pafp running up that hill — distance

[DUSKPOOL]

don't raise your voice . improve your argument .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

/ takes place shortly after this thread

It was obvious the second they stepped paw into camp—the sizeable gap between them that seemed to stretch for miles. His expression remained stoic, though his eyes remained numb, sorrow etched in his very bein’ since birth. He’d wondered, back then when the grief was still fresh and the pain still overwhelmin’ what life would be if he’d been the one to die instead of his younger brothers.

We would be a happy family without you. His heart had shattered, leavin’ him weak and gaspin’ for breath. You don’t deserve Ghost—his sweet girl. Living life—oh, how true that statement was.

He was payin’ the price for one moment with his younger sister. Just one moment. That was all he asked for, but this? Duskpool wanted to back away, turn around, and drown in his grief and work. He felt his pelt prickle with familiar, unhealthy habits as the threat of breakin’ his promise nearly suffocated the male.

Without you. Sorrel’s voice whispered, true. She had looked at him, scared and shaken as if he wasn’t the brother she remembered. He wasn’t. He wanted to laugh, loud and rueful soundin’, so unlike what laughter should be, lettin’ it drown his blackened heart in sorrow and guilt.

Right. He should have known fate wouldn’t be willin’ to give him a break, losin’ another family member, not by death, but because the tom was damn selfish in keepin’ it from her.

What was the sayin’ again? Monsters ain’t deservin’ of happy things? He wanted to laugh at the thought. Well, ain’t that the truth. He stared at Sorrelsong, not knowin’ what to say, but come to a rueful acceptance that this was their reality now.

His sister finally saw him how he saw himself—a monster.

please wait for @Sorrelsong ​

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thought speech​

 

[Sorrelsong]

​

. ° ♡ . . ♡ °

SORRELSONG ​

---

♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡​

He followed her to camp. He followed her to camp. Tail lashing, the molly's jaw was set hard as a rock. She strained not to look at him. To ignore the catch of his breath. To ignore the soft, steady foot-fall she used to race towards.
Fur on fire, the molly counted each breath. in... out... in... The last thing she wanted was the attention of the camp. More eyes on her then she needed - not that she liked eyes on her at all. She wanted to run, but that would make the panic spread faster. In her body, in her family, in her clan's camp. There was no where to run that wouldn't have eyes. That wouldn't have questions. Duskpool - or what was left of him - was good at lying. She was not. Every flicker of panic is echoed on her face before she stamps it out, only for it to be replaced heartbeats later. A monster, she must look like a monster.
Those questions - would she answer them? The thought of doing so hurt, the thought of not was... worse. Avoiding them was preferable, but, for how long? She would rely on Dusk-on Yokai during times like these. Her thoughts were mice she did not have enough paws to catch.
Family.
Her heart ached. The smell of lavender again, like a ghost on the wind. Only the Yokai was gone, and his body remained. Stars.
Flora.
She needed to talk to Flora.
She turned sharply to the closest cat to her. Not the actions of a clan mate, the actions of a hunter. Her back to the dusty gray cat that had followed her.
"Do you know where Florabreeze is?" Her heart spasmed, but her tone was steady - mostly. Her tail still lashed, but her eyes lacked any anger. She wondered briefly how glossy they looked, and hoped it wasn't much. She wanted answers, not questions. She couldn't handle questions. She didn't like it, but lies began to fill her maw like saliva.
"Has she gone to her twolegs yet?"
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↪ OOC:
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[Ghostpaw!]

Some kits grew up quick, possessed 'old souls' as she had heard it put. Foxglovepaw, for instance, had always had a more independent air about him. Not Ghostpaw, though. She grew up slow. She still loved butterflies and worms. She liked tucking herself in the ferns surrounding camp and pretending she could disappear. Most of all, she still felt the safest under the watchful eye of her grandfather. Ghostpaw was an apprentice now. Soon she would be learning battle moves, how to hold her own against those who would harm her. She was supposed to put her life, and indeed her clannmates lives, in her own paws, and know they were safe there. But not yet. Not yet. For Ghostpaw, all her trust fell onto Duskpool. He would protect her. He would protect them all.

When she noticed the pair returning, she noticed Duskpool first. The bias of a devoted grandchild. She beamed, a crackling purr rising in her throat. I've got so much to tell you! Being an apprentice was so exciting, so new. There was so much she could make him proud of now. Then she glanced at Sorrelsong, and something in her faltered. She'd learned her lesson since the night with Howlfire. She compressed the spring that had invaded her step and pinned her focus on the warrior's body. She looks... Ghostpaw couldn't quite say. Her face was passive enough, her body relaxed. Perhaps too relaxed? It was Duskpool's expression, which was locked on his dark sister, that made Ghostpaw the most uneasy. As Sorrelsong questioned a nearby clan mate, Ghostpaw stared between them, poised to walk but unsure of where she could safely step. Why is he looking at her like that?

Why isn't she looking at him at all?​

 

[Owlheart]

Squirrel in maw Owlheart had taken up refuge in camp, ready to begin winding down as she wasn't a part of any dusk patrols for the day. She considered stopping by the elders den to see if any work needed to be done but she was sure that there were at least two apprentices who were in there at any given point. Wherever as punishment or for fun she could never tell, it probably varied depending on the apprentice. The presence of Duskpool is a noticeable one, he can be rather intimidating when wanting to be and there was a natural commanding presence behind that. Even if she was aware that he was actually quite the kind soul, at least in her eyes and opinion that was the case. Sorrelsong wasn't hard to miss either, especially not right now.

The relaxtion in her movements wasn't of a great concern to her, she didn't know Sorrelsong well enough to notice if there was a difference between herself now and before whatever talk she must of had with Duskpool. With all that being said there was something pooled in her eyes, they seemed glassier than normal, but she wasn't normally the type to recall what someone's eyes looked like. "Florabreeze?" She parrots, wide golden eyes unblinking as she looks between the huntress and the scorned brother. Unable to tell what was going on but it all felt rather... pointed.

The warrior looks at Sorrelsongs lashing tail and sympathy is evident in her expression when she notices that her bodies actions didn't match her eyes what happened here? She dared not ask, this wasn't her place after all. Setting the squirrel under her paw she cleared her throat and settled on her haunches. The form of Ghostpaw is caught from the corner of her field of vision and she decided to slide the un-eaten squirrel towards the apprentice in an attempt to give her something else to focus on.

"I think she's with her Twolegs, I saw a few daylighters leaving" her meow trails off as she pressed a paw to her maw in thought. Blinking hard as she tried to recall, yeah she was pretty sure that was the case. "Are you okay? Is anyone in trouble or something?" She assumed that there would be more urgency if so but she can't help but ask anyways, glancing between the family members.
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[Orangestar]

"Most of the daylight warriors left some time ago." Orangestar confirms, padding over to stand by her daughter. Some part of her mind notes idly that Owlheart is taller than her now, bittersweet with the knowledge that she had seen the ginger warrior at her smallest so many moons ago. That gentle notion is quickly dismissed as the tense situation settles over her, ochre eyes sharpening in turn to take in the scene.

Sorrelsong is agitated by ... something, if the furious lash of her tail is any indication; though, with no flattened ears and expression devoid of a scowl, Orangestar can't tell what happened. Duskpool is far more difficult to read, though an uncharacteristic weariness around sunken eyes tells the leader that he carries some heavy burden across scarred shoulders.

"Ghostpaw, I need you to check on Palemoon." She orders the green-eyed molly first, tilting her chin minutely towards the elders' den. She offers little room for complaint or challenge, though is certain Ghostpaw would obey regardless. "Make sure she's had something to eat this evening."

Regardless of whether the apprentice had listened, Orangestar would turn her attention back towards the warriors. First, to a quieter-than-usual Duskpool, and then to Sorrelsong with a thoughtful furrow of feline brows. Perhaps without youthful ears listening, the warriors would relay what had them on edge. "Did trouble find you while you were away from camp?"

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; currently expecting kits
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

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[Ghostpaw!]

The adults are being weird. Just... weird. Owlheart's gaze darts between Duskpool and Florabreeze, and Ghostpaw is glad she voices the thoughts the apprentice has herself. If she's just as confused as I am, she can speak and I won't have to say anything, and I'll find out what's happening all the same. She was growing to prefer softer methods of interrogating cats. She was learning that interrogation by proxy seemed a lot safer than actively being nosey. Ghostpaw paid no mind to Orangestar's approach at first. Normally she was hypervigilant of her leader, but concern and curiousity over the situation unfolding before her acted as perfect blinders. When her name dropped from Orangestar's mouth she jumped harder than a grasshopper fleeing the beak. Blinking wide-eyed, the SkyClan leader had her full attention.

"Oh! Oh, okay Orangestar. Of course, I'll find her something really good." Ghostpaw's mouth ran quickly, promising the obedience required when one's leader had spoken. It's not fair! You're sending me away on purpose, I know you are. Why can't I hear, he's my grandpa! Impulsive thoughts flare, newborn stars burning until her ears heated. She backed up quickly, trotting for the prey pile and then elder's den, praying Orangestar had not developed any mind-reading abilities. She's your leader! She's in charge of the whole clan. It wouldn't matter if she sent you to the Thunderpath and back, she knows what's best for everyone. She ducked into the elder den with a sigh, consoling herself with the hope of getting a story out of Palemoon. If it really ate at her, she could bother Duskpool about it tonight anyhow.

//out!​

 

[Sorrelsong]

​

. ° ♡ . . ♡ °

SORRELSONG ​

---

♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡​

Lips curl slightly at Orangestar's voice - an act that make the bile in her stomach bite at her throat. She tucks her teeth behind her lips quickly, lowering her eyes in silent apology. That's the most she can do right now with his eyes burrowing into her, consuming her pelt and flesh with just a gaze. She watches her niece go, her chest becoming heavier. Ghostpaw.... if anyone, Ghostpaw should know. They were blood after all. Her and Yokai and Smokefange and Shadowfire and the other cats Duskpool had 'saved'. Was that how he justified the blood on his paws? Did he create one life for the price of another?
Trouble. It takes everything not to yell. Yes, she found trouble while she was away from the camp. Oh, did she find trouble. Fury builds between her eyes and around her nose, bunching up the skin until it was to tight. But mercy... part of her, some very distant , distant part of her thought as she looked upon her brother's pelt. Would his victim's grant him mercy?
"Duskpool." Her voice was crowded with emotion. None of them were mercy. "Orangestar." The anger ebbed, pulling back like a wave leaving nothing but false peace in it's wake. "I'll talk to you after I find Florabreeze. I need- I need" The tension broke for a second, just a second, her voice shriveling into a soft wail, a plead, before snapping back to something more akin to calm. "I will find you after. But yes - we did."
Vision blurring and dulling and warping, the molly wielded the location of Florabreeze like a torch, leading her off into the forest. She would ignore any calls after her, paws set on a destination. If Duskpool wanted to inform the leader fine. Though, with a half grimace half smile she knew he wouldn't. He was a coward, after all.
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↪ OOC:
[/i]​

 

[DUSKPOOL]

don't raise your voice . improve your argument .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Thank the Stars for Orangestar sending Ghostpaw away. He didn’t want his granddaughter to see this mess he had inadvertently caused by withholding information. You don’t deserve Ghostpaw. He didn’t. Not his sweet girl who grew more tainted the longer she was beside him. He swallowed, helm turning to grin ruefully, blended by the curl of dark-hued lips and smokey obsidian fur.

A mangled ear swiveled, watching the scene unfold with deadpan hues, barely registering what was happening beneath the buzzing in his ears. He gritted his teeth, shaking his head, Duskpool swallowed the need to comfort his younger sister at the soft wail, body rooted some lengths away from the distressed molly as she cantered off to find Florabreeze. Please take care of her. He thought mutely, hoping the molly would comfort his sister’s anguish that he caused now that he could no longer comfort his sister’s sorrows.

“I—” He swallowed. “There wasn’t any trouble.” His tone was a tired, guttural rumble. “I told her what happened to Shadowfire and Smokefang.” He offered a dull explanation, wooly plumage flickering, sweeping dirt and undergrowth in its path.

It was obvious Sorrel hadn’t taken the news well, not that he expected her to after realizing the older warrior had inevitably killed Shadowfire in an act of mercy. Or if he had been there a few seconds earlier, it would have been him lying in a pool of his blood, struggling to breathe. Of course, Duskpool didn’t voice that out loud, tossing his head to stare at the sky before pivoting to slip through the camp’s entrance to hunt. ​

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thought speech​