namely her new mentorship. She was quiet for a few moments, trying to find the best way to word it. "It's.. a lot." She answered quietly, tilting her head to the side. "I'm managing." She said before pausing as she realized she merely repeated his own words. Shaking her head, she continued. "I'm still surprised I was chosen to be a mentor truthfully. A little before I became a warrior, Spotpaw had gotten the idea of me being his mentor. I couldn't fully promise it, especially when he was a kit and still growing. But I'm his mentor now. And I feel happy but also worried." She admitted amid her sudden ramble. "I want to hope it won't be too challenging, I've known Spotpaw since he was small enough to barely leave the nursery. But mentoring an apprentice... I want to prove I can handle it but I feel scared I won't do good enough for him." She sighed, glancing over at him with a soft but nervous smile. It was a worry that had been gripping her like an unyielding tick, and one she never admitted out loud either. Shaking her head, she focused on the tabby at her side. "Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about, even with... everything that happened?" She asked softly. "Everything", the word felt like both encompassed all that has happened in the last few moons, but not enough of it either. ​

[I'M BREATHING]​

 

[Addervenom]

She levels him with a look that borders on skepticism. However, he makes no effort to reaffirm his statement and she, at least for now, leaves the subject be. He listens idly as she delves into her concerns about mentorship and all of its unforeseen circumstances. His tail flicks at the thought of what he would do in her situation. If he had an apprentice looking up to him brimming with eagerness, how would he respond? "Your ways are kind and just, Whitedawn." He murmurs after several heartbeats of silence. "I'm sure you will be a fine mentor to Spotpaw. After everything that has happened within the last several moons, you're still here. You have more than enough potential to guide him." He added in a low tone. She was more resilient than she knew.

However, the topic of his well-being presents itself once more and a breathy sigh escapes him. "Is there anything you do not see?" The tabby grumbled in light of her gentle prodding. Her ability to be just as observant towards him as he was of her surprised him sometimes.

His broad skull lowers to rest upon mismatched paws amid his struggle to formulate words. What could he say? That he wrestled with hellish nightmares that felt all too real? Or that he felt lost within his identity? She didn't need to hear that, nor did he desire to place his burdens upon her. "Yes." He voiced finally, slowly lifting his visage. "All I want is to focus on the present," His sentence trails as his head falls, chin resting against the snow-white canvas of her back. Wordlessly he seeks the comfort he knows she can give and takes it. ​

»»———- windclan warrior / sixteen moons old / he/him ———-««​