- Oct 22, 2022
- 714
- 261
- 63
The jaded are seldom afforded the luxury of slow suffering. For a whole season's worth of emotional torment to be condensed into an hour, thrusting the woes of denial, anger, and acceptance unto him in a manic onslaught, it stripped the tom of his cynical armor. An unfamiliar softness steeped in his belly - at least in this fleeting moment - as he trudged through the murky tangle in the company of his mate, his kits, and the clanmates who played a heavy part in their salvation. Smogmaw felt thankful. Grateful. Humbled. Indebted, even.
Though he denied himself of putting such sentiments into words, it is not due to reluctance, but rather an incapacity to fully express them. The collective efforts of Chilledstar, Geckoscreech, and Stumpyspots have established a fallacy in his worldview: that, indeed, there are individuals willing to defy their self-interest and lay their lives on the line to simply protect their fellow beings. Never before has he felt so wrong. It's a feeling he certainly opposes the idea of getting comfortable with, but in this instance, there was no denying the overwhelming evidence before him. The brutish bear had been outsmarted and outdone, all thanks to the extraordinary display of selflessness put on by his clanmates.
Smogmaw's shoulders would hunch under the weight of the silence. He had to say something before they returned to the tunnels. Anything. If not an acknowledgement of their bravery, then a token of appreciation at the minimum. Amber hues flutter from face to face, though dodging his leader's icy stare and sidestepping those belonging to the warriors in his midst. Eventually, his focus would drift to a set of stubby legs, dawdling unevenly along the miry terrain.
"I'm, uh... sorry, heh, for dropping you, Applekit."
What a splendid show of articulation, Smogmaw.
Confronting clanmates with gratitude shouldn't pose more difficulty than outpacing a bear, yet here he stood, stumbling over his own words, unable to muster a sincere apology towards his own kit. All he can really do is offer a sheepish smile to his mate, as the group drew within reach of their temporary home in the tunnels.
// continuation of this thread!
// tagging those involved, but no need to wait for them to post >:3 @Halfshade @APPLEKIT @Garlickit @valeriankit @swankit @STUMPYSPOTS @CHILLEDSTAR. @GECKOSCREECH
Though he denied himself of putting such sentiments into words, it is not due to reluctance, but rather an incapacity to fully express them. The collective efforts of Chilledstar, Geckoscreech, and Stumpyspots have established a fallacy in his worldview: that, indeed, there are individuals willing to defy their self-interest and lay their lives on the line to simply protect their fellow beings. Never before has he felt so wrong. It's a feeling he certainly opposes the idea of getting comfortable with, but in this instance, there was no denying the overwhelming evidence before him. The brutish bear had been outsmarted and outdone, all thanks to the extraordinary display of selflessness put on by his clanmates.
Smogmaw's shoulders would hunch under the weight of the silence. He had to say something before they returned to the tunnels. Anything. If not an acknowledgement of their bravery, then a token of appreciation at the minimum. Amber hues flutter from face to face, though dodging his leader's icy stare and sidestepping those belonging to the warriors in his midst. Eventually, his focus would drift to a set of stubby legs, dawdling unevenly along the miry terrain.
"I'm, uh... sorry, heh, for dropping you, Applekit."
What a splendid show of articulation, Smogmaw.
Confronting clanmates with gratitude shouldn't pose more difficulty than outpacing a bear, yet here he stood, stumbling over his own words, unable to muster a sincere apology towards his own kit. All he can really do is offer a sheepish smile to his mate, as the group drew within reach of their temporary home in the tunnels.
// continuation of this thread!
// tagging those involved, but no need to wait for them to post >:3 @Halfshade @APPLEKIT @Garlickit @valeriankit @swankit @STUMPYSPOTS @CHILLEDSTAR. @GECKOSCREECH